A/N: I have excellent news. I was about to give in and update anyway, even though I had only gotten nine reviews. And then I checked my mail once more, and ta-da! I got ten reviews. I knew I had some self-control. So I'm going to try it again, but this time, I'm going to get even more ego-inflated. I want twelve reviews this time guys, I know you can do it! Anyway, I posted a new story today, but it's a JaSam, so I don't know if this crowd is going to be into it. If you're just a Jason fan like moi, than it's a story for you. It's called Girl in Your Dreams. So any Jason fans, go read it.
emmalee05- That was an excellent review if I may say so myself. I'm glad you had so many great things to say about my story, and I'm very happy that you are all into my story.
luvthemorgans- Everyone should learn from you. For everyone else, she was so eager to read more that she was ready to post nine more reviews. That's a true fan, and I thank you!
courtneylovejason- I work at a summer camp too, I know all about the word awesome. That and tushy. Apparently, we can't say butt. Anyway, thanks for the review. It was more than a good enough review, it was an awesome review (Sorry for the corny joke)
tydavislover- Thanks for reviewing. I didn't get them all last night, but here I am again, the next day. Hope this tides you over until my next update (which, knowing me, will be tommorow)
anon14- Intriguing. I like that word. I'm glad I keep you intrigued. Keep reading!
SVUAngel- You can always tell me that you love my story. It makes me happy. Keep reading, I'm glad you like it.
britchic- It is sooooo cool that you're British. Is it weird watching TV and everyone has an accent? Sorry, going off topic. Anyway, thanks for the review, I'm glad you took the time this chapter. Keep reviewing though! It takes like what, ten seconds? Just do it! And thank you.
Journeylover062- I know that it's taking a while to see who really did what, but give it time. It's more suspensful that way. And yes, I'll admit it. It's a little annoying. But all will be revealed in due time. There is method to my madness.
Eaglesgirl- To find out if your right, you're just going to have to keep reading. I'm not going to give it away. Thanks for reviewing, keep it up!
jordananne- Thank you for calling me evil and crazy all in the same review. J/k. But yes, it was a meaningful review. I'm glad you feel that there's never a dull moment, and I'm glad that you're so into it.
April- Congratulations, you are reviewer number 10! Your prize is... me posting this chapter. I'm glad you love it, and I hope you keep reading and reviewing.
Alrighty, so here I am, counting to make sure I thanked all of you, and then I realized, hey! I can't count. There are eleven reviews here. Which means, sorry April, you are not reviewer number 10. But lied to me on their stupid little stat counter. That's kinda weird. Unless it's just having delayed reactions. So guys, I am very sorry that I didn't update sooner. I was in a counting haze. So I'm just going to shut up and go right along with this chapter. I think it's 15, but it's me, so we may not be sure.
Chapter 15- Judgment Day
"All rise for the honorable Judge Franklin" said the bailiff as the judge walked in.
"Has the jury reached a verdict?" she asked.
"Yes your honor" said the foreman. "We the jury find Jason Morgan guilty of all charges"
Courtney started crying and she felt her ears ringing. She didn't hear as the judge went along and scheduled a sentencing hearing for later on that day. She didn't notice as she was led from the room, and as Jason was pulled away from her. She barely remembered Emily and Monica trying to get her to eat or drink something before the hearing. She did however remember the sentencing hearing. She remembered Durant asking for the death penalty, and his wish being granted. She remembered the feeling of loss as she realized that Jason was going to be executed. Jason was officially on death row.
Courtney didn't know what to do with herself. What does one do when a group of random strangers decides that your husband's going to be executed? Monica and Emily were just as upset with what was going on. Monica insisted on taking both Courtney and Emily home with her. She feared the two girls would do something stupid or harmful. Of course, home meant the Quartermaine mansion. And that would be a frenzy normally, but with the trial, it would be worse.
The first person to greet the women was Edward. The man had a sickeningly large smile on his face.
"Ah yes, if it's not the Jason Morgan cheerleading squad!" he said, his voice echoing with glee. "Sorry that your team lost the big game" said Edward with mock sympathy.
"Shut up Edward. This your own grandson your talking about" snapped Monica.
"No, he isn't" said Alan, interrupting as he came into the foyer. "Jason Quartermaine was his grandson. But he died years ago. The man who's been sentenced to death today is a disgusting excuse for a human being. He deserves whatever he gets, but even death is too easy for him" yelled Alan.
That snapped Courtney out of her funk. In a matter of half a second, she reached out and slapped Alan in the face, mustering up all of the might she could. Everyone just stared in shock.
"I will not be battered in my own house by some mob princess" said Alan.
"Your forget Alan, this is my house" said Monica, seriously regretting not divorcing Alan when she said she was going to.
"That's a moot point" said Alan, and Edward agreed with him.
