TITLE: Racing Against Time

SUMMARY: Jax and Carly are trying to find their way back to one another. But Jax is still having a hard enough time believing that Carly truly does love him – more than she had ever loved Sonny. He tries to flirt with Olivia to make Carly jealous – but he quickly realizes that he was just hurting BOTH Carly and Olivia in doing this – so he dropped it.

But Jax soon has troubles with Kate. A very bitter Kate Howard is not someone you want to mess around with. Soon Kate began to threaten Carly and Olivia – will Jax manage to save the woman who he truly loves and their good friend?

RATING: T

CATEGORY: Friendship/ Family/ Drama/ Romance/ Comedy/ Crime/ Angst/ Tragedy

PROLUGE

"What if I did take you up on the swim?" Olivia cocked her head to the right as she leaned against the chair and stared Jax square in the eyes.

"Lets go." Jax said with a wide smile, he stood up and held out his hand for the woman to take. A challenge in his eyes.

"I'll swim circles around you." Olivia said, she was very tempted to go. Not because Jax was trying to put the moves on her – no she fully knew that he was very much in love with Carly. He fully knew that she was friends with Carly – and she knew that he would never damage that. No she truly wanted to be back in the pool – swimming laps – pushing her to her limit – like she hadn't done since high school, since she had gotten pregnant with Dante.

"I'll personally escort you to the boutique, I all ready know which bikinis would look fabulous on you." Jax said with a twinkle in his eyes, "I went over to the boutique before my own private swim."

Olivia bit her lips. She was so tempted to accept his offer – so very tempted. Shaking her head, " I have work to do, Mr. Jax." She looked back at the table where she had the blue prints of the hotel, plus work that needed to be done for the winter and the summer months. She leaned forward and looked intently at the blue prints.

Jax sat down and leaned forward himself, "Your stab wound still brothers you." He said in a soft knowing firm voice.

Olivia looked quickly into his eyes, "I told you that I fell in the shower."

"If that was the case, than you should have reported it for the accident report." Jax said. "You know I wouldn't stare at your wound. It has had time to heal -" He frowned, "It has healed right?"

"Yes. The amazing Doctor Patrick Drake took care of me, I'm fine now." Olivia said in low rough voice.

"Than come swimming with me." Jax said.

Olivia sighed, "No." Shaking her head, "Sides I haven't really been swimming since I became pregnant with my son, Dante." She tried to focuses on the blue print.

"When was that?" Jax asked.

"Middle of Senior year – just before the start of the season." Olivia said looking up into Jax's understanding eyes.

"Well, there's no time like the present to get back in shape." Jax said standing to his feet and gently but firmly took Olivia's upper under arm and stood her up.

Olivia looked shocked and uncomfortable, but before she could say anything, Jax looked over her head, "Please make sure the blue prints and manual are put in Ms. Falcorneri's office, which is in the same suit as Carly's and mine."

"Yes Mr. Jax."

Jax led a silent Olivia towards the hallway that would lead to the boutique and towards the pool.

Olivia finally managed to pull away from him, "I said no, Mr. Jax, and like sex, no means no." With that she turned and walked quickly away with her head held high.

Jax just silently watched the woman walk away from him.

"All ready moving on to the next Falconeri I see?" Kate's voice said from behind him.

"So you are calling yourself Falconeri now, Kate. That will make Olivia very happy." Jax said folding his arms across his chest.

"Howard is my last name – had been since I turned eighteen." Kate said in a seething voice. "I was just going to warn you. Although my cousin, Olivia, is a slut. She fully admits that fact herself. She does have strandeds. She doesn't go for men whom her friends are in love with. Seeing how Olivia feels the need to call Carly her friend – you won't get into Olivia's bed. Or vice versa."

"Olivia isn't a slu -" Jax began but Kate quickly cut him off.

"I see that you hired Olivia just to shove her in Carly's face. Nice plan. Olivia is a very beautiful woman, and Carly truly does like her." A gleam entered Kate's eyes. "Your divorce with Carly has hit the dividing of assents … and you know that Carly and Olivia have become friends, what a great way to destroy that friendship by hiring Olivia as your … what do you call it," A perfectly manicured nail tapped Kate's chin, "Oh yes a girl Friday." She laughed gently, "My cousin a girl Friday, I love it. But too bad she won't be your girl Friday."

"I wish you would not talk down about your cousin, Kate, she's the only family you have, who apparently still talks to you. Who actually still is willing to talk to you. Who actually still cares about you. Who actually still loves you." Jax said in a rough intense voice.

Kate moved up and snaked her right arm around Jax's neck, forcing him to move closer to her. Tipping her head up to met his lips, she breathed, "I can help you destroy Carly. All you have to do is ask. You don't have to play any games with me, Jasper Jax, I perfectly understand you and no feelings whats so ever have to enter here." She pulled his head closer to hers and she captured his mouth with her own, forcing her tongue into his mouth.

Jax tried to pull Kate off of him, but her hold on him was tight, he finally managed to push her back. Only because she was done with him. "No thank you, Kate. Our one time twist was just that. Just a one time thing." He jerked his suit down and yanked out the winkles that she had caused.

"As you wish." Kate said and turned and left Jax.

Jax worked his jaw as he brought his hand to wipe his mouth. Kate's mouth left a bitter taste in his mouth. Perhaps mouthwash would help get rid of the bitterness. He turned and walked back into the lobby where Olivia was standing at the front counter.

He walked over and faced her, "I'm sorry, Olivia. I shouldn't have tried to push you into something that you wanted too do. Truly wanted to do. I just wanted to have some fun was all."

Olivia sighed, "Like I said before, Jax, I grew up in a household of brothers. I know all the tricks." She smiled kindly.

"Hey guys." Carly said standing in between the two and looked first at Jax than over at Olivia.

Jax turned to face his soon to be ex wife, "Have fun with Sonny?"

Carly blinked.

"Olivia didn't tell me, I guessed. No, I knew." Jax said with a shrug.

"I knew she would never betray me." Carly said never taking her eyes off of Jax, but she did move sideways closer to Olivia.

"That's my cue to leave." Olivia said starting to move away.

"No, stay." Both Jax and Carly said in union.

"No, I have work to do." Olivia said. "I'll be in my office." She paused,

Jax grinned, "You don't know where it is." He winked at Carly, "Her office is in the same suit as us."

"Good." Carly said with a smile.

""Still, this conversion should be for two. You two." Olivia said moving away.

Carly turned and followed her friend over to the couch. She gently pulled Olivia too a stop and pulled her down beside her on the couch. "You don't have to rush off like that Olivia. Us three are going to work closely together now. Even through you will be Jax's personal assistant."

"Operations manger." Olivia said in a firm tired voice.

"Operations manager/personal assistant/girl Friday." Jax said as he took a seat in the chair close to the couch, close to where Carly sat.

"Don't call me that." Olivia growled deep in her throat.

"What operations manager?" Jax asked in an innocent voice, his eyes sparkling boyish.

"Girl Friday. I hate that." Olivia growled.

Jax smirked.

Carly watched the two inter act and she saw that it was more friendship than flirtations. Almost like brother and sister bating each other than anything. She couldn't keep the smile of her face as she just witnessed the interaction between the two. She loved too see Jax so relaxed like this – and she finally truly saw the real Olivia Falcorneri in this moment. How she must be with her brothers.

What the three didn't know was that they were being watched … watched very carefully. And this person didn't like what they were seeing. Not one bit. This person knew that they would have to put a stop to this little bond fest anyway possible. Even if it meant hurting their own family.

END PROLUGE