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Web of Deceit
Part V
~Bayside Hotel~
"You were driving?" AJ repeated slowly.
"Yes I was driving, I'm the one who drove the car into the tree," Courtney sat up and unzipped her boots, slipping them off. "It's no big deal."
"No big deal? Elizabeth Webber is in jail for attempted murder and you call it no big deal?"
"It was necessary," she pushed off from the bed and crossed to him, her hands going to his jacket and pushing it off his shoulders.
He caught her hands. "I want to know what your up to."
"I'm doing exactly what you hired me to do AJ."
"I hired you to destroy Sonny and help me get my son back, I didn't want you to send an innocent woman to jail. I don't want Elizabeth in jail."
"Jesus Nicki was right, there's no telling what you'll care about."
He caught her chin in a firm unbreakable grip. "I told you never to mention her name to me. I meant that." His eyes flashed in warning at the mention of his ex-fiancée the viper that nearly destroyed him. He felt the anger and hated the fact, that even after all this time, she still had power over him.
"Fine my sister mentioned that at times your big heart gets in the way of the big picture," Courtney twisted her head free. "Look I told you I need people out of Sonny's life. He's already pushed Alexis out over this, and because she told me about his past. Mike has been banished for good. Zander is gone, and Carly just ripped him and told him to stay away from Michael until he got himself under control," she saw the way his expression brightened at that. "He was friendly with Elizabeth, heck he helped save her life, they were friends of a sort. I needed that gone. I'm the only left, or soon I will be the only one left."
"You and Jason." AJ corrected her.
"Jason won't be with him for long," she said confidently. "Look when you picked me to pose as Janine's daughter, I didn't just say great let's go. I researched the hell out of things first. I never take a job without knowing everything I can get my hands on about my mark. I knew a lot about Sonny Corinthos. And when Alexis made the mistake of letting me stay at her place one night, I found out even more. I went through her files on Sonny, the ones when he was preparing to sue Carly for custody of their child, made interesting reading let me tell you," she smiled slyly and began to undo the buttons on his shirt. "Now I know exactly how he will react when he loses everyone, and I keep turning the screws, making it worse."
AJ could see her point about Elizabeth being a friend of Sonny's, he had seen that for himself. He also remembered talking with Hannah about how coldly Elizabeth had begun to treat her, after the truth about her being an FBI agent had come out. But he also had a lot of memories of her running around the mansion with Emily. Memories of all the times that she had risked herself to help Emily out of a mistake, and the guilt kicked in. "I'm not going to let her go to jail. I can't believe you. Why did you make it look like she tried to kill Gia? That makes no sense."
Courtney slipped his shirt off and kept her tone even. "I had to get her charged with something major. A simple DUI/Possession charge wouldn't be enough. It would be her first offense, and all she would get would be a loss of her driver's license for year, and more than likely a 6 months suspended sentence. For my plan to work, it needed to be a major charge. One that carries substantial jail time."
"No," he pushed her hands away before she could undo his belt. "I don't want her in jail at all. I want to get her out, today."
She stepped back and sized him up. "Even if keeping her there gets your son back?"
AJ hesitated, the need to get his son back in his life, was the most important thing to him. He wanted that even more than he wanted revenge against Sonny and Carly.
"After all that is why I was hired. To get your son back," she pulled her shirt off so she stood in front of him in only her bra and panties, and smiled in satisfaction when his eyes narrowed in interest. "To do that I need to break Sonny down. I need to remove every person in his life, and destroy him. I've done that, with one exception, your brother."
His interest died at the mention of the golden boy. "Jason won't turn on Sonny."
Courtney moved closer and ran a hand down his chest. "Not even for Elizabeth?"
"What do you mean?"
"He cares a lot about Elizabeth. He's the reason that Sonny has always helped her. He's also the reason that Sonny is ripping himself up right now, because he isn't helping her, and he's letting Jason down." She began to unfasten his pants, while she spoke. "What is Jason going to do when he comes back and finds out that Sonny let Elizabeth go to jail for attempted murder? That he turned her down, even when she begged him for help. That he went so far as to order his attorney not to help her?" She pressed her lips to his throat and waited for him to come to the right conclusion.
