A/N: This chapter...contains a lot of information and I tried to relay that in a non-boring way. I hope I succeeded.

'We're that song you wouldn't sing,

Just a broken melody,

You're killing me.

You play me like a symphony,

Play me till your fingers bleed,

I'm your greatest masterpiece...

You ruin me.'

You Ruin Me lyrics by 'The Veronicas'

Carly sighed as she chewed on her thumb. Instead on concentrating on the paperwork for her fathers estate she had scanned into her laptop, she had been thinking about the previous evenings activities; how everyone was nervous and everything was sweet and soft at first.

After Julie decided to slip between her legs, Carly lost all self-control. Jason was behind Julie, his hands on her hips and his own hips working on an erotic rhythm that Carly knew all too well. Carly had grabbed a handful of Brads hair and pulled him into a rough kiss which he returned with just as much force. In the meantime he had placed himself into a squatting position next to her. He pulled away as she tried to follow, but as he stood, his hard member was close to her face. Carly drew in a deep breath as she tried to concentrate. Julie had found her sweet spot and Carly's body had responded with bucking hips and and shivers-

Carly's ringing phone broke through her reverie. She groaned at the I.D of the caller.

"Hello, Harry. What do you want?"

"Hello, Charlotte, I am calling to remind you to pick me up at one in the afternoon at the airport tomorrow," Carly wasn't sure what made her cringe more, her step-brother's thick Texas accent, or the fact he calls her by her formal name. "Don't be late, I don't want to spend anymore time around that filthy airport than I have to."

She drew in a sharp breath. "Of course, Harry. I'll also bring in a C.S.I. Unit to scrub and collect any germs from our basement. Would that be okay as well?"

"Please Charlotte, no need to go that far," Harry cleared his throat. "Just a more thorough cleaning than you normally do will suffice. Now, I must get back to my bible studies. Godliness is next to cleanliness. Maybe you should think about that as you are cleaning my space. Good day to you."

Carly clenched her jaw and resisted the urge to throw her phone. Instead she let it fall to the counter-top with a loud clatter. She swore loudly as the phone rang again.

"What is it now, Harry? Do I need to use brand name bleach instead of generic?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, sweetie, calm down!" Carly almost laughed at the sound of Jason's voice. "You know brand name bleach is better on bloodstains than generic."

Now she laughed.

"I'm sorry, Jason. Harry called right before you to remind me I have to pick him up from the airport tomorrow," she said as she stood and stretched, hearing her joints crack and cringing. She walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator. "How's your jog?"

"We had to cut it short because it started raining."

"Oh," Carly furrowed her brow and went to the window above the kitchen sink. It was the size of a large portrait and faced the rock wall that the house was built against. There was, however, a small walkway that separated the house from the wall and Carly could see the rain falling in that space. "Oh, it is raining. When did that start?"

"About fifteen minutes ago, more or less. Have you been staring at your laptop this whole time?"

"Mmm...my eyes and body tell me yes," She said as he rubbed her neck. "But my mind keeps wandering back to last night. God it was so good."

Jason laughed. "Tell me about it. Brad and I had a hard time looking at each other the first part of our jog. He finally cracked a joke about it and we've come up with all kinds of different scenarios and positions. Kinda got ourselves worked up." Carly snorted at him. "But he said he isn't ready to be with just me, and I respect that. So, we are at the gym working out our frustrations. It was closer than coming home."

"Well, that's too bad, I could use some of my frustrations worked out!"

They laughed. "Oh, they've invited us over for an informal dinner, if you are interested."

"I am now, but later I don't know if I will be. I think I just need some unwind time before going back to the grind tomorrow morning."

"Wait, you're going to work tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I don't have to pick Harry up until one, I figured I could get some paperwork done and help Adrian around the Museum."

"Oh, okay...well..."

"Honey," Carly figured out his hesitation and laughed. "I'm going to take the afternoon off. The sooner we get started on this paperwork, the sooner Harry and I can get it done. I won't leave you alone in the house with the creeper."

"Thank you sweetie, I love you!"

"Love you too!"

Carly sighed. Normally she didn't mind the rain, but she wasn't in the greatest of moods. She walked to the window in their living room and looked out to the panoramic view of the ocean. The gray clouds blended into the gray ocean as a mist shrouded most of the horizon. She glanced to her right and caught the corner of Miles' house in her peripheral vision. An idea popped into her head and she ran to the bedroom to see if they were home. Seeing a light in the den, she ran to her den and gathered the paperwork, grabbed her raincoat, galoshes and umbrella from their front hall and took off toward the house next door.

X

"I wonder when the actual burial will be, you know, now that they have a cause of death?" Phoenix commented as Miles pulled into their street. The rain started coming down harder and Miles maneuvered the car perfectly.

"Who knows, I'm sure the company will want to do a more thorough investigation once his family releases the body, if they ever do," Miles said as he pulled into their drive. A bolt of lightning lit up the grey day and caused Phoenix to turn in that direction. He glanced in that direction again, making sure he saw what he saw correctly.

