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Did you hear? Jason's coming back
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What If…
Chapter 29
~Penthouse 2~
"My but you look like hell," Carly said cheerfully when Jason finally opened the door after a good five minutes of knocking. She breezed past him, before he had a chance to close the door in her face. "I brought coffee, don't worry Sonny made it."
Jason sighed wearily before opening his eyes, he caught the sympathetic look Francis was giving him and turned around shutting the door in his face. "Carly…"
"Jesus Jason you still have the banana's furniture?" Carly cut him off and made a face at the forest green couch. "This is just awful, you really need to banish all traces of her from this place. My furniture," she shot him a glare. "The furniture you moved into storage for the hag's furniture is still there. Why don't you bring it back?"
Giving in he picked up the coffee she had brought and settled on the offensive couch. "Your furniture was hard as hell Carly. You could never get comfortable on it," he reminded her.
She wanted to argue with him but had to admit that he was right, as usual. But that didn't mean she had to admit it to him or give up. "What about getting some furniture that Rory picks out? She can't have as bad taste as the banana did. No one could, that woman must have IKEA on speed dial. You should have seen the hideous scarf she had on the other day, when she was meeting my ex, god it just screamed Pier 1," she shuddered. "Tacky does not even begin to describe it."
"I didn't know she was still in town." Or dating AJ, the last he knew Hannah Scott had been with Taggert.
"The skank will never leave. Mama wants us to have a nice family dinner with her and Roy. Never mind the fact that the little bitch tried to put Sonny and you in jail," Carly rolled her eyes in disgust. "So what do you think?"
"About what?" He asked absently before taking another sip of his coffee, listening in vain for any noise from the second floor. So far he hadn't heard a peep since Rory had disappeared up the stairs last night, leaving him to think about what she had said.
"Do you think Rory would be interested in getting some better furniture for this place?" Carly asked again.
"I don't know how long we'll be in town Carly, and I don't even know if Rory is s..." he broke off setting his coffee on the table in front of him.
Carly studied her friend, finally noticing the weariness in his eyes, and the wrinkled shirt he was wearing. She looked around and saw a folded blanket, and pillow on a chair. "Why did you sleep on the couch Jason? Did she kick you out?"
"It's not your business Carly."
"She did," incensed for her friend she looked towards the stairs. "What is the little twit's problem? Doesn't she realize that you spent the night before with her at the hospital, and you were no doubt exhausted? Man she is selfish."
"No she's not Carly, she's mad, and she's hurt, and she has every right to be," Jason interrupted her rant.
"So it's true," Carly said quietly. "She really did get mad at you for assigning Francis, and not telling her, then she lost Francis."
Jason shot her a look in question.
"I have ears," she defended herself. "You think women like to gossip? Let me tell you we have nothing on the guards around here. Francis getting ditched by Rory is so big, he's been getting picked on since last night. I thought it was a joke."
"It wasn't," he said shortly.
"She's mad about the guard?" Carly asked. "Or that you didn't tell her first?"
"You don't tell Rory things, you ask her," he corrected her assumption.
"Let me guess you didn't ask?" She shook her head and hoped for the best. "Jason tell me you didn't go into Sonny mode with her."
"Sonny mode?"
"Yes Sonny mode and don't look at me like that. You know you do it," she settled more comfortably on the couch. "Jason when I met you were strange," she smirked at his expression. "You were good in bed, but you were definitely strange."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Jason asked. "Thank you by the way."
"I didn't know until later, that part of you was still learning. And you looked to Sonny and Robin," she all but snarled the name, "as your guides."
"I watched you too," he reminded her. "You were my first friend who didn't know a thing about who I once was. The first who liked me, for me, and didn't compare me to him."
She smiled and took his hand. "In a lot of ways you were the first friend, and the only one I guess, that didn't expect me to try to be somebody I wasn't. Even the real Carly Roberts, did that at times," she shook the memory of her friend away. "The point I was trying to make is that I think sometimes when things get heavy you revert to doing what Sonny would do. It makes sense, because you learned a lot from him and the rest from Miss Priss," ignoring his glare in warning she went on, "but we won't go there."
"So?" Jason reached for his coffee.
"So Rory doesn't seem to react very well to Sonny at times. You do remember the frost coming off of her at Jake's the other day don't you? Somehow I think she will like it even less if she saw his behavior in you."
Jason nodded seeing her point.
