Once more Courtney was working an extra shift at Kelly's. It wasn't as if she had much to do in her private life anymore. Jason was gone. He took off weeks ago; claiming he couldn't stand by and watch as Sonny and Carly ruined each other's lives. He offered her the choice to come with him but she couldn't just abandon Carly and the kids that way. As always her obligation to her family got the better of her. She moved in with Sonny to help out with the boys when Leticia's mother got sick and needed surgery, so she needed extra time off to take care of her. Then Elizabeth permanently handed in her resignation at Kelly's. Penny got engaged and needed more time off to plan her wedding. Which meant that Courtney had to put in more time at Kelly's when she wasn't at the penthouse.

So now Courtney's whole life was about everyone else. Taking care of Sonny's kids. Holding Carly's hand as she bitched about Sonny bribing a judge for custody. Being the first one to open Kelly's in the morning and sometimes being the one to close it at night.

But what else could she do? She took on more tasks in order to busy herself so she wasn't sitting at home by the phone waiting for Jason to call. Which he rarely did anymore.

"I said, coffee to go. Courtney, hello?" Jax waved his hand in front of Courtney's face a few times to get her attention.

"What?" Courtney blinked rapidly and looked around. She was so busy reflecting on her sad life she that hadn't even notice when Jax had come in and sat down at the counter in front of her. She flipped a lock of hair out of her eyes. "Coffee, oh right. Coming right up."

Jax leaned on the counter, watching her with observant eyes. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, never better." Courtney pasted a big smile on her face as she searched for a take out cup. Once she found one, she fumbled with it a bit. She rolled her eyes at her clumsiness. "Maybe just a little tired."

"You look it." Jax said baldly.

She shot him a glare before quickly filling his cup. "Thanks."

"I, uh," Jax chuckled, "didn't mean to be so…"

"Rude about it?" She raised an eyebrow. She fitted the plastic lid on the cup and slid it over to him in an angry gesture.

"Impolite." Jax corrected with a quick smile.

"Yeah well. I've been really busy and I haven't had a lot of time to sleep." She explained.

"I heard about Jason leaving-"

"He didn't leave *me*." She snapped quickly.

Jax sat back, his hands in front of him in a harmless pose. "Hey, hey, I didn't say that. I only heard about him leaving *town*."

Courtney rolled her shoulders back, trying to relax. "Sorry. It's a…"

"Sensitive subject, I can tell." He nodded.

"Did you want anything else?" Courtney picked up a towel and started wiping down the counter. Obviously to her the conversation was over.

"Yes…I want to know why you won't come to work for me."

He sipped his coffee and waited.

Courtney folded her arms and narrowed her eyes at him. "I want to know why you want me to work for you so badly."

"Because like I said before, I think it would be a good opportunity for someone like you."

"Someone like me?" She said doubtfully. "Who, Jason Morgan's wife? Sonny Corinthos's sister?"

"No. Courtney Matthews." He looked her right in the eyes.

She shook her head and laughed humorlessly. "Save it Jax. I know all about your white knight complex. I don't need you to save me. I'm perfectly happy the way things are."

"I'm sure you are. That's why you're so exhausted. Why every time I see you, you never *look* happy."

Courtney slapped the rag on the counter and gritted out in sharp quick words. "I. Am. Happy."

"Mmm." Jax lifted an eyebrow.

Before she could tell him where to stick his know it all attitude, Sam McCall breezed into Kelly's. She made a beeline straight to Courtney. Courtney looked up at the ceiling and muttered something underneath her breath.

Sam ignored Jax and propped herself up on the counter. "Courtney, I need your help. I need to find Sonny."

Courtney twisted the rag in her hands and Jax could tell she wished it were Sam's neck from the way she glared at the other woman. "I don't know where he is."

"Come on," Sam wheedled. "You know where he is. He wouldn't leave town without telling at least you."

"He'll be back when he can, that's all I can tell you." Courtney shrugged.

"Look, I don't care about whatever 'mob' thing he's playing at. It's very important that I talk to him."

"Why? Need more help taking things that aren't rightfully yours?" Jax murmured.

Sam grounded her teeth together. She took a calming breath before turning to Jax with a big smile. "Hi, Jax, nice to see you. This is none of your business so be a dear and butt out."

"Don't mind if I do." He stood up and handed Courtney the money for his coffee. He flashed her a quick smile. "Don't forget what we talked about."

"Sure." Courtney muttered. She clutched the money in her hand and waited until Jax had gone. She hissed at Sam. "I don't have to tell you or help you with anything. I don't like you. I've told you this, over and over. I'm going to get in the middle of you and Sonny. Whatever goes down with you two have nothing to do with me so keep me out of this."

"Fine." Sam angrily tossed her hair. "I'll find him on my own."

Courtney watched Sam flounce out of the diner. She rolled her eyes in disgust and took her frustrations out on the cash register, banging at it. She was slipping the money into the correct slots when she noticed that Jax had also included a business card.

She glanced down at his card. "Ugh. The man never knows when to give up."

Just when she was about to tear into little pieces and throw it out, a customer came up. So she stuck it in her apron pocket, went to take care of the new customer and promptly forgot all about it.

