A/N: Quick! Everyone look! Another update! I have been writing like crazy (well totally not studying for any of my finals. oops). I have up to chapter 11 all written, and I hope to finish up the story soon, and finish the posting by the end of the month. I have gotten such overwelming feedback that I have decided to write another Journey story soon. It was an idea I originally had for a JaSam, but I think it would fare better with Journey. I'll think of a new JaSam idea later. Anyway, here comes the thanks, but judging by the volume of reviews I've been getting, I don't know how much longer I'm going to be able to do personal shoutouts:
Polocowgirl08- Thanks for the review! Glad you liked the chapter.
SuzieQ8487- I'm glad someone appreciates my quick updates! lol! Thank's for your always awesome reviews! They always inspire me to write my bum off.
Middiegurl08- I'm glad you liked my Carly comment, I thought that one fit right in, so I was happy that it was well recieved. Keep reviewing, thanks! And thank's for recomending my story (luvthemorgans told me that was how she found it).
abc123- Thanks for the advice, I will definitely try to check it out. Anything to improve my story!
luvthemorgans- Wow. Thank you so much for your great compliments. That's probably the nicest thing anyone has ever said about my writing skills. I really appreciate it, it's such a confidence boost!
SVUAngel- Thanks also for your great compliments. Does GH hire 16 year old girls to write, cause I really could use the extra cash flow? Lol, thanks again.
SoCalBabe- Thanks for the review, I'm glad you love it.
Ana- In my world, Court always stands by her man! But can you blame her, look at him? ; ) Sorry, getting off track. Anyway, thanks for the review!
Jules- I'm glad you like my story, keep up the reviews!
Chapter 5- The Only One
It had been three weeks since Jason's arrest, and Courtney was a wreck. In that time, Carly and Sonny had made it clear that they didn't believe Jason. But the two still wanted to help him. It was hard for Courtney, being the only one who believed him. But nothing would ever convince her to betray her husband.
Jason's trial was set to begin the next day. Courtney had only gotten to see him for a few minutes that day because he and Justus were so busy with the trial. She understood why she couldn't see him, but it didn't make her miss him any less. Courtney felt like she had no one to talk to. She found that she couldn't even talk to Carly anymore. It was obvious that her best friend didn't believe in Jason's innocence. Deciding she needed someone, Courtney grabbed her coat and purse and headed to General Hospital.
"Is Emily Cassadine working today?" she asked the woman on shift at the nurse's station.
"Yes, she is. Give me a second and I'll page her" said the nurse.
Five minutes later, Emily and Courtney were sitting in the fourth floor waiting room, having a very tense conversation to say the least.
"Courtney, this is just such a difficult situation for me" said Emily.
"Emily, it's not a difficult question though. Do you believe in Jason's innocence or not?"
"I'm just so torn. But all of the evidence points to Jason doing this"
"So you're willing to listen to the evidence, and not your own heart?" asked Courtney.
"I love my brother, just like you love Sonny. But he does some questionable things"
"Maybe so, but he would never touch a woman! Especially after your own…incident. He loves you so much Emily, and he would never dream of making a woman go through that after seeing what you had to deal with"
"Courtney, I need to get back to work"
"Emily, please don't blow me off. I need you to believe that Jason didn't do this"
"Courtney, I want to believe that so badly. But unfortunately, I can't"
"Emily, please" begged Courtney, tears in her eyes, as she grabbed Emily's arm.
"I have to go" said Emily, tears also in her eyes, as she pulled out of Courtney's grasp and ran down the hall.
Defeated, Courtney sunk down into the waiting room chair. She put her head in her hands and just cried, letting her pain and anger out.
"Courtney?" questioned a voice.
"Monica" said Courtney, looking up and desperately trying to wipe the tears from her face.
"Is everything ok?" asked Monica, taking the seat next to her.
"It's fine. It's just… Jason's trial is tomorrow. And I was speaking with Emily. I wanted to make sure I wasn't the only one behind him"
"We're all behind Jason" said Monica
"Yes, but do you all believe him?"
"What did Emily say?"
"She said that as much as she wants to believe in Jason's innocence, she can't. And the same goes for Carly, and Sonny. What about you?"
"Jason is my son, and I will always support him. He may try to push me away, but I love him regardless"
"Monica, that wasn't my question and you know it"
"Courtney, Jason is capable of some terrible things" said Monica, looking down.
"It's like this whole town is programmed to have the same answer" said Courtney sarcastically.
"I know that that's not the answer you were looking for. But as much as I hate to admit it, there's the possibility that Jason did in fact rape that young woman"
"No, there isn't. And if you really supported him, you would feel the same way. I know that he did not touch that girl, but apparently, I'm the only one" said Courtney, anger pulsating through her body.