"Come on Dad, Grandfather, have hearts. Like it or not, Jason is your family. What would Lila say if she knew that you were here, finding the fact that Jason is going to be executed laughable! How do you think she would feel?" asked Emily before storming upstairs to cry on the bed in her old bedroom.
Courtney just stood there, shooting fire out of her eyes, while more Quartermaines staggered in.
"What is it that princess is so upset about now?" asked Tracey. "Seriously, this is not still about Jason's conviction, is it? Ah, Courtney, good to see you. But I should remind you that technically, after your husband goes under the firing squad, you're no longer a Quartermaine. Which means you can't leach off of us anymore" said Tracey.
"That is enough!" bellowed Monica. "I want you all out of my house! Pack your things and leave. Or, you can stay here, and at least fake compassion. Try and be human beings. Jason is a better person than any of you are, and ever will be. And so is Courtney. No one will badger her, and no one will judge Jason, because I will throw you out of this house so fast, you won't have to time to grab your devil horns and pitchforks!" yelled Monica.
The family mumbled a little, but when they saw that she was serious, they dispersed and attempted to keep their comments to themselves. Courtney was still standing there, but her eyes seemed dead this time, not angry. Dillon and Georgie had been there to see the whole thing, and the two exchanged glances. Courtney looked so sad.
"You ok?" asked Georgie, walking up to Courtney.
"How can I be ok?" questioned Courtney. "How?"
"We're sorry, we both really are" said Dillon. "Jason was the only person in this family who was remotely bearable"
"Is, he is remotely bearable" said Courtney. "He's not dead yet, and I won't let him die. I cant" said Courtney, pushing past both of them and Monica and running out the door, desperate to get out of that house. Monica chased after her, yelling her name to stop her.
"Courtney, come on" she said, chasing Courtney down the winding driveway. "You can't just leave. You're going to hurt yourself or the baby. Jason is picturing you being safe and warm somewhere. Don't take that picture away from him. Come in and be safe and warm" said Monica.
Courtney eventually agreed and allowed Monica to lead her to the guest bedroom where she was instructed to lie down. She needed to protect the baby. She needed to keep her and Jason's child safe.
'Oh god' thought Courtney. 'Jason is going to be executed. I am carrying his baby, and he doesn't even know about it. And now, he's never going to. This baby is going to grow up without a daddy' she thought, tears streaming down her cheeks. Both she and baby needed him, and now, he was going to be strapped down to a gurney and given a lethal injection. It wasn't right.
Giving up on the nap, Courtney pushed open the heavy door of the room and started wandering around the hallways. She tried to open some doors just a crack to see what was inside, but she found most of them locked. Finally, she found an open one. Pushing the door open, she walked into the room, quickly closing the door behind her as she heard voices. She didn't want Monica to drag her back to bed. Looking around at the room, Courtney thought maybe it was Dillon's. It looked like it belonged to a boy in college or high school. Then, it hit Courtney like a ton of bricks. This was Jason's room. Monica must not have changed it after he left. She must have wanted to preserve the memory of her son. Walking around, Courtney ran her hand over the comforter on the bed, imagining Jason as a young boy sitting on that bed. She knew his childhood had been tough, not like he could remember it himself. He knew that Alan had constantly pitted him against AJ, and that AJ loved to torment him for being illegitimate. She knew that his mother had died when he was young, and that he had been forced to grow up in this hell hole called the Quartermaine house. She knew that he had been studying to be a doctor. Wasn't that her dream growing up; to marry a richdoctor? But Jason wasn't a doctor, he was a hit man. He had often told her that he was grateful for his accident in retrospect. It had brought him her. It had brought him his new life.
Courtney put her head down on the pillow and stretched out on the bed, looking at the ceiling. This was where Jason Quartermaine had stared many a night long ago in the past. She knew that deep down in her Jason, this man was lodged. And being in that room made her feel connected to him. She closed her eyes, and to her surprise, she found herself floating off to a gentle sleep.
Carly burst into the Quartemaine Mansion and started looking for Monica, brushing off Reginald and Alice.
"Monica!" she yelled on the top of her lungs repeatedly, and finally the woman came running down the stairs to see who was calling.
"Carly, what in god's name are you doing here?" she asked her.
"Monica, I need to see Courtney, and I know she's here. So don't try to convince me that she's not. COURTNEY!" she called.
"Keep your voice down Carly! She's sleeping" scolded Monica.
"Fine, I'll wake her up" said Carly, pushing past Monica and heading up the stairs.
Carly was looking through all of the rooms when she looked at one door. She knew that was Jason's old room. She wiped away a tear that fell down her face. She needed Sonny to fix this. She couldn't imagine her life without her best friend. He couldn't let Jason be executed. But for once, Carly decided to stop thinking about herself and instead focus on Courtney and her unborn child. Although Courtney wouldn't admit to Carly that she was pregnant, Carly knew. She could see it in her glow, and the way she put one hand on her stomach. And she knew it that day in the hospital when she tried to fix her relationship with Courtney. Carly was about to resume the Courtney search, but curiosity got the best of her. Pushing open the door, she was surprised at the sight she saw.
