Switching Places
Chapter 4
HL Hunt: Decide what you want and what you are willing to exchange for it.
Carly was lying in her hospital bed waiting to be released when Courtney walked into the room. "Carly, no one told me you were here. I'm so sorry you had to go through this alone." she said rushing over to hug the woman she had a budding friendship with.
Carly felt a lump in her throat, Courtney had been the only woman in her old life she could call a friend, but when it came to a choice of her son or her friendship with the blond, Michael would win every time. Taking a deep breath she said "I was a little out of it, I had a dream while I was out and it seemed like reality when I awoke. The only people I saw yesterday where Momma, Michael, Jason and Elizabeth other than doctors."
"I worked yesterday and she never even mentioned seeing you here. What a bitch."
"She was a little worried about my mental state and more than likely didn't want to worry you. I'm fine now, as soon as the papers are signed I'm going home to the Brownstone. What time are you working today?"
"I was supposed to work this morning but I called off. Bobbie probably got Elizabeth to cover the shift she is working tonight so she will do a double." the blond airhead said.
"Actually I couldn't reach Elizabeth this morning so your father is covering your shift at the diner. While I'm sure that Carly is grateful for your visit, going to work would have been better for her. I was delayed coming here because I had to stop at the diner and show Mike what to do."
"Well if Elizabeth had been available." said Courtney.
"Elizabeth wasn't scheduled you were. Courtney, next time I will fire you, no matter who you are related to. Do you understand me. As a matter of fact, why don't you take a few days off and I will ask Mike to work the shifts for you. I think you need to decide if you want your job or would like a different one." said Bobbie.
Courtney was leaving the room when she saw her mother-in-law talking to Jason. Knowing that they didn't get along she went over to save the handsome blond. "Jason, just the man I was hoping to see. Monica do you mind if I steal you son away?" she asked sweetly.
"Actually we need to discuss something. Courtney if this is about Sonny, please don't put me in the middle of things. Your brother is my best friend and I will always choose his side over yours. Monica, may I have the time?"
"Of course, Jason. Whatever last name you are using, and whatever you feel towards the family, certain things don't change. That is one of them. Reginald has the key at the house, do you want me to arrange for it to be delivered?"
"We will stop over and pick it up later, thanks again." he said with a slight smile in her direction.
"Jason, I really need to talk to you." Courtney said as they were walking down the hallway.
Pinching the nerve on either side of his nose, he turned to the blond unaware of their audience on both sides of the hub. Carly and her mother were filling out papers but had heard the woman's plaintive request. The same thing for her new husband and Jason's brother.
"Why didn't you tell me that Carly was in the hospital when you came to see me at Kelly's yesterday?" she asked pouting.
"I didn't come to see you at Kelly's. In fact I was only there twice yesterday, when I dropped off Elizabeth and when I went to pick her up at the end of her shift. As for Carly, she didn't want anyone to be told."
"I'm not just anyone, I'm her sister-in-law." she said.
"Courtney, if Carly had wanted you to know, she has your number. Now if you will excuse me, I have to take care of something." As he walked away, AJ saw the look in his wife's eyes and wanted to scream. So much for using the fact she was in love with him to get Michael back, the woman he was married to was in love with his brother.
Carly saw AJ and knew what she had to do, peace had to be declared on all fronts even that one, but she would wait. From the looks of things the man had fallen in love with his mark. Unfortunately for him, the woman in question had unrequited feelings for Jason.
Knowing that she had to stop AJ from stalking Courtney, Carly took a deep breath and rolled away without taunting the man who was her son's father.
Jason waited by the entrance to the Brownstone, Michael had gone to school this morning after Jason had dropped Liz off to change her clothes. Seeing the little boy's nanny returning, he asked Leticia how he was doing?
As the twosome entered the front hallway, she explained about the little six year olds latest plan to be an astronaut. "He was asking about Miss Webber and you. I thought you might want to know." she said.
"Thanks, Leticia." Jason smiled when he saw Elizabeth coming down the stairs in jeans and a long sleeve top. "I said I would only be twenty minutes, it took twenty five. Am I forgiven?" he teased as he kissed her while she stood on the bottom step.
"Sure, but did you stop at the drug store as well?" she asked purring from the kiss.
"Yes, I did. Are you sure you can't cancel your appointment for later." he asked not wanting anyone to hear what Carly was thinking. He did not want to have to visit her at Roselawn again.
"Yes, I think that keeping her occupied is a good idea. What if she is telling the truth?"
"I still think this is a plan to breakup Alexis and Sonny." he said as they walked down the street to the bike.
"There is no Sonny and Alexis. At least not after a one night stand." she said assuredly. "So where are we going today?'
