Ch 4

"May we ask how he died?" Edward said.

"He, it was a car accident", Keesha said sheepishly cutting her eyes in Jason's direction.

Jason couldn't help but flinch, another man that she loved had died in a similar fashion as Jason Q.

Edward moved to Keesha's side and took a hold of her hand. The eldest Quartermaine looked into her eyes and saw the pain, so familiar. It was the same pain that was in her eyes when Jason Morgan woke up from the coma instead of Jason Q.

"But it's more complicated than that", Keesha continued. "There is something that I need to ask you. Actually I need to ask all of you, especially Emily. I need someone to take care of my children. If anything were to happen to me, I don't know who would take care of them or where they would go. I want Emily to become guardian of my children; just in case".

"Of course", Monica said. "Emily would, I'm sure, be honored to do that for you. But Keesha, I'm sure there will be no reason for that. You're healthy aren't you?"

"Yes, I am there's just… I need to know that they are going to be taken care of. You are the only family that I have left. This was the only place that I could think to come to. I had no other place to go. My parents are gone, my cousin, my grandmother; there is no one else. I know Emily would do this and I know that you would help in every way possible. I know that my children will be completely taken care of".

"Why are you really doing this Keesha", came Jason's voice. "I know that isn't the end of the story".

Keesha turned to look at Jason. "What do you mean?" Keesha asked.

Jason moved to stand in front of her and looked deep into her eyes. "Keesha, I'm not a fool and you know that. In my line of work I need to be able to figure out who is lying and who is telling the truth. You are telling half of the truth. What's the rest of it Keesha? What else happened?"

Keesha's eyes showed shock but none shown on her face. "What are you talking about, Jason? You don't know what you are talking about".

At that moment Jason did something that shocked everyone in the room, including himself. He reached out and cupped Keesha's face in his hands. Then moved his hands down to her shoulder and upper arms and then pulled her close to him in a hug. The gesture and maybe the person making it, was too much for Keesha. She buried her head in Jason's chest and broke down. The tears streamed down her face and soaked the front of Jason's black tee shirt. She wrapped her arms around his back and held onto the man in front of her for dear life.

Monica and Edward looked at each other with concern showing on their faces. What could possibly be going on with Keesha and her dead husband? More than that, this was a side of Jason that they hadn't seen in years. He had not shown this type of emotion with Keesha in his newborn life. The body that housed Jason Morgan was 30 plus years old, but Jason Morgan was only 11 or 12 years old. Jason Quartermaine would have been married to the woman that Jason Morgan now held; had it not been for that one fateful night. Monica shook her head to shake away the daydream that she knew she shouldn't get lost in.

"Keesha", Jason said softly as he pulled her back so that he could look into her eyes. The tears kept falling. Jason grabbed a hold of Keesha's hand and led her back to the couch. He sat her down and wiped the tears with the tips of his fingers.

"Jason, please stop. I know that it has been a long time, but with you treating me like this there are just too many memories and my heart just can't take it".

Jason looked at her and said, "Keesha, please don't try to change the subject. I know what you are trying to do. If you change the subject and especially the subject that you chose, would make me angry. What are you running from Keesha? Who?"

Keesha turned to Monica and Edward, "I am not trying to involve you in anything. I just want someone that I trust to take care of my children if something is going to happen to me. I trust you all and I know that Emily is still young and idealistic and that you all would be good for my children. I know that, even though you disagree and plot plan and scheme against each other, you love one another. You always take care of family. It's going to be the best place for my children to grow up. I know that you, Edward, will push Justus into working at ELQ somehow. Maya will get the pony that she has been asking for. And Lila, I don't know… I think that she will get everything her little blue eyed heart desires. And, God willing, I will be in Heaven with Justus, Granny Mae and Daniel looking down on my children knowing that they are healthy and happy. That is all I want".

"That was a lovely speech, dear", Edward started "Now tell us who and or what you are running from?"

Keesha took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. When she began talking it was in a nervous rush. "I don't know who they are, exactly. Daniel's accident wasn't an accident. My husband was murdered and these people are after me. They want something that I don't have. I don't know where to look for it. My husband got into something and I don't know what. He talked about business with me but this wasn't something that I knew anything about". She was wringing her hands as she talked and rocking back and forth.

Jason sat back on the couch next to Keesha, he reached out and grabbed her hand. He held both of her small hands within one of his. Keesha was staring at the coffee table and refused to look at Jason.

"Keesha, what do you know".

She finally turned to look at him. "I know that I don't want to live like this. I know that this person promised not to hurt my children but there is no guarantee that he is telling the truth. I know that I might possibly never get to see my children grow up. I know that I'm scared and I didn't have anywhere to go; so here I am. I came to the only place that ever really felt like home except for when I was with my husband. The name that I have is Mariucci. He is from this area. The number that I have for him is a New York number. I have a distinct feeling that he is a mob boss".

"Have you heard of this person before, Jason? Do you know a Mariucci?" Monica asked her son.

Jason didn't want to answer the question. Of course he had heard of Christopher Mariucci. He had come up and taken over some territory. Slowly he had out maneuvered a lot of more experienced mob bosses and now his territory was massive and the man himself and his organization, was strong. He and Sonny had never come into contact with Mariucci, but Jason had a feeling that was all about to change.

"Yes, I've heard of him", was all that Jason would say. He looked over at Keesha and could see the question in her eyes. Jason couldn't imagine telling this woman, someone that he knew to be honest and maybe too trusting, that her husband was associated with the mob.

"Jason, please don't sugar coat this. I need to know how much trouble I am in. I need to know who I am dealing with", Keesha pleaded.

Monica crossed the room and sat beside her son on the couch. "Jason, is there anything for us to worry about? Is Keesha in danger?"

"I need to talk to Sonny", is all that Jason would say. "Could you watch Jake until I get back?"

Keesha didn't know Jason Morgan very well, but she knew the look on his face. Whenever Jason Quartermaine didn't want to hurt her he got the same look.

Without waiting for anyone in the room to answer, Jason stood from the couch and headed towards the double doors of the parlor. He turned around and looked back at Keesha. "Me and Sonny… we will do all that we can to help you. Mariucci is not trustworthy. Don't believe a word that comes out of his mouth. I don't know what he wants from you but we are going to find out. I want to tell you not to worry but …" Jason stopped and took a ragged breath.

"But, I should worry, because this man is powerful and deadly man and he is going to kill me if he doesn't get what he wants", Keesha said.

Jason ran his hand through his hair and shook his head 'yes'. With that he turned and walked out the door.

Monica and Edward shared a brief glance between them but said nothing. Emily entered the room with her nephew and Lila in her arms. Justus and Maya were right behind her.

"Where daddy?" asked Jake looking around the room for his father.

"He will be back soon, sweetie. Now come over here and give your grandma a hug", Monica said to the boy. Jake complied and Monica took the boy in her arms and planted a kiss on the top of his blonde head.