September 21,1999

True to his word, Jax had come home every afternoon around 2:00.  He and Brenda spent the afternoons doing some of the things that they had talked about but had never done.  They even spent one afternoon at the Port Charles Zoo.  Jax was shocked when Brenda told him she had never been to a zoo before.  It had never occurred to him that anyone, let alone someone who had grown up all over the world like Brenda, had never been to a zoo!  On the way home they decided that the zoo would be one of the first places they would take the baby next summer.

They spent another afternoon exploring the Port Charles Art Museum.  Brenda had been to the museum several times during the years she had lived in Port Charles but never with Jax.  On the way home she told him it had been like seeing it for the first time.

Each day when they got home, Brenda went up to rest while Jax went to the library to work.  He had felt Everett watching him several times but he never showed himself.  This was frustrating Jax.  He wanted - no, he needed - to put an end to Everett!  He and Thomas had expected his increased work at home to draw Everett out on repeated occasions, giving Madeline ample opportunity to try to contact him, but nothing had happened.  Jax was beginning to think that they would have to find another way to rid themselves of Everett.

Because it had been raining when Jax got home from work today, he and Brenda decided to stay at home.  They spent the afternoon curled up together in their sitting room, talking about the baby.  It had not taken long for Brenda to drift off to sleep. Jax held her for quite some time before he carried her into the bedroom and put her to bed.  He stood watching her for several minutes before heading downstairs to work on the files he had brought home.  Considering how tired she was, he expected Brenda to sleep until dinner - plenty of time for him to finish his work.

Jax had only been in the library for about twenty minutes when he heard it.  "What exactly do you think you're doing, Jax?"  Jax looked up from the file he was reading to see Everett standing in front of his desk.  It was obvious to Jax that Everett was not happy.  The expression on his face alone was enough, but the icy tone of his voice only added to Jax's certainty that Everett had come to confront him about something.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Everett.  I'm trying to get some work done while Brenda is resting.  Do you have a problem with that?"  Jax hoped that the innocent tone of his voice would keep Everett from suspecting anything.

"That's exactly what I'm talking about!  I thought you understood the importance of succeeding in business!  I could not believe it when you started putting her ahead of your responsibilities again!  I thought you had gotten past that!"  Everett's displeasure with Jax was beginning to turn into outright anger.  "I'm very disappointed in you!  You were showing such promise, too!"

Jax slowly shook his head.  "I don't understand what your problem is.  I'm not neglecting my work, by any means.  In fact, things at the office have never run so smoothly!  We haven't lost a single acquisition attempted in the past six months."  Jax decided it was time to challenge Everett.  "Besides, I hardly see that any of this is your business!  How I choose to run my company is MY business!  I don't know what things were like in your day, but nowadays a single individual does not run a business.  I have an extremely trustworthy staff, who are quite capable of handling things for me!"  Jax went back to reading the file he was holding, trying desperately to keep from smiling, especially when he saw the expression on Everett's face.

"Jax, you're a fool!  How can you trust ANYONE with that kind of responsibility!"  Everett began pacing back and forth in front of Jax's desk, his frustration growing as he paced.  "The only person you can trust to make those kind of decisions is yourself!  I thought you knew that!"

In spite of himself, Jax was becoming angry.  "As I said before, Everett, how I run my business is of no concern to you!  I have the utmost confidence in my staff!  After all, if it hadn't been for them, I can just imagine what condition my company would have been in following my recent 'accident'!"  Jax looked directly at Everett to see his reaction.  He was pleased to see him flinch at the mention of the accident.  At least Everett realized that he was responsible for it!

"Uh-hum!  That's not what we're discussing here!  I'm trying to help you, Jax!  You need to keep your priorities straight!  Business comes before anything else - even family - especially family!"  Everett stopped his pacing and stood in front of Jax's desk looking down at him.  "I had the impression that is how your family does business.  It's obviously worked for them!  Why can't you see that?"

