CHAPTER NINE
"Can we talk about this tomorrow?" Johnny rests his head against the back of the couch. "Gigi, I just got home and the last thing I want to do is fight."
She folds her arms across her chest. "We won't fight if you'll just tell me you aren't going back to it."
"I can't tell you that." He turns to look at her. "I took an oath, Gia. The only way out is death. You knew when you married me exactly who and what I was. You told me you could handle it."
Gia stands up abruptly and places her hands on her hips. "I have handled it. I handled it while I was with you and I handled it the five years I was without you!" He reaches for her but she sidesteps his hands. "I had to see you through a damn glass for five years! I had to listen to everybody tell me what a fool I was for not divorcing you the moment you went away. I mean damn it you couldn't even get sent to a prison that allowed conjugal visits! Now the day you come home you tell me you're going right back to the life that took you away from me? And you expect me to be okay with it?"
Johnny pulls her into his arms. "Babe prison was always a possibility. I made a mistake. I got caught and I paid for it."
"You don't get it." She draws away from him. "You didn't pay for it. We paid for it, Johnny."
He nods. "You're right. I'm sorry. We paid for it but we also reaped the benefits. This life isn't sunshine and roses, Gia. Sometimes you have to take your lumps and I took mine. I know it was hard on you. I know how much you missed me because I was missing you just as much."
"So why go back?"
"Because Jason is in charge now and he needs me." He says simply. "I owe him too much to not jump in when he needs me."
Gia softens slightly. "Is it really that bad?"
"Yeah it's that bad." Johnny rubs his head. "He always said Carly could wreck him if she wanted to but I never believed it. One) cause she would never want to and two) he's Jason. He can compartmentalize better than anyone I've ever seen but I guess even Jason Morgan has an Achilles heel. With his mind so preoccupied he got careless and people noticed."
Gia turns her back. "He deserved it. Carly is a major league liar and schemer, trust me, I know, but it's always been clear whose back she had first last and always. Jason violated her trust after swearing he would never do it again. He's lucky my goddaughter health is her first priority or she would've probably killed everyone involved in the secret including him."
Johnny laughs. "Goddaughter? You two have gotten close."
"She's my sister in every way but blood." Gia states proudly.
Johnny nods. "That's how I feel about Jason. I get Carly felt betrayed but I gotta side with Jason on this one. Carly is reactionary. Had he told her about Kate she would have ripped her head off her shoulders; probably somewhere very public with next to no way to contain the situation. Then what? Carly's gone, Michael's gone, and Morgan is with Sonny and his next layover of the moment. Jason couldn't and wouldn't risk it."
"Okay so he takes her away from Port Charles and tells her. He locks her in a room and tells her. There's a lot of ways he could have told her and kept her away from Kate until she was thinking straight. He didn't tell her because once again he was protecting Sonny."
Johnny sighs. "Jason was protecting his family. Now personally would I have gone the same route? No. I would've killed Kate and Sonny and been done with the whole thing. Jason isn't me. He 'trusted' Sonny would take care of it."
"That was his first mistake." Gia moves to the bar to make a drink. "Trusting Sonny Corinthos to do anything for anyone but Sonny Corinthos is ridiculous. Carly has been telling me all about her life since I left PC and I don't think she even realizes how insane that man is. He took the guards off, Johnny. He thought he could just snap his fingers and all of a sudden be a regular man with a normal life. He's an idiot. Then when it does go down? He pushes Kate out the way and leaves Michael open. His first instinct is to protect his dick instead of his son. Say what you want about ricochets but his first instinct was not his 'son' and that's the bottom line. UGH if I could get a piece of that mini…"
Johnny takes the drink from her hand. "Calm down Gigi. Sonny is going to get his, trust me."
"Damn it!" Gia turns and sits on the couch. "See how it easy it is? I'm sucked right back in. I said when you came home things would be different."
Johnny sits next to her and draws her to lay her head on his chest. "Things will be different sweetheart. I'm moving up. He hasn't said it but I know what's about to happen. I've had to lay low because of the hit Sonny ordered on me but now that Jason has the reigns again and has severed ties with Sonny I'm his right hand."
"So deeper down the rabbit hole we go?" Gia laughs slightly. "Oh that's comforting."
Johnny squeezes her. "That also means a higher level of protection and isolation from prosecution."
"It does?" She sits up to look at him.
He kisses her. "Yeah it does. There was a lot Jason couldn't do before because I was supposed to be dead. Now I can have the full arsenal of the organization at my disposal. I can't get out Gia. Going up is the best thing for all of us."
She draws back to search his eyes. "Do you want out? Be honest with me."
"It's who I am." Johnny admits. "Call me a dumbass but God help me, I don't want to give it up."