It was strange for her to be sitting in this penthouse. A penthouse she had once dreamed of living as a family in with Michael and Jason. And instead of being a family with Jason, she had her own family and was talking to Jason about another woman. A part of her felt uncomfortable and a little upset, but was relieved to note that the majority of her felt glad that Jason finally had someone worthwhile in his life, just like she had. After spending several years unintentionally trying to wreck his life, it was nice to see him happy. She wanted to keep seeing him that way. "Sonny doesn't tell me things, because he likes to protect me. He's like that with all the women in his life. That's just the way he is. I hate it but I can live with it most of the time. But somehow I don't think that Rory can or will."
"No she's won't," Jason agreed.
"Look I know she helped you and Sonny in the past, so that tells me, that you are used to talking to her."
"What do you mean?" Keeping his expression blank he turned to look at her.
"Again with the look," she muttered. "Sonny told me she saved his and your life in Puerto Rico last December. He didn't give me details, but that was enough for me to know, that you really trust her."
"I do," he agreed neither confirming nor denying what she had just said.
"Then talk to her, she's not Miss Priss, she isn't going make you feel guilty. She's more like me, and I can handle knowing things. I wish Sonny would realize that. I mean you told me things," she crossed her arms and pouted "and I didn't do anything wrong then."
He leaned back and elbowed her ribs slightly. "Do you remember the strike you called?"
Carly flushed guiltily. "Okay so one time, I might have overreacted."
He raised an eyebrow at her.
"Fine so maybe too much information isn't a good thing for me," Carly admitted reluctantly. "But I'm not Rory. You can't treat her like you treated Robin, or me. She doesn't deserve that."
"I know," Jason rubbed wearily at the back of his neck. "I know I should have talked to her, but I didn't." He got to his feet and moved to the window. "And because I didn't, I hurt her. She doesn't like the way I've been acting, and I don't know if she'll stay."
Surprised and concerned she followed her friend. "Did she say she was leaving?"
"No," he admitted "But she said some things that sounded like an ultimatum."
"Have you talked to her since then?" Carly hated to think she had been wrong about Rory. It wasn't that she liked Rory or anything, but she was definitely an improvement over Robin.
"No," he shook his head. "She went upstairs last night, and I stayed down here on the couch. I haven't seen her yet."
This was such a strange place for her to be in, and Carly couldn't help but smile at the idea of her giving relationship advice to Jason of all people. "Don't take what she said to heart Jason. She had just been in a serious accident. She had just spent the night in a hospital, which you said yourself she hated being in. The accident that put her there very nearly killed her." Jason flinched and she hurried on. "Rory had to be feeling stressed out, and had to be in physical pain as well. Then you add to all of that a change in address, then Francis, and she no doubt felt a little unsure," she poked his chest. "Then you go acting Sonny like with her, and she is bound to lash out."
He thought about her words, and then remembered the night before the accident, when Rory had been reeling over the head-trip Lucky had played on her. And the frustration she had been feeling because of the things he had known about her was readily apparent in hindsight. Carly was right, Rory had been feeling a little crazed even before the accident. That could help explain why she had gotten angrier then he thought she would about Francis, and moving.
"Damn," Carly looked at her watch. "I got to get to Deception. I know you probably won't listen to a word I say, and with my track record I can't blame you. But hear me out. You need to do what is right for you with Rory. If that means talking to her, do it. Don't act like Sonny, like me, or anyone else with her. You have to be yourself."
"Thanks Carly," he said with a soft smile as he walked her to the door. "You did make a lot of sense."
Carly's smile was brilliant at that remark, and she leaned over and kissed his cheek, then quickly wiped the lipstick off. "Under normal circumstances I would have left the lipstick there, just to piss Shorty off. But I have a feeling you have a big enough hole to dig yourself out of, so I'll save that for later."
"Thanks," he said with a shake of his head and opened the door.
"By the way you wouldn't mind telling Sonny I made sense would you?" She asked with a wheedling smile. "He needs to hear that more often."
"Goodbye Carly." Jason said in response.
"Can't you just repeat it so Francis can hear? I need witnesses."
Jason was smiling as he closed the door on his friends. He really had missed her. Carly had such a big heart. A heart that most people, either couldn't or wouldn't let themselves see. And she was right, he did need to talk to Rory, really talk to her. He needed to tell her everything, as she had said last night, she had a right to know because it concerned her.
He was heading for the stairs when someone knocked on the door. Francis opened it before he had the opportunity to call out. "Lieutenant Taggert and Detective Garcia are here to see you."
