General Hospital RECAP: Wednesday January 13, 2016

At Metro Court Restaurant, Maxie nervously set the latest edition of Crimson on the table. Moments later, Nathan walked up. Maxie's mood immediately lifted as she hugged him and told him how much she'd missed him. Maxie made it clear that she didn't want Nathan to take anymore out of town assignments, but he tactfully changed the subject by asking about her day. She started to tell him about her encounter with Johnny on the Haunted Star, but Nina walked up to greet her brother.

After a quick hug, Nina revealed that her first edition of Crimson had hit the stands. Nina picked up Maxie's copy of the magazine and handed it to Nathan. He noticed the green overlay, but Nina explained that it was intended to be a challenge to the fashion industry to interact with people around the world, not just "fashionistas." Maxie confessed that the printer had screwed up their order, but Nina had managed to spin things to their advantage.

Maxie admitted that she was concerned because she hadn't seen anyone reading the magazine, but Nina revealed that Nina had bought up all the Crimson magazines within a one mile radius to hand out for free as a promotional stunt. Nina hoped that it would create a stir among the right people and spark an interest to see what the big deal was about the magazine. Maxie had reservations about Nina's plan, but Nina asked Maxie to trust her. After Nina left, Nathan announced that he had to get to the police station. Maxie reminded him that she had something important to tell him, but he insisted that it would have to wait.

Nathan gave Maxie a quick kiss and left. Maxie grumbled that it was unlikely that Johnny would be leaving town anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Valerie filled out paperwork at the bar as Olivia walked up and asked if she could help Valerie. Valerie flashed Olivia a friendly smile and explained that she had been applying for a job in the hopes that Carly could use some help at the restaurant. Olivia coldly informed Valerie that Carly didn't hire the restaurant staff. Valerie couldn't ignore the hostility in Olivia's tone and asked what it would take to make things right. "A time machine," Olivia proposed.

Olivia decided to cut to the chase and asked Valerie to leave. Disappointed, Valerie picked up her purse, but Olivia clarified that she had meant that Valerie should return to Pennsylvania because it was just a matter of time before Dante and Lulu found their way back to each other. Furious, Valerie refused to uproot her life to make Olivia feel better about Olivia's own failings. Valerie accused Olivia of setting a poor example for Dante by lying to him about Sonny and then repeating the same mistake decades later with Leo.

Valerie insisted that Olivia didn't have any right to act superior to Valerie. Valerie conceded that she had screwed up, but at least Valerie had owned her mistakes and learned from them -- unlike Olivia. Valerie made it clear that she'd rather take a job shoveling snow than work for a self-righteous hypocrite like Olivia and stormed off.

Later, Nina approached Olivia at the bar to give Olivia a copy of Crimson. Olivia was taken aback by the green overlay and reminded Nina that Olivia's cousin had started the magazine. Nina was well aware ofCrimson's history, but Nina was desperate to save the magazine, which meant that Crimson had to change and grow with the times. Olivia realized that it wasn't her place to judge and decided to read the magazine.

Nearby, Maxie offered copies of Crimson to customers entering the dining room, but they all declined. Nina walked up excited that she had already given away her copies of Crimson, but Nina's smile faltered when she noticed Maxie still had a stack of magazines. Maxie confided that she was worried about her future with Nathan and then asked if Nina had ever had information that would have impacted people's lives if it ever became public knowledge. Nina reminded Maxie that Nina had once pretended to be confined to a wheelchair to hold onto Silas. Nina conceded that she should have told Nathan the truth, but Nina realized that she might not have met Franco if she had.

Later, Nina looked around the restaurant and noticed that nearly everyone was reading Crimson. "Not bad," Olivia muttered as she flipped through the pages. "Thank you," Nina replied with a big grin. Nina stepped into the hallway to take a call from the magazine's circulation manager. She was overjoyed when she was told that the latest edition of Crimson had been a success.

