Process of Elimination

Carly noticed something, "Skye."

She turned around to face her sister in law, "Yes?"

She reached forward and tried to wipe something off Skye's upper chest, "You have something on you." Carly took a step back, "Is that dry blood?"

Skye looked down, she seen a streak of reddish brown, she then looked up at Carly.

"What have you done?"

"Nothing." Skye defended herself, "I didn't do anything, but meet with Faith and then make that business deal with Jax."

Carly arched an eyebrow, "Are you sure that's all?"

"What are you implying?" Skye asked, walking towards the living room.

"Nothing, I just want to know what happened between you and Faith."

Skye closed the doors behind them and then followed Carly over to the sofa where they took a seat.

"I went to the docks to meet Faith, things got a little out of hand."

~Flashback~

Skye lifted her left hand into view and suddenly Faith found herself alone, unprotected by one of her men, on a darkened pier, staring at the handgun in Skye Corinthos' hand. "How does it feel to be on the opposite side of the gun?"

Faith froze, Skye was obviously not messing around, she meant business. "Why are you doing this? Do you want to run Port Charles and Italy?"

"What's it to you if I do, you'll be six feet under with your husband by then, so I guess it really wouldn't matter one way or the other."

"You wouldn't" Faith challenged her, "You couldn't."

"Oh, no?" Skye mocked, she held the gun in her hand steady, her finger on the trigger. Faith knew she was off the hook, that Skye was just testing her out.

Skye pulled the trigger, without hesitation, without reservation, without a doubt. She knew what she was doing. The bullet hit Faith in the left shoulder, she clutched her hand over the wound, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Skye continued to hold the gun steady in her hand, aimed at the center of Faith's chest, "I'm taking over."

Faith looked at Skye and then around in docks, no one was in sight. She started to move closer to the stairs, if she didn't get out of there she wasn't going to make it out alive. "If you want to take over then you're going to have to kill me, because there's no way in hell that I'm just going to hand my territory over to you."

"You might want to think twice about that." Skye warned, "I want you out of the way Faith, it doesn't matter to me how it happens."

"Killing me isn't the answer though." Faith argued.

"You told me that I had to eliminate my enemies." Skye dropped her hand with the gun in it down to her side, "I'm just following through on some useful advice."

"I'm not your enemy."

Skye moved closer to Faith, "You're standing in my way. See I'm going to start with you and then I'm going to kill Caprice and maybe even Lorenzo, I haven't decided on that part yet."

"You have no reason to run things Skye." Faith still had her hand clasped tightly against her wound, "We can work together." She was beginning to feel a little woozy.

Skye held the gun up to the center of Faith's forehead, "What's wrong Faith? You don't look so good." Skye laughed, "Maybe I should put you out of your misery. Kind of like a dying animal."

"Why are you doing this?" Faith questioned.

"My ex-husband, Luis killed your husband and now I'm going to kill you, I can't think of anything more poetic." Her mood changed, "Do you know what separates us from them?" Skye asked, "The sacrifices that we're willing to make in order to protect our families. You're a sacrifice to be made Faith. You've had your fun here in Port Charles and now I'm going to have mine."

Faith watched as Skye took a few steps back but kept her weapon pointed in her direction, she turned, thinking she could somehow get out of this.

"I can shoot you in the back." Skye offered, "Or you can turn around take it like a real Mafiosa member."

Faith slowly turned around, "Fire away."

"My pleasure." Skye told her, her finger swiftly pulling the trigger.

Faith cried out in pain as her body fell to the ground and then there was silence.

Skye wasn't sure where the second bullet had entered Faith's body and she wasn't going to stick around long enough to find out. She hurled the gun into the Port Charles Harbor, hearing the splash as it hit the water. Quickly she made her way to Kelly's, like nothing had ever happened.

~~End of Flashback~~

"And that's what happened." Skye explained. "Then I met with Jax and now I'm here."

Carly sighed heavily, letting the back of the couch support her body, "Skye, you're taking it a little too far."

"It was business."

"What if they come after you? Faith's body is gonna be found by someone." Carly told her, "If she's not found tonight then she'll be found tomorrow morning."

"So many people wanted Faith dead." Skye said flatly, "When you think about it, I actually did Port Charles a favor."

"Skye, I've made my decision, I can handle this." Carly responded, "I want back in."

"Really?" Skye questioned, "Why?"

"That way I can make sure that things are on the up and up."

"We're crossing the line here."

Carly laughed, "You're telling me."

"What if our plan fails?"

