Breaking Away Chapters 29 - 30
Chapter 29 Luke's.
Why? Why? What in the world posessed her to let her mother fix her up on a date? What kind of siezure was she having at the time? And was it considered rude to fake your own death to get out of a blind date? Carly's mind raced with possibilities. Truth was Adam was a very nice young doctor. Very nice, very stable, very. . . very. . . .BORING! It took all her strength not to jump up on the table, kick off her shoes and start dancing just to relieve the boredom.
"So Carly, your mother mentioned that you were starting a little business of your own." Dr. Adam Clayton prodded.
Carly winced at his condescending tone. "Yes. My partner and I plan and organize parties." She took a sip of her drink. "It's something I've really discovered a talent for." She explained. This was the first time all night he'd asked about her. "Plus it allows me to have Michael with me while I'm working." She noticed that his eyes weren't on her face. They were in fact further south. And she'd worn the least provocative thing in her wardrobe. Okay, she admitted wryly that wasn't saying much. A short black skirt, with a white lace blouse and a velvet choker at her throat. She reminded herself that even if she were wearing Saran Wrap, the least the guy could do would be to look her in the eyes.
When the waitress came to take their order, Adam took it upon himself to order for both of them, and was insulting to the waitress about the poor service.
"You might want to watch that." Carly was only half teasing. "My uncle Luke is pretty particular about who he serves in here. He calls it his "manners" tax. I can't tell you how many times I've had to pay it."
"You wanna dance?" Adam asked ignoring her comment. He got up, and offered her his arm.
If it meant not having to talk to him, Carly would dance barefoot on broken glass. "Sure." She groaned as Jason came through the door with Sonny. It was bad enough to have to get through this date. But in front of an audience? "I've just had a better idea. Why don't we get out of this smokey club and try Cafe Matisse?"
Adam smiled at her. "Sure. The service in this place is terrible, and Cafe Matisse does a lovely salmon. . . ."
"So I've heard." Carly gritted out as they returned to their table to pay the check.
In the parking lot, Carly pulled her sweater around her shoulders.
"Let's go, my car's this way."
"But Cafe Matisse is just a couple minutes away, I thought we'd walk." Besides, his cologne was making her queasy. The last thing she wanted was to be trapped with it in a confined space.
"How about if we skip dinner and move directly to dessert?" Adam asked leaning on one arm.
"Uh, how about we skip the whole thing?" Carly suggested. What a jerk. She was slowly beginning to remember why it had been so long since she'd been on a date. In fact, she couldn't remember when she'd been on a date last. Tony didn't count, and before him it had been a while. How did she let it get to be this long?
"Aww come on." Adam cajoled. "You don't have to pretend with me. I like women like you."
Folding her arms over her chest Carly glares at him. "Women like me? I didn't know there were any. What kind of woman do you think I am?"
"The kind that sleeps with her Mama's husbands." Adam chuckled, tugging on a lock of her hair. "A little wild, a lot sexy. Just the right kind for me."
Carly laughed in his face. "Lemme guess, you want me to put on a Catholic school girl's uniform so you can tell me what a naughty girl I am? Please! Look, why don't you go your way and I'll go mine?"
Adam placed his other hand on the brick wall, effectively trapping Carly. He leaned in closer, his mouth near her ear. "Come on. I've heard all about you I need to know. You're the talk of the on call room. A few rolls with you and Tony was looking 20 years younger. You must be good." When she turned away, he scoffed. "Are you turning ME down?
"Sure sounds like it to me." Sonny replied from the door to the club. "How'd it sound to YOU Jase?"
"Sounded like an invitation to beat the hell out of him." Jason's eyes stayed on Carly. "You go this under control?"
"Sorry guys. She may be into it, but I don't do the group thing." Adam snapped a split second before doubling over in agony. Once he was on the ground Carly gave him a good hard kick again that made Sonny and Jason wince.