Sitting down on the side of the bed, she gently stroked Courtney's hair. Her best friend looked so peaceful just lying there.
"Courtney" she whispered. "Court"
"Jason?" Courtney questioned in her sleep.
Carly's heart nearly broke. "No sweetie, it's Carly" she said.
"Carly, what are you doing here?" asked Courtney, waking up a little bit.
Jason was transported to a different facility. His prison blues were changed for a white jump suit. A metal electronic bracelet was transfixed to his ankle. His hair was cut, and any privacy he ever had was taken away. He was now in the system for good. He lost his freedom, his happiness, and his life. He was no longer Jason Morgan, loving husband, brother, friend, uncle, and, unbeknownst to him, father. He was prisoner number 998357. He was a number. A number with zero control. It didn't matter that he demanded to see his wife. It didn't matter that he needed to see Courtney. The guards had the nerve to laugh at him. Of course, it didn't take much nerve. They were the ones with the guns. They're hands weren't tied behind their backs. And if they hit him, they might get the teeniest slap on the wrist, but most likely not. If he hit them, he got to sit in a room by himself, handcuffed and bound, for hours on end. He had never been so helpless and he hated it. All he wanted was Courtney. Last he had seen of her, she wasn't doing so well. She looked pale and was crying as it was announced that he would be given the death penalty. How could this be happening? He had done plenty of terrible crimes, but none as terrible as what they were accusing him of. Yet, this one he didn't do was the one that got him convicted and punished.
Carmen's family had said that death was too good for him, but they would take it. They wanted him to suffer for the crimes he did against their baby girl. But the extent of the crimes against Carmen was kidnapping. He was charged with kidnapping. But he was also charged with rape and murder. He was officially a sex offender. Because of some girl whose family wanted retaliation for mob related reasons. The Pareña's were smart. They knew that they could send someone after him, but it would have little effect. Hit men were excellent with dealing with other hit men. He would save his own life. But going to the police… that was a low blow. It was effective, but it was a low blow. He wished he never kidnapped that girl. He wished he never touched her. But that was what he did. He was Sonny's bitch. He did whatever Sonny told him to do. Sonny said tear out your own heart, give up Courtney, and he did it. Sonny said don't kill someone like Ric, and he didn't kill Ric. It didn't matter that Ric would later kidnap Carly. It didn't matter that in the end, Ric would be responsible for the death of his own daughter. The near demise of his own relationship with Courtney. No, as long as Sonny said it, it was golden. Jason wanted to punch someone, but his hands were currently chained in back of him. The only thing he could hit was his own ass. But that made sense. Cause everything always came back to bite him in the ass. Everything.
Sonny poured himself the scotch, staring at the liquid. Guilt was something he was never good at dealing with. Jason was going to be executed because of him. He had told Jason to kidnap that girl. He should have known something terrible would happen. He looked around his finely decorated penthouse. He knew that Jason wasn't surrounded by such luxuries right now. Jason was probably in a concrete cage, being taunted by guards, other prisoners, and his own mind. Sonny threw the glass across the room, watching as it smashed into a thousand sparkling pieces against the door. He had believed that his best friend had raped someone. But had he? Sonny still wasn't sure. He didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to think about Jason hurting some woman. It brought back memories of his step-father beating his mother. Deke forcing his mother to do things she really didn't want to. Sonny rubbed his eyes, hoping that this whole nightmare would be over. He didn't know what to do. It was a maximum security prison, and Sonny didn't have any high ranking contacts. He was stuck. Jason was stuck.
"I am here because I know. I know everything. But, that's nothing new to me. I know that you're pregnant. I know that you didn't tell Jason yet, and now your thinking you may never get the chance. I know that it is killing you to imagine that Jason is going to be executed. Oh, and I know that Jason didn't do it" said Carly, a determined look on her face.
A/N: Alrighty people, this is a friendly reminder: this story is fiction! I know for a fact that NY doesn't execute people. There are a total of four, count them, four, men on death row, and they've been there for a while and will continue to be there. The last time anyone was executed in the state of NY was in the 70's. We New Yorkers just don't do it. We're not Texas (no offense to any Texans (ie: Seth Cohen's Girlfriend, I know you're from Texas, sorry to you especially), but my god does your state execute an awful lot of people! I myself am firmly against the death penalty, but my politics wont be discussed here (don't even get me started on abortion and legalizing marijuana for medical purposes)) Anyway, we're going to pretend for my story that executions happen in NY state. Just pretend. Imagine a parallel dimension world. New York is now Texas. At least in this matter. Anyway, remember to review.