Jason rubbed at his throbbing temple, and nodded at Francis, this morning was not starting off very well.
~*~*~*~
"Do you ever blame the person you're with for stuff that happened a long before you met them?" Rory asked, shifting the phone to her other ear.
"Are you picking on Jason again?" Came the masculine reply.
"No," she rolled her eyes. "Not really and believe me he does deserve my anger, he just may not deserve all of it. He might have gotten caught in some backwash."
"Whose backwash? Uncle Gabe's?"
"No, Jason did mess up, and the way he did, reminded me of someone else. Not Gabe, someone worse. So do you think I'm blaming Jason for a past he doesn't know about?"
"Could be," he replied. "I think everyone does blame the new people in their life for things that happened in the past at least to some extent. So what is Jason being blamed for?"
"Philip."
"Ugh." The name alone was enough to make him groan. "Having known both men, and I use that term loosely in describing one of them, I can't believe you would ever think that of Jason. And I highly doubt he would ever act like that with you."
"What he did wasn't as bad as what Philip did, no one could be that bad. But I do think I came down harder on him, then I should have because of Philip," she sighed and leaned back on the mattress. "Harry when did my life get so confusing? When did I turn into a witch? Wait don't answer that, I'm not a witch it's just this town and the effect it's had on Jason. Port Charles is a confusing place and ever since we got here, Jason's been acting different. I don't like that."
Harry opened the sliding glass door and moved out on the deck to listen to the raging ocean. "How different?" He could hear the confusion in his best friends voice, and that worried him some. Rory normally was very confident, the only area in her life she wasn't fearless in, however, was her love life.
"I don't know. It's lots of little things that are adding up. Like him not talking to me, not telling me about a guard, or moving us without even asking me first. Jason doesn't act like this with me."
"Well have you told him everything that is on your mind?" Harry heard silence on the other end and knew she hadn't. "Like the fact you love him?" Again silence was heard. "Judging from the quiet I would say no. It sounds like Jason isn't the only one talking."
"Back off Magoo." She tried to browbeat her friend off track, but wasn't holding her breath.
"Have you even told him about Philip and why you need to have so much control over your life that you have become anal retentive in some respects?" Harry went on ignoring her anger.
"I am not anal." Insulted she shot up from the bed, and groaned when her sore shoulder let her know how much it didn't like to move quickly. "And what does Philip have to do about Jason not talking to me?"
"Hey you brought up the subject of the thing named Philip, not me," he reminded her. "But if Jason doesn't know about Philly boy, he doesn't know why you're so worried about him not talking to you, only doing for you."
"I know," she agreed glumly. The bad thing about best friends was that you couldn't sneak anything past them. They knew you too well to believe the bullshit, or lie to you. Sometimes that could really suck. Sometimes like now.
"I guess I haven't been totally myself either," she finally admitted. "This Elizabeth Webber thing freaked me out more then I thought it had, then there's the accident, that might not be an accident. Jason's highhandedness, the hospital visit from hell add that all together and I was bound to blow at somebody, and Jason as usual gave me the perfect target."
Harry sobered at the pain he heard in her voice. "I got some more information on the proving who you are front. I spoke to Ms. Inch, and she has some old yearbooks, that I'm going to pick up. She remembers you from freshman year. So that ought to get this Lucky off your back. If not, screw him, you know who you are."
"Thanks, but I think I'll pass on that," she replied wrinkling her nose in faint distaste. "I knew I could count on you."
"You can count on Jason too. Look we've been friends for years now, hell we grew up on the circuit together. Jason's a good guy, the only guy that I have had no problems with you dating, or even leaving town with after only knowing him for a few weeks. You might cut him some slack, after all he is only a guy, and how many times have you cursed the cluelessness of men?" He heard her slight laugh and went on. "Besides he is too good looking to give up."
That caused her to laugh out loud. "How do you know what he looks like, you're blind remember?"
"I can still hear the way the women sound around him, and let me tell you there is nothing like the sound of 10 women sucking in their gut when he walks in the room, and then hearing it come out on a groan of hate, when they realize he is with you."
Rory laughed like she knew he wanted. "Thanks Harry."
"I didn't do anything, I merely listened. I'll send the books when I get them," he heard someone behind him. "Speaking of sighing women, I need to go Rory."
"What's this ones name Tawny, Busty, Chesty?" She knew his type. Blonde, buxom, and mostly brainless.