"It's a surprise, but first we have to stop at the mansion to see Grandmother and get something."
After spending a half hour with Lila, Jason escorted Elizabeth to the bike and said "Shall we go?"
Speeding down the highway, Elizabeth was charmed as they rode on a dirt road to a small cabin in the woods. Entering the two room cabin, she turned and asked "Who does this belong to?"
"Monica, she told me about it not long after my accident. She bought it during her first marriage. When I was living in the boxcar, she suggested I come here to say. I turned her down but have driven by here many times. No one ever uses it, there is caretaker who keeps it clean and supplied. You said you didn't want to be interrupted" he said.
"Sounds like a plan." she said as she took off her leather jacket and tossed it on the back of a chair. "What do you want to do, since we agreed to keep our clothes on until tonight."
"I can think of lots of things to do even with our clothes on." he said with a lift on an eyebrow.
Four hours later as Jason let Elizabeth off at the studio, she was still smiling from the goodbye kiss as she walked up the stairs to her studio.
"You are late, we have been standing out here for almost ten minutes." said Carly, then she grinned and said well did you get some?
"Carly what is this sick fascination with Elizabeth's love life?" asked Alexis as she brushed the dirt off her suit and followed Elizabeth into the studio. "However, she is not the only one curious. Did you?"
Elizabeth laughed as she went to open the window, aware that the aroma of paint and turpentine fumes took some getting used to. "Actually no, I didn't. Only because we were at the Quartermaine cabin and had to be back here for this meeting. Carly can we make this quick, where is the food you were supposed to bring."
"I forgot it in the hall." she groaned as she walked back outside and saw a shadow standing out of the way. She thought about it and realized it was almost time for the kidnapping to occur, so she called Jason while still in the hall. "Jase, look there was a shadow in the hall at Elizabeth's. I know you don't want to believe me, but someone is supposed to try and kidnap Elizabeth."
After listening to what he said she agreed and walked back into the studio and sat the basket on the only clear flat surface. "Elizabeth, Jason is on his way over. There was a shadow. I am betting he assigns you a guard."
"I was expecting that, after what you said last night. I'm not going to fight him on it."
"Good, now the first thing we have to do is get me divorced. Alexis do you have the papers for me?"
"Yes, are you sure about this?" she asked before handing the copies to the blond.
"If I give Sonny this divorce, I can take him back to court later on when he starts to cycle into one of his depressions. For now I will just keep things cool." Handing the divorce decree back to the attorney she said "I'm planning on making some major changes in my life, this is just one of them. Elizabeth, once you are safe from getting kidnapped, the next thing on the list is finding Felicia and Roy and stopping them from going into business with Luis Alcazar, this should keep Kristina safe. Alexis what do you want to do about getting pregnant?"
"I have decided to use a sperm bank, I will wait a month then arrange for it. According to Dr. Meadows I should have no problems getting pregnant. Until you told me about my daughter, I had sworn off ever being a parent thanks to Helena. So no matter what, I owe you a thanks."
"I will work on Felicia, the girls and her are staying at the Brownstone right now. Elizabeth, try and avoid getting kidnapped. Alexis make sure you are not having Sonny's kid. Ladies, lunch has been fun. Elizabeth, Jason said you helped pick out his gift to me, so thank you."
"All I did is go to the website and order it. Poor Johnny was the one who had to go and get it for him."
"What did they get you?" asked a curious Alexis.
"A necklace with a charm pendant. There was a diamond in the belly on the little boy and an hour glass. "
Jason saw the man as he slipped up the stairs, he turned and ordered Francis to follow him to see where he went before entering Elizabeth's studio to see her tossing the trash away. "Where are the others?"
"Carly left to go and see Felicia. Alexis had some papers to file. I was made to promise to stay here until you arrived with door closed and Carly's cell phone in my hands at all times. Jason, I'm starting to believe her, either that or all three of us are having psychotic breaks."
Jason had seen that earlier while they were still at the cabin. "Francis will be with you if I'm not. No one else will be assigned to protect you. I want you to consider moving into the penthouse with me. Bobbie's is safe but I think that will be safer."
Elizabeth smiled and said "What about your job?"
"I talked to Sonny. I didn't tell him about Carly, just that some strange men have been following you around and that I think one of them looks familiar. As long as he thinks it's because of business, he will stay out of it."
Elizabeth turned from the window and looked at Jason, wondering about the odd way he had stated that. "Jason, is there something going on with Sonny and you?"
"Things have been strained since I returned. It's like he just expects me to obey his orders and not have a thought of my own." he softly admitted.