"I think I've got it under control." Carly buffed her nails. "I think I'll head over to Jake's." Looking down at the ground, she gave him one more harsh kick. "Who said it wasn't nice to kick a man when he's down?"
"I'll walk you."
"No. You won't." Carly corrected. "I can take care of myself Jason." She replied. "Thanks for being concerned, but I'm a big girl."
Once she was out of sight Jason caught Adam by the collar and dragged him to his feet. "That LADY, is a good friend of mine." He growled. "She is also the mother of my son. If I ever see you around her again, or hear that you've said anything bad about Carly. . . . ." He allows the threat to linger in the night time air.
"Now Jason, don't be so hard on the guy." Sonny objected. "He's not looking so hot. I think we ought to help him to his car!" He offered taking the young doctor's other arm as they dragged him through the parking lot. "Since you know so much about Dr. Jones, I bet you know what happened to the last Doctor that crossed Jason?"
Guiding the other man along the wall, Jason turned quickly and slammed his face into the brick. "Sorry about that. Now which car was yours?"
Once they'd 'helped' the doctor to his car, they returned to the club. Sonny watched as Jason placed a call to Jake's asking if Carly got there allright. "Lemme buy you a drink, you look like you could use one." Sonny offered. "In fact, I'd say you look like you could use a couple."
"Whatever." Jason replied sullenly brooding.
"She's fine Jason, and Dr. Feelgood won't be calling her anytime soon. Let's shoot some pool to calm your frazzled nerves." Sonny offers. When Jason glares at him, Sonny holds up his hands. "Just joking Jase, chill."
Jason racks the table and watches as Sonny takes the first shot. "It wouldn't have happened if she weren't out on a date with the creep."
"And this is your fault . . . .how?" Sonny sank a solid.
"Because, if I had the right words, or even a clue about what Carly wants, she wouldn't be going out with other guys." Jason lifted his cue when Sonny missed.
Taking a seat, Sonny unbuttoned his jacket. "Like me? Look, Jason, whatever happened between me and Carly was sex. That's it. She didn't want anymore from me, and I didn't want any more from her. It happened, and we both regretted it."
"Why?" Jason asked curiously.
"Why did she regret it? Cause it's not what she wants. She doesn't want her kid thinking she's a slut." Sonny held up his hands again. "Hey! I'm not saying she is! That's what she doesn't want Michael to think. So one night stands aren't it."
"Why'd you regret it?"
"Because man, when I saw your face, I knew." Sonny finished his drink and rubbed his jaw. "I knew that you were in love with her."
"How?" Some part of him felt that way. Had felt that way longer than he cared to think about, even when he was with Robin, but he never let himself think about it too much.
"Jason, think about all the stuff you've done for Carly. You lied for her when she needed you to. You wouldn't lie for anyone else about anything else. But she shows up on your doorstep carrying some other guys kid, and *BAM* you're hooked. She leaves you with her kid. Her kid, and A.J is right there in the wings. But Carly bats her eyelashes at you and asks you to take care of him. Do you hand him over to the Q's? Not a chance in hell. You keep your promise to Carly even though you knew there was a way out. She goes and shoots Tony in a COURTROOM. Most guys would think she was too stupid or too crazy to be a mother. Not you, you're working night and day to pull her ass out of the loony bin. She stops believing in you, and gets herself sent to Ferncliff, and you're still hanging in there. Still fighting to get her out. Hell Jason, you let the girl move in with you and Robin. And let her be Michael's mother."
"Sonny, she's Michael's mother no matter what. I had no say in that."
"Yeah, you did. No one else knew about Michael. You had custody of him. You could have cut her off and everyone would have patted you on the back for doing it! But you didn't. Why not?"
"Because Michael needed her." Jason answered.
Sonny shook his head. "You're being dense now man. Think about it Jason. Michael didn't know her. So how could he need her? You could have let her rot in that nuthouse and raised Michael with Robin. Why not? You had everything. A woman that loved you, that you said you loved, your kid and a nice cottage in the woods and a nice clean life. What made you bring Carly into it?"
