**The Week in Review: October 6 - October 10**

I. The Spencers

Actually, Carly and AJ showed up first in the week, but I'm taking the liberty of putting this section first....  I'm sure you'll forgive me.  ;)

A. Father and Son

Luke:  "Well, it's a shame.  I sorta hoped you'd burned this place down."

Lizzy:  "Mr. Spencer, I've been dying to meet you."
Luke:  "Oh.  Why is that?"
Lizzy:  "Well, everything I've heard about you has been so fabulous."

Lizzy:  "Mr. Spencer, maybe one day you could turn me on to the electric blues.  Lucky tells me you have an awesome record collection."

Luke (day 2 of 2) came on in the front door at the beginning of Monday's episode and greeted Lucky with the first line above.  He looked great, all in black, with a grey hat and wonderful shades...and a tremendously fine looking leather jacket.

Lucky was stunned that his dad was there, and Lizzy, when she realized who this must be, had the same expression on her face as when she was all ga-ga over Brenda at Kelly's just before the wedding.  Immediately I renewed my wishes for Lizzy's developing a crush on Lucky's dad.  After all, if she likes the miniature version, why not crush on the original?  And I knew as she corrected him, saying she preferred "Elizabeth" to "Liz," I knew she would be right up his alley (I wanted him to tell her she could just call him Luke--"Mr. Spencer" was becoming a little Eddie Haskell for me).  I was hoping he would see immediately that she had a crush on Lucky so he could clue in his kid.  Lucky and Lizzy had to put their plans off for another day.

Luke:  "Are you avoiding your mother?"

Luke:  "Your mother misses you for some reason.  Lulu's lucky.  I don't think she even remembers who the hell you are."
Lucky:  "Oh, come on, Dad.  Don't use Lulu to inspire guilt.  You can get a little more creative that that."

Once she had gone, Luke hugged his son (we wouldn't want to have any mushiness in front of the guests, now would we?), telling him he looked tense but looked good.  Then he asked why he hadn't been in touch and Lucky told him he was busy with school.  He tried to change the subject by asking about the family, but Luke reminded him that he'd already said they were fine.  He told Lucky that Lulu didn't remember him; Lucky wasn't buying it.  He played dumb, asking why the family hadn't come back.  Luke told him he was there to pick up Lucky and head back after a bit of business.

I found it interesting (I've had long talks about this with JudyOmega) that right from the start Luke pushed the responsibility and the source of guilt over on Laura.  He wasn't there because he wanted his son to come back to Switzerland with him; he was there because Laura wanted it.  It always intrigues me how Luke places himself so firmly in the role of patriarch even as he voices that control as Laura's in times like this.

B. Brother and Sister

Luke:  "How're you holding up, sweetheart?"
Bobbie:  "Aw, much better now that you're here."

Bobbie:  "So what do you make of it?  Why would Sonny leave Brenda at the altar?"
Luke:  "Maybe he finally came to his senses."

Bobbie:  "She wanted to get into that wedding so bad she swiped Ruby's invitation."
Luke:  "Well.  Sounds like my kind of girl."

Bobbie came in to greet her big brother, and the super siblings were reunited.  Bobbie started filling him in on everything he had missed, starting with Sonny.  I couldn't wait for the Luke/Jason scenes that would have to be coming.  Luke would have to find out what he could about things on this one.  They also chatted about Elizabeth Webber, and all the while Lucky hung back in the background, as if he could avoid his father's notice.

Luke:  "School again.  Well, don't study too hard.  I don't wanna see any As on that report card."

Lucky:  "It's nice to have you back."
Luke:  "Ya.  It's great to be here."

But Luke turned to his son and asked what he'd been up to and Lucky said he had a test to study for.  Luke let him go but told him they would have to talk soon.  When Lucky was gone, Luke asked Bobbie how she was doing on this terrible day.  She was surprised that he remembered; he told her he couldn't forget his only niece's birthday (nice use of the word "only").  The phone rang as he held her, then Lucky called down and said it was Tony.

He wasn't good; she said she was the same.  He talked about BJ's last birthday and they remembered her together.  He was crying, saying he missed her, and then he simply apologized over and over for calling.  This was a nice moment, and I was thankful for the timing on Geary's return, which let Luke be here for Bobbie on this day.  I felt sad that Bobbie and Tony couldn't be together to comfort each other, but I was glad Bobbie had her family around her.

Bobbie:  "He said he never wanted to leave himself open to that kind of pain again as long as he lived.  And now he's having a child with Carly."
Luke:  "What?"
Bobbie:  "Ya.  I didn't wanna tell over the phone, but, uh, Carly's pregnant."

Bobbie said that she would have gone to Tony if he weren't with Carly, and then spoke of wanting to adopt after BJ died.  When she told Luke that Carly was pregnant, the look on his face told me that the confrontation I'd been betting on was going to be soon.

Luke:  "Didn't you hear me yodeling at the crack of dawn?"

Luke:  "School.  That again?  This worries me."

Bobbie:  "Sarah...seems to be dating Nikolas at the moment."
Luke:  "Cassadine?"

On Tuesday's episode (day 3 of 3), Bobbie came downstairs, commenting on Luke's early rising.  Lucky was headed off to school and dodged a conversation with his father again.  Luke asked what this had to do with "those cute little Webber girls" and how it was going with Sarah.  Oops.  Bobbie told him that Sarah was dating Nikolas.  The look on Luke's face was great.  Clearly he's gonna resent Nikky moving in on his son's territory just as he probably won't believe anybody would choose a Cassadine over Junior.  But what will bother him more about this, I think, is that Lucky will get in Nik's face all over again because of this.  I still resent the implication that one of the primary catalysts for round 576 will be this teen drek.

Luke:  "And how long has the spawn from hell...and Sarah been...seein' each other."
Lucky:  "He's not seein' her, Dad."
Luke:  "Ok."
Lucky:  "I don't even know what's goin' on between them."
Luke:  "Ok."
Lucky:  "No one does.  But listen.  I mean, they're not a couple."
Luke:  "Ok."

Luke:  "Don't be late for biology."

Lucky grew angry at this point.  The above cracked me up; how many different inflections on the word "ok" can you have in one scene?  Ha!  Lucky's clearly in denial.  Bobbie tried to step in and he told her he could speak for himself.  He proceeded to rant about Nikolas and told Luke that he was looking out for a friend.  Luke let him go, saying that they would decide that night when they were going back to Switzerland.  Lucky told him he wasn't going.

