A Meeting Of The Minds

The next day, Jason came by early to visit Emily in the hospital. After she had been rescued from Manny last night, the doctors insisted that she remain overnight just for observation. When Jason arrived, he found Emily awake, watching Sonny where he slept in an uncomfortable position.

"How did I miss this? Emily has grown into a woman, and has given her heart to my best friend. On the one hand, last night proved how dangerous it could be for her to be involved with Sonny. On the other hand, it's the same danger she's in just because she's my sister."

Jason knocked quietly on the door, waking Sonny and causing Emily to look up.

"I don't mean to interrupt this Kodak moment, but I'd like to talk to my sister alone."

Emily and Sonny both started grinning. "What?" Emily giggled and said, "You made a joke Jase. You never make jokes."

"Consider it part of the new me. Now, can I get my sister alone for a while or not?"

Emily nodded and Sonny kissed her on the cheek. Sonny patted Jason on the shoulder and left the room. Jason stood looking at Emily with a somewhat blank stare, then went and sat down in the chair next to her bed.

"Why didn't you tell me..."

"Jase, I'm sorry that I lied to you when you asked me if I was falling in love with Sonny. I just wasn't sure what I was feeling. Then you gave me the song and dance about all the women that had been hurt by him, so I decided to keep my mouth shut until I knew what was going on."

"Which I'm sure drove you into his arms faster than had I just kept out of it." Emily just looked at him not knowing what to say. "But that's not the question I was going to ask you before you blurted out your little confession."

"Oh. I'm sorry. I just thought, given recent events, that you were mad about how I felt for Sonny. What were you going to ask me?"

"Why didn't you tell me that there would come a day when you wouldn't need me to protect you anymore? I've watched you in the past few days Emily. You've grown into an amazing young woman who is stronger than I might have ever given you credit for. It's apparent that you don't need me anymore."

Emily took his hand and looked him in the eye. "There will never come a day that I won't need you in my life. I have grown into a strong woman, but it's only because I always knew that you'd be here for me if I ever needed you. I have come to depend on that fact. What I've learned about being strong came from having you as my brother. Just as sure as I knew Sonny would find me yesterday, I had no doubt that you'd be there with him to rescue me. No matter where I go, what I do, or who I'm with, I'm always gonna need you. I'm always gonna need to know that you'll be my knight in shining armor."

Jason was quiet for a moment. "Here's the part where I tell you that I don't want you with Sonny because it's a dangerous life, and I don't want you in danger." Emily started to object, but Jason stopped her. "That is my first instinct as your knight in shining armor. I didn't think you were tough enough to put up with this kind of life. What I failed to realize was that by just being my sister, you became strong enough to be part of this life that Sonny and I have. I can't say that I'm happy with your choice to get involved with Sonny. If he ever hurts you, I'm going to have to overlook my friendship with him, and I hate the thought of that. You and Sonny were two of the first people who accepted me without condition after the accident. I love both of you very much. But if I had to choose between you two, I'd have to take family over friend every time."

"Can you at least agree to give us some time to figure out where this is going, if it's going anywhere at all? Since the rape, and my failed marriage to Nikolas, I felt very numb inside. Sonny makes me feel like there's hope for me to find love again, even if it doesn't end up being with him. I feel like I owe it to myself to at least experience this with him. I love you very much Jase, and normally I'd fully understand and appreciate your concern. But this is Sonny, Jase. He's been your best friend for a very long time. Do you really think that he's not fully aware that you'd hurt him in a heartbeat if he ever did something to me?"

"I've already had this discussion with Sonny. He knows how I feel about this. I told him that I'd most likely never accept any man that wanted to be with you. I also told him that he was the closest thing I'd most likely ever get to a man that I would trust with you."

"Oh really? And when did you tell Sonny all these things?"

"I told him this while you still had no memory of who anybody was but Sonny."

"Speaking of that time, I now have a small understanding of what it must have been like for you after the accident. Seeing a bunch of people who expected so much from you, when you didn't know them from Adam. Thank you for trying to help me remember. It really meant a lot to me. It also means a lot to me that you're willing to let me and Sonny at least see where this thing is going. I love you so much, and the last thing I'd ever want would be to disappoint you, or come between you and Sonny."

Jason hugged Emily. "I love you both, and I only want what's best for you guys. Just promise me that you'll be careful and take things slowly."

They heard a knock and Sonny opened the door. "Is this meeting of the minds over with yet?"

Emily and Jason both looked at him curiously. "I just thought that it was an appropriate thing to say, given that the both of you have had your minds scrambled by car accidents."

All three of them laughed, and their collective laughter could be heard in the hallways.

Author's Note: I'm sorry it took me so long to update. It turns out the Army didn't move us like they said they were going to. I've had major writers block until last night when some ideas came to me as I was falling asleep. I put up another chapter of my other story Victim No More as well. The Army still might be moving us this summer, but I'm hoping to have both these stories done by then so you won't be left hanging. I really feel I've only got a few more chapters left of this one. I've just gotta get it all planned out in my head. Thanks for all the feedback and encouragement you've given me. Stay tuned for more from me soon.