Jason took a swallow of his drink. "It didn't feel right. It felt like a lie. You know how I can't see pictures?" He asked suddenly. "That's how it felt. It was lines on paper to me. That's it."
"But you can see the picture with Carly." Sonny remembered Carly showing Jason the picture of the motorcycle.
"Exactly. The reason I couldn't leave her in Ferncliff was it would be like being locked up myself." When Sonny says nothing Jason continues. "You know, I never understood what the phrase 'two sides of the same coin' meant before Carly. But that's what we are. She doesn't plan things. I never stop planning. She's got this very soft heart. No one believes that, but she does. She cries when she sees bad news on the T.V, or when something bad happens, Carly's the one that feels it to the bone. I don't see the point in crying. It's like she's the half of me that's missing."
Astonished by Jason's confession, Sonny rocked back in his chair. "Well damn Jason! I never thought you'd figure it out. Why don't you run on over to Jake's and try saying that whole thing to Carly? And you might want to try practicing 'I love you'. Not on me, that's just too creepy. But on someone else."
"She wants me to stay away from her." Jason replied. "I gave her my word."
Sonny rolled his eyes. This was getting ridiculous. "Jase. Trust me. Go talk to Carly. Tell her what you told me. If she still wants you to stay away from her, FINE. . . .but if she jumps in your lap and licks your face, she'll probably forgive you."
*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*
The Following Morning.
Jacks Cosmetics Main Offices.
Lucy paced nervously. "Where is everyone?" She asked Scott who was pacing in the opposite direction. "The fact that our new stockholders are late is not encouraging." Before she can get an answer out of Scott the door opens.
"Good morning." Kevin strode into the boardroom dressed in a sharp new suit. He had a 'Cat that ate the canary' smile on his face. He handed Lucy a yellow rose and nodded at Scott. "Scott."
"Sorry Cassanova." Scott dismissed him. "This a private meeting for share holders.
"Then we should get started. Lucy you look tired, haven't you gotten any sleep?" Kevin took a seat at the table, and placed his briefcase in front of him.
"You're a stockholder?" Lucy struggled to keep her voice from rising an entire octave.
Kevin smiled. "As of yesterday afternoon I now hold 15% of Jacks Cosmetics stock."
"How much?" Despite her best efforts, Lucy's question came out in a squeak.
"Now, I've been going over the prospectus for the new line of lingeree." Kevin opened his briefcase and withdrew the prospectus. He was having a wonderful time, and Scott Baldwin was struck speechless too boot. All in all, this was going to be a very good day.
"Sorry I'm late." Victor apologized as he hurried through the door looking incrediblely dapper in a business suit. He paused to kiss Lucy's cheek and glare at Scott before taking a seat.
"Don't tell me, you own 15% too?" Scott could feel his temples throb with the efforts of his brain to escape his head and make a run for freedom.
"No. I am however the proud owner of 5% of this fine company." Victor smiled smugly at Scott.
Before Scott could think of something crushing to say, Renee breezed in. "Sorry. I overslept. Hey Kevin! Victor, a pleasure as always."
"Renee!" It didn't take Lucy long to figure out that she'd been sold up the river by her own cousin. "You told them about the stock going public didn't you? That's the only way he could have grabbed so much stock before anyone else."
Renee took a seat on the other side of Victor. "Are you accusing me of doing something sneaky, and devious, and wrong? I'm shocked Lucy! After all I'm your cousin, what reason would *I* have for making your job difficult?"
Lucy took a seat at the head of the table and glared daggers at everyone. She was out gunned in her own company. Not out voted, because she'd held 49% stock in her own company, Scott had 15%, Kevin had another 15%, Renee had the 5% that Lucy had GIVEN her in a moment of foolishness, Victor had 5%, plus there was her small insurance policy. She was never going to get shut out of her company again like she was at Deception.
