Carly clasps Jason tightly, her face resting against the soft leather of his jacket as they weave their way through Port Charles on his bike. She loves riding his motorcycle, the world rushing past her as she holds onto Jason. There's a freedom to it, like none of the awful things can catch her. He certainly isn't complaining about having her plastered to his back, her arms wrapped around him. Though, he doesn't love the fact that he's taking her back to her apartment with Dr. Jones, wishing he could just keep her with him in his room.
The fact that she is pregnant is having a primal effect on him, putting his protective instincts and possessiveness into overdrive. Just the thought of her with Dr. Jones practically makes him want to snarl and bare his teeth. On the other hand, it's also brought forth a softness for her, a sudden desire to do anything just to make her world a little better. He can see the toll life has taken on her, dealing with her feelings of abandonment by her mother, with Luke's threats, and the constant yo-yoing of Tony's feelings, and all he wants to do is fix it for her. He's determined to help her, to get everyone to back off.
Her pregnancy is also playing havoc on the spark that ignited in him during their night together. His heart, which had already felt a longing for her, aches at the intensity of his desire since finding out. And it's so much more than physical, though he desperately wants to get lost in her arms again. The baby growing inside her has him longing for them to have a life and family together, something he never even knew to want until it was within his grasp.
Pulling up to her apartment building, he lets her hop off, then follows. She looks at him surprised, thinking he was just dropping her off. But, he has to make sure she gets in safely. It pulls at him like a compulsion.
As he follows her up the stairs, Carly can't help smiling. It feels nice that he wants to come in, like maybe she isn't all alone. As she's unlocking the door, the apartment door across the hall opens and AJ sticks his head out.
"Carly…" he starts eagerly, then stops, shocked to see his brother. "Jason, hey."
Jason looks at Carly annoyed, "You live next door to AJ?"
Carly lifts one shoulder in an apologetic shrug, "Yeah."
He lets out a sigh, looking down. When he glances back up, he catches the infatuated look on AJ's face. Clenching his fist, he steps toward Carly, towering over her protectively. She looks up at him surprised, then seeing the tension on his face, the anxiety, she puts her hand on his wrist in comfort. Instinctively, he shifts his hand to clasp hers.
AJ's eyes focus on their joined hands, then, looking up at Carly, he asks, "What's going on?" He perks up, "Did you and Tony break up?"
Jason practically growls at him, "Back off AJ. The last thing she needs is to end up a casualty of your alcoholism. Stay the hell away from her."
He steps in front of Carly blocking AJ completely.
"What's it to you?" He asks, his brotherly competitiveness making Carly suddenly a more desirable prize to be won.
Jason simply takes a step forward invading his brother's space. His arms cross in the universal male code of 'try me.' The amount of restraint it's taking to not pound him is immense. All he wants to do is take out any threat to Carly and his child, and experience has shown him there's no greater danger than AJ.
AJ retreats with a sardonic laugh. "Should I be worried you're going to fit me with cement shoes? Sonny's thug enforcer is gonna make me disappear?"
Carly steps forward at this, "Shut up, AJ. Don't talk to him like that."
AJ's eyes narrow at her defense of his brother. Jason sees the calculation in AJ's eyes. He feels such rage and fear fill him. The person he wants to protect most in the world is in the crosshairs of someone dangerous. And he's the worst kind of dangerous, the kind that can occasionally fit into society so you don't realize how easily he'll throw your life away until you're lying in the wreckage. He won't let AJ anywhere near Carly! "I swear to God, AJ, stay away from Carly. If you hurt her, if you hurt either of them you will pray for cement shoes."
Everyone freezes as a voice asks from behind them, "Either of whom?"
At Tony's voice, Carly grabs Jason's arm, praying for the strength to get through this. She feels that needy girl desperate to come out, to somehow figure out how to make Tony love her. When Jason puts his hand on her back, rubbing it in comfort, she sways towards him, something Tony watches with increasing annoyance.