"Goodbye brat," he replied.
"I love you too Magoo," she teased causing him to sigh. "Lana, Luna, Bitsy, Mitzi, Buffy, Muffy?" She kept calling out names until she heard the dial tone in her ear.
With a smile she moved back to the bedside table and hung up the phone. As usual all it took was a five-minute conversation with her best friend, and her life seemed to be in order again. And as usual he was right, she couldn't blame Jason for treading over old wounds, when he didn't even know what had caused them in the first place. They needed to have a serious talk.
She frowned at the rumpled bed. And since she had spent the night alone, it seemed like she was going to have to be the adult and make the first move. "Sometimes being a grown up really sucks." She stated to the empty room before opening the door and heading for the stairs.
"Jason?" Rory called out a little surprised that he wasn't there waiting for her. A quick trip into the pristine kitchen and other empty rooms on the floor, confirmed that she was in fact alone. "Well that's a kick in the pants. How can we fight, I mean work this out, if he's gone?"
She rolled her eyes and moved to the door. "Quit talking to your self Nichols," with that admonishment she opened the door.
"Ms. Nichols," Francis snapped to attention, tucking the phone in his pocket.
"Mr. Francis," she said just as seriously. "Have you seen Jason?"
"Well," he tugged at his ear, not knowing if he should go on.
"You better tell me, I will find out eventually," she warned him.
"He's been taken to the police station for questioning," Francis admitted. He saw her eyes narrow in anger and went on. "I've already called Ms. Davis and Mr. Corinthos, they'll probably be at the police station before he gets there."
"It was Kojak wasn't it?" Rory demanded moving back into the apartment heading for the closet. "Good old chrome dome," she grumbled reaching for the jacket that was still on the floor.
"Are we leaving?" Francis asked unnecessarily trailing a still grumbling Rory to the elevator. "Who's driving?" He asked helping her secure the coat over her sling.
"If you can direct me to the police station, you can ride with me. If you are going to be overly macho and think I need protecting from seeing Jason in jail, you can drive your own truck and try to keep up," she informed him shortly.
"I believe I left my overly macho pills with my gold chains, lame, and white bell-bottomed pants," Francis replied glibly, before pressing the button to close the door.
"Yep a definite smart ass," Rory shook her head. "You and I are going to have an interesting relationship," she warned him as the doors closed.
~Quartermaine Mansion~
"Emily may I come in?"
"Yes Reginald," Emily called from the bathroom. Whether it was the lack of nerves because she knew she would soon find out if she was pregnant or not. Or the fact that she hadn't eaten the night before, she didn't know. But for the first time in over two weeks she hadn't been sick to her stomach upon waking. She even had color in her cheeks, and couldn't help but feel relieved. The Goth look just wasn't her.
With a shake of her head she moved out to the other room. "What are you doing?"
Reginald turned around and held up a new bolt. "I was going to put this new lock on your window. With this one, someone would have to break the window to get in. And if he breaks it," he backtracked quickly. "I mean if someone breaks the windowpane the alarm will go off. Don't worry you can still subvert the alarm the way you always do, but only from the inside."
Emily sobered at his words, she knew where this extra need for security had come from. "Thanks."
He was sorry to see her smile fade, she hadn't smiled nearly enough in the last month. But he knew this was necessary, she couldn't keep playing musical rooms in the mansion trying to avoid Zander. Besides from what he had witnessed the night before, he didn't even know if this lock would be enough to keep the deviant away from her. He blanched at the thought. Apparently Edward was right in this case. That was such a scary thought.
"Thanks again for last night too," Emily said.
"I'll just be a minute then I'll take you to school." Reginald informed her.
"You don't have too."
"I want too, besides Lila wants to take the Dusenberg out later and look at the Spring flowers, I need to wash it," he tried to make it out like it was no big deal, when they both knew it was.
Emily smiled and quickly kissed his cheek. "You make it so easy to adore you Reginald," she picked up her bag. "I'll be downstairs."
The smile lasted until she heard the raised voices coming from the dining room. Quickly deviating from her path she moved outside to wait on the porch. She made a careful scan of the area before letting the door close. She wasn't going to be caught off guard by Zander again. Rubbing her arms she let herself remember the scary confrontation of the night before.
"We need to talk Emily," Zander blocked her path to the house.
"I think we said everything last night," Emily replied coolly. "Right before you started dragging me around."
