Courtney breathed sigh. She took off her apron a few minutes before her shift ended. She couldn't help but think about how weird Carly had acted earlier. Carly had asked if she was upset. What could she have been upset about?
Curiosity getting the better of her, she headed downstairs to the club, finding Carly viewing over paperwork.
"Hey Courtney," Carly greeted, putting the papers down. She walked over to her. "Are you okay?"
"I'm good," Courtney answered. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"No reason," Carly dismissed. "I was just…"
"Just what?"
Carly looked up at Courtney. "I'm sorry, but there's something you really need to know, Courtney."
****
You did the right thing, Jason kept repeating inside his head. It's Brenda, for God's sake. Last night was…..nothing. Absolutely nothing.
But it was a nothing that he couldn't get out of his mind. No matter how much he beat himself up about it, he still got a thrill from the night before. He never thought he would find himself waking up next to Brenda.
He shook his head. It was just one night- she said so herself, and so did you. And that one night is over. You don't love Brenda.
During his thoughts, the door opened.
"Jason?
Jason leaped out of his chair, seeing Sonny in his door way. "Are you okay?" Jason asked.
"I could ask you the same. When did you get back?"
"Um……late last night. I thought you'd be in the hospital, and I'd come in the morning." He ran his hand up his forehead; he had an awful headache.
"I left this morning, and you weren't here."
"Oh, I went to find Carly," he lied.
"I haven't seen her today. Did you find her?"
"Yeah, she was working on the club. She might still be there, I don't know."
Sonny nodded. "So, you probably haven't seen the news, have you?"
"What happened on the news?"
"Some idiot shot Rick Lansing, and they left a way to be traced." Jason's eyes flashed. "Not to worry, you aren't a suspect this time. But, hell, I doubt anyone will be able to trace the clues to the person."
"Rick's dead?" Jason questioned, trying to act as if this was new information.
"Oh no, he's in the hospital. Someone saw him, but that's what I want to tell you about. Rick Lansing has a plot to do something, but someone got to him before he could act any further."
"Any further? What has he done yet?"
Sonny's eyes darkened. "The bastard took one shot," he mumbled.
"At who?"
"The one time I was unprotected…"
"Rick shot you?"
****
Brenda hesitated before knocking.
Just go in. Just go in. She raised a hand and knocked slowly on the door three times. Only a second later the door flew open.
"Brenda," Jax breathed.
She faked a smile. "Hi."
He grabbed her, pressing her face into his shoulder. He lifted her off her feet and slowly spun her around.
"Oh god…." He breathed in her scent. "I thought you were dead."
"I'm fine, Jax."
"I'm glad." He kissed her on the cheek. Brenda smiled.
"I'm glad to be back," she said. She wanted so badly to focus on Jax, the love of her life, but her mind kept jumping to Jason and last night.
For a minute, she considered actually telling Jax about where she was last night, but no. Jax didn't need to fret about things that only happened one time.
****
There was a knock on Jason's door before Sonny could say anymore. He walked over to the door and found Carly outside.
"Jason," she said coldly, but Sonny took no notice to her less then pleasant greeting. She walked further inside and let out a deep sigh.
"Sonny, I told you I didn't want you leaving the hospital," she complained.
"Carly, I'm fine. There's just something that needs to be taken care of." He turned back to Jason. "I'll get back to you about that thing. Come on, Carly, let's head home."
"Was Jason talking to you about Brenda?" Carly asked innocently. Her eyes gave a bitter glance toward Jason, and Jason wished she had left. She obviously thought Sonny should know.
"No. Is there something to tell about Brenda?" Sonny asked. He eyes sunk into Jason's. Those eyes Jason couldn't lie to unless he had to.
"She was just over last night."
"She was getting her things?"
"Yeah. Yeah she was."
"Good, so you got the annulment?"
Jason cleared his throat. "Yeah, we got it." Why did he have to lie?
"Good," Sonny said again. He began to walk out.
"Sonny," Carly said. "I'll catch up with you in a minute. I need to talk to Jason for a minute."
The door shut, and Carly faced on Jason. She started to say something, but she stopped herself in the middle. After a minute of trying to calm herself down she said,
"You didn't tell Courtney? God, Jason! She has a right to know. I tried to ask her about it, but she was completely clueless. When the hell do you plan on telling her?"
"I know she deserves to know, and I will tell her; but why do you want Sonny to know so badly? He used to be with Brenda. Do you know how weird it would be for him to know….."
"Know what, Jason? That you slept with that, that…." Jason didn't allow her to finish with her nasty name for Brenda.
"You're just holding an old grudge on Brenda, Carly. Just drop it, you have no reason to hate her."
"You're starting to sound just like her, Jason. Don't you get it? She's too complicated to be with. You deserve so much better then her, like Courtney," she added, "If she'll ever forgive you."
"I'm not with Brenda. It was just one night. Just that one night when I wasn't thinking straight. She almost died yesterday, and she was upset."
"I don't care if she almost died! That is not an excuse. And when Brenda says one night," Carly retorted. "Don't believe her. She'll be back on your doorstep tonight acting pitiful and pleading for more."
"Carly, go home," Jason said, sick of her two sense comments. "Go home and mind your own damn business."
Carly considered it for a minute. "I'll go home if you make me one promise," Carly said. Jason was about to object, but Carly continued, "Go talk to Courtney. Will you?"
"Yes, fine. Okay? I'll go talk to her right now. And you can leave too." Jason picked up his coat and left.
****
Courtney was the only one left a Kelly's. She cleaned up the place slightly. She picked up her coat and left, locking the door behind her. She began to walk home.
"Courtney."
She turned, and she saw Jason leaning up against a brick wall waiting for her.
"What do you want?" she asked as if she was disgusted at his presence.
"Courtney, there's something I need to tell you."
"Really?" Courtney asked, folding her arms. "Jason, don't waste your breath on me, besides I'm nothing, right? I already know, so save your pity for Brenda." She spat out the name.
"How do you know?" Jason inquired quietly. Tears silently fell down Courtney's face.
"Carly told me earlier today," she said, brushing the tears away. "And I didn't believe it. But then I realized. She was your damn wife, how could there be nothing? I thought the marriage was just because of the trial, but no, you proved me wrong."
"I don't love her Courtney. I love you." He took a step closer to her, but she moved back.
"That's a shit of a lie if I ever heard one."
"Courtney," Jason pleaded. "If I could go back in time, I wouldn't have done it. It was just a huge, stupid mistake."
"Yeah, if I could go back in time, I would have prevented myself from ever laying eyes on you or meeting you. You're just a pig, claiming to love people but sleeping with others. Right?"
Jason stared, at a loss from words. He didn't know what to say that could make this any better.
"That's what I thought," Courtney said, turning away and beginning to walk again.
Jason jogged after her. "Courtney, wait." He put his hand on her shoulder, but she turned sharply, giving him a hard, swift slap across his cheek.
"Screw you, Jason." And she walked off, leaving Jason alone.
"God……" he muttered. "Life's a hell of a ride."
A/N Please review and let me know what you think, and if you are a Journey fan and upset to see the fight between Jason and Courtney, e-mail me at KuteKaren66@alltel.net - I have something to say about it. Now updating wise, I might be a little slower because I've gotten sick-again. I have some crap that lowers my immune system, so I keep catching all this….stuff. Hope you enjoyed.
Please review!
