Chapter 11

Julian looked around as he stepped out of the car, his gun out and ready. He looked towards Sam who was doing the same. "Sam"

It had been a hours since Valentine had taken Alexis. Julian had wanted to charge in guns blazing and take out the sorry son of a bitch but Nicholas had been right; to get her out they had to be methodical in their planning. Because of the endless network of spy networks the Cassadines had in place they had gone dark the moment the three of them had left Port Charles.

"All clear on this side" Sam said as she studied the mansion trying to find a weakness in the infrastructure.

"Okay" Julian said over his shoulder as he walked towards the rear of the jeep they had commandeered and starting pulling out protective gear and weapons. "Sam I think..."

Before he could again try to convince her that she needed to go back because it was to dangerous, Sam started putting on her protective gear making Julian stop his lecture before it started. "Dad, mom needs us. You are going to need someone watching your back. So quit trying to convince me to stay out here, I am either going with you or I am going alone." she challenged him.

Julian looked at his little girl, his eyes tearing up with how proud he was of her "There is no one, I would rather have watching my back than you sweet pea." he said having unconsciously picked up the nickname Alexis used for her children and grandson. "I love you" he walked over to her and hugged her tightly "I promise we will get your mom back safe and sound" he paused as he saw her waiting for something more for him to say "And I promise to make that sorry son of a bitch pay for ever taking your mother away from us" satisfied with his answer the two proceeded to suit up.

"Nicholas stay with the jeep I will let you know if you need to come pick us up" Julian could see that Nicholas wanted to help but he recognized that he would just slow them down. The shot to the head that he had suffered had started to affect him and he didn't want to be the weak link that could get them all killed.

"Make sure you all come back safe" he said thickly wondering if he was about to lose half of his family in an attempt to rescue Alexis.

"We will" Julian answered and he smirked adding "Alexis would have my head if I let anything happen to our daughter or her favorite nephew." The three chuckled, releasing some of the tension they were feeling, as they remembered Alexis's constant need to protect her family. Just as Julian was strapping a small handgun into his ankle he heard a branch break through the darkness that was starting to seep into the night. He could hear the approaching footsteps. "Sam" he whispered indicating she should take cover just as he was about to do. Once all three hid he pulled his gun out, the weapon feeling like an extension of his hand.

"I wouldn't do that mate" came a voice, with a heavy Australian accent, from the direction of where his daughter was. "Put the gun down" the man said as he suddenly heard Nicholas grunt as he too was pushed to his knees. He felt more than heard someone attempt to sneak up behind him. Before the other man realized what was happening Julian twisted grabbing the man behind him by the wrist, yanking him over his shoulder and onto the ground pushing him down until the man was faced down on the dirt. Julian twisted the arm holding the gun until he felt the other man loosen his grasp on the gun. Julian took the gun away, as he planted a knee to the man's back to keep him down as he pointed the gun at the man holding Sam.

"Let her go" he slide the magazine into place aiming at the man's head, Julian did not hesitate when he registered who was holding Sam. "Jerry let my daughter go"

Sam lifted her head, shocked by what she heard. "Jerry" she gasped.

The man under Julian suddenly stopped struggling and piped up at the familiar sound of Sam's voice "Sam" he asked confused.

"Jax" she yelled as she shoved Jerry off of her and ran over to her Dad "Dad let him up, its Jax" Julian could feel the adrenaline still rushing through him and it took him a minute before he let the man below him up.

"What the hell is going on" Julian hissed, keeping his voice down, aware that they could be attracting unwanted attention.

"Dad" Sam said as she got between her dad and her mom's best friend, of course she would argue that Julian had maybe taken that spot now, stared each other down. "Jax is mom's oldest and dearest friend" she turned to Jax. "Jax this is my dad" the two men continued to stare each other down.

Jax knowing they had little time for a pissing contest set his intentions on the table immediately. "Alexis is very dear to me and I will do anything and everything to get her back." Jax challenged the man in front of him. He had heard about him from the Davis clan and he had made inquires of his own about this man that Alexis had fallen hard for. Jax loved his ex-wife but he didn't often agree on the choices she made regarding the men in her life. The moment he heard the name, Julian Jerome, Jax had donned his white hat and had investigated. So far he knew very little. He knew the man was in the mob, Sam's father and cherished his best friend like no other and in his book that was, for the time, enough.

Julian looked at the blond man in front of him. He had heard of this man before. If he were honest, he was jealous at how the Davis clan was devoted to this man. Every week they would all gather around the computer and Skype with the man for hours. Alexis would always jokingly tease him about how he was the greatest ex-husband in the world. From all accounts Alexis and Jax had been perfect for each other and they had remained close after the divorce. He had been so terribly jealous until Alexis explained that there had never been anything but a platonic friendship between the two.

He remembered the night vividly. After walking in on a very lovely Alexis asking Jax when he was moving back to Port Charles because she missed him and wanted him back by her side. He had not been able to hide his jealously and fear at possibly losing her to Jax. He had gone to their bedroom and sat in the dark trying to imagine what it would feel like to not have his life entwined with hers and he found that it hurt too much. He would let her go to Jax ,if the white knight made her happy, but he would never be the same after having held heaven is his arms only to have it taken away from him.

A few minutes after he had been sitting the dark she finally made her way to the bedroom. He had braced himself and promised himself to make it easy for her to break up with him. That had lasted a second. He had been wound up so tight that before she had taken a step he blurted out "I are getting back together with Kangaroo boy" he asked desperately as he stood up making his way to her.