"I'm sorry about that," he gave her a sad look. "I was just so scared of losing you and I reacted from that. I know I didn't handle things very well. I was just scared. Can't you understand that? I don't want to lose you, I love you too much."
"You love me enough to marks on me?" She demanded shoving up her sleeves to expose the dark marks he had left there. "You love me enough that you cheat on me, when I won't sleep with you? You love me enough that you constantly badmouth my friends and my decisions? You love me enough that you…" she stopped herself from going on. She wasn't ready to confront him about her fears of what had happened between them over a month before.
"Please let me explain," Zander interrupted her.
"I don't want to hear it Zander. I didn't break up with you in the heat of the moment. I broke up with you after giving it a lot of thought. It wasn't easy for me. I didn't want to give up on you," her voice softened. It was true she hadn't liked admitting that she was wrong about him. "But given the way you reacted when I told you we were over, I know I made the right choice."
"So now you're mad at me because I don't want to lose you?" Zander demanded. In spite of his best efforts and all the lectures he had given himself to the contrary, he was getting mad.
"Zander don't do this. We were good for a time, but that time has passed. Leave me some good memories, and let it go," she requested before moving past him towards the door.
"No," he grabbed her arm before she could walk far. "This isn't over yet, it's not over until I say it is."
"Let me go," Emily ordered tugging on her arm.
"Not until you listen to me."
"Listen to what? More excuses by you? No thank you," she yanked on her arm. "Now let me go."
He gave a hard tug that had her spiraling into his chest. "I'll never let you go Emily, not after all the work I've done to get you."
"Work like drugging me?" Emily shot back without thinking.
Jolted, his grip on her lessened and she quickly stepped back. "What do you mean by that?" he asked nervously.
"Nothing," she swallowed hard and backed up a step. "We're over Zander, nothing you say or do will change that." She made a break for the door, reaching the two steps that led to the door itself, she thought she had made it until his hand fell on her shoulder stilling her mid-flight.
"What the hell did you mean by that?" Zander demanded turning her around to face him. He had been careful, so careful that she couldn't know the truth about what he had been up to. If she did know then everything would be over. After all these months he wouldn't be denied, not when he was so close to having everything he wanted.
"Let me go," Emily cried loudly. She didn't like what she saw in his dark eyes.
"Not until you tell me what you meant," he shouted back giving her a shake.
"Is there a problem here?" Reginald opened the door behind them and stepped on the porch. "You need to let her go Zander."
"Stay the hell out of this," Zander ordered.
"Let her go. I've already called security, and the police. The next call will be to her brother. Miss Emily has told me that you are no longer welcomed in this house, or on the grounds. So the next time you do show up we will put the dogs on you," Reginald snapped coldly. "This is the only warning you will get. Now let…her…go."
Zander reluctantly dropped his hands and leveled a glare of pure hate at the butler, before focusing on Emily who had already moved to stand by Reginald. "This isn't over Emily."
"Yes it is," Emily replied shakily. "If you don't leave me alone, I'll talk to Jason," she bluffed.
Stung Zander backed off, he had only made things worse, he needed to back off and rethink his plan. "Goodnight Emily."
Emily waited until he had disappeared before sagging against Reginald in relief. "Thank you so much Reginald."
"Thank me later right now get inside," he said hustling her in the door. Once it was closed he collapsed heavily against it and began fanning himself.
"Are you okay?" Emily asked in concern.
"Water," he gasped and Emily sprinted into the library to get him some. He drank greedily. "God I never want to do that again."
"You just stay there and take it easy, while I call the police off," she moved for the phone.
"Don't bother I never called them, I was bluffing the whole time." Reginald took another long drink. "Why do you think I'm shaking? I'm not cut out for this. I don't do confrontations very well."
"I think you did very well, you were my hero," Emily moved back to his side. "And I think you need one of Cook's Devils Surprise as a reward."
"I think you're right," he agreed and began moving towards the kitchen. "You need to talk to Jason about Zander, he isn't going to give up."
"I know Reginald," Emily agreed sadly and if she was pregnant he would have even more of a reason to be around.
"Ready?"
Reginald's question drew her from her thoughts and she turned to look at him. "Yes." She followed him to the waiting car. She couldn't talk to Jason yet, not until she knew whether Zander had raped her or not.
Sometimes life just really sucked.
~P.C.P.D.~
"What the hell were you thinking bringing Morgan in here without a warrant?" Commissioner Mac Scorpio demanded. "You know Alexis is going to be all over us. I'm surprised she isn't already here."
