Part Eight

Author's Note: I am estimating Gia's age in this part! Not really sure on it!

            Gia turned around to face her brother.  She could tell already…he didn't like what he saw.  She tried to lighten the mood.  "I didn't know you came to Jake's, Marcus." She put a big smile on her face.

            "There was a fight in the parking lot.  I just wanted to ask Jake a few questions about the people involved." Marcus looked past her to Jason, who was standing just inches away from Gia.  "What are you doing here?"

            Gia gave him a look.  "I am playing pool!  What does it look like?"

            "Gia, can we talk?" Marcus asked.  "Alone…"
            "I know what you are going to say." Gia glanced back at Jason.  "And I don't want to hear it.  I am playing pool with MY FRIEND."

            Marcus leaned forward and pulled his sister closer.  His voice lowered.  "Jason Morgan is a known criminal."

            "I am 24 years old." Gia said through clenched teeth.  "I think I know who is dangerous and who is not."

            "I don't mean that he will hurt you, I mean that people around him get hurt by others." Marcus reasoned.  "He can't help it…he is a target and anyone around him is a target as well."

            "I have heard this story before." Gia sighed.  "It was a slightly different version but I am pretty sure you said something very similar to this when I started dating Nikolas."

            "Gia, I am just looking out for you." Marcus told her.  "I really wish you wouldn't play pool with Jason Morgan."

            "Then you probably don't want me riding on his bike too.  Or hanging out in the park with him.  Or visiting his penthouse, huh?" Gia asked, getting annoyed with her brother.  "Well, that's too bad.  Jason is my friend.  And so is Carly Corinthos.  And I suspect as I get to know him better that Sonny Corinthos won't be such a bad guy either.  You don't have to like them, but that's you.  I can form my own opinion about others."

            "Gia, can we please go somewhere and talk?" Marcus pleaded.

            "I am playing pool with Jason." Gia stood firmly in her place.  "He'll make sure that I get home safely."

            Marcus looked over at Jason, who had kept silent through the whole confrontation.  He noticed a beer resting on the table.  "Morgan, you aren't drinking and driving?" He asked.  "I hate to have to give you the breathalyzer."

            "It's my beer, alright?" Gia lied.  She could see her brother wasn't going to give up.  She was already in a bad enough mood and knew that she would just spend the rest of the night complaining about her brother anyway.  She looked back at Jason and sighed.  "I think we should try this again another night.  Is that alright with you?"

            Jason nodded.  "Anytime, Gia.  You know where I live."

            Gia gathered her things.  "Come on Marcus."  As soon as they were outside of the bar, she unleashed on him.  "Just where in the hell do you get off on what you just did?  I am old enough to make my own decisions…I have been for awhile now.  Your days of being able to treat me like a child have been over for years."

            "I just want you to be aware of the dangers of hanging out with Morgan."

            "I am well aware of the dangers.  Everything in life is dangerous.  I bet I am in danger right now because of you.  A cop's sister…good way to get back at the cop for putting someone in jail." Gia zippered up her coat.  "I was really having fun tonight, Marcus, and you just had to come barging in there and treat me like I am still a teenager."

            "I am just worried about you." Marcus said as he opened the passenger's side for his sister. 

            "You don't respect my choices." Gia told him when he got into the car.  "If I want to be friends with Jason Morgan then I will.  I don't need you looking down on me."

            "Can we just drop the subject for now?" Marcus asked, starting the car.  "I'll drive you down to the launch."

            "Don't bother." Gia said.  "Drive me to the Port Charles Hotel."

            Marcus looked over at his sister.

            "Nikolas and I broke up." Gia told him.  "Two days ago."

            "Why didn't you tell me?" Marcus asked.

            "We don't exactly talk every day." Gia put on her seatbelt and leaned against the seat.  She looked across the parking lot and saw Jason's bike.  She wished that she was still inside Jake's playing pool with him.  But she didn't want Marcus to harass Jason anymore. 

            "Gia, let's go to Kelly's and talk." Marcus said changing direction of his car.  "I get off in ten minutes anyway." He looked over at his sister.  "I'm worried about you."

            "As long as you don't bring up Jason, I'll listen." Gia said.  "Or Carly and Sonny for that matter."

