CH. 3

Jason quickly descended the steps into The Cellar, pausing briefly at their base to allow his eyes to adjust to the dim club. He needed to find Courtney, and he was certain Carly would know where she was. His eyes slowly searched the crowded room. Carly was up on the podium giving the club's opening speech. He saw Sonny standing to the side of the dance floor, his eyes filled with love and admiration for his wife. He knew he couldn't go to Sonny, not after the argument they had had. With a sigh Jason ran a hand through his rain dampened hair and stepped back into the shadows, allowing his eyes to search through the crowd thinking that maybe Courtney had come back to work, but he couldn't see her anywhere.

Carly finished her speech and made her way to Sonny, pulling him onto the dance floor for a slow song. Jason remained hidden in the shadows, his eyes still scanning the room. He would talk to Carly after the song.

Suddenly, Jason noticed a woman to his right… she had just come out of the Ladies Room, and for some reason she was walking with one of her hands caught up in her shawl. Curious as to why, Jason let his eyes follow the woman as she peered around the corner and onto the dance floor. Slowly she raised her hand and the shawl fell away to reveal the cold steel of a gun. Jason was in action instantly, but it all seemed to happen in slow motion. The first shot went wild and strayed harmlessly into the bar. Max yelled, "Gun," and Sonny turned around and saw Jason. Their eyes met as Jason flew towards him; Sonny's gaze was filled with terror and confusion, while the harsh blue of Jason's stare never changed. He felt the bullet tear through his flesh, he saw Sonny covering Carly as they fell to the floor, and then everything went black.

Courtney had checked herself into a room at the Port Charles Hotel. She couldn't afford much, but the room was clean and comfortable. She glanced around her surroundings, her eyes lingering on the trail of junk food wrappers and balled up Kleenex that lay scattered on the bed around her. She looked down at herself. She was clad in a comfortable old robe, he hair braided and pulled back off her face. She snorted and mumbled to herself, "God, I am pathetic" as the credits to an old tearjerker movie ran on the television screen. Suddenly the shrill ringing of her cell phone cut through the air, and Courtney felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Something was wrong.

"Hello?" Courtney breathlessly answered the phone, worry already etched on her features. "Carly… calm down! What? I can't hear you! Oh my god… Jason! Is he okay!? I'll be right there." Without another word Courtney threw her robe on her bed and pulled some clothes on. Her mind was reeling. Jason had been shot… that much she had understood. Carly was sobbing through the conversation and she hadn't been able to make out anything beyond that they were at the hospital. So that's where she went.

Jason was warm. He could feel the rays of the sun lingering on his body, tanning his skin. He smiled. He could hear the ocean in the distance… no, now it was closer. And Courtney. He could hear her laugh. With a smile he gently opened his eyes and found himself on a golden sand beach, lying on a towel, Courtney propped on one elbow directly beside him. They were the only people in sight.

"Jason, you haven't been listening to a word I've been saying, have you?" Courtney protested, her lip turning up in anger, though her eyes were filled with laughter.

Jason grinned as he let his gaze wash over her. She was in a small red bikini and her bronze skin glistened in the hot sun. "What, I was listening… I promise." He assured.

Courtney laughed, her blond hair cascading down over her shoulder. "You were not, and I can prove it. What was I talking about?"

Jason paused for a moment, his smile reflecting her laughter. "Well… for starters, you wanted to discuss this…" he teased as he slowly brushed his lips against hers, his hand moving her hair off her cheek.

Courtney made a move as if to object, but Jason was too quick for her. He gently changed their position so that Courtney was lying back against the sand, and he was perched leaning over her. He slowly went in for another kiss, and all her objections were forgotten in the moment.

Their tongues met and mingled in a dance of perfect symmetry. Jason snaked his hands behind her back and stealthily removed her bikini top. Courtney, having just realized what Jason had done, laughed against his lips, "What are you doing, Jason Morgan?"

He opened his eyes and his piercing blue stare met her warm sapphire gaze. Both were infused with the smoldering beginning of passion. "I love you. You know that, don't you? I love you so much Courtney."

Courtney nodded and the laughter that had been in her eyes was replaced by devotion and love. "Of course I know that. You tell me every day." She leaned up and kissed him, softly, her tongue slowly tracing his lip. "And I love you. More than anything."

Jason smiled. He didn't know how he deserved her, but now that he had her he was never going to let her go. He caught her mouth in another kiss, his hands slowly roaming over her sleek, warm body. Her hands slid over his back as she gently traced his muscles, and then to his chest, and down to the small trail of hair that meandered down from his belly button.

The two of them lay alone on that golden beach, the sun glistening off the water and their slick bodies. They proved their love for one another, transforming the emotion into a physical promise. Afterwards, Jason held Courtney in his arms and thanked god that he was alive…

He thought he could hear Courtney's voice as he hovered between utopia and slumber, but he couldn't open his eyes. He felt happy and at peace as he drifted to sleep…

Courtney flew into the emergency room, her eyes finding Carly instantly. The other woman was completely disheveled… and covered in blood. Courtney's gaze met Carly's and both women had tears streaming down their cheeks. Courtney slowly walked towards her, her voice catching in her throat, "Carly… you're covered in blood… not… oh god, please tell me it wasn't Jason?"

Carly wrapped her arms around Courtney, but couldn't say anything. Sonny walked towards them and caught Courtney's eyes, "Courtney… it was Jason. He was hit trying to save me." Sonny paused and Courtney didn't recognize the emotion that flew over her brother's gaze.

Courtney gently pulled away from Carly and wiped at the tears that fell from her eyes, "Is he… I mean, he's alive, isn't he?"

Carly looked back at Sonny, then at Courtney. She was finally able to find her voice, though it was filtered with sobs, "I don't know, honey… he's in surgery. They won't tell us anything." She motioned to the glass wall of the O.R. that was behind them, before turning to Sonny and enveloping him in a hug.

Courtney nodded. Her mind was numb. She couldn't believe this was happening, it was like a dream. She slowly walked towards the O.R. and gently rested her head against the cool glass. It was a blessing she couldn't see anything. She slumped to the ground in desperation and rested her head against her knees, praying softly under her breath that Jason would live.