Babble: You know the drill let me hear from you … PLEASE!
The Ripple Effect
Chapter 3
~Studio~
Elizabeth leaned against the door and chewed on her bottom lip. Jason was back in town, and a few minutes ago he was holding her in his arms, giving her every indication that he was going to kiss her. What shocked her was how much she had wanted him to kiss her, how much she still wanted him too.
She rested her hand on the doorknob, she was in love with Lucky. Just because he was behaving oddly, and pushing her away, didn't mean she didn't love him. After all they had promised each other forever, so how could she give up on him? She turned and unlocked the door, besides Jason was just her friend, he would never think of, or see her as anything else, so she had probably only imagined the whole thing.
"There is no word for what I feel for you."
She twisted the doorknob and opened the door. Nope it was definitely her imagination, only the thing was her imagination normally wasn't that good. Besides she reasoned with herself, while she headed down the stairs after Jason, he was older than her, and he was gorgeous in that rugged sort of way, so what could he possibly see in her?
"Not a damn thing." She muttered. So she was just going to go back upstairs and forget these last few minutes ever happened, instead she opened the door and stepped out into the soft evening rain. "Jason."
Jason turned back when he heard her call his name. She walked down another step but stayed in front of the building, while he crossed back over to her. She used the time to study him in the dim light coming from the streetlamp, his features were hidden in shadow. She knew that some people thought he never showed anything of what he was feeling on his face, but she knew where to look and how to read him. Jason cared so much about the people he loved it was amazing.
"Elizabeth did you need something?" He asked coming to a stop in front of her. With her a step above him, they were almost eye level.
She searched his face, for what she wasn't quite sure, now that she was face to face with him again, she had no idea what to say. The rain fell on them both, plastering their clothes to them, neither one seemed to notice, his eyes were locked on her brown eyes.
"Elizabeth?" He repeated touching her hand.
"Jason I-I don't know what…" She trailed off when his hand moved slowly up her arm, a shiver shot through her at the contact. She had never felt so excited and nervous all at once. His hand was at her shoulder, he ran it slowly over the bare skin of her neck, to rest it lightly at the base of her throat. Everywhere he touched, the nerves inside her seemed to dance. His other hand had moved to her hip, then slid around to the small of her back, before he began to move it, over the damp material of her shirt, in lazy circles.
Her muscles went lax and she leaned against him, her chest resting on his. His body was so firm and hard, and her body at the moment was soft and quivered as his light caresses continued. Her eyes remained open and locked on his, they didn't speak, except with their bodies and their eyes. The need and want coming through them seemed to surprise them both, but neither one wanted to pull away.
He lightly traced her jaw line, before he ran his thumb over her lips. She felt his touch on her lips and opened her mouth in response. His eyes darkened, he closed the gap between them, lowering his head to meet hers. Her hands were on his hips, she angled her head up, craving the touch of his mouth on hers, her eyes drifted shut, and she could feel his breath on her face.
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
Elizabeth jerked upright in bed, she was panting and disoriented, it took her a minute longer to find her alarm and shut it off. She collapsed back on the bed, feeling an ache of disappointment at the interruption. She rolled on her side, pulling a pillow to her chest. That was a first. She had dreamed about Jason before but nothing like that. Normally it was about them riding together, once they were dancing, but, this was the first romantic dream she'd had about him.
Her body was tense, and she couldn't help but glare at her alarm, wishing it had rung five minutes later. She buried her face in the pillow, she needed to get herself under control. Lucky was who she loved, who she should be dreaming about, not Jason. Whatever had happened last night with Jason was only hormones. She crawled out of bed heading for the bathroom, she wasn't a nun, she was bound to feel things at times. "Yeah a hormonal reaction that any man could have triggered." She told herself in the mirror.
"Hormones can be controlled." She muttered and she would control them. She wasn't about to lose Jason because of one silly dream that she had already forgotten. The next time she saw him, the awkward moments, of last night would not be remembered or repeated. "I'm in control." She stepped in the shower, and turned the water on full blast. She ducked her head under the icy spray, after all it was only a dream.
~Docks~
Elizabeth had her head down, and was fumbling with the snap on her bag, when she started down the steps, and ran into something hard. Strong hands reached out to steady her, while her bag went flying. Her body reacted immediately to the touch, she knew who was holding her before she even looked up. "Sorry Jason."
Jason smiled down at her. "No problem."
