Part Two

            As she predicted, Jake's had a small crowd.  Most were regulars who showed up the same time every night with the same purpose.   Gia took a seat at the bar and ordered a beer.  She gagged a little at the bitter taste but she figured after a few she wouldn't even notice it.  She ordered another bottle and left the bar to take a table instead.  She sat her two beers on the table and removed her jacket.  She could already feel eyes on her.  She smiled.  That's what she wanted.

            The music was blaring out of a jukebox's.  It was an old song by AC/DC, Gia wasn't sure which one.  They all sounded the same to her.  She just moved a little to the beat as she continued to sip her beer.  For now, she would stay content by watching people. 

            A few of them were crowded around a pool table.  They were all older men, and kind of tough looking.  They were already drunk.  Gia didn't look away when one of them winked.  She smiled back.

            Another man was playing pool against anyone would challenge him.  He was clearing the table as Gia looked at him.  Younger then the other pool players, Gia thought he looked familiar, like she should know him. 

            She had almost finished her first beer when she spotted a couple.  They were dancing in one of the corners.  They held each other close and every once and awhile kissed.  Gia felt a stab of pain in her stomach.  Nikolas was invading her thoughts.  She tried to push him out but memories of their many dances came flying at her.  She winced a little, and finished off the bottle.  She immediately grabbed the other one.  She had to get him out of her head…

            ****

            Jason Morgan grinned as he finished off another challenger.  At least at pool, he could say he was lucky.  He usually came there every Friday night to play.  People sometimes came to watch him, like he was some sort of sports figure.  He congratulated him opponent and then glanced over at her. 

            He had noticed Gia Campbell when she first came in.  He could tell immediately that something was wrong.  She was trying to hard to look like she was having fun.  Plus, he thought she and the Cassadine Prince were glued to the hip. 

            He frowned a little.  At the rate she was drinking she would be totally plastered before long.  Two empty bottles sat before her on the table and another one was in her hand.  Jason knew she was drinking to forget.  He felt like he should do something but it wasn't his place.  He had only really met Gia once or twice.  That was a long time ago, before he had come back to Port Charles for good.  Since then he had only seen her around town once and awhile.  But she was always with Nikolas.

            Bull's-eye…Jason thought.  Gia was here because something happened between her and Nikolas.  He watched her quickly brush away a tear and continue to drink.  He shouldn't care so much.  This was the girl that blackmailed Emily.  But Jason was never one to hold grudges.  He didn't want to see her hurting like this.

            ****

            Gia stood up after awhile.  She was tired of drinking.  Plus, she knew that she must be drunk.  Her head felt like a fog had descended on it and she had an insane urge to laugh.  There were no thoughts of Nikolas, only thoughts of having fun.  She looked over at the pool table again.  The men were still playing pool.  They looked like they were having fun. 

            "Can I take a shot?" She asked, smiling.

            The man who had winked at her earlier looked up.  He grinned.  "How much do you know about pool?"

            "Not much." Gia confessed.  "But I have always been lucky." She took the pool cue from the man and looked at the table.  Which ball should she try for? 

            He was reading her mind.  "Why not this one?" He pointed to the red ball closest to the corner.  It was an easy shot, and even a beginner would get it.

            Gia carefully lined up the shot, not even noticing or perhaps not caring that others around the table were content to look at her over.  She didn't even realize that she was giving others a perfect view.  She took the shot and cheered when she sunk the ball. 

            "You know more than you let on." The man said.  "I'm Charlie."

            "Gia." She said attempting to hand the cue back to him.

            "No!" He said with a grin.  "You sunk the ball, you get another shot."

            She didn't even notice as one of Charlie's friends moved a green ball closer to the pocket.

            Charlie pointed to it.  "Why not try that one?" He suggested.

            Gia easily sunk it.

            "You got a natural talent for this game." Charlie commented.

            Gia's smile was wide.  Soon one of them was handing her a beer, which she accepted.  She thought she was getting better at the game, but in reality one of the men always moved the ball for an easier shot.  She cleared the table and jumped for joy. 

            She thought she was having fun.

            ****

            Jason didn't like what he saw.  Gia was in the corner with four guys.  They didn't seem to have any problems giving her another drink. They were also leading her to believe that she was a good pool player.  The truth was the drunker she got, the worse she played.  But one of them always made sure the ball went in. 

            Gia finally dropped the pool cue.  "I think I've had enough for one night." She announced; her words were slurred.  "I think I want to dance."

            The man who Jason had introduced himself as Charlie put his arm around her.  "I think that is a wonderful idea."

            Gia asked him for a quarter which she deposited in the jukebox.  "Mmmm." She pondered loudly.  "I want a good song…"  Moments later "You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi was blasting in the bar. 

            Jason watched as Charlie wrapped his arms around the smaller woman's waist and began to move with the beat.  His friends began to gather their stuff together, including Gia's jacket.  The bad feeling in Jason's stomach intensified.  He looked at his partner on the table.  "Rain check, okay?"

            He walked closer to the dancing couple and tapped on Charlie's shoulder.  The man was just a little bigger than Jason.  He looked very annoyed when he turned around. 

            "Can I help you?" Charlie asked, releasing his hold on Gia.

            "I just came to pick up my friend." Jason looked at Gia.  "Ready, Gia?"

            Gia gave him a confused look.  She thought he looked familiar but she still couldn't place him.  "Hell no…I want to stay and party."

            "She wants to stay and party." Charlie repeated.

            "I heard her." Jason said.  "It's just that her brother Detective Taggert wanted me to make sure that got home at a decent time."

            Charlie took in the words.  "Detective Taggert is your brother."