"Skye, I told you that we were going to get in too deep and now we are. We stole a shipment of cocaine from Nicholas Caprice. Lorenzo Alcazar is after him and soon to be after us. Then there's Faith Roscoe, her blood is all over your hands." Carly told her, "Any plans of turning back now would only fuck things up. We've made it this far, why stop now."

Skye nodded in agreement, "You are the voice of reason, but the next time we have to take someone out, you can be the one to do it."

Carly smiled, "What do you think of poison?"

"Delicious."

"I think we should head home, we've caused enough damage in Port Charles for the next five years."

"We'll leave tomorrow after the show." Skye told her, "I wanna get out of here before I do something else we'll all regret."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bright and early Saturday morning, the Port Charles Hotel lobby was filled with photographers, reporters and executive buyers. Carly had agreed to play hostess while Skye tried to keep everything under control in the dressing area.

Emily was putting on a strapless scarlet red, free flowing gown, with a plunging neck line that went down almost to her navel. The dress fell down her body perfectly and hit just below the knee. She seen Skye's reflection in the mirror behind her.

"Do I look alright?"

Skye smiled, "You look absolutely beautiful."

"How much time do we have left before the show starts?"

"Twenty minutes." Skye told her, "You continue to get ready and I'm going to check on Elizabeth and Georgie."

Skye walked across the room towards Georgie, "What do you think of the dress?" She asked referring to the strapless, rose colored Princess styled gown that Georgie was wearing.

"It's the most beautiful dress I've ever seen." Georgie confessed, "I feel like a princess."

"After the show's over, I want you to keep the dress. You can wear it to prom or something."

Georgie shook her head, "Thank you, Mrs. Corinthos, but I couldn't."

"Yes you can, consider it a gift from the Quartermaine's." Skye told her, "And please, call me Skye."

The young girl smiled, "Thank you Skye."

Skye looked around the room, Emily, Georgie, Elizabeth, Gia and Maxie were all dressed and ready to go, they were adding the finishing touches to the ensembles. Carly was greeting people at the door, her Mom and Dad were there to support her along with the rest of the Quartermaines.

Everything was raring and ready to go for her next scheme. Skye announced all the latest fashions, her designs and future plans. When she show was over she spoke with several up and coming designers and then with a few interested investors before Jasper Jacks approached her.

"Mrs. Corinthos, that was a lovely show and your designs are fresh and elegant."

"I know, but thank you." Skye laughed, "I wanted to talk to you about business."

"I'm always in the mood for business." Jax said.

"I own an empty building, right on the pier, it used to be a night club that owned about eight years ago, it hasn't been used since. I'm having it redone to open the second branch of Skye Blue Designs, things should be up and running in about a week." Skye explained, "Can you have one of your vessels sent to Tuscany to pick up the fabrics and dresses?"

"Of course, I didn't know that you would be ready for business so soon."

"Why, is there a problem?" Skye asked.

Jax shook his head, "No, there's no problem."

Skye smiled, "Good. I'm heading back to Italy this evening, to prepare everything. I will return in two weeks for the grand opening."

"Do you have to be going so soon?" Jax asked, "I thought we could discuss a little more business."

"Jax, I've covered everything. The only thing you have to do is make sure everything is ready when I get here." Skye told him, "I must be going, goodbye."

"Skye, wait."

His words halted her movements, "Yes?" She asked turning around.

"I thought that maybe we could......take our partnership up to the next level."

Skye laughed, "You mean sex?"

"Yes." Jax said flatly, "You and your husband must be having marital problems, or else you won't be staying in Port Charles."

"I'm only going to say this once, so listen up." Skye said sternly, "I love Sonny and nothing anyone can do or say will change that. Our marriage is perfectly fine. You and I are in business together Jax, that's all."

He smiled, "As I recall, that's how you used to make business deals, in bed. You love mixing business with pleasure, it gives you a charge. Remember having sex on your desk at ELQ or in the Quartermaine rose garden."

"Times have changed and so have I." Skye told him, "And besides, aren't you suppose to be dating my aunt?"

"If you could call it that."

Skye held up her hands, "Please, spare me the personal details. We're business partners and nothing else. Am I clear?"

Jax looked down at the ground, "Crystal clear."

Carly interrupted them, "Skye, we need to talk, it's important."

She noticed the look in Carly's eyes, "Excuse me Jax."

She followed Carly into the lobby, away from the crowd, "What's wrong?"

"You know how you unloaded the contents of your gun last night into Faith Roscoe?"

"Yes."

"Well, you didn't do a very good job." Carly told her, "You'd never make it as a hit woman."

TBC.....

Lots of Carly/Jason and Skye/Sonny scenes are coming up in the next few chapters. Please Review!!!!!!!