Disclaimer: I don't own anything…

Last Train Home Ch. 15:

Courtney blinked several times in an effort to refocus her eyes. She could feel the panic slowly building up as she looked around the dim lit room completely unaware of her surroundings. Memories of being held captive on Alcazar yacht rushed to the forefront of her mind. She tried to speak, but found her voice inhibited by a long tube. She worked desperately to force down the fear that was settling in her stomach. Ok Courtney, let's be logical. What's the last thing you remember? She tried to calm herself. Suddenly, the events that occurred on the terrace flooded her brain. She remembered hearing the gun cock and throwing herself at Jason. She remembered Jason holding her hand and Carly yelling, but after that everything went fuzzy.

She tried carefully to sit up, but pain shot through all directions of her body. She settled back down and noticed a head of light brown spiky hair on the side of her bed. His head was resting on his hands and the steady rise and fall of his shoulders informed her that he was indeed sleeping. She opened her mouth to speak, but soon remembered that no sound could escape her lips. So instead, she mustered up all the strength she could and slid her hand over the exposed fingers of his right hand. When he didn't stir, she grabbed hold of his thumb and used everything she had in her weary body to squeeze it.

Jason sat bolt upright wiping the sleep from his eyes. Courtney let a small smile settle on her lips as she took in his disheveled appearance. His eyes carefully settled on her and he too allowed a grin to grace his dry lips.

"It's about time," he whispered as he caressed the side of her face with the pad of his thumb. She let herself enjoy his show of tenderness before tears began to spring to her eyes. "Hey, it's ok. Everything is going to be ok." His tone was filled with assurance. Frustration soon settled within her. There were so many things she wanted to say, but couldn't. "I'm just going to get Monica."

He returned moments later with the aging blonde doctor at his side. She smiled and went about prodding the young bed ridden patient. Courtney felt uncomfortable; it was like watching a silent movie with herself as the leading lady.

"Ok Courtney, you've been shot." The older blonde informed her patient. "The bullet penetrated your lung and that is the main reason we had to put you on the respirator, which is prohibiting your speech. Now that you're awake, we have some tests we need to run to ensure your health is up to par. Unfortunately, the respirator is going to have to stay until we are absolutely positive that you can handle breathing on your own." She finished with a smile and reassuring squeeze of the hand. "A few orderlies will bring you upstairs in a little while…" The doctor left leaving the two young people alone. Courtney peered up at Jason, her eyes begging him for answers to the questions that plagued her unsettled mind.

"I'm handling everything," he assured quietly but that did nothing to ease her curiosity. "I've got to go call Sonny and Carly." He was about to leave when her hand on his stopped him. Her clear blue eyes were no longer filled with questions but instead fear. Fear of being left alone in the small confining room and Jason no longer had the heart to walk away. Instead, he sat back down and offered his ex wife a comforting smile.


Elizabeth entered the dank offices of the PCPD unsure of what exactly she was going to do. She wanted to appease Jason, but at the same time did not want end up in jail or even worse, dead. But her consciences had yet to rest and she doubted that it ever would if she did not come clean. Sure, she never liked Courtney but that did not excuse her actions and she needed some repentance for her sins. Hopefully, Ric Lansing could offer it to her.

Her eyes caught sight of the cocky DA sitting at his desk pouring over the daily paperwork. She was about to approach him, but stopped dead in her tracks when she noticed Sam a few paces away. Taking in a deep, Liz worked up all her courage and approached her ex husband.

"Ric, we need to talk…" she greeted all the while looking pointedly at Sam.


The emptiness of the hospital chapel was a welcome relief to Sonny. He had finally convinced Carly to go home and get some sleep and in turn Jason thought that he had convinced Sonny to leave as well. But that was not the case. Sonny needed to stay close to his sister because in his mind he thought that it would somehow make up for all the time they spent apart the past few years. So instead of going home, he snuck off the small chapel located in the back of the hospital.