A moment later, Carly causes everyone to freeze again when she blurts out, "I'm pregnant." She sees a smile start to light up Tony's face, and quickly adds, "It's Jason's."
His face turns red and furious, as he spits out, "You cheating little slut! I guess I shouldn't be surprised with the way you came after me. But I guess Jason's a much bigger payd…"
Jason steps forward, punching Tony across the jaw, forcing him to fall back into the apartment. "Shut your mouth! Don't talk to her like that! You are disgusting, preying on a young woman and then making her out to be a slut to make yourself feel better. The only person here who should feel bad about themselves is you. You don't deserve someone like her!"
Jason lifts Tony up, slamming him into the wall, squeezing his neck to make sure he can't say anything and to put a little fear in him. Turning his head toward Carly, he sees tears spilling rapidly down her face. He says as gently as possible with the rage burning inside him, "Go pack a bag." She stands frozen for a moment, shocked at the vehemence in which Jason stood up for her. She gives herself a shake, then takes off to pack. While she runs to the bedroom to throw her things in a messy pile in her suitcase and duffel bag, not taking the time to fold, Jason kicks the door shut in AJ's face.
With a chilling whisper, so Carly won't hear, he tells the older man, "The two of you are officially over. You see her in the street, you turn the other way. She walks into a room you're in, you leave. I can and will make you disappear. I know places I can hide you so that no one ever finds you again. And even if they did, they would never be able to put all the pieces back together." He leans all his weight on the arrogant prick as he threatens, "I would think very hard about whether you want your son to grow up without a father."
Tony's face turns from red to purple, his lips beginning to turn blue, before Jason drops him. He falls to the floor desperately trying to suck in oxygen. When it looks like he wants to rise, Jason moves aside his jacket and puts his hand on his gun, "Stay down."
"You can't threaten me. I will go to the police." Tony blubbers between gasps, failing at his attempt to sound tough.
"Prove it." Jason counters. Taking a step forward so he's towering over him.
"You think they'll take the word of a brain damaged thug over a surgeon?" Tony asks, his voice snide.
"You mean a cheater who deserted his family to prey on a young woman? Yeah, I like my odds." Jason tells him coldly. "If you think there's a card I won't play, a dirty trick I won't use for her, that's a deadly miscalculation."
He looks at the thug in front of him and scoffs, "For that tramp?"
Instead of answering, Jason backhands him so hard his head leaves a dent in the plaster.
"I'm ready." Carly says, coming out of the bedroom with two bags. Her eyes are already puffy from crying, and she looks a little frazzled. It makes him want to turn around and beat the bastard to a pulp. Instead, he takes her bags, following Carly to the door.
She stops with her hand resting on the knob. She glances at Tony, then focuses back on the door at the rage in his eyes. "I'm… sigh… I'm not going to tell you sorry because you don't deserve it. You don't get to be a dick after all you did, all the times you treated me like nothing. But I claim my part in this." She looks over at him, her eyes vulnerable. "Maybe we can just chalk it up as a lesson learned."
When it looks like Tony's about to make another snide comment, Jason shifts the bags, putting his free hand on his gun, unsnapping it from the holster. He watches with satisfaction as the doctor shuts up.
Carly opens the door, walking out into the thankfully empty hallway. When Jason closes the door behind them, Carly tells him, "No one's ever stood up for me like that." The tears, which have been flowing the whole time, intensify as she tells him in an emotional voice, "Thank you."
He pulls her into a hug, his hand buried in her hair. He holds her to him for a moment, but he feels antsy to leave. He wants her as far away from Tony and AJ as possible. Too soon for her to get her emotions under control, he reluctantly pulls back. "Come on, let's get out of here."