~~Next Door~~
Jason finds her on the bed crying. "Carly?"
"Go away." She wipes her eyes with the back of her hand.
He takes a deep breath then plunges in. "It doesn't mean you aren't beautiful."
"Go away, Jason." She says between clenched teeth.
He reaches out to touch her leg but thinks better of it. Carly has been known to kick when she's pregnant and grouchy. He crawls to the head of the bed and wraps his arms around her.
She tenses for a moment before relenting to his embrace. He nuzzles her neck with his lips for a moment before trailing a kiss to her ear.
"You're beautiful." He whispers soothingly into her ear. "I mean it Carly. I don't think I've met a woman more suited for pregnancy than you. The way you glow is breathtaking."
Her eyes widen and she looks over her shoulder. "Jase, I think that's the most romantic thing I've ever heard you say."
"I mean it." He kisses her shoulder. "I've had a lot of time to think since you ran off…" he feels her tense but presses on. "You know how I feel about words. I think actions matter more but for you…I know you need to hear how I feel. I know I can't assume you know or 'get it' as you like to point out. I promised when I found you I'd try to give you that. I'd try to…"
She moves his arm from around her so she can sit up. "Jase, no, I know you okay and yes I do need a lot of reassurance, I know that, but I don't want you to feel like you have to change who you are. Babe I told you, I know you're an asshole who doesn't 'get it' most of the time. I know that and I love you. I'm not saying when it really counts you should clam up but I don't want you to turn into some romantic sap who spouts poetry or tells me how beautiful I am every twenty minutes. I don't need that. I just…I need you and I really hate that you're making me say that when all I want to do is strangle you right now."
"I want to strangle you too." He kisses her again. "I probably will but later; right now I'm just happy we're together." He leans down to kiss her stomach. He laughs slightly as the baby kicks.
Carly can't help but smile. "She knows you. I talked to her about her daddy every day."
"I wanted to be here." Jason places a hand on her stomach. "I wanted us to do things right this time around." He sits up and moves to the edge of the bed.
Carly scoots behind him. "I know. I did too. I'm finally having our baby and I've wanted this for as long as I can remember. I just, I couldn't handle it Jase. You promised you wouldn't lie to me again and then you don't tell me something as big as this, Jason? This is about Michael, our son. You don't protect Sonny's woman when it comes to our son. I can't believe…" She stands abruptly and starts to pace. She's getting pissed all over again and while she loves the hell out of Jason Morgan the urge to throttle him is growing stronger with each breath she takes.
He catches her mid stride. "Look me in my eyes and tell me you honestly believe I gave a damn about Kate Howard or Sonny's relationship with her. I didn't tell you for one reason only; because I was scared shitless of losing you. You would have flipped out. You know it and I know it. Carly I know you better than I know myself. You would have killed her. You were already on the verge from everything else. You could and would have done it. What if I wasn't there in time to clean it up? What if you got caught?"
"I wouldn't have gotten caught." Carly sets her chin stubbornly. "That bitch is the reason Michael was in that warehouse, Jason. She took him from my home without my permission and he got shot. That's it. That's all. Then she finds out who pulled the trigger and she PAYS him. You can say what you want but she deserved whatever I would have done to her and then some."
Jason hangs his head. "Don't you think I know that?"
"Then WHY is she still alive?" Carly rants.
He rubs his neck. "Do you want me to have her killed, Carly? Tell me what you want to happen here. I can make the call tonight. What do you want to do?"
"I want her to pay." Carly says without hesitation then she turns away from him. "But I don't want you to kill her. I want her to know what it feels like to have the thing you love most taken away from you. The only thing that witch gives a damn about is her career and reputation. I'm going to destroy both."
Jason gives her his patent blue stare. "How?"
"I've been toying with some ideas." She rubs her stomach as she paces the room. "I'm entitled to half of everything Jax acquired during our marriage. If I give up my interests in all the hotels besides the Metro Court he may just give me all his shares in Crimson."
Jason stops her pacing and pulls her onto his lap. "That's a lot of money to give up."
"I have more than enough money." Carly waves that away. "This is so beyond money. Plus once I tell that witch I want all my investment back you know she won't be able to pay. I'm going to end up owning that company."
Jason sees one flaw in her plan. "What if she gets the money from Sonny?"
"She won't." Carly chews her lip. "She doesn't want the company associated with Sonny in any way. It's a 'bad look'."
Jason shakes his head. "She will if it means you can't have it."
"Well I'll just have to find something on her to make sure she won't."
Jason smiles, "We can use the proof of her embezzling the money from Crimson to pay off Devlin."
"Embezzlement?" Carly's eyes light up devilishly. She claps her hands gleefully. "Oh this is gonna be so good. Not only does she lose her precious Crimson; she goes to jail for being a thief." Carly laughs and hugs Jason tightly.
