The piercing sound of the alarm cuts through the morning quiet.
"No!" Carly mumbles, startled at the sudden reality of the morning. Her mind feels foggy like she just teleported back from another dimension. In a way, that is what she feels like. She struggles upright feeling stiff, as if she either slept too little or too much.
Carly hits the snooze button on the phone, her coordination a bit off. She meant to switch off the alarm entirely. She sighs as she sits back, trying to orient herself again.
Her dream felt so vivid, so real it is hard to come back to a reality where Jason is gone.
She should be getting up, she should be getting ready. She should be going to work. But she is finding it harder and harder these days.
At first, it was hard when Sonny came back. She had to set her mind on compartmentalizing her feelings for Jason, channeling the Carly that Sonny left behind in Port Charles when he fell of the bridge. Then, the unthinkable happened, and Carly went on to auto-pilot. Her poker face firmly in place as Sonny's devoted wife, only cracking at the mere mention of Jason's name. She played her part, until Sonny played her for the fool. In open court, his whole affair, whether physical or emotional, with Nina came to light. And she was livid. He was the reason Jason left to give them space. He was the reason Jason went to Crete. He was the reason Jason was gone. Forever. And in a moment of blind rage, in a packed courtroom, she told him that. And told him that he had always known that she could never love him the way she loved Jason. She regretted it, instantly, but it was said. And she couldn't take it back.
Of course, she unraveled. What made her think she could keep her feelings bottled up? What made her think she could compartmentalize her life like that? That was Jason's thing. Not hers. And yet, for a little while, the fact that he had faith in her made her believe that she could mirror him. But, what was the point of trying to honor a dead man? A man that killed her the day the day he stopped breathing? What was the point of keeping it all together and pretending that she will get through this? The first time around, she trashed her life, almost married a serial killer that had her own son raped, slept with said son's father who she had loathed for years… and then she thought she had him back. It wasn't the same. He wasn't the same. But just the thought of him alive and breathing on this planet, kept her sane. And then the miracle happened. He came back. The real Jason Morgan. Her best friend, her confidant, the love of her life. Whether she admitted it or not. And suddenly the world was perfect again. No matter what.
With shock she realizes that there are tears dripping from her chin. Again. The ache inside is so deep she hadn't even realized that her eyes are leaking. Again.
The worst part? She almost did it again.
Drew.
The closest thing she had to Jason.
He has some of Jason's memories. He understands what Jason meant to her. He even understands what she means to Jason. All the things he admitted to and kept bottled up. And of course, her longing for Jason had her turning to him for comfort, almost culminating in sex. Almost. Maybe she isn't that far gone.
"Are you sure?" was the question from Drew that suddenly pulled her back to sanity. Thankfully he had no anger when she pulled back, shook her head, and got the hell out of there. Only stopping for long enough to turn around at the door and say:
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…"
The only solace she has, is that he really does get it.
The snoozed alarm sounds again. Carly reaches over. Silences it. Slowly she turns to the side, swing her legs over to the floor. Looks up to survey her Metro Court suite. It's impersonal. It's comforting. If she never sets foot in Casa Corinthos she would be content. But life doesn't work like that. At some point she would have to pack her things, make a life, find a home. But how does she do that when she doesn't have the motivation to go downstairs and play hostess, pretending that she isn't broken beyond compare?
The only thing that gets her moving is the one thought.
If she doesn't go on, Sonny, the egotistical narcissist that he is, will think it's about him and Nina.
Carly is somewhat surprised at the wooden feeling that she feels thinking about Sonny being with Nina. There is no pain, just anger that Jason had to pay for their lies. All the wasted years burns in her soul.
"I never loved Sonny the way I love you. I never could." She told him, last night, at Jake's. She shudders at the memory of his voice as he says. "Don't say that." Even in a dream he is just so… Jason. It felt so real.
A knock on the door is what gets her moving, gets her focusing on life and living.
"Carly."
At the sound of Jason's voice she turns, a bright smile lighting up her face at the sight of him. She takes two seconds before her feet propels her into his arms, almost knocking him over. He envelopes her in his arms, smiling. The only other time she saw him smiling this contentedly was at their wedding. Of course, her mind would bring her happiest memory into the dream. Then she remembers her previous dream and her smile fades. She pulls back.
"Why?"
Jason looks confused.
"Why what?"
"Why do you keep insisting that I loved Sonny more than you? Even in a dream. It's not true. It never was."
"You're just saying it because that is what I want to be true." Jason answers, his eyes filled with pain.
Carly cannot help but frown.
If this is her dream, Jason would be saying things from her own subconscious. What is he saying?
"No. I'm saying it because it is true. It always was."
Jason shrugs then, as if it doesn't matter, and smiles.
"You know I'm not good at imagining things, but escaping to Jake's and living what I can't imagine is good enough." Again he envelopes her in his arms, leaving Carly melting against him.
Something about his words is tugging at her. Something important. Something she should really think about, but when he pulls back, turns her and marches her over to the pool table, she lets it go. She can think about it tomorrow, back in the real world, where she can't spend time with him.
They fall in a familiar dance around the table, trying to distract each other and always playing to win. When Jason predictably wins, Carly pouts, but holds out her hand.
"I won." Jason answers, a smile tugging at his mouth, his eyes shining indulgently as she shrugs with an expression that clearly says, "So?" He pulls a quarter from his jeans pocket, hands it to Carly.
As she always did, she pops the quarter into the Jukebox, selects "Milk" by Garbage and turns around to walk sexily back to him to put her arms around his neck while the Jukebox whirs in the background to play the song. As the music starts, they both freeze, identical looks of surprise on their faces.
"It's youuuuuu… hiding in plain sight..." The haunting lyrics envelope the whole of Jake's.
"Did you…?" Jason starts.
"No." Carly shakes her head, "it wasn't even on there. It has the same songs it used to have."
"Yes, it's youuuuu… that sets my world right."
"I don't even know who sings this song." Carly laments.
Jason cocks his head at her, giving her his "I know when you're lying Carly" look.
