Later that night

After Kellie had gone to bed, Charles finished cleaning up in the kitchen and then went out to the living room. He noticed Kellie's cell phone turned face down on the coffee table. He picked up the phone and saw notifications for missed calls and texts from Jason on the lock screen. Charlies shook his head and returned the phone where it had been.

Charles headed back to his bedroom and pulled out his cell phone to make a call.

"Charles, I haven't heard from Kellie if that's what you're calling about," Jason answered.

"I know you haven't," Charles said.

"You've heard from her?" Jason asked.

"I have," Charles realizing Jason didn't know where Kellie was, "She's actually here at my safehouse. She ran out of fuel just down the road."

Jason breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's good," Jason said, "and makes senses being as Johnny didn't pull any additional guards when he found her because you already had guards for the house. He and Lorenzo wouldn't tell me where Kellie was, just that she was at a safehouse."

I just gathered that," Charles said.

"I'll come out and talk to Kellie," Jason said.

"You can wait until morning," Charles said, "Kellie's already gone to sleep. I promised I wouldn't push her about talking to you until tomorrow."

Jason let out an exasperated sigh.

"Did Kellie say anything about why she left?" Jason asked, "What she might have heard?"

"She heard Sonny talking about Carly turning you and him over to feds to get the SEC charges dropped," Charles said, "She didn't stick around to hear anything you said. That is as much as I will tell you. Anything else is for you two to discuss."

"I didn't agree to Sonny's plan," Jason said, "I'm not going to prison at least that way."

"Glad to hear it," Charles said, "But I am not the one who needs to believe it."

"I know," Jason said, pausing for a moment, and then continuing to speak, "and thank you for telling me where Kellie is."

"If it were up to me, she would have told you herself," Charles said.

"Do you think she'll be ready to talk tomorrow then?" Jason asked.

"She'll still need a nudge," Charles said, "Which is also why I'm telling you where she is. Just don't make me regret it."

Charles ended the call before Jason could respond.

Charles set the phone on the bed and let his shoulders sag in relief. After several moments, he looked at his phone and then picked it back up.

He made another call.

"Charles, this is surprise," Monica said.

"A welcome one, I hope," Charles said, "I just really wanted to hear your voice."

"I'm happy you called," Monica said, "Though you sound worried. About Kellie, I assume. I heard from Olivia that she took off without her guards."

"Well thankfully, she ran of fuel not too far from the safehouse," Charles said, "I found her walking on the side of the road."

"Is she still with you?" Monica asked, "Does Jason know she's there?"

"She's gone to sleep," Charles said, "I just let Jason know she's here."

"What happened?" Monica asked, "Olivia got impression from Michael it might have something to do with the SEC charges against him and Carly. But I can't imagine why that would impact Kellie or Jason like that."

"Kellie overheard Sonny telling Jason they should let Carly cut a deal with the feds to get the SEC charges dropped," Charles said, "that would send him and Sonny to prison."

"Are you serious?" Monica exclaimed, "Please tell me Jason isn't…oh god, of course he is. Why else would Kellie taken off like she did?"

"Jason isn't on board with that," Charles said, "At least that's what he told me. But Kellie heard the idea and left before Jason said anything. From what I can tell, she's convinced that he's going to agree to let Carly turn him over to the feds. She doesn't want to see him because she's not ready to hear that."

"I love my son," Monica said, "But if I could smack some sense into him right now I would. I know I wasn't thrilled when he married Kellie because of situations like this where Jason's life is put on hold for Sonny or Carly. But I hope he's serious about not going to prison like that. I've seen that Kellie has made him happy. I don't want Jason to lose that."

"I don't want that for either of them," Charles said, "Hopefully it is just a big misunderstanding."

"I hope so," Monica said, "Although it doesn't exactly help Michael out since he's been charged as well by the SEC in this. Granted he didn't know about Carly's actions until she'd already bought the shares, but I would think the courts would see that."

"It is a mess," Charles said.

"One that I think I'd rather not dwell on anymore at the moment," Monica said, "I rather focus on happier things like did you end up taking Kelsey to zoo or did the rain put a damper on things."

"We had a few hours before the rain and wind got to be too much," Charles said, "Luckily the behind the scenes experience I booked was more indoors. Though Kelsey did beg to go around the zoo again afterwards despite the rain. I ended up taking her to this store where you make a teddy bear."

"I'm sure she loved that," Monica said, "Did she get clothes and accessories for it?"

"A black leather jacket and boots," Charles said, "Like her dad and mom's she said. She also told me she's asking Santa to get her a bike like her parents have for Christmas."

"Sweet little Kelsey wants a motorcycle?" Monica asked.

"It could just be a phase," Charles said, "I told her Santa wouldn't bring her something like that until she was an adult."

"I would hope so," Monica said, "So tell me more about the zoo and the behind the scenes experience."