Author's note: For the purpose of this story, Lorenzo is still dead but Jason is not in jail for the crime. Additionally, my Carly is Tamara Braun's Carly. Not that I don't enjoy Laura Wright's performance as Carly, but I will always be a TB fan through and through.

Chapter One

Jason sat on the docks, sighing as his raked his hand through his hair. Sonny's words played over and over in his mind. "You need to claim your son, Jason." No, Jason didn't need to claim Jake, and he was getting tired of people trying to convince him that he did. Jason wished they would just leave him alone, in peace. Giving up Jake was hard enough without people trying to add their two cent worth. Closing his eyes, Jason released another sigh - this one full of the anguish he was feeling.

"Jase?"

Jason started and looked up to see his best friend, Carly Jacks, standing a few feet away from him. Her blue eyes had circles under them and were full of pain. Carly walked closer to him, sitting beside him on the bench, furrowing her eyebrows with concern. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Jason's answer was automatic. It was a typical answer - and revealed nothing. "You look like hell."

Carly smirked. "Thanks, Jase. I'm glad I can always count on you for your honesty," she teased softly. "I look like hell and I feel like hell."

"Jerry." Jason didn't even need to guess at what was bothering Carly. Finding out the man who'd held her and 13 other people hostage and almost killed her was the brother of her husband had been a real shock to Carly. Having to defend the man had to be affecting Carly's marriage.

Carly nodded, the wind blowing lightly through her blonde hair as her eyes clouded over. "Jax won't give up looking for him. Jane & I have begged him to let Jerry go, but he's being so stubborn." It was Carly's turn to let out an anguished sigh. "This is tearing our marriage apart, Jase. And you know the sad part? I'm starting not to care."

"That's not true, Carly, and you know it." Jason reached over and took her hand in his, lacing their fingers together. "You love Jax, no matter how hurt and angry you are."

Carly laughed bitterly, looking down at their hands laced together. This was familiar to her; Jason's touch made her relax and feel safe for the first time since Jerry had revealed his identity to Jax. "I love him, but I'm starting to wonder how in love with him I am. Jason, Jax is giving up everything for the man that almost killed me. For the man that almost killed Robin. For the man that killed - " she stopped suddenly.

"The man that killed Alan." It was something that Jason struggled with. Jerry Jacks had killed his father, and Sonny wouldn't allow him to even touch the man. He kept telling Jason they had bigger fish to fry, and would get around to making Jerry pay down the road. That was before Jerry's disappearance, of course. Jason used his other hand to reach out and smooth away a strand of hair from Carly's face. "I'm sorry, Carly."

Carly could hear the empathy in his voice and gazed at Jason, scrutinizing his face. "What's bothering you, Jase? Something's been eating at you for months now. Ever since that night." Her eyes pleaded with him to trust her, to tell her what was bothering him.

"I can't, Carly." Jason released her hand and stood up suddenly as his thoughts returned to Jake so quickly. Jason paced across the docks, trying to mask the pain in his heart but not able to. Jason was usually exceptionally good at keeping his expression neutral, especially around Carly, but tonight he was weaker. Tonight he was vulnerable. Tonight his whole world had come crashing down around him.

"Jason, I'm your best friend." Carly's voice was serious as she stood up and faced him, causing him to stop pacing. "I've loved you longer than I can remember, and I am here for you in absolutely any way you need me to be." Carly stepped even closer to him and placed a hand over his heart. "Let me be there for you, Jason, the same way you've been there for me all those times. Let me help you heal your heart."

Jason felt a jolt surge through him when Carly touched him. Jason felt his resolve weakening as her words re-played over in his head. "I love you too," Jason said honestly, knowing how grateful he was for her friendship. Even when Carly was hard to deal with, or when her 'help' hindered him more than anything else, Jason knew it came from a place of good within her. "You can't heal my heart, Carly."

Carly felt the same jolt within her as Jason took her hand and removed it. "Please let me try," she pleaded.

Jason waved and then surrendered. "I hate when you're so persistent." Jason allowed a half-smile to cross his face as he led Carly back over to the bench and sat down, tugging her down beside him. "I spoke to Sam's producer tonight. She told me about some things from Sam's past that were pretty mind-boggling. Apparently Sam used to create alias' in her past. She'd meet and marry rich guys and then drain them for every penny. Amelia thinks she's out to get me in the same way. Amelia provided me with a ton of proof."

Carly's brows furrowed. "I might've thought that a long time ago," Carly said slowly, considering Jason's words. "I've seem Sam give herself for you so many times, Jase. I just can't believe that her love for you isn't totally valid."

"I know. I think it's possible Sam might have come to town with that intent in mind, and might have been trying to seduce Jax or Sonny in the same way. But she's changed since coming to town, and I know she isn't trying to do the same to me," Jason agreed. "There's more, Carly. But before I tell you, you need to promise me that this is something you will not tell anyone about. This doesn't involve just Sam. And this is my decision, and no one else's. Carly, our whole relationship depends on you being able to listen but not tell anyone." Jason glanced at her, his eyes more serious than Carly had ever seen them.

