Search and Rescue: Four Lost Hearts:

Bo and Nora/Ned and Alexis Crossover

~Prologue~

Fast forward one year...Llanview, Pennsylvania:

Bo and Gabby are still engaged; he’s having a hard time committing to a wedding date, which she blames on his unresolved feelings for Nora. Nora ran for DA but lost; deciding to go back into private practice. They told Matthew the truth about Bo being his father shortly before the election. He’s thrilled that Bo is his father and secretly longs for his parents to get back together.

Fast forward one year...Port Charles, New York:

Ned and Alexis finally settled on joint custody of Kristina. Ned was never arrested for rape; Stefan never came to town. They just decided for Kristina’s sake there would be no more fighting. Skye broke it off with Ned when he settled on joint custody. He also gained custody of Brook Lynn when Lois was tragically killed in an accident the previous September. Brook Lynn is the age she should actually be; around 9, not a teenager, and she and Alexis have become close. Alexis has her law practice back and Ned is running ELQ.

Search and Rescue: Four Lost Hearts

Chapter One:

LAX…Two days before Christmas 2004

She runs up to the ticket counter, briefcase in hand, looking at her watch, swearing under her breath, "First class ticket to LaGuardia, please.”

The ticket agent hands her the ticket and she turns to look around the crowded waiting area; looking for an empty seat. She finally finds one and plops down in it; glancing over at the woman sitting next to her; noticing the picture of the little girl she holds in her hand.

She throws her cell phone into her briefcase and crosses her arms in disgust. She runs her fingers back over the picture she holds in her hand, not noticing the woman sitting beside her until she heard her voice, "She's a beautiful little girl."

Turning towards the voice, she smiles, “Thank you," she says softly. "I can't wait to get home and hold her in my arms. This past week has been unbearable with out her, especially since..." she looks over at the woman sitting next to her wondering why she was just about to spill her guts to her.

She raises her eyebrows, "Since?"

"Oh well let's just say my little girl and I spent a lot of time apart after she was born," looking back down at the picture, "I'm sorry...I have no idea why I'm telling you that.”

Thinking about the time she missed away from Matthew when he was that small, "I understand," she ran her hand through her hair, "Believe me, I do.” She lets out a breath, "I have a little boy, he's 6 now, but I missed out on a lot his first year and even what I was there for, I..." she was lost in her thoughts of that time of her life, preparing to tell this woman everything. She looks over at her again, "well, let's just say I understand." She gave her a weak smile.

She looked over at this woman, a complete stranger who suddenly seemed like a kindred spirit, "Well all the time I lost with my daughter was of my own doing, at least she had her father..." her voice trailing off as her mind fills with thoughts of Ned.

She thought about Matthew being with Sam, the only father he had ever known and yet, he wasn't his father, not really, he and Bo had lost so much time, "My son wasn't even with his father, the only good thing was he was too young to remember that time of his life," she looked over at the picture, "she will never remember the time you spent apart, only you will. Not that that's much comfort."

Flight 1649 LA to NY-LaGuardia is delayed; please check at the ticket counter for the new boarding time.

She stood up with the woman next to her, walking over to check the status of her flight. They listened as the ticket agent told them the news. "Storms in the Midwest and the East have most of the planes grounded. We should be getting a plane in around 3:30. But that's not a guarantee at this point."

Shaking her head, she was going to miss skating with Matthew in Rockefeller Center with Santa, the lights in Central Park. "Dammit," she cursed under her breath, as she pulled out her phone.

*~*

Running her hands through her hair in frustration, she was going to miss Brook Lynn and Kristina with Santa in Rockefeller Center and seeing the lights in Central Park, “I can’t believe this is happening,” she mumbles under her breath as she pulls out her phone.

*~*

She walks across to an empty gate, so she can make the call in private, not wanting anyone to see the tears she knows will fall when she tells her son she can't make it.

Sitting in a crowded restaurant in New York City, he pulls out his cell phone, "Buchanan."

"Bo, my flight is delayed."