Lucky:  "Who said I'm going back to Switzerland?"
Luke:  "Your mother."
Lucky:  "I'm stayin' here."
Luke:  "I hated this conversation the first time we had it.  I don't wanna have to have it again."

Luke:  "Hey look, sonny boy, I'll decide where we live.  Not you."

Lucky was adamant that he would go to Switzerland on Christmas break.  Luke put this off on Laura again and told Lucky that he would have to take it up with her.  Lucky said that they should come back here--that this was home--and headed out the door.  And the switch in rhetoric from mother's wishes to father's demands was quite humorous (above).

Luke:  "Who the hell is that?"
Bobbie:  "Funny you should ask.  Because I was just thinking how much he reminds me of you."
Luke:  "Barbara, when you say that, uh, Lucky reminds you of me, are you talking in general here...or do...do you mean specifically, at this time in his life...uh, the way he's interested in girls..."
Bobbie:  "Oh.  Uh, no, I...I think more in general.  You know, he's in the throes of a wicked crush and I think he's sporting a bit of a broken heart over Sarah's interest in Nikolas.  But you know, Lucky's a teenager.  She's the first girl that he's had any interest in.  When you went nuts over Laura you were a grown man with a lot of experience.  I think this is different."
Luke:  "Ya.  Well, I'm sure it is."

The look on Luke's face as we cut to another scene made me think this was going to be a simple comic moment of Luke's realization that his son was just like him.  But instead, we got a treat.  Geary's said in interview that he doesn't think that Luke should tell Lucky about the rape because it isn't relevant, but that if Luke ever saw Lucky behaving as he did back then, he would be concerned.  At this point, Luke questioned Bobbie's comparison in a kind of roundabout way and she immediately knew what he was talking about.

The fact that this incident is coming back up to be dealt with again makes me happy.  The rape wasn't romantic, and it wasn't pretty.  Actually, it was terrifying.  But it also involved two complex characters; the event was complicated then and it is complicated even more by history (both backstage and on screen).  But I'm so glad to see the hints of it resurfacing, and I trust that Geary (and Francis, if she agrees to come back) will handle anything dealing with that event in great style.  They've both indicated that they were somewhat displeased with the way tptb tried to sweep it completely under the carpet and Geary has indicated that it's always present in the way he plays Luke.  Personally, I'd like to see it come to the forefront not with Lucky, but with the Nikolas' parentage storyline.  Some great Luke and Laura stuff could come out of that, and Geary and Francis could deal with some of that vicious rewriting and set the record straight.

I think the rape is at the foundation of this couple.  Because of it, Luke always doubts himself.  He casts himself as Laura's rescuer over and over again precisely because of the moment he couldn't protect her...from himself.  He speaks in terms of fate, taking their relationship, for the most part, as a given, because to admit that they have a conscious choice in the matter would mean that he has to admit the possibility that she won't choose him.  And the rape is the reason that he can't walk away from the Cassadines.  He can't leave behind the thing that is staring him in the face and reminding him over and over of that night.  He believes Stavros raped Laura and Nikolas came out of that.  He couldn't protect her then, and it reminds him all too clearly of that first time that he couldn't protect her.  Finally, I don't believe you can say is that Luke isn't being punished for his crime.  He's punished for it daily...at his own hand.

Luke:  "You know, I didn't influence Lucky.  I didn't tell him how to feel about Nikolas.  He came to those decisions on his own just like you did."
Bobbie:  "Ok, ok.  So...all I'm saying is we're not talking rational consideration here, ok?"

Bobbie:  "He certainly didn't cheat on some English test only to pin it on some girl so he could take the blame and look like a hero in her eyes."
Luke:  "Why not?  Did it work?"

Luke continued by asking about Nikolas and the Webber girls.  Bobbie told him that this wasn't the beginning of anything.  Lucky and Nikolas have hated each other since Nik go to PC.  And Luke, true to form, went from something completely self-aware to something completely in denial.  I just love how he thinks he can both set down the rules as well as instill self-reliance in Lucky...and still deny his influence at the same time.  Bobbie told Luke she didn't think it was fair that Lucky wouldn't give Nik any credit, and used his latest charge about the test answer as an example.  Luke promptly demonstrated exactly how much influence he has over his son's judgement....  I hope that we're not going to drop Luke's reconsideration about Nikolas altogether, though.

Bobbie:  "You know, you're all alike.  Completely unreasonable on the subject of one another."
Luke:  "Well, if you think I'm unreasonable then don't talk to me about it."

Luke:  "Well, it's so clean, you know.  Peaceful.  God it's quiet there.  What's not to like, huh?"
Bobbie:  "Driving you batty, huh?"

Luke:  "I miss my kid, though.  And so does Laura.  She misses him bad.  In fact, apart from that she's really happy.  You know, she smiles all the time.  But you don't, do you Barbara?  There's a sadness in your eyes.  It wasn't there when I left."

Bobbie:  "You know, there are ways to prevent that kind of thing from happening."
Luke:  "Ya...not too many of 'em are a hundred percent.  And if Carly's taking care of it the odds change."

They left that one alone for a bit and chose another topic.  Bobbie turned to Laura, and Luke talked about her and the family for a bit (while picking the nuts off of the top of a muffin; Luke's eating habits have been showcased ever since his return, haven't they?), but then he turned to the subject they really needed to discuss...the one that Bobbie wasn't bringing up again.  He asked why she was sad and she spoke of Tony and Carly...and the baby.  She doesn't want him back and she likes her life now...but she wanted to adopt a child with Tony and he wouldn't do it.  She knows Tony loves Carly because he would have this child with Carly when he said he never would have another child.  She's trying to put on a brave front and look on the bright side, wishing the best for Tony.  Good for her (yes, Adrian, you heard right).  Luke just listened, not trying to give advice--but did put in his two cents above.

Luke:  "Oh no!  You don't still work for a living."
Bobbie:  "Oh please, that's another story for another day."

Bobbie headed to work.  I would have thought that she would have told him about that whole thing on the phone....

C. Uncle and Niece

Luke:  "Hello little mama."

Luke:  "You look good, Caroline.  Motherhood softened some of the hard edges."

Luke:  "Well, I wanted to tell you that I'm very hurt."
Carly:  "About what?"
Luke:  "About the fact you didn't tell me about the blessed event before I went to Switzerland.  Me bein' your Uncle Luke and all."
Carly:  "You'd be the very last person I would've told."
Luke:  "That's because you have no sense of family.  I'm gonna be the little bugger's great uncle until the day he dies, and I take the word great very seriously."