He still had a hold of her arms, they were standing close enough to each other, that if she moved a few inches closer she would be pressed against him, just like she had been in her dream. Her dream. God. Her face went red and she jerked out of his hold, hurrying down the last step to pick up her papers.
"Thanks. I'm such a klutz sometimes it's a wonder I'm not a walking bandage." She shoved some papers in her tote bag. "To top it off, I'm a late klutz, I was supposed to meet Chloe 15 minutes ago but I just couldn't seem to get moving this morning…" Her face went red again and she kept her eyes averted when he squatted down beside her to help pick up her things. "I swear I don't know why Chloe doesn't fire me. I think I leave her in a lurch more than I actually help her."
Jason half-listened to her babble, something had happened to make her very nervous. She only talked this much and this fast when she was trying not to think about or say something else.
"So that's where that was." She murmured holding up a paintbrush. "I've been looking for that, I wonder what else is in here. I swear my bag is like a bottomless pit, it can make anything disappear…"
He touched her arm, and she stopped talking like he had found her off button. She went very still, but still refused to look at him, now he was getting worried. "Did something happen Elizabeth?"
Happen? What could have happened? She had just had a dream about him, followed by a fantasy when she was fully awake, and in a cold shower no less. "No." She said standing up, shoving the rest of the things in her bag.
He stood up as well, holding out some papers. "You seem upset."
She reached for the papers, being careful not to touch his hand, when she did. "I'm fine."
He kept a hold of the papers, until she forced herself to look at him. She could see nothing but concern in his blue eyes. She closed her eyes for a minute and swallowed hard. She needed to get a grip and put this behind her, because this was Jason, her friend Jason, and she wouldn't do anything that could make her lose him. She opened her eyes and focused on him again. "I really am fine, it's just been one of those days."
He looked doubtful, but finally handed her the rest of her things. "Do you need a ride to work?"
Her eyes lit and a smile floated across her face. "On your bike? Do you even have to ask?"
He smiled at her delight, whatever had shaken her, seemed to have disappeared as soon as he mentioned the bike. "Sometimes I think you hang around me just for my bike."
"No of course not." She paused, shooting him a grin. "Although it does add to your appeal, which I'm sorry to say, needs some help sometimes."
"It does?" He asked taking the bag from her.
"Yes." Elizabeth teased, the awkwardness she had felt a few minutes ago, forgotten as she fell back into their normal relationship, and headed for his bike. "When you go into your silent intimidator mode, you seem to scare most people away."
"That's because I don't want to talk to them." He said matter-of-factly, handing her the lone helmet.
"I know, but most people don't…" She stopped and began to laugh. "I forgot you're not like most people."
"Yes I am." He said defensively.
She rolled her eyes, when he leaned against he bike, to glare at her. "I meant that in a good way. So I get to drive right?" She asked giving him the smile that always worked on her Grandfather.
"No." He pulled the key from his pocket.
"Come on Jason." Her hand closed over his on the key and she stepped closer, looking up at him, pleading with her dark eyes.
He couldn't seem to stop himself from leaning closer to her, bringing his face close to hers. "No." He whispered.
"Jason, come on it's been months." Why hadn't she noticed how blue his eyes were, before?
"Exactly my point." Jason murmured, her hair smelled like vanilla, and he liked it. "It's been months since you've been on a bike so you're not driving."
Her face moved into a pout. "Jason, what do I have to do to convince you?" She asked huskily, his proximity was causing her stomach to go crazy again.
He smiled slowly, sending shockwaves through her. "Well you can…"
"Now this looks cozy."
Elizabeth groaned in recognition of the voice, bowing her head to rest it briefly on his chest, before turning around. "Gia." She said flatly.
Gia's eyes moved from the bike to the man standing behind Elizabeth, the man was to borrow a phrase, sexy as hell, and from the looks of him wrapped up in Elizabeth's perfect princess act. She shook her head, how did the girl do it? "Elizabeth I almost didn't recognize you without your adoring entourage."
Elizabeth sighed and set the helmet on the seat, before she gave into temptation and threw it at her. "I'm running late Gia, so why don't you say whatever is on your small little mind and leave."
Jason was surprised at her tone, the only other person he heard her use it on was Carly. He wondered what this Gia girl had done to warrant such animosity.