He looks over at Matthew, "How long?"

*~*

She reaches into her briefcase and pulls out her phone. She walks over to a corner, knowing she was having a hard time keeping her emotions in check.

Sitting in the same crowded restaurant he pulls out his own ringing phone, "Ned Ashton."

"Ned it's me, umm...my flights been delayed."

He looks down at Kristina playing with the fringe on her blanket, then over at Brook who is just staring at him, "How long?"

*~*

“They’re saying a 3:30 departure at the earliest,"

"You'll miss the ice skating.”

"I know," she wipes a tear from her eye, "take pictures?"

"It's not the same; he's been talking about it all day."

*~*~

"Right now they're saying that the earliest departure they can give us is 3:30."

"You're going to miss Kristina and Brook with Santa; the lights in Central Park.”

"I know", looking down at the picture in her hand, her eyes filling with tears, "take pictures, okay."

"It's our daughter's first trip to see Santa with her big sister; Brook’s been excited about it all day, it’s not going to be the same."

*~*

"What do you want from me Bo, it's not like I planned this!", her voice starting to rise.

Softening his tone, "I know, I know, I'm sorry, it's just that I hate having to tell him, he misses you, you know. He's definitely his momma's little boy." He smiled as Matthew looked at him, her brown eyes staring back at him.

She smiled, "Tell him, I love him?"

"Nope, you tell him," he hands the phone to Matthew, "Someone wants to talk to you champ."

"Hello?" He asks warily.

"Hey sweetie, how do you like NY?"

"I love it; I can't wait to go skating, you going to be here soon?"

A catch in her throat, "No, sweetie, I won't be able to make it today, my planes been delayed."

"Oh," dejected, "when will you be here?"

"Actually, I will probably just have to meet you in Llanview. Have fun with your dad, okay?"

"Yeah," he hands the phone to Bo.

"I love you." She says to nobody.

Bo takes the phone back, "So, I guess we will see you in Llanview then?"

"Yeah, and Bo take pictures."

He smiles, "I will, don't worry. And Nora, have a safe flight."

"Thanks." She hangs up the phone, "I hate seeing my little boy grow up in pictures.” she says to herself.

 

*~*

"I know that Ned, but it's not like I planned this. Don’t you think I’d rather be there with the girls than stuck her in this airport!” her voice rising.

His tone softens as he looks into the confused eyes of his daughter, "I know...and I'm sorry, Alexis...it's just that Brook's been looking forward to this, and she really wanted us to do this together."

"Tell her that I’ll be there in the morning and we’ll have a special breakfast and we’ll put up the tree."

“No, you can tell her yourself,” handing her the phone, “Alexis wants to talk to you, honey.”

“Hey honey, are you having fun with your dad and Krissy in NY?”

"Yeah, but Alexis...when are you getting here? We're waiting to take Krissy to see Santa."

"I'm sorry sweetie but you're going to have to go without me. My plane is stuck in LA and I won't be able to make it. Your dad's going to take a lot of pictures and I'll see you when I get home, okay?"

"Okay, Alexis....but it’s not going to be the same", she says handing the phone back to Ned.

“I love you, Brook,” she says to nobody.

"I guess we'll see you in Port Charles then."

"Yeah, and Ned..."

"Yeah…”

“I'm really sorry I disappointed Brook...especially this Christmas."

"She'll be fine, don’t worry. I’ll talk to you later. Oh and Alexis, have a safe flight.”

*~*

She stands, picking up her things and heads for the bar If she has 2 hours to kill she might as well get something to eat, since she hadn't had time to all day, and after that conversation with Matthew, she needed a drink too. She sits at the bar, "Martini please; three olives."

*~*

She threw her phone in her briefcase and looked around the crowded airport. She spotted the bar not far away and decided to get herself something decent to eat, and she could definitely use a drink. She slides into the bar stool and looks up at the bartender, "Vodka on the rocks, chilled please."

She looks over at the woman she had been seated next to earlier, "Delay screwed your plans up to I take it?"