At the end of Tuesday's episode, Luke showed up at Carly's door.  Love it.  On Wednesday (day 4 of 4), he didn't launch into a rant right off the bat; I think he was actually glad to see her.  He started off slowly, but built up steam and told her in no uncertain terms that he was a part of her life--and her child's--for the long haul, no matter how she felt about that.  And she had made it his business because she kept on hurting the people he loved.  She insisted that there was no place for him in her new family and asked him not to screw things up for her.  He said he knew what she had done, and the look on her face said that she feared that he could actually know.

Luke:  "That was beneath you, Caroline."

Carly:  "You really honestly think that everything I do is about Bobbie?"
Luke:  "YES!!  Yes!  And it's sad.  Because everything you do is to escape the fact that you've got no life."

Luke:  "You're gonna love that kid with nothin' but lies, baby."
Carly:  "I am through lying."

But Luke was talking about the scene in The Outback when Bobbie found out Carly was pregnant.  He lost his temper and good at this point.  He said she had gotten pregnant to keep Tony and had been sticking it to Bobbie from the beginning.  Carly tried to placate him and told him that she had changed and she was sad he couldn't see that.  Luke wasn't buying it.  The thing is, I think Carly believed her own words, believing that she had solved everything and was starting on the straight and narrow.  But then the phone rang.  It was Lorraine, of course, pouring a bucket of cold water over that delusional head.

Carly:  "So, where were we?"
Luke:  "You were just about to tell Uncle Luke who was on the phone."

Luke just smiled as he listened in, knowing that something was up.  I love watching his reactions to her, because they're so conflicted.  He does care what happens to her, and does, I think, care about her.  But at the same time she frustrates him to no end.  She drives him to actually show his temper, and then he has to settle back in to the role of observer and questioner--the one in control.  Because he's not in control of Carly, no matter how much he tries to be.  And that must drive him crazy, not only because he's a control-monger, but also because it flies in the face of everything he believes family should be--and means that he can't protect his sister like he needs to.

Luke:  "I don't have to listen in to hear trouble."
Carly:  "The only trouble I have is you."
Luke:  "You're in a deep hole, baby.  I could help dig you out."
Carly:  "Ya right.  Like I really need you to be my hero?"
Luke:  "You've done worse."
Carly:  "But you would be miscast.  You're not a hero; you're a bully.  You have something over me and every chance you get you use it to torture me.  Now, maybe that's how you're heroes act, but where I'm from heroes have a little bit more feeling for other people."
Luke:  "I fly all the way from Switzerland to get a dagger in the heart from my favorite niece?"
Carly:  "Well, I just hope you'll promise to fly back real soon."
Luke:  "Wherever I go I think of you, honeybunch."

When Luke breaks out the "honeybunch," you know he's been there a long time.  :)  This conversation was interesting, not only because of the "hero" discussion that always seems to follow Luke, but also because of my conflicted responses to it.  On the one hand, I would love for Carly to take Luke up on his offer, because I would like to see him try to help her (and grow closer to her) at the same time he balances his loyalty to his sister.  He might start out thinking he was going to teach Carly a lesson, but I think he'd divide his loyalties more quickly than he thinks.  But on the other hand, I love seeing Carly be smart enough not to put herself completely into his hands.  While I agree with Luke that she doesn't understand the concept of family (why should she, given her background?  And how could she understand the Spencers, of all people, this quickly?), she understands enough to know where his primary loyalties lie right now.  I love them together.  :)

Luke:  "A package for AJ Quartermaine."
Carly:  "What, so he lives across the hall.  You ever hear of doin' someone a favor?"
Luke:  "Ya.  I'm gonna do you one now, baby.  Tell me whatcha got goin' with AJ Quartermaine."

Luke:  Well, the obvious answer to that is money.  But you're too subtle for that, so I'd say it has something to do with keeping some spud in your back pocket for the day that Tony finally gets wise to you."
Carly:  "You always gonna think the worst of me?"
Luke:  "Yep."

Luke:  "You banish me from your world of love and trust?"
Carly:  "I have moved past whatever you have to offer, Luke.  And if you can't see that?  It's your loss.  It really is.  If you'll excuse me, I have to get to work."
Luke:  "Well.  I get the message.  Don't have to hit me with a radiator cover.  Guess I'll just stroll across the hall there."
Carly:  "What?  What?  What do you mean."
Luke:  "I mean that when I ask AJ Quartermaine what secret he shares with Carly Roberts?  I bet the farm that he's got the same look of panic in his eyes that you have right now."

Luke:  "Take care of yourself, just like you always do.  Oh, I forgot to ask.  Is it a boy or a girl?"
Carly:  "Why?"
Luke:  "Because your baby's a Spencer."
Carly:  "We don't know."
Luke:  "We didn't want to know with ours either.  Mazel Tov!"

The doorbell rang; it was a package for AJ.  The knowledge that AJ lived next door made the bulb go off over Uncle Luke's head again....  He's still ready to believe the worst about her, and I'm waiting for the day that changes.  And somehow, I think she might be too.  But she told him now that she didn't want him in her life anymore and showed him the door.  (The funniest part of the above exchange was Luke holding one of the stuffed baby toys Tony had brought home.)  But when he said he was going to AJ, she balked.  His fishing paid off this time because Carly wasn't able to maintain a poker face; he reads her too easily.  And just maybe it's because she wants him to do so.  He's the one person in her life that sees through her and that's gotta be a liberating feeling when living with all those lies.  His exit was a hoot, and of course, now he knows that they didn't have a sonogram...at least that she'll admit.  One more way for her to get caught.

D. The In-Laws

Bobbie:  "How's your day going?"
Luke:  "Informatively.  I'm filling in a few blanks."

Tony:  "So, what are you doing back in town?"
Luke:  "That's not the question of the day."
Tony:  "Oh really, what is the question of the day?"
Luke:  "How the hell did you let this happen, doctor dad?"

Luke:  "What I don't understand, doctor, is how you could let her get herself knocked up.  Assuming you had anything to do with it."

Luke showed up at the hospital on Thursday (day 5 of 5) to bring a present to Amy from Laura.  He checked in with Bobbie first, and ran into Tony.  Tony and Bobbie spoke for a minute about the other night, and then Luke had a word with Tony.  Tony said that this baby was a "mistake" but that he was only happy and excited about it.  Luke backed off, and they affirmed their friendship with one another.

