The Metro Court is a circus. Police have flooded the hotel, questioning hostages and gathering evidence. Lucky is currently questioning Jason and Carly, though Mac is standing in the background listening to them explain what happened, and Diane is hovering protectively, making sure the police don't turn it into a witch hunt for her clients. Carly gives a detailed account of everything that happened, from the time the masked men showed up until she shot Jax.
"Tell me again why Jax would hold his own hotel hostage." Lucky questions. This is her third time going through everything.
"We've been through this," Jason tells Carly's cousin. He looks her over, noting that she looks tired and a little green. He pulls her into his side, her head resting on his shoulder. His temper finally makes its way through his normally untouchable expression, "Dammit, Lucky, Carly needs to get home. She's exhausted, she's been through a trauma, and she doesn't need all this excitement in her condition."
"Jason, the two of you killed a man, the man she's in the process of divorcing. This has to be by the books." Seeing his cousin wilting, he concedes, "But maybe there's somewhere more comfortable we can do this?"
Letting out a sigh, she gives a weary nod. "We can do it here," she says, leading them into a lounge off the lobby with two sofas facing each other, and an armchair off to the side. Getting her settled on the couch, Jason grabs her one of the bottled waters sitting on a side table. Then, he settles down next to her, gently rubbing her back in comfort. Diane sits in the side chair, while Lucky sits on the other sofa across from Carly. Mac stands in the door, keeping his eye on what's happening in the lobby.
"So, back to my question, why did Jax hold his own hotel hostage?" Lucky asks.
She lets out a sigh, "He didn't share that with me. I will tell you what Jerry told me, that it was my funeral. He planned to get Sonny and Jason to the hotel, and then he was planning to kill me, and our unborn baby, in front of Jason. He also said something about not letting me get away with hurting his brother. But Jax's reasons specifically for this plan," she lifts her shoulder in a shrug, "your guess is as good as mine. I assume he was hurt about me and Jason. Maybe if you find Jerry, you can ask him."
"And you are absolutely sure Jerry was here? We haven't been able to confirm that." Lucky questions once again, leaning forward.
Jason tells him, "Spinelli has surveillance of him leaving just before police busted in. He's already handed everything over to your techs."
"And, I am sure. He taunted and threatened me. Told me he planned to rape me before he killed me. So, yes, cousin, I'm sure Jerry was here." Carly's voice comes out snarky and sarcastic, clearly over the insanity of the day.
Jason's fists clench. He's determined to end Jerry as soon as possible. The terror he caused Carly was his fatal mistake, the error that Jason can't let slide if he wants to keep his family safe. He wonders if Jerry realizes he's a dead man walking, that Jason is planning to make a very bloody example of him, an example that shows the world that no one messes with him and his. Though, he knows extra caution is still necessary where the bastard's concerned because desperate animals act in unpredictable ways.
Diane finally speaks up after Lucky poses another question he has asked multiple times already, "Detective, this is getting ridiculous. If my clients are going to be questioned like suspects when they are the victims, we can end this interview now. Carly is pregnant and in a delicate condition. She has been threatened and terrorized by her husband and his brother. They have answered all your questions, thoroughly and multiple times. So, unless you're planning to arrest either Jason or Carly for ending a dangerous situation that the police couldn't, I think we have reached the limit of our patience. I would remind you both that the actions of these two ended a situation that had several people the two of you personally care about in grave danger, with your daughter and niece, commissioner and your wife and sister, detective. Unless you're planning to charge them with some ridiculous charges for saving the people you care about, we're leaving. Carly and Jason can go up to the station to answer any follow up questions once Carly is feeling better."
When Lucky looks like he's about to object, Mac steps in, "Of course councilor. They are free to leave. But we may have questions moving forward."
The red headed lawyer nods, "Of course, commissioner. Though neither will be speaking to you without me present." She gives both Jason and Carly a pointed look at this, appeased when Jason nods. Then, turning her attention to Mac and Lucky, she raises an eyebrow.
Mac tells her, "Of course, councilor. We wouldn't dream of it."
As they leave, walking out into the heavily policed parking garage, Diane sternly tells them again, "Not a word without me present. Either of you." She points her finger at them, her eyes narrowed, then she turns and begins to walk away. And though she is doing it with her usual take no prisoners attitude, both notice that she's a little wobbly, a little frayed, as though the attitude is all that's holding her together.
