Ch. 7

Jason melted into her lips, feeling the softness and the warmth of her skin seep into his own. He drew back and gazed into her eyes, not believing he could have wakened to a reality that held everything he needed and everything he wanted. He drew her close in an embrace, resting his chin on her shoulder. Her hand wound around his body carefully evading the bandages that hid his healing injuries. He noticed the shadow on the ground and his eyes slowly followed it towards the man that stood in the shadows of the doorway. His icy blue gaze met with Sonny's soulful brown eyes and they locked together for a brief moment. Jason pulled back from Courtney, searching for something to say that would draw Sonny further into the room. Before he could, however, Sonny was gone. The sound of quickly retreating footsteps met his ears as a confused frown pulled at his features.

Courtney noticed the change in Jason's mood and turned towards the door. She could hear the footsteps moving down the hall. "Who was that, Jason? Who was here?" Her voice held a note of uncertainty as she turned back to face him, her eyes searching for an answer.

"It was Sonny… He just, I don't know. He just left." Jason quietly responded, sinking back into the pillows on the bed. He winced at the movement and Courtney immediately stood up, "I'm going to go find Monica… the doctors should check you out." She offered a small smile that lit her eyes and aided in masking the dark bags that lived just below them, "And I have to call Carly. I think she might disown me if I don't call her first!" Courtney turned to leave, but at the last moment she looked back and a frown dampened the light her smile had awakened a moment before, "Jason, Sonny… well, he's not himself right now. I'm sure he'll be back. He's been really worried about you."

Jason nodded in response and watched Courtney leave. He gazed down at himself, drawing back the covers and exploring the wounds that had landed him in the hospital. A frown marred his features as he set the blankets back in place, and his voice was dark as he shook his head and muttered under his breath, "Damn it, I hate getting shot."

~ ~

It had been two weeks since the day Jason had woken up and Sonny had not set foot back into the hospital. In fact, neither Courtney nor Jason had heard from him at all. Courtney's brows furrowed as she contemplated her brother and his obvious absence from Jason's recovery. She tried to ask Carly about it and had run into a brick wall. Carly seemed to think Sonny simply needed time, and when she questioned Jason about it she received the same answer. "How can they just accept this?" She wondered out loud as she paced down the hallway and into Jason's room, pushing an empty wheelchair in front of her.

Jason was sitting on the edge of the bed dangling his feet over the side like a child. He turned towards the door as Courtney walked in and quickly jumped to the floor and caught her in a kiss. He could feel her smile against his lips before she pulled away in protest, "Jason, stop it! You are just getting released today and you have to take it easy!"

Jason wrapped his arms around her waist so he could examine her face at his leisure. She seemed to glow. Her skin was flawless and devoid of all makeup except for a light brushing of powder that made her eyelids shimmer. He brought his fingers up to trace her jaw line and slowly drew his thumb across her lips. "I would have been out of this dump a week ago if it hadn't been for you making me stay here. I've been telling you I feel fine, but you just had to listen to Monica, didn't you?"

A slow smile flirted across Courtney's mouth as she tilted her head to one side, "Monica is your doctor and she said you needed the full two weeks." She paused and her tone grew sultry, "Besides, I've made it worth your while, haven't I?"

Jason watched the smile that grew on Courtney's lips and nodded in response, "Yeah, I guess the extra week wasn't all bad." He lowered his mouth to hers in another passionate kiss and captured Courtney's hand to lead her back towards the bed. Taking a step backwards, however, he ran his foot into the wheelchair and frowned in confusion. "What the heck is this?"

Escaping the entanglement of Jason's embrace Courtney pulled the wheelchair around to face Jason and motioned for him to sit down, "Well, you did plan on checking out today, didn't you?" Perplexed, Jason stood where Courtney had left him and rested his hands on his hips while his voice dripped with disdain, "I hope you don't mean I'm supposed to get in that thing. There is no way I'm letting you push me around in a wheelchair!"