"No, really, Maxie picked it. I… I don't know how she knew… it is perfect. It's…. us."
"And it's youuu, it's always been you…"
"It's always been you, Jason." Carly is suddenly tearing up as she lets her head rest on his chest. "I miss you. I miss you so much." Her shoulders are shaking despite the fact that somewhere along the line they started swaying to the music.
"I miss you more." She hears Jason sighing above her head, his arms tightening around her. "I just…" he leaves the thought hanging.
"Leave it Carly" she tells herself, "It's just a dream, it doesn't matter what he wants to say." But curiosity, as always, gets the better of her…
She pulls back, looks up at him, sees the pain and longing she feels mirrored in his eyes.
"You just what?"
Jason looks down, not one for long drawn out eye contact, especially when he is feeling emotional. He looks up furtively, then away again, sighing.
"It's just a dream. It doesn't matter." He sighs again.
"It matters to me." Carly has no idea why, but it feels like her entire life depends on his words. The words of a man she is dreaming up, the words of a man that can only tell her, her own thoughts. And yet. She stops swaying, pulls his face to her, to be able to look into his eyes, then asks again.
"What were you going to say?"
Then he sighs and visibly deflates, looking defeated. She isn't used to seeing him like this.
"If I could just get away Carly. I…" then he unburdens himself, "I tried. So many times. Now, they keep me drugged. I don't know how long it will take to work up a tolerance."
Carly is quiet for a beat. Stunned.
"Who? Who is holding you?"
Jason smiles at her, then shakes his head.
"Even in a dream, you are you. Maybe I am good at imagining things after all."
"No…No, Jason!" Carly's voice is climbing with excitement. "You are horrible at imagining things and I don't think this is a dream at all… well it is, but like when you saved me, brought me back after the explosion…"
"Carly." Jason interrupts, rolling his eyes…
"If this is not a soulmate dream, you have no reason to not tell me where you are." Carly challenges him, as if an entire conversation has been had in his one word exchange.
For a few excruciating moments they are just staring at each other, a battle of wills fighting.
"Who has you? And where are you? Did they grab you before the tunnel collapsed? Are you still in Crete? Did they move you?"
When he just stares at her, still sizing up the situation, she continues.
"Peter's in a coma." Carly volunteers. "Some deal between Sonny and Selina. Brad's her nephew, she wanted him out, in exchange he poisoned Peter in prison. Michael's very upset that Brad is out. At least Britt has her best friend back."
She can see as the information she is giving him, things he cannot possibly know, starts to sink again.
"You could still be creating this dream to suite you, Carly. You could be wrong about this." She reminds herself. She shakes it off. Jason always says she has good instincts. And the only times she went wrong was when she didn't follow her gut and her gut is telling her, he is here, in this dream with her. He is alive. He is not in her head.
Jason starts backing up, shaking his head, turns away, turns back. Put his hand on his hip like he usually does when he wants her to listen to him.
"Stay out of it Carly. I mean it. I'll get out. I'll come home. I need you to still be alive when I do."
Carly puts both of her hands on her hips, defiantly.
"You might as well tell me Jase. You know I'm not going to let it go. I'm gonna go snooping. I'm gonna rope in Spinelli, I'm going to contact Brick, I will pull everyone I know into this and then the people who have you may find out, and come after me, so you may as well tell me so I don't draw as much attention to myself." She ends, satisfied with the level of emotional blackmail she just levied at him.
"Carly…"
With a start Carly finds herself back in her bed at the Metro Court. The alarm on her phone blaring it's 6am wake-up call.
Furious Carly picks up the phone and hurls it across the room.
She feels like crying. She was so close. SO close.
Yes, there is a possibility that she is making it all up and will wind up back in Ferncliff with no Jason to rescue her but…. If this isn't real, if it's just all in her head, and Jason is really dead… does it really matter if she ends up back at the funny farm?
It's a newly determined Carly with a pep in her step that steps off the elevator at the Metro Court Restaurant. For once, she understands what Jason is always saying. Why care what everyone else thinks?
"Carly!" Olivia calls out, startled as she breezes in behind the bar, heading straight for her file with the Metro Court Supplier's contacts. "Well, you look like the Carly I know and love." Olivia comments, a question in her eyes. "What's going on?"
"If I tell you I would have to kill you." Carly answers, happily.
Olivia just shakes her head, a smile on her face, then impulsively hugs Carly.
"Welcome back." Carly smiles back at her, suddenly hit with how lucky she is to have a friend like Olivia after everything they have both been through.
"Thank you. For everything. Putting up with me, listening to me when I get all self-obsessed, keeping this place running when I check out… Just everything."
"Oh, it's a pleasure honey. So, what are you doing?"
"Getting my life back, starting with a decent place to live."
"That's the spirit!" Olivia cheers, "Oh! I'll be back, Ned's calling me over."
"Good luck." Carly answers, hoping that the whole thing with Leo will finally pull Olivia and Ned back together.
She starts flipping through the file to find the realtor that helped her the last time she moved out of Sonny's.
This is not all about starting a new life. Yes, she wants to have a life separate from Sonny, have a place big enough for Jason to live as well once she gets him back home, but in order to do that she will need a base of operations separate from Sonny's eagle eyes. If there is one thing that Jason and Sonny does have in common, it's the fact that they will both try and stop her from pursuing this.
She grabs the phone, punches in the number.
"Clair? Hi! It's Carly… Corinthos." The last name tastes sour in her mouth. She knows her next call will be to Diane.
"I'm looking for a place to stay. Secure, as always, and furnished. Would three o'clock be too soon? No? Good. I'll see you then."
She shakes her head as she hangs up. Poor women should be used to her by now. She didn't even sound surprised that Carly wanted to start viewing all the available places by this afternoon. With determination she phones Diane.
"Diane, Hi!"
"Carly, I was wondering how long it will be until I hear from you."
"Oh?"