At the mention of his family, Jax once again found himself getting angry.  "I really don't see what they have to do with anything!  My father and brother may be ruthless when it comes to business, but they also know the importance of family." He paused for a minute.  "At least they used to..."  Jax's mind drifted back to his father's attempt to invade Jacks International just a short time ago.  He shook his head to clear the memories of his last meeting with his father in order to concentrate on the conversation at hand.  "How I choose to do business is up to me and no one else!"

Everett slowly shook his head.  "Why won't you listen to me?  You have servants in the house to look after your wife.  Your mother is here all the time to keep her company.  You should be concentrating on making your company grow, not going on excursions with your pregnant wife!  In my day, a woman would not think of being seen in public in her condition!"

When he looked up to answer, Jax glanced past Everett to the doorway.  He could have sworn he saw Madeline trying to enter the library but for some reason she was unsuccessful.  He suddenly realized that this was not going to work.  Madeline was not going to be able to convince Everett to leave them alone.  They would have to think of something else!

Just as Jax was about to answer Everett, he heard Brenda in the hallway outside the library door.  Panicked that she might see Everett, he looked quickly back to where Everett had been standing, but he was gone.  Obviously, he had heard Brenda approaching as well.

There was a soft knock on the door.  "Come in," Jax called.  He looked up at the door and smiled when he saw Brenda walk in.  "Hey, what are you doing up?  I thought you'd sleep for the rest of the afternoon."  He got up and walked over to her.  He put his arms around her and held her for a long time.  Brenda snuggled into his embrace, resting her ear against his chest so she could listen to his heart.

Finally she pulled back and looked up at him with a smile.  "I probably would have, except I woke up and realized you weren't next to me, so I decided to come looking for you."  She glanced past him at the desk and saw the files spread out on it.  "I'm sorry!  You're working!  I'll come back later."  She started to pull away from him, but he held her tightly against him, refusing to let go.

"Oh, no, you don't!  I told you the afternoons were for us to spend together, and that is what I intend to do!"  Jax leaned down and kissed her gently on the tip of her nose.  "What do you want to do with the rest of the afternoon?"  He smiled sweetly at her as he waited for her answer.

"It's okay, Jax.  I know you have work to do.  I can keep myself occupied until you're finished."  Brenda pointed toward his desk, causing him to turn to look at it.  "You must be falling so far behind by coming home so early every day..."

Jax pulled her close to him again.  "Don't you realize that you mean more to me than any business deal?  Besides, things are going just fine at the office.  Since your little sojourn into the world of big business after my accident, you know as well as I do that I have a perfectly capable staff.  If anything comes up that needs my attention, they'll call me."  Jax smiled at her again.  "So what do you want to do?"  He looked over her shoulder at the French doors behind his desk.  "It looks like the rain hasn't let up any, so whatever we do will have to be here in the house.  Any suggestions?"

She brought both of her hands up and placed them on his chest.  She got that mischievous twinkle in her eyes that he loved so much.  "Weeelll..." she said with a chuckle.  When she saw his disapproving look she smiled at him.  "Okay, tell you what, why don't you go back to work, and I'll sit right over there on the sofa and read my book?  That way we can be together, and you can still finish your work."  She looked up at Jax for an answer.

When he saw the determined look on her face, Jax put up his hands in surrender.  "Okay, okay, you win!  I'll finish my work."  Jax led Brenda over to the couch and helped her down.  As she was settling into a comfortable position, Jax couldn't help but marvel at how large the baby had grown.  He couldn't help but shudder at the thought of what it would cost Brenda to give birth to this child.  He made a silent vow to make it up to her in every way possible after the baby was born.

Once she was settled on the couch, Jax reached for the throw off the chair and placed it over her legs.  "Comfortable?" he asked.

Brenda smiled up at him.  "Very.  Oh, darn!  I left my book upstairs!"  She started to lift the throw to try to get up again, when Jax stopped her.

