Armed with information about Courtney and the baby, Luke bribed Jax to sell partial ownership of the hotel to Courtney. Jax went about trying to find out how Luke had gotten his information but was unsuccessful. Back at Sonny's house, Courtney collapsed when a large tree branch fell on her. Nikolas took her back inside the house, and Emily froze. Nikolas was able to get her confidence back up, and Emily started to take action.
Nikolas and Emily took Courtney to the hospital, where Emily noticed a nurse not starting an I.V. like she should. She called in Dr. Meadows to make the executive decision. Nikolas pulled her aside and told her she hadn't needed to get Dr. Meadows if she'd known what needed to be done. He tried to boost her confidence even more. Later, he talked to Courtney about ways to get Emily back into medicine.
Manny walked into the operating room, unnoticed due to his nurse attire. Carly figured out something wasn't right, though, and barged into the room. Manny grabbed her and took her hostage just as the lights went out. When Sonny went downstairs after questioning a nurse who had been stabbed, he rushed in to try to save Carly.
Sonny managed to chase Manny out of the operating room. Sam grabbed a fire extinguisher and hit Manny in the back, freeing Carly for a moment. In the end, Sonny ended up shooting Manny in the stomach just as the cops arrived to arrest Manny. Carly got out of it with a small cut on her throat, which Bobbie bandaged up while they talked about Carly's relationship with Sonny.
Patrick finished the surgery on Jason, despite Manny's interruption. He walked out and told Sam and the others that everything had gone fine, but he was not sure when or if Jason would ever wake up. All the doctors blamed Sonny and Carly for contaminating the operating room by entering. Sonny and Carly felt they'd had no choice, though, as Manny had been aiming to kill Jason.
Later, Robin sang Patrick's praises to everyone who would hear. She had good cause to do so, though, as Jason woke up and appeared to be fine. Noah and Patrick also exchanged praise for each other in a shocking moment.
Lulu crashed her new snowmobile at the Quartermaine mansion. When she went inside, she learned that Jax wanted to give Tracy the 15 million dollars to buy Luke out of their marriage. As soon as Luke arrived at home, Lulu spilled the beans to him. Luke was intrigued that Jax was scared enough to try a move like that and that Tracy wouldn't accept. They both told Lulu they were in the marriage for good, even though it might not be for love. When Luke left, Tracy called the cops and had Lulu arrested for stealing the money to buy the snowmobile from her bank account.
Jason told Sam the doctors hadn't saved him, she had. Robin overheard it and tried to leave, but they saw her anyway. She returned to check him, and while she was doing so, Sonny and Carly entered. Carly told Robin she could leave. Jason was over her, so since she'd saved his life, they were done with her. Robin told Carly that Jason was recovering from brain surgery, so if anyone should leave, it should be Carly. Carly was furious, but Sam interrupted and told them both to knock it off for Jason's sake.
Robin decided to be the bigger person and leave. Carly walked over and told Jason how she had single-handedly saved his life by barging in the operating room and becoming Manny's hostage. Jason questioned her about that, and she did admit that Sonny had helped with his gun. While that conversation was going on, Sam and Sonny were watching Carly's behavior.
Carly and Sonny left to let Jason rest, and Patrick agreed to check Jason after much prodding from Robin. Robin and Patrick bickered before entering Jason's room. Patrick took a stab at guessing Robin's social life and was pretty accurate at describing how preoccupied she was with her work. Robin was annoyed, but the two went in to check on Jason anyway.
Patrick told Jason that he would have to stay in the hospital for a few weeks. Jason was not happy, but Patrick wouldn't have him blemishing Patrick's perfect record by rushing his recovery. When Robin and Patrick left, Sam went to Carly, Sonny, and Emily to help her pull off a good Christmas for Jason. They all returned with a Christmas tree and presents -- one present for each day until Christmas. Emily was also going to try to take the boys in to see him once he was a little better.
In the lobby at the hospital, Sonny and Emily talked while Carly watched. When Emily left, Carly walked over and told Sonny that men really were blind. She couldn't believe that he couldn't see what Emily was up to. He had no idea what she was talking about. She told him that she thought Emily was in love with him. She asked who else would know better who was in love with Sonny than Carly.
Carly also took a moment to talk to Emily, much to Emily's despair. She told Emily she'd been where Emily was, and she knew about the dreams a woman had when she was in love with someone. She warned Emily not to let Sonny own her. Justus arrived to take Carly back to Rose Lawn at Lainey's request, so Carly left.
