Chapter 3
Jason got to the park as soon as he could. He found Carly sitting on a park bench holding Morgan as tight as she could.
"What happened?" he asked, sitting next to the two of them.
Before Carly could respond, Morgan climbed out of Carly's lap into Jason's. "Uncle Jason!" he exclaimed.
"Hey, Morgan," Jason said, unable to help smiling at how happy Morgan was to see him.
"Hey, Mercedes, can you take Morgan home? My men will drive you."
"I don't want to go home," Morgan said. "I want to stay here with you and Mommy."
"I know, but I need to talk to you mom about something. But I promise, your mom and I will be home soon."
"I miss you, Jason."
He gave Morgan a hug, and tears sprang to his eyes. He missed this little boy so much. "I love you," he said, before handing him back to Carly.
"I'll see you later tonight. I love you, Morgan," she told him.
"Bye Mommy," he said.
Jason waited until Mercedes and Morgan left to ask her what was wrong.
"What happened, Carly? Why are you so upset?"
"I decided to take Morgan to the park because I thought it would be good for both of us to spend time together. I was wrong though. I mean, I shouldn't be surprised. I can't ever do anything right."
"Carly, just tell me what happened."
"Anthony Zacchara showed up."
"What? Did he hurt you?"
"He said that he was sorry for what happened to Jax. He wasn't though. There was something in his voice… it was a feeling I had… I felt really uneasy. Then he tried to pick Morgan up, and I almost lost it. He finally went away, and then I called you and Mercedes."
Tears started to fall down her face. "Jase, what happened to me? I used to be able to handle Anthony Zacchara.
"Selfishly, I'm glad that you don't think you can handle him anymore, because you can't. I'm going to handle everything."
"What does that mean?"
"Ric Lansing came to my office."
"What did he want?"
"He wanted to tell me that Zacchara was the one that shot Jax."
"Why would he shoot Jax? And why would Ric tell us this."
"He seemed to be telling the truth. Unusual, I know. But I don't know why he shot Jax." He thought it was best not to tell her that she was the next target. She was upset already, and this would only upset her more. He would tell her when he knew more information.
"Do you have a plan?" she asked him.
"Yeah."
"Well?" She said, wanting to know more.
"I'm going to turn the business back to Sonny. He can deal with taking out Zacchara. I'm going to concentrate on protecting you and Morgan."
"Jase, you don't have to give up the business for me."
"The business was never really mine. Besides, nothing matters if you and Morgan aren't safe."
"I just don't want you to give up something you love."
"I'm not. I have something I love right here," he told her. "Now, you need to go home and spend time with Morgan. I'm going to talk to Sonny."
"Are you going to come over later? You promised Morgan that you would, and he would be very disappointed if he doesn't get what he wants," she said, smiling.
"He is your kid," he said. "I'll come over, but you can't cook."
"Deal," she said.
"By the way," he said, "it's good to see you smiling again."
That night, he kept his promise and went over to Carly's. While they were eating and playing with Morgan, Jason got a phone call from Sonny. Anthony Zacchara had had an embolism.
"I have to go to the hospital," he said.
"Why, what's wrong?"
"Zacchara had an embolism and he's in critical condition."
"Oh my god."
"Yeah. I need to go to the hospital and see what happens. I'll let you know," he said.
"I want to come with you," she said.
"No, stay here with him."
"Jason, do you think he'll live?"
"I don't know. I'll call you."
Jason waited at the hospital for news. He noticed that Claudia looked a little too happy for someone whose father was dying. Then again, Jason hoped that Zacchara died because everyone would be safer.
"I noticed that you don't look too broken up about your father."
"Is it any of your business?"
"I mean, I understand why you would want him to die… it would be easier on me."
"What would you gain by my father dying?"
"Everyone I loved would be safe. You know that your father was responsible for Jasper Jax's murder. And he was going to kill Carly next."
"Why should I believe you? And what's with you and that girl? Everytime I see you, she's with you or you're trying to protect her. You in love with her?"
"I don't have to explain my relationship with Carly."
"Why do people have to fall in love?"
"I said I wasn't in love with her. She's my best friend and I would do anything for her, but I'm not in love with her."
"I think you protest too much."
Patrick came out into the waiting room. "I'm sorry. We did all that we could, but he didn't make it."
Jason felt relieved. Maybe it was wrong to be happy that a man was dead, but he really didn't care. Carly was going to be safe. He had to tell her but he thought he sould tell her in person instead of telling her.
On the way home, Jason couldn't stop thinking about what Claudia had said. He did love Carly but there was a difference between loving someone and being in love with someone, right?
"Why am I letting Claudia get to me?" he asked to himself.
He knocked on Carly's door, quietly so he wouldn't wake Morgan up.
"Hey," she said. "You didn't call."
"Sorry, I just wanted to come by and tell you that Zacchara's dead."
"He is?" She smiled and gave Jason a huge hug. She let go and then her smile faded. "Am I a bad person for being happy someone is dead?"
"If you are, then I am, too."
He walked inside and they sat on the couch. "This means that you aren't in any danger from him."
"Does this mean you're not going to protect me anymore? Because if you want to keep the business, then I understand."
"It's a done deal with Sonny. He's taking it back over, and that's fine with me. And you know you would miss me if I wasn't here to look after you."
"I think you'd be better off with out me," she said.
"No, I wouldn't be. Carly," he said, putting his hand in hers, "When I heard the gunshot, all I could think about was you. I wish that it hadn't been Jax because I know that you are in pain, but I'm so thankful that I have you."
"Jase-"
"I know that you tell me that you love me and that you would do anything for me, and I feel the same way. I just wanted you to know that I don't think I would survive without you."
Carly felt tears welling up in her eyes. She loved him, probably more than she had loved her husband. She loved him more than anyone in her life, except her children. She felt him lean into her, their foreheads touching. She looked up, and their lips were almost together. She felt her lips going towards his when she heard Morgan.
"Mommy, I'm thirsty," he said, coming down the stairs.
"I'll get you some juice," she said.
Morgan stood at the edge of the couch, and Jason picked him up into his lap. Carly walked into the kitchen, unable to stop thinking about what just happened. She and Jason had almost kissed. What was she doing? She couldn't give her heart to another man, especially not Jason. She loved him more than life, but she couldn't be in a relationship with him because that meant if the relationship went badly, she could lose him. She might die if she lost Jason.
She left the kitchen with the juice and came back into the living room. She wished she had a camera: Jason was holding Morgan, stroking his hair.
She handed Morgan the juice, and Jason helped him drink it. "So, what have you two been talking about since I left?"
"You know, guy stuff," Jason said.
"Yeah, Mommy, guy stuff," Morgan repeated.
Carly and Jason laughed. "Do you think you can go back to sleep now?" Carly asked. Morgan nodded.
"Okay, I'll be up to check on you in a little while."
"He's getting so big," Jason said.
"Yeah. I think he made up the excuse that he was thirsty so he could see you."
"Maybe." He looked at his watched and noticed it was late. "I should go. You need your sleep."
She walked him to the door, and they said their goodbyes. Neither said anything about their almost-kiss but both were thinking about it. Why had it happened? Were they in love with each other? Each of them knew that their relationship may never be the same.