AJ couldn't help but wonder about Jason's reaction to that scenario. He knew his brother loved to save the women in his life, he loved to play the hero, when that was the last thing he was. But still he shook his head. "No. If he didn't turn on Sonny when Sonny slept with Carly, he won't turn on him now."
"Yeah but remember Carly has claws, and a golden parachute by the name of Michael. He knew that she could handle herself no matter what. But Elizabeth," she drew back and slipped her arms around his neck. "Sweet vulnerable Elizabeth in jail for something she didn't do. Being helped into jail by Sonny. This is a woman Jason cares about. A woman some people even say he loves. Could he really forgive Sonny for that?"
"I don't know." AJ answered honestly. Then the flicker of guilt, that he really hated at times, but the flicker he never wanted to lose, because then he would truly be a monster, flared up again. "I do know that I don't want her in jail."
"Jesus AJ think," infuriated she stalked away. "If Elizabeth is convicted do you think that there is any chance in hell that Jason will let her go to prison?"
"No," he answered without hesitation.
"Exactly and that's the beauty of my plan. He will break her out, before he would let her go to jail. She'll have to leave the country, and because everyone will know that he did it, so will he," she smirked. "He won't be able to come back to Port Charles without being arrested. So when Sonny falls apart, and you make your play on Carly to get your son back, Jason won't be any help. He won't be there to pull Sonny out of his head, or to help Carly, when you destroy her. That's why it had to be attempted murder. It had to be something big, to make him give up everything, it had to be someone he really cared about, someone he would do anything for. I considered Emily, but I didn't think you would like that, so I chose Elizabeth."
AJ ran the scenario through his mind and had to admit it looked good. Elizabeth would be in jail through the trial, but she wouldn't be there permanently, so that eased his guilt. And even better the golden boy would be gone forever.
"So picture Sonny, Alexis gone, Mike gone, Elizabeth gone, Emily would never forgive Sonny for sending her best friend to jail, that is if she ever managed to forgive him for what he did to you. Both Zander and Carly are gone, he can't see Michael, and finally Jason is gone too. That leaves me. And what do you think it will do to him, when I walk away with you, one of the people he hates the most in the world?" She slipped out of the rest of her clothes and pulled him towards the bed.
"He'll be left alone and beaten, and when that happens, when he feels like that, he retreats inside his mind. But this time, no one will be there, to pull him out," she pushed him down on the bed. "Do you think that is a good enough punishment for the man who took your son, and hung you on a meat hook?"
"You're inventive," he managed finally after kissing her.
"You wanted him destroyed," she straddled his lap. "I always deliver what I promise."
He tilted his head to let her nuzzle his ear. "This all hinges on Elizabeth being convicted and Jason knowing about it. How do you know she will be?"
"Oh she will, and that will be another nail in Sonny's coffin. Just in case we need more ammunition, the witnesses, the ones saying such nasty things about Elizabeth, all believe their being paid by someone in the Corinthos organization," she studied his face. "What will your brother do to Sonny when he finds out that not only was Sonny not lifting a finger to help Elizabeth, he was also paying her way into jail for 20 years?"
"If he does love her he could kill him." AJ admitted.
"Well that would clear up your custody problems now wouldn't it?" Her smile turned vicious. "Now Nic…someone once told me that you were quite insatiable," she nipped at his lip. "Is that still the case?"
Without answering her AJ quickly reversed their positions so he was lying on top of her, soon he was inside of her. He had always been attracted to her, even in those early moments with Janine. It was probably because she reminded him of her sister.
Nicki Langston had been like a siren's song to him. He could never quite break free of her, not even when she destroyed him. Even the last time he had seen her, when she admitted to taking the money Alan offered her to get out of his life, he had still wanted her. The knowledge of that had sent him hard into the bottle. So he enjoyed the fact that he was now fucking her prettier, and much more flexible little sister.
He knew that Courtney was just as much as a viper as Nicki was. But he knew that going in this time, this time he was the user not the used, this time his heart wasn't involved. He was paying her to help get his son back, and get even with the people who took him. If he had some fun with her, while that happened, the more the better. Her thighs locked around his hips drawing him further inside of her. He was in control, he was in cont…
Courtney rode the pleasure AJ was giving her, to the fullest. Like everything in her life, she loved to take advantage of opportunities. AJ being good in bed and good-looking was just another perk to this job. She felt his muscles clench and her mouth curved into a wry smile. She had thought he might press her for more details, but Nicki had been right, if you knew the triggers, AJ was easy to control. All she had to do was mention Jason, and he was willing to let his questions go.