"Well, I assume that after the show at the courthouse that you will be needing my services." Diane sounds all formal and professional, then her voice softens. "I'm in the lobby if you want to meet now. My next appointment isn't in another half an hour."
"Yes please." Carly answer, suddenly sounding less determined and more sad.
"I'm on my way."
The relationship between the two women had changed a lot in the last few months. Diane found herself admiring Carly more and more, and with all the upheaval and now Jason's death, she found herself feeling more empathy for the woman who she realized was the most loyal person you could ever ask for in a friend. The fact that her impression of Sonny has soured remarkably also means that if he wasn't the man paying her retainer, she would have left his service in a heartbeat.
Less than three minutes later the two women find themselves at a table, coffee in hand.
"So, what can I do for you?" Diane asks. "I have to caveat this with the fact that I am not sure if I can take him to the cleaners for you. Your marriage is still up in the air, and Jason's… disappearance… has thrown a few wrenches in the works."
Carly sighs.
"Where are we with all that?"
"Well, I was in the process of sorting out the legalities with Sonny being alive and your marriage license to Jason having been filed and registered. The judge was of the opinion that your marriage to Sonny was dissolved upon him being legally declared dead, making your marriage to Jason legal. Obviously, that meant that I would've needed to file papers for either an annulment or divorce for yourself and… Oh, I miss that man… how are you holding up?" Diane interrupts herself.
Carly shrugs.
"I miss him." She answers like it's obvious. "Diane…?"
"What is it?"
"I… um… I can't say much more but… I have reason to believe that Jason… he might be alive."
"Carly…" Diane starts, putting her hand on Carly's.
"I know. I… look I can't tell you what I know, I need to do more investigating… I'm not crazy. I know there is a possibility I could be dead wrong, but I won't be able to live with myself if I don't pursue this…"
Carly is quiet for a while.
"Do you think we could hold off on declaring Jason…" she can't finish the sentence.
"We've got seven years." Diane answers, ironically, then relents, "no judge will take a declaration of death submission with any seriousness from me. In the last three years I dealt with getting Jason resurrected, legally speaking, getting Drew resurrected, having Sonny declared dead and then resurrected. I'm afraid my credibility has been compromised so even if Sonny presses the issue, I can't get him declared dead, but Carly, you understand that this means, at this point…"
Carly looks at Diane, shocked. Could it really be?
Diane decided to be merciful and confirm what she is saying.
"Carly, you are legally Jason's wife and without him being found, or seven years lapsing and him being declared legally dead, you will stay that way. My track record unfortunately will not allow for any fancy maneuvering on my part for an annulment."
Carly smiles.
"Is that the truth or what you told Sonny?" she asks, a hint of a smile.
Diane looks startled, then smiles sheepishly. She stands up, holds out her hand to Carly to shake.
"Good luck with the hunt. Let me know if I can be of service."
"Thank you, Diane. In the meantime, I would like to take my married name."
"So, we are set?" Selina Wu asks her Nephew, Andrew. The youth is their resident IT expert, well versed in spy ware and Trojans.
"It's all ready. Laptop microphone and cellphone microphone transmitting and recording. Webcam active and recording, as well as a screen recorder." Andrew answers, very pleased with himself, sitting back to gesture. "You can listen and view it all at the same time, if you want, or do a synced play back."
He points to the two bottom screens with an equalizer visible.
"This one is the phone audio and that one is the laptop audio. When he is in the room, I would suggest muting the phone audio as there is sometimes a second lag that makes it disconcerting to listen to at the same time." He then points at the top two screens "Webcam view and screen recorder. I have a back-end entry way to retrieve and save any files you find of interest when playback is done on the screen recorder."
"Thank you, Andrew, I will get one of my guys on monitoring all these."
"Aunt Selina, can I ask you a question?"
"You may."
"Why did you keep up your end of the bargain to have Peter poisoned when you know that Mr. Corinthos double crossed you and told all his contacts to ensure that Brad was refused parole?"
Selina cocks an eyebrow.
"Because I knew I could get my way without him, and be able to test his loyalty at the same time. Peter needed to die. Jason Morgan was an ally. A man with integrity."
"Well, I hope you get a lot on Mr. Corinthos. Take his entire organization." Andrew answers, eagerly.
"Patience Andrew. I would ironically have enjoyed a reciprocal alliance with the Corinthos organization, but without loyal leadership I am afraid that will no longer be possible. I, for one, are comforted by the fact that Carly will not be caught in the crossfire."
"Not now, Carly." They suddenly hear Sonny Corinthos' voice over the speakers, followed by two sets of footsteps.
Selina looks interested and takes a seat next to her nephew.
"Yes, Now." Carly sounds pissed.
"I'll be sending someone over to come and fetch my things in the next few days. I am seeing the realtor this afternoon." She sounds matter-of-fact.
"Don't you think you are overreacting? Nothing happened between me and Nina. It's not like we slept together." Sonny sounds disparaging.
"Of course, I'm overreacting." Carly sounds like she is explaining to a small child. "I needed an excuse to leave, and you gave me one."
"Oh, so you are not upset about me and Nina?" Sonny goads, sounding unconvinced.
"Egotist." Selina mutters under her breath. "Don't fall for it Carly, he's just trying to push your buttons."
Andrew looks up at his aunt, surprised at the amount of personal interest she is showing in the conversation.
"Do you want the truth, Sonny?" Carly asks, she sounds tired, sad.
"No, I want you to lie to me." Sonny answers sarcastically.
"I'm really not upset about you and Nina. It doesn't even feature in my things to be upset about list!" Carly screams, she has clearly lost it. Then she continues.
"I'm upset that Jason is gone. I am upset because we were honest with you, and if you were honest with us, Jason might be standing in this room today. I'm upset because you honest-to-God actually think that everything is about you Sonny. It's not about you Sonny, it was never about YOU!"
"Because everything has always been about Jason. You always took his side over mine, he always took your side over me. You said you were honest? You weren't honest until the day in the court room. The first honest thing you ever said was that you will never love me the way you loved Jason."
"I'm sorry I said that." Carly relents. "I didn't mean to hurt you like that."