"What do you think you're doing?  You just got comfortable!  I'll go get your book.  Where is it?"  Jax tucked the throw back around Brenda.

She couldn't help but chuckle.  "You have no idea how glad I am you said that, honey!  I'm not really sure I could have gotten up again right now!"  She gently ran her hand across her abdomen.  "I think our child is quite comfortable where we are!"  She laughed again as Jax stooped down and placed his hand on the child growing inside of her.  Just as he put his hand on her abdomen, they both felt the baby kick.  "See what I mean!"

Jax laughed with her before leaning over and kissing her first on the lips and then placing a gentle kiss on her abdomen.  He stood back up before asking, "So what book am I looking for and where is it?"

"It's called "A First Time Mother's Guide to Childbirth," and it should be up in our sitting room.  I think it's on the table by the window."  Brenda reached up for Jax's hand.  "Thanks, honey.  I really appreciate this."

Jax smiled at her and started out of the room.  He got as far as the stairway when he saw Madeline standing halfway up the stairs.  The smile immediately left his face when he saw the concern on hers.  "What's wrong, Madeline?"

"Jax, I don't think you should leave Brenda alone in there, especially not after your conversation with Everett!"  Jax suddenly realized she was right.

Just then Benton came out of the parlor and Madeline disappeared.  "Benton, could you do me a favor?" Jax asked as Benton came closer.

"Of course, Jax, what do you need?"

"Would you mind going up to our sitting room and getting a book for Brenda?  It's called "A First Time Mother's Guide to Childbirth," and it should be on the table by the window.  Brenda and I will be in the library."  He started back toward the library but stopped and turned back to Benton.  "Thanks."

Benton smiled.  "No problem, Jax.  I'll be right back."

Brenda was surprised when she saw Jax come back into the library so quickly.  "Where's the book?  Couldn't you find it?"

"Actually, just as I got to the foot of the stairs I saw Benton, so I asked him to bring it down for you.  He should be down in a minute."  Jax hoped that he had been able to keep his nervousness out of his voice.  The last thing he wanted was for Brenda to suspect that something was wrong.

Before Brenda had a chance to say anything, there was a soft knock at the door and Benton came in carrying Brenda's book.  "I believe this is the book you asked for, Brenda?" Benton asked.

"Yes, it is. Thank you, Benton."  Brenda settled more comfortably into the couch and opened her book.

Benton looked over at Jax before leaving.  "Can I get either one of you anything?"  Jax looked up from the file he was reading for a minute and shook his head.  When Benton looked back at Brenda, she did the same.  "In that case, I'll be on my way.  I've planned dinner for 6:30.  Do you want me to let you know when it's ready?"

"That would be great, Benton. Thanks," Brenda said without looking up from her book.

Jax spent the rest of the afternoon trying to finish the work he had brought home.  He was finding it impossible to concentrate though.  Several times he was certain he could see Everett in the shadows of the fireplace, but he never made his presence known.  Concerned about Brenda's safety, he glanced in her direction each time he thought he saw Everett, just to make sure she was okay.  Both he and Brenda eventually lost track of the time, because before either one of them realized it, there was a soft knock at the door again and Benton came in to let them know that dinner was ready.

Once they finished dinner, Jax went back to the library only long enough to put the files he had been trying to work on back in his briefcase and pick up Brenda's book.  He didn't see any sign of Everett while he was there.  As he left, he turned off the light and closed the door.  No sooner was he in the hallway than he was certain that he heard the sound of something fall in the library.  When he opened the door and turned the lights back on, he was surprised to see everything from the top of his desk on the floor, almost as if someone had run their arm across the desk and swept everything off!  Jax slowly shook his head and turned off the light.  No sense in picking the stuff up. Everett would probably just knock it down again.  He decided to check the library in the morning.  If everything were still on the floor, he'd pick it up before heading to the office.  Jax slowly closed the door and went back to the foyer.  He put his briefcase on the table and took Brenda's book to her in the living room.

