Author's Note: Thanks to everyone for being so patient! I just got back from a road trip with my family to Detroit and Ohio. It was somewhat fun, but to be perfectly honest, I'd much rather have been here, writing. Anywho, on to the thank yous!
Hanna415- Thanks for your review!
Luvthemorgans- Oh yes, I know how things always come up. But don't worry! It's never required to review, but I always do enjoy reading yours! I'm glad you're still suspicious about Antonio, that's what I want. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Emmalee05- Thanks! I'm so glad that you liked The Notebook scene! I had so much fun writing it!
EvenAngelsFall22- 2 updates in one day… I know, wasn't it crazy? ;) I felt like I needed to reveal more about Antonio in that chapter. LOL, I did see it coming, you're right! I was pretty sure that would be everyone's favorite part. You really should watch The Notebook. It's a pretty romantic movie. I miss Carly and Courtney too, they used to be so close on the show, and now it's just horrible. Clueless, now that is a great movie! But, anyways, thanks for your review!
Journey4eva- Thanks! I think it's a great movie too! I hope you keep reading!
Stephanie- Thank you! Yes, it is still quite the mystery as to Antonio's true motives isn't it? I like keeping you all on your toes. Thanks again!
Kaleymc- You were almost crying laughing so hard! To me, that is one of the greatest compliments I could have received! Thanks! I'm glad you liked it!
Pureevil320- Oh I know. Wasn't it great? I felt so wonderful after updating twice in one day too. But, it's very unlikely, considering how much I revise all the chapters… anyways! Thanks a bunch for your review, I always love reading them!
Leanna R.! - I was quite the updating junkie wasn't I? Hehe. I'm glad you liked the lighthearted stuff, and the not so lighthearted stuff! Oh gosh, it's okay not to like the movie! Sometimes, I can see why you don't. Don't get me wrong, it's one of my favorites, but I also think it could have been a lot better. You may just sense some anger and hostility, guess we'll have to wait and see…
Splendor734- Thanks! I'm glad you loved Carly! I loved writing her! I don't have anything against Jennifer either, she does Carly great in her own way. But Tamara is just… Tams. She's Carly for me, always. I know exactly how you feel about the Journey baby. Could you imagine that happening on the show? It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, though I'd like to. (ooh wait wait! I own Antonio. Hehe.)
Reviews are always greatly appreciated, but not required. Emphasis on greatly appreciated. ;)
"Why would we need to discuss my brother?" Courtney found herself being led into her home and straight to the chair. Jason seated himself on the coffee table in front of her, and took her hands. Courtney was surprised, and somewhat disappointed at how quickly the mood had changed. Just a few short minutes ago, she and Carly had been waist deep in junk food and a great love story. Now she was about to have yet another serious conversation with her husband. She sighed.
"I don't want you to get upset okay? It's not good for the baby." Jason took one of his hands out of hers to place it on his unborn child.
"I've been carrying him for almost eight months now, I know how upset I'm allowed to get." Courtney snapped, not really understanding why she was being so impatient with him. Jason had been nothing but spectacular throughout the pregnancy. But, maybe it was the fact that he was leaving her in the morning to go to Puerto Rico. And she also knew full well that she would not be allowed to go with him. "Please don't go."
"What?" Jason looked at his wife and watched as her eyes began to glisten with new tears.
"Please, I know Sonny wants to send you to Puerto Rico in the morning. I'm asking you not to go." With a sigh, she pushed her hair out of her face and stood. "I know I'm not supposed to interfere with business. But I only got back a short time ago from being kidnapped, I don't want to be away from you so soon Jason. So, please. Stay with me." Courtney turned, to hide the tears from Jason. God, how she hated to make him choose.
"How'd you find out?" he asked, standing up and turning her to face him.
"Carly."
"I should have guessed that." Jason sighed, looking at her, he realized how upset she truly was. "It won't be for long, Courtney. We're having some trouble at the casinos, there's a lot of money that went missing…"
"I don't give a damn about the money that went missing!" Courtney stalked over to the closet and grabbed her purse that was hanging on the doorknob.