She stared at him shocked and confused by his outburst and before she could shatter his heart he spoke handing her his heart to destroy or cherish. He wanted to hold her tightly but he stood tensely watching every expression crossing her lovely face. "He will never love you the way I do" he said through the lump in his throat "You are my everything" He paused as he tried to breath the lump in his throat restricting his airflow. "With you I have everything Alexis, without you I have nothing." He looked down unable to say anything more and unable to look at her sweet face as she ended them forever.

He was surprised when he felt the heat of her body radiate towards him as she got closer to him. And he was even more surprised when, without a word she brought his head down so that their lips could touch. His head and heart were in chaos as he tried to figure out what was happening but his body knew what it wanted and he wrapped his arms around her lifting her off the ground. In his arms she was up higher than him so she was able to look down at him her hair creating a small cocoon where only the two existed.

"Julian Jerome I have waited a lifetime for a love like yours. And nothing in this world could ever make me give you up. You treasure me as if I was the most important thing in the world and you don't even know how precious and special you make me feel." She kissed him softly once again before she made a promise to him "If you are only ever sure of one thing be sure of this, I love you more that I have ever loved anyone and to lose you would be like ripping half my soul from my body. Please never doubt my love for you" He could see the hurt and in her eyes that he had doubted her and he promised himself in that moment to never make her feel like that again.

"Never again" he made the heartfelt promise as he carried her towards the bed where he made love to her. He knew he was a jealous man and would never like it when another man looked at he or touched her but he would never again think that she would choose another over him. She had chosen him just as he had chosen her.

"Who told you we were here" he managed to get out putting aside his jealousy knowing that Alexis would not like it if he treated Jax rudely.

"Nicholas called me" they all turned towards Nicholas who was standing and dusting himself off as Jax's security, who had taken him down, finally let him up. Jerry was making his way over to them as well.

Jax immediately intervened before Sam could go off. "Sam I know you and my brother have issues but we need him in this"

"He is a psychopath Jax, he could be a danger to my mom" she yelled. Scared that the man who not so long ago had taken her mom hostage and threaten to kill the whole town of Port Charles could get her mom and them all killed.

"I would never put Alexis in danger Sweet Sam" Jerry spoke up angry that anyone would question his loyalty to Alexis. Jerry would readily admit that he would sell his soul to the devil if it benefitted him. But there four people in this world that he would do everything is his power to protect and keep safe and Alexis was one of those people. His brother, mother and niece were the others.

"You took her hostage" she yelled at Jerry. "You almost killed her daughters what do you think that would have done to her" She turned to Jax "What's to say that when we get in there he doesn't decide to take her for himself". She hissed at what she perceived as Jax's naivety regarding his brother.

Jerry looked at the group and knew they had no reason to trust him. But this was Alexis and he would do anything to protect her. "I" he paused "I care and will protect her above all others." he looked around at the skepticism staring back at him. "Damn it, I know she hates me and that the lot of you don't trust me but you must believe me I will protect her." he turned resigned when he saw that no one believed him. "I am going in there with or without you lot"

"Sam, listen I know you don't trust him but you know he will never do anything to physical hurt her." he turned towards his brother to make sure that his brother was listening "And he knows I will kill him if he does."

"Sam" Julian looked towards his daughter "I have worked with Jerry and he can be the distraction we need to get your mother out"

"No Julian, he is obsessed with her. What's to stop him from taking her" she looked at Julian as if he was out of his mind to even consider letting the psychopath in front of them anywhere her mother.

"Sam I know who Jerry is and no I was not aware of his obsession with Alexis" he looked at Jerry "But know this sweet pea I will kill him if he even thinks of betraying us." Julian saw Jerry nod his understanding.

Jax looked around the group and tried to once again reason with Sam. "I think the more of us the better chance we have of getting Alexis out of there" he said honestly" And whatever I may think of my brother he does have a soft spot for Alexis and he is deadly" Jax added grimly.

Jerry clapped his hands together when the group resign that he was needed decided he should be in on the rescue. "Good, now that it is settle lets get moving. I saw a hidden door on the side. Sam and I"

"No" Julian hissed. He might agree to work together to get Alexis back but he would not put his daughter in the vicinity of a psychopath. "I will go with you. Sam and Jax can wait out here until we scope the area out."

"Fine, I don't care but lets go before we are all found out." Jerry hissed frustrated by the man that he assumed was the new man in Alexis's life. "Be careful Jax, mum would kill me if you get hurt." he taunted his little brother.

"Ya right if we don't get Alexis back safe and sound Lady Jane will be coming after both of our hides"

"Dad" Sam ran over to her dad and hugged him tight to her. "I love you" she whispered afraid that once he left her sight it would be the last time she saw him alive. "Please be careful and bring mom back to us" she felt the tears sting her eyes. "Don't trust Jerry to not throw you to the wolves. But you can trust him to get mom to safety"

"Be careful sweet pea your mom will have my hide when she finds out I let you come on this rescue mission. And trust me I don't trust Jerry as far as I can throw him and I will make sure Valentine is never a threat to your mom ever again." He kissed her forehead. "Be safe and stick close to Jax" he gave her another quick hug before stepping over to where Jerry was hiding in the shadows. When Julian reached Jerry the two men started moving as one towards the hidden door that would lead them into the Cassadine Mansion.

****Sorry it took me so long to update. So I made the mistake of reading the NYE spoilers coming up and it really broke my heart so I was unable to work on this story. But I have decided to never read spoilers and live in denial until I see it, it hasn't happened. I am still hoping it is just rumors or a different couple. Don't get me wrong I cannot wait for Julian to go to a dark place and to see Alexis try and get him out of it . They do angst the best, the 10 second scene outside the courtroom was amazing. I wouldn't mind so much if it was a random women who we never have to see again but I hate the thought that it is Olivia. So cheers to living in denial. And I will try to finish this before NYE cause after that I don't think I will be able to continue. Team Julexis all the way!*****