Chapter Twenty
"Carly."
She really hated when he called her name in that tone of voice. Cold. Empty. Through all the years she had known Jason, he rarely lost his temper. He might get exasperated, even irritated but it took a great deal to make him angry with her. Even when she slept with Sonny, betrayed him, he didn't stay upset with her for long. Despite all the drama and trouble she dragged him through, he had remained her best friend. But she wasn't foolish, she knew a great deal of his patience was because of Kady.
When she met him that night in Jake's, Carly had no idea how much Jason would change her life. She never thought that he would be the one person she could always count on. That didn't mean she would let him push her out of their daughter's life and be replaced by the two bit tramp that was currently crawling all over him like a bad rash.
Through all of the women in Jason's life, Robin, Elizabeth, Courtney, Sam, she remained the constant. Their daughter would always be their bond. She certainly would outlast this one.
"I need to speak with you." She paused for effect, glaring at the brunette then back at Jason, "Now."
"Not a good time, Carly." was his only answer, and he still hadn't moved yet. He still had a hold on that woman as if he never wanted to let her go. Now that would never do.
"Jason, rude much?" The woman reprimanded but Carly could hear the amusement in her voice. Simmering anger swiftly return to a boil as the woman leaned forward to place a kiss on Jason's mouth. If that weren't bad enough, Jason had the nerve to take it a step further and now she was being blinded by the same horrid sight she'd walked upon.
"I am still here you know!"
The sound of protest from Jason sounded suspiciously like an animal's growl. This time when the couple pulled apart, Jason rose slowly to his feet, bringing the woman with him and tucking her protectively at his side. It gave her the opportunity to get a good look at her and compare to the first impression from the hotel lobby.
A brunette, she wore her hair flowing about her shoulders. Undeniably attractive, the interloper had the nerve to turn a wide radiant smile in her direction. And underneath anger was a hint of fear. This one was different. Carly didn't understand how she knew, she just did and that knowledge was a threat to everything comfortable and sane in her world.
This one wasn't petite or fragile looking. No she stood almost as tall as Jason. Equals. Not like she needed protecting, but as if she were strong enough to protect not only herself but Jason as well. She looked confident, smart. The clothes she wore might have been for function but Carly recognized designer labels.
No this one looked quite dangerous.
Cerulean eyes flashed fury and unmistakeable passion that she knew had nothing to do with her and everything to do with the threat staring back at her with hazel eyes. "Carly, what do you want?"
"I told you already. If you could take your mind off your latest bimbo there, you would have heard me."
The short snort of laughter drew her blue eyes back to the woman in Jason's arms. "Did she just call me a bimbo?"
"Cordelia," Jason drawled, closing his eyes.
"She called me a bimbo," she repeated and moved forward only to be restrained by Jason. "Now, bitch I can understand. But Bimbo? Bimbo? My name is not Buffy Summers. And Bimbo implies cheap, do I look cheap to you? No one calls Cordelia Chase a bimbo and gets away with it. I will kick her ass from here all the way to-"
"Cordelia, please," Jason pulled her around, placing a calming hand on her cheek, "Please?"
"Fine," she relented through gritted teeth, "She needs to watch herself."
"Cordelia Chase, this is Carly Corinthos, Kady's mother. Carly this is Cordelia and you owe her an apology."
"I would think the person who is owed an apology here is me," Carly demanded, hands thrust on her hips and now that she had latched onto the idea, it sounded pretty damned good. "She was the one threatening violence. And you were the one who lied to me."
"Lied?"
"I came over here to take Kady shopping and to lunch and what did you tell me? Something important is happening, Carly. She doesn't want to referee your fights with Sonny, Carly. She wants to be here, Carly. And not twenty-four hours later what do I see? My daughter out having lunch with this woman, and it's quite obvious that she's been shopping as well. So tell me Jason, why shouldn't I get an apology?"
"I told you the truth," he blinked once, his face blank but she could see the annoyance in his eyes. "Kady volunteered to go shopping with Cordelia today."
"You idiot," the Cordelia woman elbowed him in the side, making him grunt sharply. "Are you really that clueless?"