Amy:  "Bobbie said you looked great and she was absolutely right."

Luke:  "You mean, every hour on the hour day and night?"
Amy:  "Uh-huh."
Luke:  "Oh, Amy.  This explains a lot."
Amy:  "I find it very reassuring.  Besides, everybody has hobbies."
Luke:  "Not me."
Amy:  "Yes you do.  You just pay yourself to indulge them."

Amy:  "Boy, he's really become his own person, hasn't he.  Which is exactly what you raised him to be."
Luke:  "That's right, Amy, rub it in."

Amy bounded up and took the words right out of my mouth.  She quizzed him about everyone and they sat down in the lounge.  This scene was a scream.  Laura had sent her a cuckoo clock, and Amy told Luke that she had a clock collection and that all of them went off at the same time.  Too funny.  They talked about the family in Switzerland and Lucky.

Amy:  "Luke, you of all people have not forgotten what it's like."
Luke:  "No.  So, uh, Laura wanted me to ask you when you're gonna take some time off, come over to Switzerland so we can all sit on an alp and do a big family yodel fest."

And again we had an otherwise innocent moment of teasing that led to Luke's reflection on his past, I think.  They continued chatting and Amy said she just wanted them all home.

E. The Enemy

Luke:  "You look a little pale.  You sure that strict diet of human flesh agrees with you?"
Stefan:  "I assume you returned alone."
Luke:  "Well, it only takes one of us to check the necks of our clan for teeth marks."

Luke:  "Well, now you got another shot at the blonde who's IQ matches her bra size.
Stefan:  "Don't.
Luke:  "And now you don't even have to wheel her around.  She can walk and carry your luggage.  Where is the glassy eyed victim?  Shopping?"

Luke showed up behind Stefan's shoulder at the end of Thursday, with this half-scowl, half-smile that had me rolling in the floor.  Their encounter on Friday (day 6 of 6) wasn't as fun as others have been, but let's face it.  Stefan wasn't in very good spirits.  Stefan asked first if Laura was back and second if they were all leaving, skipping the insults.  Luke left them all in his part of the dialogue.

Luke:  "What happened, did, uh, Blondie's memory come back with her two-step?  You know, if she gets unruly, just shoot her again, man."
Stefan:  "If you really find hospital gossip compelling enough to fly back to Europe for, allow me to refer you to your sister-in-law."
Luke:  "Oh, no.  Amy just sells the photographs.  You seem to generate all the gossip.  Alexis!  The timing of a Swiss cuckoo.  We were just discussing your cousin's favorite people.  You're somewhere down that list, aren't you?"
Alexis:  "Speaking of the Swiss, I wasn't aware that you had been deported."
Luke:  "Oh yes.  Many times, from a variety of nations.  You been round the world lately?"
Alexis:  "How is this possible.  He's even more unbearable than he was before he left."
Stefan:  "This is tiresome."
Alexis:  "Why is he back?  And what does he want?"
Stefan:  "To be noticed, as always."

Luke:  "Ya, the arch is out of his brow.  I couldn't get him, uh, wound up this morning.  What happened?  Did the Japanese Yen go down, or is Italy out of silk shirts?"

Bobbie:  "It's as if he left her more paralyzed today than the day he shot her and put her in that wheelchair."
Luke:  "Something is missing from this story."

Luke:  "I'm a tourist this trip."

Luke:  "Surgery, huh.  Well, try to control yourself in there."
Bobbie:  "Control myself?"
Luke:  "Ya.  Well, I mean you can't tell me occasionally you haven't wanted to pick up that little brain saw and give Tony a close shave."

Luke followed Stefan around the nurses' station, hauling Alexis into their conversation--much to her surprise.  They left him quickly, and he asked Bobbie what was up.  She filled him in on the board meeting.  Bobbie said she didn't like Katherine, didn't know much about her job, but knew what Katherine was going through and so she sympathized with her.  Luke wanted to know why Stefan was turning her back on the woman that could accuse him of murder.  Luke said he didn't have any interest in it, but we all knew differently.  Bobbie made plans with him for supper the next night.

Luke:  "Don't get mad.  Get even."

Luke showed up at the boardroom at the end of Friday to find Katherine.  Love it.

****

I warned you this WIR was going to be long--or at least this section.  ;)  It amazes me, after this ten-week hiatus, how much Luke fascinates me.  He's exactly the kind of character I like: bad mixed with good, complicated and multi-leveled, burdened by his own history, misunderstood by some and hated by others...and just plain fun to watch, even when the scripts have him doing the same scene over and over.  Anthony Geary could read the phone book and I'd pay to see it.  When Luke rants all the time, people complain.  When he teases and cajoles all the time, people complain.  And he does a lot of both.  But the first scene I ever saw with Luke?  He was in the hospital with Lulu, who was quite possibly dying, and he was telling her a quiet little bedtime story about a princess.  And he had a look on his face that made me weep...and I didn't even know him then.  And that first impression of Luke stays with me through all the other stuff, and is the main reason why I like him.

II. Carly and AJ

A. AJ

Monica:  "Do you have company?"
AJ:  "Uh, just three women, but I'm sure they'll understand."

At the beginning of Monday's episode, AJ had some flashbacks and then Monica knocked on his door.  She was there to apologize, but he told her that she had no way of knowing he hadn't slipped.  But she was also sorry for dropping out of his life and noted that he had become bitter.  He invited her in.  They chatted about the apartment and she told him that she missed having him around; he was glad it mattered to her.  Alan was always there in their conversation, but they rarely called him by name.

Carly:  "Will you please tell him I stopped by?"
Monica:  "Will you get away from this door before I give in to an overwhelming rage to tell Tony the truth about the woman who is going to have his child?"

But Monica was primarily concerned with his proximity to Carly.  He told her that Carly had no power there.  He took a phone call in the other room, and Monica answered the door when Carly knocked.  Carly turned on the pitiful, remorseful act, saying she wanted to salvage things with AJ.  Monica repeated her threats and slammed the door in her face.

AJ asked who was at the door and didn't believe Monica's lies about a kid selling candy.  He knew it was Carly, and Monica admitted it.  But she wanted to know why AJ put up with her and why he would have probably let her in if Monica hadn't been there.  AJ reassured her again and said he didn't want Alan to know because Tony would find out (I understand that he's keeping this as quiet as he can, but with Keesha the blabbermouth and Monica already knowing, I don't see how he can believe he can keep this secret for very long).  Monica agreed again to abide by his wishes.

