Disclaimer: I don't own anything…
She Will Be Loved Ch. 10:
"I'm not broke, but you can see the cracks. You can make me perfect again"
-U2
Jason wondered towards the small beat up house on the corner of Tremont St. The shack appeared out of place surrounded by up scale suburban homes. He pushed open the worn gate that enclosed the weed filled front yard. The hinges creaked slightly and caused Jason to cringe. Still, he pressed on until he made it up the rickety stairs to the clutter filled front porch. This woman never met a piece of junk she didn't like. He raised his hand to knock just as the door swung open. A small older woman peered at him from behind the screen door. Her grey eyes showed a look of defiance.
"I have a huge dog…"She growled. "Mean, too. He'll eat a chump like you for breakfast." Jason bit back a laugh and held his hands up in surrender.
"Ma'am, I'm not here to harm you…"
"Yeah, well you've been warned." She returned and Jason nodded. "What do you want?"
"My name is Jason Thimes, I work for the Eureka Gazette." He had prepared this spiel on the way over from the diner. Somehow, he figured Ms. Potter wouldn't be forthcoming with information if he was just some average Joe off the street. "I'm doing an article on Doug Brady." He motioned to the house next door. "Unfortunately, he's not around to do our interview, must have got the time mixed up or something… So, I'm asking around the neighborhood to see if anyone has any stories they would like to share."
"What kind of article?" The elderly woman seemed skeptical.
"Oh you know, just highlighting his philanthropy and ties to the town." Jason replied with a smile.
"And my name will be in the paper?"
"If you have anything you would like to say."
"I always wanted to see my name in print," she mumbled more to herself than to the young man at her doorstep. "Please, come in."
Carly entered the Penthouse to find Sonny sitting on the sleek leather sofa. Something in his eyes made her stop and a lump form in her throat. He can't possibly know, she reassured herself. She played it cool and walked past him to the wet bar. His eyes were on her as she poured a tall glass of water and sipped it gently.
"Where are the boys?" She asked quietly.
"With your Mother." He answered tightly. "I won't play second fiddle, Carly."
"What are you talking about?" Her voice shook slightly. How the hell did he find out so quickly?
"Don't play stupid with me, dear." Sonny boomed. "I had a nice little visitor today. The good doctor sends his regard by the way."
"It's not what you think…" She quickly backtracked.
"I'm not sure what to think, so why don't you enlighten me?"
"He just showed up at the club the other night. I was going to tell you…"
"No you weren't." Sonny laughed. "What did you think you could stay married to me and have him on the side?"
"Of course not!" Carly growled. "Sonny, you're my husband."
"But not your true love, right?" He returned. "You reserve that spot for Dr. Webber."
"I don't know how I feel about Steven." The minute the words left her mouth, she knew it was a mistake. "You're going to take that the wrong way…"
"How am I suppose to take it?" Sonny yelled as he began to pace the small area.
"And here we go," the brunette mumbled to herself.
"Why don't you go figure out how you "feel"?"
"What?"
"I'm serious." He emphasized. "Go spend all the time you want with him. Hell, fuck him for all I care."
"Stop it!"
"Stop what? Giving you what you want? Giving you a free out?"
"So now you decide what I want?" Carly was now pacing as well. "You have some nerve Michael Corinthos."
"You're one to talk, Caroline." Silence. "Just know, I won't be here when you get back." His voice was low and his departure signaled the end of the discussion.
Courtney opened the door to find Justus standing on the other side. The lawyer held tightly to his briefcase and offered her a soft smile. The blonde had silently hoped that it would be Jason instead, but to no avail. Her ex husband had yet to call and worry was beginning to creep up on her. What if something happened to him? He was by himself. God, what if their last conversation was an argument?
"Ms. Matthews?" Justus deep voice broke her out of concentration.
"I'm sorry," she quickly apologized and pulled the door open to allow him access. "How's the case going?"
