A/N - I was hoping for some more reviews seeing as I have really worked hard to make this a story you guys want to read. I just want to know if I'm doing a good job with it. Constructive criticism, suggestions, opinions - it is all welcome. I just love the opportunity to interact with the readers. For those who have reviewed every update faithfully, I thank you! Hopefully you will keep it coming!
On that note, this is the longest chapter so far! And while we wait for Elizabeth to return to Jason and AJ, here is an in between chapter. This one focuses from AJ's point of view, pulls from the GH history books a bit and explains a little bit more about our mystery man. As just a warning though, some of the canon has been changed a bit and the timeline altered to accommodate the past relationship with AJ and Elizabeth. All the other stuff is pretty much in tact to my recollection.
Enjoy- and review please, especially concerning the identity of our mystery man. So far Jerry Jax seems to be the popular choice, but any other ideas, suggestions? Who knows, I might even use your ideas when that reveal finally comes!
With Elizabeth gone, the two brothers remained silent, neither daring to mention the monstrous secret that loomed over them and that kept them away from what mattered most.
It was evident Jason was very content not having to talk. After all, it was what he did best. AJ meanwhile felt a need to address their recent past, but just had no idea where to even begin.
For as long as AJ could remember, their childhood and teenage days aside, Jason had been cold and distant to almost everyone he came into contact with most especially the brother who effectively changed his life. There were few exceptions to Jason's stone cold air: Carly, Sonny, Robin, Sam, Courtney, Michael, Emily, Monica, of course Elizabeth and the boys, but not him, never him.
And it was mostly his own fault.
Jason's accident took his memory and left him cold and unfeeling to his brother but AJ didn't help the situation and always found reasons to pick fights with Jason. AJ never entirely knew why Jason refused to get past all of it as all he could think of was that Jason blamed him for the accident. Not that he was wrong in doing so, but AJ realized there was nothing he could do to escape it. It shocked AJ when Jason told him that he forgave him but it didn't change that Jason still hated the person he was, the self-destructive alcoholic, and it seemed it would always be that way.
But the problem for AJ and Jason went beyond the moment that turned Jason Quartermaine into Jason Morgan. It went beyond it and as a result, AJ continually found himself in Jason's orbit. And it certainly wasn't something either brother had wanted.
It all started with Carly, who after looking for Jason one night, found AJ instead. The two shared in a night of drunken sex and nine months later, Michael was born. And because of what Carly and Jason did, AJ wasn't afforded a chance to have a relationship with his son until Michael was 18.
Then after Carly came Courtney.
Being Sonny's sister she was the one woman AJ couldn't have. As a result though and as a way to stick it to Sonny for his role in taking Michael away, he wanted her that much more. Eventually though it turned into love and AJ could really envision a future with Courtney.
That was until Courtney fell in love with Jason, who Sonny had all but conveniently hired to act as her body guard against AJ. It literally made him sick to his stomach to lose yet another woman to Jason. So when AJ found out that Jason and Elizabeth were finally more than just friends, he knew he had to come back to Port Charles.
AJ had loved Elizabeth long before Courtney and Carly came into his life. He had grown up with her and loved her like a big brother. Elizabeth had become AJ's confidant and when his life spiraled out of control, she was the only one who never turned her back on him, who never gave up on him, who helped him to never give up on himself.
She had warned him against relationships with Carly and Courtney but he never listened. He thought, wishful thinking, that she was just jealous. He never realized all Elizabeth ever wanted was for him to be happy and to find a woman that would be good for him. It wasn't jealousy but concern and since no one ever showed that level of concern for AJ in the past, he didn't initially recognize it.
That is when AJ saw his feelings for Elizabeth start to develop and to go beyond just two friends. He fell in love with her, all the while knowing she only had and likely only would, have eyes for his brother.
AJ seethed at the thought of Elizabeth and Jason being together as he never thought he was good enough for her. AJ held his breath though and stayed quiet out of respect for what Elizabeth wanted, even if it was a relationship with Jason.
But that didn't mean AJ wasn't waiting in the wings, secretly hoping Jason would screw things up so that he could step in and be her knight in shining armor. Because that is all AJ wanted. He just wanted to be for Elizabeth what she always was for him. To be for her what Jason was for her.
Things didn't work out that way though. AJ was there to be the shoulder to cry on when Jason left town and when he pushed her away because of his business but there was nothing to bring those two together. Elizabeth turned to Zander, married Ric, and resumed her on and off relationship with Lucky. All AJ could do was wait in the wings, remember their one night together and hope for her to want something more with him.
But it never worked out that way and all AJ had to show for his feelings for Elizabeth was the one night they needed each other more than they needed other people.
He remembered it so vividly.
At the time, AJ was married to and in love with Courtney and Elizabeth was just starting to realize that her feelings for Jason were more than platonic. But when she went to tell him, she saw him with Courtney.
Elizabeth was disappointed but all she really wanted was for Jason to be happy. So she wasn't mad that he had chosen to be with Courtney. What she was mad at, was the fact that Jason willingly slept with his brother's wife.