B. Carly

On Monday, Tony remembered Lorraine and she and Carly covered, saying they had just run into each other.  Lorraine made jibes about the due date and sonograms, etc., until Carly practically ran her out of the apartment and told her never to come back (Lorraine had some threats of her own, and they were far more convincing).  She stopped at AJ's door on the way back and met Monica (see above), which upset her all over again.  She had to come up with a cover story for Tony on the fly...but then, that's her special talent, isn't it.

Her story was for nothing, though, because Tony was looking at a BJ's picture and remembering her death--it would have been her birthday.  Carly began to comfort him but he went into the other room to be alone after trying to explain how the bad things get wrapped up in the good and having her put his hand on her stomach.  He couldn't face her or the baby just them.  The look on her face was horrible, and I thought how hard it must be to be turned away by the person you've convinced yourself your life revolves around.  I felt badly for her just then, but I also felt badly for Tony, facing the death of his child in the face of his new child's imminent arrival and not feeling like Carly could understand or help.

After he spoke with Bobbie, he came out of the bedroom and apologized for running away.  She said the only reason she was hurt was because she couldn't do anything to help him.  He told her that she helped him every day--her and the baby.  And I was actually really glad to see him happier because of her and her not feel rejected.

On Tuesday, Lorraine called about her money, saying she wanted it by noon.  Tony showed up, giving her a reason to get off the phone; he had gone shopping for the baby and brought her back a stroller full of surprises.  He was ready to start looking forward to their future and their baby.  He then gave her a picture of the house he was buying for their new family.  She was floored; the only reason she wasn't completely happy is that it was in Port Charles, rather than further away.  Tony told her to stop worrying about what other people thought, and then he left for work.

Carly called Lorraine, who had left for the day.  She opened the door, headed out to find some cash...and found Luke instead.

C. Carly and AJ

AJ:  "Carly, sorry is what you say to someone when you bump into 'em coming off an elevator.  For what you did to me, sorry doesn't cut it."

Carly was bringing AJ his package.  She claimed to be worried because it was from AA; I actually believe her, but I find it strange that this unselfish worry would come so fast after her confrontation with Luke.  I suspect that she wanted to check in and see that Luke wasn't with AJ--but maybe I'm thinking the worst of her too, since nothing in the scene suggested that, just the timing.  AJ didn't buy her worry either.  She apologized; he didn't buy that either.  She got all pouty when AJ told her again he wasn't going to forgive her, and I'm growing a little tired of them replaying this same scene again.  I'm glad Carly's penitent.  But I think she's deluding herself if she thinks saying sorry over and over is going to make things better.  She won't find peace until she tells the truth.  But that's a choice she won't admit she has.

Lorraine showed up at the gym for the money.  Carly gave excuses but Lorraine wanted her money before she left.  Carly was concerned someone would see them, but Lorraine wouldn't leave (and called her "Snarly").  AJ arrived just then, but left on Thursday's show before he saw Lorraine.  Carly went to fetch the money.

AJ:  "Because this isn't about you, believe it or not.  That's right, Carly.  You see, the world doesn't revolve around you.  The sun doesn't rise and set around you.  People don't get drunk and stay sober because of you."

On her way out, she had another exchange with AJ.  She said she was worried; he didn't buy it.  Things went on as they had been, with him letting her know that he was keeping her secret for reasons of his own.  And that included the fact that the baby needed Tony.  He went on to run into Keesha at the juice bar and have the same old conversation.  He agreed to meet her at The Outback for Dara's performance.

D. Carly and Tony

Bobbie:  "She graduated at the bottom of her class.  No wonder she's a pal of yours."

And when Carly arrived with the money to pay Lorraine, Bobbie saw the pay off.  That kid can't buy a break.  ;)  Lorraine sweet-talked Bobbie, but afterwards, Carly knew she was going to have to do another one of her spin doctor acts.  Tony entered just as Bobbie and Carly started rehashing their same old argument, but Bobbie told Tony to ask Carly about the money as she left.  Very nice.  :)

Tony:  "Carly, life does not have to be that complicated."

Carly:  "Why couldn't I just trust that?"
Tony:  "Good question.  What do you think?"
Carly:  "I think that the next bad thing that you find out about me is gonna be the one that makes you walk away."

Tony said he already knew the money was gone because he had been to the cash machine (I'm betting there's a daily limit on withdrawals, not that she emptied the account).  She told him she had done something horrible, and hugged him.  On Friday, she told him that she was repaying a loan from back in nursing school (when he paid her tuition) and that Lorraine was jealous and wanted the money back.  You didn't really think she was going to tell the truth, did you?  She said she didn't want him to know this, either then or now, because she didn't want him to think ill of her just as their baby was going to be born.  He told her that both of them had made mistakes before they got together and that he wished she would just trust him instead of making things complicated.  You know, forget about when's he gonna figure things out.  I'd leave her just because I'd get tired of her explanations and insecurities and whininess, at this point.

She noted AJ's attitude towards her at this point, and they made plans for dinner later.  She left and AJ asked for Tony to hold open the door while he stored some boxes.  They swapped some small talk about the baby and Tony asked what was wrong and why he was distant.

E. Carly and AJ

AJ:  "Carly, just go away."

AJ got a call and was headed out as Carly was headed in.  She was worried that Tony would get suspicious because of his behavior; AJ said it was the best he could do.  She went into the closet and stood on a wheelchair to stack boxes on the shelves--real smart.  AJ stopped her and said he would do it.  But Carly removed the box that was holding open the door, and the end of Friday found them locked in the storage closet together and very grumpy about it.  This prompted a thread on ratsa about who was the next pair to get stuck in some enclosed space together and why.  I'm hoping for Alexis and Luke....

In the meantime, Lorraine was at The Outback whining about Carly (no names) and taking several drinks.  But Mac knows she was there.  She asked for the phone and called Tony, telling him that someone had a sonogram at Mercy and he should look close to home.

This week was primarily a repeat of things we've seen before.  Carly upset about AJ; AJ hating Carly; a near miss with one of Carly's lies.  Other than the Luke scenes, the week in this storyline just kind of dragged on in repetition.  They need to let somebody find out something soon and get it back into gear.

III. The Webbers

A. Nik and Sarah

Monday found Nik and Sarah still smoochin'.  Yawn.  She pulled away, saying she was overwhelmed, and he told her she was beautiful.  He wanted to go away, but Sarah was determined to face down the charges at school.  They discussed school a bit.  It doesn't matter to him, but it does to her.  And he knows that, which is why he took the blame.  They decided to go to talk to Audrey and set things straight with her.