Elizabeth walked over and embraced him asking "Have you tried to talk to him about it? With what Carly said about his being ill in the future, do you think he will consider getting help if we find a way to bring it up separately."
"I doubt it, just make sure that I keep you in the loop. No matter what, I get the feeling that in Carly's world that is why we were separated for so long. "
"I will always be there for you, just like you have been for me." she vowed.
"I promise to make sure that you always know you come first. That unless it's direct information about business I will find a way to let you know what is going on." he said in return. "We are not waiting six years to be together."
"Technically about four. Carly said I get pregnant in 2006."
The idea of Elizabeth having his child once again sent Jason into places he had never thought he would get to go. The idea of being a family together. "Jason, what about Mr. Whiskers and her babies?" she said groaning that she had forgotten her newly formed family.
"Who is Mr. Whiskers?" he asked confused.
"Georgie and Maxie found this cat in labor under the back porch at the police commissioner's house. They brought her back to the Brownstone along with her two kittens. I made a promise to the girls to take care of them until they could convince Mac to let him keep them."
"We will figure out something." he said already resigned to having the kittens in the penthouse.
Chapter 5
Foch: The Most Powerful Weapon on Earth is the Human Soul on Fire
Carly took a deep breath, after seeing Jax kissing Skye it had taken everything in her to walk the other way. Inside she was dying but knew that the man Jax was at this minute wasn't the man for her. Seeing the ring on the red heads finger she was able to move past her jealously knowing that happiness would be fleeting, but it still burned a part of her soul to know that the man she loved; loved another.
Entering the hotel lobby she soon saw her target walking out of the restaurant. "Sonny, we need to talk real quick. Then you can get back to whatever it is your doing." she said dismissing the woman who was clearly a hooker.
"Carly we are getting a divorce, no matter what tantrums you pull. So just give me my freedom and move on with your life."
Taking a another breath, she idly wondered if she should take up yoga while living her life again. "Sonny, put your ego back into your pocket. I signed the papers as they are. I just wanted you to know. Also since I had Michael all week, he has expressed that he wants to spent this weekend with you."
Sonny wasn't sure what she was up to, yesterday she had been threatening him according to hospital gossip and today she was signing divorce papers. "Is there anything else? I have a meeting." he said.
"No, just good luck." with that she walked away wanting to smack the smug grin off his face. Seeing AJ walking away from Edward, she decided to do what she had wanted earlier. "AJ I need to speak to you for a minute."
"What do you want now Carly? Is there something else you need to steal from me?"
"This is about Michael." Seeing the interest in his eyes and his what can I do with this attitude worried her but she had to do this for her son. "I would like to arrange for him to spend some time with Lila and Monica. However it will only be with Lila and Monica, if Alan, Edward or you are there, we will be leaving. Will you please arrange for that?" she said trying to keep calm again.
AJ agreed leaving the hotel stunned. Edward's rejecting his bid for his trust fund had him wanting to drink, but Carly's very small gesture gave him hope. Walking into the front door of his small apartment, AJ saw his wife sitting on the sofa while petting her dog.
As she started to go on about Elizabeth trying to interfere in her friendship with Carly and how she was getting her in trouble at work, all he could think was the real problem was that Elizabeth had Jason and his wife wanted him. Drawing her into the bedroom, AJ soon worked out some of his frustrations, deciding not to tell her about Michael.
As they lay there all he could think was where had he gone wrong. He had developed feelings for this woman, only to find out she was as faithless as Carly. Too bad for her that his little brother had feelings for the Webber girl.
AJ felt trapped, he couldn't divorce her, Sonny would kill him, but maybe he could push her into divorcing him, as he lay there an idea came to his head. "Courtney, I have to go to Boston for a week, if I could bring you with me, I would but we can't afford it right now. Do you want to go and stay with Carly or maybe Sonny for the week?"
Courtney jumped at the idea of staying at Sonny's. Jason had moved into the penthouse across the hall and she had every intention of moving in with him as soon as she had a good excuse to dump AJ. Waiting until AJ got up to take a shower she called her brother, she swallowed her annoyance and told him that with AJ being out of town she was scared to stay alone by herself.
Instead of inviting her to stay, he offered a guard. "I couldn't handle being followed around by someone I didn't know. The only one of your people that I know is Jason; could he protect me?" she asked.
"Jason is busy on assignment, how about you move in here. There is plenty of room." he suggested.
Sonny hung up the phone, knowing he had just made a mistake by how eager she had been to accept his offer. Walking out the door, he knocked on Jason's and when Elizabeth opened it a few minutes later, asked for Jason.
"He went to the warehouse, how are you Sonny?" she asked.
