Breaking Away Chapters 21 - 22   Chapter 21   Jake's. Renee picked up her cue and began to clear the table. She'd gotten in Lucy's truck and drove all over town looking for someplace that fit her dark anti-social mood. After seeing the seedy bar she'd pulled over and come on in only to find it suited her perfectly. No pretense, no fancy trimming just the kind of bar that she remembered from her wilder days. "You up for a game?" A burly man with a blonde crew cut so flat you could rest your beer on it asked gruffly. "Let's go." Renee replied. She's seen him play earlier and she knew she could wipe the floor with him. There were advantages of growing up in a house full of boys. She may not be able to beat a grown man at wrestling or hockey, but both she and Lucy had learned to sharpen their skills on other games. Darts, poker, craps, anything that required I.Q and hand/eye coordination instead of brawn. Including pool. She racked the balls and offered her opponent the break. As he lined up his shot, Renee went to the bar and approached the small blonde woman. "Draft." "You got it." Jake gave Renee the once over, and offered an appreciative nod. "Fine. But lemme tell ya something, I don't know who you are, but I don't want any hustlers in my bar. Got me? You wanna wipe the floor with Gus? That's okay. But no big money." "You have my word as a Girl Scout." Renee offered. "I've seen a lot of Girl Scouts in my time honey. You ain't one of them." Jake slid the beer across the bar in a trick right out of the movies. "Your shot." Gus called from the table. He'd already sunk 1/2 the solid balls into pockets. "Wanna place a wager?" Looking back at Jake, Renee shrugged her shoulders. "Aww, what the hell, just don't tell me about it." Jake rolled her eyes. She had to get out of this business. "Sure, $50 a ball." Renee set her beer down at her table and lined up the first shot. "One ball corner pocket, nothin' but net." She used a gentle touch contrary to her mood and the ball glided in. She was so busy running the table from that moment on that she didn't notice Gus' friends giving him a hard time about getting beat by a woman. Once the 8 ball was in, she looked up to find her formerly amiable pool opponent glowering at her. "You hustled me." "No I didn't." Renee snapped. "Honey, if I had been hustling you, you wouldn't have known it till you woke up passed out in the alley with nothing but an empty wallet and a hangover." The mood in the bar began to turn ugly. "Listen you. . . " As Gus took a threatening step towards Renee, who already had a tight grip on her pool cue just in case, someone jumped into the fray. "Now now, be a good loser." Alexis and V came up behind Gus. Turning to face the newcomers Gus growled. "And who are you? My mother?" "No. I imagine that honor belongs to someone whose knuckles still scrape the ground when she walks, low occipital ridge, 5 cc brain, and hair on her back." Alexis retorted. "Actually I am worse than your mother. I'm a lawyer and I know how to turn a murder charge into a self defense case so I suggest you go lick your wounds, and any other part of your anatomy someplace else." As Gus flung the money at her and stormed off with his friends, Renee smiled at Alexis and V. "Well gee. Talk about stealing my glory. A lawyer! Eek! Allow me to buy you a drink." "V! Honey!" Jake came out from behind the bar. "Where you been girl?" "Here and there Jake. Just thought I'd come by, check the place for sound for Eddie Maine's show in a few days." "Have a seat. You want the usual?" Jake liked the young girl from their first negotiations. She was tough, and funny and damn smart. "Sure. bring it all on. I'm STARVING." When Alexis cleared her throat, V slapped her hand to her forehead. "Where are my manners? Jake, this is Alexis. She's Eddie Maine's girlfriend. Alexis, this is Jake." "Lucky girl." Jake smiled. "Any friend of V's and all that." She moved back towards the kitchen. "Pete, fire up those friers. . . .yeah I know we're not serving food anymore. No you're not getting over time you lazy jerk, you're lucky your getting any time at all. If you weren't my sister's boyfriend. . . . . . . . . ." "Join us." V invited after Renee laid down the pool cue, and fetched her beer. "I'm V. Adonrowski, and this is Alexis "Litigation" Davis." Shaking their hands, Renee introduced herself and the three women fell into a comfortable companionship. ~*~*~*~*~*~ "Jason." She should have known. It was the luck of Caroline Benson, who else could have overheard her and Sonny discussing sex. Some days it just didn't pay to get out of bed. Or into bed either. "I came by to drop Michael off. We spent the morning at the warehouse." Jason's stoic face reveals absolutely nothing. "Look, Jase, we'll talk about this later." Sonny excused himself. "Luke just called and we've got a meeting. He set it up." "You guys'll take care of it." Jason answered, his eyes never leaving Carly's flushed face. He couldn't read her expression though. Normally one look at Carly told him everything that he needed to know. Happy, sad, lying. . . .whatever and it was reflected in her brown eyes. But right now there was something completely different. Anger. And for the