At the police station, Jordan led Paul and Anna to the interrogation room and invited Anna to tell Paul what they had been discussing. Paul tensed when Anna admitted that she had been investigating Carlos' death because she had continued to have doubts that Carlos had died. Jordan added that Anna had wanted to officially re-open the case, but Jordan had refused. Satisfied, Paul thanked Jordan. Anna assured Paul that she was prepared to drop the investigation, but Paul appeared skeptical.

Anna apologized for not following protocol, but Paul conceded that he understood why the investigation had been important to Anna since Carlos had killed Duke. Paul wanted to believe that Anna was sincere about dropping the investigation and moving forward because he she was a valuable asset to the department. After Paul left for an appointment, Jordan asked why Anna had lied. Anna decided to confide that she suspected Paul was the mole in the police department.

Stunned, Jordan listened as Anna pointed out that Paul was the only person with the power to cover up a crime and close a case. Anna had no idea why Paul had been part of the conspiracy to fake Carlos' death, but she was certain he was involved and needed to find Carlos to prove it. Jordan trusted Anna's instincts and decided to question Sabrina. Anna worried that Sabrina would tip off Carlos and suggested that they put 24-hour surveillance on Sabrina and tap her phones.

Anna also wanted to pull Nathan and Dante into the investigation because both detectives could be trusted. Jordan reminded Anna that they couldn't bug Sabrina's phone without a warrant, which might alert Paul to the investigation. Anna realized that Jordan was right. Jordan suggested that they pay Sabrina a visit and put some pressure on Sabrina to cooperate.

In the park, Lulu was startled when a masked man grabbed her from behind and attempted to drag her away. She fought the abductor until he backed off and pulled up his ski mask. Stunned, Lulu demanded to know what Johnny had been thinking because someone might have seen Johnny's prank and called the police. Johnny explained that he had wanted to see Lulu, but she urged him to return to theHaunted Star because the longer he remained in town the greater risk that he would be apprehended by the police.

Lulu pointed out that both Dillon and Maxie knew Johnny was in town, but Johnny was confident that Maxie wouldn't say anything to Nathan. Lulu warned Johnny that Maxie would not protect Johnny at the cost of Maxie and Nathan's relationship because Nathan had been the best thing to happen to Maxie. Lulu feared that it was only a matter of time before Nathan realized that Maxie had a secret, but Johnny assured Lulu that he intended to wrap things up later that night.

Lulu reminded Johnny that time was not on his side, but he promised that he had things well in hand and had arranged for a chance encounter with Valerie in the park during Valerie's daily run.

At Volonino's gym, Dante worked out with the heavy bag as Michael walked in. Michael noticed the intensity of Dante's punches as his brother relentlessly pounded the heavy bag. Michael decided to take over as spotter and talk to Dante to find out what was troubling his brother. Michael suspected that it had something to do with Dillon. Dante's punches slowed as Dante conceded that he disliked Dillon, but Dillon was not to blame for Dante's marital woes. Michael was surprised when Dante revealed that Lulu had decided to repay Dante for cheating by sleeping with someone on New Year's Eve.

Dante realized that he had no one to blame except himself, but Lulu had made it clear that their marriage was over. Michael wished that he could help, but Dante wanted Michael to learn from Dante's mistakes. Dante explained that he and Lulu hadn't appreciated the home and family that they'd been blessed with. Dante urged Michael to do better if Michael was lucky enough to find someone special to share those things with. Michael took what Dante had said to heart and excused himself because Michael had to "see a girl about a kid."

At the police station, Dante bumped into Valerie. Nathan watched from his desk as Dante and Valerie greeted each other. Valerie explained that classes had ended early, so she had decided to go for a run to blow off steam. Valerie started to walk away, but stopped to thank Dante for offering to help her study for exams. She was grateful, but she thought it would be best if they continued to keep their distance. Valerie wished Dante and Lulu well then left. Dante entered the squad room, but warned Nathan not to say anything because Dante and Valerie had decided to end things.

Nathan was curious if Dante would be able to work with Valerie once Valerie graduated from the police academy, but Dante assured his partner that it wouldn't be a problem. Dante conceded that the relationship wouldn't have lasted because Valerie was focused on her career, while Dante had a lot of things in his life to sort out. Nathan smiled as he looked past Dante. Dante turned and saw Lulu standing in the squad room. Lulu explained that she had stopped by to let Dante know that Rocco was too sick to go to Dante's later that evening.

