A/N: Omg, thank you all so so so much! I'm so happy that you guys are enjoying this! I can't express how happy it makes me that people actually like this so far! I wish I could hug you all!

WARNINGS: tampering of brakes mentioned within.

To kind of set a timeline for all this, each chapter (unless a continuation / part of the same day) happens anywhere from a few days out to about two to three weeks out. I try to make some mention of the passing of time when I can but I realize that I'm maybe not the best at it, so I thought I'd put that out there. This chapter takes place roughly a week after when Morgan would've died on the show and in it's canon. So, we made it past that! Cheers, right? Now we're edging close to his birthdate and a certain well known Port Charles event that I can't wait to write into this.. The Nurses Ball! 3

To the anon who said that they didn't like Carly written as mean but they were enjoying my story, first of all, thank you I'm glad you're enjoying it. Second, I'm not really trying to write her as mean, I'm just... Not really hiding her flaws either. I tend to do that, even with my personal faves (Liz, Lucky, etc). I'm sorry if she comes off as mean for that is definitely not my intent! My personal interpretation of her is that she's a very guarded and yet secretive person. She doesn't take kindly to new people (ie, all her interactions with Jenny thus far) and she doesn't like the idea of not being in control in things plus she really gets full into the protective mom role. She's not actually a bad or a mean person. She can just be difficult to deal with until she trusts a person fully. I hope this helps ease any worries or anything you were thinking, dear! 3


SIX

"Jenny Martin?"

"Speaking, what's up?" I answered my phone, setting the pool stick I'd been holding in my hand to the side. The caller identified himself as the mechanic in charge of my car repairs and I smiled, happy. Relieved that I wouldn't be walking everywhere, until Tom, the mechanic went on to explain to me that he needed me to come down to the shop.

"Is there something wrong?"

"It's about your brake problem. I'd really rather show you when you get here." Tom answered. Something in his voice had me feeling very concerned. I took a deep breath and shoved the phone back into my pocket, wandering back into the bar. Liz eyed me in concern.

"What's wrong?"

"That was the mechanic working on my car. Apparently, I have to go down to the shop. Guy wants to show me something. I swear to God, if it's not one thing takin my money, it's another." I grumbled. Taking a long pull from the bottle of Propel I'd gotten myself to drink before meeting up with Liz and Felix. Liz cringed and offered for a third time this week to let me catch a ride with her to work. And again, I told her that I'd be fine. Because I don't want to interrupt the schedule she has and I know that she's got to take her sons to school and in the case of her oldest, she has to take him to his after school practices and job. So, I'm trying not to be a bother.

"Maybe it won't be that bad." Felix spoke up. Sabrina, who'd come along with us tonight, spoke up. " I can walk down with you if you want? I was leaving anyway." and I nodded. Maybe listening to her ramble about random things would keep my mind off of just how far in debt I might be about to go to fix the car my father and I restored together.

Nothing could've prepared me for exactly why Tom called me to come in and meet with him about my car. The closer I got to the garage, the more this sense of dread grew. I told Sabrina about it and she tried to do her best to talk me out of worrying so much. "Worst case scenario, it could just be something he's noticed that you need to be aware of in the future."

"Or, I'm about to be told that my car's a paperweight." I muttered, sighing. Shaking my head as I dug around in my pocket to light a cigarette. I exhaled a plume of smoke into the air and Sabrina grumbled, fanning any smoke away from her. I apologized and offered to put it out but she told me it was fine.

"I'd tell you that it's bad for you and the younger you are when you quit the better you are, but somehow I doubt it'll have any effect." she admitted, giving a soft and concerned smile as she glanced at me. I inhaled another drag and released it, finishing off what I wanted of the cigarette. Stopping by a garbage can to put it out on some snow before tossing it into the bin. I caught up to Sabrina just as the glowing red neon for the garage was coming into view and she spotted the front door to the brownstone she's renting with one or two of the other residents. "Well, this is me. Hey, I'll see you tomorrow. It was fun working with you."

I smiled at her, nodding. "Likewise, Santiago. Get your ass inside and warm up, girl." I joked, the laughter dying quickly as the door shut behind Sabrina and I realized that I now had to go and find out just how far up shit creek my beloved car was going to put me this time.

I wandered into the lobby of the building, taking a seat. Tom peeked out from the back, motioning me to follow him and I got up, taking a deep breath or two. Walking over and stepping into the garage portion of the building.

"Ashford told me I needed to tell you what I found." Tom seemed very concerned. I eyed him and asked with a quiet laugh, "Do I wanna know?"

"Well, there's a good reason your brakes wouldn't work that day you wound up bringing it in. Someone tampered with 'em."