            Gia's mouth dropped open.  How dare he?  "I am a big girl, Charlie." She almost purred.  "I can take care of myself."

            "I'm not gonna get tangled up with a cop's sister." Charlie looked back at his friends.  "Come on…"

            As they walked by, Jason grabbed Gia's jacket.  "Let's go."

            "Like hell I am leaving with you." Gia cried. 

            "Problem, Jason?" Jake asked, as she came over to her favorite customer. 

            "I am just making sure that she gets home safe." Jason told her.

            Jason…Gia thought.  Then it dawned on her.  "Jason Morgan!" She cried, grabbing out for her jacket but stumbled instead.  He reached out to steady her.  She pushed him away.  "Keep your hands off me."  He had ruined her fun.  She successfully got her jacket the second time.  She fumbled with the pockets until she pulled out her keys.

            "Oh no you don't." Jason said easily taking them from her.

            "HEY!" Gia cried.  People started to look at them.

            Jason looked at Jake.  "I'll send someone over for my bike."

            "I'll keep an eye on it." Jake promised.

            Jason nodded, and grabbed Gia's arm.  "Let's go." He repeated.

            "This is kidnapping!" Gia cried.  She finally pulled away when they were outside.  "What the hell do you think you are doing?"

            "I am trying to help you." Jason said.  "Which car is yours?"

            "Why should I tell you?" Gia demanded.  "Give me my keys."

            "Gia, you're drunk…very drunk." Jason said scanning the parking lot.  His eyes fell on a red sport's car.  That one had to be hers.  She would be the only one with that kind of money in the bar.  "You can't drive home.  You might get an accident."

            "I don't care." Gia said.  "I don't care if I get hurt."

            Jason looked at her for a moment.  Was she suicidal or just that drunk?  "Okay, you may not care if you get hurt but there are other people on the road.  I am not gonna let you hurt someone else."

            "Who do you think you are?" Gia asked.  "You dragged me out of there like I was a child.  Do you know how embarrassed I am?"

            "Do you know how drunk you are?" Jason asked back.  He unlocked the passenger's side and helped Gia in the car. "Buckle up." He said as he walked around to the driver's side. 

            "You're a real jackass, you know that?" Gia asked as she fumbled with her seatbelt. 

            "Call me names, insult me...I really don't care." Jason said as he started the car.  "I just want to make sure that you get home safely.  Do you have to call the launch or something?"

            In her drunken fog, Gia felt herself began to panic.  "I can't go back to that house."  She said her voice shrill.

            Jason's earlier suspicions that her actions had something to do with Nikolas were confirmed.  "Where can I take you? Taggert's?"

            Gia gave him a look. "I am sure that he would love this.  I can just walk right up to him and say 'Hi, I am pretty sure I am trashed.  Can I stay the night?'  Do you know what kind of lecture I would get in the morning?"  She thought for a moment.  "Take me the PC Hotel."

            Jason shook his head.  He really didn't want to go near the PC Hotel.  AJ was now a permanent resident there.  Knowing his luck, Jason would meet up with the sorry excuse for a human while he was helping Gia.  It was a confrontation that he really didn't want to have.  "You can crash on my couch."

            "Excuse me?" Gia said.

            "Look, could you not argue with me and just accept the help that I am giving you?" Jason asked.  He could feel a headache forming. 

            "Just as long as it's your couch." Gia leaned against her seat.  She was beginning to feel really tired…not to mention nauseous.  "No funny stuff!"

            Jason shook his head again.  "You have nothing to worry from me." He changed directions and headed towards his home.  When he had parked the car he looked over at Gia.  He thought she looked a little green.  "You alright?"

            "I don't think so." Gia said.  Moments later Jason opened the door.  He reached across her and unhooked her seat belt.  He helped her stand, although she was very shaky.  She felt dizzy. 

            "Wow, so this is the downside to drinking." She said as he helped her to the elevator.

            "Wait until tomorrow morning." Jason joked.

            ****

            Carly had just finished putting Michael to bed when she heard the knock.  Jason must be home, she thought. She had wanted to talk to him about her children all day.  Sonny was checking up on Adella so she went downstairs and opened the door.  She was surprised by what she saw.

            Jason was trying to keep Gia Campbell on her feet.  She was obviously very drunk.

            "Jason?" Carly questioned.

            Jason just gave her a look.  "Don't ask…can you lend me a hand?"

            She nodded, and took his key and unlocked his door.  She looked back at Gia.  She was nearly unconscious.  Carly could hear her singing softly.  She gave Jason another quizzical look as he maneuvered Gia through the door and placed her on the couch. 

            After making sure she wasn't about to roll off the couch he crossed the room to Carly.  "I really don't know what is going on but I think it has something to do with Nikolas.  Gia got really drunk at Jake's and four guys almost made off with her.  I just couldn't stand there."

            "I see." Carly said.  "Maybe she and Nikolas had a fight."

            "All I know is that she didn't want to go back to Wyndermere." Jason said.  "And I really didn't want to take the chance of running into AJ at the hotel so I brought her here."

            "Well, I'll take her shoes off." Carly walked over to Gia and slipped off her black boots.  The younger woman made no protest.  She was slipping further and further into unconsciousness. 

            Jason appeared with a blanket which he placed over her.  "Thanks Carly."

            "No problem Jason." She said as the two headed back towards the door.  "Remind me to talk to you tomorrow when you don't have your hands full.  Goodnight."

            "You too."  Jason turned back.

            Gia was totally asleep.  He started upstairs towards his room, but stopped.  Grabbing another blanket, he settled into a chair besides the couch.