"Now Elizabeth be nice. Where are your manners?" Gia told her sweetly, crossing over to them. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"
Elizabeth shifted in front of Jason blocking her approach. "No I'm not."
Gia scowled at her before smoothing out her features. "Well then I'll do it. I'm Gia Campbell." She said to Jason holding out her hand, and smiling at him flirtatiously.
Jason glanced down at her hand but made no move to take it, he could read the falsity about the girl easily enough. "Hello."
Elizabeth grinned at Jason's response or should she say lack of response.
Gia frowned. "You know in this country it's customary to say your name when someone tells you theirs."
"So." Jason said shortly.
Elizabeth bit back a laugh, she was relieved that Jason hadn't been taken in by the other girl's beauty, like everyone else seemed to be.
Gia turned to glare at Elizabeth. "He must be another member of the Elizabeth Webber fan club." She crossed her arms and studied her. "How do you do it?"
"Gia I really don't have time to listen to your crap right now."
"No." Gia went on. "First I thought you were with Nikolas, then it was Lucky, and now it's this guy." She shook her head. "How do you keep them straight?"
"Jason." Elizabeth picked up the helmet from the seat. "Let's just go."
"Jason." Gia repeated, studying him through calculating eyes now. "Emily's brother Jason? The one who knows what to do with dead…Ow!"
Elizabeth stomped hard on Gia's foot to shut her up. "Run along Gia, there's no one here for you to blackmail."
"I was just going to say…"
"Now Gia." Elizabeth snapped.
"Fine." Gia said before flouncing away.
Elizabeth counted to ten in her head, tapping on the helmet as she did, before turning to face Jason with a smile plastered on her face. He was leaning against the bike, half-sitting on the seat, his arms were crossed over his chest while he watched her. He looked like he was prepared to wait there all day. She swallowed a groan. "So is that offer of a ride still open? I really do have to get to work. Chloe has a conference call with Milan in about 20 minutes and I need to get things set-up."
Jason made no effort to move. "I know what to do with dead what, Elizabeth?"
"Jason." She bit her lip, she had promised not to say anything. Even though she didn't agree with what Lucky was doing she had promised both him and Emily. She was a little unnerved to realize that she was worried more over the idea of breaking a promise to Emily than to Lucky.
"Let me guess, you want to tell me, but Lucky told you not to." He said, from her silence he knew he was right. He felt hurt, even though he had no right to be. Hurt that she had chosen to listen to Lucky instead of talking to him. He couldn't identify what else he was feeling, because he had never felt it before, he just knew he didn't like it.
"Jason I'm sorry, I promised." She said quickly, hoping he would understand. He seemed to withdraw from her, and she realized she had hurt him, she hadn't thought she could.
The awkwardness between them was back, this time for a different reason. Her grief over losing Lucky, and his over losing Michael and Robin's betrayal, might have been what brought them together in the beginning, but there was so much more between them now. He knew how loyal she was, and that if she made a promise, she would do anything not to break it. He wouldn't put her on the spot by making her choose between him and a flesh and blood Lucky. Not only would he never give her an ultimatum, he also didn't know who she would choose, and didn't want to risk losing her. So he pushed the hurt away. "Come on I'll take you to work." He said tiredly, turning to get on the bike.
"Jason." She touched his arm. "If it was just me, you would be the first person I would tell. I need you to know that."
He turned back to look in her eyes, he could see she meant what she said. "When you're ready, I'm here."
Her smile was small but genuine, and she moved to the bike in relief. "Jason…"
"No." He said straddling the bike. "You're still not driving."
Her smile grew. "Okay but only because I want to go fast." She pulled on the helmet. "Next time though, I drive."
"We'll see." He said waiting for her arms to come around him, before putting the bike in gear. He already knew he would let her drive. He relaxed slowly, feeling her lean against his back, when he took the curves. He'd had other riders on his bike, but he never felt as comfortable with anyone else but her. He could feel her body shake with laughter as he increased his speed. Nope Elizabeth was the only one who he felt belonged on his bike as much as he did.
~Penthouse 3~
"Ned, I can't take off and fly to St. Louis just because you want me to." Alexis Davis said propping the phone between her shoulder and her head, while she began to put files in her briefcase. "Why? Ned I have clients that are depending on me, deadlines to meet.'" She paused to listen pulling a file back out of her case. "Besides the last thing we need is Eddie's Angel to make an appearance, the press is starting to die down. I don't want it to start up again."
