Chapter Two

Alexis dropped the girls off at Wyndemere with Nikolas, John, Alfred, Colleen, and Viola. She told them that she'd be back in a little bit because she had someone to see. As she and Noah were heading back to the launch, Alexis put her hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you, Noah. You've been a huge help today and you don't even know me."

"Anytime, Alexis. And if you don't mind me saying, your husband's an idiot."

She smiled.

"And you are being very strong. Most women I know would at least have been wallowing in pity for a day or two."

"I'm not most women. I have two … three daughters who need me to be strong … to show them that no man is worth losing yourself. I'll cry tonight when they're asleep."

"Do you need me to come with you …"

She interrupted, "No, thank you Noah. Really, you did help me more than you know. I owe you."

"You don't owe me anyth- … wait, okay, yeah, you owe me dinner. Would you like to have dinner with me some time this week?"

Alexis smiled over at Noah, "Ice cream wasn't enough?"

"Not nearly." He smiled back.

"Are you flirting with me, Dr. Drake? On the day I find out my husband …"

"Yes, I was and I apologize." He interrupted.

Alexis' smile faded, "Don't apologize." She looked out over the water, "It's nice to know that someone still finds me …"

"Extremely attractive? Intelligent? Strong?" He interrupted again.

Alexis blushed and looked away, "This is …"

"Odd? Inappropriate? Exciting?"

She looked over at him, "Would you quit interrupting me?!" She smiled.

He smiled back, "You started it!"

She laughed. Noah stored that sound into his memory. He wanted to be the one to make her laugh like that more often.

"You are your son's father." She smiled.

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"Robin and I are friends. We don't talk on the phone about ourselves. Your son has come up in many conversations and he is, well …"

"A ladies man? Yeah, very suave … but he does feel for her."

"I know. And you, Dr. Noah Drake, who do you feel for?"

"At the moment …"

"Don't answer that. This is moving a little …"

"Fast?"

"Yeah. And stop it!!" She smiled as she playfully swiped his shoulder. After the launch docked and they stepped off, Noah asked once more if he could take her out and she gave him her cell phone number. He went on his way and called his son. He needed to know when the perfect time was for him to call her. It had been quite a while since he'd been here and he needed a refresher on the rules.

Alexis knocked at the penthouse door. Her old penthouse door. Man, she thought, it seems like twenty years since she'd lived here. Jason answered, not looking too pleased to see her.

"What?"

"May I come in?"

"No, I'm busy."

"You aren't too busy to hear this, believe me!" Alexis said, walking past him, taking a seat on his couch. Jason stared out into the hallway for a moment and then shut the door, turning to look at Alexis.

"I didn't come to tell you this so you'd be mad at her. I don't want to make you angry at her, although I'm sure you will be, but you have to understand that she's not completely to blame. I came here to ask you … no … to beg you, to not kill him. He's the father of one of my children and he's almost Kristina's father too …."

"Alexis! What are you talking about?"

"Oh … ha, sorry!" She looked over at him and gave him a huge smile, "Ric slept with Sam. Today. I saw them. It was sick."

Jason just stared.

"So, I came to tell you and I …" she was getting emotional now. Why now? God! She had wanted to come here, beg him not to kill Ric, and leave. She can't start crying now!! Too bad, her body told her.

The tears fell.

"They slept together, Jason. My daughter … my husband. Jason, what the HELL!?" She sunk back onto the couch. He sat beside her and uncomfortably brought her into his arms. She sobbed, cried out, even screamed a very, very bad word once or twice, and he was there, holding her. Jason felt for her, but mostly he felt anger towards Ric. He felt betrayed by Sam. What the hell was she thinking?

"I'm sorry. God, Jason, I'm sorry!" Alexis apologized sitting up. She wiped her tears with the back of her hands and stood up.

Before she opened the door, she turned to look at him, "Don't hurt him Jason, please."

"Alexis, I won't. Are you okay? Do you need me to bring you anywhere?"

She smiled at him, "I've missed you, Jason. We've both changed a lot …"

"I know." Jason was less uncomfortable; he sat on the couch again.

"They slept together and it's my fault."

He looked up to her and laughed, "Alexis, please."

"No, think about it." She was done crying and she was going to argue her point, "I tell you to stay away from Sam. I yell at Sam and accuse her of stealing the file, on you, from the P.C.P.D., I yell at Ric for not telling me about Sonny's illness. I pushed them to it."

"Alexis, you pushed them to be angry at you. You pushed them to try harder to get your forgiveness … you didn't push them to the bed …"

"The floor … by the couch."

Jason just winced, "Look, Alexis. Sam is your daughter …"

"And I love her."

"… and Ric is your husband…"

"… and I hate him."

Jason smiled and continued, "It's not your fault. Lila, Danny, Manny, me and Sam's breakup, this. Alexis, every bad thing that happens isn't your fault."

Alexis just looked at him, "Then why…"

"Why did we blame you?"

"God, everyone just loves finishing my sentences!"

Jason went on, ignoring her last statement, "We blamed you because it was easy. It was easier to put the blame on someone who we knew could take it. It was easier to do that than to just accept it and grieve. Accept it and move on. You were involved with every one of those things, but none of them were your fault. You are strong, Alexis. Sam knows that. Sam wants …"

"… to get back at me."

"For our break up, yes. And she did that. I bet you though, that she regrets it."

"Good."

Jason nodded, "I told her many times that you didn't make me do anything."

"But Jason, you're the saint and I'm the devil. You would never hurt her … or get her shot, or kidnapped … it's all me."

Jason replied, "Well, that's a load of …"

He was interrupted by a knock on the door. It was a frantic knock that made Alexis jump. Without thinking, she ran to hide on top of the stairs. Jason watched her as he walked to the door and chuckled to himself. She was so goofy.

He looked through the peephole and saw Ric, with Sam leaning against the wall behind him, "Jesus help me."

Opening the door, Jason said, "Yes Ric?"

"Is Alexis here?"

"She was, we had mind-blowing sex, and then she left."

Jason heard Alexis' laugh from upstairs, but Ric didn't.

Sam piped up, "WHAT?!"

"Joke. That was a joke. No, she's not here."

"But …"

"I think you should leave." Jason's eyes bore into Ric's.

"But …"

"Ric, leave, I know you want to live to see Molly's first birthday."

Ric looked back at Sam, and then returned to Jason. After a moment, he turned to leave, "Come on," he said and Sam followed.

"No," commanded Jason, "You … can come in."

Sam looked confused at Jason and walked in the apartment, not giving Ric a second thought.

Before Jason closed the door, Alexis appeared to Sam on top of the staircase. Sam grew scared.

Alexis walked steadily down the stairs and stood in front of Sam.

Sam couldn't read the expression on Alexis' face. It wasn't anger, but it wasn't love. Alexis' words spoke differently.

"Sam."

"Alexis."

"I love you."