They spent the rest of the evening together in the living room.  Because the rain had continued, there was a chill in the air so Jax built the first fire of the season.  The warmth and flickering light created the perfect atmosphere to sit snuggled together on the couch.  Around 11:00 when Brenda put down her book and snuggled closer to Jax, they decided to call it a night. 

It wasn't long after they went to bed that Jax realized Brenda was asleep. Once he was sure she was sleeping soundly, Jax gently unwrapped himself from her embrace and got out of bed.  He decided to go into the sitting room to read for a while.  He hadn't been there ten minutes when he heard Madeline's voice.  "What happened this afternoon, Jax?" she asked as she walked toward him.  "I tried several times to get in, but couldn't."

Jax slowly closed his book and looked up at Madeline.  "I know. I saw you try once."  He let out a long slow breath.  "I'm afraid it didn't go very well.  All I succeeded in doing was making him angry."  Jax looked up at her with desperation written all over his face.  "But you already knew that, didn't you?" he said as he looked up at her.  He let out a long sigh when he saw her nod her head in agreement.  "What do we do now?  I got the very distinct feeling today that we better do something soon, or HE might just do something!"

Madeline could see the concern written on Jax's face, as well as the fear in his eyes.  She knew that his concern was not for himself, but for Brenda.  She wanted to be able to tell him that he had nothing to worry about - that the Everett that she knew and loved would never do anything to Brenda - but she now knew that she could not do that.  After being unable to reach out to Everett this afternoon, she was beginning to share Jax's concerns for Brenda's safety.

"Jax, I believe I have an alternate plan, but you aren't going to like it."  Madeline sat down next to him on the sofa.  She waited for him to look at her before continuing,  "I think you should invite your father over to the house."  Madeline waited for Jax's reaction.

Jax was stunned.  He had never considered the possibility of ever inviting his father to the house - especially to deal with Everett!  "What good would that do?  Other than to upset Brenda even more, I mean!"  Jax was beginning to get angry.  He could not believe that Madeline would even suggest such a thing.

"Hear me out, Jax!  I know about what happened between you and your father.  I've heard many of your conversations with your mother in this very room.  You must know that I would never suggest this if I didn't think it was our only chance of stopping Everett!"  Madeline put her hand on Jax's knee in an attempt to calm him.

Jax listened to what Madeline was saying.  In his heart, he knew she was right.  She would not have suggested this unless she thought it would work.  The least he could do was hear her out.  "Okay, I'll listen!  I just can't promise I'll agree to go along with your plan."

Madeline smiled slightly.  "I understand.  If, after I explain my reasons for suggesting this, you still don't agree, I'll drop the entire subject and we'll think of another way to get to Everett."  She waited until Jax nodded his agreement.

"Okay, here goes: I think the reason I wasn't able to get into the library today was because Everett knew another spirit was in the house, and he was blocking me.  I don't think he knows it's me, but he knows someone else is in the house and he doesn't want them disturbing him or you when you are in the library."  Jax thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.  "What we need to do is distract him so that I can get into the library and confront him.  I think if he gets involved with you and your father trying to resolve your problems, he'll let down his guard; maybe even show himself to both of you, and that will give me the opportunity to get into the room."

Jax didn't say anything right away.  He was thinking over what she had just said.  "I still don't understand what good all of this will do!  Even if you are able to get into the library, I doubt that you'll be able to convince him to leave us alone!"

Madeline smiled.  "I realized this afternoon that I don't have to convince him to leave.  I can force him to leave!"

Jax was stunned by what she had just said.  "What do you mean: force him to leave?  How is that possible?"

"I've been thinking about this for a long time now, and I finally realized this afternoon that the reason Everett is confined in the library is because when we were ali... living here that was the only room in the house that I was not permitted any control over.  Everett handled everything and everyone who went in there.  He even selected which servants were permitted to clean in there!"  Madeline paused.

"So?" Jax asked.

