Disclaimer: I still don't own them.

Last Train Home Ch. 6

"You know you don't have to do that," Sonny said quietly making Courtney jump from her position behind the sink. She hadn't noticed that anyone else was in the kitchen. After breakfast, everyone cleared out with his or her own separate things to do and with no personal agenda of her own, Courtney began cleaning.

"Oh, I don't mind. It's the least I can do since you guys are letting me stay here," she explained turning back around to the dishes. She could hear Sonny's footsteps retreating, but she felt the overwhelming need to stop him. "Sonny." She watched him turn around and come face to face with her. The look in his eyes was unreadable, as always.

"Yea?"

"Umm, I was wrong that night," she blurted out while fidgeting with her fingers. A look of surprise came across her older brother's countenance, but he didn't say anything. "I didn't mean to betray you and I'm sorry." The only hope was that her apology was not to late. It had taken her a long time to realize that even though she thought she was doing the right thing; it didn't mean it was the right thing to everybody else. Sonny nodded before leaving the room and Courtney with a sink full of dishes.

***

"How do I look?" Michael asked coming out of the changing room to model his tux for Sonny and Jason.

"You look good. It just needs to be tailored a little bit in the legs and arms. Where's Morgan?" Sonny asked looking around the lavish changing rooms for his son.

"He's with the tailor," Michael explained eyeing his reflection in the mirror.

"Ok, why don't you go over there and when he's done with Morgan have him work on yours," Sonny said gently pushing his son in the direction of the old man. He looked over at Jason, who was fussing with his own tux.

"You know that I would only do this for you and Carly," he mumbled. "I hate these monkey suits."
"We appreciate it," Sonny replied and was met with a nod. He had been debating all morning on whether or not to discuss Courtney with Jason. Her apology had thrown him through a loop and he couldn't be sure it was sincere. He needed another person's opinion and who better than his best friend, right? "Courtney admitted that she was in the wrong during the whole Alcazar situation." Sonny watched Jason's reflection in the mirror.

"She did?"

"Yes, I'm not sure how sincere it was, though. You know, I want to believe her." He said working on tying his bowtie.

"But you don't?" Jason asked.

"How do I know that she's not just saying that to get back on my good side and then turn on me again in a couple months?" Sonny reasoned, his paranoia evident.

"Sonny, how many times have you heard Courtney admit that she wrong?" Silence. "Not to often, right?"

"Yea I guess so. Your saying I should believe her?" Sonny mumbled.

"I'm just saying that Courtney was always a very honest person, at least when it came to you and me," Jason replied quietly. "She has her own life in Boston and I doubt that she is going to stick around Port Charles after the wedding. She has no reason to try and fool you, Sonny. Maybe all she wants is some forgiveness before she leaves."

"What about you?" Sonny asked.

"What about me?"

"Well if she wants my forgiveness than she is probably going to want yours as well," he elaborated.

"So?"

"Are you going to give it to her?"

"Look, me and Courtney's situation is very different." Jason explained.

"Not that different. She betrayed you too. If I am going to give her a second chance don't you think you should as well?" Sonny asked. Jason was taken aback by his sudden candidness. After all, he was the man that didn't even want him near Courtney no less than a few hours ago. Now he was trying to put them back together.

"You're getting as bad as Carly. You know that?"

"Well, Carly--you know--she had a point. Things would be a lot different if I had let go of my "foolish" pride." He muttered.

"Would you listen to yourself? Carly's right, Courtney and I should be together. You're losing it." Jason laughed.

"Maybe, I have been spending to much time with Carly," he mumbled. "It's just that…you know, I've done a lot to Carly in the past and she has found it in her heart to forgive me. I don't want to be the reason why you can't forgive Courtney. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think she deserves a second chance. With all of us."

"I can't just turn off my feelings for Courtney. All of the anger and hurt, it's still there." Jason murmured.

"Yea, but what about the love? Is that there? Because if it is than you need to tell her before it's to late." He advised before departing to join his sons on the other side of the store.

***

"Oh! You look amazing, Carl." Courtney offered when she saw her best friend come out from behind the door of the changing room. She was absolutely breathtaking. The dress clung to her in all the right places and was beautifully decorated.

"You think so?" She asked fiddling with the bodice. "I think it's a little to much, you know?"

"No, it's perfect," Courtney, declared straightening out the other woman's train.

"Do you like your dress?" Carly asked taking in the long sleek lavender dress that Courtney was wearing.

"Yea, I love it." She replied with a smile.

"I saw it and I thought of you," the brunette explained. A smile played on her face; this was definitely Courtney's style. It was elegant, but not elaborate. Simple, but not boring. It was her in a nutshell.

"So, what do you want to do after this" Carly asked examining every inch of herself in the mirror.

"I actually I have something I need to do by myself. I'm sorry," she mumbled.

"Sure, no problem. Is everything ok?" Carly asked.

"I just have to go see my dad," Courtney explained. Carly gave her a sympathetic look, but didn't respond before going into the dressing room to change.

