DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters.

Chapter Five

Brenda and Brady both looked away from what they were doing when there was a knock on the door. Brady motioned with his hand to stay where she was at in the kitchen while he made his way to the door. The knock came even harder than the first. Pounding almost. She quickly shoved the papers and photos back into the envelope and watched Brady approach the door.

"Who is it?" he asked.

"Open the door, Brenda."

She laughed quietly at the sound of Jason's voice. So resourceful. Brenda nodded to Brady to open the door and he barely had when Jason came bursting in. Brenda didn't move from her spot at the counter, taking a drink out of her glass.

"Well, well. If it isn't my husband."

"Ex-husband."

Brenda shrugged.

"What are your boxes doing at my house?" he asked.

"It's a funny story actually. I sent them to Julia but she left California and the post office still had your address from when I moved in last time."

"Your sister didn't tell you she left?" he asked. Brenda didn't say anything. "Okay. Let's go."

"I'm not going anywhere with you," she said firmly crossing her arms.

"Yes. You're coming back to the penthouse and you're going to stop lying to me." Jason grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the door. Brady stepped in front of him.

"I can't let you leave with her," he said.

"Who's this? Where's Tony?" Jason asked. Brenda only smiled. "This isn't funny."

"Let go of my arm. I can't have bruises tomorrow," she told him.

"Then call off this guy."

"It's okay," Brenda told Brady. "We're going to the Harborview Towers. Bring the car for all my stuff," Brenda said.

"I'm not supposed to let you out of my sight," Brady insisted.

"It's okay," she said. "Nothing can happen to me when I'm with Jason," she said as he opened the door.

"Let's go," Jason said nearly shoving her out of the door and towards the staircase.

"I'm not going to the lobby."

"You're right about that. I don't want anyone seeing you," he said as the ushered her down the many flights of stairs and through a side exit hidden behind pillars in the foyer.

"Where's your car?" Brenda asked when the walked out to an empty alley.

"I came on my bike, he told her as they walked around towards the front entrance of the hotel near his bike.

Without notice Jason pushed her back against the concrete wall of the building before she could come around the corner. His right hand pressed against her stomach. He peaked around the corner. Carly and Jax were standing just outside the doors talking.

"What?" Brenda hissed.

"Shut up," he told her. The second Carly and Jax disappeared out of sight Jason grabbed her hand and pulled her over to his bike and handed her the extra helmet. "Put this on," he said as he slid onto the bike.

"And mess up my hair …"

Jason took the liberty of forcing the helmet onto her head and clipped the strap underneath before nearly dragging her onto the back of the bike.

"Hold on tight," he said before starting the engine and speeding off quicker than she expected. He pulled into his parking spot next to the town car in the garage only moments later.

Brenda sat there for a few minutes, hands wrapped around Jason's waist, breathing deep and heavy. He slowly unlaced her fingers from his shirt and slid of the bike, removing his helmet. Brenda followed his lead and stood on shaky feet in front of him.

"Let's go," he said lacing his fingers around her bicep and pulling her towards the elevator.

She was silent the whole ride up to the penthouse and as soon as the doors opened she moved quickly out of his grasp which got her the famous glare from him. He went straight to the door and opened it. Spinelli was still at the desk working on his computer and Lulu was sitting on the couch flipping through a fashion magazine.

"Sorry Stone Cold. No Brenda Barrett's checked into any hotel or motel within a 30 mile radius," Spinelli said.

"It's okay," Jason said leaving the door wide open waiting for her to come inside. He looked to the door and waited. Spinelli and Lulu both looked at him wondering what he was doing. "Don't make me come back out there," Jason said through clenched teeth.

And then Brenda sauntered in, smile plastered on his face. Spinelli's jaw dropped. She wasn't anything in person like he expected.

Jason slammed the door shut.

"Brenda?" Lulu said standing up and setting down her magazine.

"Lulu? It can't be you," Brenda said with a genuine smile as she hugged the girl. "I haven't seen you since you were little."

Lulu smiled.

"What are you doing in Jason's penthouse? Don't tell me you two are …" she trailed off.

