DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters.

Chapter Seventeen

Jason looked away from his game of pool at the knock on the door. Lulu and Spinelli were sitting on the couch watching some stupid movie and laughing, which was just annoying him. Neither of them moved to answer the door, so Jason put down the cue and walked to the door. He was surprised to find her on the other side.

"Hey," Brenda said softly. "Can I come in?" she asked.

"Yeah," Jason said. He stepped out of the way so she could walk in. Both Spinelli and Lulu looked over.

"What happened to you?" Spinelli asked seeing the bruising on her face.

"I got in a fight with a door and the door won," Brenda smiled a little.

"Can you guys give us a minute?" Jason asked them and without argument they both disappeared upstairs. "What are you doing here?"

"I snuck out of the hospital," Brenda confessed leaning against the desk. "I just wanted to thank you."

"What for?"

"For listening to me, protecting me, keeping me alive."

"You kept yourself alive."

"No I didn't. Robin told me that when the paramedics arrived I was in shock and you never left my side until the moment I woke up." He didn't say anything. "I just got an offer in California that I need to pursue. Lois is going to take care of getting my stuff for me. I just wanted to tell you in person."

He looked at her but didn't say anything.

"I heard the paternity test came back. I'm really sorry Jason. It sounded like you really loved him," she continued. He shrugged. "You've lost a lot in your life."

"So have you," he said finally.

She smiled weakly. "Nothing I can't handle."

He smiled back at her before reaching up to gently cup her injured cheek. She didn't wince or pull away.

"You'll be happy in California. The sun shines too much," he said.

"Mmmm hmmm," she said.

"Away from all the pain."

"Jason," she said as his thumb gently grazed her lips. "I should go," she said.

"I know," he said before gently pulling her close to him and wrapping his arms around her.

She stood like that for a few moments just letting him hold her. He pulled back and kissed her forehead, then her cheek, before hovering over her lips.

But she was the one that initiated it. The kiss. She closed the distance between them and kissed him. It was a kiss of hunger, of pain, of sadness, of regret, of old memories, of rescue.

Brenda pulled away and looked at him.

"Maybe I can stay a little while longer," she said, before letting him kiss her again.