One Night

I feel the way you want me
I see that you are lonely

-Christina Perri, One Night

August, 2006

The night was quiet, with the exception of the waves gently lapping against the docks. It was late and Georgie knew that it was dangerous to be on the docks at this hour, like the good daughter she was she should be at home right now. But an intense apathy kept her seated on the bench.

She had been sitting there since Dillon left following a call from Lulu. She wasn't surprised that her now ex-husband had rushed to Lulu's side, but it still hurt. After everything Lulu had put them through she wished that Dillon would have at least shown her some courtesy and not let her know that was where he was rushing off to. Instead it felt like a slap in face, especially in light of the night they'd shared together as friends with hope for the future.

Clenching the fabric in her lap of her sleeveless floral dress she breathed in deeply trying to calm the tempest threatening to rage inside of her. It wouldn't do any good anyway. She sighed and closed her eyes. Focusing on the water lapping beneath her she let the sound lull her into a state of calm, however the sound of heavy footsteps on the wood planks pulled her from her thoughts.

Calmly reaching for her purse she checked for the mace Mac had given her at the beginning of summer. Handling the small bottle she waited for whoever they were to make an appearance.

Georgie was surprised when Jason Morgan came bounding down the stairs. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a light gray t-shirt that clung to him in the dampened air. He walked right to the edge of the docks. Georgie realized that he didn't even know that she was sitting there and she found herself at a loss as to what to do. She was pretty sure she could slip away unnoticed but she didn't make a move to leave and she wasn't sure why.

Instead she slipped the bottle of mace back into her purse and watched him carefully. His fists were clenched at his sides and his breath seemed to be coming in ragged pants. He was simmering with barely concealed rage.

Suddenly, Jason spun around and strode toward the brick wall of one of the buildings that lined the docks. She watched as he lifted one of his fists and swung at the wall. Flinching at the sight, Georgie immediately stood up and stared at him in horror as he swung both fists violently at the wall over and over again.

"Jason!" she cried out, moving toward him. But he couldn't seem to hear her; he was lost in whatever agony had driven him to self-destruct.

Georgie didn't know what to do. She was afraid to approach him but at the same time she couldn't let him continue on. She stopped and started toward him twice and called out his name but she was too afraid to come any closer. It wasn't until she heard an agonized cry break from his lips that she rushed forward and grasped his arm as tightly as she could. Jason suddenly stopped and spinning around he lifted his fist toward her.

Instinctively Georgie brought her arms up and shielded her face. But nothing happened and hesitatingly she slowly lowered her arms.

Jason stood in front of her with a look of horror etched on his face as he stared down at his bloodied hand. Lifting his gaze to meet hers she saw the sheen of unshed tears. He was shaking violently as he opened and closed his mouth.

"Georgie, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he stuttered out. "I would never, never."

"I know," she said, rushing to reassure him. But she didn't 'know'. She couldn't know that he wouldn't hit her. Georgie only knew Jason by reputation and what she had learned from Mac and Robin.

She wanted to believe him though and looking at him right then she thought she might be able to.

Georgie's eyes suddenly widened in shock as Jason started to collapse to his knees. Reaching out for him she tried to support him but he was too heavy for her and she felt herself being dragged down with him.

Landing hard on the planks, scraping her knees, Georgie cradled his limp body against her own and her eyes frantically scanned the docks for anyone. While her mind raced to decide her next move she felt hot tears fall on her bare shoulders and her heart, her compassion, drove her to simply hold him as he wept.

It was late enough that most people had abandoned the docks in favor of bars and fast food restaurants offering air conditioning and cold drinks, so she had no concerns of anyone coming across the pair. She simply held him and waited.

She wasn't aware of when Jason's tears stopped but she eventually felt him pull away from her. He sat back with his shoulders slumped in defeat. His eyes were rimmed in red and there were deep creases in his face that Georgie knew weren't there before tonight. Biting the inside of her lip Georgie blinked away her own tears.

Jason's face twist in pain and both of them looked to his hands. The skin was hanging in shreds at the knuckles and his dark red blood was beginning to clot and congeal. Very gently, Georgie took them in her own, apologizing when he let out with a pained groan. She couldn't be sure, but they didn't look like they were broken. He might have to have a doctor look at them to be certain.

Laying them gently back in his lap Georgie caught his eye and said, "I'll be right back."

Standing up, she frowned as the scrapes on her knees made themselves known. Ignoring the sting she made her way over to where she had left her purse and dug around for the package of Kleenex she always kept with her. Pulling it out she turned around and started back toward Jason only to stop when she found that Jason was already standing and watching her.

