Second Chance

Chapter One

There were two defining moments in his life that he would've sworn had maxed-out his abnormally high tolerance to emotional pain. The first being losing Michael thanks to Robin's betrayal and the second being walking into Sonny's penthouse to see Carly coming down the stairs wearing nothing but one of Sonny's shirts. Both times had made him feel a pain so severe that it felt as if his heart was literally being ripped out of his chest- that probably would have actually hurt less. After surviving those traumatic events he was sure nothing could ever hurt him more.

He was wrong.

He should've known the moment he saw Luke Spencer standing in his kitchen that something really bad had happened. For a second he had foolishly allowed himself to pretend that Luke was there for a social visit- that nothing could possibly be wrong. He had gotten really good at denial the last couple of years.

Looking out the window of the plane, Jason replayed the events of the morning over and over in his head.

~ 4 hours earlier~

Coming in from his morning rounds at the casino, Jason was looking forward to an ice cold beer. Sure it was a little early in the day, but after the last couple sleepless nights and sense of uneasiness he had been battling, he thought he was entitled to a few beers.

Walking into straight to the kitchen he threw open the fridge, popped open a beer and took a long swig, savoring the feel of the cool liquid going down his throat.

L: "Never too early for alcohol, huh, Morgan?"

Somehow Jason managed to not choke on the beer he was in the process of swallowing as he recognized the familiar voice behind him. Getting control of himself, he slowly turned and shot the man a glare.

J: "Sneaking up on people like that can get you killed."

L: "Ain't happened yet."

Jason finished his beer quickly never taking his eyes of the other man. What in the hell was Luke Spencer doing in Puerto Rico?

Luke studied the younger man carefully. He just couldn't believe that Jason Morgan was ignorant in the drama that had been going down for the last six months. Was he really oblivious or did he just not care? Making a quick decision he tilted his head toward the living room and walked away with the unspoken message that Jason should follow.

Throwing the bottle into the trash Jason slowly followed behind Luke. Something about the man's appearance and demeanor set alarms off in his head. There was definitely something going on and Jason felt his earlier unease flare-up again. Luke looked down right exhausted, the fatigue and strain showing heavily on the normally care-free man's face.

J: "What's up, Luke? You aren't here to bullshit."

Luke walked over to the wet bar and picked up the whiskey decanter. Morgan could always be counted on to have the good stuff. Pouring a healthy amount into a tumbler, he kept hold of the decanter and walked back over to where Jason was standing.

L: "Drink this and then take a seat."

Without removing his eyes from Luke's face, Jason took the glass from him and drank it quickly in one swallow. The fiery liquid burned a trail down his throat. Taking a deep breath, he narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath.

J: "Who is it? Sonny? Did something happen? Is it Michael?"

Jason swore that his heart was beating so hard that if felt as if it was about to bust its way out of his chest.

Luke took a healthy gulp from the decanter and shook his head. Damn it, Sonny. How come the kid was being kept in the dark?

Jason automatically went into denial mode.

J: "What's going on? Did something happen to Emily?"

Luke shook his head in the negative again and sighed, he knew that Jason was not purposely avoiding asking about her.

L: "Ask me. Ask me about her."

Jason felt the world start to spin and slowly shook his head to clear it.

J: "Carly's ok. She has to be. Sonny would have called me."

With a cynical laugh Luke interrupted, "Oh really, you think so, huh? Don't suppose he called and mentioned that he threw her and Michael out of the penthouse- or that he took the guards off of her and the kid? Did you even know that they have been divorced for about five months now?"

Jason felt an anger unlike anything he had ever felt toward Sonny rise in him. With an angry curse he threw the glass tumbler at the wall, shattering it into a million pieces. What in the hell was going on?

With each piece of information Luke shared with him, he noticed that Jason would turn a shade redder. He could tell by Jason's reaction that the answer to his questions was a big, fat NO.

Rubbing a hand over his face Jason thought back to the periodical phone calls he made to Sonny and how each one ended with the same statement- Michael and Carly are doing good. They're fine.

Taking the decanter out of Luke's hand he took another swallow and closed his eyes forcing the question he was having a hard time asking to cross his lips.

J: "Is Carly ok?"

Luke reached over and took the decanter back, taking another gulp. This wasn't going to be pretty.

L: "Two nights ago, she drove her car off the bluff- they pulled her car up this morning-."

Jason put a hand up to stop him, "Carly doesn't even have a car, she's afraid to drive."

Luke passed him the decanter and scratched his cheek.

L: "Apparently she got over her fear recently and bought a car to celebrate."

As he processed this information, Jason felt the strength gradually leaving his body. She's not dead... she's not dead... He chanted over and over again in his head. Finally as if he had lost the fight to control his body, his legs gave out and he collapsed, sitting down hard on the coffee table behind him. His throat felt too dry and he found himself taking a sip from the decanter in his hand before he even realized it. Clearing his throat he tried to make himself talk.

J: "Is she- Is she-?" He couldn't bring himself to finish the question.

Luke sat down and reached for the decanter again. It wouldn't do any good to get the kid drunk right now.

L: "They haven't found her body. It wasn't in the car. Normally I would say that the odds of this ending well weren't pretty, but this isn't a normal woman we are talking about. For one, the woman is Carly and she doesn't know how to quit and two, she's a Spencer and Spencer's thrive on beating the odds."

Jason seemed to zone out for a moment before he stood up and walked out of the room. Luke just watched him go, figuring the poor kid just needed a minute to process everything.

When Jason re-entered the room not even ten minutes later carrying a duffle bag and his leather jacket Luke looked up surprised.

Impatient to get going Jason looked down at him, "You got a plane ready or do I need to arrange it?"

L: "Ready to go when you are partner."

With a nod Jason walked out the door without even looking back.

"Mr. Morgan, we will be landing in thirty minutes, your ride will be waiting at the gate."

Jason opened his eyes and took a deep breath wondering what he would find once he got off the plane. Had they found her yet? Did they know anything? The unanswered questions bounced around in his head. Luke had tried to fill in all the blanks he had from the last couple months. With each obvious sign that Sonny had screwed Carly over once again the anger grew inside of him. How could he have left her with him? How could he have left his son with him? The only answer he had brought hurt and confusion with it- he simply had trusted Sonny to keep his word. Stupid mistake.

L: "You ready to face everyone?"

Jason considered his words carefully, "I am ready to bring Carly home. She's not dead. I would know if she was- I would feel it."

Luke thought about what Jason was saying. Funny, but that was what Barbara Jean kept saying every time someone even hinted at Carly being dead.

L: "I hope you're right... God, I hope you're right."

Jason didn't respond, but closed his eyes trying to picture Carly in his head. Her smile. Her eyes. How could someone so vibrant and full of energy be gone? It just wasn't possible- it couldn't be.

He couldn't live in a world without Carly in it- it was that simple.