"Hey babe." Luke strode into the room and took a seat next to Renee.
"Get out." Scott snarled. "This is not a pick up joint."
"Can't. Gotta stay long enough to vote my stock. I love being a stockholder." Luke's grin is absolutely wolfish.
"You didn't. Tell me you didn't." Scott looked to Lucy.
"I did. I will not get backed into another corner Scott." Lucy returned. "It was my stock to do with as I please. Luke's got 3%."
"That leaves 8% unaccounted for." Scott adds up in his throbbing head.
"Actually Scott, 5% of that is perfectly accounted for." Kevin's smile was slow, he should be big enough a man not to relish this moment. . . .but he wasn't. "I have that 5% right here." He withdraws a piece of paper and slides it across the table. "Abby is now the proud owner of a share of stock. Until she is 18 and an vote for herself, I hold her proxy."
"You know, most fathers just buy their daughters stuffed animals." Lucy grumbled. She forced herself to stay focused on the positive side. Between her and Luke, the votes were in her pocket.
Dr. Chris Ramsey slid into a seat and smiled. "Ooh! One big happy! I love that in an investment." He grinned at everyone. "Hi! Dr. Chris Ramsey that missing 3%."
Fighting the urge to crawl back into bed and wake up in 40 years, Lucy stood up and greeted the shareholders professionally. Mentally counting the seconds till she could go into her office and scream her lungs out.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Lucy's Office.
"Hey Boss Lady." Don greeted Lucy with a smile. "How'd it - - " Seeing her expression, his question trailed off. "Maybe the deliveries will cheer you up." He offered helpfully.
"What deliveries?" Lucy asked curiously.
"You've been getting deliveries all day." Don replied. "Go on in and have a look. We're starting to run out of room in your office."
Lucy opened the door, and her first thought was, she'd died and gone to heaven. Shoes. Boxes and boxes and boxes of shoes in colors and styles she didn't even know existed. And shoe catalogs. "Did I win the lottery?" She called to Don.
"Take a look in the other room." He called back.
She poked her head into the small room adjacent to her office. Where before it was pretty much barren except for a drafting table, and her mini-fridge, it was now transformed with a full size stainless steel refridgerator, a beautiful daybed complete with Egyptian cotton sheets, and cerulean blue comforter. Opening the refridgerator Lucy was amazed to find it fully stocked with goodies from Cafe Matisse, fruit, bottled water, a selection of juices, vegetables, the freezer held ever imaginable kind of ice cream, sorbet, popsicle. She felt hands cover her eyes.
"Guees who?"
"Kevin."
"Have I told you today how sexy I find brilliant women?" He asked looping his arms around her waist. "Do you like the shoes?"
"Kevin! I can't accept all this stuff from you!" She exclaimed. "I told you, I don't want to date you. The fact that we still love each other doesn't change that my life is complicated."
"All this isn't from me. Some of it's from Abby, to thank you for being such a damn wonderful influence in her life. Some is from Victor just cause he wanted to. Serena helped me pick out those shoes in that corner for being her almost Mommy. I just got you those two pairs of shoes in the corner." He pointed to the shoes.
Lucy couldn't help but smile. One pair was a pair of glass slippers. The other was a pair of the shiniest, most sparkling ruby slippers ever seen this side of Oz. "Doc."
Kevin placed a fleeting kiss on her lips. "You're right. I'm pushing much to hard." He let go of her and stepped back. "I've got to get going. Have a wonderful day Lucy." He walked out of the office whistling a jaunty tune.
Lucy recognized it immediately. It was 'When you wish upon a star'. He was going to drive her batty. She thought. She'd have to send everything back. But first, she took a seat on the daybed, tucked her feet underneath her and closed her eyes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Laura opened the front door of her house with a smile. "Nikolas! Come on in!"