Lizzy came home and Audrey told her that she knew Lizzy hadn't been to work.  She told Audrey where she was and Audrey grounded her for lying.  Lizzy protested that she was only worried about Sarah, but Audrey wasn't buying it.  Nikolas and Sarah interrupted them.  Audrey sent Lizzy upstairs, but she hung out around the corner of the stairs and listened in.

Audrey believed Nik when he said he didn't steal the test, but she was worried about who had done this to Sarah.  Nikolas said that he would figure it out, then Sarah walked him out.  He was worried Audrey wouldn't believe him because he was a Cassadine.  Liz came downstairs and said that Nikolas was conning both of them.  She and Sarah sniped back and forth, Sarah took the high road, and Liz went out to find Gatsby.

B. Lizzy

She found Nikolas instead.  He told her that he the person who had set up Sarah had to have access to her bag twice, and that he had a theory on whom it might have been.  He didn't say it, but he left no doubt in her mind that he had decided it was her.

Some icky early morning squabbling between the sibs and then Sarah headed to school to meet Nikolas about the exam answers.  Audrey wasn't buying Lizzy's illness story, so Lizzy told her she was in trouble--Nikolas was trying to set her up and Audrey and Sarah were buying it.  She did have to admit that she was eavesdropping along the way, but she launched into a rant.  I was prepared to be bored, but she surprised me.  Even though she's lying through her teeth, the emotions beneath her insecurities (masked by hatred and frustration and sarcasm) are quite compelling.  Becky Herbst is the highlight of this poor storyline right now for me, and these scenes were surprisingly good.  They were the same things we've heard over and over, but her delivery was wonderful and the dialogue wasn't too bad.  She pleaded for her grandmother's support and Audrey agreed to defend her...unless she found out Lizzy was lying.

C. At School

Back at school, the gals wanted to know what happened with Nikolas.  Then he walked in, the music started (I'm so tired of that song) and they held hands sappily in the middle of the room while everyone looked on.  Ick.  Nik headed to the principal's office with Mr. Murty and said that his uncle didn't need to be there.  After he was gone, Lucky started in on Sarah about her late night meeting with Nikolas.  Sarah stopped him and told him they were brothers; Lucky set off on a mini-rant.  Sarah left him and the friends started in about her and Nikolas being serious.  Nikolas had a few days to prove that he didn't do it, and he agreed with her that Lucky didn't do it.  He told her part of his theory, and Sarah caught on the "she."

Nik:  "I'm gonna tell him about my little theory that I have about who put those test answers in Sarah's purse."
Lizzy:  "Aliens?"

Lizzy interrupted them on Wednesday's show, then went to sit with Lucky (knocking Sarah's bag off the table) after they brushed her off.  They each set in on Sarah in their own special way.  Lizzy changed her tactic and told Lucky that he had been right and she was worried about Sarah because she hadn't figured out that Nikolas was no good on her own.  She was rewarded with Lucky's full interest and attention.  The concerned little sister act was working, at least on Lucky.

Nikolas:  "Family members, they turn against each other sometimes.  I know that.  It's not a pleasant thing, but it does happen, Sarah."
Sarah:  "Liz and I aren't you and Lucky."
Nikolas:  "I know.  I know.  But what you are might not be any better."

Meanwhile, Sarah told Nikolas that she didn't believe Lizzy would set her up and that she didn't like him accusing her.  He went to his meeting, leaving Sarah to begin to face the fact that her sister may quite possibly have set her up.  Lizzy went over to ask what he had said about her and Sarah lied and said they weren't talking about her.  Lizzy played supportive and they rambled on about Lucky and Nikolas.  She slipped up by mentioning the lucky pen, and Sarah didn't remember telling Liz about it.

Nik returned, saying he was suspended for another day and had an F for the first 2 weeks of English.  He told her he was ready to leave it at that, but Sarah insisted on knowing the truth.  Lizzy should have skipped the attempt.

Basically, I resent this story more and more.  I hate that Lucky and Nikolas, two potentially fascinating characters, are tied up in a teenage love triangle with a who-stole-the-test-answers mystery for good measure.  Ick and double ick.  The only good things left for me are Becky Herbst, who doesn't have the power to pull this one off all by herself (Sarah still bores me silly) and Audrey's interaction with her granddaughters.

IV. The Cassadines

A. The Fall (-Out)

Alexis stood and went to Katherine at the beginning of Monday's episode.  She was as frantic as I've seen her and was calling Katherine's name.  And as the opening credits began to roll, Stefan walked in and found Katherine lying on the floor with Alexis bending over her.  He took over, checking for breath and ordering Alexis to call for help.  As he bent over her, pleading with her to be alright, her eyelids fluttered and we knew that she had regained her senses.

Katherine:  "You are such a liar."

Katherine:  "Lucky for me the two of you are such terrible shots...so to speak."

Meanwhile, Alexis gave him a quick version of what had happened and Stefan said she should have left Katherine alone.  As he pleaded with her some more, she let him know she was awake with the above line.  She told him that he had just proven that he cared about her; he told her that it would be an inconvenience to have her lifeless body in his conservatory.  She told Alexis to shut up with her insistence that it was an accident and turned back to Stefan, insisting that he was lying and she wanted to know why.

Alexis stepped in again and Katherine slung something about keeping Alexis' her away from Stefan as the helicopter arrived.  I wanted to see some sign that Stefan had heard that and was wondering, but he just circled the wagons, as Katherine put it, and sent her away.  She went, but said that this wasn't over.

Alexis:  "I didn't push her; she fell."
Stefan:  "Still, you had no right to treat her that way."

Alexis:  "I told you what happened.  I'm not inclined to be interrogated any further."

Alexis started in defending herself and Stefan asked for the entire story from the beginning.  I for one wanted to hear Alexis retell it, since I'm interested in such things, but we came back in at the end of her story (and she had already told it in a very short version when he first arrived).  Stefan chided her, asking her why she would treat her own flesh and blood with such contempt and asked her why she disliked Katherine so much.  She didn't answer.  Sometimes the way he treats her is so infuriating to me--all trust and dependence one minute and cold, arrogant reprimands the next.