She felt the tension build inside of her, and closed her eyes, relishing it. He thought he knew it all, but in reality, he didn't have a clue as to what was going on.
~Penthouse 2~
Alexis could feel the sun even before she opened her eyes, so she kept them stubbornly closed. Was there no justice in the world? Why couldn't the sun disappear? Or better yet why couldn't her headache disappear? She was never going to get drunk again, she groaned and buried her head in her pillow.
Was that coffee she smelled?
She turned her head cautiously and sniffed the air. Definitely coffee, but why did it smell so close. The scent wafted directly under her nose, then moved on, and she groaned in disappointment.
Jax smirked at the expression on her face and leaned closer so his mouth was next to her ear. "Wake up Alexis."
"Jesus," Alexis jackknifed away from him holding her hand to her head. "Why the hell are you shouting?"
"I whispered," he corrected her, holding out his bribe.
She took the steaming mug from his hand. "I thought I kicked you out."
"You did, but that was hours ago. It's morning Alexis."
"Don't remind me," she sipped at her coffee. "I thought you were my friend. How could you let me drink so much?"
"We were celebrating your becoming an orphan." Jax reminded her, studying her for any signs of emotional pain.
"That's right I've been banished again." At the moment her head hurt too much, to feel anything but the pain, and for that she was grateful. Telling off Nikolas had hurt her deeply, so had Sonny walking away from her, when he realized she was siding against his sister. She opened her eyes and found her ex-husband studying her. "Why are you here so early?"
"Because I know you, Alexis, you would stay in bed for hours if you could. But there's a girl in the jail that needs you to focus on her case."
"Elizabeth." Alexis cried and tried to fight her way free of the covers. "I only have 2 days to get prepared for her trial. God I have so much to do."
Jax wisely kept his seat on the bed as Alexis began to move around her bedroom and mutter under her breath.
"I need to file an appearance, and get the bail issue reopened. I need to shower. I need to get my investigator on breaking those eyewitnesses. Subpoena's I got to get them out, I need to get my suit from the dry cleaner. My car is in the shop, I need my ride…."
"That's why I'm here." Jax interrupted.
Alexis crossed back to the bed, "Thanks for being here," she kissed his cheek and swiped his cup of coffee, and before he had time to complain she was in the bathroom.
Jax just shook his head and went off to try to find food. He knew it was a long shot, but maybe Kristina actually ate something besides popcorn.
~Penthouse 4~
"Are you sure about this?" Sonny searched the other man's eyes hoping to spot a lie.
"Positive. They've been meeting there at least three nights a week for at least 3 weeks now." Francis answered.
"Thanks." Sonny nodded in dismissal.
~Courthouse~
"You know this is the 8th Entry of Appearance that has been filed in this case," the clerk leaned over the counter hoping for some good gossip. "With that many attorneys coming and going, this girl must really be a trip."
Alexis raised an eyebrow at the woman. "Just file it, and these as well." She handed her another stack of paper.
"Well if it isn't the esteemed Alexis Davis. I must say I have been looking forward to meeting you."
Alexis glanced at the tall man who had joined her at the counter. In that quick glance she had sized him up and dismissed him as another goldbricking ambulance chaser, that the profession she loved, seemed to put out on a daily basis.
"So you've finally signed on to the Webber case. I've been hoping you would." He waited for her to look again and waited for the recognition to set in, but it didn't.
"And that would matter to you why?" She asked dismissively.
"I'm Duncan Attler," he held out his hand and at her blank look, his smile vanished. "The prosecutor in this case."
Alexis knew exactly who he was, she always loved to test her opposing counsel, and he had already failed. "Hello." She shook his hand, briefly then shoved some papers in them. "This saves me a trip. Here are your copies of some motions I just filed."
He scanned the documents, but his focus was soon drawn back to the woman who in front of him. "You're something of a legend in the DA's office. You've never been beaten."
"Losing is not an option."
"I agree I've never lost either," he smiled at her, showing off the capped teeth.
