A/N: Hi guys, sorry I haven't updated in awhile. I'm trying to get into a regular writing schedule. Usually, I write a bit, update, repeat, but I'm working on getting ahead of my postings so I get upload faster for you.

Still wondering who Court's gonna chose? GOOD! HAHAHAHAHA!

Please read and review, it helps me remember to update when I see the e-mail with a review come in. I generally look and go "crap! I need to update my fanfiction!" So, it does you good too! Love to all who've reviewed thus far. I truly do appreciate it.

Chapter 8 (finally)

"Courtney?" Carly knocked and entered. Courtney smiled and turned her head toward her friend.

"Hey," she said tiredly. Seeing the look on Carly's face, she frowned. Something was wrong. "What's happened?"

"You are very insightful," Carly smiled.

"Carly." She narrowed her eyes at her. Carly took a deep breath.

"Jason's gone."

"Gone?" Courtney asked quickly, eyes widening. "What do you mean 'Jason's Gone'? Gone how? He's not- I mean, he was just here. He can't be-."

"Would you let a girl finish?" Carly reprimanded before the blonde could throw herself into a fully-fledged panic.

"Sorry."

"Uh-huh…" Carly rolled her eyes. "He just- left. I don't know why… he told me to keep out of trouble, kissed me on the cheek and was gone."

"That's it? That's all he said?"

"He also said to tell you he'd meant everything he'd said to you…whatever that means… he also said to say he was sorry that he kept hurting you…and that it wouldn't happen anymore."

"Whoa, whoa, what does that mean, exactly?"

"No idea, but he called Monica 'Mom'." Courtney inhaled sharply.

"Wow…He really said that?" She paused as the impact of that simple word struck her. "Oh God, what's he going to do?"

"I don't know."

"Do you know who did this?" She waved her arm, indicating the hospital room and herself.

"Yes, Lorenzo Alcazar paid a man to shoot and miss you, to scare Sonny. You know, put him on edge. But he hit you instead."

"Did Jason know this?"

"Yes, he was the first to find out."

"Oh God…He's gonna kill Alcazar."

"I guess so."

"And then what? What's he going to do next? He said he wouldn't hurt me anymore. What does that mean? He not going to…you know… to himself? I mean, he wouldn't do that, right?" Carly didn't answer. "Right!" The panic flared inside her again.

"I'm not so sure." Carly responded quietly. Courtney's eyes grew wide as saucers. "For you? He might just do anything."

"Oh God…" Tears welled in her pretty blue eyes. "This is all my fault…. He didn't give me time to say anything or explain. He just assumed that I didn't love him anymore. Why didn't I make him listen to me?" Carly, put her hands on her friend's shoulders.

"Honey, what ARE you babbling about? You lost me after the self-blame bit?"

"Sorry," Courtney got a grip on herself and explained the conversation she'd had with Jason earlier.

"Holy-."

"Yeah."

"Jesus Christ."

"Exactly."

"Alan, he called me 'mom'." Monica was explaining to her husband in hushed tones in the break room.

"Wow."

"He's going to do something stupid…stupid and illegal. I can feel it."

"Most likely. He is, after all, a criminal." Monica slapped his arm.

"He's also your son, you insensitive jerk. You should at least pretend to care."

"Why should I? He never did." Alan said coldly. Monica slapped him again, higher up his arm this time.

"He doesn't remember anything at all during his crucial childhood years. It isn't his fault that he doesn't love parents he can't remember. For all he knows, he may not be his parents at all and we've just faked all the evidence we've given him."

"True, but still."

"'But still' nothing. He's our son and I'll protect him as best and as long as I can. With or without your help. I have to find him before he does something that will get him killed." Monica strode purposefully from the room. She'd gotten halfway down the hall when a hand grabbed her wrist.

"I'm coming with you." Alan's voice stated, twining his fingers with hers and, together, they left the hospital to try and find their son.

"So, the sulky, brooding hit man's gone? Pity." Jax's voice dripped with sarcasm. Carly walked over and slapped him soundly across the face. Jax looked slightly taken aback for a moment, before rubbing his cheek with a shit-eating grin on his face. "Violence is always the answer with this family, isn't it? No wonder Courtney wanted out. You're all insane and are Damn sure to kill each other in the end."

"Shut up Jax." Courtney's cold, angry voice snapped all of their heads around. There, in a wheelchair and looking furious but strong, sat Courtney, blonde hair falling over her shoulders as she glared at the Aussi. "Don't ever speak about my family that way."

"Courtney, this "family" nearly got you killed. Why bother defending them?"

"Because the have always been there for me. And they'll be here for me still, when you're gone. There was something forming between us, Jax, I admit that. But this experience has given me a lot to think about. It's made me consider and reconsider the way I've done things the last few months. And I regret a lot of it. And some of it I'm not sure I can fix."

"Like your marriage to the hit man?" Jax interrupted coldly.

"That, among other things." Courtney admitted. "Jax, I've loved Jason for a really long time. He dragged me out of one of the darkest times of my life and he made me feel whole again. He gave me back my pride and my confidence. And now he's gone and I hope to God he hasn't done something foolish. But right now, Jax, I want you to go. You hate my family, I know that, and you know that. So, right now, your place is not here, in this hospital, with the people you can't stand. So, please, just leave."

Jax gaped at her, unwilling to believe the words he'd just heard. She was forcing him out. She was pushing him away. How the hell did this happen? What did Jason have that he didn't? A gun and a license to kill?

"I'm going to fight for you, Courtney. I won't let Jason Morgan have you again without a fight." With that, he picked up the pair of crutches he'd been given and swung away. Courtney sighed. Somehow, she didn't doubt that he had spoken honestly. Well, if Jase was dead, it wouldn't be much of a fight, now would it?

TO BE CONTINUED...

A/N: I know it's kinda short. I'm working on that, really. Please R&R, it makes me happy and in the writing mood. : )