Waking up in a hospital with a gunshot wound to the arm wasn't making Jason happy.
Carly had been sitting with him when his eyes finally opened. Jason had been stuck in a comatose dream state it seemed to him, he couldn't find his way out. He kept thinking of Courtney and the baby, and he knew he had to wake up as soon as possible so he could find them.
"Jason, you have to relax," Carly warned as she laid a protective hand on Jason's chest as he made to sit up.
"Carly, you can't be serious. Courtney was kidnapped! What if something happens? I have to find her, right now!" Jason said as he ignored the painful twinge in his arm. He swung his legs over the side of the hospital bed, "Would you get me my jeans and my shirt?"
"Yeah, yeah of course I will," Carly relented as she walked over to the chair and grabbed the clothes, noticing the bloodstain on the shirt, she asked, "Do you want me to run home and get you a clean shirt?"
"No, no there's no time," Jason said as he snatched the clothes from Carly's hands and headed toward the bathroom.
Carly paced back and forth in the hospital room. She knew how much Jason hated hospitals. Her thoughts drifted to Courtney. Poor Courtney, Carly thought. Both of them knew what it was like to be kidnapped, held against your will. They did it with Ric, they did it with Lorenzo. Courtney didn't deserve this, Carly thought as tears filled her eyes. Jason and Courtney's unborn son didn't deserve this.
As Jason came out of the bathroom, dressed in the bloodstained shirt and the jeans from the previous night, Carly wiped away her tears. Jason didn't need to deal with her right now as well. He needed her to be strong, not weak.
"It's okay to cry Carly," Jason said, noticing the way she was attempting to hide from him.
"I just, I'm sorry Jason. Courtney, she's my best friend, my sister. She's carrying my nephew, married to my best friend! I, um, Courtney, she holds this family together…" Carly said as she wandered over to where Jason was and hugged him gently, careful not to hurt his sore arm.
Monica had said that the bullet had only grazed his arm, thank God, but that it would be tender for a little bit.
"I'm so sorry Jason, I'm sorry," Carly whispered into her best friend's chest. Jason felt tears well up and fall on top of the brunette's head.
After her tears had stopped, Jason pulled back.
"I have to talk to Sonny," he said as he touched her shoulder and exited the hospital room. Jason knew that Sonny would be doing everything possible to get Courtney back. That he would be working his hardest on finding her. He just hoped they'd be in time. He forced himself to hold back his tears, and he made his way through the hospital, ignoring the nurse who yelled that he didn't receive his release papers yet.
I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
Cause your presence still lingers here, and it won't leave me alone.
Slowly, Courtney blinked her eyes open and found that she was lying on a completely unfamiliar bed. Attempting to sit up wasn't as difficult as she had expected it to be. She had such a migraine that she felt like someone had knocked her out. Then she remembered…
Armando Sandoval threatening her at the bar, the shooting, Jason falling to the floor…
Courtney's hand immediately went to her mouth. Jason. She had to find out if he was okay! What if, what if he was d…
"You're awake," a man Courtney didn't recognize appeared in front of her.
"Where am I?" Courtney asked, putting a protective hand on her stomach.
"I can't tell you that Mrs. Morgan," the man said, almost like he felt bad for her.
"Could I please use a phone? I need to find out…"
"Your husband's alive. He's out of the hospital, the bullet only grazed his arm," the man said. Courtney noticed that he had sort of a Spanish accent. He had dark hair and dark eyes. He seemed haunted by something. He gave off an aura of mystery, and Courtney, well since she was here, she might as well find out what it was.
"How do you know that?" Courtney asked suspiciously.
"Mr. Sandoval informed me. He told me you would ask questions," the man said, with a slight smile.
Courtney nodded her head. "What's your name?"
"Antonio," the dark haired man said.
"Antonio, could I please make a phone call? I just want my husband to know that I'm okay," Courtney said as she rubbed her stomach.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Morgan, I'm under strict orders. I can't let you call anyone, or let you out of the house," Antonio said.
The room she was in had walls painted maroon, with cream colored carpeting and paintings on the walls. There were several chairs and a sofa placed about the room. It was a beautiful room. It looked like it had been done by a designer.
"I don't want to see Mr. Sandoval," Courtney said sternly.
"You may not have a choice," Antonio said.
Courtney nodded and laid her head back down on the pillow and turned away from Antonio.
He noticed that she wanted to be left alone and said before he left to go into the security room of the house, "If you're hungry, knock on the door on your left. I'll get you something to eat." And he left.
Courtney would talk to him more later, she decided as she felt her son kick. His doing that brought tears to her eyes. She needed Jason, she missed him. What if she had to have the baby without him? The mere thought brought more tears, she scrunched up her face and let the tears fall.
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase.
