Chapter 12: Happily Ever After?

          "Well," Courtney said, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes. "I'm not sure who it was exactly, but they did have some good news."

          "What is it? I really would like to hear something good," said Carly.

          "Well," Courtney gave a tiny grin. "Rescuers found Jason and Brenda. They're taking them to a hospital, and we should be able to talk to them soon."

          Carly gave a small, shaky smile in return. "Are they okay- medially wise?"

          "Well, the guy who called didn't tell me, but he said he'd call back with their condition."

          "Well, at least we have some good news, and I'm really glad that we got it."

          "Yeah, me too."

          They sat in silence for a while longer until a doctor came up to them, reading off a clipboard.

          "Mrs. Conrinthos? You're husband has just come out of surgery."

          "Is he alright?"

                                                ****

          Brenda was pushed into the airplane, and the paramedics were all over her like Tiny Tim on a Christmas ham. The plane had already taken off, and they were on their way to a hospital.

          "I'm fine, really," Brenda kept insisting, but no one would accept that answer.

          They found a few cuts on her arm and a large gash on her forehead, and one doctor pronounced that it would need stitches. Eventually, they were satisfied with Brenda's condition and left.

          "Hey?" Brenda tried to grab the attention of someone. "Hey?"

          She pulled back on the shoulder of someone.

          "Yes, can I help you?"

          "Yes, can you tell me if you know if Jason, that guy who you loaded on, is okay?"

          "Ma'am, I'm not sure, but we should be landing soon and there you can ask someone."

          Brenda nodded. "Are we landing in Port Charles?"

          "No, we are landing somewhere in South Africa."

          "We aren't going home?"

          "No."

          "Well, why not?"

          "Miss, your husband needs immediate treatment, just in case. We wouldn't have time to fly home."

          It took Brenda a moment to realize who "her husband" was, but then it came to her.

          Oh yeah, I'm still married to Jason.

                                                ****

          "Lansing, we were thinking that you wouldn't show."

          "Well, you're wrong; I'm here. Now, I was told you would have something for me, so do you have it?" Rick asked.

          "I have it, but there have been a slight change of plans."

          "What the hell do you mean 'a slight change of plans'?" Rick almost yelled.

          "Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have been rescued just a few hours ago."

          Rick's bag fell from his shoulder as if on cue. He clenched his fist and pounded on the desk, striking it once causing pens to rattle.

          "What?"

          "Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are no longer on the island."

          "Why the hell not? We got them on that damn island, now how could we let them get off?" he said in a deadly whisper. "If you tell me that Corinthos somehow traced his hit man from his hospital bed…"

          "From what we know, Corinthos has no clue about what happened. If someone hadn't shot him, we would have him right where we need him."

          Rick's head gave a fast jerk at the mentioning of Sonny getting shot. "Whoever shot Sonny did the right thing. The man needed to have his crown knocked off him."

          Rick was studied very carefully for a few minutes, but he broke the silence by saying,

          "Well, what do you have for me, Smith? If you don't have anything to my use, you can say good-bye to everything that you have."

          "Here."

          Smith shoved a stack of papers toward Rick, and Rick took them.

          "What are these?"

          "Location of where the two will be taken and your tickets to get there."

                                                ****

          "Is he alright?"

          "He's responding to the surgery much better then last time, but we still have to wait until we know the exact outcome."

          "Thank you," Carly said. She turned to Courtney. "It looks like everything is working out for us now, doesn't it?"

          "Yeah. It's…great."

          "Something's wrong. What is it?"

Courtney waved a hand, and she said, not very convincingly, " No, everything is fine." She paused, taking time to sit down. "It's just that I have a bad feeling."

          "Courtney," Carly said as she was sitting next to her. "I had that feeling before too. The one where you know something bad is about to happen or something is about to go wrong, and you know what?"

          "What?"

          "I was always wrong. Yes, something happened, but it solved itself. Nothing permanent ever happened."

          "I know all that, but I still feel it." She covered her face in her hands. "I just wish that I could see Jason. I wish I could just go fly on an airplane and see him"

          "I know you do, but you can't just go find him."

          "I wish I could."

          Carly's cell phone, which as still in possession of Courtney, rang. Courtney jumped and immediately answered the phone.

          "Hello?"

          "Ms. Mathews?"

          "Yes."

          "Jason and Brenda Morgan have just arrived at the hospital."

          "Are they alright?"

          "Mrs. Morgan needs stitches on her forehead, but Mr. Morgan is not doing so well."

          Courtney's heart jolted. "What's wrong with him?"

          "The doctors told me that he suffered from a heat stroke. Right now he is in serious condition."

          "God," Courtney whispered to herself, then she asked, "Where is he at?"

          She finished the conversation and hung up the phone.

          "What was that?" Carly asked.

          "That was…someone calling for me. Carly, I'm sorry, but I have to go. I'll come back as soon as I can."

          Before Carly could reply, Courtney was outside the hospital and dialing a new number on her cell phone.

          "Hello? Yes, when is the next plane out to South Africa?"

                                                ****

          Jason was rushed into the hospital with Brenda jogging behind. Doctors surrounded him, and some others were trying to grab her.

          "I just want to see Jason," Brenda said. "I am fine. He isn't! Can't I just see him?"

          "Ms. Morgan, we need you to calm down, and we can get you a room."

          "I'm fine!"

          "Brenda!"

          Someone came running up toward her. When the person came closer, Brenda realized who it was.

          "Aren't you Jason's old attorney?"

          "Yes, where is Jason?" Rick asked.

          "I don't know, no one will let me see him. Something's wrong with him, but I don't know what."

          "I'll take care of it," Rick said, sympathetically rubbing her back. "I'll take care of you both."

          A/N I had a time lapse, so Rick was able to be at the hospital when Brenda and Jason got there. So in the next chapter Courtney will get there faster then it seems. Also the next chapter won't be up soon because my family is vacationing! My next chapter should be up Tuesday, March 18.