"Well Mr. Attler there is a first time for everything. And this case is a lot different then your previous ones. I believe the biggest you had before was a City Councilman skimming," she tutted and shook her head. "Well maybe your next opportunity in the big leagues will be better for you. There are so many holes in this case, it will more than likely be dismissed the first day."
Attler bristled, then deliberately took a breath. "I see why Dara always grimaced when she said your name."
"Where is Dara? She always made things entertaining."
"Dara has a nasty habit of losing cases. She's been reassigned." He stepped closer.
Alexis narrowed her eyes at his closeness but didn't back up.
"Perhaps we could go over which plea will suit your client best over lunch?"
She laughed and took her file stamped copies of paper from the very interested clerk. "I don't think so Mr. Attler. You see sharks and snakes just don't mix. I will see you later though, in an hour in Judge Irons chambers, to discuss bail." With that she breezed by him and out into the hall.
"Alexis you got an admirer."
"Be quiet Jax." Alexis hissed and hit the elevator button. She needed coffee.
~Jail One Day to Trial~
"I'm sorry Elizabeth. The judge won't budge on bail, especially with the trial starting tomorrow." Alexis pulled the glasses from her face. Losing the argument was painful, not only because Attler got to gloat, but also because Elizabeth really needed to get away from this place. Luke was right it was draining the life out of her.
"The other lawyers said it was a long shot, but thanks for trying." Elizabeth was doing her best to stay positive. It was easier today, because for the first time, she had an attorney who believed in her.
"I'm going to be buried today trying to get up through the rest of the information on your case. I was tempted to file a motion for continuance. But I decided not to. Your earlier lawyers made the mistake of fast tracking this on the docket, and also by going for a bench trial and not a jury one. I know why they did it, they wanted you to plead it out, but it doesn't make my job any easier. By arguing just before a judge there are some advantages. One of which he can see through the circumstantial evidence much easier than a jury can. And that is what makes up your case, nothing but circumstantial evidence."
Alexis checked some notes on her pad when went on. "It will also be much quicker. Judging from the evidence, the state will probably be able to present its case in less than a day. Then it will be our turn. The trial itself will probably only last two days."
Elizabeth gulped. By the end of the week she would know if she was going to jail forever or not.
"By not asking for a continuance, if we happen to lose, our case will be stronger on appeal. The appeal panel will also take into account the fact that we were locked into a bench trial, instead of a jury trial," she focused on Elizabeth again. "I won't sugarcoat things Elizabeth. We will have a fight on our hands. Circumstantial or not there is some damaging evidence that we need to counteract. The most important being, the eyewitness who says he saw you slam into that tree."
"But we know he was lying because I wasn't driving."
"I know, but I have to prove it," she began to put her papers in her briefcase. "I'll be back later, with more questions. But for now I need to go through some stuff."
"Thanks again for believing me."
"I'm going to do my best to get you out of this," Alexis vowed and patted her hand in farewell.
Elizabeth rested her head on the table while she waited for the guard to come in and bring her back to her cell. Her mind and body seemed so tired, that she would much rather stay where she was. Luke had managed to back Helena off, with the mention of some weirdly named poison, but she knew it was only a matter of time, before she started in again.
She heard the door open and took a final breath before raising her head, expecting to see the guard. But it wasn't the guard. Her mouth dropped open in surprise, and her heart swelled. "Jason?"
"Elizabeth." Jason Morgan took the seat across from her.
~Kelly's~
"Sonny are you going to eat that or just glare at it?" Courtney teased.
"What?" Sonny looked up into his sister's laughing eyes, then back down at his massacred pancakes. "I have other stuff on my mind."
"I can tell," Courtney took a sip of her coffee. "Is this about your friend?"
"What friend?" Sonny frowned realizing he meant that question in more than one way.
"Elizabeth, doesn't her trial start tomorrow?"
"Yes," he nodded and leaned back in his chair. "I didn't know you were keeping up with that."
"I can read Sonny. I know for some reason she's blaming me."
"Why do you think she would do that?"
"I don't know she's your friend," she shrugged. "I have no idea why she would lie about me. I only met her that one time."
She met his eyes calmly, no fidgeting, her hands didn't shake, her expression never wavered, and yet he wondered if she was lying. "I thought you two hit it off."