first time ever, it was directed towards him. "Sure. Later Jason." Sonny went out the door. Carly took Michael from Jason's arms, undid the zipper on his sweatshirt, and settled him on the floor with his favorite toys. She went to the kitchen and grabbed an apple. "Thanks." "You wanna tell me what that was all about?" Jason asked, the calm in his voice at odds with his clenched fists. "Not really, Jason." Carly answered. She'd swallow broken glass before explaining herself to him. Never again. "What the hell are you thinking Carly? Sleeping with Sonny?" Jason forces himself to keep his voice to an angry hiss. "I told you Jason. I don't want to discuss this with you." Carly munched on her apple. "Oh, something interesting happened today. A.J offered to go into business with me, the party planning business. Well his offer was for him to invest all the capital, and for me to have creative control. But I've been at the bank most of the morning, trying to finagle a little loan so that I could be an equal partner. I've got Virginia's house in Florida, and if I could get Bobbie to co-sign, they'd be willing to work with me." Jason feels as though he's just stepped into the Twilight Zone. Everything sounds so surreal. Carly's telling him to mind his own business in one breath, then talking aobut going into business with A.J in the next. He's getting whiplash. "Why go to a bank? Carly you know that if you need money you can have it." "No offense Jase, but I'm not ready to be in business with the mob. Besides. If you give me money you'll just let me go about my merry way and do what I want. That's not a business, that's a marriage." The corners of her mouth turned up. "It's okay to laugh you know." "Say something funny and I'll laugh." Jason sat on the couch. "Tell me about you and Sonny." Carly sighed and tossed her apple core away. "Jason, there is nothing to explain about me and Sonny. I'm a big girl, he's a big boy. And even if there was something to explain, I don't think that you're the one I ought to do it to." When Jason continued to glower at her, Carly stomped her foot. "Jason! Stop! I'm not discussing Sonny Corinthos with you. You were right when you told me that I wasn't yours! I'm not. So that's not bugging you. What is? The idea that I might hurt Sonny? Break his itty bitty heart? That won't happen." "What makes you think I'm not worried about you?" Jason asks patiently. "Huh? Have I ever just closed my eyes and let you walk into a brick wall Carly? Do I EVER not have your back?" When she opens her mouth to speak Jason cuts her off. "Not in any of the important ways. Sonny's a brick wall for you Carly. He is my brother but I know him. He would chew you up and spit you out and not once look back." "Well gee Jason. I'm pretty damn used to that." Carly says pointedly. "I know what it means to be a one night stand better than just about anyone else. You want the nitty gritty? Yes, Sonny and I had sex. Stupid, meaningless, worthless, heartless, souless mindless sex." "What I don't get is why Sonny?" "Because he noticed me." Carly replied. "Cause for just one night I wasn't ONLY Michael's mother to somebody. You look at me and you see someone that gave you your son. I handed you Michael and made you a father. A.J looks at me and I am the Quartermaine brood mare. The one to produce the next E.L.Q gnome." She shrugged. "Maybe it was enough that someone wanted me." "Carly. . . . " "Jason. Come on. Stop. Don't okay? Look, I'm gonna get Michael into a clean outfit, and Bobbie's taking him for the night." Giving up on the conversation about her and Sonny, Jason moves on to the other problem. "You gonna do that business with A.J?" "Not till I see Alexis, and see what she can draw up, and see someone that specializes in small business plans. You know the way out." Carly picked up Michael. "Look, you don't want to talk about Sonny, that's fine. Just be careful alright?" Jason kisses Michael's cheek. "Aren't I always careful Jason?" ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Lucy's House. She was gonna die. That's all there was to it. She was going to die. It was her punishment for being mean to Renee. Lucy opened one eye very slowly, and checked the room to see if it was still spinning. Nope. Mercifully it had stopped for the moment. She slowly began to ease herself off the couch when the doorbell rang. "Come on in!" She shouted, only to wince at the sound of her own voice. Her head was spinning, and light, and achey, and her stomach felt like she'd been on a roller coaster for two days. How did all those pregnant women in magazines look so GLOWING when it was all she could do to keep down lunch? "Lucy?" Kevin carried a small box into the living room and immediately set it down. "What's wrong? You look terrible!" He exclaimed worriedly. Kneeling beside the sofa, he lifted a hand to her forehead. "No temperature. Where does it hurt?" "I'm fine Kevin. I'm just feeling a little queasy." Lucy answered in the understatment of the year. "What can I do for you?" Not too proud to accept help when it was offered, Lucy eased herself back down on the couch. "Water. Water with lots of ice." Kevin disappeard into the kitchen for several minutes and