So she confronted him about it, about how he was so willing to just hurt AJ like that. Jason tried to explain it but Elizabeth told him she had to be there for AJ because she knew, they both knew what this was going to do to him.
Elizabeth ended up finding AJ in a bar, drinking. It was then that she knew he had found out. He broke down in her arms in a way she hadn't seen since he told her about Jason's accident. He tried to figure out why every relationship he had failed and why every woman he ever fell in love with just wanted his brother more.
She tried to tell him it wasn't true but AJ pointed out that she was the perfect example. That was the first night he told her of his feelings for her. Elizabeth couldn't reciprocate but when AJ kissed her, she didn't pull away as quickly as she should have.
When she did though, she didn't allow AJ to wallow in self-pity. So she had some drinks with him and helped him to have a fun evening. She told him not to think about Jason or Courtney or Carly or anybody. AJ obliged.
Surprising to both of them however, the night of fun ended with the two of them in bed together.
AJ woke up with little recollection of the night while Elizabeth couldn't help but regret what the pair had done. She told AJ she didn't want to give him any mixed signals. She said that she loved him but not that way. He was always like a brother to her and she wanted to keep their relationship that way.
Reluctantly, AJ told Elizabeth that he understood her decision. He told her that he loved her but that he respected her too much to try anything she wouldn't want. He promised her that they would just be friends and that he would be okay with it.
But when AJ saw Elizabeth and Jason reconnecting, he was unable to contain his jealousy and it threatened to destroy the friendship he had with Elizabeth. So after feeling slighted and hurt, AJ left town but not before an ill-advised tryst with Carly that he would always regret. Although, it pissed Jason off beyond all else and AJ would have been lying if he said he didn't at least enjoy it a little bit.
But now he was back in Port Charles, only a few years removed from desperately needing Jason's help. From the event that he would always curse so vehemently.
Because for as much as Jason hated him, AJ knew that he could turn to him with this.
Having exhausted every possible avenue he could have thought of, AJ was out of options. He had nothing, nowhere else to go. Jason was the only one who could, who would help and it wasn't for him but for Elizabeth and the boys. He knew if there was one thing he and his brother had in common that it was Elizabeth and her sons, their sons.
So with complete brokenness, AJ went to Jason on a day that he swore he would never forget.
Seven years ago…
His hands shook as he read the paper he was holding to make sure he had the right address. And as he looked up and saw the numbers on the door, sure enough he did.
AJ couldn't understand it.
The paper with this address just showed up in his mailbox one day with the instruction that he knew exactly what to do with it. But the thing is, AJ didn't. He had no idea what he was going to say or what he was doing there.
But he did know where he was going because at this point he desperately needed help and knew of only one person who could provide it.
Hands still shaking, AJ took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
No answer.
He knocked again and this time, after waiting a few minutes, the person he had been wanting to see emerged and looked none too happy.
"Do you want to tell me what the hell you are doing here and how you found out where I lived?" Jason asked angrily as he had no intention to spend time talking to his brother.
"I, I had nowhere else to go and I, I need your help," AJ stammered as he struggled to put together cohesive sentences. His efforts fell flat and immediately Jason knew exactly what was going on.
"You're drinking again," Jason said, sounding not so surprised. "And you'd be wise never to darken my door again either."
"Jason wait," AJ cried as Jason began to shut the door. "Hear me out please, I really need your help."
"And after everything you've done, why should I help you?" Jason asked.
"Because it is about Elizabeth and the boys," AJ sighed. "I've screwed up big time Jason and they are in trouble."
Jason immediately froze where he stood and without thinking, plunged for AJ's throat. "They are in trouble? You are going to be in trouble and worse if you did anything to hurt them. And that isn't a threat," Jason made AJ understand as he held a firm grip on his throat.
AJ could barely breathe when Jason finally released his hold. "I need you to help keep them safe from me and from him," AJ finally said, showing Jason a picture he had procured of the man who had been tormenting him and ruining his life.
Jason eyed the photo intently for a few seconds before crumbling it up and throwing it on the ground furiously. "You need to tell me what the hell he has to do with any of this," Jason demanded as AJ could see the fury in his eyes. It was nothing less than what he expected.
"I was getting help, going to rehab when I met him, Michael asked me too," AJ began. "He offered me a job. I was only in a month or so and the withdrawal was bad. He told me he could get me alcohol and I just, I wanted to say no but I couldn't. So I offered to do the job. It seemed real simple but when it was over, Jason that is when it really began. The man brought me to his boss who told me that if I didn't do exactly what he said that he would go after my family one by one, starting with Elizabeth and the boys. I tried to fight back to get out of it, but he had the long arm of the law on his side because what I did was illegal and the ramifications were devastating for the family. The job, I had sold out our own family company and he threatened to go to the SEC if I didn't cooperate. Mom, Michael, they would have gone to jail."
"So you put ELQ ahead of the safety of Elizabeth and your son?" Jason asked still trying to piece everything together, trying to ignore the fact that AJ said his mother and nephew would end up behind bars.