            "Deal." He reluctantly agreed.

            ****

            Jason opened the door to Sonny and Carly's penthouse.  Now would be as good time as any to discuss the children.  Knowing Carly she had a whole list of things that they could and couldn't do.  She seemed to forget that Jason often looked after the children although this was the first time he would stay the night with them.

            Carly looked up from her book. "Jason! Back so soon? Did Gia just give up or was she that fast a learner?"

            "Neither." Jason sat down on a chair.  "Her brother showed up and practically dragged her out of there."

            Carly shook her head.  "Taggert can't seem to mind his own business."

            "Where's Sonny?" Jason asked.

            "He's giving Adella a bath." Carly told him.  "And he is still over the moon over being an uncle."  She stood up and crossed to the table.  "I made a list of things…"

            "How did I know?" Jason asked his best friend.  "Carly, I have watched them before.  Everything will be alright."

            "I know." Carly sighed, giving him the list anyway.  "I just have never left my babies for more than a day."

            "It's only one night." Jason reasoned.  "You'll be okay.  They'll be okay.  We'll have lots of fun."

            "Just don't let them stay up late!" Carly warned him.

            "I know their bedtimes, Carly." He laughed a little.  "Sit down and relax.  You should be happy.  You're an Aunt now and you going to meet your nephew."

            "You're right." Carly sat back down on the couch.  "We are leaving right after lunch.  Can you be in the park at 1:00pm?"

            "I'll be there." Jason said.  Will Gia? He wondered.  If Taggert had his way, Gia wouldn't show up at all.

            ****

            Gia finished off her milkshake.  She just finished telling her brother about her breakup with Nikolas.  She included everything, even Laura's move against her.  She included everything…except for Jason helping her.  She didn't want to open that conversation again.

            "Gia, I am so sorry." Marcus reached across and squeezed her hand.  He hated to see her in pain.  He wasn't even tempted to tell her that he saw it coming.  He was more tempted in finding Nikolas and ringing his neck.  "Are you okay?"

            "It hurts, Marcus." Gia confessed.  "But I know it will get better in time. Especially if I have the support of family and friends."

            Her brother smiled at her.  "You know you can come to me for anything."

            She nodded.  "I know you're there for me."

            Marcus thought for a moment.  Maybe it would be good idea to talk to Gia again on the subject of Jason, he thought.  "Would friends include Jason Morgan?"

            Gia's spirits fell.  She thought she was having a deep conversation with her brother.  It had started out so good, and she realized how much she missed talking with her brother.  Then he had to open that can of worms again.  "You know damn well that it includes Jason Morgan."

            Marcus didn't understand.  He tried to think back to when Gia and Jason became friends.  As far as he knew the two barely even knew of each other.  "How did you and Jason meet?"

            "You want to know the whole story?" Gia said, her temper rising.  "Fine, here it is in a nutshell.  I met Jason two days ago at Jake's.  I was really drunk and without his help who knows what would have happened. He let me cry on his shoulder, and let me ride on his motorcycle.  He made me laugh and made me feel happy.  He was there for me, okay?"

            "Gia, he's dangerous…"

            "You can't get past that." Gia groaned.  "I know his reputation.  I know that people can get hurt around him.  That doesn't mean that everyone does, Marcus.  He's my friend, and I would appreciate if you didn't harass him because of the fact.  If I find out that you are doing that, I won't speak to you again." She stood up.  "Thanks for the milkshake.  I'll walk back to the hotel."

            Marcus just watched his sister go.  He couldn't do what she said.  He couldn't just sit by and watch Gia get hurt.  He had to think of a way to protect her.

            ****

            Jason looked at his watch.  It was quarter to one.  He was in one of Sonny's cars driving to the park to meet with the family.  His mind, however, was on last night.  He wanted to remember everything about it.  The way Gia looked…the way she smelt…the way she smiled at him.  He shook his head.  Gia had just broken up with Nikolas.  She had been with him for a long time and she still loved him.  He was just her friend.  She just wanted a friend.

            He parked the car and headed out to the place where Sonny and Carly would be.  He smiled when he saw the family waving at him.  But his mind was still somewhere else.  He had asked Gia to meet him in the park. 

            He hoped she would show up.