returned with a tall glass of ice water, and cool damp cloth. "Here. Put your feet up, have some water." He held the glass to her lips. Once she'd finished he eased her back onto the couch. "Close your eyes." He instructed as he laid the cool towel across her eyes. "What are you doing here Kevin? I thought we said everything we had to at the lighthouse." She didn't want to hurt him, but how was she supposed to get on with her life if he kept showing up reminding her how much she still cared for him? "Not quite Lucy. There are some things that I want to say." Kevin answered slowly. "But they can wait." He leaned across the sofa and brushed a lock of her hair off her face. "It's okay Lucy. Just keep your eyes closed. It's all right." He murmured as she shifted to find a comfortable spot. "Here." He lifted her up in his arms, "Which way is your bedroom?" "Last door on the left." Lucy answered. She was too tired, and too queasy to even put up a token protest.. Kevin carrried her into the bedroom and laid her carefully on the comforter. "Come on. Try and relax." Lucy was startled when his familiar weight shifted the bed. "Doc?" Kevin pulled her head to rest on his chest as he stroked her hair. "Get some sleep." He ordered. "Don't worry." He was in her bed, in her house while she fought morning sickness with another man's baby and telling her not to worry. Lucy didn't even have the energy to untangle the problems with that logic. Finally she sank into a deep sleep. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Jake's. "Once up there she kept screaming 'Lie to me! Lie to me!'" "Okay! You win!" V giggled. "That was the absolute worst joke I've ever heard!" The three of them had been eating, drinking and playing pool for hours. Alexis was having problems with her new partner being a pain in the neck. V had complained about working for Ned and Jax' complete disinterest in her existence. And Renee's complaints about Lucy were so cleverly worded and well told that they'd all been rolling with laughter. When the door opened and Carly walked in, there were some whistles and cat-calls from a couple of guys. She was dressed in head to toe black, black jeans, t-shirt, and leather jacket. Spotting Alexis and V, Carly ordered a bottle of bourbon and joined them. "Hey!" "Ooh. You look like a Hell's Angel." V commented. "Bad day?" "Lousy day. But interesting." Carly pulled up a chair. "I got a proposition. A.J wants to go into business with me." Taking notice of Renee, Carly holds out her hand. "Caroline Benson, but everyone calls me Carly." "That's not what the Quartermaines call you." V snickered. She felt really tipsy for the first time in her life. She didn't intend to drink so much, but Alexis and Renee had introduced her to all sorts of sweet, what they called "girlie" drinks. Right now she was having "sex on the beach" and Jax wasn't even there! "Renee Carson, and everyone calls me Renee." "A.J wants to go into business with you?" Alexis shook his head. "Is he serious?" "I think so, but I'd want you to draw up the partnership agreement." Carly downed a shot of bourbon and felt it burn all the way down. A few more and she'd be asking "Jason who?". "I don't know if I'm going to do it or not, but if I do, I'd want your help. Yours and that hunka burnin love Scott Baldwin." V sipped her drink through a straw and shook her head. "Scott's not a hunka burnin' love." She argued. "Taggert is." She continued in a conspiritorial whisper. "I've seen him in the gym." "Taggert. . . " Renee tried to place the name. "Oh! That FINE man that took my statement when I got shot!" "Why were you shot?" V frowned. "I was hanging out with Luke Spencer." The other three women nodded wisely. "That happens quite a bit around Luke." Alexis informed her. "You all know him?" Renee shook her head. The guy was like poison. Unthinkingly she took Carly's bottle of bourbon and poured herself a shot. "Know him?" Carly rolled her eyes and took back the bottle. "I'm ashamed to say the man's my uncle. But might I add I look better in black?" Alexis disargeed. "Sorry Carly. I can't back you on this one. Whatever else you can say about Luke Spencer, the man can wear black." Renee shuddered. "Please! Let's call a memorium on talking about that - that - MAN!" Raising her empty glass in a wobbly toast, V nodded. "Let's not talk about them at all! They're all mean! And we're smart women right? What do we need to talk about them for?" "Amusement?" Alexis suggested waving her arm at Jake for another round. "So how'd you bully Ned into playing Eddie Maine tomorrow night?" "You know Eddie Maine?" Renee gasped. "Oh my Lord. The way he looks in those leather pants ought to be illegal." Alexis buffed her nails on her shirt. "He's mine." "Really? Lucky you!" V smiled brightly. "I'm having a new pair of leather pants made up for him. Alexis, you want me to have them make up a leather miniskirt for you?" Feeling reckless, Alexis nodded. "Sure!" Carly carefully poured another shot. She hated Jason. All she had to do was remember Jason's face when he'd seen her with Sonny. He didn't have any right to be jealous. How many times had she sat through those sweet, tender lovey moments between him and