Ten minutes went by. Carly and Marissa were still waiting for Jason to get in class. Outside the window they saw two flashing red lights, and then heard the siren of the ambulance. At the same time, Jason walked into the classroom and took his seat next to Carly.

"Jase, you beat him up that bad?" Carly whispered.

"Well, Sonny called and told me what AJ said to you, and to make sure AJ didn't come near you. When I saw AJ handling you like that, I decided that's what I had to do," Jason whispered back to her.

"Aaw, my knight in shining armor," Carly teased. "But really, thank you. I can't wait until he's out of my life."

There was a knock on the door and then the principal, Mr. Busa, walked in with a young cop, Mac Scorpio.

"Ms. Cruz," he said to the teacher, "I'm sorry to interrupt your class, but I need Jason Morgan out here."

Jason got up silently, but Carly couldn't hold in her anger. "If anyone should be arrested, it's AJ. Jason was only defending me, because AJ just can't get the hint to leave me alone," Carly yelled.

"Miss Benson, do we need to bring you down to the station as well?" Mac asked.

"Carly, just be quiet. I'll talk to you later, okay? Just go to Sonny's after school and you'll be fine," Jason told her.

"Okay." She gave him a hug and a smile, and then he was gone.

Carly was worried. She knew this might be one thing Sonny couldn't get him out of. And it was all because of her, all because of one bad decision she'd made. She wondered if this would become a trend in her life.

"Carly? Carly!" Marissa exclaimed. "Where's your head at? Class just ended biotch."

"Oh, right. Look, I don't want to be here any longer. I'm going to call Sonny and have him come pick me up," Carly said, her mind coming back down to earth. "I have to know what happens to Jason."

"Have fun. Don't fuck him too soon," Marissa replied. Carly laughed. "I won't be fucking anyone for a long time. Look at how much trouble the last one has caused, and that was a year ago. I mean, I'm living with those nut cases. That's the worst thing anyone could ask for."

She walked outside and waited for Sonny. As soon as he pulled up, Carly could see that he was angry.

"We talk every day about how important education is, yet you have to leave school because you can't wait a few hours to see Jason," Sonny said, exasperated.

"What are you, my father or my friend?" Carly asked, annoyed and anxious to find out what was going on with Jason.

"I'm your friend, which is why I want to make sure you do everything you can to give yourself and your son a good life. And because I am a father, and you're part of my daughter's life, I have to make sure you're a good influence. Besides all that, I care about you and Michael. Both of you deserve the best," he replied.

"Thanks, Sonny. That means a lot to me, although I'm not sure seventeen with a baby exactly says good example."

"Hey, you're living a decent life, you're a good mother, and you respect yourself and others, most of the time. Anyway, Kristina doesn't know how babies are made yet," Sonny told her.

"Are you kidding me! Ten years old and she doesn't know how babies are made. I knew way before that," Carly said.

"Well of course you did," he said, laughing. "I don't think the stork brought you the baby that grew in there."

He tapped her stomach, and Carly wished there were more behind that touch, but she forgot that thought when she remembered Jason.

"What's going on? Do you think he can get out of this?" Carly asked, upset again.

"Definitely," Sonny reassured her. "Mac mentioned something about talking to you. I guess the Quartermaines refuse to believe that Jason was provoked, and the cops just want you to tell the story. Alexis is already there, so I was thinking we should go now."

"Fine. Michael's with Letecia?"

"Yup. He was having his morning bottle when I left."

Qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq

Carly walked into the police station quickly, eager to help her friend. Plus, she didn't want to feel guilty if Jason were in long term trouble. Carly felt the whole situation was her fault, and she didn't want Jason to take the rap for it.

"Carly," Alexis greeted, emotionless.

Alexis had never liked Carly, and Carly could never figure out why. She guessed it was because so much of Sonny's attention went to her and Michael instead of to Kristina.

The truth is, Alexis was simply jealous of Carly. She saw that despite her being a teenager, Sonny had feelings for Carly that he would never have for Alexis. Sonny had assured her that they were only friendly feelings, but Alexis thought different. And she hated the look he got in his eyes when he looked at Carly. It was as if everything else in the world just vanished and Carly was all that was left. Alexis longed for Sonny to look at her like that.

"Hi, Alexis. What do I need to do here?" Carly asked, wanting to get away from Alexis.

"It's really simple, Carly. You just have to tell Mac your side of the story and try not to make Jason look bad. So, let me hear what you're going to say," Alexis prompted.

"I'm going to say exactly what happened. I was talking to Marissa when AJ came over and started and argument with me. Then he grabbed me and tried to pull me away. Jason saw it and was defending me," Carly told her.

"Well, you might want to add–" Alexis began.

Sonny interrupted her. "Leave her alone. That's fine, Alexis. It's just a statement; she's not in court."

Carly told Mac the same story she had told Alexis and added, "AJ's been threatening to take Michael from me for a long time, saying that I'll never see him again. AJ's also drunk all the time, and a danger to anyone who comes near him. He got into a drunk driving accident and destroyed his brother's life. Jason didn't want the same thing for his nephew. He was defending me and Michael. Jason is not guilty of anything."

When Mac told her she could go, Carly ran back out to Sonny. "I hope I helped."

"I know you did," Sonny told her as he embraced her in a hug.

"Ready to go?" he asked, releasing her.

Carly nodded and Sonny added, "I don't think we're going to get your thing today. None of the Quartermaines will be there. They're all with AJ."

"Okay, then let's go back to your place. I'd really like to give Michael his afternoon nap. I miss him so much during the day," she replied.

So, that's what they did. Carly lay with Michael on the bed in Sonny's guest room. She still couldn't quite believe that this was to be her home.

"I know you love it here, Michael," she said, "and living here with Uncle Sonny is the best thing for you. I know you don't understand any of this right now, but one day you will. See, your dad, AJ, is a really bad guy. He's an alcoholic, and he puts your life in danger every time he comes near your. He doesn't treat your mama well, and I don't want him to ruin you life. That's why we're here, because Uncle Sonny can give you a better home and a better life."

Michael started to cry and Carly rocked him in her arms, singing the only song that would get him to sleep.

"Baby's black balloon makes her fly

I almost fell into that hole in your life

And you're not thinking about tomorrow

'Cause you were the same as me

but on your kees."

Carly looked down and saw Michael was sleeping. She decided she could sleep, too.

The next thing she knew, Sonny was shaking her shoulder and whispering, "Carly, do you want dinner? You've been sleeping forever. I didn't know if you wanted to get up or not."

"Yeah. Where's Michael?" she said groggily.

"In the living room with Jason."

Carly's face lit up. "Jason's here!"

She got up in a flash and ran down the stairs, yelling, "Jason!" the whole way down.

Sonny smiled as she ran ahead of him, but at the same time he was wondering, "Would she be this excited if it were me?"