"Yeah, we were going to take our daughter and his daughter, Brook Lynn to see Santa in Rockefeller Center and then the lights in Central Park."

"Really?" she looked up surprised. "I was meeting my son and his father at Rockefeller Center to go skating, and then we were going to Central Park, for the Christmas Festival. Now I guess they get to go alone."

"Yeah...alone", she mumbles as she sips her drink.

The bartender slid her drink to her, she picked up the olives sticking them in her mouth, trying not to dwell on the fact that she should be on her way to NY right now. "Well this just stinks, doesn't it? Here I am, an attorney making good money, and I’m stuck in an airport, instead of spending time with my son, time I will never get back, what's the point?"

"Yeah, sometimes I wonder why I even bother with my practice anymore. I spend way too much time away from Kristina as it is, and now I HAD to come to this conference two days before Christmas."

"What conference were you at?"

"The Women in Law" conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel," she says before taking another sip.

Laughing, "That's where I was too, I ran for DA last November and lost, so decided to go back into private practice. The money is better, but the time spent working isn't. It seems I never see Matthew anymore, but giving up the law just isn't realistic, and the new DA and I, well, let's just say we didn’t get along." She took a swig of her drink.

"What a coincidence, I ran for DA two years ago, almost won too."

She lifts her glass to toast, "Well here's to the almost DA's then"

"To us,” she raises her glass.

She brings her glass to her lips, finishing her drink and holds out her hand, "My name's Nora by the way, Nora Buchanan."

Setting her glass down on the bar, "Alexis...Alexis Davis."

*~*

New York City: Rockefeller Center

"Well, champ, are you ready to go see Santa?"

Matthew looks at his father, "I guess so."

He knows his son is disappointed about his mother not being there, "She'll be home before you wake up tomorrow champ." He ruffles his hair.

"She promised dad, that's the third time this month she's broken a promise, I wish she never said she would come."

Bo's heart broke for his son, he knew he was in pain and he knew that Nora was too. They had talked about her going back to work in private practice and had agreed it would be best, now however he wasn't so sure they had made the right decision. "Look at it this way Matthew; you get to tell Santa what you want for Christmas."

He continued walking in front of his father as he mumbled his response, "Even Santa can't get me what I want for Christmas, my mom is never home and my dad is marrying someone else, so much for a family."

*~*

New York City: Rockefeller Center:

"Are you ready to see Santa?"

“Yeah, I guess”, she mumbles as she leans against the stroller.

He knows his daughter is disappointed about Alexis not being there with them, "We'll see her tomorrow. We'll go get Krissy and Alexis and we'll all go to Kelly’s for some breakfast."

"It's not the same. She promised...she promised she wasn't going to miss anything else. You said she was going to be there for us even though you guys aren’t' together anymore but she hasn't been. This is the fourth thing she's missed out on with me and Krissy this month. I wish she’d stop making promises she can’t keep."

Ned looked down at his daughter, and his heart broke. She had been through so much in the past year, and she knew that Alexis had been trying to fill the void her mother left. "Well Brook, at least you'll get to tell Santa what you want for Christmas."

"I'm too old for Santa dad, I'm only doing this for Kristina." rolling her eyes.

He looks down at his little girl and smiles, "Right, I forgot." knowing she still wanted to believe.

"Even if I did believe in Santa he can’t give me what I want," she mumbled, "A real family."

*~*

Bo's heart broke at his son's innocent response, they had talked to Matthew about Bo being his father and that he would always be there, and that he and Nora were friends, best friends, but they just couldn't be husband and wife anymore. He should have known he still wanted them together, 'what child doesn't want his parents together?'

Matthew and Bo walked into Rockefeller Center and stood in line to see Santa waiting in silence, both lost in thought. A child's cries caught Matthew's attention, he turned to look.

*~*

Ned tried to fight back the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. When he had first brought Brook back to PC after she lost her mother, she quickly latched onto Alexis. She began hoping that Ned and Alexis would get back together. They had talked to her about how they were friends again, best friends, but that they weren’t getting back together again...’She only wanted him to be happy she would always say.’ Happy…with Alexis, that was something he wasn’t sure could ever happen again.

