Stained Crimson

In Arizona

"Sonny, I… I, no I couldn't …" Jason struggled to get his words out through Sonny's ranting on the other end of the receiver. Courtney stayed motionless letting her eyes roam around the room and fall again on Jason's tense form. He paced the length of the carpet trying each time to form a sentence only to have it shot down by Sonny. Courtney grew wary of the conversation; rising from the bed, she grabbed the phone from Jason's grasp.

"Sonny… will you let me speak!" Courtney commanded louder then Jason expected.

"I killed her, I was in trouble so Jason helped me, and it's not his fault" Her tone was calm and serious, despite the tears Jason saw her blink back.

"I'm sorry Courtney, I just, I am so worried about you, you're the only sister I have and I don't want to loose you" Courtney could swear she heard Sonny's voice crack a bit, as he spoke.

"Your not going to loose me, Jason is taking good care of me, he always does" She smiled at Jason as she spoke.

"I know, he always takes care of the people I care about, I love you sis" Sonny stated softly.

"I love you too Sonny" Courtney handed the phone back to Jason with a proud smile.

With a few words, she had diffused a situation Jason would not have for hours.

The blonde headed toward the washroom avoiding letting her eyes sweep over the rusted and yellowing sink. She observed herself in the mirror as she tied her hair back. Her reflection slightly unsettling, she had never looked so worn. Her stomach ached from hunger as she realized she had not had anything but a candy bar for almost twelve hours.

Courtney returned to the living room as she heard Jason finish his conversation with Sonny. She stood awkwardly shifting her weight from side to side, glancing at Jason; she noticed he had been too involved in his own thoughts to acknowledge her re-entry. She walked to his side hesitantly placing a hand on his shoulder. He looked up into her eyes and she felt her heart speed up as she lost herself in his crystal blues.

"Sonny says he's going to have a plane pick us up in Mexico and take us to some remote island" Jason stated quietly. Courtney nodded silently, leaning in closer until their fore heads touched. His arms wrapped around her waist and he finally let his lips descend upon hers. She felt like every nerve in her body was exploding, as their kiss turned from gentle to passionate, her arms wrapping around his neck tightly. As the kiss deepened, he pushed her back against the window taking support in the solid object behind them. When they finally pulled away to breathe, Courtney smiled her gaze meeting his, she could see the desire playing out on his features.

She went to kiss him again when a horrible pain ripped through her body almost knocking her off her feet but Jason held her up. Courtney tried to see through the tears that welled up in her eyes as the pain became sharper, her breathing was ragged and every breath was getting harder to take. Jason continued to hold her up, the only thing he had heard was the windowpane shattering in front of him. The shards of glass embedding themselves beneath his feet, sharp pains were coursing through his body, Jason could not feel it though. His focus was on the girl in his arms. The scene had played out so quickly he could not separate any of the events .He looked down at the blonde-haired woman in his arms and began to panic. She had become so pale and her body was loosing warmth quickly, he could see her struggle for breath and try to force her eyes from closing.

"Jason why am I bleeding" Courtney asked hoarsely before her eyes closed and her body went limp.

He blinked back tears, pulling his hand from behind her back. It was stained crimson.