"I don't get it, Jason. I mean I know she lost her son and you feel like you need to be here, but why? How could you fly off to Rome and not tell me?"
"It wasn't a plan to leave you out," Jason looked over at the door, and Carly focused her eyes in on him. "I was already coming, and the kids wanted to come. You don't like her, so I didn't think it was something you needed to be brought in on. This is a sensitive situation, and I don't want you two going at each other."
"You're protecting her," Carly nodded. "And how does Sam feel about this?"
"Sam knows why I'm here. Listen, Carly, why are you really here?" Jason took a seat in front of her, and she sat on the couch opposite him. "Even your hatred for Brenda wouldn't just prompt you to jump a flight here. What's going on?"
Jason could read her. He always could. He knew she didn't really want to get into all the reasons she was there yet. He had his own suspicions of things. "My son is here and so are Sonny's other children. I didn't know you were coming. Jason, you have to stop trying to protect her. What happened to Alec is sad, but it's not your fault. She has to stand on her own without you and Sonny."
"I don't care what Sonny does, but I'm here because I promised to be," Jason warned. "I just need you to understand that."
"Understand what? Am I supposed to understand that ever since you got back, Brenda has been the most important person in your world? I will never understand that, Jason. I'm your best friend. Sam is your wife. Shouldn't we come before her? Your kids, shouldn't they be first?"
"My kids are always first. That's why—" Jason stopped before he said too much. "I never put Brenda over any of you. It was just easier because she knew me then."
"Knew you when what?" Jason could tell Carly was just lost. He'd forgiven her for helping Sonny cover up AJ's death, but he hadn't felt comfortable enough to share the bit about his memories yet. Sam knew, and she acted as if a part of him would always leave her.
"Knew me when I was all him."
"Jason," Carly put her hand to her mouth. "You remember?"
"Not all of it. I remember the few years before the accident and some important times before that. It was like the things I really wanted to remember came back. I can remember the first time I got into a fight with AJ," he laughed. "And then I can remember family trips when we were children."
"How did that happen?" Carly scooted closer. "I mean how does it make you feel? I knew you were having trouble with some of it, but I never knew the Q memories were coming back."
"It was a lot. It was confusing, deciding what to throw away and what to keep. You know how me and AJ were before he died, but we were close before the accident. Before his drinking started, we did a lot together. I remembered most of it. I couldn't deal with Sonny, knowing what he did. I couldn't talk to you because I know what AJ and my family did to you when Michael was born. Then there was the issue of loving them through all the hate I had built up."
"They didn't deserve you."
"They tried to change me. They made me feel like I was screwed up and they didn't accept that I wasn't him. To this day I'm still not completely back to the person I once was, but I feel like I'm a better me. I'm not letting people walk all over me, but I know the difference between doing things because they need to be done and just being an ass because I can."
"Like Sonny," Carly acknowledged.
"When I came back, and you were with him, I thought you were crazy. After everything you guys did to each other, how could you take him back? How could he take you back?"
"It was one of those things." Carly shrugged. "We attract each other, but I know we're not good together. Sonny might not be good with anyone," she laughed. "I know the thing with AJ wasn't just him seeking AJ out to execute him. I never want you to think that. Sonny was messed up. It doesn't excuse what he did, but you know how he gets."
"Wrapped up in a woman so much that it consumes him. Most of the reckless moves I've seen him make have been over women. I promised I would never be that way, and then I was," Jason chuckled. "You, Robin, Brenda, Sam, Liz between you five I've been a little reckless."
"Some more than others," Carly sniped. "At least me and Sam shot back for you. We know how to work a gun in an emergency."
"Don't start. Anyway, when I was first coming to terms with my memories and trying to sort my head out, I was here with Brenda. I'd come back after Alec, and she helped."
"Brenda, help? What did she do, brainwash you and make you think you loved her? You know she's a sneaky little slut."
"She listened just like you did years ago. She woke up with me when I couldn't sleep, even though I think she was just up. We talked, and I know you don't want to hear it, but no. She didn't brainwash me into thinking I loved her. I actually did love her, or at least the part of me that has Jason Q's memories was able to understand what we had."