*~*

The cutest little girl was in a stroller behind them, she had thrown a toy onto the ground. Matthew picked it up and handed it to her, "Here you go." He said smiling at her as she giggled.

"Matthew, come back here." Bo pulled his son back next to him. "Sorry about that." Bo looked at Ned and then at the girls.

“There’s no need to apologize”, turning to look down at Matthew, “thank you for picking up her lamby, it's her favorite toy.”

"She's a beautiful little girl," he peeked in the stroller, "and you young lady look like an angel," he looks over at Brook.

Ned reaches out his hand, "Ned Ashton."

"Bo Buchanan." He takes Ned's hand in a firm handshake.

"Buchanan, as in Buchanan Enterprises?” he asks, eyebrows raised.

He rolls his eyes, as Matthew pipes up, "I'm going to run it when I get big, Grandpa told me so." He points to his chest.

Bo places his hand on his shoulder, "Yes, well will see about that. It's my father's company, I'm the Commissioner of Police in Llanview, don't really participate in the family business. Ashton?" he thinks a minute, "that names seems familiar, ELQ isn't it?"

"Yeah, I'm CEO of the family business."

"Ahh, you got trapped huh?" he laughed.

"Yeah, I've tried and tried to escape but I just keep getting sucked back in."

"I know what you mean, I've been sucked in a few times, but Pa thinks me being Commissioner can be helpful to him, so he leaves me alone now. But he's convinced this one will take over the reins," he laughs, "but not if his mother has anything to say about it."

"Well my Grandfather rarely leaves me alone, especially when he wants something, and I have somewhat the same problem with these two here. My Grandfather insists that they will one day take over the reigns, but her mother had strong feelings about that, and so does this one’s mother.”

The elf looks at Matthew, "Hey there kiddo, you’re next, ready to tell Santa what you want?" As Matthew turns towards the elf he catches a small smile from Brook, he flashes a shy Bo Buchanan grin at her, as he goes with the elf.

Ned looks over at Brook as she looks down at her baby sister, the only bright spot in her life right now. "Hey kiddo, you okay?"

"Yeah," she said a small smile on her face.

"You know it's okay if you don't want to do this."

"No, I want to," knowing she had to at least try to ask Santa to grant her wish, her eyes resting on Matthew as he speaks with Santa.

*~*

Bo watches as Matthew climbs up on Santa's lap, wishing Nora could be here with them. Matthew looks at Santa, "So young man, have you been a good boy this year?"

"Yes sir."

"Well what do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?"

He looks over towards his father, and then he looks behind him to where the toddler in the stroller was, "I don't want any toys this year, I" he paused, "I want my mom and dad to get married and I want a baby sister."

"Well son, I don't know if I can arrange all that, but I can tell you this, don't give up hope, because it's the season of miracles, and anything can happen."

He hops off his lap and heads back to where Bo is standing, "Come on Dad; let's go skating."

Bo takes his hand and turns to look at Ned, "It was nice meeting you, Happy Holidays."

"Happy holidays to you to,” shaking his hand. Ned looks down at Brook, "You're turn honey."

Brook sits up on Santa's lap and Ned places Kristina on her lap. He walks back down next to the stroller, "So have you decided what you want Santa to bring you this year?"

Brook looks up at the bearded man, "I don't really want anything this year, and my sister is too little to want any toys", she looks down at her father; "I want my dad to be happy. I want him to get back together with his old girlfriend. I want us to be a family."

"Well honey, that's not quite my department, but I'll tell you what. Don't give up on your dream. This is the season of miracles; you just never know what might happen."

Back at the bar in LAX she takes the napkin and wipes her mouth, as she swallows the last bite. "Well, that really hit the spot."

"Yeah, I hadn't realized how hungry I was until I sat down to eat."

She looks at her watch, "And it looks like it’s just about time to start boarding, we should get back to the gate." She places a twenty on the bar, picks up her things and heads out.