She snapped her briefcase closed and looked around for her purse. "Ned of course I want to be there, I just can't right now." Her suit jacket was draped over the chair. She thought about it for a second then set the phone down, missing part of his latest diatribe, while she hurriedly slipped it on. She picked up the phone and realized she hadn't missed a beat. "Sonny isn't my only client." She said tiredly, trying to explain this again, for what felt like the millionth time. "But he is the one that needs my help the most right now."
She glanced at the ring on her finger, sometimes it felt like an anchor weighing her down. "I know we're getting married Ned, but I guess I don't see the rush." She opened her door and headed towards the elevator. She tried to juggle her purse, her briefcase, and hit the call button but couldn't. She smiled gratefully at Johnny when he pressed the button, the smile froze when she saw Sonny standing behind him.
"Morning Alexis." Sonny said with a smile.
Alexis nodded at him, very aware of Ned continuing to speak in her ear. "Ned you know that's not true." She said finally when he paused giving her an opportunity to speak.
The elevator doors opened and Sonny gestured for her to precede him in the car. "He has a lot to say this morning." He commented.
Alexis covered the receiver. "Do you mind."
"No." Sonny said with a grin, flashing those damned dimples of his at her.
Alexis turned ignoring him.
"I just thought you might like to talk to someone instead of at them for a change." Sonny continued, ignoring the glare she shot him.
"You know nothing of my relationship with Ned." She hissed at him.
"Alexis you wound me." Sonny clasped his hands to his chest in over-exaggeration. "Who do you think keeps you supplied in paper bags?"
"Now look…" She broke off turning back to the phone. "Of course I'm still listening to you Ned." She sighed turning away from Sonny slightly. "You knew I was an attorney when we met, that I have my own life, apart from you. Why are you trying to change the rules now?"
Sonny watched her, he knew she and Ned were having problems, major problems, and yet they had still gotten engaged. It didn't make sense to him. Their problems would only get worse with marriage not better, but it wasn't his place to say anything.
"And when our relationship started I was dating a CEO not a wannabe rock star." Alexis snapped fed-up with his demands. "Ned? Ned are you there?" She hung up slowly, she hadn't meant to hurt him, she was just getting tired of his behavior.
"Are you okay Alexis?" Sonny asked quietly.
She looked into those warm dark eyes of his, noting that they were filled with concern, not amusement, like she thought they would be, and they almost did her in. "I'm fine."
Sonny took her hand, he had gotten used to the jolt that he always received when he touched her. He was enough of a masochist that he even looked forward to it. Call it cosmic justice, he had finally fallen in love again, after Brenda, and it was with a woman who used him as a sounding board for her own love life. Perhaps this was a punishment for all the people he had hurt, he didn't know, he just knew, he wanted to be in her life as more than just a client, so he continued to be her confidant.
"Sonny." Alexis repeated. "It's time to get off." He had been looking at her with such an expression of pain and loss, she wondered what he was thinking about.
"Right." Sonny dropped her hand and nodded for her to exit.
Alexis missed the contact immediately, lately when he touched her even casually, she could feel butterflies in her stomach. Even when she was younger, no man had ever made her react like that, she had thought she was immune until recently.
"Can I drop you somewhere?" Sonny asked pausing by the limo.
"No." Alexis told him. "I need my car, I have a lot of outside appointments today."
Sonny nodded. "I'll see you then."
"Sonny." Alexis stopped him before he could get in the car. "I have a little more checking to do, but we're going to need to talk about your defense strategy soon."
"I know." Because of Carly there was a good chance he would go to jail. He lowered his window, watching Alexis move to her car. Carly was also the reason he couldn't go after what he really wanted. With a sigh of regret he raised the window. "Let's go Johnny."
~Penthouse 4~
"Mr. Morgan it's good to see you."
"You too Pete." Jason shifted the package he was carrying to his left hand, and shook the other man's hand. "Is Carly inside?"
"Yes Ms. Benson is inside." He knocked before opening the door.
"Who is it Pete?" Carly called from her perch on the couch.
"It's me." Jason said walking into the room.
"Jase." Carly shrieked, jumping off the couch and flying across the room to hug her best friend. "God I've missed you. Everything is such a mess." She said starting to cry.
Jason hugged her back. She was nothing but trouble, abrasive, rude, and jealous all the time, but she was his friend, and he simply couldn't see his life without her in it. He knew why she was crying and he just held her while she did.