Courtney mimicked his stance as her own hands came to a rest on her hips, "It's hospital policy. You can't leave unless you are wheeled out. Now get in." It was quickly evident, however, that Jason had no intention of listening to her. Her voice adopted a note of authority as her eyes narrowed, "Listen, Morgan, you are either getting in this chair and letting me help you outside or you can stay here." She jerked a thumb towards the bed, "It's up to you, but I'll let you know that I'm going home."

Jason took a minute to contemplate his options. His eyes slid from the narrow hospital bed to Courtney. From the bed to Courtney's gorgeous sapphire eyes. He turned and again stared at the bed. Again his eyes slid back to Courtney and his gaze rested on her mouth. He ran his tongue over his own lips in response and when he answered his voice was filtered with irritation, "Fine! I've been in this place a month and I just want to go." Jason's eyes glistened with irritation as he stalked forward and deposited himself in the chair.

Courtney watched the pout grow on Jason's face and tried to mask the smile that grew on her lips. She slowly bent down and grazed his protruding bottom lip with her teeth before pressing her mouth into his, "Thank you. Now, let's get out of here."

Jason stepped off the elevator and his eyes immediately searched the door to Sonny's penthouse. Courtney noticed the frown that hovered over Jason's deep blue eyes and sought out his hand, capturing it in her own. "Hey, don't worry. You said he just needs time, and then he'll come around. It will be okay."

Jason nodded, "I know. I know this is how Sonny is, this is how he copes. It's just…" He trailed off and his eyes found Courtney's. She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, "I know. I miss him too. It can't be much longer." She looked over her shoulder and slowly drew Jason to his own door, "Now, just wait a minute. Stand right here… good." She instructed as she moved him directly in front of the door. He looked at her with a question ready on his tongue before she interrupted, "Okay. Since you said that we should stay here because things are heating up in the business, and this place is protected, I went out and got some things… you know, to spruce the place up a bit. I want it to be a surprise."

Courtney stepped behind him and raised herself on her toes so she could cover his eyes with her hands. She motioned for Max to open the door and gently nudged Jason into the room. They both heard the door close behind them. "Now, tell me the truth when you see it… I can always change it." She continued, her smile warming a voice that was tainted with nervousness. Slowly she removed her hands and Jason opened his eyes to a room that was utterly unrecognizable.

Courtney had redone the entire apartment. Jason couldn't believe the sight that assailed his eyes. The penthouse had always been a place for him to stay, but it had never been a home. Allowing his eyes to wander freely over the new surroundings Jason took a few tentative steps into the room. Courtney had given him her trust and her love, and now she had given him a home. She had given him everything and what had she received in return? Anger from a brother she was only beginning to know, danger that now infused her every move, and the love of a man who took lives for a living. Jason lowered his eyes in shame and ran a hand through his short brown hair.

Courtney walked forward as Jason did and held her breath as he studied the room. Her gaze was fixed on Jason's face and she could feel his eyes moving over the penthouse. She witnessed the frown claim his features and her heart dropped to her knees, "Jason?" She ventured, running her hand down his arm, "Baby, what's the matter? I can change it if you don't like it… I kept all of your old stuff. We can have it moved back in."

Jason turned to examine the angel at his side and quickly shook his head. "No, no… I like it. I just can't believe you would do this for me. You don't know how much I appreciate this." His voice was smooth and calm though it was tainted with an emotion Courtney didn't recognize. Jason's gaze dropped to her lips and he bent his head to capture Courtney's mouth with his own. "Thank you" he whispered before passion ignited their kiss and coherent thought was abandoned.

With a sly smile Courtney carefully evaded Jason's lips. Her eyes had darkened to cobalt that sparkled with desire, and her voice was low and burned with intensity, "You know, I redid the bedroom too. Do you want to see it?"

Jason gazed down at the deity in his arms and love momentarily banished all previous thought from his mind. He returned her sly smile and stole a kiss before he captured her hand and drew her to the stairs. They climbed the steps as the mists of passion were ignited by love and injected into their blood. Gentle caresses and soothing words of devotion flowed from their souls as their minds were forgotten, and afterwards Jason held Courtney in his arms, her ear to his heart. He slept and forgot the world; at least for that one night.