I can't believe it's been nine days already! This challenge has been great for getting back in the habit of writing every day. I only hope I can keep it up after the challenge is over.

Here's the next installment, hope you like.

Rated: NC-17
Disclaimer: I don't own them, I just like writing about them

HFF07 #9: And the lights went out in Port Charles

The Dawn & The One

Chapter Nine

"That's the night the lights went out in Georgia. That's the night that they hung an innocent man. Don't trust your soul to no back woods southern lawyer, Cause the judge in the towns got bloodstains on his hand."

Elizabeth edged closer to Jason as they entered the hanger that looked more like an abandoned barn sitting out in the middle of nowhere than a place where a thriving air carrier service operated. It was clearly a case of more than meeting the eye. The lightly accented voice sounded strange warbling the lyrics to the Gothic country song and given the snicker of laughter she heard someone else felt the same way.

Inside the structure was a bush plane and boy was it a beauty. Two men, tall and dark blonde were both stripped down to bare chests and streaked with oil as they argued over something. The taller, had a more athletic build with a sort of California surfer boy look going for him in those jeans and sandals he wore. The other older man was his opposite, tough, lean and sinewy with an urbane grace that didn't seem at odds with his animalistic air that couldn't be hidden.

Each were handsome in their own way and if she had to guess, Elizabeth would say they could be related in some way. Perhaps even brothers.

"You are one sick son of a bitch you know that Jerry," the younger shoved the man hard in the shoulder, ignoring the heavy wrench in the man's hand.

"Better not let Lady Jane hear you talking like that. Would probably earn you a smack in the head," he smirked without a hint of remorse. When the other man raised a fist in retailiation, Jerry waved him off, "Besides we have company little brother, now be on your best behavior."

Both men turned with identical grins of welcome, "Well if it isn't our warrior angel himself. I can't imagine what brings you to darken our door step this evening, Mr. Morgan."

It certainly was a change of pace to be greeted with a friendly tone rather than animosity. She was beginning to wonder if everyone in Jason's world wanted her dead. A second later she was leaping to the side in shock as Jason and the man named Jerry collided in mid air in a wild fury of blows. They slammed to the ground in wild cloud of dust and dirt. She could only gape as the two men rolled across the floor in a vicious brawl of fists slamming into the other's face.

"Well leave it to me to perform the introductions why don't you." Elizabeth blinked up at the young man, the back at the space where he was supposed to be standing.

"How did-"

"I get over here that fast. One of there perks of being a Thief luv," and she couldn't help but respond in kind to the warm smile crinkling his soft blue eyes. Whatever was going on with the two currently beating the shit out of each other, this one wasn't a threat unless her instincts were completely off. "Have to be able to move faster than the eye, runs in the family of course. I'd say I'm a bit quicker than Jerry there."

"That's a bloody lie," the grunted retort was cut off when Jason slammed a boot to his gut knocking Jerry from his advantage over him. She watched in awe as Jerry backflipped easily to land, feet and hands braced on the ground like a predator, ready to spring forward at a the first opportunity.

"Name's Jasper Jacks," he extended a hand to her, which she accepted to shake firmly and gave her own name. "The man currently getting wiped across the floor by Jason is my older brother Jerry. Welcome to Razzia Carrier service where if you need to get in unseen, they'll never know you were there."

After Jasper finished, they both flinched when Jason flung Jerry across the room to land in a pile of old boxes with a groan of profanity.

XXXooXXX

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and dabbed at the blood left on the split lip Jason was trying to pretend like he hadn't earned. An older woman, petite and quite remarkable in her khaki pants and heavy fisherman's sweater, with a cap of white and silver hair, was wiping medicine across Jerry's brow on the cut there.

The infamous Lady Jane, mother to both Jerry and Jasper Jacks, was a mixture of biting wit and kindness Elizabeth wished she could have grown up with. They were all crowed around a circular table in the small kitchen area of the office at the rear of the hanger tending to the wounded.

The image of the small fiery woman rushing from the back with a sawed off shot gun in hand ready to do battle made Elizabeth smile once again. Lady Jane took one look at Jason, then her oldest and rolled her eyes bursting into laughter. After a quick hug Jason awkwardly returned, Jane turned to her wayward son. "I don't know when that deliquent will learn he will never get the upper hand on you, Jason."

Evidently the little grudge match she witnessed was somewhat of a tradition between Jason and Jerry and the imagined animosity didn't exist.

"I swear," Jane sighed, closing up her medical kit that looked strangely like Jason's, "When will the two of you stop knocking each other upside the head? Aren't you too old to be brawling like a pair of buffoons?"

"It was Jerry's fault as usual," Jasper pointed out, then took a swig from the bottle of Lager he was nursing. If Elizabeth didn't know better she would swear Jasper actually sounded a little jealous.

"Mama's boy," Jerry smirked, then flinched when Jane shoved his head to the side.

"Will you and Elizabeth be joining us for dinner then? I've had a pot of stew simmering all afternoon while I was doing the books and Jerry managed some of his brown bread." Jason looked to her, cerelean eyes softening at her eager nod and agreed.

"Careful, Elizabeth, Mum's famous with the stew. You never quite know what's inside it." Jerry murmured, before lifting her hand to place a kiss against her knuckles. That earned him a glare from Jason that promised pain in the future. The small warm tug in her stomach in response should not have made her so happy. "I believe the last time she took it upon herself to make one we dined on rabbit that evening."