~Kelly's~
"Why is she here?" Emily demanded sullenly when Nikolas and Gia entered the courtyard.
"She's a part of this Em." Lucky said patting her hand.
"Don't remind me." Emily muttered under her breath.
"Are we waiting for Elizabeth?" Nikolas asked when he joined them at the table, automatically pulling Gia's chair out for her, before sitting.
"No, she's at L&B working. Her shift doesn't start until later." Emily answered.
Gia snorted. "Working right."
"What do you mean by that?" Lucky asked.
"I saw her earlier and she sure wasn't working." Gia said cattily. "Unless it was how best to reel in a hunk."
"What?" Nikolas demanded.
"Sorry guys, looks like you two have been replaced by a man." Gia said nastily. "She was with that guy." She pointed to Emily. "Your brother Jason, they looked might cozy. In fact I thought she was going to hit me for interrupting them."
"They're just friends." Emily snapped. Gia always had to try to start trouble.
Nikolas burned with jealousy but he controlled it and looked at Lucky who had a far off look in his eyes. "I'm sure it was nothing. Gia tends to exaggerate."
"Exaggerate?" Gia huffed. "I was there, not you, they were in a clinch."
"What?" Lucky snapped out of his reverie at her words. "They were kissing?"
"Well…"
Lucky grabbed her arm. "Answer me."
"Ow, you're hurting me."
"Lucky let her go." Nikolas ordered. Lucky's behavior worried him but it also confirmed what he had been telling himself ever since Lucky had returned. That despite what Lucky said, he was in fact, still in love with Elizabeth. He felt an unreasonable sense of loss, because he was in love with her too, but he knew he would never act on it, and even if he did, she didn't feel the same, about him.
"Sorry." Lucky said immediately, letting her go. He was as surprised at his actions as everyone else was. "I didn't mean to hurt you, but would you answer the question."
Gia eyed him warily, rubbing her arm, she knew when to be honest. "No they weren't kissing." She glanced at the red mark his hand had left on her arm, and went on. "But I interrupted them, before they could, they left together then, on his bike."
"They are friends." Emily enunciated slowly. Both of them had told her that, when she had confronted them after the Christmas party last year. She hadn't believed it when Elizabeth had told her, but she had believed Jason. He'd only been back a day, and she knew Elizabeth hadn't heard from Jason while he was gone, so nothing could have happened between them. Besides Lucky was back, and she loved Lucky, so nothing ever would happen. She glanced at Lucky, and remembered what Elizabeth had said the night before about giving up on Lucky, that wasn't good.
"If you say so." Gia muttered. "But those two weren't looking at each other like they were just friends."
Lucky couldn't help feeling betrayed although he had no right to feel it. He had told Elizabeth for months that they were over, that she should be with Nikolas and let him go. He never allowed himself to consider the possibility that she might listen to him, and turn to someone else. Deep down he knew she'd never look at Nikolas, even when she had kissed Nikolas awhile ago to make him jealous, he knew she didn't mean it, but Jason.
"They lived together. The whole town knew they were sleeping together, and you hadn't even been dead a year."
Carly's words came back to him, and he clenched his fists under the table. He didn't hear the conversations going on around him, he only heard Carly's words, and he only saw the way Elizabeth had stood next to Jason last night. They way she wanted to tell him their problems, wanted him to take care of things for them. His gut twisted, when he remembered the way she believed in Jason.
"They lived together."
"Lucky are you okay?" Nikolas asked softly drawing him out of his thoughts.
"Yes." He shook his head to focus on the situation now. "What about you? It can't be easy to hear she's with Jason. After all you are in love with her." He said automatically as soon as he saw Nikolas's face.
"Lucky." Nikolas sighed wearily.
"Why don't you tell her to stop?" Lucky asked. If he told her that, she would stop, and Jason would be gone. That would be perfect, Jason would be gone, and she would be his again. He shook his head, Nikolas's again.
Nikolas looked at him in surprise. "Lucky this is Elizabeth no one tells her what to do. Trust me you especially don't want to try to tell her who she can or can't see." He was amazed that Lucky even suggested it.
"But if she loves you she would do it." Lucky argued.
"Lucky." Nikolas snapped, his voice rising for a second before he controlled it again. "She loves me as a friend, nothing more. I almost lost her friendship once, because of Jason, I'm not going to risk it again."