I gaped at him as my mind raced. Who the hell?... Then I got this sinking feeling in my stomach. And my mind went back to Joey's little threat the night we had our last fight and I packed all my shit and left town. He'd told me then... If he couldn't have me then nobody would.

Had he shown up at some point, found out where I was staying and messed with my car? Did he really think tampering with my brakes would make me run back to him?

"Any idea who might have done this to ya, blondie?"

I sighed. "This motherfucker I dated a while. His name is Joey. I'm not saying he did. I'm not saying he didn't. What I am saying is that if it is him, it wouldn't surprise me." I shook my head. Taking a swing at the cinderblock wall and grumbling. "How much am I lookin at for repairs?"

"500 bucks. I changed your oil while I was at it. She should be good as new now."

"Can I pick it up tomorrow?" I asked, digging a pen out of my pocket. Making myself a reminder on my hand to stop by the ATM on my way back to my place tonight and go ahead, get out the money to pay for it. This way if my phone bill comes out tomorrow at the same time, I'm not overdrawn.

"Tomorrow's great. Around 10 am?"

"Can I come in at 8? I'm sorry, it's just.. I gotta have this to get to work and back." I gave the man a sheepish and apologetic smile and he chuckled, nodding to my car. "It's a nice car. One of the nicest restorations I've had come through here in a while." I grinned and told Tom proudly that my father and I had spent my entire time in high school restoring the car. He chuckled.

After making arrangements to come in at 8 and pick up my car, I stepped out of the shop. And I leaned against the brick wall of the building as I lit yet another cigarette with shaking hands. I was on edge now thanks to my little chat with the mechanic. I dug out my phone and I took a deep breath, dialing the number of an old friend of mine.

Spike answered on the first ring.

"Jenny, hey princess. What's up?"

"Is Joey still in town?" I asked. Going quiet. Trying to debate on whether to give Lavery full disclosure and risk him running to tell my mom or dad that I might be in danger, or being vague as possible. I ended up settling on the decision to be as vague as possible. Spike grumbled and then answered calmly, "That depends on whether you're thinking about coming back to him. I told you the guy's no good, princess."

"This has nothing to do with me coming back to him. That ship sailed. I was just.. Curious." I went quiet, crossing my fingers. Praying to whatever deity might hear me that just this one time Spike Lavery didn't ask me a thousand questions. I relaxed a little as Spike mumbled to himself, "Thank fuck. Finally. Finally you listen to reason. Word on the street is that Joey got picked up for another B&E. Shot at a cop. He's gonna be gone for a really long time, Jenny. Now.. Why were you curious?"

"It's stupid."

"Just tell me. The only way I'm going to be mad or have something to say about it is if you're thinking about picking up where you left off with the asshole. Promise."

I took a deep breath and a second or two to re-light my cigarette, come up with the best lie I could. "I thought I saw one of the guys from his MC creeping around last week, I wanted to make sure I was still okay here, that he wasn't going to show up and wreck my life, okay?"

Technically, it wasn't a lie. I had seen a biker at Jakes one night last week wearing a cutte similar to the one Joey's club wore. And sometimes, I do still get worried that everything's too peaceful and any day now, Joey Nowak will show up at my door and ruin everything I've worked so hard to do for myself since I finally mustered up the courage to walk away and leave the situation.

And maybe I was being paranoid, but it is kind of funny that I see one of the guys Joey ran with lurking around Port Charles last week and now, I'm being told that the reason my car wouldn't stop was because someone took the time to tamper with my brakes. It was enough to make my head spin. It was hitting me now, just how deep in I'd probably gotten myself with Joey.

"You're still okay, Jenny. If I hear anything, I promise I'll warn you."

"You're an angel, my guy." I smiled a little. Shuffling my boots around in the snow. "Why's it so loud there? Is Kendall having a party or something?" I asked.

"My mother? Party? Surely you jest. No, I'm actually out at a club opening right now." I heard someone calling his name and I let him off the phone. Ending the call with a promise to try keeping in touch better. Even though I was still very iffy about it.. Because Spike was a past tie, a reminder of Joey. He feels awful about everything, because if he hadn't introduced the two of us, I'd probably have never met the damn guy, but... it is what it is. Everything happens for a reason.

Just hoping to holy fuck that the reason for me meeting Joey and getting so mixed up in that toxic situation is not my own early grave.

The streetlight flickered and I realized just how empty the streets were. A shiver crawled down my spine and I started to walk as fast as I could towards my apartment over Kelly's Diner. The sooner I got to the safety of my own apartment, the better I'd feel. Even though I'm pretty damn sure that there'll be no sleep for me tonight, no thanks to finding out all this.

It begs to question... If Joey is doing yet another prison stint for a B&E and assault, then who could've tampered with the brakes on my car?