"You said it, because it's true. You know it and I know it, and I'm done playing second fiddle to Jason."
They see Sonny suddenly appearing on the screen as he takes a seat behind his desk.
"Maybe it's a good thing Jason is dead. He never loved you the way you loved him. You never would've worked. At least now you can truly say you were the last woman he ever loved."
Andrew and Selina both find themselves holding their breath waiting for the explosion. Except it doesn't come.
"You never really knew him at all, did you?" Carly asks, softly, sounding sad, "And for the record, Jason isn't dead, he is being held somewhere and I will find him."
"You're delusional, Carly, because you don't want to believe that he's gone."
"No, I'm not. I know, because he told me."
"You're losing it. Again."
"We're done here Sonny. I'll be sending someone to pack my things and bring it through. Donna's in the car, I'll be in touch about visitation."
"I'll be damned if I'm going to allow you to just take my daughter."
"You're already damned Sonny!" they hear Carly call out before the door slams behind her.
Selina watches with satisfaction as Sonny stares daggers at the door, clenching and un-clenching his fist. A ding draws their and his attention to his laptop screen.
Its an email from anonymousfriend
As Sonny opens it, they read the contents. It's short, to the point.
Mr. Corinthos.
Do not try and trace this email, you will not find the origin.
My new employer is Helena Cassadine.
She has Mr. Morgan.
She will kill me if she knew I sent this.
We are on an island, close to Crete.
Here is the coordinates:
35°16′12″N 23°31′55″E / . 35.27°N 23.532°E.
I trust that you will save him.
"Now we will truly see if Sonny Corinthos has a shred of loyalty." Selena remarks, sitting back, lifting one very thick eyebrow.
Sonny is rereading the email again. His cursor moves to the printer icon then he gets up, returns with a piece of paper. He stares at it.
Selina taps impatiently on her desk.
Sonny's phone rings.
"Corinthos."
"You have to do something Diane, I am not letting her take my kid."
"Then, work it into the divorce proceedings."
"What do you mean we're not married? I told you to sort that out."
"What do you mean you can't have him declared dead? Jason's not coming back."
"You're kidding me. How can she take his name?!"
After listening to something on the other end, he slams the phone down onto his desk, then remembers that it is a cellphone and turns it over to hang up on the cracked screen.
He is seething but slowly calms down. The manic gleam in his eyes have Selena feeling nervous. She sits forward, watching as he takes out a burner flip phone and dials.
"Hi! It's me. You owe me big time and I am phoning to collect."
"I'm going to be sending you some co-ordinates to an island and a photo of a man. I need you to bomb the island, find the prisoner and make sure he is dead, identifiable and found by the authorities."
He hangs up.
"You need a body Diane, I will give you a body." he sneers.
His cursor moves from the printer icon to the recycle bin.
He deletes the email with a satisfied smile and dangerous gleam to his eyes.
"Not even a hint of loyalty in that man." Selina Wu announces, shaking her head.
"Retrieve that email. I need to assemble a team." Selina demands before rising and leaving the office with determination, before turning back at the door. "Retrieve a synced recording of what we had just witnessed. Mr. Morgan will need the full picture if he is to switch sides. Now THAT man understands loyalty."
"I'll take it." Carly declares as she surveys the home she is standing in.
She found the perfect fortress. The front of the house is a nondescript house on a suburban street, once inside you have a living room and dining room with a door off to the side to a small kitchen. Very suburban, very average, upstairs are 3 bedrooms. Through an entrance through the back of the pantry, you descend into the actual home. Down here is another living room, dining room, kitchen setup, all very modern and minimalist, the view from the living room looks out over the bay, the only lights to be seen, the ferry and Windemere in the distance on the island. Another staircase goes down, this one not hidden, to the bedrooms, all en-suite with the same breathtaking view of the bay and the beautiful, minimalist styling. Stylish enough for her, but minimal enough for Jason. He would love this place. Suddenly she has a pang of grieve, so deep and aching, it is like last night never happened. Doubt suddenly fills her and a deep fear that she is just making herself believe because she can't live with the alternative.
She takes a deep breath. She can't back down now. Either way, this place is perfect. They will be living in a home that no-one knows exists. A few well placed trinkets and personal items strewn in the above ground area and some bare essentials in the kitchen would mean if anyone they don't trust come over, they can meet with them upstairs. She would eventually have to redecorate it. Even if it is just to keep up the illusion.
"The place is immediately available. The previous owner, an eccentric old woman, passed away and the property is part of her estate. No-one knew of the double home area except for my husband who was the builder. He told me about it upon hearing that I have listed the property. If any other realtor was called for this listing, they would never have known about it. When you phoned, I felt like it was fate."
"Perhaps it was." Carly agrees. "It truly is perfect. I'm assuming the building plans only show the above ground portion?"
"Yes, that is correct. The below ground portion was built in such a way that any lights would not be seen from the bay or below, and the windows do not catch direct sun rays to call attention by reflecting."
"This is a truly remarkable listing. Please send me the bill for the occupational rent while we await the transfer, and I will have it wired to you tomorrow morning. I will be moving in tomorrow."
"Then, I will leave the keys with you, Mrs. Um…"
Carly suppresses the smile. The poor woman has known her with so many last names already. Might as well give her one last surprise. This is after all her last last name. No matter what. If she is wrong and delusional, this will still be her last last name."
"Morgan."
"As a repeat customer I have no reason to wait until tomorrow to hand you the key."
"You've got something planned for tomorrow, don't you?" Carly comments, knowingly.
The realtor smiles.
"It's my son's birthday."
"Well, I hope you both enjoy it."
Carly wants to get home, have a very quick dinner, a shower and then jump into bed to hopefully have another wonderful dream.
It is past midnight when Carly finally gets to bed. Donna refused to fall asleep tonight. When she finally got Donna settled down and was able to move away hearing the rhythmic breathing of a not-faking, sleeping child, she had a quick shower, before getting into bed.