"What it's true?"
"You are that clueless." Cordelia shook her head, then turned back in her direction, "Guess I'd be pretty bitchy too if some strange woman was cutting in on my bonding time with my daughter?"
Hearing the acknowledgement of those words stripped away just a bit of her anger, but not enough to make her back down, "Then you'll understand if I don't want it happening again."
"Nope, can't promise that," Cordelia shrugged apologetically. "Now, I will tell you that Kady had about as much fun as a dentist appointment while we were shopping. You have great taste by the way, and Kady has picked it up despite the block head next to me. But, seeing as Kady and I will be spending time together, and she isn't adverse to getting to know me, we might go shopping again at some point because I on the other hand love shopping."
"But-"
"Oh and lunch was great, you have a fabulous hotel."
"But-"
"Do you want to come in, Miranda is making Mexican tonight and I'm sure there will be more than enough. Except for the tacos, Fred practically inhales those, so you'll want to get some as fast as you can."
Jason's laughter, deep warm and rich floated up from his chest, filling the night and Carly could only blink in surprise. If Jason loosing his temper with her was rare, actually seeing him release such a fullbodied laugh was probably a signal of a coming apocolapse.
"You should see your face," Jason smirked affectionately, "I never thought I'd see the day when someone rendered you speechless."
And what could she say that didn't make her sound more of a jealous harpy. The woman, Cordelia she relented, had effectively countered any arguement she might have had by simply understanding. "I don't know what you're talking about. As a matter of fact, you should stick to your normal mode and not talk at all. It might save us all a lot of grief."
There was a moment of silence then a feminine, "Ouch."
Carly lifted a hand to her mouth, "Jason, I didnt' mean-"
"Sure you did," he nodded but she couldn't tell if he was angry or hurt or anything as his face was now as emotionless as his voice had been seconds before, "It isn't the first time you've spoken without thinking and it won't be the last. Now is that all you came out here for tonight, or is there something else."
"Double ouch." Carly watched Cordelia wince then gaze at her with sympathy, "Guess I can understand the mob enforcer part now. I got a few chills from that and it wasn't even directed at me."
"He told you," Carly frowned, taking a closer look at the woman before her. It wasn't a secret to the people of Port Charles what Jason's previous positon with Sonny was, granted no one actually spoke of it and certainly not as casually as this Cordelia just had. Yet Carly knew that Cordelia wasn't from this city and Jason would never have admitted something like that to a virtual stranger. "What, are you a Fed or something? Jason what's going on here? Who is this woman and why is she here? Why was she with Kady?"
"She was with Kady because Kady wanted to get to know her, which is also the reason she went shopping today. The fact that Kady hates shopping hasn't changed and no Cordelia isn't trying to push you out of Kady's life. Are you really going to behave this way with every woman I'm in a relationship with, because after all this time and considering you're marrying Jax, I'd think you would have grown up a little by now."
"A relationship? And you still didn't answer my question, is she a Fed, a cop, are you in some kind of trouble?"
"I don't need this-"
"Jason, you know you can tell me if you're in trouble. You won't get away with this you know."
"Did it look like I was in trouble before you interrupted us Carly?"
"Yeah, it did." She answered despite the growing impatience in his voice. "You were on your front porch," she paused at the distasteful thought, "Kissing some strange woman and you don't think you're in trouble. She knows things about you that she shouldn't."
"I know more than you think I do," Cordelia put in, catching her off guard.
Carly took a second and digested that brief bit of information and it finally hit her. "You're with those others. Those people. Is this about continuing your little demon obsession?"
"You make it sound sordid and dirty," Cordelia tried to suppress a giggle, "I guess it could be all things considered."
"And what is that supposed to mean!"
"Carly," Jason held up a hand, then scrubbed it across his face and she knew he had reached the edge of his patience. It seemed that line was getting shorter and shorter each day. "Do you want to see Kady or not?"
"I want answers," she insisted. "I want to know what kind of woman you're allowing around my daughter."
