Chapter Two

Jason sighed as he paced around the pier. This was the place he always came to when he had issues to think out. Try as he might, Jason was unable to ignore what was staring right in front of him. The night Carly was kidnapped, Jason realized exactly what she meant to him. She'd been his best friend for over six years, and she was also the woman he loved.

Loved. That realization scared the heck out of him. Jason loved his best friend's wife. The man who had made him what he was. Jason coveted that man's wife. Jason pressed the tips of his fingers to his throbbing temples and sat down on the bench with a soft groan. How could he do

this? And yet, when he thought of Carly, all he wanted to do was hold her in his arms and never let go.

His thoughts turned to Courtney. His fiance, sitting and waiting for him at home. Jason shook his head gently as he closed his eyes, his face contorted in pain. He loved Courtney; but in a different way than Carly. Courtney's love was safe. Carly's love was filled with a searing passion;

a person who was a match for him in every way. Jason expelled a tortured breath.

"Hey, man."

Jason looked up and saw Sonny Corinthos walking towards him. Carly's husband looked almost as tortured as him. Jason's heart sank at the sight of him. He wanted some time alone, to think of Carly in peace. But he could hardly tell Sonny that. "Hi." Jason's voice was soft.

"Time's running out, Jason," Sonny told him sadly.

Jason looked at Sonny sharply. "Don't ever say that."

"How can I not?" Sonny asked him. "Carly's been gone almost a month. The more time that goes by, the less chance we have of finding her alive."

Jason narrowed his eyes. "She's alive," he said through clenched teeth. He curled his fists in his lap, his heart pounding.

Sonny stared at him curiously. "Are you okay, man?" He knew how close Jason & Carly were, but .... "What makes you think she's alive?"

"I feel it in my heart," Jason said softly. He stared ahead of him, at the water.

His profound statement struck Sonny. "I hope you're right," Sonny said finally. He stared at Jason again for a long moment. Anger surged through him, and Sonny couldn't place why. He frowned, noticing his own fists were clenched in his lap.

"I'm right."

Sonny shook his head, feeling an overwhelming urge to slap Jason. He stood up and began pacing. "I'm sensing something," he muttered. "And I'm not sure I like it."

Jason looked up at him. "Any progress with Faith?" he decided to change the subject.

Sonny sighed and stopped walking. "It's like living with a bull," he told Jason, accepting the change in subject immediately. They both looked up as they heard footsteps and saw Ric and Elizabeth came walking down the pier towards them. "Great," he muttered under his breath.

Jason averted his eyes, knowing his hatred for Ric could spill over at any moment and he was liable to do something he'd later regret. "I'm leaving," he muttered to Sonny. Before Sonny could reply, Jason stood up and headed off in the opposite direction.

"Hope we aren't disrupting anything," Ric said pleasantly as they reached Sonny. His arm was securely around her waist.

Sonny managed a smile at Elizabeth. "Nothing at all," he said smoothly. "How are you, Elizabeth?"

Ric bristled at the blatant way Sonny ignored him, but stayed calm for his wife's sake.

Elizabeth nodded at Sonny. "I'm well, Sonny, thanks."

Sonny's eyes rested on her, noticing how pale she looked. He lifted his eyes to his brother and for a long moment he stared at him in silence. "I'd better go," he said finally. "I have to get home to Faith."

Ric's lip curled. "I'm sorry," he said. "No one should have to be saddled with her. Especially voluntarily."

Sonny sneered, "Yeah, I bet you are." Giving Ric one last glance, he flashed another smile to Elizabeth and walked away.

Ric loosened his grip on Elizabeth. "That was tense," he remarked as they continued their walk home.

"I'm just glad he's stopped blaming you for Carly's kidnapping," Elizabeth said. She rested her head against Ric as they walked. "That was a lovely dinner, thanks."

"You're welcome." Ric smiled down at her. They walked the rest of the way home in silence.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sonny got out of the elevator and was surprised to see Courtney standing there, an anxious look on her face. "Is something wrong?" he asked his sister.

"I was hoping you were Jason," Courtney admitted. She smiled at Sonny. "How are you doing?"

Sonny shrugged and headed towards the penthouse, gesturing to Courtney to follow. "I'm okay," he said, heading inside. Courtney followed. "Why do you look so concerned about Jason?"

