a/n: Just to clarify for a review I got from a Journey fan, this will ultimatly be a Jason/Liz story. I just like to take my time, and make sure everything is done right to be good to the true characters. The email thing might take a while to come up, but I had some interesting ideas to add so I hope you won't mind. Happy reading and I appreciate the reviews.
Chapter 2: Skeletons in the Closet
Courtney walks into the penthouse after her shift. Jason was either still on the computer or got on again.
"Are you still on the computer?" Courtney asks.
"If by 'still' you mean got off, talked to Sonny, took care of some business, then got on again, then yes." Jason said sarcastically.
"Don't be smart with me mister. I just had an interesting, small mind you, conversation with Elizabeth."
Jason glances up and over twards her. "All kidding aside, what did you all talk about?"
"I over heard her talking to Emily, and the subject of you came up, so I listened closely. She told Emily that you've known each other for four yeards now and that you used to go for rides on your motorcycle on the cliff roads."
Jason looks confused. "So what did you all talk about?"
"I just wanted to confirm the information I heard and I asked her how you two met."
"What did she say?"
"That you saved her from some guy at Jake's. Is that true?"
"Yeah." Courtney looks hurt in some way. "Is there something wrong?"
"You should have tol dme sooner that you took her on motorcycle rides, saved her at a bar and God knows what else."
"I didn't think it would matter."
"I didn't think so either, until I found out you had a long history with her." There was an awkward silence. "There had to be something we've done that you all never did."
Jason is silent for a bit before saying, "Elizabeth and I never made love."
Courtney runs over to him and hugs him. After they break apart, she asks him, "Can we go for a ride?"
Jason is hesitant. "Taking you for a ride on the cliff roads would be like me dancing with Elizabeth to our song. It's kind of something we did together, just the two of us, as friends."
"Did Carly ever go on a ride with you on your bike?"
"Nope, just Elizabeth."
"So it's just your thing with her? No one else?" Courtney seems kind of hurt by this.
"I'm sorry, but it would just be too awkward for me."
"I see." She pauses. "Is there anything else in your past with Elizabeth that I should know about? Anything else significant?"
He looks at her and says quitely, "She took care of me once...when I was shot out in the snow."
This takes a while to sink into Courtney's mind. "You did go to the hospital?"
"Elizabeth knew how I hated them, so she took care of me in her studio, with some help from Bobbie."
Courtney hesitates, and starts to cry before asking him her final question. "Did you love her."
"I did." Jason stops a minute before finishing. "There will always be a place in my heart for Elizabeth. When you have a history with someone like that, you never stop loving them. But I'm in love with you."
Courtney starts to walk over to Jason when there is a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Jason shouts through the door.
"It's me, Emily. We need to talk."
Jason looks at Courtney before opening the door. Courtney doesn't look pleased that they've been interrupted. Jason mouths to her, "She's my sister." Courtney nods and her opens the door.
"Hey." Emily says before hugging him. Jason squeezes her tight and then drops her. "We need to talk," she glances over at Courtney, "Alone."
"I don't have anything to hide from Courtney," Jason says.
"Yeah, I know you don't, but I do." Jason looks over at Courtney.
"Okay, I'll just go over and visit Michael." Courtney says with a hint of disappointment.
"Thanks," Emily calls after her.
After the door is shut, Jason and Emily go over to the couch and sit down. "So, what do you need Em?" Jason asks.
"I'm tired of you and Elizabeth not being able to be in the same room with each other."
"Em..."
"Hear me out. Please?" Jason nods reluctantly. "You all used to be close, and now all you ever do is fight."
"She's the one who left me. I tried to get her back, but she would have anything to do with me."
"You all were together?" Emily asks in shock.
"Not really, but we were talking about it."
"What happened?"
"After Sonny was revealed to be alive, she got upset because I didn't tell her. She doesn't like when I keep big secrets from her. I guess I can't blame her, but I did tell her that there would be things I couldn't tell her."
"I know you did. But don't you think that Sonny's death would affect her emotionally?"
"I didn't think her and Sonny were that close, so I didn't worry about it."
"While you were gone, they got to be good friends. They cared about each other and looked out for each other. She would defend him to everyone and he'd defend her to Carly, and that's not an easy task."
"I know. Believe me, I know." Jason sighs before continuing. "I cared about her so much, that I didn't want her to worry about me. I didn't want her to get hurt because of me."
"Didn't she tell you on more that one occasion that she didn't care that you kill people for a living? I think that you just didn't want to believe that someone could care about you."
"Courtney cares about me and I don't push her away."
"Why did you push Elizabeth away and not Courtney now?"
"I love Courtney and she loves me. We want to build a life together."
"I see that, but why won't you push her away if you care about her so much, like you claim to have cared about Elizabeth?"
"I did care about Elizabeth! Don't go around saying that I didn't!"
"I'm sorry. Did I touch a nerve?"
"Em, are you saying that I don't love Courtney as much as I loved Elizabeth?"
"So you DID love Elizabeth didn't you."
"Yes, I did. But now I am in love with Courtney."
"You are saying that so much, that I am starting to think that you are saying it to convince yourself, and not me."
"Em. I love Courtney. Right now, I don't see anything changing that."
"Could you at least try to be cordial to Elizabeth when you are around her? For me? She's my best friend, and you are my brother. I need you to get along."
"Okay, okay. But I want you to make friends with Courtney. It's important to ME that you two get along. Okay?"
"Okay." Emily hugs Jason and he hugs her back. "I love you Jason."
"I love you too Em." They let go and he walks her to the door. "Bye now."
"Bye." She leaves, leaving Jason with some new thoughts.