"Does he really have that much of an influence on her?" Lucky couldn't believe that Elizabeth, his Elizabeth, could have changed that much.
Nikolas glanced over at the girls, and was surprised to see that Emily was actually speaking with Gia, with no bloodshed, he turned back to Lucky and kept his voice low. "She's a different person around him. She moved out of Mrs. Hardy's house, when she forbid her from seeing Jason. She left a party full of her friends, when Jason and I fought to be with him, she basically kicked me out of her life, for weeks over him. She had a b…" He stopped, he didn't know how Lucky would react to the bomb incident so he moved on. "She defends him, and will turn on anyone who says bad things about him. You'll see soon enough, what happens."
"That's not good." Lucky muttered, he didn't like that at all.
"Maybe you can reach her. You can make her understand that Jason could get her killed." Nikolas pressed him, maybe that would be how they could find their way back together. Lucky was already jealous of Jason, he just needed a push, and he would drop his insistence that he wasn't in love with her.
"I can try." Lucky shrugged. "But we're just friends."
"Oh God." Gia cried suddenly, lurching to her feet and racing away from the table towards the docks.
"Emily what did you say?" Nikolas asked tiredly.
"Nothing." Emily shook her head. "She just looked up and took off."
Lieutenant Marcus Taggert and Assistant District Attorney Dara Jensen entered the courtyard. Taggert glanced towards the docks, there was something familiar about that girl with braids, who had just raced out of here.
"So there's been no progress in finding Ted Wilson?" Dara asked.
Taggert focused on her again. "No one has seen him since July 3rd, the night he disappeared."
"Do you still believe he's dead?" Dara asked sitting at a table.
The conversation at Emily's table had stopped, while all three strained to hear what was being said at the other table.
"He's a good cop." Taggert told her. "He wouldn't just leave like that. Besides we found his car in the river, wiped of prints, but pushed over that cliff just the same. No something happened to him. After all of this time, I think a body is the only thing we'll find."
"There hasn't been much in the press lately, and that's good."
"We want whoever killed him to think we've backed down." Taggert said his eyes blazing in anger. "Then they'll get stupid and we'll have them. He was a cop. One of our own, and I won't rest, the department won't rest, until we find him, and put his killers on death row."
"I know you won't." Dara agreed, when her beeper went off. "Neither will I." She glanced at her beeper. "It's the office I got to go, maybe we can finish this over dinner?" She asked getting to her feet.
Taggert got to his feet as well. "I have plans with Hannah tonight." He said. "But I'll walk you back, and we can talk on the way."
Dara turned away a frown on her face at the mention of Hannah, she barely glanced at the people at the table beside them as they walked away.
Nikolas rubbed at his eyes. "We're running out of time."
"Look the rave is in 2 or 3 days." Lucky said immediately. "We just need to find out where, and everything will be over with."
"I still don't like this, it's my problem, and you won't let me help." Emily told them, taking a drink, her mouth felt awfully dry at the moment.
"You know why Emily. This Zander Smith guy knows what you look like. It's too dangerous for you to go." Lucky explained.
"Well it sounds like whatever you have planned, is dangerous for you, so I should be there." Emily argued.
"Don't worry." Lucky said cockily. "I have everything under control."
Emily looked at Nikolas and she read the same thought she had in his eyes. Why were they not reassured?
~Penthouse 4~
"Are you calm now?" Jason asked after Carly had been quiet for a few minutes.
Carly stepped back and gave him a watery smile. "Yeah." She moved to the bar and poured herself some water. "It's so good to see you."
Jason got some water of his own, set the package on the desk, and followed her to the couch. "You too."
"I should've known he would call you." She grumbled. "That is why you're here right? Because I messed up Sonny's life. Or…" A tiny flicker of hope went through her. "Did you miss me?"
"Yes."
"Yes to what Jase?" God he could be so frustrating.
"Yes to both of your questions." He said simply sipping his water. He knew by coming back, that Carly would more than likely try to cling to him, like he was her lifeline. She always depended on him to help her when she was in trouble. He always had in the past, so he knew she would expect it from him again.
"You didn't even say goodbye." She said softly, the hurt visible in her eyes. "How could you not say goodbye to me?"
He met her stare without blinking. "Because you would have never let me go. You would have done something stupid, to try to get me to stay."
"Because I love you Jason." Carly told him. "You're Michael's father, we are a family. You're right I would have fought to hold onto that."