Lucky did his best to help out Lulu, but Mac told him there was not much to do, since she had confessed. Mac told Lucky to start working on Tracy, because the only way Lulu wouldn't go to jail was if Tracy dropped the charges. Meanwhile, Luke stormed into the police station and demanded Tracy stop using his daughter as a pawn. Tracy told him she would let Lulu go if he agreed to a divorce and to stop going after the 15 million. Luke finally agreed, at Skye's prodding, but Tracy decided to take back her offer. Luke was happy that she didn't want a divorce.
Mac stepped in and said he was tired of hearing about Luke and Tracy's personal lives and wanted them to decide what was going to happen with Lulu. Lulu decided she'd had enough and told Mac he'd better be interested in Luke and Tracy's life, as that was the reason they were all there. She went on to illustrate how her father was married to Tracy but in love with Skye and the 15 million dollars. Skye just wanted Luke, while Tracy wanted Luke and the money. That left Lulu out in the cold.
Skye decided that was her cue to leave, and Luke praised his daughter's skills when Tracy announced she would not press charges. Luke went after Skye, and Lulu stormed out, disappointed that her father's attention had once again been diverted from her. Back at the Quartermaine mansion, Luke asked Skye if it was over between the two of them. Skye said just the opposite, and the two kissed.
At Mercy Hospital, Courtney, with Nikolas by her side, was prepped for her fetus' DNA sample to be taken. However, just before the procedure, she began to have second thoughts -- she still couldn't quite believe that her husband would stoop to the level of altering a DNA test just to beat Nikolas. Her angst, concern, and doubt radiated from her large, blue eyes. But when Nikolas -- who was no longer sporting a cast -- gave her an out, Courtney decided to step up to the plate and find out the truth once and for all.
At General Hospital, Robin and Patrick talked about a sick kid. Patrick's self-serving talk earned him another scolding from his young colleague. Patrick then worked his way to Jason's room, where he openly feigned concern over his patient before asking the first of several questions about Jason's employment. Outside the room, Patrick told Sam she could do better than Jason the "coffee importer" -- presumably meaning himself. Sam promised Patrick that hitting on her would result in his death.
Jason then sent his fiancée home, just in time for Robin to spring a surprise deli sandwich on him. Patrick caught her leaving Jason's room and accused her of targeting Jason romantically, which got Jason all riled up. The egotistical Patrick ordered Jason into bed, not out of concern for his health but because of the blemish Jason's non-recovery would put on Patrick's record.
Patrick spouted more ego at Robin and her feelings toward a "drug dealer." Robin first corrected the "drug dealer" label then let him know that his "tough guy with a heart" act was a joke, since she knew firsthand what one really was.
At Kelly's, Jesse coached Maxie on her upcoming Diego testimony. The two were both concerned that Georgie might well try to help him on the stand. Meanwhile, Georgie was visiting Diego. The alleged predator only wanted her to be honest when she testified, he said. When Dillon -- in a suit and tie -- found out what his girlfriend had been up to, he was incensed. But, somewhat reminiscent of Emily and Zander, the girl continued to defend her former captor.
The scene played itself out all over again at the courthouse, even when Lucas, Maxie, and Brook Lynn highlighted their own ordeals. Georgie's logic was that Diego hadn't killed anyone. When she'd indirectly caused Sage's death, she'd gotten support. She felt Diego deserved at least that much.
Lorenzo stopped by Rose Lawn and filled in Carly on his son's crimes. Lorenzo blamed himself and was conflicted over how to handle the situation. Carly simply advised him to stand by his troubled son. As she saw Lorenzo out, she discovered a gift outside her door that turned out to be a home movie of Michael and Morgan with their Christmas tree. When Lainey showed up, Carly proclaimed she did not want Emily "taking [her] place" and hinted that she wanted to be at Diego's trial. "What's the point of being in the hospital if you're leaving all the time?" asked Lainey before relenting -- only because she was testifying at the trial and could transport her. Carly didn't seem completely satisfied.
At the Port Charles Police Station, Lorenzo visited Diego, who seemed pleased to see him. The senior Alcazar warned his son to stay calm at the trial because John would love to see him unravel. As they made their way to the courthouse, Lorenzo was happy to see Skye there on his behalf. Justus chatted briefly with his former flame Dara -- even though they were opposing counsel. Then, the trial commenced.
Skye was confused as to why Carly was sitting next to her instead of the next row with Lorenzo, getting her answer when Carly predictably made a break for it about 40 seconds into opening arguments. One by one, witnesses took the stand. Jesse recounted Diego's escape from the police station. Brook Lynn emotionally described her experiences. Finally, Georgie was called upon.