Then she found that the excitement kept her up. Eventually at 2am, the tears started falling. It dawned on her that she was being ridiculous. Being this excited when she could be imagining the whole idea of Jason being alive, and then the loss hit her all over, the sleep deprivation didn't help either and the fact that she can't sleep making it worst. If she could fall asleep, perhaps she could get answers, something to soothe her raw nerves, but those same raw nerves are what is keeping her up. Finally tired out from crying, she slowly drifted off to sleep.
"Where have you been?"
At the sound of Jason's voice, she spins around from the jukebox. For some reason she is always facing the jukebox when she arrives.
In two seconds flat, she is in his arms, melting into him. Slowly she feels the tension melting out of him.
"Donna was fussy, she didn't want to sleep. I think she's still adjusting to the metro court."
"Metro court?" Jason asks.
"We're staying there until I can move into our new home. You'll love it."
"New home?" Then Jason switches gears, clearly deciding they have more important matters to discuss. "Please tell me you have not been asking questions. I thought something was wrong. That… you were… gone."
At the break in his voice she realizes how much worry she had put him through. While she was crying her eyes out over the whole situation, he was clearly worried because she didn't arrive at her normal time. She decides that the best thing is to distract him, cheer him up, in the only way she can. She pulls back, a naughty smile on her face.
"Oh, so you are admitting that we are soulmates? That we are meeting in a soul mate dream?"
Jason grimaces.
"Carly…." He rubs at his forehead.
"Stop faking a headache. You can't have a headache when we're here."
Jason looks up at her, his hand still on his forehead.
"That's what you think."
He is just so typical Jason, and this whole conversation feels so normal and familiar, she can't help it, before she knows it, she had launched herself at him, fusing her lips to his. A second later her mind catches up to her and she pulls back to apologize.
"I'm…" before she can even finish her sentence, his lips are burning on hers and she loses herself in the kiss. She parts her lips and with no hesitation he delves in. It's a short kiss, before he pulls back, breathing deeply, his eyes unfocused. He steps back. She knows this side. He is reigning himself in. Compartmentalizing.
She watches him. Immediately sees when he is back in control.
She smiles sadly.
"We've lost so much time, Jase…" she remarks sadly, "Why… why keep doing this? Holding back?"
"You're a married woman, Carly."
"Yeah, and my husband is currently missing and presumed dead in a collapsed tunnel in Crete, except he's not and I want him home."
"Carly…"
"Don't Carly me."
"See, this is how I know this isn't a "soulmate" dream, because you are telling me everything I want to hear. Everything that I know can't be true."
"So… If I pretend this is not a soulmate dream and that I'm just dream Carly who's all in your head, will you tell me the truth? What you really feel for me and where you are being held?"
Jason is quiet for a beat, looking at her, not disguising the pain and longing.
Then he shrugs.
"I love you."
"Like a friend? A best friend?" Carly prods.
"Yes. Like my best friend, and my wife, and the woman I can't live without. I would rather die than see you die. I would rather be your best friend than not be in your life at all. I would rather see you with Sonny than lose you altogether."
"Sonny and I are done."
"I've heard that before."
"Yes, you have. When you weren't an option. When being in your life meant more than being with you." Carly answers.
"Did you know that Sonny and Nina had an affair?"
"Oh, so that's why it's over." Jason answers.
"No, that's why you are not home. We were honest with Sonny, if he was honest with us, you wouldn't have left Port Charles. Me and him are over, because he took you from me. I should be angry about Nina, instead all I'm angry about is you."
"So is Sonny and Nina together now?" Jason asks, gauging her reaction.
"Yeah… no…" she frowns, looks confused, "I don't know…. " Carly shrugs, "Doesn't matter, when I found out, in court, I lost it. I screamed at Sonny. Told him it's his fault you're gone, told him I could never love him the way I love you. He knows how I feel. I didn't wait to find out how he feels."
"When was that?"
"A few weeks ago." Carly walks over to the bar. She doesn't remember it being here last night, but it's there now, in all its glory, cold beers standing ready. She grabs one, goes to sit on the chair Jason sat in that first night their eyes met so many years ago.
"And you haven't seen him since?" Jason asks.
She knows he is fishing. He is trying to decide if he is dreaming, a normal dream. She gets it.
"Off course I did. I had to go collect some clothes. Fetch and drop Donna. I saw him today. Told him I'm sending someone to collect my things cause I found a new home." She crosses her legs, hold out a beer to him. Jason moves closer, takes it, opens it, swallows.
"So, are you going to tell me where you are or leave me to stumble blindly into a more dangerous situation?"
That gets his attention.
"I can't tell you. Either way you'll stumble blindly into a situation. I don't know where I am. I'm close to the ocean, underground. One of the guards looked familiar. I saw him once. I am sure he used to work for us a few years ago. I haven't seen him since. I think he is scared I will recognize him. I know who has me, I don't want to tell you."
"Jason…." Before she can even plead with him, he has both her hands in his, his eyes are pleading into hers.
"Don't get involved." Jason tells her, then cuts her off when she opens her mouth, "I love you Carly. I can't lose you. I can't come home to a world without you. Do you understand? Just be my goal. Wait for me. Give me a reason to come home."
"I want to help you come home." Carly knows she sounds like a child crying for ice cream, but she doesn't care. He knows her, he knows waiting is not her strong suite. "Why won't you let me help you?" she wails, petulantly.
"You really don't get it? I love you, Carly." He repeats, then sighs with an almost wondrous look in his eye, like something finally clicked, like everything suddenly makes sense in his world, and he says the words she never thought she would ever hear. " I'm in love with you Carly."
Before Carly can even answer, Jason continues, a man of few words finding a way to say what he means.
"I'm sorry you had to live through losing me again, but I can't do that. I'm not that strong. When Ryan had you, Laura just hinted at the thought that you could be dead and I couldn't… "he trails off shakes his head, not able to put into words how he felt.
"But you found me, like you always do. Now I want to find you."
Jason sighs.