"Miles, stop the car," he placed his hand over Miles on the gear shift.

"No, Phoenix we are almost there-"

"Goddamn it, Miles will you just stop the car!"

Miles cursed inwardly as Phoenix hopped out of the car before Miles had it in park. He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on. Sighing he watched as Phoenix ran precariously down the path that ran between houses to something yellow. Miles squinted and saw a yellow rain slicker and there was someone in that slicker. Phoenix gestured for Miles and he stepped out of his car and ran down to his partner.

"Oh, isn't this our neighbor?" Miles knelt as the figure moaned and sputtered in the rain.

Phoenix nodded to Miles.

"Take it easy," Phoenix said as he helped Carly to her feet. She put her hand to her head and realized she was bleeding from a cut on her hand.

"Oh," was all Carly said as she swayed.

"Is Jason home?" Phoenix asked as he took off his tie and wrapped it around her hand.

"J-Jason," Carly paused. "No, he's at the Y with Brad."

"Let's get you to our place and get you dry and patched up." Miles said as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

X

"Thank you guys," Carly sighed before taking a drink of the tea Miles offered her. She sat in front of Miles fireplace in the living room, her hand bandaged , and she had showered and dried off. She was dressed in Phoenix's t-shirt and Miles had some spare pajama pants that fit her perfectly. "I've never been the most graceful person. I feel like such an idiot."

"Why were you out there in the first place?" Miles asked as he ran a hand through his damp grey locks. He had dried himself and changed into grey slacks and a maroon polo and threw Carly's clothes in their dryer.

"That paperwork that you found tucked between my coat and sweatshirt, it's paperwork from my fathers estate and I was hoping you would look through it with me. I saw the light on in your den and thought you were home. I totally forgot about the services today." She paused and took another drink. "Anyway, I must've cut my hand and hit my head when I slipped and fell." She groaned when she felt the goose egg on the side of her head.

"Carly I really think you should let us or Jason take you to the hospital," Miles looked at her with concern.

"No, I'll be fine. I just need to rest."

"Do you want me to call Jason?"

"No need," Phoenix said as he walked into the living room, shirtless, in jeans with a towel draped over his shoulders while using one side of the towel to dry his hair. "I just happened to spy a panicked Jason from our den and managed to get his attention to flag him over here."

They heard the front door open and shut and Carly tightened her grip on the mug of tea in her hands. Phoenix led Jason into the living room.

"Oh my god, Carly, you scared me!" He knelt down in front of her and wrapped his hands around her arm. "The lights were all on in the house but I couldn't find you anywhere-" Jason squinted his eyes and brought his hand up to the side of her head. "Carly this- what happened?"

"I was on my way over here when I must have slipped," she held her hand up. "I cut my hand when I tried to catch myself from falling."

"Thank you for taking care of her, Miles, Phoenix," Jason said as he turned to them. "I really appreciate it." He turned back to her and tugged on her arm. "C'mon we need to get you to a hospital."

"No, Jason I'm fine. I don't need to go to the hospital," her words came out more biting than she meant them to and Miles and Phoenix both raised their brows.

Carly placed her hand over his. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out that way. If Miles and Phoenix will let me just chill here until my clothes are dry, I should be fine. In the meantime, I can have them go over that paper work for me."

Jason sighed and looked expectantly over at the lawyers.

"Of course. I'll make more tea." Miles said as he walked into the kitchen. Phoenix asked Jason if he wanted any thing stronger, and Jason nodded.

"Carly, I went into full panic mode," Jason said as he brushed a hair behind her ear. "I don't know what I would do if I ever lost you."

"Jason, I wish you wouldn't worry about me so much," Carly leaned into the hand that cupped her face. "But I have to admit I love it when you do."

"I love you, I can't help it," he leaned in and kissed her.

"Okay, here's some more tea," Miles said as he entered the room again. "And a drink for you, Jason. Phoenix has been brushing up on his bar tending skills, since he has a full bar to work with. This is called an Old Fashioned, and like the name, it is Old Fashioned, because it's been around for a while."

"Oh, that is smooth, and good," Jason said after taking a drink. "My father used to drink these all the time."

"And Carly, that is tea imported from Zheng Fa, it will help calm and sooth,"

Carly took a sip and closed her eyes as she took in the scent.

"Thank you, Miles, Phoenix. I promise we'll make it up to you two somehow," Carly smiled.

"I tell you what," Miles said as she sat on the arm of the couch next to Carly. "Wright and I have been meaning to try out the new Thai place that opened a couple weeks ago. How bout we order some, you guys pay, and we can go over this paperwork while we eat?"

"We don't wan-"

"That sounds perfect." Carly interrupted Jason as she placed a hand on his thigh and squeezed.

x

"I just wish you wouldn't have went to work this morning," Jason said the next day. Carly was on her way to the airport to pick up her step-brother and Jason was on his way home from the gym with Brad and Julie.

"I told you, I'm feeling fine," Carly said as she maneuvered through traffic. "How was the gym? Oh and say hi to Julie and Brad for me."