This whole fall thing was a waste of my time.  While I loved seeing Katherine back to her old fighting self, the scenario was repetitive.  We learned nothing new from it, and we could have had Stefan realize that Alexis truly disliked Katherine in a less melodramatic way.  It was a lame weekend cliffhanger, in my book, and the device--a fall down the stairs--is in danger of becoming as worn out as Lucy's disrobing at every Nurses' Ball.  At least that's entertaining.

B. Nikolas and Alexis

Stefan:  "Nikolas, what exactly have you done to warrant a suspension from this dubious institution of learning?"

Nikolas was headed to school on Tuesday when Alexis attempted to stop him to talk about Katherine.  Stefan did stop him; he wanted to talk about the suspension.  Alexis chided him for choosing Katherine as his emergency contact; he said he chose someone that lived close to the school.  Nikolas told them what happened; Stefan didn't find it as obvious as Nikolas did and wanted him to stop going to public school.

After Nikolas left, Stefan made an appointment with the principal to discuss the suspension.  They headed to the hospital, anticipating a boring meeting that evening.

C. Katherine and Edward

Edward:  "I'm sorry Katherine.  I cannot support your return to the staff under any circumstances."

Edward:  "And I suggest that this, uh, this state of euphoria you describe could be a result of, um, metabolic imbalance.  Or maybe too much sugar in your diet.  Perhaps you haven't been seeing things as clearly as you think you have."

In the meantime, Katherine went to Edward to ask him to put her termination on the agenda for the board meeting that night.  She wanted Stefan to have to answer for his actions and the chance to defend her reputation (She gave us some baloney about GH and the people there meaning a lot to her; I didn't buy it, since it's clear they don't mean enough to her to pay back the money she stole from the Nurses' Ball.  Are we ever going to get our satisfaction about that?).  But Edward didn't want to do it.  He wanted her away from Stefan, but she told him she didn't think she could do that.  She launched into a litany of the things Stefan had done for her.  Edward's response (above) cracked me up.  Edward spoke of Brenda; Katherine said Stefan didn't have a choice, that Alexis was keeping them apart.  She needed to know what lies she told him so she could disprove them, and to do that, she needed to be nearby.  But in the end, Katherine got her way and Edward agreed to add her dismissal to the agenda.

D. The Board Meeting

Edward sent for Alexis and Stefan and informed them about the changes to the meeting agenda, giving him the opportunity to reverse his decision before the issue went public.  Katherine ducked her head in (did somebody say duck?) and Edward told her he had added her to the meeting.

Monica:  "I never thought I'd say I was in Katherine Bell's corner."
Alan:  "Neither did I, but think of the alternative."

On Thursday, everyone gathered to see the show.  Katherine thanked Monica for her support, but the Qs made it clear this was only about her job.  Edward checked in with Katherine; she thanked him as well.  He made it clear this was only about her reputation.  She was determined to prove Alexis was behind this.  Alexis, meanwhile, was noting the cordiality to Katherine, saying that she had everyone's sympathy since her "grandstand walk in at the Nurses' Ball."  She was concerned that they would reverse Stefan's decision.  He assured her that he wouldn't allow that.

Everything looked like it was in Katherine's favor, until Stefan dropped his bomb.  He said that Katherine had been misappropriating funds and doing other questionable things in her department.  He produced evidence and Katherine knew it was manufactured.  He talked about their relationship in the coldest of terms.  And then he threw her performance at the Nurses' Ball back in her face.  But she backed off, retracting her request and accepting her termination.  Personally, I for one wanted Stefan to bring up the Nurses' Ball funds she stole.  But since we're currently in the Kat-is-sassy-but-still-a-saint mode, I had no such luck.

Edward wanted her to continue, but she had received her answer.  She knew Stefan was behind this because Alexis looked surprised at the ammunition herself.  I was hoping this meant she was mad at him, rather than blaming Alexis and believing in him still, but I didn't get my wish.  Everyone left, and Katherine sent Alexis away because she wanted to talk to Stefan.  She asked him again why he was doing this.  He gave the same answer and walked away.

Stefan:  "I'm not ready to come home right now, Alexis."

Alexis tried to comfort Stefan, but he wasn't speaking.  Later he told her to go home without him and she chided him for spending nights at the hospital.  When she asked him when the last night he spent in his own bed was, he thought back to that night with Katherine.  Again, he brushed her off.

E. Bobbie and Katherine

Katherine:  "But you I should have listened to."
Bobbie:  "You know, people warned me too."

Alan ran into Bobbie after the meeting and told her what had happened to Katherine.  Bobbie went to the conference room to find her.  On Friday she offered some support--with a lot of grace, actually, and no "I told you so."  Katherine admitted that she should have listened to Bobbie, but insisted that she and Stefan had something that Bobbie never had with him.  Bobbie told her not to let Stefan win; Katherine said he already has.

V. Mac and Felicia

Maxie:  "Do you think you could be my dad?"

Felicia and Maxie showed up at The Outback on Wednesday's show.  Mac is really cute with that little girl, I have to say.  Maxie was going to do a presentation at school the next day all about the artifact, and she asked Mac to be her stand-in father.  Cute!  Of course Mac agreed.

Dara came in, nervous about her performance that night.  Mac had finally advertised, and it had thrown her back into stage fright.  Mac was upset that Jason was there; not only did he think Jason was still keeping Sonny's business going in PC, he knew that Jason had helped Sonny set Brenda up.

Mac:  "It's just a doll, Felicia.  Just keep telling yourself.  It's just a doll.  It's just a doll...  It's just a doll..."
Felicia:  "He didn't mean it.  He didn't mean it, really."

Felicia said that Maxie was the most excited about Mac going to the presentation.  He asked her about a movie that weekend but she turned him down, saying she was seeing someone else...the doll.

On Friday, Dara and Maxie and Felicia and Mac and Keesha all prepared for Dara's performance.  AJ called to say he would be cutting it close, so Keesha was to save him a seat.  Maxie helped Dara get ready and let her rub the doll for luck; Mac and Felicia talked again about her interest in it.  Felicia and Mac also chatted about Katherine.  As Dara started, Keesha grew more and more worried about AJ.

VI. Jax and Brenda

Jax showed up at Brenda's door on Wednesday.  She smiled and promptly told him that she was completely over Sonny.  Jax was smart enough not to contradict her, and they set off to have lunch together.  She didn't want to stay away from people, she wanted to prove that she was alright.  I felt worse for her now.  And it was only going to get worse.