"You don't-"
"No," Cordelia placed a gentling hand on his chest, "No Jason, she has every right to ask. Does she know about," she paused and something unspoken passed between them. Carly hated it. Hated that this woman had some kind of connection between her and Jason. She was the only person who was supposed to have a bond with Jason. Not her. And definitely not about this demon crap that Jason dealt with.
"Not much," Jason answered, and it was true. She didn't know about the stuff Jason didn't like to talk about. Partly because he didn't like speaking of it but mostly because she chose to remain blind to it.
"I'm a Seer," Cordelia said carefully, "Like Kady. My friends and I are here from Los Angeles to help Jason," she paused considering her next words, "With some things."
"So when you're done, you'll be heading back to LA then," Carly asked and watched in horror as the two turned to each other, as if the very thought hadn't occured to them.
"I don't know," Cordelia whispered.
"You don't have to make that decision now," Jason brushed gentle hands down her arms.
"But-" she touched his mouth with her fingers.
"Plenty of time," he said softly, "We deal with Lamashtu first, then move from there."
"Who is Lamb stew?" And her words brought their focus back to her, exactly where Carly wanted it. Not with them gazing at each other like star crossed lovers.
"It doesn't concern you," Jason muttered.
"If it concerns Kady, it concerns me. Don't think Mama didn't tell me about you being at the hospital last night. And you didn't even bother to call me and tell me."
"Kady is fine, I'm sure Bobbie told you that. If you had been home or answering your cell, I would have told you that myself and saved you the trip out here. And you've never been concerned about anything remotely related to Kady being a Seer, so why is this time any different?"
Because this new woman claiming to be a Seer had arrived. Because this new woman and you looked so right together. Because this new woman and Kady would have a bond that she and her daughter would never have. Because deep down Carly didn't want to know about this Seer and demon business.
Was it wrong not wanting to know? Was it wrong to wish that her daughter had nothing to do with any of it?
It was the height of selfishness to react this way, she was honest enough to admit that to herself, but it didn't change her feelings. This Cordelia Chase woman, this Seer, could very well steal her family away from her.
Yes, she was marrying Jax, she had Michael and Morgan, and even to some extent when he wasn't being a pain, Sonny. But there was always something about Jason and Kady that made them strictly hers. Through Robin, Elizabeth, Courtney and even Sam, Jason and Kady had been hers.
Now Cordelia could change all of that.
"Hey Jase, Queen C, we have a bit of a problem in here that you two might want to take care of."
Cordelia looked from the tense situation unfolding to Faith who had stuck her head out of the door. She was pretty sure the relief was obvious on her face. Now this was something she could handle. A possessive harpy who was jealous of another woman being around her daughter and a very mixed up friendship was something she really had no experience with. Yeah, she had to deal with Darla and Angel before Connor was born, but Darla staking herself had pretty much taken her out of the equation. Buffy was a road better not traveled.
This Carly woman looked to be more trouble than she was worth. Unless she was mistaken, Kady had already told her that Carly was engaged to another man. Carly was acting like the jealous wife meeting the mistress. And Cordelia Chase did not share, so she would have to take her possessive claws and sink them into some other man.
"What's wrong Faith?"
"Seems Connor and the squirt got into a bit of an arguement."
"What?" Those words whipped Jason's head around fast. "What happened?"
"Well, from what Lulu told me, it was about a movie they were watching. Something called Advent Children. Big debate and Kady took offense to something Connor said, now they're heading down to the basement. My guess, we have a pee wee squrimish about to start."
"He could hurt her," Cordelia said and Jason grunted with amusement.
"Maybe."
"Jason what's going on, who is this Connor and who is she? Just what the hell is going on here." Carly's voice rose to a shout making them all wince.
"We should go inside and see what the problem is," Cordelia suggested, hoping it might stave off another confrontation from the woman who seemed to thrive on them. She didn't know what Jason told Kady's mother about everything going on, but given the short way he was with her, this Carly woman didn't know much.
The living room was clear, meaning everyone was down in the basement, Cordelia figured. Wouldn't it be just like Spike, encouraging an arguement. The vampire might have a soul and fight for the forces of good but he still had a penchant for trouble.