~*~*~

Courtney dragged herself into the penthouse late that night. The new girl Bobbie had hired to help pick up some of the slack had canceled on her so Courtney had to stick around later than she would have liked.

She walked in to catch Leticia putting own her coat and gathering up her things. "Hi, the boys are asleep upstairs and Sonny got back from this trip this afternoon."

Courtney closed her eyes in relief. No more dealing with Sam. "That's great. How's your mother?"

"She's recovering nicely." Leticia smiled. "I'm off to check on her."

"Have a good night." Courtney shrugged out of her coat then hesitated. "Did…did Jason call tonight?"

Leticia shook her head regretfully. "No, sorry."

"That's…" Courtney shrugged. "Pretty much what I expected anyway."

They said goodnight and Leticia left. Courtney yawned widely and stretched. She was past ready for bed. And tomorrow she was going to have to do it all over again. What an exciting life.

She met Sonny halfway up the stairs. She took a step down and looked up at him.

"Hey, I heard you were home." She offered up a smile.

"Yeah, I got back a couple of hours ago."

"I bet the boys were happy to see you." She said lamely. She hoped to wrap this up quickly.

Also lately her relationship with Sonny was on edge. They were always fighting about something. He didn't like the fact that she hadn't cut Carly out of her life and was supporting. He had also raged at her for days when she refused to testify only for Sonny at the custody hearing. Courtney wasn't happy with his relationship with Sam McCall either. She was sick of the way he tried to flaunt her in front of Carly and she didn't think Sam was a good influence on the boys.

He nodded. "Yeah, they were. I need to tell you somethin'."

"Uh…can it wait until morning?" She lifted her hair off her neck and groaned. "I am *so* tired."

"Nah, well, it could but I wanted you to know tonight."

Something about his tone worried Courtney. "Ok…"

"Tomorrow, Sam's going to move a few things in." He said casually.

"You're not really saying she's moving in *here*? With us?"

He rubbed his chin and nodded. "Yeah, that's what I'm saying."

Courtney groaned and "I cannot believe you, Sonny. You're going to move that woman in here with your kids."

"You…you don't talk about Sam like that." He said in a dangerously low tone.

"What about the boys?" Courtney pleaded. "Michael-"

"Likes her." He shrugged.

Courtney held her tongue. This was probably not the time to tell him that Michael pretended to like Sam, He confided in her that only did so in order to keep Sonny from getting his feelings hurt.

"There is no way you can bring your *mistress* into this penthouse with those little boys." Courtney planted her hands on her hips and stood her ground.

Sonny stared back at her. "You've seemed to forgotten whose house this is."

"Look, Sonny-"

"Enough!" He made a vicious slashing motion with his hand. "I'm not discussing this. End of story, Sam is moving in."

He brushed past her and stomped down the stairs and out the door, slamming it behind him.

"That has to be the worst idea I have ever heard." Courtney muttered under her breath.

~*~*~

The next morning bought chaos. Courtney and Leticia had their hands full while trying to get Michael fed and ready for school and taking care of Morgan, while trying to keep the both out of the way of Sam who was lugging in suitcase after suitcase into the penthouse. Both Courtney and Leticia shared doubting glances. Neither one expected this arrangement to last long.

Sam threw lots of smug looks and smirks in Courtney's direction. But Courtney shrugged them off. She was going to try and make the best of this situation for the time being. Maybe soon Sonny would come to his senses.

An hour later she went to Kelly's and found Bobbie there showing around the new waitress. Thank god they were finally getting more help. Courtney would be able to leave early today. Maybe pick up Michael from school or something. Tying her apron around her waist, Courtney greeted the new girl and helped show her what to do.

The day was halfway over when Courtney caught sight of Liz and Ric coming in for lunch. She watched with undisguised envy as Ric pulled out a chair for Liz and helped her settle in. He bent over to gently push a strand of hair back and to smooth his hand over her rounded stomach.

Courtney sighed and leaned on the counter. She dropped her head down. What was she doing here? Why was she so focused on putting *her* life on pause while everyone around got to move on, change, experience new things?

Look at Liz and Ric, they were happy preparing for the next level in their lives. Carly was with Lorenzo, which while Courtney didn't exactly like that fact; he did make Carly happy. Jason was off doing his own thing. And Courtney was stuck behind, resenting everyone and their happiness.

She pushed herself off the counter with a new determination. It was time for a change. But how? What kind?

Disheartened by her lack of a real plan, Courtney shook her head. Ok, maybe she needed to actually come up with a direction in life. Maybe go back to school?

Courtney thought it over as she hurried over to take Liz and Ric's order. She flashed them a quick smile. "Ready to order?"

She pushed her hand into her apron pocket to grab her notepad and her fingers hit something sharp. "Ow!"

"Are you okay?" Liz asked in concern.

"Yeah, I must have forgotten something in here," Courtney reached in safely this time and pulled out a business card. She frowned in confusion as she stared at it. When did she…Jax. Right. She tapped the card against her palm and took a moment to consider the possibility. Maybe, just maybe this was the new direction she was looking for.