Emily had barely gotten both feet inside Kelly's before Jax stampeded her with contaminated charm, even going as far as snatching coffee off Penny's tray for her. Emily checked him -- she hadn't forgotten his attempted setup of her and Nikolas. Forced to endure a barrage of questions about her living with Sonny, the young woman quickly grew annoyed and asked Jax to vamoose. Before leaving, the corporate raider became a history teacher with Sonny's past relationships the day's subject -- he even compared her to the late Lily. Eventually, the topic turned to Jax's unborn child -- Emily chastised him for thinking a baby could save what amounted to a loveless marriage.
Soon, after the DNA samples had been taken, Nikolas and Courtney went to Kelly's. Jax overheard them talking outside about the baby and wanted answers.
Sam returned to General Hospital, not at all upset to find Robin conversing with Jason. Once Robin left, Sam shut the blinds and covered the glass on the door -- she planned to get it on with her man right then and there. Fortunately, she took a little while setting the mood because Carly burst in on them again.
Georgie took the stand and admitted that Diego had threatened her life at gunpoint. She tried to add to her testimony that she believed Diego was not a bad person, but the prosecutor, Dara Jensen, cut her off by asking a yes or no question. The judge excused Georgie from the stand. Dillon got on the stand, as well as Lucas and Maxie. They all testified that Diego had set them up to take the fall for what he had done. Lainey was called to the stand to testify as an expert witness on psychiatry. She testified that she believed Diego had known what he was doing all along and that what he had done had been premeditated.
Justus cross-examined Lainey and questioned her about how her testimony seemed to contradict her earlier profile on the stalker as being seriously mentally unstable and being impulsive. Lainey admitted she had been wrong with her profile before but insisted that Diego had known what he was doing all along. Justus called Georgie back up to the stand to use her as a rebuttal witness and asked her to tell the court about her feelings about what Diego had done. Georgie told everyone that she believed Diego was a good person who made very bad choices and that he deserved a second chance and not to be sent to prison for many years.
Lorenzo took the stand and testified that the D.A., Durant, had a personal grudge against him for divorcing his daughter and that he was using Diego to punish him. Dara cross-examined Lorenzo and questioned him about the crimes he'd allegedly committed. She pointed out the possibility that Diego had learned how to behave by watching his own father, not because the D.A. was prosecuting the case. The judge called for a recess so he could decide on sentencing for Diego.
Diego thanked Lorenzo for being there for him and testifying on his behalf. Lorenzo told his son he would do anything for him. Later, Skye went over and tried to comfort Lorenzo about Diego. Lorenzo felt that he was to blame for what had happened to Diego because he had refused to let Diego work for him. Skye changed the subject to Carly leaving the courtroom early. Lainey asked Skye and Lorenzo if they had seen Carly. Skye told her Carly had taken off early in the proceedings, and Skye hadn't seen her since. Lorenzo told Skye he knew where Carly had gone.
Meanwhile, Diego was handcuffed to a seat in the visitors' room. Georgie walked into the room to talk to him. He thanked her for defending him on the stand after all the trouble he had caused her and her friends. Georgie said goodbye to him and left the room. She met face-to-face with Dillon, Maxie, Lucas, and Brook Lynn. Brook Lynn was practically in tears and accused Georgie of being a disloyal friend by defending Diego after what he had done to her and Maxie.
Georgie told everyone that she had told the truth and that she didn't believe Diego's life should be ruined just because of what he had done out of some misguided loyalty to Sage. Everyone got on her about sticking up for Diego after what he had done to her also. Georgie got upset and started crying. She told them they had no right to point fingers at Diego when they had done some illegal things. She named a thing that each person had done where there had been no consequence for them. Georgie stormed off in tears.
Nikolas and Courtney ran into Jax at Kelly's. He asked Courtney what she had been talking about concerning the baby. Courtney told him she had just been mentioning to Nikolas that she was so looking forward to the baby's birth. Jax talked to them for a few minutes and mentioned that he'd heard that Emily and Sonny might be an item. Nikolas and Courtney dismissed that idea in front of Jax, but when they talked alone at Kelly's, they voiced their concerns.
Nikolas worried that Sonny would hurt Emily. Courtney suggested he go to Emily himself and ask her if he was so concerned. He decided to do that. However, Courtney found him standing outside Kelly's when she walked out. She asked him if he'd talked to Emily. Nikolas told her he'd decided not to talk to Emily and realized it was not his place to interfere in her life and tell her what to do regarding Sonny. He told Courtney that all of his focus was on her and the baby. Courtney told Nikolas that she'd gotten a call from the lab and learned that they were working on the paternity test right then and should know the results within the next few hours.