"It wasn't like that Jason," AJ defended. "He said he wouldn't touch them if I just did what he asked. And that was my plan. I had to keep my distance from Elizabeth and the boys and make sure you did too. And it killed me but Jason I had no choice."
"You're the one who told her about the baby," Jason said, things finally starting to make sense. "You're the reason she told me off."
"Yeah I am, but Jason I had no choice," AJ said completely exasperated. "Besides, all I did was tell her about the baby. You were the one who never came back to her and the boys. I didn't need to do that, you did all of that on your own.
Jason was fuming but he realized AJ was right. He had every intention to go back to Elizabeth and the boys after Sam had a successful delivery. The threat didn't stand in the way of that and Danny had been born four months ago. There was no reason why he still hadn't returned home to Elizabeth and his sons.
As much as he wanted to blame AJ, Jason couldn't. AJ followed orders to stay away. Jason just couldn't bring himself to come home.
"You did have a choice AJ," Jason shouted as he slammed his fist against the table, remembering the problem at hand. "You should have gone to the police."
"The police?" AJ asked in disbelief. "Oh like you would have done? Jason you know damn well if it was you instead of me, you would have done exactly what I've done. You wouldn't have involved the cops, so I didn't.
"You have no idea who you are dealing with," Jason told him sharply. "This man is dangerous."
"Which is why I did what I did," AJ replied as he too was getting heated. "Jason, he told me he had people watching them. He told me if there was any hint of the cops that he would kill them. I thought he was bluffing but he showed his hand. He knew when Cameron went to school, the friends Jake played with, the hours Elizabeth worked at the hospital. He knew exactly when and how he could hurt them. And he seemed like he would have no remorse doing so. But I figured if I just did what he wanted and bided my time that it would all work out. And it was, until Michael got involved."
"He's going after Michael?" Jason immediately asked nervously, his concern for his nephew evident.
"No, he doesn't want to hurt Michael," AJ confirmed. "But Michael was getting too close to figuring things out. He still visited me and, and the guy, he knew that Michael was getting suspicious. So he told me to get him off the trail anyway I knew how or that he would hurt the boys. So I told Michael to stop visiting. It killed me but I had to do it. The only problem is, Michael is an incredibly intelligent boy. I know he hasn't given up trying to piece everything together. That's why I'm coming to you. I thought I could handle it but,"
"You thought you could handle it?" Jason interrupted. "How exactly did you expect to do that? You are a mess AJ and you've always been a screw-up. I can tell you've been drinking, are still drinking. How are you going to protect the most important people like that? But more importantly, you don't know what you've gotten into, who you are in bed with. You weren't in town when he wreaked havoc with Elizabeth, Carly and the rest of the people you claim to love. You don't know how he operates. He always has a motive and I can guarantee you it is not to hurt Elizabeth and the boys. It goes deeper and you are just a pawn in his game."
"That's why I'm here," AJ finally admitted, trying to get through to Jason. "I don't want to be under his thumb anymore, worrying about if he will break his deal and harm Elizabeth or the boys. And I don't want to worry that Michael will figure it out and that he'll go after him. I know you hate me, but we have something in common. We both love those people and would rather die than see them hurt."
"You should have come to me sooner," Jason sighed, reluctantly realizing that AJ did have good intentions at heart, albeit horrible execution. "You are right that I hate you. I can't stand the sight of you but we are family and we share a family. Elizabeth and her boys, Sam and Danny, Michael, mom, Emily – they are my priority. No one is ever going to touch them so long as I am alive. And if it means I have to clean up your mess, then so be it. From here on out AJ, you take orders from me and not him. You do everything as I say and we will get him. We will stop him once and for all so that he never hurts or threatens anyone again. Do you understand?"
"Yes, yeah I got it," AJ agreed, really having no other choice.
"Good," Jason said matter-of-factly. "I'm getting extra security put on all of them, Sam, Danny, Carly, Robin, everyone that has ever been connected to you or me or him, I'm putting security on. As for you, go home, get cleaned up, for once in your life put the damn bottle down and let me do this. Give me your phone. When he calls you next, I'll know exactly where he is and how to stop him."
"You'll make this okay, for Elizabeth and the boys, you'll keep them safe?" AJ pleaded.
"I've always kept them safe," Jason replied. "I just need you to stay out of it from now on. You were the one to get involved with this, to put them and the family in danger. I'll fix it, but you need to stop trying to play hero. You were never good at that."
"Right, okay," AJ said as he watched Jason walk out of the room, signaling to AJ that he let himself out, which he did.
AJ trusted that Jason would fix things like he always did, but little did the brothers know that this situation was so much more about fixing it. The man had every basis covered, every plan set in motion, everything. And it is because of that, AJ and Jason found themselves guilty at his hands and the reason why something happened, a casualty happened, that they could never take back.
A/N- So there we have it. AJ went to Jason in desperation, with nowhere else to turn. But did the two brothers succeed where AJ alone had failed? What has come of the threat? And who or what exactly is the casualty?
Until next time!