"We have a witness that puts him at the scene of the latest murders," Lt. Taggert explained. "We know for sure that 4 of Corinthos couriers were hit in the last 24 hours. I have sources saying that there was at least one more and all of them were killed in the same way. A steel point driven behind the ear puncturing the fluid sack membrane that surrounds the brain."
"And you think Morgan is killing his own people?"
"Not really," Taggert admitted glancing over at a composed and calm looking Jason Morgan who was sitting in a nearby chair. "But you know as well I as I do, that Morgan isn't to bright, you never know what he'll let slip."
"He hasn't let anything slip in years," Mac reminded him.
"Look I have a witness that places Morgan at the scene, a half an hour before the bodies of those runners were found. I'm perfectly in the right to bring him down for questioning."
"Did you have a warrant before you made such a move?" Alexis Davis demanded from behind him.
Mac shook his head slightly when Taggert winced in his direction. "I tried to tell you."
"No warrant was necessary," Taggert replied easily. "Morgan isn't under arrest, he came down here voluntarily for questioning."
"Voluntarily?" Alexis snorted. "Or did you ask in your normal condescending way? By demanding he come or be arrested." Without waiting for a reply she breezed past him towards Jason. "Jason were you read your rights before the Lieutenant removed you from your home?"
"No," Jason replied simply.
"Why did you accompany the Lieutenant then?"
"He said that if I didn't come with him voluntarily that I would be arrested," Jason answered. The only reason he had come at all was because he didn't want Taggert to disturb Rory.
"And what would you have arrested my client for?" Alexis turned to face the Commissioner and Taggert.
"Murder," Taggert said.
"Murder?" She repeated pulling her glasses slightly down her nose to peer at the men. "And who did my client allegedly murder?" She asked the same time Sonny entered the police station.
"In the past 24 hours it has been very dangerous to be an employee of Corinthos or Morgan," Garcia spoke up. "Yesterday the bodies of Ryan Michaelson and Jeff Wilbur, were discovered in alleys. Early this morning two more bodies were found, a Ray Alvarez and Joseph Moroni."
"What does that have to do with my client?" Alexis demanded.
"All four men were killed in the same way, a puncture of the brain, all four men worked for your clients," Taggert sneered in their direction. "And I have a credible witness who puts Morgan at the scene of the Alvarez and Moroni murders, that happened about 5:00 am."
"Well I don't know who your witness is, but whoever they are, they're lying." Rory called loudly drawing their attention to her. "Because the only place Jason was at, at 5:00 this morning was in bed," she paused to move inside the squad room, "with me."
~Kelly's~
"Open up Lucky," Gia pounded on the door. "I know you're in there and I'm not leaving until you open the door."
"What?" Lucky yanked the door open. "Come on in Gia," he said sarcastically when she moved past him and into the small room.
"I need your help." Gia didn't believe in wasting time with preliminaries.
"With what?" Lucky asked, moving to his desk and closing the lid on his laptop before she could see the information spiraling across the screen.
"Nikolas," she shrugged out of her coat and tossed it on the rumpled bed. "He's making a big mistake and it's all your fault. So you are going to help me fix it for him."
Lucky reached for a warm can of root beer, he couldn't help but wish it was a real beer, he had a feeling he was going to need it.
~P.C.P.D.~
Jason tensed at the sound of her voice and showing the first flicker of emotion since he had seen Taggert he shifted in his chair to look for her.
Rory met his eyes then shifted to let a woman in a business suit go past her.
"Marcus, Mac," the woman addressed the officers. "I received a message about you arresting Jason Morgan."
"I didn't arrest him, Dara," Taggert corrected his ex. "He is here for questioning."
"And apparently the Lieutenant jumped the gun once again," Alexis interjected. "Jason has an alibi."
A.D.A. Dara Jensen turned to look at her in shock. "He voluntarily gave an alibi?"
"No I voluntarily gave him one," Rory spoke up. "I would have told Kojak here if he would have bothered to ask. But I'm not surprised he didn't."
Sonny smirked when he heard her call Taggert Kojak.
"And you would be?" Dara jolted in surprise when she saw Rory's face. It was like looking at a ghost.
"Rory Nichols," she didn't bother to hold out her hand. "Jason was with me all night, so I don't know what kind of tale Taggert is trying to sell, but it won't work."