Entering PH4, Jason found Sonny sitting in his chair, a scotch in his hand. He saw Lorenzo Alcazar sitting across from him. They seemed to be involved in a heated conversation. Jason could feel the tension in the room.
"Did you find her?" Jason asked as he walked quickly over to the two men.
"We have a map of all the safe houses that he could have brought her to," Sonny said as he downed the remainder of the liquor in his glass.
"And?" Jason pressed, needing to know all the details.
"That's it," Lorenzo said.
"That's it?" Jason said, louder than he meant to.
"Jason, it only happened last night," Sonny said as he got up and began to pace.
"Give me the map," Jason demanded as he searched it for a familiar name, something that would stand out…
"We looked at it, for hours," Lorenzo said, "He won't hurt her. It's all about leverage."
"Don't," Jason said, "Last time she was held prisoner, she miscarried. It devastated her, and me. Who's fault was that again?" Jason yelled as he got as close to Alcazar as he could without any personal space lines being crossed.
"That was a long time ago," Alcazar said, clearly uncomfortable.
"Seems like just yesterday right about now," Jason said as he backed off. Fighting with Lorenzo Alcazar wasn't going to bring his wife and his son home. He needed to think.
"We need to do something Jason," Sonny said as he picked up the phone.
"I'll get my men to search all Sandoval's safe houses in the area," Lorenzo said as he excused himself and exited the penthouse.
As Sonny hung up the phone he turned to Jason, "I told you this would happen."
"Sonny, you're not trying to say…" Jason said as he began to get angry.
"If you sent her to the island, this wouldn't have happened. Courtney and your son would have been safe," Sonny said as he turned away from Jason and took off his suit jacket.
"You're right," Jason admitted as he twisted his wedding band around his finger. "It's my fault."
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have, all of me.
Slamming the door leading into his penthouse, Jason threw off his leather jacket and flung it onto the sofa. How could he have let this happen? He was right there, he should have taken out his gun right then, he should have grabbed Courtney, they should have stayed home…
Jason began to pace near his pool table when he remembered that would have, could have, and should haves, wouldn't bring Courtney home.
Grabbing a pool stick and the chalk, Jason thought of the time he and Courtney had played pool last month…
Flashback
"I never understood what you see in this game," Courtney said as she wandered over to the pool table, just because she was bored. Maybe she could try and play, and see where it got her. She knew she'd earn a guaranteed laugh from Jason, that was enough.
"It's relaxing," Jason said as he followed his six-month pregnant wife toward the felted green table and picked up a pool stick. "Want me to teach you?"
"Like I need a teacher," Courtney said as she too picked up a pool stick and put the balls in the triangle. "You can break," she said.
"Actually, I want you to," Jason said, knowing that she only offered him the opportunity because she didn't know how to do it herself.
"No honey, really, you do it," Courtney said as she picked up the cue ball and brought it to the other end, setting it where it was supposed to be.
"You don't know how," Jason said, earning a scoff from his wife.
"That is not true! Maybe, well, I won't do it as well this time because of my, umm, large, stomach," Courtney said, prepared to make up any excuses she could to get herself out of the mess she put herself in.
"Right," Jason said as he relented and walked over to Courtney, moved her a little to his right, and aimed. He ended up with two solids going into two different pockets.
Smiling, Jason said, "You're stripes gorgeous."
"Good," Courtney mumbled, "It matches my pajama pants…"
As she attempted to aim, she ended up whacking the cue ball into one of the pockets, and like she wanted, Jason laughed.
"You scratched," Jason pointed out as Courtney scowled at him.
"I'm aware of that," Courtney said as she went to retrieve the white ball and roll it back to her husband, who really did play like a pro. He knocked in the 4 ball and the 11 ball. Sighing, Courtney sarcastically said, "That's one thing that you're better than me at, Jason. One."
Jason put down the pool stick and moved towards her, putting his hands on either side of the pool table, locking her in.
"I'm better than you at more things than just pool," Jason whispered into his wife's ear, feeling her body shake.
"Oh really?" Courtney's voice shook.
"Mmm, I'm better than you at cooking," Jason murmured as he nipped at her ear.
"All you can make is eggs…"
"I'm better than you at driving," he said as his lips traveled to the crook of her neck, feasting on the sensitive skin.
Courtney shifted and said, "That's only because you always insist on…"
"I'm better than you at…" This time Courtney cut him off by taking his face in her hands and crushing her lips to his. Their intense, passionate kiss lasted until Jason pulled away saying,
"Yeah, you're better at that…"
Realizing that he was back in the present, Jason snapped the pool stick he was holding in half and hurled it against the wall. Not being able to get control of his emotions, Jason threw his arms onto the table, forcing all the pool balls to go flying everywhere. Jason heard the sound of broken glass, but only faintly. The only thing he could manage to hear was Courtney's voice, telling him to save her. To save her and their son.