He leads her outside, and is strapping her luggage to the back of his bike before Carly thinks to ask, "Where are you taking me? I don't really have anywhere…"
"Tonight you're coming back with me to Jake's. Tomorrow, we can figure out somewhere…"
"Of course. Tomorrow, I'll find somewhere new to live. I won't take over your life…" She tells him nervously, wondering how she's going to figure out another living arrangement, but she can worry that tomorrow, she thinks exhausted.
He's shaking his head, "If you want, I was thinking we could find a place together. That way I could be there for you and the baby. And Jake's isn't a place for kids, so I need to find a new place anyway. But if you're not comfortable…"
"That works for me." She cuts in, relieved. She gives him a shy smile. Jason smiles back at her, letting out a relieved breath. She puts her hand on his arm, "Hey, I'm sorry about Tony and AJ. The way they talked to you…"
He pulls her up against him, his hands on her upper arms. She lets out a surprised gasp, her eyes widening up at him. His voice is intense as he demands, "Don't ever apologize for those jerks. They are the ones who should be apologizing, never you."
She gets a tender look on her face, putting her hand on his cheek. "You are a good man, Jason Morgan. Don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise."
He leans his forehead against hers, the words meaning more than she knows. For a long moment, they stand there wrapped around each other, feeling the sparks, but both too nervous to make a move.
Jason finally pulls back, brushing his hand over her hair. "Home?" he asks, liking the sound.
"Home." she agrees, climbing on the back of his bike. With her luggage strapped to the back, they have to squeeze in extra tight, though neither complains. Wrapping her arms around him, she clings to him like he's the only thing keeping her from drowning.
The next day, Jason charges into Luke's on a mission. Two actually, getting Luke to back off Carly and figuring out a place for the two of them to live. Though, it had been no hardship sharing his room with her. In fact, amazing doesn't begin to describe what it felt like sleeping next to her. When he had woken up, she was cuddled up with him, practically using him as her personal mattress. It's a feeling he could get used to. Even if it's leaving him a little jittery with unfulfilled arousal. Still, he's got a smile on his face that he has to stifle before going into to talk to Carly's uncle.
Finding Luke drinking at a table with Sonny, he yells out as he walks to them, "Luke, we need to talk."
Looking up, Luke takes in the intense way the kid is charging towards him with both curiosity and a twinkle at the joy of a good showdown. This might be fun. He asks with a smirk, "What business do we have, Morgan?"
"Carly. You need to back off her. No more threats." Jason's tone is hard.
Luke looks at Sonny, "Can you believe this kid?" Then, he sits back with a more calculated gaze. Jason brought up one of the few things assured to get his attention. He's got to give it to the girl, she's got some serious game. The way she has these guys doing her bidding is usually an impressive thing to behold. If her game wasn't hurting his sister, he'd almost want to claim that kind of rabble rouser and trouble maker. She would've made a good Spencer if she hadn't made the fatal mistake of going after his baby sister. He'd had to be by Barbara Jean's side, letting her cry on his shirts for months because of that girl. With a more intent tone, he demands, "What's it to you?"
Jason tells him in a hard voice, leaning his fists against the table. "She's under my protection."
"Still doesn't answer my question. What is she to you?" Luke asks, taking a pull from a cigar.
"She's my friend," Luke gives him a look that clearly says 'not good enough' though he keeps a close eye on Jason. He knows they are friends of a sort, but didn't think it went as deep as giving her his protection. He sees Jason take a breath and give a brief nod, then looking him straight in the eyes, he admits, "She's pregnant with my baby."
Luke sits back at this, "Damn. You sure it's yours?"
Jason turns to stone, giving Luke a look that promises violence. Throwing back a shot of bourbon, Spencer tells him, "Don't give me that look. She's apparently told you the back story, otherwise you wouldn't be here. That girl is a human wrecking ball. The smartest thing for you to do is send her away or let me kill her. She's not a mess you want, kid."