The delicious smells of dinner filled the air of the kitchen as they entered reminding her stomach that while the crab salad she had for lunch had been tasty, the meal was a few hours ago. Whatever Miranda was making was downright mouthwatering. A blast of music, something latin and rythmic, came from Jason's training room. Along with a loud unanimous groan.
By the time they reached the bottom of the stairs, threaded through the group, Connor and Kady were warily circling each other. Considering Connor's parents, the time he spent fighting demons in a hell dimension, Cordelia had been prepared to break up whatever confrontation she found. And follow it up with a firm reprimand to the older boy. Kady was younger than him, he knew better.
Except the sight that greeted her wasn't what she had been expecting.
Yes, Kady was out of breath but so was Connor as they circled each other. Connor seemed to be taking it easy due to Kady's size and age but Kady was as well, given the furious punching combo she delivered yet pulled up on at the last moment that would have hit Connor with a pretty good kick to the stomach.
"Jason, stop them!"
If Cordelia hadn't seen the calm determination in Kady's eyes, she might have echoed Carly's sentiments. All Cordelia could do was watch. Kady was handling herself just fine.
Connor attacked first on the next parry and Kady held her ground, blocking each one of his strikes, right forearm, left, right forearm, left, in a blur of momentum that carried her backward across the mats. A quick knee lift to divert one of Connor's fists that she followed with a nice right hook that caught Connor off guard. With a burst of preternatural speed he managed to dodge most of the swing but not enough and was grazed on the chin.
Both of their wide eyed gazes proved each of them were shocked, Kady relaxed her guard just enough to give Connor the time to recover first. He swung out with a nice leg sweep that probably would have taken her down if Jason hadn't barked out sharply, "Monkey!"
The word made Kady blink but her body instantly began a series of backflips neatly escaping Connor's attack. Cordelia watched with amusment as the slim girl's acrobatics ended with a double rotation in the air as she landed in a crouch low to the floor, clearly ready for more.
"All right, that's enough." Jason had walked over to the radio without her realizing, and promptly cut the music. "Can everyone give us a moment?"
Cordelia stayed, as well as Carly, but the others who had come down to watch the show filed out of the basement one by one. When they were alone, Jason turned to his daughter with a lifted brow, "You want to tell me what's going on?"
"Daddy, it's not my fault."
"I didn't ask whose fault it was Kady. Clearly it's both of your fault, I want to know what's going on."
Kady's face flushed with embarassment, and Cordelia looked down at Connor who looked just as guilty. "We were watching the movie," she began hesitantly.
"Advent Children," Jason clarified.
"How did you-"
"Faith."
"Oh," she snapped her gaping mouth closed and scrunched up her pretty face in a grimace, "We were watching the movie and Connor said that the scene between Tifa fighting was phony because no girl could fight like that. And I told him he was wrong. I mean, of course some of it wasn't real because hello Anime, but it didn't mean that girls can't fight."
"And of course you had to prove him wrong, is that right."
"Well, he and Gabriel were laughing, and-"
"Kady, how many times have I told you that fighting is to be used as a last resort?"
"A lot," she murmured, looking down at the floor now.
"Um, Mr. Morgan, sir," Connor surprised Cordelia by speaking up, "It's my fault as well. I was wrong to make Kady mad like that."
"I wasn't mad-" came the furious reply, proving her words false. Kady might not have been mad, but it was clear she was offended. One pointed look from her father, however, turned her sky blue gaze back to the floor.
"As well as that may be," Jason nodded in acknowledgement of Connor's words, "Kady knows better."
"I'm sure Connor knows better as well," Cordelia felt it necessary to point out. "Not only is Kady younger than you, not only are you injured, but you are a guest in her home and you're picking on her!"
"I wasn't picking-"
"Was I finished speaking?" Cordelia asked sharply, "Because it sounded like I was still talking, young man."
"I'm sorry Mom," Connor turned his own guilty gaze downward.