At The Outback, Jason got a phone call from Emily about Brenda leaving with Jax.  Outside, Brenda and Jax arrived.  Brenda was exulting over their dodging the press and, inside, insisted that they sit in the middle of the room.  Then she saw Jason.  She went to him, demanded to know who he was talking to, and then demanded that he give her the phone.  He let her have it, knowing he couldn't convince her it was Emily, and she took in and screamed into it, thinking it was Sonny.  When she heard Emily's voice, she grew shaky, looked around at all the people staring, and went outside.

Jax told Jason again to stay away from Brenda, and to leave the next time he saw her enter.  Mac was disappointed that Jax didn't deck him, but Felicia sympathized with Jason a bit.

Brenda:  "I just thought that hating Sonny would make the pain go away.  And then when that didn't work I just thought hating myself...would work.  And then I thought I could just pretend like the whole thing never happened.  Nothing worked.  And now I don't know what to do."
Jax:  "That's why you've got me."

Meanwhile, Jax went outside to Brenda.  He told her they would know better next time and she just wasn't ready.  She spoke the above quietly, and he just listened and held her.  One could do worse.

Brenda:  "I can't stay with you here because I would be doing it again."
Jax:  "Doing what?"
Brenda:  "Taking selfishly.  Taking advantage of your generosity and you...and your decency and letting you nurture me and take care of me after, you know, I feel like I treated you pretty miserably in all of this."
Jax:  "You make me sound like a bit of a chump.  Is that how you see me?"

Brenda:  "But I am going to deal with the consequences of the choice that I made and I'm going to deal with it by myself.  I am going to go through this pain and learn from it and grow from it and decide what I am going to do about it.  And I absolutely cannot use your loving, nurturing heart to be my drug of choice.  Because, see, that would be me going back to the same way that I used to be.  See, this is really perfect, isn't it?  Remember all the noise I was making about being my own person and...and being aside from a man and kicking my drug habit and...and...and oh, finding out who I really am.  Well I really did that, didn't I.  See, Jax, you're not the chump.  I am.  I've been this stupid, mindless, blind, pathetic girl who's let this love...this all-consuming love that I thought I had for Sonny and I let...I let him make a fool out of me and I let him ruin my life."

On Thursday, they talked some more about what had happened, back at the penthouse.  She had actually convinced herself that she was alright, and was appalled that she had slipped so hard.  She told Jax to stop making excuses, and he said that he understood better than she did.  She didn't see it that way and she wanted to go back to the Gatehouse.  Jax said that she would stay there with him.  Brenda resisted, and she had some of the most self-aware moments that I've ever seen her have (by the time she threw the glass at the end of the speech above, I was cheering for her--and never do that).  But in the end, Jax won out.  He played on her guilt and her vulnerability, her pain and her memories, and convinced her that she would be better off staying with him.  Even though some of his things are exactly what she needed to hear, offering himself up to be used while he took care of his own feelings still doesn't seem like the mental health choice for either one of them.

I knew it.  When she went to stay with the Qs I was so happy, thinking that tptb would give her some space and some connections with "family" rather than pushing her right back in there with Jax.  And I found myself resenting Jax for pushing her as well.  He is continually telling her that he knows better than she does, and while he may be right more often than he is wrong, he's just telling her--without meaning to do so--that she can't take care of herself.  That's not what she needs, in my opinion.

Emily:  "And, uh, and tell her that we're lucky, me and her.  I mean, it's cool we get to start over again."

At the end of Thursday, Emily came down to the Gatehouse to find Jax packing for Brenda.  Emily totally understood the phone call and applauded her decision to staying with Jax.  Edward, however, didn't see it in so positive a light.  On Friday, he demanded again to know what Jax was doing there, and Jax told him he had nothing to say about the matter.  Edward was infuriated and questioned Jax's motivations.  Emily came to take him away to see Dara's performance and told Edward Brenda wasn't doing so well...she was just pretending.

V:  "Ya, the, uh, faux-primitive style.  Definite statement about the ravages of eating disorders in our times."

While he was gone, V arrived to find Brenda.  Brenda tried to tell her why she was there, but V said she knew and would do some quick work in the other room.  When she came back and Brenda asked what she meant, V told her that she only meant that Jax was a friend to Brenda and would give her a place to stay.  Brenda asked about Dog & Bird, and V explained how the book came to be.  They chatted about her sketches and moved to the table to look at more (I have no idea where the glass in the floor went).  V was sure she'd be bored, but Brenda said she always envied people who could draw and did a stick figure for her.  They were laughing at the sketch and V's faux-interpretation as Jax came in.  He smiled, as did I, and I thought how good V might be for Brenda.

V took her leave and Jax thanked her for making Brenda laugh.  But I was afraid that when she left that was the last of the good Jax and V scenes.  Brenda said she liked her, starting to tease him about V, but he told her that he was just happy she was laughing.  She said she was glad she was there.  The settled in together, being overly polite as if to make it clear she was only a guest.  But it was clear that Jax remembered all of her favorites.  Brenda looked at one of V's pictures and remembered her wedding bouquet...and ran out of the door.  Whatever.

VII. The Quartermaines

Monica:  "It's like you're having some kind of so called power over him."
AJ:  "Or maybe I just...I don't trust him with the information."
Monica:  "I know how you feel about your father.  But your anger is misplaced this time.  You wanna lash out at somebody?  You wanna get back at somebody?  Start with Carly Roberts."

Monica:  "So I'll see you at the board meeting?"
Alan:  "Ya.  I'm gonna be the guy in the corner shooting huge spit balls at Stefan Cassadine."

On Wednesday, Alan came into the gym and started in on AJ about a trainer.  He was brusque and accusatory, but AJ kept an even head.  Monica overheard and reprimanded Alan for attacking his son.  Alan just walked away with one last jab, went outside, and took some pills while Monica asked AJ again to tell his father the truth.  This was basically the same conversation that they had the night before.  I leave it here because of the Alan scenes surrounding it.  When he came back, he was cheerful and jovial and chatty.  AJ looked a bit confused, but Monica didn't seem to find anything weird about it.  This was the first set of scenes so close together that we saw the effects of Alan's drug use.

AJ stopped him and asked to speak to him for a minute, and I believe he would have told him the truth.  Maybe it was Alan's good mood.  AJ may say that he doesn't trust Alan with the information at this point, but I think he also doesn't want to face Alan's disbelief of his story one more time.  AJ started talking about rehab and Alan was actually calm, but Carly arrived and interrupted them so Alan didn't hear the truth.  Monica asked Alan later at the board meeting (Thursday) if AJ had told him anything more about that night.  Alan said he hadn't and brushed it off.