Chapter 2

For the first time since the accident, Brenda was grateful that Jason was able to keep his face devoid of all emotion. Thankfully he didn't react at all to her announcement.

Jason's eyes drifted across the small group that had formed around the nurses' station. Brenda was desperate for him to do something, anything to prevent Jax from admitting her to the psych ward. Alan had to know that this was a lie but he seemed eager to believe it, if it meant that he'd found a loophole in admitting Brenda. Emily looked excited, for whatever reason she was fond of Brenda and would readily believe this without question. Jax seemed outraged at the idea and started walking closer to Brenda, who since she'd made her announcement had started to walk towards him.

Jax was the first one to break the silence, "What?" Jax asked. "That's not true. Alan, you really need to do something here. Brenda's clearly lost touch with reality - "

Seeing that Jason wasn't going to say anything, Brenda took it upon herself to convince them it was true. "It's true," Brenda said and showed Jax her ring finger. The ring Jax had given her a few weeks ago was noticeably absent from her finger and in its' place was a ring Lila had given her a few years ago as a birthday present. Hopefully Alan would recognize the ring but wouldn't remember that Lila had been the one to give it to her.

"That's grandmother's ring," Emily interrupted. She remembered the ring because of the distinctive setting. A large single diamond solitaire, surrounded by sapphires and blue topaz. She hadn't seen the ring in a while, but didn't realize that her grandmother had given the ring to Jason, who apparently gave it to Brenda. "This is so exciting!" Emily hugged Brenda and then Jason. "How come nobody told me?"

Jax turned towards Jason, "You gave her that ring?" Jax asked.

"She's wearing it," Jason said. He hated lying. He really didn't understand the concept of lying or the need for it, but in a situation like this, he couldn't tell the truth. He couldn't really lie either, so he did what he did when he didn't want to tell the truth - he spoke around it.

Alan offered Jason a handshake, "Why didn't you say anything?" Alan asked. "Mother knew and she didn't say anything?" This was wonderful news. Brenda had always been a part of their family and this marriage just made it official. Hopefully, she'd be able to do something to get Jason away from that lifestyle and return to the family.

"You hate each other," Jax said.

Brenda smiled at Jason and took a chance and reached for his hand, "Well, you know what they say - there's a thin line between love and hate," Brenda said. There was that line, but she and Jason had never crossed it.

"What about Sonny?" Jax asked.

"What about him?" Jason asked.

"Doesn't he have something to say about this?" Jax asked.

"Well - " Brenda paused, and looked at Jason. "That's why he didn't show up at the wedding. He found out about me and Jason."

"You two were meeting in secret?" Emily asked. "This is so romantic. It's straight out of a movie!"

For once in his life, Jason was grateful that Emily got excited about anything that had to do with a wedding. Hopefully, she'd detract some of the attention away from him and he'd be able to get Brenda out of the hospital before Jax steamrolled Alan into having her admitted. "Just like a movie," Jason said. "Can we go?"

"Of course," Alan said. "Brenda, I couldn't be happier with this news. I can't wait to share it with the family - "

"Actually," Brenda interrupted. "Jason and I, we're not ready to share this with everyone yet. We'd appreciate it if you kept the news to yourselves."

"You're just going to let her go?" Jax asked. "Unbelievable. Alan, she destroyed the studio! There's broken glass everywhere!"

Alan smiled at Brenda, "Well, Jax that isn't your decision to make. If Brenda is incapable of making medical decisions, Jason will be the one to make those for her," Alan said. "Brenda is Jason's fiancée, not yours."

"You can't let her go," Jax said. "I still want her admitted."

"We're leaving," Jason said.

"Brenda, I'm sorry about all of this," Alan apologized. "I never would've admitted you, but with the threat of a lawsuit - "

"It's okay," Brenda said. "I understand. So we're going to get going."

"Actually - " Alan paused. He still wasn't clear on the validity of this sudden engagement between Brenda and Jason, but there was one thing he needed to discuss with the two of them. "Can you two come to my office for a minute?"

"How are you feeling?" Johnny asked as Carly walked downstairs. He'd been doing a lot of thinking while Carly was in the shower and he'd reached a decision. He had a way to make sure that Carly kept her baby and that no one would ever try to take the baby from her. He hoped that she went along with this.

"Better, much better," Carly said. It was amazing what a hot shower could do for a person. She felt relaxed for the first time in weeks. Maybe he'd let her stay here for a few weeks, at least until the baby was born so she'd have some time to figure out what to do. Right now she needed to get both Tony and AJ off her back, at least until the baby was born. After the baby was born, she knew there'd be a custody battle but she didn't want to have to think about that right now.

Johnny motioned for Carly to sit next to him and put his arm around her, "It'll be okay," Johnny promised. "I'm going to make sure of that."

Carly rested her head on Johnny's shoulder and sighed, "This isn't your mess to fix," Carly said. "I got myself into this, I'll find some way to get out of it." She just wasn't sure what that would be. "It's not your job to make this right for me."

"You're not alone," Johnny said. "Whatever you need, you know that I'm here for you - "

"I know," Carly whispered. Even though, Johnny had cut her out of his life romantically she knew that if she ever needed anything all she needed to do was ask. Johnny was the one constant in her life. He was the one person that never turned his back on her. Even though he had told her he couldn't be with her, it didn't end their friendship. Normally, Johnny was the first person she turned to when things got rough but seeing how AJ was technically Jason's brother, she hoped that he'd have some sort of influence over him and get him to back off or something. Of course, Jason wasn't home but luckily Johnny was. "I just - "

"You just what?" Johnny asked as he reached for Carly's hand.

"I just feel like everything is caving in on me," Carly said. "Everything is just spiraling out of control. I can't lie anymore. I can't do this anymore. Johnny, I just want my baby. I just want to be able to go to sleep tonight and forget about everything else. I'm sick of waking up in the middle of the night, wondering if someone is going to pound down my door and demand to take my baby."

"I'm not going to let that happen," Johnny said. "Nothing or no one can touch you here. There's something I need to talk to you about." He knew that Carly was going to be a great mother. She loved children and had this way of relating to them that blew him away. Carly was an only child and didn't have any nieces or nephews, but she adored his and the feelings were mutual.

"Can it wait until tomorrow?" Carly asked. "I just - " Carly turned her head towards the door, she could here people arguing on the other side of the door. "It's AJ."

Johnny kissed the top of Carly's head, "I'll handle this," Johnny said and opened the door.

"I knew she'd be here," AJ said and started to walk inside but Rey was holding him back. "She's always with you or my gangster brother."

Rey stepped forward, "Johnny, I - "

"Rey, it's okay," Johnny said. "I have some things to say to AJ."

Carly walked up to Johnny and stood behind him, "AJ, just leave," Carly said.

"I'm not going anywhere until you agree - "

"She doesn't have to agree with anything," Johnny said. "I'm only going to say this once, so listen up. The baby that Carly is carrying, it's not yours. It's not Tony's." Johnny waited a few moments, before continuing. He wished he would've gotten the chance to discuss this with Carly first, but AJ coming over tonight prevented that. "It's our baby, mine and Carly's - not yours, get out."