"Courtney, Court wait!" But he was answered by the slamming of the door. Not thinking, he picked up the phone. "Max, yeah. You saw her leave? Good. Yeah, make sure she's okay. I'd go myself, but I think she'd throw something at my head. It's really not that funny, just do your job. Call me if anything, and I mean anything comes up. Yeah. I want to know if a man stops to help her tie her shoe." And he slammed the receiver back down into its cradle. She'd be even more upset when she found out he'd talked to Antonio.
Courtney didn't know where she intended to go, but she knew she was going. Walking as quickly as her condition would allow, she was tiring fast. She thought about going back to Carly's, but axed that. Jason would be over there in five minutes. Her father? No. Jason would suspect that too.
She sat down on a bench in the park and put her head in her hands. There was a rustling in the leaves behind her, but she ignored it. A few moments later, she heard the shrill ring of her cell phone. Looking at the caller ID, she was surprised. Lorenzo Alcazar.
"Hello?"
"Mrs. Morgan, how are you?" Lorenzo asked with genuine interest.
"Wonderful. What do you want?" Courtney was suspicious. Why would Lorenzo Alcazar call her out of the blue?
"There's something I thought you should know."
"And?" Courtney stood up, and began to pace.
"Did you and your family forget that Sandoval has a brother?" Lorenzo asked, knowing that he was opening up a whole new door of fear for the woman on the other end of the conversation. But it was best that she was warned.
"I- uh… What are you getting at?" Courtney stopped pacing, and felt momentarily faint. She knew, she knew that Sandoval had a brother. She'd seen him that night at the Loft. He'd been talking to Sonny… how could they have forgotten?
"He's alive. Contacted me this morning. I figured that I should let you know. He's upset about your husband and how he killed Armando." Lorenzo winced at the heavy breathing he heard.
"Is he going to hurt Jason?"
There was silence.
"Lorenzo! Answer me! Is Sandoval going to hurt my husband?" Courtney was practically begging when she saw someone out of the corner of eye.
"Where are you Courtney?"
"Why would I tell you that?" Courtney hissed, getting extremely nervous. "Why are you acting this way?"
"Hang up the phone." Lorenzo said, knowing immediately that she wasn't home, or around anyone. She was out in the open and vulnerable.
"This is ridi-" She was cut off by seeing the face of the man she had thought was dead. The man she prayed was gone from her life forever. "The park." she whispered to the man on the other line and slapped the phone shut.
Lorenzo grabbed his gun and flung the door open, headed for the park.
Max quickly got on the phone and dialed Jason's number, unable to believe what he was seeing. How could the man be back from the dead?
"What happened?" Jason asked quickly, standing up from his chair at his desk and opening the gun box to take out the gun. He'd taken it out, just in case he got a call from Max.
"I don't really know… I… he was dead!"
"Who, Max? Who was dead?" Jason tucked the gun safely in its holster and ran out the door and toward the elevator.
"Sandoval."
"Sandoval? I killed him, there's no way he could have survived."
"C-Courtney… she hasn't spoken. Just stared at him, like she's seen a ghost…I have to help her…" Max made to move out of the woods he was hiding in before the sound of Jason's harsh voice stopped him.
"Where are you?" Fear was taking over him, he knew that he shouldn't have let her leave. He shouldn't have let her go.
"The park."
'Stay where you are unless he tries anything. I'll be right there." And Jason hung up. And he ran.
"You- you're dead." Courtney stammered.
"Obviously I'm not." Sandoval said.
"What do you want?" Courtney instinctively placed protective hands over her stomach.
"You're much more beautiful up close." He reached forward, as if to tuck her hair behind her ear when a cold voice stopped him.
"Don't touch her." Lorenzo Alcazar materialized, holding a gun pointed at Sandoval.
"Ah, Mr. Alcazar. What a pleasure to meet you at last." Sandoval extended a hand, as if not at all nervous about the gun being pointed at his heart.
"What the hell did you do to your face?" Alcazar asked, looking closer.
"Plastic surgery is a wonder, you see. I wanted to honor my dear brother's memory. Lucky for me, Armando was a handsome man." Sandoval looked back at Courtney, and smiled. "I only wish that I could have seen more of you while my brother was holding you prisoner. You're very nice to look at."
Before Courtney could reply, yet another person came.
"Shut up." It was Jason, and before she could think, he was in front of her.
