Chapter 12- The Broken Ties that Bind
"Ready?" Serena asked Jason as they stepped off the elevator at Harborview Towers.
Jason just sighed, and she slipped her hand into his. Grateful for her touch, Jason lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. Serena smoothed her hair so that it covered her face and head injury. She didn't particularly want anyone knowing exactly what happened, other than Jason of course, so she and Jason had decided to just tell Sonny that she was attacked without going into specifics. They said their respective hellos to Max, and then walked into Sonny's penthouse.
"You're back! How'd it go?" asked Sonny when they walked in
"Um, things got a little complicated. Are Carly and the boys around?" said Jason
"No, they're at Kelly's"
"Alright, um we got the disc" said Jason, holding up the CD
"But…" prompted Sonny
Jason just looked down at his feet.
"But Herena's dead" said Serena softly
"WHAT!" bellowed Sonny. "WHICH ONE OF YOU SHOT HIM?"
"I did Sonny. But I had to. The plan backfired, he attacked Serena, he was on top of her while she was unconscious! He was going to ra-" said Jason, unable to say the word 'rape'.
"AND KILLING HIM WAS THE ANSWER! THIS MAKES US MORE ENEMIES! THIS PUTS MORE PEOPLE IN THE POSITION FOR RETALIATION"
"Sonny! I did what I had to do!" yelled Jason
"Serena, go across the hall" said Sonny very softly, but his voice was still pulsating with anger.
"Sonny! I am a part of your business as well. Whatever you need to say to Jason, you can say to me"
"GO!" yelled Sonny
"Don't yell at her Sonny! She's been through enough!" cried Jason
"No, you know what baby? It's ok. I'm gone" she said as she gave Jason's hand a final squeeze and threw a dirty look at Sonny.
But Serena didn't leave. Instead, she stood outside of the door, listening to Sonny verbally beat down Jason. She couldn't help but want to cry. Sonny ruled Jason's life. She knew what was coming; Sonny was going to ask him to break up with her. Or order him. Serena just made everything too complicated. She wasn't sure if she could handle being another casualty of the Sonny/Jason war. She didn't think Jason could handle it either. He loved her. What did Sonny have to do with anything?
"Jason, this is unacceptable. You can't let your emotions get in the way of your job" said Sonny
"What was I supposed to do? Let him keep beating her? Let him rape her?" demanded Jason angrily.
"No, the guy was scum. But you knock him out and get out of there"
"Sonny, you didn't see what was going on. This guy was going to kill her. You should see her back! It looks like she was hit by a truck. I touch her, and she's in pain. She moves in the wrong way, and she's in pain! Her whole body is sore from this guy's beating. He was in the process of stripping her when I walked in! I'm sorry if you don't like it, but I killed him to protect her. And I know you would do the same thing for Carly without hesitation. So do not yell at me for this. Yes, I know, I screwed up. And now, maybe people know that we're on to them. But I was willing to take that risk if it meant protecting the woman I love" said Jason, his blue eyes turning cold as he thought about the situation at hand.
"I knew you shouldn't have let her get involved in the business. I knew that she would cloud your head. I warned you"
"Sonny, she's not just going to sit around all day and bake cookies. Serena isn't like that and I love her for it"
"You never listen to me Jason. I warn you, and you chose not to listen to me. It happened with Courtney, and it's happening again"
"It's not happening again" said Jason determinedly
"Jason, this is not working. I'm worried"
"I thought you liked Serena. I thought she became like a little sister to you!"
"She did! And that's what worries me. We're getting so attached. For all we know, she could be reporting back to the Sandovols on our every move."
Outside in the hall, Serena tried desperately to swallow her tears. Did they really think she was using them?
"She is not reporting back to the Sandovols. She genuinely loves me Sonny!" cried Jason
"Alright, so let's say she's not. Even so, don't you think she's going to be a big target? She has enemies of her own as well. You're going to be so preoccupied with saving Serena that you're not going to do your job"
"Sonny, what are you saying?"
"I am saying that maybe you and Serena need to take a break"
"From the business?" asked Jason
"No. From each other" said Sonny.
Serena wasn't about to stick around to hear more, she took off running, tears blinding her vision. She pushed past Max and got into the elevator, not sure of where she was going, and not really caring.
Back in the penthouse, Jason was staring at Sonny with disbelief.
"Are you kidding! You tried this with Courtney, and it didn't work. Remember! It just hurt everyone who was involved"
"Jason, I don't want to hurt anyone. Which is why I'm asking you to do this"
"Sonny, I have given up everything for you. I gave up Courtney for a while; I gave up Michael, and Carly. I gave you my Quartermaine money, and I am more than willing to give up my life. But I can't give up Serena. She's my reason for living. She left her husband for me! She sacrificed everything to be with me, and I'll sacrifice everything to be with her"
Sonny sighed, and ran his hand through his dark hair. He knew there was no fighting with Jason. He hated putting his best friend in the middle of it all. He hated making him choose. And how could he do that to him again? But he was worried about his family. Serena included.
"Alright" said Sonny finally
"Alright what?" asked Jason
"Alright, go be with your girlfriend. Take care of her. Maybe take her to the hospital, those bruises sounded bad"
Jason smiled and started walking toward the door. He was nearly there when he turned around and looked at Sonny again.
"Thank you" said Jason
Sonny smiled at him and said "go get her to the hospital! I'll call Kemen and fill him in. And that is an order"
Jason bounded out of the penthouse and across the hall. Serena was no where in sight. Running back into the hall he asked Max if he had seen her. Max told him that he had seen her leave in the elevator. He also let him know that Serena was listening in at the door.
"When did she leave?" asked Jason
"About ten minutes ago" answered Max
"Shit!" said Jason. How much had Serena heard?
Deciding the elevator was too slow; heran down the stairs and set on his search for her.
Serena sat in the park, just staring at the trees. It was autumn, and the trees were becoming beautiful colors. She sighed as she tried to think about what to do with her life next. To her dismay, she started crying again. She was wallowing in her own self pity when she was disturbed by a voice. The voice belonged to a man of medium height with dark hair. He was somewhat attractive. He didn't have the muscular Jason look, but he had a cute face.
"Is this seat taken?" he asked her, flashing a smile.
"No, go right ahead" said Serena, trying to wipe away her tears before anyone saw.
"You look like you've been crying" he said.
"What? Oh, no, it's nothing" she answered
"It doesn't seem like nothing" he replied.
"I just came to the realization that I don't mean as much to my boyfriend as I thought I did"
"Ah, you have a boyfriend"
"Not anymore. He's going to break up with me" she said.
"And how do you know that?" asked the man
"Believe me, I know" she said, trying not to sound too downtrodden
"Yeah, well your boyfriend's an idiot then" he said as she chuckled. "I'm serious. Look, I don't know you, and for all I know you could be a psychotic. But right now, you seem like a sweet, beautiful, kind person" he said, looking into her eyes.
She was captivated by his trance. She immediately knew how to get over Jason.
"Would it be alright if I kissed you?" she asked him breathlessly
"Excuse me?" he asked
But she didn't give him a chance to answer. She leaned over and pressed her lips to his. The kiss deepened and they wrapped their arms around one another. They didn't even know each others names, yet here they were, making out in the park.
Jason's next stop was the park. He was walking through it, about to give up hope when he saw her. But she wasn't alone. His eyes widened in surprise at the sight he saw, and his heart seemed to fall out of her chest. Serena, his girlfriend, his life, his reason for living, was kissing…
A/N: Who's Serena kissing? Review to find out.