St. Robin? Sure, she'd been jealous, but everytime she opened her mouth he'd told her it was none of her business. And neither was this. V rose very slowly to her feet and made her way to the jukebox in the corner, and dropped in a handful of quarters. She made her selections and waited until the music started to grin triumphantly. The first song was on of her all time favorites a classic rock song by the Eagles. She started to sway to the music when Taggert and Garcia came in. They must be off duty, cause for once neither one of them were dressed in those hideous suits. ~*~*~ Somebody's gonna hurt someone before the night is through. Somebody's gonna come undone, there's nothing we can do. Everybody wants to touch somebody if it takes all night. Everybody wants to take a little chance, make it come out right. ~*~*~ "V?" Taggert nudged Alejandro and directed his gaze to the slightly unsteady V dancing by the jukebox. Garcia had to laugh. So V was finally getting a social life? She could have picked a better place to do it in. He noticed a rough looking group of guys eyeing her. Appearently so did Taggert, he was across the room in minutes, and V nearly fell at his feet in enthusiasm. "Taggert! Hey pal! I thought that was you. Wanna dance?" She pulled him into a tight embrace. "Hey V." Marcus couldn't help but smile. She was a nice kid with high ethics, and in the morning she'd be praying to the porecilin God. "You okay?" "I'm fine." V rested her head on his shoulder and sighed. "How are you? I never get to see anyone at the precinct anymore." She said as if it was his fault. ~*~*~ There's gonna be a heartache tonight, a heartache tonight, I know. There's gonna be a heartache tonight, a heartache tonight, I know, Lord, I know. Some people like to stay out late, some folks can't hold out that long. But nobody wants to go home now, there's too much goin' on. This night is gonna last forever, last all, last all summer long. Some time before the sun comes up the radio is gonna play that song. ~*~*~ Kevin stroked Lucy's face as she curled against his body. It was the same way they'd slept since their first time together. And even after all this time apart she fit perfectly. It would never be this long between times he held her again. He knew it wouldn't be easy. Nothing in either of their lives was ever easy, but the reward, a life filled with Lucy was worth anything. ~*~*~ There's gonna be a heartache tonight, a heartache tonight, I know. There's gonna be a heartache tonight, a heartache tonight, I know, Lord, I know. There's gonna be a heartache tonight, the moon shinin' bright, so turn out the light and we'll get it right. There's gonna be a heartache tonight, a heartache tonight, I know, Lord, I know. Somebody's gonna hurt someone before the night is through. Somebody's gonna come undone, there's nothing we can do. Everybody wants to touch somebody if it takes all night. Everybody wants to take a little chance, make it come out right. ~*~*~ Luke entered the smokey bar. He was sick of the club and had gone prowling like in the old days. When he'd spotted Lucy's truck he decided to check up on her. Instead of Lucy he found Renee siddling up to Garcia at the bar. When Renee saw Luke, she defiantly tossed her hair, and turned back to the oh-so charming Garcia. "So, Detective, since you're off duty, it won't be inappropriate for me to buy you a drink?" Catching her right arm, Luke tugged her away from the bar offering his apologies. He pulled her onto the dance floor. He plastered her all over himself and began to sway and gyrate to the music. "Miss me?" "Bite me." Renee replied. She couldn't break his hold, but didn't really care at this point anyway. The music was good, the liquor was flowing through her veins, and there was a heady rush at dancing with him. "I hate you." "Look, I never claimed to be Prince Charming baby." Luke growled. She was bewitching. One minute he wanted to shoot her out of a cannon, the next minute he wanted to . . . . "How about Prince Slimey Toad?" Renee suggested. "Or Prince Not So Great In The Sack?" She continued. "Prince Let Down? Prince Not As Young As He Used To Be?" "You're drunk." Luke's temper lost some of it's fire. "And you're funny looking! At least in the morning I'll be sober!" Renee bit off angrily. "Now if you will excuse me, I'm gonna join my FRIENDS!" She stomped on his foot and stormed to the ladies table. ~*~*~ There's gonna be a heartache tonight, a heartache tonight, I know. There's gonna be a heartache tonight, a heartache tonight, I know, let's go. We can beat around the bushes, we can get down to the bone, we can leave it in the parkin' lot but either way there's gonna be a heartache tonight, a heartache tonight, I know, oh, I know. There'll be a heartache tonight, a heartache tonight, I know. ~*~*~ As the song ended V stood up on tiptoe to kiss Taggert. "Thanks." "For what?" Taggert asked bemusedly. "Even noticing I'm alive." She answered. "I think it's cause I'm so shy and quiet." She reflected seriously. People tend to forget I'm around." "Aww. Poor V." Taggert smiled. "How bout if me and Garcia give you a ride home?" "BOTH OF YOU?!" V gasped and lifted her hand to her mouth, her eyes wide. "Marcus