Tough Love
"You didn't have to drive your own car." Jax said, as he handed her into her chair and took the one opposite her. La Luna Bistro was a little street side cafe. The sky above was clear and blue, the air fresh and clean and a last breath of summer warmth filled the air. No one would have thought that yesterday and the night could have held such horror.
"And why not? The last notes I needed were there, and I'm sure you have plenty to do after you've finished babysitting me." Seeing the change in his face her words created, Alexis knew she was right. She also had noticed that the little cafe he had chosen was well away from the waterfront. There was a small park across the street from the cafe, and from time to time, the sound of children laughing and playing could be heard faintly on the wind. "Spill it Jax; what did you put off doing to hold my hand?"
"I didn't put things off, I simply rearranged my schedule somewhat."
"And how was that?"
Jax shrugged. A bit too nonchalantly. "I had some major corporate officers meetings in Chicago. I had the meeting –
"Not canceled, I hope."
"No, just relocated."
"Relocated…Where? Here? To Port Charles?" Alexis shook her head, " Jax - that wasn't necessary."
"I decided it was. I have my priorities in order - and you happen to top the list at the moment, so don't argue with me. It's not like they would complain about being flown here on my private jet."
"I suppose not, but I only had rough drafts ready for you, not a finished counter-offer."
Jax looked over the papers Alexis had handed him. "Don't worry about it; it gives us a base to start negotiations from. These are people very interested in making the deal. It's lucrative all the way around."
The waiter came by and took their orders. Under Jax's watchful eye, Alexis ordered a fruit salad. "That should me with your approval, I hope."
"I would have preferred you eat something with a little more weight, but it's a start, I suppose." He made his own order and waited until the waiter had taken their menus away. "I would have preferred that you would have taken better care of yourself – and that includes your recent choices. I'm sorry, Alexis, but was staying with Sonny your only option?" Jax's tone said that he was clearly hurt that she hadn't turned to him.
"It was nothing that was planned, Jax. I didn't choose Sonny over you or anything like that. It was just that when I needed someone to be there, before I even knew it, he was there."
"He's been there for a long time, hasn't he, Alexis?"
Alexis shrugged. "He kinda snuck up on me, but yes. He was there before I even realized it."
"I just don't want you hu…" Jax fell silent as Alexis reached across the table and pressed soft fingers against his lips.
"I know, I know. You don't want me hurt. Sonny won't hurt me… ever." Alexis tried to explain.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Neither one of us went looking for this, Jax. I swear it. But it happened, it is happening, and it's..what Sonny and I have found..it's nothing short of a miracle. It's wonderful. And it's real. Of course, no one can guaranteed not being hurt. But it's a chance the two of us are willing to take."
Stunned into silence, Jax looked at Alexis as she looked at him with her beautiful brown eyes filled with – what was it – honesty, trust – love? Jax looked at her with new eyes. Even saying his name brought a glow to her entire being that was undeniable. Unwillingly, Jax went over Sonny's past behavior as well. The night he'd come looking for Alexis after the explosion, his eyes had been haunted. He'd never credited Sonny with being able to feel anything for anyone besides himself, but that night had given the lie to his beliefs. And then there was that phone call. Something had definitely changed Sonny. Had it been Alexis?
"I'm surprised that Sonny wasn't with you when I came over."
"He wanted to be, but I knew he had things to take care of, so I told him to go. And as I said before, I don't need babysitting." Alexis said pointedly.
"Ouch." Jax said. "If looks could kill... " he didn't finish the joke, realizing the words he'd used. His face flushed in embarrassment.
"It's all right, Jax. you don't have to tiptoe around me either." Alexis said. "For example, when I said something about Sonny having to leave early this morning to take care of some business, you got a strange look on your face." She leveled her gaze on him, the "cross-examination look" as Jax often called it.
For a minute, Jax looked as though he would try and stall her, but changed his mind as she continued to watch him. Her eyes would miss nothing, Jax decided. Including his telling a lie. He gave in. "I had heard that Sonny might be questioned today for a possible role in Stefan's death."
"You know that's a ridiculous charge!" Alexis told him. Inwardly the pieces fell into place. That was the phone call Sonny had gotten this morning. And he hadn't wanted her to know.
"Are you so sure that this wasn't business as usual for Sonny?" Jax tried to hide it, but his own suspicions were clearly evident.
"I've spent time with him since the explosion; I've looked him in the eyes, Jax. If there was a chance that Sonny had anything at all to do with what happened to my brother, if he had thought this was a first strike against him, he would have told to me."
"You're sure of that?" Jax didn't want to believe it, but with his sudden and unwillingly look into both Sonny and Alexis' recent past, he was being forced to face the fact that this was no passing fancy. Whatever it was, no matter how crazy it seemed, it was happening and it was real. But Jax still had to try, in spite of what he was feeling "You're sure it couldn't be either a first strike or some kind of a retaliatory act?"
"I'd bet my life on it."
"And I don't want it coming to that. been there, done that, you know? Being in Sonny's proximity has put your life on the line more than once." Jax started to press the point further, then changed his mind. He paused, obviously choosing his next words. "If Sonny isn't involved, then you know who that leaves as a suspect."
"You know it as well as I do." Alexis said as she nodded. "Helena. I can't prove it yet, but don't be surprised when it turns out to be her. It would please her to no end to have murdered Stefan and then try and set Sonny up as the reason why."
"Do you think she knows about you and Sonny?" Jax asked. "Would she bother with him?"
"And miss out on a chance to destroy any measure of happiness I might find? Don't be silly, Jax, Helena would jump at the chance." Alexis answered. "I haven't been on her radar of late, but then again, we didn't think any of us were, Stefan or myself, for that matter."
"I don't have to tell you to be careful." Jax said. He reached out to take one of her hands in his. "And take care of yourself. You hands are freezing and you look like you could use some sleep. Don't deny it, I can see that you're not operating at one hundred percent. That little spell of weakness at Sonny's apartment is proof positive of that. And you look terrible."
"Always the charmer, aren't you? Always knowing the right words to sweep a woman right off her feet."
Jax tried frowning at her, but failed. "Well, it's good to see that you are able to joke - even if they are bad jokes. If you would let me, I'd sweep you right out of Port Charles for a little while."
"That's not going to happen. I am not going to let Helena dictate how I am going to live my life. Stefan didn't, he taught Nikolas and I both not to, and it would be an insult to his memory if I allowed her to do it to me now."
"I can see that in the mood that you're in, arguing with you is useless."
"See, being married to me did have its benefits." Alexis said with a tiny smile.
"Ha. Ha." Jax said in reply. "Will you at least stop by GH and let a doctor look at you? You've been through a lot and it's showing. Will you promise me that, at least?"
"If it will ease your worries, then fine, I will let a doctor look at me."
"Good." Before Alexis could stop him, Jax reached for his cell phone and made the call. He was looking all too pleased with himself after he hung up. "Monica is expecting you."
"Did I say today?"
"You didn't not say today."
Alexis sighed. "Fine."