"And you should be. You could have torn your stitches and hurt yourself. Or you could have hurt Kady." The snort of disagreement from Kady was hilarious but Cordelia just managed to hide her smile, as did Jason.
"Now, Kady," Jason began again, "While I can understand your defense."
"But I certainly can't understand where you got the prehistoric idea that women can't fight because I'm sure that Angel didn't teach you that, did he?"
"No Mom," Connor quickly answered, "I was just teasing her." He looked up then, "Honestly, I was. I swear."
"If that's true," Cordelia started.
"Then Kady, you owe Connor an appolgy for losing your temper."
"And you owe Kady and apology for taking a joke too far. It isn't nice when someone laughs at your expense, Connor. I'm sure you know that already don't you?"
Both heads nodded in unison, and Cordelia took that moment to walk over to Jason, surprised when he slipped an arm around her shoulders. Unifying them.
"We're waiting."
"Sorry," Connor murmured, "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
"Sorry," Kady echoed reluctantly, "I shouldn't have lost my temper and caused a fight. Especially when you're hurt and because you're a guest in our home."
"Now, I don't know about Cordelia, but, I guess I can overlook this little incident, if you can promise that it won't happen again."
"I promise," Kady smiled hopefully, "Really I do. But Daddy, uh, do you think me and Connor could do it again when he feels better. I mean it's nice to spar with someone who around my size."
Connor looked just as eager as Kady did. Cordelia lifted a shoulder at Jason's questioning gaze. Who was she to say no? "Alright," Jason relented making both of them smile, "But, only when an adult is present. Is that understood."
"Yes, Daddy."
"Yes, sir."
"If we're finished now," Cordelia allowed a small smile, "I'd suggest the two of you get upstairs and wash up for dinner." The two looked at each other and grinned. Kady raced forward, followed by a slower Connor, but both showed the same youthful resilence. "Aren't kids funny," she turned into Jason's arms, "One minute they're ready to be bitter enemies and the next, pfft," she snapped her fingers, "Everything is fine and dandy. Let's be sparing buddies and go eat dinner."
"I'm glad someone thinks at near grown boy attacking my daughter is funny."
The groan that rumbled through Jason's chest was virtually soundless, but the heavy sigh he released wasn't. The woman looked like she was geared up to go around, given the arms crossed defiantly across her chest and the glare she sent in their direction. How on earth had Jason dealt with her for so long?
"Can you give me a moment with Carly, please?"
"Sure," but her eyes clearly stated this would be the only moment she would step aside for Carly Corinthos. "Hurry up for dinner, or you'll have to settle for scraps."
Now that was a sight he wouldn't mind watching for the rest of his life. Cordelia Chase walking away. It gave a whole new meaning to I hate to see you go but I love to watch you leave. Made his damned hands itch. Made him hungry and being hungry for Cordelia was a sensation that was quickly becoming addictive.
Vaguely he could hear Carly blabbering on, what's going on, is that all you're going to do about that boy fighting their daughter. It was like having an annoying insect buzzing in his ears.
"I understand your concern-"
"Concern!" she shrieked, giving his newly enhancing hearing a blast. He wondered if she realized her voice could probably be heard by dogs several miles away. "Are you even listening to me?"
"Carly, we've been over this."
"No," her shaggy blonde hair shook wildly, "No we haven't. We haven't gone over some boy attacking Kady. We haven't gone over people in your house standing around watching instead of breaking it up."
And she was making more of it than necessary. Any one of the others would have broken things up if it gone past the initial phases of the sparring match. Kady had been downright shocked when she landed the punch, which was how Connor almost swept her legs from beneath her. He would have to work a bit more on her concentration.
He took a moment and tried to see things from Carly's point of view. He really did. Except, how could he, when Carly determinedly refused to be involved in this part of Kady's life. "You can't do this."
"What?"
"You can't do this Carly. You can't barge in here, making a fuss about something you don't want to know about. You can't have it both ways."
"I trusted you with Kady,"
"Oh, please," he grunted, wiping a tired hand over his face then back through his hair, "This has nothing to do with trust. This is about you being jealous of Cordelia spending the afternoon with Kady. This about your usual song and dance whenever you realize that another woman is apart of my life."