Taggert! I had NO IDEA you were that kinky!" ~*~*~ The Penthouse. Jason strode in to find Sonny on the phone. "I want to talk to you." He declared flatly as he took a seat. Sonny hung up. "I figured you would. What'd Carly tell you? That I took advantage of her?" "Shut up Sonny." Jason snapped. "You went to bed with her, and you can still say that kind of crap about her? Show some respect. She told me the truth. That you're consenting adults and you had sex. I know what happened, but I wanna know why. Why'd you do it Sonny? You've hated Carly before you even knew her." "Jason, I wasn't thinking. It was sex. You know about that." Sonny sat down. "What's your problem with this? Nobody got hurt." "Carly's Michael's mother. No matter how much you're like a brother to me I won't let you walk all over her. After this, I don't want to hear you trash her about being a whore ever again. Got me?" His head was throbbing and all he could think about was Carly and Sonny. It was making him sick, and crazy and he had to get the hell out of the penthouse. He rose to his feet and shook his head. "Yeah. Good thing nobody got hurt, huh Sonny?" As soon as the words were out of Jason's mouth, and he heard the door slam with such barely controlled rage, Sonny knew that in their selfishness, he and Carly had trampled on Jason. "DAMN!" Sonny hurled his cell phone against the door.          Chapter 22     Jake's. Taggert led V over to her table. ''Ladies. I assume that none of you are driving anywhere?'' He asked. ''Nope.'' Alexis replied. ''She took our keys!'' She pointed at Jake. ''We're supposed to walk!'' ''How bout if I get a couple of nice black and whites to come and take you home?'' He offered, knowing full well that they couldn't walk further than the door. V leaned forward in Taggert's arms and whispered. ''When he says 'black and whites' he means police cars, not zebras.'' She informed Alexis seriously. ''Say good night V.'' Taggert ordered. ''Good night V!'' She complied cheerily waving to her friends. As Taggert pulled her across the room. ''Alex, I'm taking V home. Would you call a couple cars to take the rest home?'' ''I'll get that one.'' Luke pointed at Renee. ''But I can I borrow a taser?'' ''Sorry, we're giving those out at the next bachelor party.'' Garcia grinned at V. ''Sleep tight V.'' ''Night Garcia!'' She saluted crisply, almost poking herself in the eye. ''Come on Renee. Time to go home.'' Luke caught her elbow. ''No way pal. . . .last time I got a ride somewhere with you I ended up naked!'' She answered. Grumpy already, Luke bent at the waist, and flung her over his shoulder. ''Let's go.'' He looked at Carly. ''You got a ride little girl?'' ''Yes I do old man.'' Carly shot back as her cell phone rang. She turned her back to Luke and answered. ''Caroline Benson speaking.'' ''Carly?'' Sonny's voice is tense. ''Where are you?'' ''Jake's. What's wrong?'' Instantly sober Carly's breath catches in her throat. ''Is it Michael? Is something wrong with my baby?'' ''No. It's Jason. He and I sort of had a fight and he's missing.'' ''MISSING? What the hell are you talking about Corinthos?'' Carly cursed. ''I'm on my way to the penthouse. And by the time I get there you'd better have a damn good explanation.'' She caught up to Luke and Renee in the parking lot. ''Drop me off at the penthouse.'' ~*~*~*~*~*~ V's apartment over the OutBack. Taggert sighed in relief as he opened the door to V's apartment. She was even more trouble intoxicated than she was sober and that was hard to say. On the way over she'd kept insisting he turn the siren on. ''Thank you Marcus.'' V thanked him prettily, her brow furrowed in concentration. She had to concentrate to only see one of him. Taggert deposited her on the couch, tugged a blanket over her, and went in search of her medicine cabinet. He returned with a bottle of aspirin and a bottle of B12. He set them on the counter seperating the kitchen and living room. Once in the kitchen, he found a pitcher, filled it with all the ice from the freezer, and ran cold water into it, setting it next to the pills. By the time she woke up, she'd need the pills and the water. ''Your cover is blown Marcus.'' V proclaimed quietly. ''I know your secret.'' Crouching down to look V in the eyes, Marcus asked. ''And what secret is that, Miss V?'' She reached out her hand and touched his shaven head. ''You're a very good man. With a great big ol' heart. But don't worry Marcus. It'll be our secret. I won't tell anybody how nice you are. Not even that stupid Dara Jensen.'' ''Good. I'd hate for that to get out.'' He chuckled. V was the oddest woman he'd ever met. She was a woman child in the most unusual way. He'd seen her absolute integrity when she'd quit the PCPD department over what happened to Jax. It had made him feel a twinge of guilt over his role in it. But only a twinge. Where she saw her job as to protect the innocent, his job was to prosecute the guilty. He lifted her hand and lightly kissed it. ''Goodnight Venus.'' ''Night Taggikins.'' V sighed snuggling deep into her couch. ~*~ If the night turned cold and the stars looked down And you hug yourself on the cold, cold ground You wake the morning in a stranger's coat No