"If I tell you what I know, you have to promise me that you will have Spinelli and Brick handle everything. That you will stay out of it. Promise me Carly."
"I promise."
"I mean it Carly. If you die, I die. I don't break my promises, so get this. If you die, I die. Even if I have to do it myself."
"Jase…" Carly says shocked. "You can't…"
"I will. I mean it."
"That's blackmail." She snaps.
"I'm speaking your language." Jason quips back, but with no smile, still deadly serious. "If this is the only way I can get through to you, then so be it."
And that's when it hit her. Every single second of grief she had lived through, every moment of pain, all the regret and anger she had felt over the passed few weeks. She can't put him through that.
She looks up at him, deadly serious.
"I promise. Brick and Spinelli will handle everything. I will stay in the shadows, I will pretend that life is normal. I will act my ass off. But we will bring you home." Then she brightens, "speaking off home. I found the perfect house, up on Elmor Drive. It was an eccentric old lady's house. She has a normal house up on street level, but the real house is underground. You get to it through the pantry, it's in the cliff, looks out over the bay. Super minimal. You'll love it. And the best thing is, no-one can see in. At all. It's more secure than any place we have ever lived."
"You really do mean it this time." Jason comments, relieved.
"Yeah, yeah I do. I finally get it Jase. I never want you to live through what I had lived through losing you. Never."
Carly is completely unprepared when he pulls her to him, kisses her the same way he did at their wedding after their bubble walk. She melts into him, pours every bit of love and longing into the kiss. When he pulls back, she sees a split second of fear in his eyes, before he cloaks them and starts speaking.
"Helene Cassadine. She's alive. Apparently, Nikolas poisoned her. It didn't take. She faked her death. Again. Her new and improved brain washing technique is still not working on me. She is angry. She has a new Doctor working with her, he sounds German, she calls him Rolf. I don't know if it's a name or surname. I don't know how long I was out. Someone pulled me from the rubble before the second collapse happened. I was sedated before I could see anything else. I woke up in what looks like an underground prison. There is a small window at the top. I can hear and smell the ocean. Carly, you promised."
"I promised." She echoes. "I will think through every angle. Not just what can go right, but what can go wrong. You taught me that."
"I love you." Jason tells her.
"I…"
Carly glares at the offending alarm.
But this morning she doesn't bask in the memory of Jason, she doesn't lament reality. She gets up, she gets dressed, and she calls Spinelli and Brick and convince both of them to help her move, so she can have a reasonable reason to have a conversation with them without prying eyes.
When the van arrives bringing through her belongings, she gets out of the car. Spinelli and Brick gets out of the front.
"Carly." Brick says, holding out his arms for a hug. As soon as she hugs him, he whispers.
"What is this really about? My skills go far above moving boxes."
"We'll speak in private." She whispers back.
"Spinelli! Thank you so much for helping me move!"
Before Spinelli can start a soliloquy on the honors of helping a friend in need, she cuts him off in a hug.
"Please scan the entire home for bugs, including the downstairs through the pantry wall."
"On it, Milady." He answers, after the hug, saluting.
A half an hour later, Carly finishes hanging the last set of curtains. She and Brick had been having a light, casual conversation about her moving on from Sonny, looking forward to a new life when Spinelli walks in from the kitchen's side.
"All clear."
"Thanks Spinelli." Carly sighs gratefully.
They each grab a box moving it down to the true home downstairs. After a few trips, the stylish minimalist living room looks more like a stylish warehouse with all the boxes haphazardly placed.
"So where do we start?." Spinelli asks.
"Don't worry about the boxes, I'll sort them out later." Carly waves her hand dismissively.
Brick sits down on the couch, Spinelli and Carly also finding a seat.
"I would offer you something to drink, but…"
"What's the mission?" Brick interrupts.
Carly takes a deep breath. During the morning she realized how soulmate dreams will sound to Brick and Spinelli… Well maybe not to Spinelli, but…
"Jason's alive."
She waits for the objections to start, finds nothing.
They are both looking at her, waiting for more information.
"You don't even seem surprised."
"Well, we tried to find a reason why you would need both of us, so it was the conclusion we came to in the van this morning." Spinelli supplies.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know. That is where you come in."
"Wait, I don't understand, if you have been in contact with Jason, why don't you know where he is?" Spinelli asks.
"Because he doesn't know, Spinelli." Carly sighs, drops her head in her hands. "I promised him I will stay safe and let you guys handle it. He says someone grabbed him before the second collapse."
"Wait? The tunnel collapsed twice?"
"Apparently." Carly shrugs.
"They sedated him. He had no idea how long he had been out. They are keeping him in an underground prison cell. There is a small window to the top. He can hear and smell the ocean."
"That isn't much to go on."
"Well, this is, but we need to be careful. Helene Cassadine is alive. Nikolas poisoned her, but she managed to fake her death. She has a new doctor trying his brainwashing techniques on Jason. It hasn't worked so far. He sounds German and she calls him "Rolf". We have no idea if it is a first name or last name."
"How did he manage to contact you?"
Carly shrugs.
"We got cut off before he could explain." She answers. It was the most plausible lie she could come up with without having to keep compounding the lie. She feels proud of herself. She had learned some tricks through the years.
"Anything else?"
Carly shakes her head.
"You know as much as I do now."
And then she cracks, the sobs wracking through her.
"We… we have to find him, Brick, what if this new Doctor manages to do something to him? What if… Oh God!" now that the flood gates had opened, letting out all the things she couldn't speak out, she's barely keeping it together.
"Does Sonny know?" Brick asks.
Carly is shaking her head.
"We need to tell him."
"No… NO!"
"Don't you trust him?" Spinelli asks surprised.
"I don't know…" Carly wails, slowly calming down.
"Jason never… said anything about Sonny. Asked that you two handle it, I didn't get a chance to ask… I… things are not good right now. I told Sonny that I could never love him the way I love Jason… he's angry and he hasn't been acting like himself. It could just be his time in Nixon falls, I could be imagining it, I don't know. I'm acting purely on gut right now…"
"Okay, okay!" Brick answers, taking Carly's hand. "We keep Sonny out of it, for now, suss out the situation first. So Sonny knows nothing."