He took in the scenery trying to calm himself. The altar was covered in candles with each tiny light representing a far more important prayer. He thought about lighting one for Courtney, but quickly decided against it. She didn't need his prayers. No, what she needed was her family. The family he had kept from her for two long years. God, what was he thinking? How could he force his only sister away from everyone that truly cared about her?

This is not about you, Sonny! His mind scolded as he let a nervous hand flutter to his temples trying hard to push away all the thoughts that clouded his normally clear mind. He needed to focus on Courtney and what he could do to make things better for her. He needed to stop finding new and different ways of blaming himself for every little thing that ever occurred between them. The past is the past. His sister's words rang in through his brain and unwittingly gave him the courage to believe it. The past was the past and he was through living in it. He advanced towards the altar and knelt before it.

Sonny let a quiet prayer pass through his lips. It wasn't anything amazing, just a plea for his sister to make it through the hell that she was now enduring. His only hope was that God had not completely shut him out yet.


The Penthouse was well lit by the bright sunshine pouring through the windows. Carly settled down onto the couch and briefly closed her eyes. She had gone from being a blushing bride to a worried sister-in-law within a matter of hours. The transformation had taken a hard toll on her already weary body, but she refused to rest for long. No, she just needed a few moments of silence to regain her composure and then she would finally change out of her wedding dress and shower. She let a sardonic laugh escape her as she felt the silky material between her thumb and forefinger. The dress had held up surprisingly well during it's tour of General Hospital and she made a mental note to send a few extra dollars to the designer.

Forcing herself up off the couch she made her way towards the bathroom. The rooms throughout the Penthouse were eerily quiet and she wished that Michael and Morgan were here instead of at her mother's. She loved it when the boys were in the apartment. They gave the sleek living space more of a homey feel. Carly flicked the showerhead on feel blast and soon the room was filled with steamy goodness. She carefully removed the dress and hung it on a nearby hanger before sliding under the hot streams.

Sonny and Jason knew who did this to Courtney but they were refusing to share their information with her. She had to admit that it was a smart move on their part because she was liable to hunt the perpetrator and kill them with her own hands.

Of course, the brunette had her own suspicions and they centered on Elizabeth Webber. The little twit would stop at nothing to have Jason and Carly knew it. What worried her most was that she had brought Courtney back into the purgatory known as Port Charles. If she had just left her alone, than her sister-in-law would still be in Boston and in good health. Carly had forced her into this position so maybe she was just as much to blame as the person who pulled the trigger. The cooling water signaled that she had been in the shower for far longer than she anticipated and she dejectedly reached to turn off the water spray.

Once covering herself with a towel, she let herself sit on the ledge of the bathtub. She wanted retribution for Courtney,but didn't know how to go about it. She didn't want to do the so-called "Carly thing" and leap into action, which more times than not caused even more conflict. Before she could device a plan of attack, the high-pitched ring of the phone forced her up out of her sitting position and running down the hall towards the nearest reciever.


Jason slapped his cell phone shut as he stared forlornly down the hall that the orderlies had just taken Courtney down. He had promised to be here waiting when the testing was done and used the down time to phone Sonny and Carly and inform them of his ex wife's condition. Now, there was nothing left to do but wait. He had been doing an awful lot of that lately and it could all be contributed to one person. Sam. God, he hated the petite brunette with everything he had in him. She thought that she was so incredibly smart, but had forgotten the old adage that had been ringing in Jason's mind since Elizabeth had made her confession to him. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me a third time and your dead.

Okay, so maybe he made up the last part. But that didn't matter because Sam McCall already had two strikes against her and hopefully--if everything with Ric went expectedly--than she would have three and that was more than enough ammunition for him.


A/N: Uh Oh! What is our dear friend Mr. Morgan planning? I guess you're going to have to wait to find out, sorry! I promise more Journey goodness is on the way. And while I was planning to do something completely different with Sam, I can no longer stand the character. I'm sick of the writers shoving her down my throat every day, so indifference turned to contempt for her. Sorry if that offends anyone, but it's just my opinion.

Okay, I just had to get that little rant off my chest. As always, reviews --even criticism-- are always welcomed. Thanks for reading…