Meanwhile, Emily returned to Sonny's. She had a fantasy where Sonny greeted her at the door and kissed her as he was helping her with her scarf. She emerged from her fantasy and found him looking at her. She walked into the living room. He told her they needed to talk. Emily looked at him and wondered what he meant. He pointed to the mistletoe and asked her who had put that up. Michael and Morgan arrived downstairs. They told Sonny that Leticia had put it up.
Alexis walked in with Kristina to visit Sonny. She talked to Sonny while Emily took the kids to get some decorations. Alexis voiced her concerns about Carly going over during the holidays while Kristina was visiting him. He told her that Carly would be around to see the boys but that she wasn't unsafe. Alexis worried that Carly would be a bad influence on Kristina. Sonny promised to keep any contact between Carly and Kristina to a minimum.
Alexis was reassured and left. She ran into Jax at the hotel and told him that she had gone to Sonny's, and they'd had a civil conversation. She said that she'd just proven to him that he could have a civil relationship with Courtney without living with her when the baby was born.
Meanwhile, Carly barged into Jason's hospital room while Sam was trying to have a private romantic evening with him alone. Carly dismissed Sam and expected her to leave the room so she could talk to Jason alone. Jason didn't feel Sam should have to leave, but Sam insisted on leaving them alone to talk so she didn't get a headache, listening to Carly. Carly told Jason that Emily was falling in love with Sonny, and she expected him to do something about it. Jason listened to her rant about how Emily was Sonny's type. Jason didn't want to believe her and thought she was overreacting to things and that she was just jealous as usual.
Carly insisted that Emily and Sonny had a different kind of relationship than they'd had before Emily had moved in to take care of the boys. Jason told Carly to leave and that she would not be allowed to just barge in whenever she felt like it. He said that she was to treat Sam with some respect. Carly agreed to be more respectful of Sam.
Later, Carly showed up at Sonny's and found Sonny, Emily, and the kids having fun and looking like a family. Carly entered, and the boys and Kristina ran over to hug her. Emily took the kids to do some holiday decorating so Sonny and Carly could talk. Sonny asked her what she was doing there. Carly told him she hated staying at Rose Lawn, knowing her kids were growing up and doing things without her. Sonny understood her frustration but pointed out to her that she needed to go back to Rose Lawn and finish her treatment so she could be home by Christmas, which was what Michael wished would happen. Carly agreed that he was right.
Lorenzo stormed into Sonny's and accused Carly of using his pain over Diego's hearing to get out of Rose Lawn so she could sneak away to be with Sonny. Sonny yelled at Lorenzo to stop accusing Carly and referred to Carly as "my wife." Carly and Lorenzo looked at Sonny in disbelief after he muttered it.
Meanwhile, Robin and Patrick got into an argument about one of her patients. Patrick felt that the young boy would benefit from surgery, but she felt that there were other options and that Patrick didn't show any compassion toward the patient. Patrick pointed out to her that it didn't pay to get emotionally involved in his patients' lives when he might have to perform delicate brain surgery on them. Robin felt he should have shown some compassion toward that patient. Patrick told her she could go ahead and get close to her patients then if things went wrong and the patient died, she could go drown herself in a bottle of scotch, referring to how his father, Noah, handled things.
Robin watched Patrick leave and was galled by his ego. Later, Sam found Patrick in the hallway. She told him that Jason insisted on getting out of the hospital as soon as possible. Patrick noticed that Robin was right there and made it a point to mention to Sam the idea of having sex in Jason's hospital room. Robin told Sam that if she had any questions about Jason's recovery, she should ask her not Patrick, since he had no real interest in his patient after he performed surgery on them.
Sam walked off to go back to Jason's room. Patrick made a comment to Robin about how flushed she looked after his conversation with Sam. Robin made a dig about how he didn't seem to care about where he had sex, including hospital rooms. Patrick made another comment about how she seemed to be thinking about when she'd caught him having sex with another employee on the operating table. Patrick told her that she shouldn't worry, since he had taken the necessary precautions so he wouldn't catch anything.
Robin grew pale and stormed off, very upset. Sam returned to Jason's room. He told her about what Carly had told him. He told Sam that he didn't want Sonny getting romantically involved with Emily because he felt Sonny would break her. Sam tried to play devil's advocate and suggested that Sonny and Emily could be good for each other. Jason disagreed.
Emily showed up to visit Jason. He told her to enter and that he wanted to talk to her. Jason had a very stern voice when he asked her to enter. Sam decided to leave the room.