"Well… we had an argument yesterday. I told him Jason's alive. He said I was crazy. I told him Jason told me… Oh God!"
Brick looks confused.
"You've known since yesterday?"
"Yes, No… not the details. We got cut off, I just heard his voice, saying he's alive, then last night, well this morning, sometimes past 2 he… contacted me again. That's when I got the rest of the details…"
"We could trace the number."
Carly shakes her head.
"Private number…. Oh!"
Carly is shocked that she forgot such an important clue.
"He said one of the guards used to work for Sonny years ago. He only saw him once. Not sure if he's left or realized Jason would recognize him."
"What's his name?"
Carly shakes her head, shrugging.
"Jason didn't know."
"He's usually good with names." Brick comments, "Must've been very low level and not for very long…"
Brick gets up.
"I'll go fish out if Sonny knows anything."
"Did you tell him anything else?"
"No. Just that Jason is alive and he told me. Once I realized what I said I just let him think I'm delusional."
"I'm supposed to meet Maxie at the hospital but I'll keep it brief, then get right on Cassadine property records." Spinelli announces.
"I guess I'll keep myself busy unpacking." Carly sighs. "Jason knows how I hate staying out of things…" she laments, only bolstered by his words.
"I'm in love with you Carly." It's so amazing to hear him say those words, maybe she really is imagining all of it, and she's sending Brick and Spinelli on a wild goose chase that ends with her back at Ferncliff.
Less than three hours later she finds herself opening her front door to Brick, holding a bag of groceries and Spinelli holding Pizzas.
"Sonny thinks you've lost it, so I am checking up on you." Brick says as she opens the door.
"I brought Pizza." Spinelli adds, "Not sure how good of a cover that is…"
"If you guys can keep dropping by because you're assessing my mental health, I don't mind."
"But do you really need a cover Brick? I mean, I've had time to think about it, and yeah, Sonny's angry but he wouldn't be a danger to Jason, would he?"
Brick lifts an eyebrow at her before making his way downstairs, Spinelli already ahead of him.
As soon as they sit down, boxes of pizza open, Brick answers.
"Are you sure you didn't tell Sonny anything else?"
"Yes, 100% sure. Why?"
"I told him that I'm worried about you. That you've been seeing Jason, like in a dream, and you're convinced he is alive. I figured it gives us a reason to hang around. He said you're losing it again, that we shouldn't feed into your delusions of Jason being held prisoner on some Greek island."
"Greek Island?" Carly echoes. "He said that?"
"Yeah."
"I never said anything about a Greek island. Although that would strangely make sense…" Carly's eyes narrows with suspicion. "He said he could hear AND smell the ocean. Please tell me you don't think Sonny is involved?"
"I don't know. He acted strange. Dismissive. More dismissive than usual, like he doesn't want to talk about it. All I have is… a gut feeling."
"Sonny wouldn't work with Helena Casadine." Carly answers. "but then Sonny hasn't acted like himself since he got back… I just assumed it was Nina related… I don't know."
"Since Brick told me about the island connection, I decided to start my search of Casadine properties on Greek islands. They have three islands in the area, aerial footage shows each has a castle, some larger than others, but only one is close enough to the side of the island for it to be possible to both hear and smell the ocean." Spinelli spins his laptop around to show them the island he is pointing at, and photos he found showing the top view and a small piece of side view from the ocean's side.
"The photo's are too pixelated to be able to see clearly however these darker shadows at the bottom could very well be dungeon windows. Did Jason say it look like a prison or a dungeon?"
"Prison." Carly answer, chewing at her bottom lip, "but the dungeons at Windemere looks pretty modern and prison-y so…" she shrugs.
"While I was at the hospital though, we did have a small confirmation tidbit though." Spinelli pipes again. "Maximista and Dr. Westbourne were talking about the tunnel collapse. There was a second collapse. They were searching for Jason, and only retreated after the second collapse."
Carly nods. She missed that detail, but at least it helps her feel better about Jason being the real Jason and not just her subconscious, although she could have heard about it, stored it in her subconscious. She angrily shakes herself. Why is she doubting herself again?
"Carly, are you okay?" Brick asks concerned.
"Yeah.. Yes, I just… I'm angry." She admits, spreads her hands in a gesture of "I can't help it."
As Brick and Spinelli gets busy trying to cross check old Corinthos employees, trying to find anyone with a connection to Helene, Carly sits back and rests her head back. Slowly she drifts off to sleep.
She's facing the Jukebox, turns around. Jake's is empty…. Not knowing what to do with herself, she sits on the side of their pool table, one foot on the ground, the other swinging.
"Maybe she is crazy. Maybe she is imagining what she wants to be true…"
"Carly?!" She looks up, startled. Jason looks shocked to see her, and disoriented.
She runs to him, envelopes him in her arms. He pushes her back, looks into her eyes.
"I don't know how long I'll be here. Things are crazy. Gunshots and screaming. A guy came running in, told me they are there to rescue me but then sedated me with a syringe. I was tied up, couldn't fight him, I heard an explosion in the distance…." Jason trails off. Then pulls her into a kiss.
"I love you. Remember that. Never doubt it. I'll do anything I can to come home. I promise."
"I love you…. " He's gone just as quick as he came, "Jase? Jase!?" She needs to wake up, she needs to do something, anything!
"Carly!" she looks up into Brick's concerned eyes. "You look like you were having a nightmare…." His hand is still on her shoulder. He must've shaken her awake.
Carly looks from him to Spinelli. They will no doubt think she is nuts.
"Has…" Carly clears her throat, willing her voice to speak… "Is there any reports on explosions in and around the area of Crete…"
"Carly…" Brick starts.
"Spinelli?" Carly directs.
Spinelli is looking at her confused, but recovers and starts going through international police reports like only a seasoned hacker could.
"That's our island." He answers shocked.