"I was glad to get your phone call." He grinned holding out a bouquet of carnations. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
Laura forced herself to wear a serious expression. "I would like to speak to you about a serious manner." She informed him, pulling him onto the couch. "I am hereby asking your permission to court your father." Watching the shocked expression on Nikolas' face, Laura can barely contain her giggles.
"Excuse me?" Nikolas cleared his throat.
"I realize this may seem a bit sudden, but since you are the closest relative your father has, I thought it would be best to declare my intentions and ask your permisssion."
Nikolas hugged her tightly while he laughed. She sounded so happy. It was contagious. "And just what are your intentions towards my father?" He demanded.
"Dinner and a concert in the park."
"And just who will be chaperoning?" Nikolas asked.
"Nikolas, I think that at our age, your father and I are beyond needing a chaperone." Laura confessed. And they were. She'd proven her remarkable willpower on the plane trip back from Greece. She could still remember the smoldering look in Stefan's eyes as she'd explained the Mile High Club in great detail. They'd kissed their way across the ocean. And in spite of the tempting picture a rumpled Stefan made, she was determined to court and woo him properly. In fact, it was at that very moment he should be recieving the flowers she'd sent.
*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*
General Hospital.
"Oh Stefan. . . . . ." Amy's voice called to him as soon as he stepped off the elevator. "There was a delivery for you." She announced.
"What?" Stefan stepped over to the Nurse's Station, and was stunned when Amy removed a florist's bouquet of one dozen, perfect white roses. He opened the card. "Thinking of you - A Secret Admirer"
"Who are they from?" Amy asked.
"Thank you very much Amy." Stefan replied forcing himself not to smile. Laura. Once she made up her mind, she was relentless. He could very easily become accustomed to her attentions.
*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*
Renee picked up her phone at the Port Charles Herald. "Yeah?" She was typing furiously.
"Yeah. I got a tip on stuff going down on the docks. It involves Moreno. Who do I talk to?" A gruff voice asked on the other end of the phone line.
"Me." Renee dropped what she was doing and grabbed her pen and notepad. "What's up?"
"Not here. I wanna meet you before I spill my guts." The voice rasped.
"How do I know you're on the level?"
"Either ya' show or ya' don't. I'm the one risking my ass here. "
"When and where?"
"Midnight, Pier 8. Name's Ken."
Renee hung up the phone. Hot dog! Her first tip on Moreno. Ever since the little "incident" on the docks, she'd been playing it nice, safe and discreet, which was never her style, and it had gotten her nothing. She was supposed to meet Luke for a late dinner, she'd just have to make sure he didn't have a chance to "talk" her into staying the night.
As she returned to her computer, Renee felt a twinge of guilt. She didn't want to lie to Luke, but she had to follow up on this. And knowing Luke he'd meet her on the docks and blow the whole thing. She shoved aside her reservations and poured her energy into the column she was working on. One meeting wouldn't kill her.
Chapter 30
Jake's.
"Here to drown your romantic sorrows again?" Jake leaned on the bar with a bottle of her best bourbon in one hand and a shot glass in the other.
"Nope." Carly replied. "I think I'll just have a cheeseburger, some fries, and a Coke."
"Looking good tonight, you have a hot date?"
"Ugh. Just got out of the hot date." Carly rolled her eyes. "Never again. I would rather join a convent and die a spinster than go out on another date. Men stink."
"Uh-Huh." Jake nodded spotting Jason standing behind Carly.
"I mean it Jake. They're either clueless, heartless, or thoughtless. Who needs them?"
"Honey?"
"I don't think that there are any good guys left. I think the last ones were Ted Turner and Phil Donohue, and we all know how whipped they are." Carly sipped at her Coke. "Guys just can't get it right. Either they're knuckle dragging pigs, or whimpering Mama's boys. I give up on all of them."
Jason crossed his arms over his chest and listened to Carly rant. She ranted and raved better than anyone he ever knew.
