(The character of Jake O'Brien is crafted after an actor I love, Tom Eplin of Another world fame)
Head in hands, stomach churning, she wondered if it had more to do with who'd she discovered in her bed, rather than the two bottles of tequila the night before. Carly could hear him behind her, rustling around to find his clothes. Pulling the sheet around her protectively, she wondered how she'd let his happen, and then her mind shifted to the reason… Alexis Davis and succeeded in taking Sonny away from her… this was all her fault.
"I can't believe this is happening to me." Carly muttered, running a hand back through her mussed blonde mane.
"You can't believe it?" the voice boomed incredulously behind her, "how do you think I feel, I just slept with my worst nightmare… I'm ready to drive my car off a bridge, know of any?" the voice was full of sarcasm and disgust, suddenly mental images of lips, arms, legs, and tangled sheets came to mind and he shuddered.
"Pig! Your lucky I gave you the time of day, I have standards you know and your not one of them!"
The voice behind her guffawed, and then spoke in mock seriousness,' I wonder if there's a vaccination for you, I'll have to ask Corinthos."
Springing up Carly ran across the bed and pounced on the back of her verbal attacker, arms flailing in assault, "take that back!"
"Whoa there Nelly, once is all your getting from me, that's all my stomach can handle." He said pushing her back against the mattress.
"Ooooh, I hate you!"
"Feelings mutual, now if you'll excuse me, I'm going home to set my clothes on fire, and then proceed to stick my head in the oven."
"Get out, and keep this to yourself, I have a reputation to protect."
The voice began to bellow in laughter, his whole body shook, holding his sides trying to contain himself," reputation, you? Your reputation consists of bedding your Mother's husband, sleeping with Jason, then sleeping with a drunken AJ and trying to pass Michael off as another mans child and then you pounced at the opportunity to bed the Don Juan of Port Charles… gawd knows how many others have fallen into your spider web… and now you've managed to bed me, you can't seem to get enough of the Quartermaines, care to finish the set and sleep with Alan and Edward too?"
Eaaah! Get out Ashton, get out, get out, get out!" Carly screamed.
Ned could be heard laughing all the way to his car, a pair of suspicious eyes watched with interest in the distance…
(Meanwhile acrosstown)
Jason sat behind his desk at the new offices of Morgan and Corinthos coffee imports, listening intently as Sonny rattled off instructions on the other end of the phone.
"From what Benny's been able to gather, Zander is Brenda's nephew…no he'd not Julia's son, from what little they found on Alkazar's boat, Brenda has a brother, we'll keep working on it until we find out…I've got to go, take care man, and get back soon."
Hanging the phone up, Jason picked up the large yellow envelope that held Zander's Smith past AKA Zander Barrett, the kid wasn't aware of it and neither was Brenda, from what they'd found out so far Zander had been raised in Florida by an adoptive family, who had money but little warmth.
Brenda would have to deal with the fact her Father had a secret life, that had produced two boys, and that was the missing piece of the puzzle… Benny had not been able to locate any names in Alkazar's files, it had come to no surprise that Sonny has asked to keep the news under wraps until they knew more for the sake of Brenda… Jason just hoped it was for the best.
It wasn't like life had suddenly shifted to easy street because Alkazar was dead, there were good things that had come out of it, Brenda was alive, Sonny had survived yet another life threatening situation and was now pursuing a relationship with Alexis. The fact remained they were still struggling to reestablish their coffee business that had suffered drastically after Kristina's tragic death. Sonny had made sure the old site remained vacant and planned to do something with it in memory to her.
But what really got Jason was the current matter at hand, Sonny was about to shift control to Jake O'Brien a man he hadn't see in twenty years, when he was twenty-two years old and even though Jason had him thoroughly checked out and the man was in the top of his game, he felt a sense of loss… Sonny had been in charge for so long and when he'd originally asked Jason if he wanted to take over, he'd been surprised at his own voice declining. Sonny however hadn't been surprised, he'd expected it and though they had tried in the past to go legit, they were going to try again and make sure this time it stuck… they would always be tied to the underworld and Sonny would never go a day in his life without being reminded of it or being involved in it… but he was trying for her sake and his own.
Hearing the approaching voices, Jason slipped the envelope into the top drawer and locked it.
"This doesn't look like a hotel, Little John."
Jason tried wiping the grin off his face and mentally noted to harass Johnny later.
Johnny entered red faced, followed by a tall dark haired man who was to be their new boss.
Johnny stepped up, "Jason Morgan, this is my brother Jake O'Brien."
Jason studied the man before him, summing up his character, he nodded in Jake's direction coming around to the front of the desk he extended his hand, and Jake accepted it and shook if firmly.