Courtney could see the questions in his eyes, and launched into a story she had prepared. "I don't know about that. That guy she was with, the one named after a dog, he was a little weird, so I have to wonder how sane she is, if she is dating him."
"Lucky's had a rough few years."
"Whatever," she decided to play her ace. "I met him before, he hit on me a little bit. Nothing major but the interest was there. Maybe Elizabeth found out about that and didn't like that, so when she needed someone to blame to get out of her mess, she thought of me."
Sonny set his cup back on the table. "You look tired. Did you have a rough night?"
"No," she smiled slightly. "I went to a movie, then went back to Mike's. I was home by 11:00."
Again she met his eyes calmly, no fidgeting, her hands didn't shake, and her expression never wavered. But this time he knew she was lying.
~Jail~
Elizabeth quite simply had no idea what to say, her eyes drank in the sight of him as he shrugged out of the familiar leather jacket, but her mouth refused to work. For the first time since she had come to this horrible place, she gave a passing thought about how she looked. Almost immediately she gave herself a mental shake and lowered her eyes when he focused on her again. "I'm surprised to see you."
Her voice sounded rusty, almost like she hadn't used it in weeks. But it sounded good to his ears. He had missed hearing it. He remembered a comment she had made to him once. She had told him that she couldn't picture him in jail. He had said he would look the same. Seeing her in the bright orange jumpsuit, her arms chained to a table, he realized what she meant. She didn't look the same in jail either. She should never have even seen the inside of a jail much less be stuck in one. And he was determined to get her out no matter what it would take. "I'm sorry it took me so long to get here. I was a little hard to track down, and when Sonny…"
Her brain seemed to switch off at the mention of Sonny's name and she didn't hear anything else he said. Maybe it was because she had been behind bars for so long, maybe it was because she hadn't seen the sun in over a week, or maybe it was because she was starting to go crazy. Whatever the reason she wasn't sure, but in that instant a reason for him being here came to her, and it wouldn't let go.
Sonny had brought him here, to warn her. To tell her what would happen if she continued to blame Courtney. He had told her not to threaten his family, that she wouldn't like it, if she did. And to get that point across he had sent Jason to her.
Jason was Sonny's enforcer.
Jason would believe what Sonny believed.
Jason would do what Sonny told him to do.
Jason was probably mad at her, because of the way things had ended between them. So whatever friendship they had, was long gone.
Jason would do what Sonny told him to do.
And Sonny wanted her to shut up.
"Don't say it," she whispered hoarsely, keeping her eyes on her lap.
"Say what Elizabeth?" He leaned closer trying to hear her.
"You win. Tell Sonny he wins. Just don't say anything, I can't bear to hear you threaten me."
"Threaten? What are you saying?"
"I won't say Courtney was driving anymore. I'll stop. I give up, okay Jason," a tear slipped down her cheek. "I just don't want you to say anything. As bad as our last meeting was I want to cling to that memory not this one. So tell him he wins."
"Elizabeth," he touched her hand and she jolted, so he let it go quickly. "I'm not here to threaten you."
"You're not?" She risked a glance then lowered her eyes again. "But Sonny…"
"I haven't spoken to Sonny. That's what took me so long to get here, Luke had to find me another way," he lowered his voice even more. "Why did you think I was here to threaten you?"
"I-I" she closed her eyes wearily. "I can't seem to think straight anymore. Sonny's mad at me, Nikolas is mad, Lucky is… I thought you would be mad too. I just can't handle the anger, not from you."
He hated the defeated sound in her voice and took a chance in touching her hand again. "I'm not mad. And the only reason I'm here is to help you. Someone put you in this place and all I want is to get you out of here. You don't belong in jail Elizabeth. You won't stay here."
"Aren't you going to ask me?"
"Ask you what?" He wished she would look at him, but her focus seemed to be her lap.
"If I did it."
"No."
"Why?" That brought her head up. "Because you'd help me anyway?"
"No. Because I know you didn't." He explained simply.
The simple statement opened her eyes and the hope she thought was gone forever, seemed to come back at least a little bit. "Even after what I just said to you?"
"You're scared Elizabeth. You have every right to be scared. I can see you've been trying to hang on," he studied her face and couldn't help but notice how thin it was. Her eyes seemed enormous in her white face. "You can say anything you want to me, accuse me of anything, and it won't matter, because it's not you."