"Morgan." Sandoval yet again, extended a hand although there was a gun pointed directly at him.
"Stay the hell away from my wife."
"You killed my brother, if you think that I'm going to let that go unanswered, then you're stupider than I thought." Sandoval said, smiling.
"You're right, I killed your brother. There's no reason to involve my wife in this. It's between you and me." Courtney was trembling by now. She didn't know what was going to happen, and wasn't sure that she wanted to. But she had a feeling that it wasn't going to be good.
"On the contrary. I think there's every reason to involve Courtney in this," Sandoval said, looking around Jason to see Courtney. "It would be such a shame for such a beautiful woman, and what is sure to be a beautiful child, to just die."
Alcazar cocked his gun, not knowing why he felt so protective of the pregnant woman who was clearly afraid, standing behind her husband. "You don't seem to understand, Mr. Sandoval. If you kill Mrs. Morgan, I, personally, will go after every single member of your entire family."
"Is that a threat, Mr. Alcazar?" Sandoval eyed the man suspiciously. And put one hand in the air. Courtney was confused by this motion at first, but then thought back to the night at The Loft when Armando Sandoval did the exact same thing. She looked behind her. Sure enough, there were guards and thugs surrounding the park. It seemed insane to Courtney, this was a public place! Surely someone would walk through and see all of it!
"No, Mr. Sandoval, that's a promise."
Jason was extremely confused. Why the hell was Lorenzo Alcazar standing up for Courtney? He was also getting extremely nervous, guards had closed in around them. Not wanting Courtney to be taken from behind, he took her hand and pulled him up next to her.
"Are you afraid, Mrs. Morgan?" Sandoval asked her. "Are you scared of me? Armando told me over the phone that he had to use force with you. I'm terribly sorry that he hurt you. I wouldn't have done that."
"I'm not afraid of you." Courtney said determinedly, stepping forward before Jason could haul her back. "You're not going to hurt me or my family. No one is, not now, not ever again."
"I'm sorry that you've been hurt before in the past. Isn't it true that Mr. Alcazar over here, kidnapped you while you were pregnant just a few years ago? Then you jumped off the yacht and miscarried?"
Courtney was silent. Jason however, was not.
"I'm not going to let you do this to her," Jason said as he stepped forward, taking his wife in his arms and turning so his back was to Sandoval and Alcazar. "Listen, this could get bad quickly. If anything happens, I want you to run okay? Max is in the woods, just behind us. I'm sure he's already called Lansing, considering I told him to when I got here. The police should be here any minute." Jason ran his hands up and down her arms.
"Why didn't you just call for backup?" Courtney asked, barely above a whisper as she noticed Jason's other gun, tucked into the other side of his pants.
"Because I don't want you in the middle of a mob shootout." Jason said, annoyed.
"But.."
"Courtney, I'm serious. You have to promise me that if something happens before the PCPD get here, that you're going to run to Max! Promise me."
"If something happens to you, Jason there's no way that I'm leaving…" Tears formed for what seemed like the umpteenth time that day.
"You have to. I'm not the one carrying our child, you are." Jason kissed her softly. "Promise me."
Fighting back the tears was almost as pointless as simply walking away from the situation. So she just let the tears fall while she said, "I promise."
Jason gave her a squeeze and turned back to the men, determined to stall.
"Do you make your wife cry on a regular basis?" Sandoval inquired as he took out a gun that Courtney convinced herself he didn't have.
"Shut up! Just shut up!" Courtney yelled from next to Jason. "You're a horrible person to do this!"
"I wouldn't have to be doing this if it weren't for your husband murdering my brother. You do understand that I'll have to kill him don't you?" Sandoval pointed the gun straight at Jason and cocked it. "It will warm my heart to know that his wife and unborn child watched it all happen."
And before anything registered in Courtney's head, she heard sirens. Sandoval had turned his head to the sound and signaled for his men to take off. The four of them were all standing still the words sinking in, the sirens getting closer…
"Maybe I'll kill your husband slow, Mrs. Morgan… maybe I'll wait around until the birth of your child and then take him away from the two of you…" Courtney couldn't stand to hear him any longer, and she reached for the gun in Jason's belt, and before anyone could stop her or before she could stop herself, she fired.