Dante questioned if Lulu was simply making an excuse because she wanted Rocco to spend time with her and her new boyfriend. Annoyed, Lulu marched out with a promise to get in touch with Dante when Rocco was better. Dante grumbled as he returned to his desk, prompting Nathan to ask if Dante had told Lulu that Dante and Valerie were over. Dante explained that it wouldn't have made a difference because Dante and Lulu's problems were bigger than Dante's affair.

Moments later, Maxie entered the squad room and demanded to talk to Nathan. Nathan pointed out that he was working, but Maxie ignored him as she practically dragged him away from his desk to the interrogation room. She shut the door and explained that she needed to tell him something, but Nathan cut her off to reveal that the case he'd been working on involved her. Confused, Maxie asked why. Nathan confided that the police had information that Johnny might try to return to Port Charles and contact Maxie.

In the park, Johnny pretended to be on the phone angrily telling someone that he was tired of being kept waiting. "Greg?" Valerie asked as Johnny ended the call. Johnny smiled and feigned surprise as he greeted Valerie and told her that his car had broken down then added that he'd been on the phone with the tow truck company. Valerie offered to give "Greg" a lift, but Johnny declined. Valerie felt that she owed it to "Greg" because he had helped her when her car had broken down.

Across town, Felix entered his living room as Sabrina stared off into space, while folding laundry. Felix suspected that Sabrina had been thinking about Carlos. "You don't know the half of it," Sabrina replied as her phone rang. It was Carlos. Carlos greeted Sabrina and admitted that he'd been delighted to receive her message. Sabrina waited until Felix left the room to warn Carlos that Anna suspected that Carlos was alive. Sabrina urged Carlos not to return to Port Charles, but Carlos revealed that he'd never left.

Carlos refused to leave without Sabrina and the baby, so he'd arranged for a boat to whisk them out of town. Sabrina explained that she couldn't leave, but Carlos told her that he loved her more than ever then resorted to blackmail by threatening to turn himself into Anna, who wouldn't hesitate to kill him because Anna had tried before. Sabrina begged Carlos just to leave without her, but Carlos insisted that Sabrina meet him on pier 54 within half an hour or he would follow through on his plans to go to Anna.

A short time later, Michael arrived to talk to Sabrina, but Felix informed him that Sabrina wasn't home. Frustrated, Michael explained that he was desperate to see Sabrina because he loved her and wanted to be a part of the baby's life. Felix warned Michael that it might be too late and handed Michael a letter that Sabrina had asked Felix to give to Michael if Michael stopped by.

Later, Michael sat on a park bench to read Sabrina's letter. Sabrina had written that she deeply regretted lying to Michael because she loved him and always would. As Michael read the letter, it became clear to him that Sabrina had decided to leave town.

On pier 54, Paul was outraged that Carlos was still in town. Carlos promised that he would soon be gone and never be seen again. Paul handed Carlos an envelope filled with money as he made it clear that Carlos had to leave or Carlos and Carlos' loved ones would not be safe. Nearby, Sabrina ducked out of sight when she saw Carlos talking to Paul. After Paul left, Sabrina stepped forward. Carlos was thrilled that Sabrina had decided to meet him, but he immediately noticed that she didn't have a suitcase with her.

Sabrina asked why Carlos had been talking to Paul. Carlos lied by claiming that Paul had been hiding Carlos in a safe house in exchange for Carlos' agreement to testify against Julian. Sabrina believed Carlos, but she was confused why Carlos was determined to slip out of town. Carlos told her that he had merely agreed to cooperate to buy himself time, while he persuaded Sabrina to run away with him. Carlos begged Sabrina to leave Port Charles so they could start a new life with their baby as a family.

Sabrina appeared undecided until the boat pulled up. Carlos was relieved when she agreed and took his hand.

At the apartment, Anna and Jordan were disappointed when they discovered that Sabrina was gone.

Big thanks to Soap Central for your brilliant analysis!

(From Soap Central)

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