She bowed her head again, breaking the eye contact. "I wish you wouldn't be nice to me Jason. I can't handle that right now."
He swallowed hard at her words and focused instead on the bruises on her wrists, before shooting a glare at the matron who was watching them through the window. "You said Sonny is mad at you?"
She nodded. "Because I told him Courtney was driving the car. Do you know who she is?"
"His sister."
"Right. He was going to help me, until I said that. Until I spit on his family. He didn't help me after that," she bit her lip and wasn't surprised to taste blood. "Maybe you should wait to help until you talk to him."
"Can you look at me?"
She shook her head.
"Why not?" They were almost whispering by now, and he wanted nothing more than to cross to her side of the table, and hold her, giving her the comfort she so obviously needed. The comfort he so wanted to give her.
"It hurts," she whispered. "Looking at you hurts."
"Why?"
"Because I look at you and see what might have been. What I could have had if I had been willing to take your hand, and take a chance at the unknown. And that hurts, it hurts so bad," she sighed. "I thought I was numb by now. But seeing your face, and hearing your voice say my name, was enough to make me start feeling again."
"About before…"
"Don't." She cried out suddenly startling them both. "Jason you're right I'm barely hanging on here. I can't think about the past, I can't think about the future. I can't even apologize, to you for everything I should. The only thing I can think about is getting through the next minute. Everything else has to take a backseat to that."
All he could feel at the moment was hate. The type of hate he hadn't felt in years. And it was all directed at the person who had put her here. But hate was the last thing she needed to hear. He touched her hand again and this time left it there. "Then that's what we'll concentrate on."
She should pull her hand away, she knew that, but she left it there anyway. And for just a minute her life didn't seem quite so scary.
~Penthouse 4~
"Sonny," Courtney called out letting the door slam behind her. "Are you here yet?" She waited but didn't hear anything. "Guess not," she unbuttoned her coat and turned to place it on a chair. "Jesus." She screamed and staggered back.
"Did I frighten you?" Jason asked stepping closer.
"Who the hell are you?" She placed a hand over her still racing heart. "And how did you get in here?"
"I can get in anywhere." Jason's expression was cold as he sized up the woman who was helping to punish Elizabeth.
"You need to leave. My brother will be here soon. Do you know who he is? You don't be here when he gets home. You will regret it." Courtney warned him.
"I think I'll wait Courtney."
"How did you know…" she trailed off when the fear his sudden appearance had given her faded and she placed the man in front of her. Jason Morgan. Act II in her little dance was about to commence. "Are you Jason?"
"Why are you lying about driving the car?"
Courtney blinked at the sudden question. This guy certainly hadn't heard of subtlety. "I'm not. I wasn't there."
"You're lying." Jason said simply.
She couldn't help but shiver at the cold stare he was giving her. His eyes were so cold and empty at the moment, it seemed like he was dissecting her. In spite of herself she was afraid. And because of that she fired back. "Look I'm sorry about your friend. But I can't help you out. The girl got high and got busted, that's not my fault." She moved to go by him and he caught her arm before she could take a step.
"You're lying. I know it and you know it. The fact your willing to do it, that you are deliberately sending her to jail, makes me wonder what else you're lying about."
Courtney tried to pull her arm free. This wasn't going like she had anticipated. "I told you…"
"It doesn't matter what you say Courtney. It doesn't matter what you do. If Elizabeth goes to jail, I will hold you responsible."
She paled.
"Let her go Jason." Sonny ordered from behind him.
Jason turned his head to look at Sonny but didn't drop her arm. "Do you understand me Courtney? You better think really hard before you make your next step."
"Jason." Sonny snapped.
He let her go and turned to face his oldest friend.
Relieved Courtney moved toward Sonny. "He's nuts."
"You need to leave Courtney." Sonny told her, never taking his eyes from Jason.
"Sonny," she touched his arm.
"Get out Courtney."
Stung she drew back, shooting Jason a glare she stomped towards the door. She stumbled slightly on the threshold and Johnny made no attempt to steady her, even though he could have. She glared at him and he eyed her coolly before closing the door, so she couldn't hear the conversation between Sonny and Jason.
~*~*~*~
"We're you even going to tell me?"
Sonny heard the ice in Jason's voice and tried to match it. "I don't know. I knew how you would react."