"The gym was busy but good and I will tell them hello. Do you want me to make my specialty pasta dish for dinner?"

"Oh, that's perfect and I will find a good bottle of wine," Carly paused and cursed another driver. Her voice was loud enough that Brad glanced back at him through the rear-view and smirked as Julie giggled. "Don't forget, I am taking the afternoon off; Harry said he wanted to make a couple stops before hiding in our basement from the sinners and blasphemers."

It was Jason's turn to laugh. "I guess he doesn't know us very well, does he?"

"No and that's why we'll have to take any extra-curricular activities to other peoples houses."

"Not if you would just let me gag and tie you up," Jason winked as Julie and Brad both turned.

"Ha!" Carly scoffed. "If they only knew how loud you get."

Jason snorted.

"Oh, and Jason," Carly continued. "Will you make sure Marina and Diego cleaned the basement per my instructions, please? I don't need Harry freaking out because of some weird random thing."

"Of course honey," they said their goodbyes as Jason checked his email on his phone. He was expecting to hear from the company that he interviewed with, through email. Nothing, yet.

"So, I don't mean to pry," Julie said as she turned in her seat. "But, um...I couldn't help but overhear about Carly's step-brother. Is he a germaphobe?"

"He...is a germaphobe, a homophobe, a racist and whatever other hate word you can describe. That is Harry." Jason drew in a breath to calm himself. "Sorry, as you can tell, I don't much care for the man. He is the product of being raised in a cultist environment. The story is that Carly's father had an affair with a woman whom he thought he was trying to save from said cult. But when she got pregnant, the people she was living with demanded she stay so they could teach the child in their ways."

"Oh my gosh, that's horrid." Julie's pretty blue eyes went wide. "Was that here in California?"

"No, Carly was born in Topeka, Kansas and when she was five her family moved to Waco, Texas."

"Her father found someone involved in the Eastman's Church Cult didn't he?" Brad said as he glanced at Jason through the rear-view.

"Yeah, her mother became unstable after she found out about the affair and her father placed her in a home, so Carly mainly grew up with her father. She moved out as soon as she could and ran to California. She had an aunt that lived in Sacramento and she lived with her as she attended Sacramento State University, which is where we met and the rest is history.

"She had found out about Harry a couple years ago when her father was diagnosed with lung cancer. We went to visit him in Texas before we moved to Chicago and there was Harry by his bedside. Carly was mad as hell at first. But then figured that Harry knew her fathers estate better than she did, so she's let him handle most of it. There is a large part that involves Carly and they made a deal that he would come here to get that part settled." Jason paused when he saw Brad throwing him a worried look in the rear-view as they were stopped at a red light. "Sorry, that was probably more about Carly than you wanted to hear."

"No, it's fine," Julie said, a sad look clouded her pretty face. "Carly is a strong person to put up with all that."

"Yeah, she puts up with a lot of BS and I have to remind her to put her foot down and say no. Even with me, although, she learned quickly not to put up with any of my BS." Jason winked at Julie as she giggled.

"Hey, they're talking about Will," Brad turned up the volume on the radio as they listened to the announcer talking about an up-coming concert that featured Will as the headlining Cello player. They were stopped at another red light as Brad and Julie looked back at Jason. He blushed and suddenly his shoes were interesting.

"We know it's none of our business, but Julie and I have theories about you and Will. You can tell us to shut up if you want."

Jason chuckled despite himself.

"Well, I am curious about your theories."

"Well," Julie started. "We think that you and Will were really good friends in college. In fact, more than just friends."

"You're not wrong," Jason paused and ran a hand through his hair. "We struck a friendship during turbulent times in our lives; his family wasn't accepting him for being gay, and I just plain hated my mother, she had an affair, it's a long story. Anyway, we found that we had similar classes and we studied together a lot. We helped each other through some really hard times, which made our relationship volatile. We were two passionate people in love at the wrong time and place."

Jason stopped as he looked down at his hands.

"Sorry, that was a little more information than you probably wanted."

Julie smiled a small smile. "How does Carly feel about him?"

"She was upset at first," Jason ran a hand through his hair. "But with our open relationship, she said she is willing to keep an open mind and trust me not to do anything with Will without her around."

"Oh!" Julie was speechless as Brad glanced at Jason.

"Well, I think we should get tickets to this concert," Brad said breaking the tension as he turned onto their street. "I know Julie and I need more culture in our lives. We would like to go with you and Carly, but understand if you don't want to."

Jason waved his hand. "It should be fine. It'll give Carly a break from the paperwork, and more time to get to know Will."

"Perfect then," Julie clapped her hands, as Brad pulled into Jason's driveway. "We'll call you with details."

"Okay, thank you," Jason said as he exited the car. "Oh and thanks for letting tag along with you to the gym. It's greatly appreciated!"

"It's no problem, man," Brad said. "We usually try to go three or four times a week. Even if I own the place, it looks good that I workout there as well. You are more than welcome to tag along anytime."

"Again, thank you," Jason said as he stepped away from their vehicle and waved as they pulled out of his drive-way.