"Diane," Carly calls out. "Are you okay?"
She turns around, tilting her head up, then with a brief shake, she says, "Ask me again tomorrow." Then, she turns and strides off.
Carly tells her back, "Thank you, Diane. We're more grateful than you realize."
Diane keeps walking, throwing her hand up and yelling back, "You're welcome. And I'm charging Jason triple for today."
Jason just nods his agreement, though she doesn't stop to check. Carly grins up at him, "I love her. Hey, what do you think about her and Max? I think they'd be cute together. Don't you?"
He just growls out, "Carly."
"Sorry. Focusing." Then, looking at him, seeing the strain, she asks, "How are you? What did Emily say when you called?"
He looks down, running his hand over his head. When he looks back up, there are tears in his eyes. "Alan's having open heart surgery. It's a quadruple bypass."
She moves into his arms, pulling him tightly to her, trying to give him even a measure of comfort. He breathes her in as he feels fear overwhelm him. After all the resentments he's felt for his father all these years, all the times he's pushed him out of his life, he's shaken by the thought that he might lose him. It makes all the times he's kept away feel foolish and reckless. The thing that's beating through his tortured mind is that he may never get the chance to tell his father how sorry he is, to tell him that he was wrong, and that he finally wants that relationship Alan has fought for so desperately.
Not willing to break down in front of the entire PCPD, he shuts down his emotions, his face going blank. Pulling back, he holds his hand out to Carly. Keeping her close, he leads her to the SUV. The guards had all been taken to the hospital, and all three are having to stay the night. So, Max is standing, waiting by the SUV.
"So glad you're okay, both of you." He tells them earnestly.
"Technically, all three of us." Carly says patting protectively over her still hidden little blessing. With a smile, she adds, "Thank you, Max."
Then, suddenly turning back to Jason, she grimaces, "I forgot…All your little pixies know about the pregnancy. Jerry announced it to the room."
Jason gives a shrug, unconcerned. He would be happy to scream it from the rooftops, so his exes finding out the news barely registers. He helps her get in the SUV, then climbs in next to him. When he's settled, she scoots over and cuddles up to him, her head resting on his shoulder, her legs lying over his lap. "Take us home, Max."
Once the door is shut, and he's safely hidden away with only Carly and Max as witnesses, he feels his emotions overwhelm him. He pulls her closer still, his head resting on her head, tears slowly dripping down his face. For long minutes, no one speaks as she comforts him. Through it all, Carly holds him close, her fingernails lightly scratching his scalp and neck, her lips placing soft kisses against his skin anywhere she can reach. With a great deal of effort, he gets his emotions under control, pushing down the fear and guilt threatening to pull him under.
Rubbing his hand down his face, wiping away the tears, he looks over at Carly. "Thank you." Her eyes are crinkled in concern, as she watches him compose himself. She is surprised when a grin lights his face. Bumping her shoulder, he asks, "Did you enjoy rubbing it in their faces that you're pregnant? The pixies?"
She grins at him, feeling lucky that she has a man who sees her and appreciates her craziness. "Did I enjoy rubbing it in their annoying little faces that I get to have your baby and your love? That I'm the one you chose? Immensely." She has a huge smile on her face and a triumphant light in her eyes. Then, she becomes earnest, her hand reaching over to clasp his, "Your dad found out too. He seemed, I don't know, kind of happy about it. Excited that there's a little piece of you that's about to be running around in the world." Squeezing him, she softly says, "He has a reason to fight, Jase. He wants to meet his grandchild."
A tear slips down his face, so her hand cups his cheek, her thumb wiping away the moisture. "He'll make it, Jase, I truly believe that."
He squeezes her close, taking comfort in the feel of her in his arms. He thought he'd lost her, thought he'd lost the family he'd just fallen in love with. The terror he felt knowing that he couldn't get to her to protect her, to protect them both, had almost brought him to his knees. He doesn't think he has ever been so afraid in his life. Knowing that madman could have ended her life, changing his entire world in an instant had shifted something in him. It created a desire to throw aside his fear and embrace the life in front of him fully. He doesn't want to play it safe anymore, especially where Carly and their family are concerned.
His voice is broken as he says, "I could have lost you."
