Carly blew past Max with his perfunctory "Hello, Mrs. Corinthos" without so much as a second glance, and continued on through the PH doors. 

"Sonny? Sonny, where are you?! SONNY?!" Carly threw down her coat and purse on the couch and ran upstairs trying to find Sonny, when he appeared from the kitchen. 

"Whoa, whoa…cool it Carly.  What happened?  What's wrong?" Sonny could see that something was really bothering Carly, but he wasn't sure what it was.

Carly let Sonny led her over to the couch and told all about Courtney and what she told Carly today.  "Sonny, I have never seen her that distraught-it was as if someone, well Jason- had just run her heart over with a flat bed truck- have you seen Jase lately? Did he say anything about this?"

Sonny stared ahead as he thought about the last time he had seen Jason.  He wasn't going to tell Carly this, but Jason was acting strange the last time that they were together. Jason had actually called Sonny late one afternoon asking Sonny to meet him at the warehouse as soon as he could get away.  Sonny demanded to know what it was all about, but Jason had told him that he would fill Sonny in at the warehouse. When Sonny arrived at the warehouse, Jason was pacing back and forth in the foyer waiting for Sonny to arrive.   

"Sonny- listen, there's a problem.  A big problem." Jason didn't even give Sonny a chance to say anything before he launched into the explanation of what was going on.  It appeared that lately some new opponent from New York City was trying to push their way into Sonny's territory. And the more Jason refused them, the more determined they were becoming.  The last refusal had resulted in a message being sent that couldn't be ignored.  One of Sonny and Jason's shipments was intercepted on its way to Port Charles.  The driver and passenger were killed, letting Jason and Myer know that they meant business, next time it could be someone in their family, or even themselves marked as the target.  Jason had tried to find any background information on this newcomer, but there was none to be found.  It didn't make any sense, and Jason needed to let Sonny in on this and see if they could figure out their next move.  

As Sonny recalled that particular afternoon, he began to wonder if something else had happened with this situation, and Jason just hasn't had the time to tell him yet.  Sonny got up abruptly from the couch and told a startled Carly that he would be back in a bit; he had some business to take care of, and left the PH before Carly could get a word in.  

As Carly watched Sonny leave the PH, she had a strange sensation that things were a lot worse than she could have ever imagined.

**********

Courtney looked around Kelly's one last time before leaving.  The floors were mopped twice; the paperwork was all done and rechecked, and rechecked again. All the day's dirty dishes were done, and there simply wasn't anything else to keep Courtney there any longer.  As she glanced down at the shining floor, she debated mopping it just one more time, or maybe she should go over the new schedule again, just to make sure that there were no mistakes.  Courtney!  Stop it; you just have to face it, and deal! She repeated this over and over, her new mantra so to speak.  It was just that nights were the worst.  It was in the dark, when she was willing sleep to come that the memories came flooding back.  Lots of little things: a stolen kiss in the middle of a hectic shift at Kelly's; or Jason calling her when he was away just to wish her sweet dreams and to tell her that he loved her. Now, when she was lying alone in the bed that they used to share together, she is bombarded with these memories, ones that used to bring her endless happiness; that now only bring endless heartache.  Courtney sighed and got out from underneath the covers and looked at the floor beneath her.  It could do with another cleaning she thought as she pondered the alternative of trying to get to sleep; or maybe even two. 

***********

Bit by bit, Jason could feel the restraints binding his wrists getting loose... but not quite loose enough to release him.  It was hard to tell what day it was.  He hoped that if he was able to get out of this place, that it wasn't too late, he could stop this plan from going through.  God, how long was it that he was in here?  Two days?  Five?  He was shocked to realize that he had no idea.  What if it has already happened? Jason returned his attention to his restraints with renewed vigor.  Time was running out, faster than Jason could imagine.  

***********

As he watched her move inside the well light apartment in the middle night, he wondered if it was time yet for the next part of his plan. Things were going better than he had expected; and as he checked that he had everything he needed, he decided that now was just a good as time as ever to keep things moving and made his way to front door of the apartment building.