That made her pale, "Thumper?"

Jasper burst into laughter, "Oh, she's one of those. Better not tell her about the time we roasted Bambi on a spit, she'd be scared for life."

"Never mind the two of them," Jane placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as she set the table with bowls and saucers, "They're just being the children they are. I'll have you know this is a simple lamb stew."

"You don't think fluffy sheep are cute do you?" Jasper teased before slipping out of his chair to avoid a knock to the head from Jane. He played the whole thing off by pretending to grab a bottle of red wine from the rack by the cabinets. Then pouring a glass for each of them as his mother ladeled stew.

"This wasn't exactly a social visit I'm afraid," Jason cut into the light atmospere. "I was hoping to catch a ride up to Yukon territory. If I'm not mistaken you have a cabin up there right?"

"One that you're perfectly welcome to use," Jane offered easily. "All of the winter gear is still stored up there. We'll get you loaded with food here. I'm guessing you're getting ready to go to war with the Cassadines."

Jason lifted a brow but said nothing to deny or confirm her inquiry. "Oh, you know these two keep me informed on the general goings on of Otherworld, despite the fact that I choose to keep my nose out of realm politics." The Jacks had been formidable in their time but with the assasination of John Jacks, Lady Jane had withdrawn to the human world. Her sons continued with the Jacks thriving business.

"That's what Jerry was singing about earlier when you arrived. It even made the human news sources back in New York." Jasper accepted the bowl of steaming stew from his mother, helping to pass the others around.

"What are you talking about?"

"It seems that Ric finally took it upon himself to lay siege to Castle Greyskull out there on Spoon Island in Port Charles." Beneath the humor in Jerry's words was a seriousness that no one in at the small table could miss.

"That's Wyndemere," Jasper explained after chewing thoughtfully, "The Cassadines main estate is in Greece but for some reason, I personally believe to torture the Spencers, they bought an island near Port Charles, New York and have been living there for the past fifteen years or so."

"We all knew Ric didn't take Sonny's death well," Jerry offered in sympathy. He took a long draw from his glass of red wine before setting it back on the table. "It was just a matter of time until he went after the revenge he promised. Almost succeeded too, if it weren't for those damned demons Helena has under her thumb. Wiped out three tribes of Beserkers, Jason. The rest sought sanctuary at the Spencer estate."

"Is Ric dead?"

When Jerry nodded once, Jason shoved away from the table and stalked out of the room. "Who is Ric?" Elizabeth asked after a tense moment of silence passed.

"Sonny's younger half brother. Came from a Beserker tribe near Lake Winnipeg in Canada. They weren't raised together but managed to find each other when Ric reached adulthood. Sonny made Jason promise to look after him but when Sonny was killed Ric went back with his tribe. Swore he'd come back and deal with Helena since Jason didn't have the balls to do it." Jasper explained.

"Beserkers aren't known for their intelligence in highly emotional situations," Jerry grunted, before finishing off his serving of stew. "It didn't help that he was jealous of Jason and Sonny's friendship."

Then he shrugged, turning shrewd eyes in her direction, "So you're the White Mage, Elizabeth Webber. Not quite what I was expecting, given the Webber genes and the propensity of baring blonde haired idiots in these latest years."

She was probably supposed to feel insulted on behalf of her family but it was hard to argue with the truth. It didn't help that she felt the same way. "However, you my dear are quite lovely and quite powerful," he took her hand again, drawing her gaze. Everything around her seemed to still, as if she had entered a darkened tunnel and her sole focus of light was Jerry's eyes.

Her heartbeat sounded echoed like a base drum in her head. She could see Jerry's lips moving but nothing came out as it felt like she was floating. Something hummed deep at her core, and pulsed once, hard and powerful.

"Get out of her head before I cut your fucking eyes out Jerry."

Jason's growl jerked her back to reality, as she snatched her hands away, unsure of what had just happened. When warm hands closed around her shoulders the queasy sensation began drifting away and she felt safe once more. "What happened?"

"Jerry is an interfereing son of a bitch who needs to learn to mind his own business."

That earned Jason a soft smile of humor that didn't quite meet Jerry's eyes, "If she's going up against Helena, she'll need to open those beautiful blue eyes of hers a lot sooner Jason and both of us know it."

"It isn't your call to make."

Elizabeth looked between both men wondering what the hell they were talking about but knowing she could learn more if she listened instead of interrupting the near arguement. Jason stood behind her, wings spread regally, his entire being braced for battle. This was different from the little tussle from before. Jason looked ready to kill Jerry.

"Who's decision is it then Jason? The girl is completely ignorant of her legacy, seeking the Stave without giving her at least a nudge in the right direction is sending her to her death."

"And you're going to give her that nudge," he grunted, "No one asked you to. And you sure as hell aren't doing it out of the kindness of your heart."

"I'm doing it because you're my friend," Jerry's faint smile held a touch of sadness that Elizabeth didn't quite understand. "I happen to like her and I believe you do as well Jason. Prepare her for the tasks that lie ahead. No one could better than you. Give her a chance. As much as you want to protect her, there will come a time when she will need to stand on her own."