"What you had?" Carly knew bits of who he was before his accident, but he wasn't sure of the depth of what her knowledge was. Hell, he was just coming to know himself.
"We had a friendship. She was like a sister, and I loved her. I was one of the people campaigning for her to stay away from Sonny," he laughed. "I hated him. He was dangerous, and she was this young, naïve girl that thought love could heal any person's evil intentions. She was fun when I needed it, and she cried by my bedside when I woke up not knowing who she was. We hurt each other over the years afterward. I said things, and she hated me because I was so insensitive all of a sudden."
"No one could expect you to know any of this. She should have understood."
"She did at first. She was nice to me, but once Sonny told me about her wearing a wire on him years ago, I started being hateful. Anyway, it's a long boring story, but we understand each other now."
"She's got you under her spell," Carly fussed. "I hoped you would be the one man to resist that siren's call."
"I'm not interested that way. Brenda would drive me absolutely insane. I haven't lost that part of my brain. My kind of woman is more practical. She knows when to shut up, occasionally. Besides, she has no feelings for me, and I'm grateful."
"That's a blessing. Imagine if she did. She'd get her hooks into you and drag you into the latest issue of Sonny and Brenda drama. Those two are exhausting."
"Tell me about it. I wasn't near either on the flight over, but I heard about them the whole way. Kristina and Molly seem to think they're soulmates."
"So this is a real thing? They actually messed with the divorce papers all those years ago?"
"Seems to be that way. Listen, I'm not here for that. I'm not sure why he's here, but whatever they decide to do about the divorce or whatever is their business. I'm staying out of it."
"Me too," Carly quickly said, and Jason looked at her as if she had two heads.
"Why? You love to meddle. You hate Brenda, and you never approved of her with Sonny."
"It doesn't matter what I think. They're going to do what they want, and I have other things to focus on. I'm just going to make sure my son doesn't get hurt in their latest dance around each other. Sonny has to clean up his own messes from here on out."
Jason was surprised. He wasn't expecting Carly to be so nonchalant after the way she came into the whole situation today. He was proud of her. She had really grown over the years. "What happened to you?" He had to ask.
"I'm just so glad to have you back, Jase. If you want to be friends with this woman, I guess I have to try and understand. I'll never get it, but I'll try." She flashed him a smile, and he wrapped his arm around her. "So tell me how Sam is dealing. I know something is off. Why didn't she come? And why does she look so sickly? I left Joss for her to watch, but I think it might be the other way around. How could you leave your sick wife at home?"
"She's been sick for a while. I don't think it's going away for a few months," Jason said and closed his eyes. He heard Carly exhale deeply and got off the couch before she could dig deeper. "I think you should take the kids and have a meal. I need to stay here for when Brenda and Sonny return in case I have to play referee. Michael took the girls down to our rooms."
"I want to wait here," Carly announced and poured herself a glass of whatever Brenda had on her open bar.
"That's not a good idea." Jason watched her pour two glasses and shook his head. "I'm not drinking right now."
"It's not for you. I'm going to talk to her when she comes back."
"Again, not a good idea. You two should stay away from each other."
"I'm not leaving, Jase."
"Then neither am I." He crossed his arms and sat down.
"I'm not going to start a fight. You can wait in the room if it makes you feel better. I'm going to talk, nothing more."
"Carly—."
"I'll be okay, Jason. I promise."
Jason just looked at her and nodded. He wasn't sure this was for the best, but he also knew he couldn't stand in the middle every time they were in the same room. Brenda still being Sony's wife meant they could end up around each other much more than either wanted. They were going to have to learn to coexist.
"Fine. If I hear one shattered glass, I'm putting you both in your separate corners."
"I'll make sure you don't hear it then." Carly smirked, and Jason walked into the bedroom.
He was sitting on the bed when he heard the front door open and close. He heard both Brenda and Carly's voices but no Sonny. He was grateful for that. With Sonny, things seemed to escalate way further than they needed to. While he could hear the sniping and digs they took at each other, he also heard civility taking place. Closing his eyes he took a light nap, staying on guard just in case the adult behavior ceased between his favorite blonde and brunette.