"I've been better. Jason told me about the men he saw, do you need anything?" he asked feeling lonely by himself in the penthouse and not eager for his sister to come and stay with him. Especially since he didn't really know the woman, but Elizabeth did.
"No, thank you. I'm just waiting for Jason to return. We went to get some linens for the bed and some other things for the penthouse. He dropped me off before going to get his motorcycle back from the shop. The loaner bike wasn't really his type of bike."
"Well since I happen to know that there is more than likely nothing but beer in Jason's fridge why don't you let me cook you dinner. I need your help with something, if you don't mind. Courtney is supposed to be moving in with me for a week and I would appreciate your help with her. We aren't that close and I would like to change that."
Inwardly groaning, she saw that Sonny had guessed something was up, but thankfully the man thought it had to do with Jason and her wanting alone time. "Don't worry, I just need your company for dinner, after that I will spend some time getting to know her."
"Okay, do you want me to make some brownies for dessert?`"
Sonny thought about it, the idea of anyone using his kitchen but him was worrisome for him, but he needed to find out what she knew about his sister and for her to keep things light when Courtney arrived. "Fine, but you should know that no one, I mean no one is allowed in my kitchen but me, so feel privileged."
When Jason entered Sonny's penthouse he saw Elizabeth cooking with Sonny in the kitchen, when she saw the enforcer she told Sonny she would be right back and promised to bring Jason back with her.
When they entered their penthouse they could hear the elevator signaling the arrival of someone, then the sound of a woman talking to Johnny. "I'm sorry, but we get to leave as soon as dessert is over." she said after explaining what had happened.
"I understand why you are doing this, but it might not do any good." he said.
"We have to try. Sonny has been my friend and yours for a very long time, what kind of friends would we be if we didn't try."
Jason said after kissing her senseless "I have the bike downstairs, why don't you grab your coat and take it over with you like I'm going to do."
The ten minutes that Sonny was alone with his sister made him already regret the invite, so far her first questions had been about Carly, the divorce and Jason. Seeing the man in question entering with Elizabeth, he finally got a word in edgewise and said "I knew that you would be nervous since we haven't spent much time alone together, I invited someone you knew to join us."
"Is it Jason, that's great. I need to ask him something." she said beaming at her brother who frowned at her interest in his enforcer.
"Jason will be here, but it is his girlfriend, Elizabeth that Iasked to come over." Seeing her deflate then seem to tense he knew he had to nip this crush in the bud, his sister was not going to be part of this world. It was bad enough that Elizabeth was.
"Sonny has the timer gone off for the brownies?" she asked as they joined the siblings near the kitchen. The more Elizabeth heard Courtney the more she was certain that Carly was telling the truth, that she had broken Jason's heart and that had pushed her annoying sister in law into a relationship with him.
Carly let herself into the Brownstone, seeing Taggert exiting she made plans for finding a house her top priority. "Mrs. Corinthos, just the woman I was looking for."
"Taggert. You could have nothing to say to me, so how about letting me pass." she stated.
"I would but there is a problem with your accident. The car that you hit, it wasn't registered. In fact the vin numbers match one at the dealership on Main Street. A car that is still in the parking lot. A dark blue Mercedes coupe just like the one that hit your car. The funny thing is that you were found near that car and not your own and the driver of the phantom car is still missing."
"Then I suggest you go out and find this missing person. He or She is probably in need of medical help." she said pushing past him. "All I recall is headlights in the fog. " As the man left Carly just laughed, somehow the other version of her had gone missing. She wished the man luck trying to find someone who didn't exist in this timeline.
Walking into the house, she saw Felicia talking to Roy rather secretively. Then saw him looking at her with mistrust. "I will talk to Zander." was all that was said before he left.
As soon as dessert was done, Alexis left the cottage, it was strange to see her sister dating her ex-fiance. Even worse was how happy Jax was with Skye. Knowing that the red head would get her hurt crushed when Brenda returned had done nothing to make her feel any better about being stood up by the attorney she had meet earlier at the courthouse.
As she entered her new apartment she sighed, looking around at the mess. She had moved out of Jason's penthouse last week when she realized she had feelings for Sonny. Shaking her head as she pulled out her briefcase and read the files needed for the next day, she wondered about the child she was supposed to have and the one who Helena had taken away all those years ago.
Carly was sitting on her bed, after tucking Michael into bed, AJ had called to confirm that Lila and Monica would be excited to visit with the young man whenever she wanted to bring him over. Pulling out her hidden list, she crossed off getting divorced from Sonny, that was done. Dealing with Elizabeth and Alexis hadn't been as hard as she had expected, in fact if they weren't who they were she might even admit to liking them.