"This woman directly affects my daughter."
"And you know, I would never allow anyone near Kady if I felt they were a threat." He pinned her with a cold glare, "You know this. You can't have it both ways Carly. Ducking your head in the sand when it comes to Kady being a Seer, then getting jealous and picking fights, causing friction, when Kady meets someone she connects with."
"I don't like this," she blurted, "I don't like this Seer business. I don't like Kady being involved in this."
"There isn't anything you can do about it," he said tiredly. This arguement was getting old. It had been years since Kady's first vision. Years, Carly had to get used to this, instead of pushing it to the side and avoiding. Now, especially with everything going on, was not the time for her to become a problem.
"Don't you think if I could stop the visions I would. This isn't about you, or what you want, or me for that matter. This is Kady's path. I can't afford to ignore the fact that she is a powerful Seer. She has a responsiblity and I have to prepare her for it."
"This is your fault. If you weren't into all of this demon nonsense, then neither would Kady."
"If I weren't into this demon nonsense, as you say, I'd be dead and there would be no Kady."
"Don't say that," she whispered quickly, tears pooling in her eyes. "Dont' say that."
"Carly, how many times are we going to do this."
"What do you want from me Jason? To just give up on my daughter? Leave her to you and your new Seer girlfriend? Well I can't!"
"I never said you should do that ," he answered, "But you can't be halfway in. Halfway in Kady's life, halfway out because you don't want to know."
"I'm trying to protect Michael and Morgan."
"I understand that," he nodded, though he knew that wasn't the complete truth. "I'm trying to protect Kady." He crossed the room, placing a hand on her arm. This woman, despite her craziness and faults was his best friend. Kady's mother.
"Why don't you come upstairs, have some dinner. You'll see these people," he emphasized, "Aren't what you seem to think they are. They're just people Carly. Dean and Sam, are brothers. They've been Hunters most of their lives, taught by their father. Dean still picks on Sam much like I've seen Michael do with Morgan but he will always look out for his little brother. Then there's Miranda, brave and strong. A lot like you that way. She's a good cook. Keeps us fed. We just found her son last night."
"What happened?" She asked cautiously.
"We had to find him," he repeated, keeping the details to himself. She was reaching out, but he knew better than to hit Carly with too much too fast. "Kady played a big role in finding Gabriel. We couldn't have done it without her. You'd have been proud."
"Really," she smiled tenatively, wiping away a stray tear, "Our Kady?"
"Yeah," he nodded, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, "Our Kady. Now there's Faith. She came from Los Angeles with Cordelia, along with Spike and Fred."
"Spike and Fred?"
"Uh, yeah," how to explain the vampire with a soul and his mate. Better not. "They work for sort of a detective agency."
"Except they deal with gobblygook."
"Yeah, they deal with demons." He smirked, "Connor is Cordelia's son."
"What is that anyway," Carly interrupted, "Cordelia can't be old enough to have a son that's what, eighteen?"
"Sixteen," Jason answered, Cordelia had confirmed that last night during the wee hours. "Long story and not really any of your business unless she chooses to tell you." At Carly's pleading eyes, he shook his head, "I mean it."
"Fine. And they're just normal people you say."
"That's right."
"Just like you hun?"
"I guess you can say that," he answered.
"Then you'd be wrong," she smiled softly up at him.
"Why is that?"
"Because you aren't normal Jason, you're pretty great. So I'm going to go upstairs and eat tacos and get to know these people because you asked me to. But I know I won't ever fit into this world," at his protest she waved him off. "I know myself, Jason. Yes, I made a big fuss tonight, but I don't think I could handle your life on a daily basis. But I am glad Kady has you to help her where I can't."
"She loves you Carly."
"I know that, and I love her too. I'm sorry for being a nuisance and going off on your friend. I just worry about Kady and I worry about you."
"You don't have to. I can take care of myself."
"Of course I do, who else will otherwise. Although, judging from that glare your Cordelia gave me, I have a feeling, I will have someone to share that position with."