Then, his hand is in her hair. He grips her head, turning her face up to his and slants his mouth over hers. The kiss is desperate, both trying to get as close to the other as possible, their lips swelling at the force. They taste the saltiness of tears, though whether from Carly or Jason, neither can tell. The normally stoic man's hands are touching her everywhere, reassuring himself that she's really okay, that he didn't lose her. His hand keeps going back to rest over his child.
"Thought I was going to lose you." He whispers desperately against her skin and lips. His words pausing as he stops to press kisses on her face and neck, "I love you. I love you both so much! Don't leave me, ever."
"Never," she promises in a moan. "I love you, Jase." She gasps, her head falling back, as he kisses a spot on her neck that has her blood heating. "From the beginning, I never stopped loving you. I'll never stop loving you." It's his turn to groan, "Thank you, my wonderful love. Thank you for coming to save us. I knew you would. I know you'll always come for us."
"Always," he vows, with a catch in his voice. "I can't live without you."
She pulls his head up, so he's looking in her eyes. Their noses brush, soft, unconscious butterfly kisses, and both their eyes are misty and hazy with passion. "Don't you get it yet? I will never leave you. You couldn't get rid of me if you tried." She nuzzles into him, "We're soulmates."
The love on his face takes her breath away and brings tears to her eyes. He brushes the hair away from her face, his fingers reverently tracing her features. His heart feels so full it borders on pain, but what beautiful, joyful pain. Looking at the woman he loves in front of him, her eyes clouded with a mixture of passion and adoration, he feels the truth of her words. The way he feels about her goes beyond love, it goes beyond attraction. He feels her in his soul. He breathes out, with a plea in his voice, "Marry me."
She gives a sharp intake of breath, her fingers and eyes tracing over his face. She's too overwhelmed to answer at first, though there's no question of what her answer will be. At her hesitation, he gives her the words he knows she needs, the words she deserves, "I know I got here slower than you, and I'm sorry for all the times I turned you down or made it seem like this connection between us is anything less than me finding the person, the soul that I need near me, whose happiness and safety is more important than my own. You're my best friend, the person who knows me better than anyone, and the thought of living this life without you is terrifying. I love you, so much it scares the crap out of me, so much it took me longer than you will ever let me live down to be brave enough to admit it to myself. But I'm done running away from this feeling, from now on I will only run to you and our family. My heart is officially all yours." He takes a deep, shaky breath, "So, will you marry me?"
Tears are streaming down her face, her eyes shining with love. She studies his face, still so close his breath wafts over her lips. She closes her eyes as a wave of joy fills her, making her chest ache. She begins nodding before she's able to get the words out, "Yes! Always and forever yes." She kisses him, her hands covering his cheeks; her fingers softly brush his skin. "Oh, God, is this real? Do you know how much and how long I've loved you? Do you know how much you mean to me? If this is a dream, let me live in it forever."
"Why do you keep saying that? This is very real. Nothing has ever been more real or more right." He leans his forehead against hers, his eyes focused intently on hers. "It's not a dream."
"Don't you get it? For so long, you have been my dream. I'm not saying I didn't have other dreams, but the dream of you, the dream of us… it's always been there, even when I had to hide it, and maybe I even hid it from myself a few times, but it's been constant."
His mouth crashes into hers, a smile on his lips and tears in his eyes. He is filled with a sense of peace, knowing that this, in this woman's arms, is exactly where he's supposed to be. As he's deepening the kiss, Max tells them from the front, "We're here, boss." Then, he clears his throat, "And let me be the first to tell you both congratulations."
Carly and Jason sit there for a moment, savoring the feeling of happiness and peace, knowing how quickly it can be taken from them. Max has gotten out of the vehicle, and has opened the door on Jason's side. Yet the two don't move, sitting cocooned in the car, not willing to break the moment and have to face the real world.
"I love you," Jason tells her, his hand gently cupping the side of her neck, his thumb stroking her cheek.
She puts her hand over his, leaning her face into his touch. "I love you more."
He takes a deep breath, letting it out with a sigh. He looks out of the car, at Max making an effort to not look at the couple, at the empty parking structure around them. When he looks back at her, he holds out his hand, interlocking their fingers, "Come on. What do you say we get you up to the penthouse so you can rest? We can tell the boys the good news before I go up to GH to check on Alan."
She gives him a wide smile, "They are going to be so excited." Then, with a frown, "Should we tell them about Jax?"