"I promise, Jase," Carly whispered, reaching out to take his hands in hers. Her heart began to pound, suddenly getting a feeling that she wasn't going to be the same after this conversation was done.

Jason expelled a tortured sigh as he gazed down at his hands, locked with Carly's. Jason laced his fingers through hers and raised his eyes to meet hers. "When Elizabeth and I slept together all those months ago ... well, she lied about the father of her baby. I'm Jake's father, not Lucky." Before Carly could even react, Jason plunged ahead. "I never told Sam, but somehow she found out and has been lying to me about it ever since."

Carly felt like she couldn't breathe. She couldn't even react at first, as his words settled about in her brain. A small cry escaped her lips as her eyes filled with tears. Carly pulled one of her hands from Jason's to place it across her chest, trying to focus on her breathing. "Ohmigod, Jase," Carly finally managed. Her eyes sought Jason's, confusion etched across her face.

Jason squeezed her one hand tightly, his eyes never leaving her as she worked on controlling her breathing. "My life is extremely dangerous," he said quietly. "Elizabeth wanted to raise her son with Lucky in a safe environment with two loving parents and an older brother. Away from the danger my life could offer Jake." Carly's eyes narrowed as anger lit inside her. Jason noticed it and squeezed her hand again to keep her quiet. "I agreed, Carly. I don't want my son to become a pawn used against me. I want him to have as much love and happiness in his life, and Elizabeth & Lucky can offer that."

Carly's emotions were playing havoc inside of her. "I took away the first child that should have been yours," Carly whispered, taking Jason's other hand again. Her eyes were earnest and huge as she spoke. "You protected Michael with your life, Jase. He never felt more loved of safe than when he was with you. Even now, after I broke your heart for my
own selfish needs, you'd give your life for my boys. I have no doubt you'd do that and more for Jake. You're an incredible man, Jason. Which makes you an even better father. Why deprive Jake of such a wonderful father?"

Jason's face was downcast as he listened to Carly. "Everything you're saying is exactly what I've thought a hundred times, Carly." With the exception of how he was Michael's father for a brief time. Jason hated thinking of the pain that time period had caused him. "I know what you're saying is true. But I know that as hard as it is to give Jake up, I have
to do that if I love him. What I am tired of is Sam and her keeping secrets from me."

Carly paused. Jason's steering the subject back to Sam meant that him claiming Jake was not up for further discussion. Carly hurt - for Jason and for Jake. For the little boy that would never know the incredible man his biological father was. Carly also hurt at the fact that Elizabeth, the woman Carly was not fond of, could give Jason a child when Carly
almost been the first one to do that. "You can't get mad at Sam for keeping secrets if you've never actually told her about Jake's paternity," Carly said quietly.

Jason pulled his hands free from Carly and turned a bit. Resting his forehead in his hands, Jason rubbed his temples. "I know it's hypocritical," Jason admitted, sitting up and gazing at the water in front of them. "I kept this huge secret from Sam and I'm mad because she lied to me? Yet - she's always lying, Carly. And the secret about Jake... I never meant it to go any further than me." And Spinelli and Lesley Lu, but Jason wasn't planning to add that. "If I am not claiming Jake ever, then there was no need for anyone to know. Especially Sam. It just causes more pain."

"Because Sam can never give you a child, and yet Elizabeth gave you one by accident," Carly stated with a nod. She completely understood. "You need to talk to Sam, Jase." It was inevitable, but Carly could tell Jason wasn't looking forward to the conversation. "What are you going to do?"

"You know how you said you love Jax but don't think you're in love with him anymore?" At Carly's nod, Jason continued, "I think that's how I feel about Sam. I love her, and I'd do anything to protect her. But my heart's not in it anymore. I'm not in love with her anymore."

Carly reached out and wrapped her arms around Jason's neck, ignoring the surge of electricity passing through her body as she pressed herself against him. "I'm here anytime you need me," Carly said softly, leaning her head on Jason's shoulder. "Thanks for trusting me, Jase."

Jason inhaled the scent of Carly's shampoo, holding her close to him while he buried his face in her hair. He felt relief now that he had told Carly what he was feeling about Sam. As though by speaking his feelings out loud, they were truer and couldn't be taken back. Now he just had to talk to Sam, see where she stood, and see what was going to
happen from this point forward. "Thanks for always listening, Carly. For - " his voice choked slightly. "For being the best friend I could ever have asked for."

Carly pulled back and lightly touched Jason's cheek before leaning forward and kissing his other cheek impulsively. "The same to you." She pulled herself from him and stood up, glancing at her watch. "I have to go pick up the boys from Sonny's and get them home to bed. Call me, Jase."

Jason saluted her teasingly, a half smile on his face. "Aye aye, Captain." Carly stuck out her tongue at him and blew another kiss at him before striding away.

Jason watched her go, frowning as he considered the feelings their conversation had brought him. In all the years he'd known Carly, they'd tried romance enough times to know that it was a disaster. Yet, as he leaned back on the bench, feeling more relaxed than he had in days, Jason knew that Carly owned much more of his heart, and his soul, than he was ever willing to admit.