"Ok…" His voice trailed off which led her to believe the worse. "I think it's best if we begin to prepare early. Especially with the girls. Going up the stand is never easy…"
"Going up on the stand?"
"Jason and Sonny didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"The best chance you have of keeping your daughters is if they testify to the fact that they do not want to be in the custody of their father." Justus explained carefully.
"So let me get this straight," Courtney began. "My daughters need to get up in front of a room full of people and choose their mother over their father.
"Essentially? Yes."
"Absolutely not." The blonde replied firmly.
"Tea?" Ms. Potter smiled sweetly, but Jason declined the offer.
"So, how long have you been living next to Doug Brady?" He began casually.
"Almost seven years. He and that wife of his moved in just before their first child was born."
"Do you get along?"
"Only because we have to." She replied in disgust. "Shouldn't you be writing this down?" She noticed the lack of paper and writing instrument that a reporter should have."
"I have it all up here," he replied as he motioned to his brain and was met with a skeptical look. "So his wife, any idea where she is? "
"Can I tell you something?" The woman looked over her shoulder carefully before dropping her voice. "Off the record?"
"Of course." Jason grinned.
"She ran away."
"Really? Why?"
"Because she got tired of being Brady's personal punching bag." The woman muttered in disgust. "Poor girl, she was always sweet to me."
"How can you be sure that he hit her?"
"Because I heard it." She replied confidently. "Even saw it once, too."
"Yeah?"
"Yup." She pulled him towards the window that gave a full view of the Doug Brady's living room. "I heard screaming and went to check it out. Normally, I mind my own business."
"Of course," Jason nodded in mock agreement.
"Anyways, I see Brady throwing his wife around like she's some rag doll."
"You call the police?"
"Sure did."
"And what happened?"
"What do you think happened?" She didn't wait for him to answer before continuing on. "Nothing, that's what. Brady's a real piece of work. Controls most everyone in the town. Has them eating out the palm of his hand, but not me. No, I know better. He's a piece of scum. And that you can put in your little article."
"You've been very helpful, Ms. Potter." Jason made his way towards the exit. He'd gathered all the information he could from this woman.
"Wait. When is the article coming out?"
"Next month…" He lied. "Be sure to look for your name in bold letters."
Olivia listened to the muffled yelling downstairs. She couldn't be sure who her mother was fighting with, but it seemed heated. She tried to drown it out and focus her attention on braiding Hannah's hair.
"Olly?" Hannah's voice was soft.
"What's up?"
"Are we going to have to go and live with daddy?" She asked.
"I hope not." Was the best answer Olivia could muster.
"Me too." She agreed. "Do you think Jase could be our new daddy? He's nice."
"I'm not sure. But don't get your hopes up."
"Why? Does Jason not like us?" Her lower lip began to tremble.
"No of course he does." Olivia reassured. "But we can't expect him to drop everything to take care of us. That's not how it works."
"How does it work?"
"Never the way you want it too." She finished braiding the girl's hair and guided her towards the mirror.
"Olly, it's so pretty!" She clapped happily, which brought a smile to her sister's face. "Can I show mommy?"
"Not right now," Olivia replied as the voices were still rising downstairs. Hannah nodded in return and her eyes fell to her feet.
"Can I tell you something?" Her voice was just above a whisper.
"Sure."
"I'm scared of Dad." She confessed. "I wanna stay with Mommy and Jason forever."
"I know you do." The young girl placed a comforting arm around her little sister's shoulders. "Just remember, no matter what: You'll always have me."
"Pinky swear?"
"Pink swear." She promised as the two girls locked fingers.
Carly entered the club in a daze. She didn't know where else to go. The fight with Sonny caught her off guard. She didn't expect him to find out so quickly, but he did and now she was lost. A day ago, she would have thought that she could leave her husband behind without a second thought. Sonny had done horrible things to her in the past. Things that Steven would never dream of doing. But as she saw him today, things weren't so clear cut. He had thrown away everything for her. His chance of having a normal life with Sam as well as his career in the business were all sacrifices he made for her. What had Steven done to prove his love? Besides leaving her to worry for three years and going behind her back to ruin her marriage. God, how could she let things become so muddled?