Alexis pulled out her wallet and followed suit, picking her briefcase up off the floor beside her barstool, "Let's go home."

Flight 1649 from LA to NY LAGUARDIA is delayed until 7:30 this evening.

Nora stops dead in her tracks at the latest announcement, lurching forward when Alexis bumps into her from behind. She turns around to look at her, "Did you hear that? That's another 4 hours, this is ridiculous, I have to be home tomorrow morning or Matthew will be furious with me. He's already disappointed because I couldn't meet them in NYC."

"And I promised Brook I wouldn't miss putting up the tree with them”, running her hands through her hair in frustration, “I can’t believe this is happening.”

"You know I hate asking my former father-in-law for favors, but maybe we can get home tonight after all." She pulls out her phone and dials the familiar number.

"Buchanan residence."

"Hi Nigel, its Nora, is Asa there?"

"Yes, Ma’am, one minute,” he hands the phone to Asa, “Ms. Buchanan for you, sir.”

"Nora, is that you?"

"Asa," she takes a deep breath, "I need a favor."

"I'm sorry could you speak up," a sly smile on his face; he loved to hear her beg.

Nora rolls her eyes, "Asa, I’m stuck in LA because of planes being grounded in the Midwest, is there any way I can use the jet?"

"Well honey, you’re in luck, the jet is in Texas, because it just finished getting serviced, so I’ll call the pilots and have them file a flight plan. Where do you want it to take you?"

She turns and looks at Alexis, "Where do you need to go?"

"Port Charles, NY."

"Actually Asa, if it could drop someone off in Port Charles, then just bring me back to Llanview, that would be great."

"Drop someone off?"

She could tell by his tone what he thought, "It's someone from the lawyer's conference, the women's lawyer conference."

"I'll call you back with the arrangements, give me a few minutes."

"Thanks Asa," she clicked off the phone and turned to Alexis. “He'll call back in a few minutes; we should be out of here within a couple hours."

"Sounds great."

A few minutes later her phone rings, "Hello?'

"The jet will be there in an hour, you should be ready to take off in two, home in 6. We'll see you at Christmas dinner?"

"Of course,” she says with a smile, “Thank you Asa, I owe you."

"No you don't, you’re family, and this is what family is for. Have a safe flight."

Clicking off the phone she dials Bo, "You have reached Commissioner Buchanan, I am unable to take your call, leave a message and I will get back to you." "Bo, Nora, the flight got delayed again, so I called your father," she paused adding, "I know I will owe him now, but I couldn't stand the thought of not being home tomorrow and the flight keeps getting delayed. I am going straight to Llanview, so I will be by to pick up Matthew in the morning, tell him I love him and give him a kiss goodnight for me. Thanks Bo."

She walks over to the other side of the gate and takes out her phone, "You've reached the voice mail of Ned Ashton, please leave a message after the tone.” "Ned, it's me. Listen our flight has been delayed but I'm going to be hitching a ride on a private jet...with another lawyer I met at the airport. She said it was her ex-father-in-law's jet, an Asa Buchanan. Anyway I'll be home in the morning. Tell Krissy and Brook that I love them. I’ll come by and we’ll put up the tree in the morning. Thanks Ned, bye.”

She walks back over to where Nora was standing. She hung up the phone putting it back in her purse, looking at Alexis, "So you want to get another drink?"

"Yeah, let's get another drink."

Two hours later they were strapping on their seatbelts, "Finally we’re on our way home." She sits back breathing a sigh of relief.

"I can't wait to see my little girl, and Brook's going to be so excited to finally get the tree up."

As the plane takes off she settles back in the seat and closes her eyes, "I think I’m going to take a nap."

"Sounds like a really good idea."

Forty minutes later, she wakes as the plane begins to shake; she hits the intercom button, "Captain, what's going on?"