"Oh now hon'. You're being pretty tough on the other sex." Jake demurred. There was no way she was gonna go along with Carly's assessment, least ways not while Jason Morgan was standing there.
"No. I mean it." Carly persisted. "Take Jason for example. . . ."
"Uh Carly?" Jake interrupted.
"Jason Morgan. He's a big tough guy. All macho motorcycle and leather right? One itty bitty blonde throws herself in his path for two years, and what does he do? Ravage her like God intended? No. . . .he runs for the hills."
"Carly. . . "
"I fling myself at his feet and he can't get away from me fast enough. Now, now I'm all through with chasing him, and he starts to give a damn what I do and where I sleep. I mean sure, the sex is out of this world, from what I remember, but it couldn't have been that good. " Carly stopped when she felt a hand brush against her shoulder. "Let me guess. It's Jason right?" She asked Jake with a groan. "And he's been standing here all this time?"
"You got it. What can I get ya', Jason?"
"Actually, I thought I might get Carly to come for a ride with me." Jason replied.
"A ride? Where? I didn't know that having a bad date was grounds for cement shoes."
"Come on Carly." Jason offered her his hand. "Trust me."
"I'm hungry Jason. I was too busy kicking the crap out of Dr. Feel-Up to get a decent meal."
"I promise, I'll feed you."
Cursing herself for being such a fool, Carly twined her fingers with his. "Jake, cancel that burger, I'll take a rain check."
Once outside, Jason lifted the helmet onto her head.
"You know, Miss Manners frowns on ladies riding motorcycles in skirts." Carly quipped hiking up the hem of the skirt just enough to allow her to perch on the back of the bike.
"Yeah, but I love it." Jason replied, using his hands to wrap Carly's arms around his waist.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hey pal!" Lucy poked her head into the office at the OutBack. "Brian said I might be able to find you here. What are you doing here?" She asked. "Aren't you hard at work on your book?"
"I am." Felicia waved her in, gratefully. "Only a different book. Mac and I have been so busy with our other careers that we've gotten behind." She noticed Lucy's worried expression and dropped her pen. "But I was due for a break. Wanna tell me about it?"
"About what?" Lucy fiddled with her purse as she sat down. "Nothing to tell. . . ."
"Uh-huh." Felicia's tone is skeptical. "You look tired. Really tired and really worried. Come on, if you can't tell your best pal who can you tell?"
Coaxed into it by her friend's concern, Lucy decided to ask for help with her dilemma with Kevin. "Okay. But remember you asked for it, so no rolling your eyes." She cautioned. "I am feeling VERY sensitive today."
"Dually noted."
"How many chances would you have given Frisco?" She asked.
"Woah. A relationship comparison to me and Frisco. This must be serious." Felicia nodded settling herself more comfortably in her chair. "Chance to do what?"
"Be a part of your life." Lucy sighed. "I mean he basically walked out on your marriage right?" She paused. "You can still tell me to shut up."
"No. Now you've got me curious. And besides, talking about Frisco doesn't hurt me." Felicia encouraged her friend curious as to where this was going.
"So Frisco walks out and leaves you. When he came back when Maxie was sick, if he told you that he wanted to stay, would you have believed him?"
Without hesitation Felicia answers. "No. Not for one minute. But Frisco and I are different." She sighed. "I wouldn't have believed him because I think he's a liar. I wouldn't have believed him because I know that he'd be telling me what he knew I wanted to hear."
"See that's what I'm afraid of."
"Come on Lucy. Tell me what's going on. Are we talking about you and Scott? Or you and Luke?"
"Me and Luke? Geesh! You people all have such dirty minds." Lucy chuckled. "The only thing between me and Luke is a plate of cheese fries. His are much better than here. And Scott and I are over."
"Ahh. . . .so you're talking about Kevin."
"Couldn't it be some mysterious stranger from my past come back to reclaim my love?" Lucy asked wistfully. "Ya know like one of those nice Harlequins?"
"So what's Kevin up to that's got you so upset?"