You used to captivate me
By your resonating light
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts, my once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away, all the sanity in me.
Feeling the hunger pangs beginning to start, Courtney managed to lift herself off of the bed and walk over to the door. She knocked and within seconds, Antonio was at her service.
"Mrs. Morgan, you're hungry I presume?"
"Umm yeah. Can you get me a big glass of milk, Jason would want me to have some…" Courtney's voice caught in her throat. She hadn't meant to say that out loud. But, she always had milk when he wanted her to. It was part of their deal. Gulping back her tears, she asked him for a grilled cheese sandwich with it.
"Do, do you want chips?" Antonio asked, wondering how any man could take such a fragile, vulnerable, not to mention pregnant, woman away from her family.
"No thank you," Courtney replied as she turned away from him and walked around, looking at the pictures on the wall.
Antonio observed her for a little while before turning back into the security room, and heading for the door to the kitchen. He would talk to the boss. This wasn't humane. And knowing Sandoval's intentions with Courtney, Antonio was determined not to let anything bad happen to her or her baby. He didn't understand why, but he felt an urge to protect her, and her child.
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase.
He hadn't planned on falling in love with her. His job was to protect her, that was all. Jason Morgan hadn't been expecting this breathtakingly beautiful blonde to steal his heart. But, Courtney managed to do it without even trying.
Lifting the now half empty vodka bottle to his lips, he sighed.
Maybe he was missing something… no. They'd gone over all the maps. They'd called in favors. They'd gotten nothing. He felt the alcohol sting his throat and warm his stomach. She always hated drinking. Hated when he did it in front of her while she was pregnant. Said it wasn't fair. He'd laugh and tell her that she never drank alcohol anyways. But to her, that wasn't the point.
Courtney had always been stubborn. Not to the extent that Sonny is, but stubborn nonetheless. When he had told her A.J. was bad news, that he would end up hurting her, she didn't believe it. Courtney always tried to see the good in people, even people as messed up as A.J. Jason had always admired that about her. Always loved that about her.
What he loved even more was her bravery. Getting pregnant was a risk. But it was her dream to be a mother. It wouldn't have been like her to give up her dream. And he was glad, so glad, that she didn't let him talk her out of it. Because he already loved that little boy…
Feeling himself begin to doze, he put the cover on the vodka bottle. Jason passed out, his head falling on his shoulder. His head only letting him think of his wife.
When you'd cry I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
I've held your hand through all of these years
And you still have, all of me.
Bringing the biggest glass of milk he could find and the grilled cheese sandwich into her room, he found Courtney sitting on the sofa with her knees pulled up to her chest. Her body was shaking. He could hear her sobs.
"You can j-just leave it th-there if you w-want," Courtney choked out as she felt Antonio's presence in the room.
"D-Do you want to talk?" Antonio asked gently as he walked over to where she was sitting and placed the food down on the coffee table in front of the sofa. He sat down next to her.
"Why would I want to talk to you?" Courtney asked angrily as her head shot up, revealing broken-hearted bloodshot eyes, and a tear-stained face.
"I, I just though you could, I don't know, maybe use someone to talk to?" Antonio said as he proceeded to get up and leave. The sound of her voice stopped him.
"Please Antonio, please help me get out of here," she practically begged as she stared at him through her foggy sapphires.
"I, I can't…" Antonio replied, as she slowly nodded her head in understanding. "But," Antonio thought it over quickly and decided to give it a shot, "I can help you."
"If you're not helping me escape, then you're not helping me at all," Courtney yelled as she clutched her hands to her stomach, deciding that it was now or never. She had to fake it if she wanted to escape.
"What? What happened?" Antonio asked, concern for the woman in front of him. "Do I need to call a doctor?"
"You need to b-bring me to G-General H-Hospital… my- my pregnancy, it's h-high risk… I need m-my own doctor…" Courtney trembled as she faked the pains. The tears though, those were real.
"Sandoval has a doctor on call, I can call him, but I can't bring you to the hospital," Antonio said as he ripped out his cell phone.
"Do you w-want me or my baby to d-die?" Courtney screamed, "Do y-you have any idea what my h-husband will do to y-you?"
"Alright, alright. Just calm down. We'll figure this out," Antonio said as he picked Courtney up and made his way toward the security room, entered the kitchen, and went out the back door and headed to his car. He placed the woman in the back seat, so she could lay down, and ran to the front and hopped in. And he had no idea what to do. Save the woman's life and her child's at the expense of his boss killing him? Or save his own life and pray to God that she and her son make it?
I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
And though you're still with me
I've been alone all along.
Song credit goes to Evanescence- "My Immortal"