"I have a witness that puts Morgan on scene a few minutes before the bodies were discovered this morning." Taggert addressed his argument to Dara, knowing it was her he would have to convince.
Rory sighed dramatically and leaned against a desk. "You're witness is wrong, or was coached. Kind of like you tried to coach me the other day."
Alexis' eyes narrowed in interest at that remark. "He did what?"
"He interrupted Jason and I on the docks the other day," Rory saw Taggert shift on his feet and knew his superiors hadn't heard about that. "He tried to get me to turn Jason in for attempted murder, or what did you call it?" she asked Taggert. "Assault?"
Alexis began to take some notes. "And why did he want you to do that?"
"I was teasing Jason, we were just playing a game. Apparently Taggert can't tell what a game looks like. He was convinced that Jason was trying to hurt me, and the only reason I didn't speak up was because Jason was threatening me," she paused then delivered the next blow. "Of course it was hard for me to convince him that Jason wasn't trying to kill me, when all he was doing was calling Jason names, trying to provoke a reaction. In fact when Jason and I tried to leave he threatened to arrest him."
"Really?" Alexis' smile turned feral when she focused on Taggert.
"What happened then has nothing to do with an eyewitness that puts Morgan at Kennedy Street at 5:00 this morning." Taggert said quickly.
Dara forced her clenched hands to uncurl, promising herself she would deal with Taggert later, she focused on trying to extricate him from the problem at hand. "Am I to understand that Ms. Nichols claims that Jason Morgan was with her at the same time?"
"I'm not claiming he was with me," Rory lied. "He was with me. There's a difference between a statement and a claim."
"Kennedy Street isn't that far from where you're staying, he could have very easily left the apartment for 30 minutes while you were asleep," Dara theorized.
"Oh believe me I would have noticed if he was gone," Rory drawled with a sly smile. "It wouldn't have been nearly as fun without him there."
Alexis smothered a laugh by coughing at that remark.
"It was very long but fulfilling night," Rory went on. "You see I was in the hospital the night before, so we had reason to celebrate." She had made her way over to stand beside Jason so she was leaning against him. "I am a little tired now though."
Jason kept his expression empty as he looked at Dara. Inside though, he was angry. If the police found out she was lying, she could get in trouble, and he didn't like that. He hadn't left the penthouse, but Rory didn't know that. She was just being Rory.
"I find that a little hard to believe," Dara offered coolly. "Seeing as you are injured, you could have slept at times."
"Never had an all-nighter?" Rory quipped, before raking her eyes up and down the diminutive buttoned-up attorney. "I suppose you haven't. It's a pity, it could definitely improve your outlook. Providing you find the right man," her eyes moved on to a glowering Taggert. "Good luck I think you'll need it."
"Now look here," incensed Dara took a step forward.
"Dara, I'm sure she didn't mean any disrespect," Alexis stepped in front of her and wisely kept the smile from her face. "She has given Jason an alibi, and unless you are willing to call her a liar, I believe it is time for everyone to leave."
Rory grinned cheekily at Sonny when he gave her a warning look, and ignoring Jason's squeeze of her hand she spoke up again. "I can take a lie detector test. I don't mind doing that, of course when I pass it, and I go to the newspapers about the continued police harassment that Jason and I have endured since we got to this town, you might not like the results."
Taggert's eyes narrowed but before he could speak Mac took a hold of his arm and pulled him to the side. With a glare in warning Dara joined them.
"What are you doing here?" Jason whispered.
"We weren't finished with our discussion," Rory replied. "Hi Sonny."
"You certainly know how to make an impression," Sonny observed when Alexis joined them. "I don't think I've seen anybody ruffle Taggert and Dara so quickly."
"It's a gift. What can I say I was born to annoy," she answered glibly. "Do they have anything else on Jason? Or just this lying witness that Kojak has?"
"Seeing as they didn't arrest him, I would say no," Alexis murmured. "Taggert probably jumped the gun again. Jason never would have been arrested anyway, not with just this for evidence, but it is nice that you were able to disprove the eyewitness so quickly."
"I merely told the truth," Rory faced her easily. "Jason wasn't there, he didn't kill these men."
"Mr. Morgan," Dara called. "The DA's office wishes to thank you for your cooperation. We have no further questions for you at this time."
Jason got to his feet and putting his hand on Rory's back he began to move towards the door.
"If we have questions at a later date," Dara continued.