Thinking about Jax, she pulled out the photo she had from when they opened their club together. It was such a shame that the younger version of her had been so enthralled with Sonny, she had missed a great chance to get with the man of her dreams already. Now she would have to suffer through his wedding to Skye, Brenda's return and then the Courtney relationship. Well maybe not that one, if she fixed things now, maybe Courtney would stay with AJ.
Debating it, she decided that was a great idea. Now she just had to convince the blond to get preggers with his kid in a few months and all would be well.
Jason and Elizabeth groaned at the knock on the door. They had heard Courtney slam the door to Sonny's penthouse a few minutes ago and knew she would be looking for company. "I have an idea, follow my lead. Do you still have the keys to the cabin?" she asked tossing Jason his coat at the same time she pulled out hers.
Opening the door, she said with a smile "Hello, Courtney, how are you doing?"
"I was bored and since Sonny' doesn't want me to leave the towers I thought I would come over and visit." she said "I was hoping to spend some time with you before Jason took you home but I guess I'm too late."
"We are just going for a ride, sorry about that." Jason was grabbing his keys as they expertly escorted her out of the penthouse.
"Great!" she said. "Let me just grab my jacket."
"Courtney we are taking the bike, there is no room for anyone else. See you tomorrow." she said trying to not smirk. As the elevator door closed, she turned to Jason and said can we stay at the cabin until she leaves Sonny's please?"
Courtney walked back to Sonny's waiting for Johnny to open the door for her, she then grabbed her coat and called out to her brother I'll be back I'm going to go with Jason when he drives Elizabeth home.
Just nodding as he read the paperwork wishing he understood it more, it was a few minutes later when what she said occurred to him. Opening the door, he asked Johnny if Courtney had left with the twosome next store.
"No, in fact they left about five minutes earlier on the bike. Should I ask the downstairs guard if he saw her leave?"
"Do it, I have no idea what she is up to but find her." he ordered. Walking back into the house, he located AJ's phone number and called the man.
"Quartermaine."
"AJ, This is Sonny. Are you in town?" he asked.
Bingo! AJ thought. "Yes, why? Are you going to bring my son over for a visit so that we can explain how you stole him away?"
Growling Sonny was starting to think his sister was better off with her crush on Jason, than with his brother.
At the silence, AJ continued "Look, I can't find my wife and I'm not trying to be an asshole. Have you seen your sister?"
Sonny hung up the phone, his suspicions confirmed. Courtney had lied, tell a small lie, there is usually a big lie someplace else. Going over to the bag his sister had brought with her to stay there, Sonny dumped it on the sofa, inside was lots of tacky lingerie and a few outfits. Wondering why she could possibly need this much sateen and cheap lace, he called Johnny.
"I found her, she is waiting outside of Elizabeth's studio building."
"What is she doing there?" he asked even more puzzled.
"No idea, do you want me to bring her back to the penthouse?"
"No, in fact just come back here. I think this is about Jason, and her crush on him. She isn't aware that Elizabeth has moved across the hall."
Johnny shook his head, then noticed the man leaving the area. He looked like one of Moreno's old men. Calling Sonny back he let his boss know then followed the man back to a no-tell motel outside of town. Seeing the blond greeting him when he opened the door, Johnny checked the register and saw they were the Roscos.
The man who remained behind saw that the Corinthos guard had left, so he came out of hiding, waiting for the petite artist to return home. His boss wanted this taken care of tonight. Jason Morgan needed to be neutralized.
Stopping about twelve feet away from the tall blond, he listened as she called someone. Hearing her sigh as she hung up the phone asking where are you Carly. "Damn, voice mail." she said.
The kidnapper looked at the blond, and recalled where he had seen her. She worked with the Webber girl at Kelly's and was Corinthos' sister. This would work even better than getting the enforcer's girlfriend. Grabbing the blond, he placed a knife to her neck and said "Don't scream."
Pulling out the sedative he shot the blond in the neck and strained to carry her to the truck while making sure that no one saw him. Calling his boss, he said "I got a girl for you."
"Take her to the cemetery. Then disappear, no one can find you, not even me."
Jason pulled Elizabeth back into his arms as they lay curled up naked on the green plaid sheets. "I love you." he said as he leaned down to continue what he had started.
""I love you too." she said with a smile, then asked "Just how many condoms are in that box, do you think we have enough we could stay for a couple of days. There is plenty of soup and other items in the pantry."
"Yes to the condoms, no to the soup. Ever." he said firmly as he eased her onto her back. "We really owe Carly."
"Your right, maybe some brownies, a nic-" She never got to finish her statement as Jason preceded to show her once again what they had been missing by being so reticent with one another.