Holding out her hand she beckoned him to come to her. There was a strange look that came into his eye as he stared at her outstretched hand, one that even later she wouldn't have been able to identify. Just as she was about to go to him, he started moving toward her and she was left stunned when he slipped his hand into hers. Confused Georgie shook her head and led him to the bench.

Sitting down next to him she pulled a Kleenex from the colorful pouch and began to clean his hands as best as she could. She wanted to ask him why, why he would do this to himself, why he looked at her so strangely a minute ago. But she didn't feel like it was her place so she kept her mouth shut and helped him the best she could.

She used up the entire package of tissues, cleaning up as much of his blood as she could, leaving a pile of bloodied Kleenex in her lap. Looking up at him she tried to manage a smile but the intensity in his face stopped her dead in her tracks.

Jason's eyes were trained on her face as he scanned every inch until he finally settled on her mouth. Out of the corner of her eye she watched as he lifted his hand and she could feel it as it slid around the back of her neck.

She knew what was going to happen next and while the logical portion of her brain was telling her to flee, her curiosity won over and she let him pull her towards him.

He met her half way and tilting his head slightly he kissed her. The kiss was neither romantic nor even passionate, it was all about dominance.

He was letting her know that he was in control.

His mouth was hard and unrelenting and at first Georgie sat stiffly as his left hand tightly gripped her waist. He pulled her body flush against his own, but she was slow to react as her body struggled to catch up. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew that his grip on her wasn't so tight that she couldn't leave his embrace if she wanted to.

Tentatively Georgie began to respond to his kiss, eventually matching him move for move, changing the dynamics of the kiss. While there was still a measure of dominance, and even the hint of violence to the kiss, Georgie tempered it and brought the intimacy that was lacking.

As Jason gripped at her waist and the back of her neck, Georgie traced her fingertips up the hard planes of his chest. Urging her mouth open, Jason's tongue explored the inner recesses of her mouth, continuing his pursuit of dominance.

Breathless and lightheaded, she pushed gently at his chest, breaking the kiss. They were both panting hard. Georgie brought her hand up and gingerly touched her swollen lips that were bruised red. Trying to regain some control over her body she backed up when Jason moved to kiss her again.

"No, Jason, we...we can't," she said.

The look of hurt and utter rejection that stole over his face was quickly replaced by a mask of indifference. It felt like someone had struck her. Hard.

"I want to," she admitted, and God only knew she really wanted to, but they couldn't and she repeated that.

"Why?" Jason asked, his voice was harsh and held a cruel note to it.

Sadly, Georgie gazed at him and cupped his cheek. "Because I'm hurting and so are you, and right now I think this would hurt us even more," she explained as gently as she could. "And I don't want to hurt you."

Not after what she'd seen tonight.

Her words seemed to melt Jason and he nodded as he leaned ever so slightly into the palm of her hand. Something shifted in Georgie and she curved forward and pressed her lips to the corner of his mouth. Turning his head Jason captured her mouth with his. This kiss was softer, gentler and brought tears to Georgie's eyes. It lasted only a moment before he pulled away.

Brushing his hand over her hair he gazed at her as she swiped at a tear that fell.

Clearing her throat she said, "we need to clean up your hands." Her words broke the silence that had enveloped them.

Jason shook his head dismissively. "It's fine."

"No, it's not," she countered cautiously. "They could be broken."

"They're not, trust me," he reassured her.

"All the same they could become infected."

"You're not going to give up are you?" he asked. There was a hint of amusement in his eyes are he watched her shake her head no.

"No, I'm not. Not until you either agree to see a doctor or let me clean them up myself," she told him. There was a steely determination in her voice that showed she wasn't about to back down.

"I can take care of myself," he tried to tell her but he only received a skeptical look in reply. "Fine," he finally relented.

The pair stood up and, not knowing what else to do with them, Georgie tucked the used tissues back into her purse. As they made their way to leave Georgie moved toward the stairs while Jason continued on the docks. Pausing she looked at him questioningly.

"The Towers are this way," she said motioning to her right.

Jason's jaw clenched angrily and he gave her a brief shake of his head. "I don't want to go back there tonight," he explained.

"Okay," she replied, drawing out the word.

This time it was Jason who held his hand out to her. Georgie blinked. Her gaze flickered to the darkness just past his shoulder before she focused her attention back to him and saw an uncertainty in his eyes that tore at her. Not hesitating a moment longer Georgie retreated back down the stairs and made her way to his side.

Taking his hand in her own she noticed the relief that filled his eyes and she allowed him to lead the way, into the darkness of the docks.