"No, no," Lulu said shrugging her shoulders at Jason who rolled his eyes and disappeared into the kitchen. "Jason and Spinelli invited me to stay here after I broke up with my boyfriend. I didn't want to go back to the Quartermaine's."

"What? Why are you staying at the Quartermaine's?" Brenda shook her head as she slipped out of her jacket to reveal a tight black tank top that criss-crossed in the back. Spinelli whimpered. "Sit down and explain. I think I've missed out on a lot."

Brenda and Lulu sat down on the couch like anxious teenagers.

"It's a really long boring story but basically my dad married Tracy and then he disappeared and I was stuck living there with the wicked step-mother."

"Tracy? Why Tracy of all people?" Brenda asked.

"Sometimes I wonder the same thing. Who cares about that? Where have you been?"

"Paris. Rome. New Zealand for awhile. Anywhere and everywhere." Brenda glanced at the fashion magazine and smiled. "Can I?" she asked Lulu as she picked it up and began to flip through it. "I haven't had a chance to take a look. Sometimes in Paris we don't get the US copies until later." Brenda stopped and looked at a picture before folding the magazine in half and turning it to Lulu.

"That's you," Lulu stated. Brenda nodded. "You're in Vogue."

Spinelli nearly tripped over his chair in an effort to get over to the girls and see the picture. He still hadn't closed his mouth and Lulu laughed, afraid at any moment he might start drooling.

"Stone Cold, you didn't say the evil ex-wife was a gorgeous model," Spinelli said as Jason reappearing carrying a beer.

Brenda looked at Jason questioning. "Evil ex-wife? That's catchy. Let me guess? Carly came up with that one."

"Shut up," he said.

Brenda shrugged as she got off the couch and walked over to the mini-bar. Without asking she dropped some ice cubes into a glass and poured it pull with vodka out of a glass container.

"My guess is you've been drinking all day," Jason said. Brenda didn't respond as she looked around the room at the boxes and couple suitcases. "Spinelli, why don't you take Lulu to Kelly's or something."

"But …" Spinelli started.

"Now," Jason insisted.

"See you later Brenda," Lulu said as she grabbed her jacket and walked out of the penthouse dragging Spinelli with her.

"Cute kid. Where'd you find him?" Brenda asked casually as she knelt down near one box and opened the flaps to look inside.

"What are you doing in Port Charles, Brenda?" he asked coming up behind her.

"Getting my stuff. I will be out of your hair in no time. Wonder where Brady disappeared to," she commented.

"Probably standing outside with Max. Where's Tony?" Jason asked.

"Met a cute little French girl and viola," she said waving her hand in the air.

"And you hired this guy?" he asked.

"No. If I had my choice I wouldn't have a body guard. Or did you forget how much I hate them?" She stood up fully and nearly ran into him he was so close.

"Pack up the boxes and go back to Europe."

"I'm not living in Europe anymore," she told him flat out. "Why else would I send all my stuff to the states?"

Brenda walked over to the pool table and ran her finger along the edge.

"You're a bad liar."

"So I've heard. Twice today in fact," Brenda said calmly. "Who's the new girl this time? I know Courtney died and cheated on you with Nicolas. That was unfortunate."

"Why are you here?" he growled.

"You think I would tell you with the way you're treating me?" she asked. "Doubtful." Brenda peered through the curtains in the heat of the day.

A knock on the door made her turn and look at Jason.

"Stay," he said.

"I'm not a dog," she mumbled leaning against the window frame.

Jason opened the door and Johnny Zacchara walked in followed by Sonny.

"Found him snooping around outside chatting to one of the guards," Sonny said. "What are you doing here Johnny?" Sonny asked.

When he didn't answer, Sonny looked at Jason, and both of their gazes followed Johnny's to where Brenda was standing at the window looking at all three of them. For the first time, Jason had absolutely any idea what the look in her eyes meant.

"Who's the little lady?" Johnny asked. "Maybe we can make a trade."

Brenda rolled her eyes.

"Brenda, why don't you go in the kitchen," Jason suggested. For the first time that day he didn't get a smart comment back but instead she turned and walked into the kitchen.

"What are you doing here, Johnny?" Sonny asked again.

"Came to deliver a message," Johnny said.