The "Journey" is Over

A General Hospital fanfiction about the demise of Jason and Courtney's marriage

Author's Note:  Anyone who knows me knows that I am an avid (and I mean AVID) Jason/Robin fan.  So call this story "therapy" for me after having to sit through days upon days of hearing Jason profess his "undying" love for little miss Courtney Cottontail and announcing that he has never loved anyone before she came along.  Wrong!!  I know he loved Robin…I know cause I saw it, every day on my TV screen.  So if you feel like I do, then read this story (and remember to review too!).  If you don't feel like I do, well, you can read it too, all are welcome but please no flames unless you have a valid criticism (and no, "I hate this story! It sucks!" is not a valid criticism). 

One more thing, many people who know me know that Carly is my least favorite character, so don't be surprised if that comes out in this story, cause after all, I'm only human.

Disclaimer:  Of course, I do not own any of the GH characters.  I have, however, created a few characters for the purpose of this story.  When they come up, it'll be obvious to you that they're mine cause well, they don't exist on GH.

Chapter One

Courtney let herself into the penthouse. She set her suitcase down and called out. "Jason?"

Jason came into view from the kitchen. "Hey, you're back."

"Yeah," Courtney began, "I decided I was being an idiot." She paused. "Jason, I'm sorry I gave you a hard time about everything."

Jason held up his hand. "You don't have to say anything," he told her, as he moved toward her, "I understand." He kissed her quickly and wrapped his arms around her.

Courtney sighed and closed her eyes. She was happy to be back in Jason's arms.

Their reunion was interrupted when the phone rang. Jason glanced at the caller i.d. before he picked it up. 'Out of range.' "Hello?"

"Is Courtney Matthews there?" Jason didn't recognize the voice.

"Who's calling?" Jason inquired.

"An old friend from Atlantic City," came the reply.

Jason handed the phone to Courtney. "It's for you, a guy from Atlantic City who apparently doesn't know you're married now."

Courtney frowned. She didn't know who it could be. "Yes, this is Courtney," she said.

"Hello, Courtney," the man greeted. "Remember me?"

Courtney's heart raced. She knew exactly who it was. "What do you want?" she hissed, as she moved away from Jason.

The man chuckled. "Is that any way to talk to your....."

Before he could finish, Courtney abruptly hung up the phone. Jason stared at her as she turned to him. "Are you alright?"

Courtney was shaken. She tried to collect her thoughts. "Yeah, I'm okay," she sighed. As Jason embraced her, Courtney's mind raced. 'How did he find her? What did he want?"

Later, Jason called upstairs where Courtney was unpacking. "I'm going next door. Sonny and I have business."

After he left, Courtney walked downstairs. She waited a minute before she grabbed her coat and left the penthouse. She punched the elevator button and waited impatiently for the doors to open. Finally, it arrived and she rushed into the elevator, bumping into Johnny the bodyguard in the process.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Courtney," he apologized.

"That's okay, Johnny," she told him, as she punched the lobby button, "If you see Jason, tell him I'll be home later, okay?"

As she left the building, she crossed the street to enter the park. She walked with a purpose, soon arriving in the middle of the park near the fountain. She sat down at the fountain and waited. She knew he would be there, even though they didn't make plans to meet. But she knew how he operated; she knew that the park was one of his favorite meeting points.

Her wait was short. Five minutes later, Courtney looked up as a tall, well-groomed man in his early-thirties sat down next to her. "Hello Courtney," he said, "and how's my favorite wife?"

"What are you doing here, Greg?" Courtney hissed.

Greg grinned. "Can't a guy come visit his wife?" he teased, "especially when she's hit the jackpot like you have."

"What do you mean?" Courtney warily asked.

"You married well, sweetheart," Greg told her, "well, sort of."

"We are not married, Greg," Courtney spit out. She was seething. "Why do you keep saying that?"

"Because, sweetheart, we are," Greg replied. He pulled out a document from the inside pocket of his jacket. He watched as Courtney read it. "You see, you're still my legal wife." He paused for effect. "Which means, according to NY law, I'm entitled to half of whatever you have." He grabbed her hand. "And judging from the rock on your finger, I'm guessing it's alot."

Courtney jerked her hand away. "I'm not giving you a dime, you bastard," she hissed.

"Come on, sweetheart," Greg coaxed, "you can afford it. Well, you certainly CAN'T afford not to share your wealth with me."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, I wonder what your dear "husband" Jason would say if he found out his dear "wife" were another man's wife," Greg sneered. "And not only that, there's another secret you have that you certainly don't want let out."

Courtney eyed him. She knew what he meant. That secret couldn't get out. It would ruin everything.

She decided to change tactics to get him to back off. "How did you find me, Greg?" she asked, eyes twinkling as she smiled.

"Wouldn't you like to know," Greg replied. He knew what she was doing. He taught her that trick....use her feminine wiles to get what she wanted from a man. "But why not tell you....it won't change nothing. Janine told me."

Courtney cursed under her breath. 'Damn Janine!' She was always ruining things for her. "Okay, what do you want? Money? Jewels? What?"

Greg smiled. Courtney was giving up so easily. That meant only one thing to Greg: she didn't want to lose what she found. Greg could use that to his advantage later. For now....

"$1 million."

Courtney's jaw fell. "What? I don't have that kind of money!"

"I suggest you figure out a way to get it then, sweetheart," Greg patted her cheek, "or I'll be forced to pay a visit to Jason and then to your brother Sonny, just for good measure."

Courtney paled. Greg leaned over and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Good seeing you, sweetheart, I'll keep in touch."

Courtney sat silent as Greg strolled away. When she was alone, she burst into tears.

Courtney returned to the penthouse and found Jason waiting. "Hey."

"Hey, where you been?" Jason asked, coming toward her, "Johnny told me you went out but he didn't say where."

"I, um, went for a jog in the park," Courtney replied, keeping as close to the truth as she could...after all, she was in the park.

Jason eyed her outfit. "You jogged in that?" he questioned, indicating her skirt and blouse.

Courtney looked down and sighed. "Oh yeah, I guess I should have changed," she admitted. "It was a last-minute decision."

She hung up her jacket and took a seat on the couch. Trying to change the subject, she asked, "is everything okay with you and Sonny? With the business, I mean."

Jason frowned. There was something wrong with Courtney that he wasn't getting. She seemed nervous about something. He sat down beside her and took her hand. "What's going on?" he asked.

Courtney looked into Jason's eyes. 'God, they're so blue.' She debated telling him everything that happened and for a split second, actually considered it. But, the one thing she feared was for Jason's blue eyes to darken when he looked at her. Instead, she smiled and squeezed his hand. "I'm fine, Jason, I'm just tired."

"Why don't you lie down and take a nap?" Jason insisted.

"That actually sounds like a good idea," she admitted, "I think I'll nap here on the couch."

As she stretched out, Jason retrieved a blanket from the closet. He covered her and bent down to kiss her forehead. "I'll go get us something to eat."

Courtney smiled and watched him leave. After a beat, she got up and went to the door. She poked her head out and called for Johnny. "Is Carly home?" she asked the bodyguard.

Johnny nodded. "You want to see her?"

"Yeah, can you ask her to come over here?" Courtney asked. "Thanks Johnny."

She went back inside to wait for Carly to arrive. She was sitting back on the couch when Carly let herself in. "Hey, Johnny said you wanted to see me? What's up?"

"Carly, I'm in big trouble," Courtney told her, "I need your help."

(Okay, it's your turn now.  Click on that little button marked "review" for me if you want to read more.  I live for feedback.)