"That's just it Carly, that's one of the reasons that I left." He sighed heavily shifting to sit on the ottoman in front of her. "Carly you weren't in love with me. I had to leave, to make you see that."
"Yes I am." She had to be in love with him, because if not that meant she was in love with Sonny, and that just couldn't be true.
"You love me like a friend, they way I love you, but your not in love with me. I had to make you see that, and you never would have, as long as I was around."
"Michael…"
"I had already relinquished my claim on Michael." Jason told her shortly and that still hurt, God he missed that little boy. "I couldn't let you use him, to try to get close to me again."
"I was fighting to save our family." She argued a tear slipping down her cheek.
"We hadn't been a family since you married A.J." He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. Why did she always give him a headache? "You're a good mother, most of the time, but when you brought Michael to get me to see you." He stopped. "I knew I had to leave, I wasn't going to let anyone, including his mother, use him, or confuse him."
"How much do you know?" She asked avoiding his words, because he had only spoken the truth. She had used Michael, because she knew if she showed up at his door with Michael he would let her in.
"I know you lost the baby." He took her hand. "I'm sorry."
"You know I found out I was pregnant the day you left. God I needed you, when I went to find you, you were gone, and everyone seemed to know it but me."
"Sonny was there for you." Jason said.
"Not at first, but when he found out I was pregnant, and realized it was his, he was." She continued on nastily. "But before that he could care less, and once I lost the baby, he stopped caring again."
"That's not true." Jason sighed, she hadn't changed.
"What do you know? You haven't been here." She snapped. "You weren't here when A.J. made me lose the baby, you weren't here, when I went after A.J. with a gun. You weren't here when Sonny decided he didn't want to marry me anymore, because I wasn't pregnant." She got to her feet and stalked to the bar. "You weren't here."
"No I wasn't." He agreed. "But I know Sonny, he was probably the one who took the gun away from you."
Carly shrugged. "Yeah he talked me out of it, and for a night, we shared our grief, but it didn't last, a few days later I moved out."
"I also bet." He started moving to stand beside her. "That you were the one who said he didn't have to marry you."
He knew her so well. "We were only going to marry because of the baby so I let him off the hook."
Jason studied her closely. "You're in love with him."
"No I'm not." Carly cried nervously. "I love you."
He shook his head. "Yes as a friend, but you're not in love with me, and we both know it."
"Yes I am." She argued stubbornly. She had to keep a hold of him, because Sonny slipped further away from her everyday.
"Is that why you tried to wreck Sonny's life by helping him?" Jason asked. "You forget, I know you Caroline, you only cause that much damage when you try to help in the name of love."
"You know I never meant for it to turn out that way don't you?" Carly begged him to understand. "I was trying to help Mike and get rid of Sorel for Sonny at the same time. Sonny was never supposed to be there, he wasn't supposed to know."
"Let me guess, you wanted to do this to prove that you loved him, to help him with Mike, and it all spun out of control." He said wearily, he knew only to well how she thought.
"Yes you understand. Why doesn't he?" She demanded angrily.
"Because you lied to him to do it, you put yourself in danger, you put his father in danger." Jason explained the obvious reasons. If there were others, he didn't know about them yet.
"It's more than that." She snapped. "He doesn't believe me because he is looking for an excuse to be mad at me so he can kick me out of his life."
"Carly he's facing 25 years for drug trafficking, because of you, he has a right to be mad."
"No it's more that that." She took a step away, only to whirl around and face him again, her face livid in anger. "He wants me gone because he is in love with someone else."
"What?" Jason asked the surprise he felt evident in his tone.
"He is. Only he doesn't know how to tell you, so he's using this as an excuse to get rid of me." Carly knew it was true. She loved Sonny, but knew he didn't feel the same about her.
"Carly are you sure this isn't just another one of your misunderstandings. You don't always see what is really happening."
"I don't see what's happening?" She yelled. "Well I can see this, he's in love with your little friend."
"Who?" Jason asked tiredly, the little headache had moved into a full blown one, and her shrieking wasn't helping matters.
"That's right he's in love with Elizabeth Webber." Carly said bitterly, noting the way his head jerked up to look at her when he heard the words. "She moved in on him the moment you left."
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If you want more please reply. The cast will be growing and other storylines will begin to take hold.
If you want more please let me know. I have more chapters finished.