one would you see You ask yourself, who'd watch for me My only friend, who could it be It's hard to say it I hate to say it, but it's probably me ~*~ Luke's. Jason tossed back another drink, and fought to control his anger. He didn't have the right to be angry. How many times had he told Carly she was free to come and go as she pleased? That he didn't care who she slept with. And though his mind said that Sonny was welcome to her, his churning stomach said something else. Sonny didn't even like her. And Carly hated Sonny. At least that's what he'd thought. And no matter how fast he'd ridden on his bike, how far away he'd gotten, no matter how cold the wind was rushing past his ears, he couldn't get the words out of his head. And he couldn't shake the fact he wanted to hit Sonny. Sonny was his best friend. His brother. The one person that never tried to change him, or make him into something he wasn't. The one person besides Carly. He added silently. Whatever else Carly may have done she'd never, ever changed him. She changed the world around him. Almost on a daily basis. But she'd never tried to change him to fit her life. ~*~*~*~*~*~ Luke's pink Caddy.   He'd just dropped off Caroline, and was now faced with the worst task of his adult life. He owed Renee an apology. Sucking it up he opened his mouth and the words creaked out. ''Look, I'm sorry about the other night. I was a bastard.'' He pulled the car off the road and turned to face her. ''I treated you the way I would kill someone for treating my sister. '' ''What I don't get is WHY Luke? I wasn't falling all over myself to propose, or to make it into more than it was.'' Renee's eyes are hurt. ''So why treat me like a ten dollar whore?'' Her words are blunt and painful. ''Because. The ink on my divorce papers is hardly dry. And here I was in bed with this gorgeous woman who wasn't my wife. It felt like I was cheating.'' Luke confessed. ''And I hated it. Not you, me.'' He rubbed his hands over his face. ''For 20 years I've never even considered making love to another woman. So there I was with you, enjoying everything about you, and it hit me the next morning like a sledgehammer. You weren't my wife. I didn't have a wife anymore.'' ''You could have told me.'' Renee whispered. ''But instead you looked right through me like I was nothing.'' Luke unfastened her seatbelt and tugged her across the seat of the caddy. ''I had to. I couldn't think about how smart you are, or how funny you are, or even how alive I feel when you're around, compared to the walking corpse I've been for the past two years. Cause if I thought about that, I'd be cheating on Laura with more than my body.'' ''I think you should take me back to Lucy's.'' Renee says stiffly. ''There's nothing I can say to that.'' She paused. ''I'm sorry this has been so rough on you. The last thing I want is to make it harder for you.'' She slid back to her own seat, and kept her eyes focused ahead.   ~*~*~*~*~*~   When your belly's empty and the hunger's so real And you're too proud to beg and too dumb to steal You search the city for your only friend No one would you see You ask yourself, who could it be A solitary voice to speak out and set you free I hate to say it I hate to say it, but it's probably me ~*~ Carly opened the door to Jason's penthouse. ''What happened?'' ''We happened.'' Sonny answered bluntly. ''We screwed up big time Caroline. And now Jason's pissed at the world and most specifically you and me.'' ''Why's he so angry? What did you say to him?'' ''Don't you get it Carly? He's not angry about what I said, he's angry cause I slept with his woman.'' Sonny rolled his eyes. ''His woman? Sonny have you lost your mind like your ex-girlfriend?'' Carly asked in disbelief. ''Jason doesn't give a damn who I sleep with. He loves Robin. He doesn't notice me or my life. Maybe we were stupid, but we were both free agents. He doesn't have a single right to be pissed!'' She snapped. ''His woman my ass. I bet you said something to him.'' Glowering at her, Sonny grabbed his coat. ''I'm going to see if I can't find him. Call me if you hear from him.''   ~*~*~*~*~*~ Lucy's House. Renee opened the door quietly. She hoped that Lucy wasn't waiting up for her. She needed some coffee and some food and to sleep for 24 hours. Once in the kitchen, she watched as Kevin creeped down the hall. ''Why, hello Dr. Collins.'' She hissed. ''How nice of you to make house calls.'' Kevin jumped, startled by the sound of Renee's voice. ''Hello Renee.'' ''Care to join me for some coffee?'' She asked. Kevin got the distinct impression that it was NOT a request. "That would be nice.'' He sat at the breakfast bar, and watched as she poured two mugs of coffee. ''I take it you want to talk about Lucy.'' ''Your grasp on the obvious is impressive.'' Renee remarks leaning against the counter. ''Why are you hanging around her life?'' ''You go straight for the jugular don't you?'' Kevin asked savoring the hot coffee. ''She's my family. That means more than I can ever explain. She's my sister, my cousin, my friend, my mother, father, teacher, priest, playmate, co-conspiritor, rival, enemy, shrink, and home. So, if you're just messing with her, you need to know that I