Back To Life

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Stepping into his boss's office, Jason couldn't remember a time when he had demanded his presence so urgently, bringing many unpleasant thoughts to mind as he rode his bike across town to get there. Checking in with the warehouse manager, he makes sure that things are running smoothly before knocking on the office door and making his presence known. The moment his eyes landed on Sonny, he knew that it wouldn't be a meeting to be taken lightly.

"Lock the door." Sonny instructs before pouring a couple glasses of scotch. "Sit."

"What's this about?" Jason dare questions as he accepts the glass of scotch before sitting across from Sonny.

"There's trouble brewing down in Puerto Rico." Sonny cuts straight to the point. "A new organization is rising up, spilling blood onto the streets. They want it handled immediately."

"Understood." Jason says firmly. "When do I leave?"

"Plane's fueling up." Sonny assures. "Once the pilot has the jet ready to go, he'll call. Take whoever you need. Just get it done."

Rising to his feet, Jason was about to walk out the door when he notices Sonny glancing down at the calendar with a pained expression upon his face. Knowing exactly what day it is, Jason had a clear understanding of the pain currently portrayed on his boss's face.

As much as they know that it wasn't their fault, the young woman's death still plagues them till this day. Especially on this day, the one year anniversary of the bike shop fire, and he's certain it will plague them for the rest of their lives. A death as tragic as that isn't something you just forget.

Everyone that held her close to their heart seem to be moving on relatively well, better than he had anticipated and, he'd suspect, better than any of them had anticipated, as well. Lucky Spencer has started dating again, according to Emily, and it seems as if the current one just might stick. After the hell he had been through after the fire, Jason believes the man deserves some happiness, more so than others.

His sister had been through therapy in order to cope with the loss of her best friend and it seems to be doing the trick. She's started laughing and smiling again, the real genuine kind and not the ones she plasters on to make people believe she was okay when she wasn't. Since the fire they've been keeping in better touch with each other and he finds that to be a true blessing for them both.

Audrey Hardy has started to accept that the fire hadn't been he nor Sonny's fault, even going as far as to apologize at the Nurses' Ball for her treatment of them. Jason had never blamed her or the other Webbers for the way they perceived them, seeing as that's pretty much how all of society perceives them, but the family was justified in their outlook and he chose to let them feel however they wanted. A young woman was taken from them in a drastic way, no one can blame them for how they reacted, not even him.

Shaking his head, he continues his venture out of the office and back out to his bike, deciding he'll check in on his sister while he waits for the pilot to be ready for take off. He had gotten as far as the front door when Emily came barreling into him, throwing her arms around him fiercely as he fought to remain upright. Once he got them balanced again, Jason pulls away to look her in the eye, curious as to what brought that on.

"I heard your bike a mile out." Emily says simply, gesturing for them to take their usual spot on the front steps, knowing how much he hated for his presence to be known by anyone other than her and grandmother.

"You okay?" he starts off with his usual question, always needing to know.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Emily smiles softly, knowing that he worries for her. "Today's a good day."

"I'm glad." he admits. "It also makes what I have to say a little harder."

"What?" Emily looks at him curiously. "What is it?"

"I have to head out of town for a while." Jason admits. "Not sure how long exactly, but..."

"I know." Emily shakes her head. "I'll call Sonny."

"Thank you." he says, leaning over to place a soft kiss upon her forehead. "Love you."

"I love you, too." she replies wholeheartedly. "Be safe, okay?"

"Sure." he says before rising to his feet. "Take care of grandmother. Let her know I'll see her as soon as I get back."

"I will."

Wrapping his arms around his sister, a little less intense than the one that had transpired when he arrived, Jason makes his way back to his bike and takes off down the streets of Port Charles, deciding that he'll grab his travel bag and wait at the airstrip. He had been worried about his sister, given the day, but he's glad to see that she was actually having a decent day. Her eyes are void of any puffiness, giving him relief that she wasn't crying her eyes out over the memory of her friend.

"Lucky?" Jason was more than a little confused to find Lucky standing outside his penthouse when he got home.

"Jason, hey, man." Lucky straightens his jacket before taking a deep breath and facing him. "You got a minute?"

"Sure." Jason shakes his head. "Do you want to come inside?"

"No, no. It'll only take a minute." Lucky waves away his offer. "You know what today is, right?"

"I know."

"Can't believe its been a year, man." Lucky sighs, knowing there was no changing what has been. "To think of how my life has changed so drastically since then...I don't know. Its just a hard day."

"Lucky..."

"Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks." Lucky says after a moment. "You helped me a lot this last year...well before then, too...its meant a lot."

"You don't have to thank me."

"I know you're not big on gratitude, but I really do have to." Lucky counters. "Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that and to invite you to my wedding."

"You're getting married?"

"Yeah...in a couple months." Lucky admits. "It would mean a lot if you came."

"Sure." he shakes his head, accepting the invitation from him. "I'll do my best."

"Thanks." Lucky says before hitting the down button on the elevator. "Really, Jason, thanks for everything."

Granting him one last nod, Jason waits long enough for him to get on the elevator before walking into the penthouse. Tossing the invitation down onto the table, he runs a weary hand down his face before pulling out his travel bag from the closet. As if today wasn't hard enough, he has to face two of the most important people in that young woman's life, making him face everything they had been through since then. As happy as he is that they have both moved on relatively well since the fire, Jason can't help but remember them that day. Telling Emily about her friend dying was the hardest thing he had ever had to do in his short life.

Securing his travel bag in his grip, Jason forces the thoughts to leave him as he prepares for the task set before him, knowing that it was time for him to deal with this threat now before it became to big for them to handle. Checking in with his two lieutenants, Jason makes sure they are on their way to the airstrip before taking an SUV to the airstrip. The memories of that fateful night remain lodged in the back of his mind as he boards the plane with his men, forcing himself to remain current and focused. The threat comes first. The rest will have to wait till his return.

A/N: Thank you for your reviews, follows, and favorites. I've always wondered what would have happened if it were Elizabeth that was gone for that time and returned to Port Charles instead of Lucky. Hope you enjoy and continue to voice your thoughts as the story progresses.