"Gunfire? A possible rescue team and explosions?" Carly asks, dimly.
"Yes… reported less than fifteen minutes ago… responders aren't even in the air yet…" Spinelli looks at her confused, worried and scared.
"He said… the guy that sedated him said he was there to rescue him. What if… Why sedate him to rescue him…" Carly is muttering to no-one in particular.
"Carly? Carly! How do you know about this?"
"Jason told me."
"You were asleep."
Carly looks at them, knowing there is nothing she can say.
"I know."
A few hours later the silent gathering in Carly's living room is interrupted by Spinelli.
"There's… an update." He announces.
They have established amongst them that even though they don't really believe in supernatural soulmate dreams, Carly's information was just too timeous to be a coincidence. Carly explained matter-of-factly that it wasn't the first time she shared a dream with Jason.
They all sit up.
"They haven't yet found any survivors…" Spinelli says quietly. "Many… bodies. Still to be identified. Most seem to be wearing private guard uniforms, some… lab coats, no-one in a jean and black t-shirt." He states hopefully.
"I doubt they would have not changed his clothes." Brick answers.
"Oh! Another update…"
"The body of a mercenary by the name of Grant DeMarco. He has been on the WSB's wanted list for years. He specializes in mob killings, killing his intended target individually and disguising the hit with explosives."
"I know this guy." Brick states.
Carly scoots over.
"Oh God! I've seen him before, meeting with Sonny… He's even been at the house."
They all look at each other wondering the same thing.
"He knew where he was. And he put out a hit on him." Carly states, rising, ready to go to war.
"Do you think Sonny would really put out a hit on Jason?" Brick asks. Spinelli looks down before meeting Carly's eyes.
They both turn to Brick.
"It won't be the first time.' Carly answers him.
"I don't believe it."
"You weren't here during the Claudia Zachara era or when Sonny had a thing for Jason's sister."
"Where are you going?"
"Sonny's." Carly answers, murder in her eyes.
"There is no way in hell I'm letting you go there alone. If Jason made it out of there, he would put out a hit on me…" Brick calls after her as he takes the stairs two at a time. He barely makes it into the car, and the garage door is barely open before Carly guns it out in reverse.
"What do you mean the authorities showed up?!" Sonny Corinthos is shouting into the phone.
"They were on the island, waiting." The voice on the phone answers.
"So was the job completed?"
"I don't know. I'm just the pilot. I dropped DeMarco and his guys as instructed and circled to the other side of the island. I gave it ten minutes, circled back to find chaos. The explosions were expected and planned but there was agents swarming the area. I got the hell out of there."
"You had better pray that he's found. Dead."
Sonny throws down the receiver.
"What's wrong Sonny did what's his name…" Carly pauses thinking back to the name Spinelli mentioned.
"Get out Carly, you don't know anything…"
Brick walks in behind her, he looks like he had been running, trying to catch up.
"Brick, man, you need to get her some help."
"So, did he Sonny?" Carly answers like she didn't hear Sonny.
"Did who do what?"
"DeMarco. Did he complete the job?"
"Oh God, No!" Carly feels her heart dropping to her feet. She knows that look. That look Sonny gets when he is caught red handed with his hand inside the proverbial cookie jar.
He recovers. "I don't know what you are talking about."
"Is Jason still alive?" she grounds out.
"You know he isn't!" Sonny screams back. "He hasn't been for weeks." He calms down, turns to Brick. "Man, you've got to get her some help."
"Is Jason still alive?!" Carly's voice is climbing higher. "I swear to God if I find out that you killed him, that you had anything to do with what happened…"
"What Carly? What'll you do?"
They are startled by a polite knock on the office door behind them.
"Pardon me, Carly, but can you and your associate please move out of the door. My associates need to enter." Carly falls back against the door.
Two officers walk in as Robert Scorpio continues to speak.
"Mr. Corinthos, you are under arrest for 12 counts of murder, and 5 attempted murders. You have the right to remain silent, everything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…"
"Call Diane." Sonny instructs.
"That will not be necessary." Diane answers, as she sweeps into the room, "I am afraid I have to inform you that I am unable to be your legal counsel in future. All your legal files have been packed and will be sealed and shipped to your new attorney as soon as you give me their contact information."
"What the hell Diane? What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Nothing, I merely cannot legally be your council."
"On what grounds?"
"Conflict of interest."
Selena Wu steps into the office.
"You're leaving my services for hers?" Sonny calls out incredulously.
"I have my own council, Mr. Corinthos." Mrs. Wu answers, then turns to Diane.
"Miss. Miller, your client is waiting outside. Mrs. Morgan, I wish you the best of luck."
"Could it be?!" she had to see for herself. Carly rounds the door to the coffee shop part of Sonny's office, only to start giggling like a schoolgirl.
In the flesh, Jason Morgan, in a tight hug from Damian Spinelli repeating three words.
"Okay, that's enough… okay, that's enough."
At her laugh he looks up. Their eyes meet.
"Help me out here."
She smiles, she can't help it, the smile just won't fade away.
"Spinelli, my turn." She scolds, hitting him on the shoulders.
"I'm sorry." He answers, standing back, "He's all yours."
"Thank you, it's about time."
And then her arms are around him, his arms are around her, and she pulls back to look into his eyes.
"Still want to tell me soulmate dreams don't exist?"
"They don't." Jason answers, "but I did have this one strange dream that I want to tell you about."
"Oh?" Carly smiles back, playing along, "tell me about it."
"I looked into your eyes and told you I'm in love with you."
"You did?"
"Yeah."
"And did you mean it?"
"Carly?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm in love with you."
Carly suddenly feels tears in her eyes.
"I'm in love with you too." She breathes, her voice almost gone. And then his lips are burning on hers, scorching her body, burning her soul…
By the time she pulls back for air, they have both forgotten where they were. Diane clears her throat.
"Might I suggest a more private area for this reunion?"
They both look up startled.
Jason looks at Carly.
"So, are you going to show me that new home you've been bragging about?"
"Our home Jase." Carly answers, content.