"The one and only Jason Morgan?" Jake asked, grinning, "I've heard a lot about you." Jake was keenly aware his character was being determined by the steely blue eyes accessing him.
Jason was silent, and that made Jake grinned, he pulled off the scarf around his neck and shrugged out of his overcoat, making himself comfortable in the chair across from Jason who stood leaning against the desk, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Ah yes, you're the quiet one." Jake said amusedly, pointing at him he added, "but you can spot a liar a mile away."
"Your not exactly what I'd expected… you don't seem…"
"Tough enough, lethal enough?" Jake asked, " Remember looks can be deceiving, Luke Spencer is a prime example."
Jason chose to ignore his last comment, " Sonny wouldn't hand over control unless he was sure you were capable."
"Capable?" Jake shook his head, "in this business you have to look over your shoulder a hundred percent of the time, the thought of trusting someone is taking your life and theirs into your very hands… and it scares the hell out of you, because your honor is tied to your decisions, make one slip and everything you worked for is shot to hell."
"Sounds like you've had experience in that department." Jason said cautiously
"Not personally, I've been very careful in regard to the people I associate with, but I've watched others crumble… it's not a pretty sight, " Jake revealed, adding, " of course nothing in this business is pretty, I trust Michael, he's a smart man."
"We agree on that, but there have been some problems."
"I assume your referring to the hit he called off?" Jake leaned forward in his chair, "I'll take care of the men, however our biggest concern is his ex wife Caroline Corinthos, that didn't go over well with the men, they think he's gone soft by taking her back after she'd turned him into the feds."
"She's not a problem anymore." Jason said dismissively.
Jake smiled casually," I heard about that too…she led Luis Alkazar straight to him, and he did some damage to some of your businesses, people are worried Sonny will continue to backslide."
"And it's your job to make sure they understand that won't happen." Jason said defensively.
"Not to worry Morgan, I've already spoken on Sonny's behalf, he's someone I will respect till the day I die, it's only fair that I defend him, when he couldn't for himself."
"Why are you doing this… you haven't talked to Sonny in years."
"Simple… he saved my life."
(Airport Bound)
Sonny and Alexis drove in silence for quite sometime, the gentle hum of the motor, and a soft melody of music playing from the front cab of the limo, any other sounds blocked out by the privacy window.
Alexis was trying to find the nerve to speak, knowing good and well her voice would betray her, with all her heart he wanted to tell him her true feelings and every time she'd tried other than when he'd been on the verge if death, fear had overcome her.
He watched her out of the corner of his eye, Sonny knew she was analyzing their earlier conversation, how she'd yet to tell him she loved him and though he was almost sure she did, there was a part of him that needed to hear her say it, but he wouldn't push her, she had every right to make him wait.
"I almost forget Alexis, I have something for you and the baby." Sonny said, reaching into his suit pocket and pulling out a small velvet box, he spoke gently as he handed it to her, " this is for our daughter… for the future… I realize she can't exactly wear it now…"
Alexis fingers trembled as she lifted the small hinged lid and gasped, eyes widening she looked at Sonny with tears shining, " is this…is this the one you told me about?"
"My Mother's cross, I want our daughter to have a piece of my heritage, I never told you this, but this necklace has been passed down through the generations."
"But Sonny, wouldn't you rather wait and give it to her, when she'd older and you can share the stories you have of your mother?"
"What I would like… what would make me happy, is if you'd wear it Alexis and when the time comes we'll tell our daughter together about both her Grandmothers."
Alexis brushed a tear away, "Oh Sonny, you know that means a lot to me… but don't you want this to be something you share between just the two of you?"
"Why, I want to share my life with you Alexis… when I was on the verge of dying and you were demanding I come back to you…I saw you sister, I saw Stone and Lily and I saw my Mama and she told me you were brought into my life for a reason and that I should hold onto you… I think she sent you to me… it's only fitting you should wear something that belonged to the one woman I loved more than you."
Alexis hated herself for crying, fingering the delicate gold chain and simple cross dangling, Sonny took it from her and motioned for her to turn around, placing it around her delicate neck, he leaned in and nuzzled her, nipping at her neck playfully, Alexis hand came to rest on the cross and she turned to face Sonny.
"I have something to say to you."
Sonny placed his index finger to her lips, "Wait, wait, wait… I didn't give you this, so you felt obligated to tell me how you feel."
"The thought never even crossed my mind," Alexis said furrowing her brow, "are you telling me not to say what I want to say?"
Sonny gave her a funny look and grinned sensing an argument was coming on, "Never."
"Good, then if you don't mind…"
"Wait, wait, wait." Sonny said interrupting her again.
"What is it Sonny?" Alexis asked clearly agitated.
"I'm asking you to wait… will you please wait Alexis?"