She hastily got up from the chair and stalked over to the elevator. The doors opened, and she got in, watching Monica's shocked face disappear as the doors shut. Once she was alone again, she sighed, leaning back against the wall. She brushed her hair out of her face, and closed her eyes tight, hoping when she opened them again everything would all go away and life would be back to normal. Her thoughts were interrupted by the ding of the elevator doors. She opened her eyes before she was ready to, and came face to face with a man she was purposely avoiding. Jasper Jacks.
"Ah, Courtney. Just the girl I was looking for" said Jax, stepping into the elevator. The doors close behind him, and he turned to look at her.
"What do you want Jax?" she asked. "I have nothing to say to you"
"Well, that's good. You can listen for once. Because I have a whole lot to say to you" he said, turning to the elevator panel. He pulled the red emergency stop button, and the elevator came to a halt.
"What the hell do you think your doing?" she asked, disgusted and a little afraid.
"I need to talk to you, and I need assurance that I will get your undivided attention.
"And keeping me captive will do that" she scoffed.
"It seems to work for your husband" he said with a sarcastic smile at her. He caught her hand midair as she reached out to hit him. "Nah-ah" he said. "You really shouldn't be so violent Courtney. Just listen to me for once. Your husband is being accused of a violent, bitter crime. And it is a crime that this whole town knows he committed. He is going to jail for a very long time. So you don't have to be afraid of him anymore. You can walk right out of his life, and back into mine"
"Alright, first of all Jax, Jason is innocent. Second of all, Jason is not using intimidation to keep me in this marriage. He is using love. He loves me, and I love him. And third of all, there is no way in hell I would ever go back to you. I love Jason. He is the only man that I ever loved, and I will ever love. What I fell in love with when I was with you was security. But that is no way to live my life. I will be with the man I love until my dying day. Now, this is the last time I'm going to tell you nicely. Step aside, get this elevator moving again, and leave me the hell alone" she said.
Courtney walked into Kelly's, worn out from her fight with Jax. He had eventually gotten the elevator moving again, but not without trying to kiss her first. Hopefully, the bruise on his cheek from her slap would remind him not to mess with her again. That, and the cut her wedding rings had made in his face.
Courtney sat down at the counter and ordered a decaf coffee to go. The last thing she needed was caffeine. She already wasn't sleeping.
"Hi daddy!" she said, seeing Mike emerge from the backroom.
"Hey sweetheart" said Mike, coming around the counter to kiss his daughter. "How you holding up?" he asked her sympathetically.
"I honestly don't know" she replied. "It's so difficult being alone in this. No one else believes in his innocence. But, you do…right?" she asked, regretting her question already.
"Courtney, you know that I don't exactly approve of Jason"
"So what, that doesn't mean you would believe that he raped someone"
"Courtney, I am not getting involved in this. I support you, because you are my daughter. But, if the verdict comes out not in his favor, I can't lie to you and say I'm surprised"
"That's just great daddy" she said, getting up.
The waitress brought her coffee in a travel cup right at that second, and she gladly paid and walked out, now more convinced than ever that she was all alone.
Jason was led back to his cold cell. He lied down on the cot and stared at the ceiling, left with nothing else to do. He was worried, and for the first time in his life, he was willing to admit that. The evidence against him was damaging, and almost all signs pointed to his guilt. He worried a little about being locked in a cage like an animal for the rest of his life, but he mostly worried about Courtney. He wondered how she was holding up. He knew that she wasn't being completely truthful when she told him she was ok with everything that was going on. He remembered what Courtney told him, to only think of the positives. Deciding to do just that, he let his thoughts wander back to their wedding day. Their second wedding day. The one that had actually been legal.
Flashback
The wedding took place in Port Charles this time. Jason was so nervous as he got ready. He wasn't nervous about marrying her, he had been there already, but he was nervous that something would go wrong. He wanted more than anything to give her the perfect wedding. He was fiddling with his tie when Sonny walked in.
"Your hopeless man" said Sonny, taking the tie and helping Jason.
"Thanks" said Jason with a smile. "How's Courtney?"
"She's good. She looks beautiful Jason. I know you will, but take care of my sister, ok?"
"I will always take care of her Sonny" said Jason.
Meanwhile, Courtney was with Carly, trying desperately to remain calm. She too was worried about having her dream wedding.
"What if the caterer falls down and cracks his head open?" asked a panicked Courtney to Carly.
"See, each of these 'what-if's' is more ridiculous than the last. Stop 'what-ifing'. It will all be fine. In just a few minutes, you will be walking down the aisle into the arms of the man you love, and you will become his wife"
"Again" said Courtney with a smile.
"That is true. You are well on your way to being like me and your brother- marrying the same person 97 times. I officially make you and Jason honorary Sonny and Carly's"
"Great" said Courtney sarcastically.