am prepared to beat you to a bloody pulp before I let you hurt her again.'' Kevin wiped his hand over his forehead. ''Is this where you bring out the rubber hoses?'' He sighed. ''My relationship with Lucy is a complex one.'' He began. ''I lost sight of how much I loved her. But now I know what I want and that's Lucy in my life. I'm not going to take no for an answer again.'' Renee nodded thoughtfully. ''Are you sure?'' She asked curiously. ''What do you mean?'' ''I mean are you sure you want to go through all the hassle of making her fall in love with you again? Cause if you're not, then do her a favor and walk out this door and never come back. I know everyone thinks that she's got skin as thick as a rhinocerous but she gets hurt. She's starting to put herself back together again now. I don't want her to take you back only for you to find something you don't like about her then leave again.'' ''I love her.'' ''That's great. All warm and fuzzy. And if love were enough, then you two would be married by now. Look, I'm not trying to be a witch, but I'd rather hurt your feelings than have you hurt hers.'' ''Then we're very much on the same side.'' Kevin replied. ~*~*~*~*~*~ Carly sat motionless on the floor of the penthouse. He'd been gone for hours and had turned off his cell phone. She looked up at the sound of someone at the door. ''Jase?'' ''He's not back yet?'' Sonny asked flicking on the lights. ''No. Sonny I'm scared. Jason's never acted like this.'' Carly gazed out the window. ''I've got some of the guys looking for him. But he's been gone almost all night, he took the new bike.'' She wrapped her arms tightly around herself. ''I've been calling all the hospitals in case he did something stupid.'' Carly shook her head. ''No. Jason would never do that to Michael. He'd never do that to me. '' She dropped her head into her hands. Sonny crossed the room to place a hand on her shoulder. ''Don't cry.'' ''I'm not crying Sonny. I'm thinking.'' Carly answered. ''I'm trying to focus, and think like Jason when he's mad. He wouldn't leave Port Charles because Michael needs him.'' She stood up. ''And when Jason's this mad he goes looking for a fight. Someone, anyone to pick a fight with him so that he can finish it.'' She snatched up her coat. ''Where better to pick a fight than at Luke's?'' ''I'm coming with you.'' Sonny stated. ''No. I've got to talk to him, Sonny.'' Carly pushed out of the penthouse, and hurried down the hall to the elevator. She pulled her cell phone out of her purse. It rang once before being snatched up. ''Claude? It's me, Carly. Is Jason down there?'' ''Yeah, he's drunk Carly, and meaner than hell. He beat the hell out of two guys. I had to pay 'em off to keep them from pressing charges. Get your ass down here and take care of him or I'll have to introduce him to the business end of my baseball bat.'' ''I'm on my way.'' Carly told her hanging up. At the front door to Luke's Carly takes a deep breath, and meets two guys coming out. One of them grabs her arm. ''Trust me lady, you don't want to go in there. There's a mad dog on the loose.'' Carly shook his hand off and pushed into the bar. The bar was completely empty except for Jason and Claude. Claude rushed over, pressed the keys into Carly's hand. You clean up after him. I'm outta here.'' ''Thanks Claude.'' Carly approached Jason slowly. ''You had me worried.'' Jason rose unsteadily to his feet. ''Hey Carly.'' Carly had never seen him this drunk before. He was practically falling over. ''Jase. I wanted to talk to you about what you overheard.'' Jason grabbed Carly playfully around the waist and tugged her into a slow dance. ''S'okay. I don't own you right?'' His blues eyes glimmered. ~*~ You're not the easiest person I ever got to know And it's hard for us both to let our feelings show Some would say I should let you go your way You'll only make me cry If there's one guy, just one guy Who'd lay down his life for you and die It's hard to say it It's hard to say it, but it's probably me ~*~ ''Jason. There's nothing going on between me and Sonny.'' Carly explained, feeling Jason's arms practically squeezing the breath out of her. ''How come you were talking about it then?'' Jason asked dazedly. ''You don't lie to me, and Sonny doesn't lie to me, but you told him there couldn't be anything more. Carly more means there was some to begin with.'' ''One night Jase and that's it.'' Carly assured him. ''And you know why there isn't anything more? Why there won't ever be anything more? Because he's not the man I want. '' Jason slurred carefully. ''He's not? Then Scott? I really hate him. I couldn't hate Sonny. But I can hate Scott.'' ''Yes. You can hate Scott. But just because he's Scott, okay? I'm not in love with Scott. And he is so not in love with me.'' Deciding now would be a bad time, Carly pulled Jason to a stop. ''How bout if we go back to the penthouse, get you in bed?'' ''Carly!'' Jason exclaimed in a high voice. ''What kind of man do you think I am?'' Unaccustomed to humor from him, Carly grinned. ''Jase. I know what kind of man you are. How bout if I call Johnny to come and get us and you can come back for the bike in the morning?'' ''I don't want to go the the