Reflection Chapter 16: Dance With Me, a general hospital fanfic

Author's Note: strarbright: And look, I read Think and Thin finally too, lol! Glad you like :)

light*hope: Yeah, I saw STLD on TV, so most of the swearing was edited out. The movie has a whole lot more. Yes, I'm glad you saw it! Funny thing is I don't really even think Jason's that hot, lol. Yes, more dancing...doesn't the title give that away? I think you're going to be very happy with this chapter :p Glad you didn't catch that error, lol.

Oreata: Thanks!

theblondeone07: I got the flipping food idea because my mom used to do it to her mother when her grandmother would cook, lol. Your poor brother...oh well, we little sister need to enact revenge sometime or another, why not at the dinner table? ;)

tydavislover: Are you as bad as Carly when it comes to cooking though, that is the question :p Thanks for reading!

Lucas'sgirl: Thank you...here's the encore ;)

amluvjourney: Thank you! Maybe I'll see you over on the LN sometime :)

Reflection

Chapter Sixteen ~ Dance With Me

Courtney bit her lip. She couldn't believe this was happening, but at the same time she knew it was. What was she supposed to do? She was completely embarrassed, not because she minded Jason watching her, but because she'd been dancing in an empty diner with no music on, and she hadn't practiced in so long she was positive that her rhythm was way off. And she was scared. Suddenly the memories of the last time she danced had come back to her. Her dancing hurt people. It drove them away. She didn't want to drive Jason away.

But she couldn't just run upstairs and not face him. He was standing right there, still looking at her, and probably wondering if he had done something wrong. She just needed to take a deep breath and deal.

So that's what she did. She stepped forward and undid the deadbolt, letting Jason in. He walked by her, and she closed up again. Then they both stood in an uncomfortable silence that Courtney was the first to break. "I guess you saw me dancing, huh?" she offered with a nervous laugh.

"Yeah," Jason said simply. He could tell how shy she was about her dancing, but he didn't understand why. She'd looked great. He'd never seen anyone move with such grace and growing confidence. He decided to go out on a limb and tell her so. "You--you looked good." Courtney's blush only deepened. He hoped her hadn't embarrassed her more. "What was that?" he asked curiously, hoping talking about the dance itself would make her feel more comfortable.

"Ballet." She held up a hand and let it fall. "I used to dance."

He frowned. He had seen the flash of pain in her eyes. "What do you mean, used to?"

Courtney turned her back on him and walked a short distance away. He was almost convinced that she wasn't going to answer when her voice came to him. "As in I did awhile ago, but I don't anymore."

It usually helped people to talk about whatever was bothering them, and he had been called a good listener. "Why'd you stop?"

She shook her head, the hair flowing down her back shifting. "It doesn't matter."

He stepped forward, and rested a hand lightly on her shoulder. "I think it does."

Courtney shrugged his hand away, but not in a rude manner. She turned around. Her eyes were bright, too bright, as if tears had been gathering in them. She took his hands, one in each of hers. "Look, I can show you how. They're really simple moves."

"I...don't do ballet," Jason said slowly, trying not to offend her and trying to be honest.

A real smile played across her mouth. "Right..." she drawled, and turned to approach the jukebox. She slipped some change into it and cued up the first slower song she came across. Then she turned back to Jason, still smiling, and holding out her hand. "Dance with me," she invited.

"I don't know. I'm really not that good a dancer."

~*~
Look in my eyes
What do you see?
Only me
Got nothing to hide
Seek and you'll find
What's on my mind
~*~

"I don't believe that." He was being awfully hard on himself. After all, dance was something inside everyone. Sometimes they just needed help discovering it. She tugged his hand. "Come on, I'll show you." He still hesitated. She raised her eyebrows hopefully. "Please?"

Jason caved, and moved closer to her, carefully putting an arm around her waist. Courtney led them in a slow circle, watching their feet carefully. "See, you just move in a circle," she said.

~*~
This happened so fast
Not a part of my plan
Now I'm leaving my heart in your hands
~*~

It was going pretty smoothly. Courtney looked up at him. "You're not so bad."

"Thanks." Had he blushed a little or had she imagined it? She must have imagined it. Big tough mobster dude, blushing--nah.

~*~
Haven't told you just how much I love you
Only by dreaming do I show my feelings
Haven't told you just how much I love you
Time for revealing
And I will give you something too
A love from me to you
~*~

Just then, he stepped on her foot. Courtney winced.

"I'm sorry," he apologized.

She continued to stare into his eyes. "I'm not," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

~*~
Look in my eyes
You know me so well
Can't you tell
That I'm way in too deep
I'm going down
So catch me now
~*~

Before Courtney even registered what was happening, their faces began to move closer...and then their lips touched. Both of them paused for a moment, questioning whether they should be doing this, whether it was right or wrong, but neither pulled back and both gave in. The kiss they shared was short, but sweet, but it seemed to last forever. All Courtney could hear was the rapid pounding of her own heart.

Elizabeth Webber had been on her way downstairs to get a glass of water. When she was in the upstairs hall, she heard the faint, faraway sound of music. It was awfully late for someone to be listening to music in the diner. Had the jukebox turned itself on? Frowning, she made her way down the stairs, but stopped halfway, her heart stopping dead in her chest at what she saw.

Jason Morgan, her Jason Morgan, was dancing with that blonde bimbo who'd waltzed into town less than a week ago. How could he do this to her? Elizabeth wondered furiously. He'd just given up on her completely, and moved along to the first girl who showed interest in him. Why wasn't he fighting for her? Why was he dancing with little miss Courtney Matthews instead?

Then Courtney kissed him, and he kissed her back.

Disgusted, Elizabeth turned around and ran back up the stairs, all thoughts of water lost in hurt, anger, and betrayal.

~*~
I feel you
Every day I breathe you
Every single moment from the start
I see you
Constantly I feel you
You move me so
No letting go
You smile at me
My heart is yours to keep...
~*~

Luis Alcazar stuffed his fists deeper into his pockets. Once again he was on a midnight stroll, his thoughts focused solely on one Brenda Barrett, and how he could get to her. Corinthos, Morgan, and Jax had her so protected there was no way he could get to her. But he had to. Brenda was his. They belonged together. It was fate, destiny.

His travels happened to take him past Kelly's diner, from which he heard faint music. He paused outside, but then decided to investigate. There was really no harm in being nosy. In fact, nosiness often turned out to be quite productive.

What he saw brought a smile to his lips. So Morgan had a new girlfriend, and the girlfriend happened to be Corinthos's long-lost sister, if the information he had been channeled was correct.

He now had a plan rapidly forming. He would get Brenda back, and Courtney would be how he did it.

A smug smile playing across his mouth, he walked away from the diner, and began whistling.

Jason pulled away first. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. It's just, I really like you, Courtney, and..."

Courtney stopped him. "I like you, too. And I'm not sorry you kissed me."

They both smiled in the dark and empty diner.

~*~