"She said you threatened her. Not only did you refuse to help her, you threatened her." He posed it as a question even though he knew she wasn't lying. A big part of him wanted her to be lying. Because if she wasn't then Sonny had finally crossed a line with him.
"She blamed my sister." Sonny moved to the lone bottle on the bar.
"Because she's guilty." Jason's eyes followed him to the bar and he saw the hand shake when it reached for the bottle.
Sonny felt the scotch burn his throat as he took a long drink and he concentrated on that feeling. "She's my family."
"Look at me Sonny." Jason ordered.
He kept his back to him.
"I said look at me." Jason snapped turning him around. What he saw in his eyes made him drop his hand in surprise. "You know she's lying."
Sonny couldn't meet his eyes, instead focusing on the bottle in his hand.
"Why are you turning your back on Elizabeth? Why are you turning your back on me?" Jason asked roughly.
To him Jason's voice sounded like it was coming from a long ways off. He wanted to ignore it, but he couldn't. "You don't understand. She's my family, and she said she didn't do it. I have to believe that."
"Why? You never believe people. You always believe the worst in them. You never give anyone the benefit of the doubt." Jason raged at him. Words and behavior he had never called Sonny on before began to spill out. "I've seen you cut someone dead, for what you thought was a lie. Now you know someone is lying and you're willing to destroy someone else so you can believe them."
"You don't understand Jason."
"Then explain it to me. I trusted you with the most important things in my life. Michael who you kicked out the same time you kicked Carly out. Then both of them were left unguarded for weeks at a time. I trusted you with Emily and she ended up paralyzed. And I trusted you with Elizabeth, and she's in jail." Fury wouldn't be held back anymore, and he smacked the bottle from Sonny's hand before he could take another drink. "Why?"
"She's all I have left." Sonny cried out. "Don't you see? There's no one else left. They're all gone. Courtney and you are all I have anymore. I have to believe her."
"If their gone it's because of you. Because you forced them out. I've watched you do it, time and time again. You've even tried to do it to me before. But I never left, not until now." He waited until Sonny met his eyes. "There's still time for you to fix this. But if you don't I will. And it will be the last time I ever fix one of your messes."
"Are you threatening me?" Sonny clenched his hands into fists
Jason felt the sting of tears behind his eyes as he looked in the face of the man, that in a lot of respects, he considered his father. "I guess I am."
~Docks~
"I'm sorry baby, but with him in town, and already suspicious. I think we need to lay low for awhile," Courtney whispered into the phone keeping one eye on her surroundings. She was still unnerved from her earlier meeting with Jason.
"I tried to tell you."
"Skip the I told you so's AJ. This works out perfectly. I was beginning to wonder if he would show up," she smiled wickedly. "And let me tell you he's not happy. And a lot of his unhappiness is directed at Sonny. This is going to be so good. Soon Sonny will be destroyed."
"And Jason and Elizabeth will be out of town."
"I told you I wouldn't let her go to jail," she huffed out a breath. He really could be anal at times.
"She better not." AJ warned her, then hung up.
"AJ you are so not cut out for the real world," she mumbled, before tucking the phone in her purse. She had only taken a step when someone grabbed her from behind, and covered her mouth with a large hand.
"Courtney, we meet again."
She tried to struggle but it was impossible to break the grip of the man holding her, and she felt herself being dragged back into the dark.
~Courthouse AM~
"All rise the Superior Court of New York, County of Port Charles, is now in session, the Honorable Jeffrey Irons presiding." The Bailiff called out stilling the conversation in the packed courtroom.
A distinguished looking older gentleman, with a close-cropped Afro, and trimmed goatee, entered the courtroom and moved directly to his chair. "Be seated," he ordered with a smack of the gavel.
"Counselors I assume by your presence here, and the lack of any new dispositive motions that you are finally ready to proceed?" He asked shortly.
"Yes your honor," Alexis spoke quickly. Having appeared in front of Cast Iron many times she knew to keep her answers brief.
"Duncan Attler for the State your honor. And I must say…"
"A yes or no will do Attler," the judge interrupted. "Are you ready to proceed?"
"Yes." Attler conceded grumpily.
"Fine the hearing of the State of New York verses Elizabeth Webber is now open," he hit his gavel. "Proceed."