He gets out of the car, reaching for her and pulling her out, hovering protectively around her as she finds her balance. Once she's steady, they begin moving toward the Penthouse elevator which Max is holding open for them. He keeps his eyes glued for any threats as he tells her, "Why don't we wait until tomorrow to tell them? That's a conversation that can wait until you are rested."
She leans into him, "Maybe." Then, with a grin, "I can't wait to rub this in the pixies' faces, and in the faces of everyone who has told me that you'd never love me." She gets a little giddy as she tells him, "I want a huge engagement ring. One nobody can miss."
He grins at her antics, promising, "I'll get you a nice big ring. Big enough to make everyone jealous."
As they get in the elevator, she lets out a laugh, cuddling into his side. When Max steps in after them, Carly's attention focuses on him. "How's Milo doing up at GH?"
One side of Max's mouth tilts up, "Probably being driven crazy by our mother. She tends to hover when we're sick or hurt, especially with him since he's the baby of the family."
She gives him a critical up and down look, which makes him qqnervous. "Are you seeing anyone, Max? I haven't heard of you dating anybody recently."
"Um… no, soon to be Mrs. M." He tells her bashfully, his gaze alarmed.
"Carly…" Jason warns.
"What? I just noticed a certain lawyer checking him out. And I think it would be a great match. They'd be so cute together!"
Max clears his throat, "Mrs. M, I don't think…"
As the elevator opens on the top floor, he stops talking and both men pull their guns as they see the guard that's supposed to be watching the door, lying face down on the floor. Jason moves Carly behind him, reaching down for one of the spare guns Max had given him after the police confiscated his in the name of their investigation. He turns quickly, putting the gun in Carly's hands. "Stay back," he whispers. Then, without waiting for a response, he and Max keep their guns up as they move from the elevator, moving cautiously toward the penthouse. The door is ajar, so Jason stands to the side and pushes it open. A shot rings out, hitting the wall across from the door.
Jerry's voice calls out from inside the apartment, "Welcome home Mr. Morgan. If you don't want me to shoot the little brat, you might want to join us."
Carly cries out hearing that her child's in danger. Before Jason can stop her, Carly rushes out of the elevator and, too quickly for him to catch, weaves her way in between Jason and Max, her gun raised and aiming for the man holding a gun to Michael's head.
"Carly, so happy you can join us. I'd say it's a pleasure to see you, but we both know it'd be a lie." Jerry says with a sneer.
His gun is cocked, his finger resting on the trigger. It tightens a fraction when Jason comes in the door, quickly followed by Max. Both move to keep him in their sights from different angles. Carly's gun never wavers.
"Be careful. You wouldn't want my finger to accidentally squeeze the trigger. You shoot me, and my muscles might contract, making a mess of your son's head." Jerry warns, moving so his back is to the fireplace. When Jason looks down briefly at Michael, he feels rage boiling within him at the fear on his face. However, he takes heart at the anger and calculation just beneath that fear. Using his eyes, he indicates for Michael to duck. The boy gives an imperceptible nod.
Carly begins arguing, rage has her practically shouting, trying to draw his attention away from her son, "What's the endgame here? Do you really think you'll be able to get out of here after threatening my son, putting a gun to his head? If I don't kill you, Jason sure as hell will!"
"Then, I need to make sure to take as many of you with me as I can. Do you really think I'm just going to let you get away with killing my brother?!" He looks insane, practically foaming at the mouth.
Jason sees movement along the wall behind him, low to the ground. Trying to surreptitiously look, it takes him a second to realize it's Morgan. He feels his chest tightening even further. Carly's eyes flicker in that direction, but when Jerry begins to turn to look, she yells out, "Your brother was a coward who was going to kill a pregnant woman. You both deserve to be put down like dogs! I just wish you'd been there to see the light drain from his eyes, the moment he realized your fuck up caused him his life! Do you want me to tell you how good it felt squeezing that trigger and watching him bleed out? How his blood painted the walls of…"
Everything happens at once. In a rage, Jerry swings his gun at Carly, pulling the trigger, just as Michael stomps on his foot, jerking out of his grip and falling to the ground, and Morgan flies into his leg, biting down as hard as he can through the fabric. Jason, Carly, and Max fire their guns at him almost in sync, and watch as he's thrown back at the force. He violently falls lifeless into a bloody heap.
With horror, Jason watches Carly jerk and a bloom of red appear on her shoulder. Her face pales and she cries out, her eyes locked on Jason, before she falls to the floor unconscious.