***

Kellys looked the same as she left it two years ago. The place was buzzing with citizens of Port Charles, some she knew and some she didn't, but she could hear the murmurs about her when she walked in. Seemed as though the townspeople had not changed all that much, they still have nothing better to do than gossip. She saw Alexis and Justus in the corner, probably discussing Sonny's latest legal problem. Ric was sitting at the center table with Sam. They were both throwing confused glances at her, but where met with a similar perplexed look. When did Sam and Ric get together? Sonny must have been pissed, she thought as she continued her trek to the counter.

"Can I start you off with a cup of coffee, darling?" Penny greeted handing her a menu.

"Hey Penny," she replied with a sad smile. A look of shock ran across the older woman's face.

"Courtney?" She asked, her voice unsure.

"The one and only," she mumbled. "Is my dad around?"

"Umm, yea. Let me go get him for ya," she obliged before making her way into the back of the restaurant.

Mike appeared a few moments later with the same look of shock that Penny had modeled when she recognized Courtney. She looked into her father's eyes trying to find a trace of comfort, but they were cold and lifeless.

"What are you doing here?" He growled and now it was Courtney's turn to be surprised. She thought at least her father would be glad to see her, but apparently that was not the case. As he came closer she realized how much he had aged and also the smell of booze that permeated from his presence.

"Hi dad," she tried with a shaky voice. He remained detached from her and the emptiness in his eyes was quickly being replaced by anger.

"I'm not your father and your not welcome here," he roared causing a few people to glance their way. "You tricked me into walking out on Sonny and then took off!" His anger was now evident causing everyone, who was not looking before, watch the scene unfold.

"I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention." She stuttered her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Yea, well it's exactly what you did! Go get lost for a couple more years. Hopefully by the time you resurface I'll be dead," Mike screamed in her face. A sense of fear came over her. Never had she seen him so angry and it made her very nervous. Not knowing what else to do, she hurried out of the diner as fast her legs would take her.

***

"The shipment went through ok. I informed our connection it was going to be the last delivery for a few weeks," Jason told Sonny over the phone.

"Sounds good. You still at the piers?"

"Yea, why?" Jason asked.

"Faith is planning something, I can tell. I just want to make sure she's not around our property." He replied quietly.

"Well, I don't see her."

"Good, I'll talk to ya tomorrow." Sonny mumbled into the phone before hanging up. Jason was about to exit the waterfront properties when out of the corner of his eye he saw a petite woman sitting on the edge of one the docks. He made his was over to make sure it wasn't Faith and upon closer inspection he realized that it was not Faith, but a very distressed Courtney. This has nothing to do with you. Just walk away, his mind screamed, but he found himself unable to turn his back. It was obvious that she was upset and his conscience would never rest if he didn't at least check on her.

"You alright?" He inquired coming up behind. She must not have heard him approach her, because she nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of his voice. She turned to him and Jason noticed immediately that she was crying. Her tear stained face was flushed and his heart broke.

"Just leave me alone," she uttered.

"You know I can't do that. The docks are still a dangerous place at night." He explained. "Now you can sit out here all night crying your eyes out or you can let me take you home." When she didn't answer him a groan of frustration escaped his lips. "What's wrong?" He asked against his better judgment. He wanted to avoid personal interaction, but found himself drawn to protect her from whatever was bothering her. It was like old times and that was exactly what he wanted to stray from. She had hurt him and he refused to allow her into a position where she could do it again. Then why are you trying to get her to spill her heart to you? His thought was interrupted when she began to speak.

"My dad. He um… well, he hates me," she stuttered pushing away a few stray tears. He watched her reach into her pocket and pull out a bottle of vodka, which was already half gone. She poured a little more of the clear liquid down her throat making a disgusted face at the burning sensation in the back of her throat. Jason was surprised but decided to leave it alone.

"Mike doesn't hate you," he replied.

"If you just saw the scene he made at Kellys than you would be singing a different tune," she told him as she stumbled to her feet.

"Your father loves you. Maybe he was just caught off guard," Jason surmised but she just shook her head.

"You probably would have enjoyed it, though. After all, I deserve it, right? That's why you told me to go talk to him, because you knew that he was angry with me." She finished with another shot.

"Your drunk and delusional," he dismissed her with annoyance.

"Then why, Jason? Why did you tell me to go and see him?"

"Because he's your father! It tore him up when you left. I thought that he would be happy to see you."

"Yea well, he wasn't." She murmured fiddling with the lip of the bottle.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, but she shrugged her shoulders. "Let me take you home."

"Nope. I want to stay here," she answered stubbornly. "I'm a big girl, Jay. I don't need you to baby sit me."

"I'm not leaving you by yourself."

"Well, looks like your in for a long night," she giggled sitting back down on the edge of the dock. Jason rubbed his temples in frustration; Courtney was an obstinate drunk. He could leave her, but a night of worrying didn't appeal to him. So with no other options, he took a seat next her, hoping that she would pass out soon and he could carry her home.