"You will let me know and I will inform my client," Alexis interrupted smoothly, before pausing in front of her. "Now about Taggert's continued harassment of my clients, it seems he has now broadened his approach to include Miss Nichols. I'm tired of warning him, warning his superiors, and warning the DA's office. So this is what I'm going to do. If Taggert follows, berates, arrests, harasses, name calls, or in any other way impedes my clients general well-being in how they live their life, I will take great pleasure in ending his career. Do I make myself clear?"
"Threats wo…"
"It isn't a threat," Alexis corrected Taggert coldly before focusing on Dara again. "We both know I can do it. And Taggert himself is the one who has given me the ammunition to do so. So back him off, because I won't just go after him, I'll go after the police department and the DA's office as well. Are we clear Dara?"
Dara was seething but she kept her face placid. "Yes we are. The next time, and there will be a next time Counselor, we arrest one of your clients, it will be for good. And that is my promise."
"You've been saying that for years," Alexis reminded her before exiting through the gate that Sonny held open for her. "It's about time you found a new threat."
Dara waited until they had left before focusing her temper on Taggert.
~*~*~*~
"Thanks for coming so quickly Alexis," Jason said once they reached the curb,
"I came as soon as I got Francis' message. I was curious as to why you went with him to the police station, but when I saw Rory I understood," Alexis reached inside her briefcase. "This actually saves me a trip, here is your purse Rory. I got it back from forensics late last night."
Rory took the mangled and still damp purse from Alexis. "Thanks, and thanks for inside too."
"It's what I'm paid to do, although you seem to have a knack for it as well."
"The term jailhouse lawyer applies," Rory answered mysteriously. She had been bailing out her uncle for years now.
"Alright," Alexis reluctantly let her curiosity go and nodded slowly. "I need to talk to you soon about the accident," she focused on Sonny. "If you can give me a lift to the PC Grille, I have a few contracts for your review."
"Of course," Sonny answered with a smile. "I'll even treat you to lunch."
"I'm meeting my husband," Alexis replied waiting for the reaction she knew would be forthcoming from her friend.
Sonny's smile faded at the mention of Candy Boy. "When will you develop taste in men?"
"Jax asks me when I will develop taste in the clients I represent all the time. I think you two are so much alike," Alexis teased as she moved towards the limo.
"I think she's soon going to be walking," Sonny mumbled. "Goodbye Rory, nice to see you. Jason I'll talk to you later," his eyes grew serious.
"I know." Jason's eyes were equally serious.
"Bye Sonny, Alexis," Rory called. All too soon for her liking they were in the limo and gone, leaving her alone with Jason.
Rory fidgeted for another minute before moving towards the Durango. "Come on I'll give you a ride."
"Does your shoulder hurt?" He asked falling into step beside her.
"It's okay," she looked up when the door opened and Francis emerged from the vehicle. At least they would have a buffer for a little while. She hadn't quite figured out what to say to Jason. Once she had found out he was in jail her only thought was to get him out of there. Now that he was she wasn't sure where to begin.
"Ms. Nichols," Francis nodded at her before focusing on her companion. "Jason are you going to be with Ms. Nichols for awhile?"
"Yes."
"Is it okay if I pick something up while were downtown then? I'll be back at the penthouse within an hour if that is okay with you?" What they needed was some uninterrupted time alone. And as long as he wasn't there, Jason wouldn't leave Rory alone, of that he was sure.
Rory leveled a glare at Francis but he ignored her.
"That's fine Francis," Jason nodded holding out his hand for the keys. "We'll see you later." Jason waited by the door for Rory to get in.
Rory sighed and took the keys from his hand. "I'm driving."
"I figured," Jason moved to the other door and opened it for her to help her in. Once she was settled he closed the door and hesitated a minute before moving to the other door. He had a feeling that this wasn't going to be pleasant for either one of them.
~Clinic~
"Dr. Asner here are the test results on Emily Bowen," a nurse knocked on the door and moved to face the file on the Doctor's overcrowded desk.
"Thanks Helen, why don't you go to lunch before the afternoon rush hits. It's vaccination day, as soon as school is out we will get hit."
"Thanks."
Dr. Asner glanced at her watch she had thirty minutes before her meeting, so putting her feet on the desk she picked up the file. She had only read half a page before the feet went down with a bang and she reached for the intercom. "Helen if your still there I need my handwritten notes on Emily Bowen right away please."
Frowning she paged ahead in the report, this wasn't making any sense at all.