Jason strokes her back. "You know Sonny is going to go ballistic. Are you ready for that?"
"Sonny is lucky he is still alive. The only thing stopping me from going after him too is Morgan." Carly says coldly. "I'm focusing on Kate but that doesn't mean I don't hold him just as responsible. Hell he was the one who pulled the guards. He's the one who keeps thinking with his dick instead of his brain. If he wants to come after me then fine let him. The gloves come off."
Jason kisses her shoulder. "Let me deal with Sonny."
"Since I've been gone…" She chews her lip. "How are things with the two of you?"
Jason sighs. "There is no me and Sonny. He wants the business back. He married Claudia in some twisted deal with Anthony to get control of the Zacchara territory. It's been all out war."
"Wait, Sonny married Claudia?" Carly's jaw drops in disbelief. "What happened to Kate?"
Jason shakes his head. "We knew that wouldn't last. Sonny's too dark to keep the act up for long."
"Wow, Sonny and Claudia." Carly has to laugh. "Well I'd say he's definitely met his match."
Jason smiles slightly. "I know. We have a running bet on how long it'll be before she kills him in his sleep."
"Johnny told me you were shot." Carly wraps her arms around him. "Do you know who or how?" Was Sonny involved is clearly implied.
Jason shifts so he can stroke her stomach. "Things are…dangerous…in the organization since I took out Karpov. He had associates who didn't appreciate it."
A tear falls from the corner of her eye. "So it's because of me."
"No. It was because of him. I told him more than once to stay away from you. He chose not to." Jason says flatly. "I didn't like him. I would have taken him out eventually anyway. He just sped it up by messing with you."
Carly leans in to kiss him. "I'm happy you're okay."
"I'm happy we're together." He kisses her back. When he draws away he leans his forehead against her. "Promise me Carly never again."
She stiffens. "Are you keeping any more secrets?"
"No." He pulls back and stares into her eyes. "But if and when I do piss you off again I have to know you won't pull this stunt again. I can't…" He tears up and shifts his eyes away from hers.
She wipes away the tear with her thumb. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise. I will fight with you. I will yell, throw things and possibly cuss you out but I won't leave again. I promise."
He pulls her into a deep kiss. Just as he's laying her back the door busts open.
"UNCLE JASON!" Morgan jumps on the bed and into Jason's arms.
Jason hugs him. "Hey buddy. I've missed you."
"I've missed you too." Morgan hugs him tightly. "Are you here to stay?"
Carly intervenes. "We haven't talked about it yet Morgan but he's here for now, okay?"
"Okay." He grabs Jason's hand. "Come see my new room."
Jason has to smile as he's led from the room.
Carly yells after them, "After you show him its bedtime Morgan."
"Awwww mom." Morgan groans.
Jason returns to her room over an hour later. Carly's sleeping but wakes when he slides into bed beside her. She snuggles into his side.
"How long can you stay?"
He wraps his arm around her and places one behind his head. "I want to stay until the baby is born since you can't fly home."
"But can you?" She looks up at him. "From the sound of it you can't afford to be away from the business right now."
He sighs. "I can't but I can't leave you either. What if you go into labor and I'm not here? I'm not missing the birth of our baby."
"Just three more weeks." Carly rubs her belly lovingly.
Jason smiles, "I can't wait."
"Can't wait for dirty diapers and midnight feedings?" Carly laughs softly.
Jason kisses her temple. "All of it. The feedings, the crying, reading to her about Africa and other places. I can't wait to see you holding our daughter and singing to her like you did with Michael and Morgan."
"Well I'll tell you what I'm looking forward to the most," Carly turns into his embrace and looks up at him, "being conscious during a delivery for once."
He looks down at her and there's a hint of fear in his eyes. "I kept imagining all kinds of things were happening to you and I had no way to stop it. Your pregnancy is high risk and it was just you and Morgan out there alone. I was felt like I was losing my mind Carly."
"Baby, I'm so sorry." She sits up and wraps her arms around him. "I had to go Jason. You know how you were worried I'd do something to Kate? I was worried I'd do something to everyone. When I heard you and Sonny talking, my chest caved in and my entire world collapsed. I trusted you. I trusted you more than anybody on this earth. You are my constant and you lied. I couldn't take it. I still can't take it but I'm trying."
He closes his eyes. "Your leaving showed me one thing; I can't be without you. I knew once I let my guard down and really let you in and loved you like I've always wanted to I'd be open but I had no idea it would be like this. I literally cannot breathe without you and it scares the hell out of me. I don't know how to turn it off."
"Because you're not supposed to." She smiles slightly. "You're in love Jase. Real true blue love and its good because I love you just as much and we're a family. A family that isn't going anywhere ever again."