When Jason stands up, taking a step forward, his fists clenched and desperately wanting to punch Luke in the face, Sonny sits up. With a tone that gets results, he barks out, "Luke. Enough." He turns to his young mentee, "Jason, sit down. Now, start at the beginning. She's pregnant with your kid? When did this happen? And how do you know it's not Tony's kid?"
"I'm not giving you details. I know it's my child. Besides the fact that I'd know if she was lying to me, I know Carly. She may lie to the rest of the world, but she doesn't lie to me." Jason tells Sonny seriously.
Luke lets out a bark of laughter, "Oh man, that girl has got you snowed. If I didn't care about ya kid, I'd be impressed."
Jason growls out, "Luke, I swear to God, I'm going to kill you."
"Many have tried, no one's succeeded yet." He tells him with a smirk.
Sonny gives his friend a look, "Luke, shut it." Then, turning his attention, he gently says, "We're just worried about you. You know what she did to Bobbie. We just don't want her wrecking your life too."
"That's entirely different." Jason defends.
"How? How is her destroying Bobbie's family entirely different from you?" Sonny asks, trying to understand.
Jason sits for a moment, considering how much to share. It's not his story to share, but maybe it could get Luke to back off. Making a decision, he looks Carly's uncle in the eye, "How much do you know about how she grew up?"
Luke sits back, puffing on his cigar. "I had a PI do a background check on her. I know…"
"Carly did something reckless and impulsive, but she did it because she was hurt, because she thought her mother had abandoned her in a bad situation," Jason breaks in.
"What do you mean a bad situation?" Luke asks, guilt tugging at him. If he's being honest, which only happens with a few shots of bourbon in him, part of the reason he wants her gone so badly is that looking at her reminds him of how he had failed both her and his sister, something that hits a man like him hard.
Jason gives him a level look, "Not my story to share, but it was bad. Maybe if you talked to her instead of threatening her, she might share it with you." When Luke starts to protest, Jason continues, "But either way, she's staying, and you are going to back off. I won't let you continue threatening her."
"You think you can stop me? That conniving niece of mine has hurt my sister…" Luke grumbles.
"Your sister isn't the only one hurt, Carly is too." Jason argues.
Luke scoffs, "Look, kid…"
Jason breaks in again, his voice hard, "Believe what you want, but back off Carly. She's off limits, and she's not leaving."
"You think you're a big enough threat that I'm gonna cower…"
"I think you're a friend, and as a friend, I'm asking you to back off." Jason counters.
Sonny sits forward at this, telling Luke, "And if that's not good enough, she has my protection as well."
As Jason looks at his boss in gratitude, Luke mutters, "Son of a bitch! Alright, alright, I'll back off. So, does this mean she and that bastard of an ex brother-in-law are done?"
"Yes," Jason confirms.
Luke looks thoughtful, sitting back in his chair. Jason turns his attention to his boss, "Thank you for offering Carly your protection. It means a lot. I have another big favor to ask. Do you know anywhere available for us to move? Jake's doesn't work with a baby, and I want it to be somewhere with some security, so I can make sure Carly's safe." The last is said with a pointed look at Luke, who just smirks back.
Sonny looks at him surprised, "You're moving in with her?" He looks concerned at Jason's nod but doesn't push it. "The penthouse across the hall is available. It has excellent security, and you can move in right away if you want."
Jason tells him, "I have to talk to Carly about it, but that sounds perfect. Thank you!"
Sonny looks at him thoughtfully for a moment, then seeming to shake himself out of it, "No problem. I'll let the guys know you're coming. They'll get you some keys."
When Jason taps the table twice in gratitude, then stands up and leaves the club, Luke turns to his partner. "What are you up to? You took my viper of a niece getting her claws in your new little protégé surprisingly well."
Sonny sits back, his gaze lost inside, and lets out a weary sigh, "I trust the kid, maybe more than anyone else. And I'm… I'm tired. There's only so many battles you can fight at once."
Luke looks at the mob boss in concern, but only responds with an, "Amen to that brother."