"Ms. Buchanan, the left engine blew, there's a fire on our wing, and we are looking for a place to put her down, but…" the intercom went dead as a small explosion sounded. She closed her eyes and said a prayer as tears came to her eyes, knowing she would never see her children again.... "God please let Rachel and my little boy know that I love them, and Bo, I never had a chance to tell him, but I still love him, with all my heart..." Those were her last thoughts as the plane hurtled towards the mountains.

Alexis woke up with a start at other end of the jet. She heard the captain’s words being cut off by the explosion. She closed her eyes and says a prayer, "God please let my little girl know I love her, and Brook, My God Brook, has been through so much. Please keep them safe. And Ned...I never had the chance to tell him, but I love him. I love him with everything I am. Please help him take care of our little girls."

Their eyes closed, prayers on their lips, the plane went down in the middle of the Rocky Mountains.

*~*

He was holding Matthew's hand as they walked through Central Park, looking at the lights. All of a sudden he felt a twinge in his heart, like a cramp, it disappeared just as he quickly as it came, absentmindedly, he looked at this watch; it was 9:13.

*~*

Ned was pushing Kristina through Central Park, his other daughter holding his hand. He looked up at the night sky and suddenly a feeling of dread overcame him. He looked down at his daughters and then at his watch, it was 9:13.

*~*

Asa and Renee were watching the eleven o’clock news on television in Llanview when the phone rang just as a special report came across the screen, "At 9:13 tonight, a private jet flying from LAX to Llanview Pennsylvania, went down in the Rocky Mountains, so far, no details are being released as to who was on the plane or what happened. We will update you as we get more information.” Nigel handed Asa the phone, but Asa already knew what he was about to hear, as he looked at Renee he had tears in his eyes, nodding as the voice on the other end confirmed his fears. Renee walked over to him as he hung up the phone, "It was the Buchanan jet, Nora and her lawyer friend were on it when it went down; there aren't any survivors."

*~*

Bo walked in the garret around 11:30 that night, a sleeping Matthew in his arms. He never noticed the blinking light on his answering machine as he took him to bed and tucked him in. Giving him a kiss on his cheek, "Your mom loves you champ, she'll be home in the morning. Sweet dreams."

He walks out of Matthew's room taking the phone off his belt, seeing the dead battery signal he sighs as he plugs it into the wall. 'Well now I know why she didn't call,' he thinks as he heads to bed.

*~*~

At the same time in Port Charles, Ned walked into the gatehouse carrying Kristina in one arm and Brooke in the other. He carried them both upstairs; setting Kristina down as he tucked Brook in. Giving her a kiss on her cheek, “We love you Princess, and don’t worry Alexis will be back home in the morning. Sweet dreams.”

He picked Kristina and carried her into her room. He quickly changed her; placing a kiss on her chubby cheeks before he laid her in her crib, "Good night angel. Mommy will be home tomorrow."

Ned walks into his bedroom; taking his jacket off throwing it on the bed, causing his cell phone to fall out. He picks it up and notices his battery was dead. He sighs and plugs it in, "Now, I know why she hasn't called,” he thinks as he gets ready for bed.

At the same time in the Rocky Mountains, “EMT Base this is Rescue 1, we have the crash sight in view, it doesn’t look good, and from here it appears that the fuselage blew, not much left for identification, no way anyone could’ve survived this...”

“Rescue 1 this is Base, the storm is coming in faster than earlier predicted, you don’t have much time, are you sure there are no survivors?”

“Base this is Rescue 1, for someone to survive this it would be a miracle. The winds picking up, we’re clearing the area. There’s nothing more we can do for whoever was in that plane, and until this storm is over there is no way we’ll be able to get down there to investigate.”

“Rescue 1 this is Base, as of 5 minutes ago it was Christmas Eve, don’t make me give anyone else bad news on a holiday, Come on in.”

“Rescue 1 to Base, we’re on our way. Over.” The lead scout leaned over picking up the purple scarf lying on the ground, a heart pendant and a gold locket twisted into the fabric, he shook his head, as he put it in his pocket. Putting a knee to the ground, he crossed himself, “God Bless their souls.”

TBC....