"I think what that means is that I control this house, even now!  All I have to do is get into that room, and I can control it as well - along with everyone in it!"  She could see that Jax was starting to understand her way of thinking.  "I realized this afternoon, Jax, that Everett already knows this.  That's why he is trying so desperately to keep any other spirit out of the room!  He's afraid of losing control!"

Jax finally understood what she was saying.  He got up and walked over to the window.  He stood staring out at the back yard for several minutes as Madeline waited silently for his response.  Finally he turned back to her.  "I think you may be right about this.  I think this just might work!"  He started to smile, but the expression on his face quickly changed to one of concern.  "The only part I don't understand is why we have to involve my father in this.  Isn't there anything else that would distract Everett enough for you to get into the library?  I don't like the idea of him being here in the house with Brenda being so close to her due date.  The last thing she needs is for him to upset her!"

"I understand that, Jax - believe me I do!  Unfortunately, there is no other way to make this work.  I can't think of anything else that would distract Everett enough to let me into the library.  You know yourself that it took you months to finally get him to show himself.  It would take something extremely important or intense to distract him enough for me to get in there.  If you can think of something else, I am more than willing to listen."  Madeline looked up at Jax.  She understood his reluctance to let his father back into the house.  She had seen first hand what his father and brother were capable of even before Jax and Brenda had moved into the house.  She quickly remembered her confrontation with his brother in the hallway outside their suite.  She also knew that unless Everett was distracted by an argument between Jax and his father, she would never be able to get into the library.

Jax finally held up his hands in surrender.  "I guess you're right.  Thomas and I tried for months to lure him out and nothing worked until we created a MAJOR business crisis!"  Jax paused for a second.  "Do you mind if I run all of this past Thomas before we do anything?  I'd like to get his grandfather's opinion."

Madeline smiled as she got up from the couch.  She walked over to where Jax was standing before answering.  "Of course, I don't mind.  Why don't you talk to Thomas and then let me know?"  She suddenly became very serious.  "Just don't take too long, Jax.  You and I both know that Everett is not going to wait.  We need to act - and act soon!"

Before Jax had a chance to answer, he was startled by the sound of Brenda's voice.  "Jax, are you out there?"  She slowly opened the bedroom door.  It took a second for her eyes to adjust to the light in the sitting room.  "Who were you talking to?" she asked as she looked around the room.  The only person she saw in the room was Jax.  She quickly realized that he must have been talking to Madeline.  "You were talking to Madeline, weren't you?"  For some reason the realization made her shudder.

Jax quickly came over and put his arms around her.  "Yes, I was."  He could feel her shiver.  "What's wrong, luv?  Are you cold?" he asked as he wrapped his arms more snuggly around her.

Brenda looked up at him.  "No, I'm fine.  What were you and Madeline talking about?"

Jax held her back slightly from him so that he could look into her face.  "We have come up with a plan to rid us of Everett once and for all!"  He could feel Brenda tense up in his arms and it scared him.  "Brenda, what is it?  What's wrong?"

Brenda shuddered and wrapped her arms tightly around Jax again, resting her ear on his chest to hear the reassuring sound of his heartbeat.  She could feel his hands sliding gently up and down her back.  She suddenly felt very cold.  "I don't know, Jax.  I just have a really bad feeling about this!"

Jax rested his chin on the top of her head.  "Don't worry, luv.  We aren't going to do anything until Thomas gets his grandfather's approval."  He put his hands on her upper arms and pushed her back slightly from him again.  "You know that he wouldn't let us do anything that would put either one of us in danger, don't you?"  Jax smiled lovingly at her as he waited for her answer.

Brenda returned his smile and put both of her hands flat on his chest.  "I know he wouldn't.  Will you tell me what you are planning to do?" she asked as she looked up expectantly at him.  She was surprised to see a look of discomfort come across his face.  "Jax?  What is it?  What are you planning?"

Jax took a deep breath before answering.  "Actually, it's very simple: I'm going to invite my father over!"