penthouse.'' Jason replied in a pouting tone of voice. ''It's no fun there.'' ''What do you mean Jason? I thought you liked the penthouse?'' Jason's brow furrowed. ''I did. Then you and Michael left and now it sucks.'' He buried his lips in her blonde hair. ''I wanna go to the Brownstone.'' He declared and smiled as if he'd just struck upon a genius plan. ''Hey, if we go back to your place, something could happen. And if it did you could have a baby and we'd have to get married!'' Carly flushed, and then struck by the humor of it all, Jason offering her the very thing she'd wanted for so long but only in this condition; she laughed. ''Sure Jase. That's a great idea.'' ''I was kind of proud of it.'' Jason grinned. ''Come on Caroline.'' ~*~ When the world's gone crazy and it makes no sense There's only one voice that comes to your defence The jury's out and your eyes search the room And one friendly face is all you need to see If there's one guy, just one guy Who'd lay down his life for you and die It's hard to say it I hate to say it, but it's probably me I hate to say it I hate to say it, but it's probably me ~*~ Carly stopped their dance, and used her cell phone. ''Johnny, hey, it's me. Yeah I found him, drunk as a skunk.'' She reported to the relieved guard. ''I need you to come pick us up. He can't walk straight. Oh, and put Sonny on.'' She requested knowing Sonny would worry till he heard Jason's voice. ''Carly? He alive?'' ''Just barely, but I think that breathalyzers all over the city are going off.'' She chuckled as Jason batted at her hair. ''Here, you can hear for yourself.'' She passed Jason the phone. ''It's Sonny.'' ''SONNY! Hey man. Sorry to go off like that.'' Jason apologized, his head fuzzy. Hearing the drunkeness in his tone, Sonny shook his head. At least he was alive. ''Glad to hear you're still with the living.'' ''Glad to hear that you and Carly aren't sleeping together anymore.'' Jason interjected. ''I didn't want to kill you.'' Sonny hooted with laughter. ''Jase, man, I am going to remember every word of this conversation and remind you about it for the rest of your life. Give the phone back to Carly, and pass out like a nice drunk.'' ''K'.'' Jason passed the phone back. ''He said I should pass out.'' ''Good advice.'' Carly sat him in a chair, and stepped away to speak to Sonny. ''I'm taking him to the Brownstone tonight.'' She informed him. ''Michael will want him in the morning, and it will be easier for him to crawl down the hall, than down the street.'' ''Good thinking. Good night Carly. Take care of him.'' ''I will.'' She hung up as Johnny came through the door. ''Hey Johnny, could you pour Prince Charming here into the limo while I turn off the lights and lock up for Luke?'' Johnny hoisted Jason over his shoulder. ''Sure thing. Let's go boss.'' ~*~*~*~*~*~ ''You got him?'' Johnny asked in amusement. Jason was never gonna live this down. He'd nearly driven off the road laughing when the boss had asked him to go to a drive in so that he and Carly could neck. ''Yeah. Thanks a lot Johnny, you know while he's in such a generous mood I'll talk to him about a nice big raise.'' She smiled as Jason leaned on her in the doorway. ''Have a good night.'' ''Night Carly, Night Boss.'' ''Night John-Boy.'' Jason sing-songed. Where in the hell did that come from? He thought as the door closed and Carly guided him down the narrow hallway. Once inside the apartment Jason's thoughts turned to more important things. Carly. ''I ever tell you how much I like these boots?'' He asked curiously. ''I don't remember.'' His voice lowered. ''I'm brain damaged ya' know?'' Carly led him into her bedroom. There was no way that she was going to lead Jason in this condition past Michael's room. ''Can't say that you've mentioned my boots.'' Carly grinned, ''But that's a great pickup line.'' She pushed him back onto the bed and started to tug off HIS boots. ''Ya think?'' Jason propped himself up on his elbows. ''Carly I really like your boots. And your pants, and your shirts.'' He leered. ''Especially the tight shirts.'' ''Jase. You are going to want to DIE in the morning.'' She shook her head. But she had to give him credit, he was the nicest drunk she'd ever encountered. Friendly. Really, really friendly. He stared down her shirt, caught ahold of it with his crooked index finger and peered curiously down her blouse. When Carly slapped his hand away he scowled. ''Was wrong? I like that color that's all.'' Hepronounced. ''In fact I don't think you should ever wear any other lacy stuff except blue lacy stuff.'' Stripping him down to his boxer shorts Carly kept silent. ''You mad?'' ''Nahh Jason. I'm not mad.'' She reassured him. She felt him tug her onto the bed. ''Jason. . . '' ''Stay.'' Jason turned slowly, and nestled Carly' s body snugly against his own. He rested his chin on her shoulder and wrapped and arm around her waist. ''You feel good. I like to be in bed with you.'' He gently patted her behind. ''Thank you for not having a boney butt.'' She really ought to get out of bed, but it felt so since to be curled up in bed with Jason. She knew he wouldn't remember in the morning, but for a few hours it felt good to be wanted and appreciated. ~*~*~*~*~