Courtney expelled a soft sigh. "He's been acting ... strange lately."

"Strange how?" Sonny walked over and poured himself a drink.

"I don't know exactly," Courtney said. "He's been distant ever since I got home. He hasn't touched me once. We barely talk. He never even called me while I was on the island with Michael. I know he's distracted with finding Carly and I know the guards would have called him if there was a problem while we were on the island, but ... " She shrugged as she met her brother's gaze. "I don't feel like he's the same Jason anymore. I don't feel like I'm marrying him. I feel like I'm just a live in friend."

Sonny frowned. This had been one of the reasons he'd hesitated about Courtney & Jason's relationship initially. Beyond the obvious danger it placed Courtney in, Sonny knew there would be times when Jason would be distant to her. However, Sonny couldn't ignore a gnawing feeling he was getting in his stomach. "He is working overboard to find Carly," Sonny muttered, beginning to pace a bit. He sipped at his drink, frowning thoughtfully.

"Do you think there's something wrong?" Courtney asked. She stepped towards him, her eyes never leaving his face.

Sonny sighed. "I don't know," he said honestly. "It's just a feeling I have. Something is going on, but I'm not sure what." And he wasn't sure he wanted to know what it was. He lifted his eyes to meet Courtney's. "Let's not jump to conclusions," he suggested, albeit a little bit reluctantly. "What you need to do is sit Jason down and talk to him. And if you don't like his answers, you need to decide what you want to do about that."

"Maybe I'm scared of his answers," Courtney whispered.

Sonny set down his drink and walked towards her. He pulled her in his arms and held her tight. "Don't be," he said softly. "You deserve the best, Courtney. And if Jason can't provide that, then we'll find you someone who will."

Courtney hugged him back, surprised by the rare display of emotion from her brother. "Thanks, Sonny," she said, her voice husky. "I don't know if I've said it lately," she pulled back, "but you're an awesome brother."

"Yeah, and a lousy husband." Sonny sighed and sipped at his drink again.

"Don't say that." Courtney frowned at him. "You'll find Carly."

Sonny walked over to the windows and stared out. There was a full moon, shining light on the town of Port Charles. Sonny stared out at it, yearning for the answer as to where his wife was. Yearning to go back in time, to protect Carly and their baby from this. For her own safety, and

the safety of their marriage. Sonny looked towards Courtney. "I'll find her," he said softly. "I won't let this change our lives."

His intensity startled Courtney. But before she could open her mouth, the door opened and in walked Faith Rosco. Courtney scowled when she saw her, the brother/sister quality moment shattered. "I'll just be leaving now," she told Sonny stiffly.

Sonny glanced at his sister, and then over at the woman living with him, pretending to be his mistress. Sonny hated Faith with every fibre of his being. But he'd made the deal with the Feds, and now he had to stick by it. He only hoped the Feds would find Carly before he did something he'd regret to Faith. "Okay," Sonny answered Courtney. "Stop by and see me tomorrow sometime."

"I might." Courtney flashed Sonny a smile and headed for the door. Faith still hadn't moved and was standing by the door. "Move," Courtney said to her.

Faith opened her mouth to shoot Courtney a sarcastic remark, but when Sonny glared daggers at her, she shut it again and simply moved.

"Thanks," Courtney said to Sonny. She glared one more time at Faith and left the penthouse.

"What is *her* problem?" Faith asked snidely after Courtney had left.

Sonny sipped his drink again. "She doesn't like you. Funny, it seems most of the town feels that way. Even your perfect Ric." Faith's feelings for Ric were not a secret to Sonny, nor was Ric's hate for Faith.

Faith scowled. "Ric will tire of Little Miss Lizzie in time," she muttered, walking towards the bar and pouring her own self a drink. "And he'll see what a real woman is when he looks at me."

"He looked perfectly happy to me when I saw them tonight," Sonny informed her. He got delight out of her anger and upset.

Faith sipped her drink, her hand shaking. "I know you're just trying to upset me. So I'll let your comments slide."

"Can't handle the truth, huh?" With a flick of his wrist, Sonny drained his drink and set his glass down. "I'm going to bed. Good night, Faith." He nodded at her and headed upstairs.

"Night," Faith echoed. She sat down on the couch, her mouth turned into a pout as she nursed her drink. She'd make Ric Lansing realize what he was missing if it was the last thing she did.