At General Hospital, Lucky and several other cops were preparing to move Manny to county jail. The perverted killer made suggestive comments about his nurse, Liz -- and Lucky ordered her to leave. She was terrified that he had to be involved and wished he'd leave, also.
As Carly talked with Sonny, at his home, about the kids, a boiling-hot Lorenzo stormed in and tore into his ex for using Diego's trial as a means to get out of Rose Lawn and hassle Sonny. When Sonny stuck up for "my wife," both visitors were stunned. Lorenzo finally left, and after Carly demanded Sonny not fight her battles for her, she wanted confirmation that Emily was in love with him. Lainey then arrived and was not at all happy about Carly's treatment of Rose Lawn as a "hotel." Of course, Carly argued her own points but didn't resist going back to the hospital -- provided they make one last stop.
In his hospital room, Jason wanted his sister to admit she felt for Sonny, but she denied it, explaining that while she'd witnessed Sonny's sensitive, compassionate side, the two of them were -- and would remain -- friends. Later on, when Sonny visited, Jason got Sonny's assurance that things were platonic and he would not hurt Emily in any way. When Samantha took Jason out for his first post-op walk, they passed the group of lawmen taking Manny away. "I'm not done with you, not until I kill you and help myself to your woman," said the evil criminal to Jason. Suddenly, there was a small melee, and Ruiz ended up with a key to his handcuffs but didn't use it just yet.
At the Metro Court, Jax tried to make cosmetic changes to the hotel, but Luke wouldn't allow it without Carly's consent. He earned Jax's ire with continued blackmail taunts. He warned Luke he could easily make Luke's life as hard as Luke was making Jax's. It was there that Carly made her "last" stop. The new co-owner had nothing but insults for the hotel décor and wanted to make sweeping changes. Jax didn't care.
Carly reminded Jax she was co-owner. Jax still dismissed her. When she asked what Uncle Luke had on him, Jax split. Carly then told Luke he wasn't getting his finders' fee until she saw proof that she was part-owner. Making an unscheduled second stop, Carly went to visit Jason, who told her to stay out of Sonny and Emily's business -- period.
Skye arrived. Luke had set up a romantic evening for the two of them in a hotel room. Skye had other plans, however. She would not rendezvous with Luke until he was divorced or proved to her she should be his mistress. Luke was truly stunned that their previous kiss didn't mean what he thought it had.
At Kelly's, Nikolas assured Courtney that no matter what the test results said, he would be her child's father, though he couldn't help but agree how much easier things would be if Jax were out of the picture. Courtney got a call -- the results were in. Just as the two started to leave, Liz entered, in desperate need of a friend. Courtney went off on her own, and Nikolas lent his longtime pal an ear.
After learning of the potential switch, Liz bolted the minute Emily walked in the door. When Nikolas hinted she was into Sonny, she blasted him for it and left. Courtney soon returned with the results -- and Jax happened in right behind her. The couple shared their belief that the test could have been compromised -- "By you," said Nikolas. Jax was highly offended Courtney would think of him that way -- or at least he pretended to be -- and he stormed out.
Georgie returned to her friends, who gave her and Dillon some alone time. The budding director apologized for being hard on her but maintained that his opinion of Diego was unchanged. That seemed to be enough for Georgie, and Lorenzo made it back just in time for the trial's resumption. Diego was sentenced to ten years. Eventually, he was taken back to the Port Charles Police Station, where he respectfully rejected his father's offer to accompany him to prison. When Manny commented on how he'd like Diego and his "nice mouth" as a cellmate, Lorenzo went for his throat but was stopped -- allowing Manny to discreetly transfer the key from his mouth to his hand in the commotion.
Georgie insisted on apologizing to Diego, against Dillon's wishes and Mac's orders to leave -- and she did. It was there that Manny made his move, grabbing Maxie, who had gone to get her sister, and an officer's gun. With the girl as hostage, he shot up the police station and made a break for it. But Diego, in an act of heroism, tackled Ruiz and freed Maxie.
Undaunted, Manny headed for the door and suddenly started dancing. Seconds later, he went down in a heap, and nobody could figure out what was wrong with him because he had not been shot. Dillon had been nicked in the arm by a bullet, but Georgie's tourniquet proved more painful then the wound itself.
After speaking to Jason, Sonny returned home. He struggled to find a way to gently tell Emily that her work was done -- it was time for her to move on with her life. Her head slumped, and her young, beautiful face could not hide her sadness, but Emily didn't fight him. Rather, she quietly packed and soon left.