"Penny for your thoughts?" She looked up to find him with a grin lightening up his boyish figures.
"You need to stop trespassing," Carly returned wearily. "What do you want, Steven?"
"I just stopped by for a visit."
"You come here straight from Sonny's?" She growled.
"No. I stopped to have a bite to eat first."
"Right. All the scheming must have caused an appetite."
"What "scheming"?" He asked.
"You knew exactly what was going to happen when you saw Sonny." She accused. "Tell me, does it feel good to know that you've single handedly ruined my marriage?"
"I didn't do anything you didn't want me to." He replied as he moved closer towards her.
"I never asked you to do that."
"You didn't need too." His lips were inches from hers and she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks.
"I love my husband." She told him defiantly.
"Then why are you here with me?" His kiss caught her answer. She could feel his hand roam through her hair and tried to pull away, but did not have the full energy to break the embrace. Steven moaned softly and despite her best efforts, she did too. The kiss was coming to an end when she heard footsteps. Footsteps that unmistakably belonged to one man.
"Am I interrupting something?" Sonny's voice cut through the tension. And just like that, Carly knew that it was over. She just lost the one man who loved her for who she was.
Jason hung up the phone with a sigh. He stepped onto the elevator and tapped his foot impatiently as it climbed story after story. He had gone down to the Eureka Police Department and been stone walled. Tired of playing fair, he made a call to an old friend on the plane ride home. He was sure to have all the information he needed faxed to him by the morning. The ding of the elevator signaled the arrival at his floor and he stepped out just as Justus was stepping on.
"Everything ok?" He asked nervously.
"You need to talk to Courtney." He replied with a tired sigh. "She's refusing to let the girls take the stand at the custody trial."
"I knew she would." Jason replied. "I have some paperwork coming to me. I'll send it your way once I look at it."
"What kind of paperwork?" The lawyers asked skeptically.
"Hopefully, it will expose Brady for the rat bastard he is." The door closed and Jason made his way towards the Penthouse. He took a deep breath before opening the door, he could only imagine the mood Courtney was going to be in.
"Glad, you could make it home." She greeted from her spot in the kitchen doorway. "Phone broken or something?"
"Didn't think you would want to hear from me anyways."
"It would've been nice to know that you were ok."
"Well, I'm ok." He did a little spin, but she remained unamused.
"Justus was here."
"I know."
"How come you didn't tell methat my daughters were going to have to testify?" Her voice rose. "Did you think that I was going to be ok with it? Were you and Sonny even going to give me a choice in the matter?"
"Of course. I was just waiting for a good time." It was a lame excuse and they both knew it. "I know you're worried, but everyone is doing everything they can to help you, Court."
"Really?" She laughed. "And what were you doing today that was so helpful? Because it looked to me that you were doing what you always used to do, running away. I mean that's you favorite, right? When we would get into a fight, walk away. Solves everything, doesn't it? Screw it if you made plans with Olivia today, right? Screw it if I needed you."
"You really want to know what I was doing all day?" His tone dripped with anger. "I was wandering around the hell hole you referred to as home for seven years. I was rubbing elbows with your crazy neighbor in an effort to get something that will help your case. Sorry I wasn't here for you to take out all your frustrations on, Courtney." She stood stunned.
"You went and talked to Ms. Potter?" She whispered. "She's not very nice."
"Yeah. That's an understatement." He returned. A silence fell between them for a short time.
"I'm sorry, Jase." She finally broke it. "I know you're trying."
"You need to calm down." He ordered softly.
"Easier said than done."
"Yeah, but things are only going to get worse if you don't take a step back. Olivia and Hannah need you right now, Court." Jason reached out and ran a hand through her hair. "You've got to keep it together for them."
"I will," she assured firmly and settled into his embrace. "You didn't like Eureka?"
"I've seen cemeteries that seem more welcoming."