"Hey! Everyone wants to be us! You should be honored" said Carly lightly hitting her over the head with her bouquet.
"I am honored Carly" said Courtney, trying to hide her smile.
"Mhmm" said Carly.
Mike walked in at this point and he almost broke down at seeing his baby girl look so beautiful. He couldn't believe it-his little girl looked so grown up.
"Now you're sure about this one, right?" asked Mike
"Yes daddy" said Courtney with a laugh.
Sonny walked in too and Courtney was immediately on his back, asking him about how Jason was. After he assured her that he was ok, he and Carly went back to helping Jason to finish getting ready. Monica soon joined her, with a big smile on her face.
"I'm so glad your going to be my daughter- in-law again" she said. "I know we didn't always get along, but I see you with Jason, and I know that you two are it for each other. And you make my son happy, so you make me happy"
"Thank you Monica"
"I have something for you" she said.
"Really?" asked Courtney, a little surprised.
"I don't know if Carly and Sonny already took care of your something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue, but I have something I would really like to give you" she said flipping open a small blue box. Inside was a pair of gorgeous diamond earrings. "They were Lila's. And I know she would love for you to wear them"
"They're beautiful" she said, taken aback. "Thank you"
"You are very welcome dear. Welcome back to the family" she said with a smile.
Finally, it was time for the wedding to begin. Everyone took their seats, and the music started playing. Jason stood up at the altar with Sonny by his side. Michael and Morgan walked down the aisle first as co-ring-bearers and they were followed by flower girl Kristina. Carly and Emily, her bridesmaids, soon followed. Next, it was time for the bride. The doors at the back of the church opened, and Mike led Courtney down the aisle. Jason's breath caught in his throat as he looked at her. She was beautiful. With the white dress and white veil, she looked like an angel. Finally, Mike was passing her off to him, and telling him to take care of his daughter.
The ceremony was beautiful, and it was obvious how in love the couple was. Jason went to kiss the bride a little too early, causing laughter from the entire church. Finally, the priest gave them permission, and Jason leaned in and kissed his new wife.
The reception was also beautiful, and Jason remembered watching his wife dance the night away with everyone. Sonny, Mike, Max, Marco, Michael, Morgan (awww), and even Allen and Edward pushed their feelings aside and danced with their new daughter or granddaughter. But it was the dances when she was able to drag Jason up on the dance floor that were the most magical. They were in love, and there was no denying it.
In the middle of the reception, Jason led Courtney outside for a private moment. He kissed her, passionately and romantically, and promised to love her forever. He had held her tightly to him, and that was how Courtney knew she would always be loved. He would always love her.
End Flashback
Now here he was, alone. He just wanted to be able to hold her in his arms again. He didn't want to be separated from his wife, his love. He looked down at his left hand, at the place where Courtney had kissed him. Where his wedding ring should be. He rubbed little circles over his finger with his other hand and sighed. At least he had her kiss, still lingering on his skin. Deciding he needed sleep, he rolled over and tried to find a comfortable spot.
"Goodnight Courtney, I love you" he whispered.
Courtney was sitting on the terrace, looking out at the city. She wished Jason was with her. She could almost imagine him saying goodnight to her. She sighed and brushed back her hair. Getting up, she walked inside and closed the door. She rubbed her hand over the felt of the pool table. They had good memories of that pool table, and most didn't involved pool. She gave in to her feelings, and sat on the couch. She pulled out her wedding album and stared longingly at the pictures. The pictures of happier times. If only things would go back to normal. Putting down the album, Courtney laid back on the couch. It didn't make sense. Jason definitely didn't rape that girl. But why had all the evidence shown that he did. How did his semen get in to her? Courtney tried to remember every single crime show she had ever watched, in hopes that something would give her an answer, but she came up blank. Sighing again, she pulled the blanket over her and tried to get some sleep. She just didn't have the heart to sleep in that big bed all alone. In fact, she had spent the last two weeks on the couch. It wasn't as comfortable as the bed, but she thought it was only fair. Afterall, it wasn't right that Jason was sleeping on an uncomfortable cot. She felt guilty if she was comfortable when he wasn't. She knew that he would argue with her on this one, and tell her that he wanted her to be safe, and warm, and comfortable, but she didn't care. He was too selfless for his own good.
"Goodnight Jason, I love you" she whispered.
A/N: I know the last few chapters have been slightly repetitive, but the real excitement starts up soon. If you read my note up top, you'd know that I just finished writing chapter 11, and not to toot my own horn or anything, but you guys are going to bebegging me for the next chapter, there's just a whole lot of cliff-hanging drama! lol. Keep up the reviews guys, you've all been so awesome and I wish I could think of a better way to thank you all. I'm sending internet good thoughts! And, for those like me, who are suffering through highschool, good luck on your finals if they aren't done yet, and if they are, happy happy summer you lucky people!