"He says that he's still in love with me." Lucy sighed. "That he wants me back. He knows that I love him. I never really stopped loving him, not even when I was so mad at him I could spit."
"I hear a "but" in there somewhere."
"BUT. . . .can I trust him not to break my heart again. How do I know that when the going gets tough he won't get going again?"
"You don't know and you probably never will." Felicia got up from her chair and took a seat next to Lucy's. "That's the whole thing behind loving someone Lucy. There are no guarantees. You have to either believe in him, or not. And if you don't think you can trust him, then you need to let him go."
"But I don't know!" Lucy huffed. "I trusted him before and he left me at the alter! But I just trusted him with something pretty big and he didn't let me down. In fact he came through with flying colors. I'm just having a harder time than I ought to letting go of what he did to me."
"I was there Lucy. I saw what it did to you, and I know that you love him. But you've got to decide how much."
"But it's not just about me anymore. I mean if it boiled down to just me and Kevin, then I wouldn't be worried about it. But there are...other people involved."
"Like?"
"Well Abby for starters. What if Kevin and I do reconcile, what happens a year from now if we change our minds? I wouldn't want to do that to any child."
"There aren't any guarantees in anything Lucy. Take me and Mac for example. I love him totally and completely, but there's nothing stopping him from walking out the door tomorrow and visa versa. "It's not like you have to make up your mind right now is it?"
"No. . . ."
"Then if you're enjoying yourself, I say sit back and relax. You deserve some happiness, whether it comes by the year, the month, the minute or even the day. It's not life threatening."
"You know something? You're right." Lucy smiled. "It's like getting to know him all over again and a lot of fun."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Jason, you know when you said that you were going to feed me. . . . this wasn't what I had in mind." Carly said slipping off her shoes and wriggling her toes.
"What? There something wrong with ribs from Eli's?" Jason asked inhaling another one of the meaty ribs.
"Well gee, let me see." Carly reaches for her purse groaning at the full feeling in her stomach. She pulls out her day planner. "Nope. There's absolutely NOTHING in here about leaving Michael with A.J for two days while we go. . . where are we going?"
"Away." Jason replied cryptically. "Don't worry. Michael's fine. Laeticia's with him at A.J's, and Bobbie knows where we'll be."
"I don't get it Jase. WHY? What part of I don't want to do this anymore did I mispronounce?"
Jason wiped his hands off. "Look. Carly. There are things that I never get the chance to say to you. Something always happens, someone else steps in. I just want to talk to you without being interrupted. If you really don't want to come, we can go back. You know you always have a choice with me."
"I know Jason. But i just don't know what there is left to say." Carly's brown eyes were puzzled.
"You talk a lot." Jason observes, when she swats at him, he catches her fingers. "But maybe this time you need to just listen." Slowly he tugged her over the seat, before brushing her hair off her face, and taking her mouth in slow, tender, kisses.
Carly pulled back. "I'm listening Jase."
"I love you." He says simply not wanting to play around it anymore. Tired of missing her, and knowing in his gut it was the truth. "I don't know all the details of what minute I knew I loved you, or even why. I know that when I am with you, I feel like a complete person. And you still make me nuts." He laughed. "But what makes me crazy? What makes me into "Anger-boy"? It's the idea that something will happen to you and take you out of my life. I know what you're thinking Carly. You think that I'm saying all of this just because you're Michael's mother. But that's not the way it is."
Carly's eyes swam with tears. "I- I make you crazy?" She laughed dashing at her eyes. "You're making me crazier than I ever was in Ferncliff. Jason, one minute, you can't get enough of me. The next minute you can't look at me. After that we're friends. And even further after that I'm Michael's mother so you put up with me. And now you love me?"
"Do you think it's what I planned?" Jason replies. "I knew that I felt something. And it was different from anything I felt about anyone else." "It could be a lot of things Jason. . . "
"But it's not. I love you. You wanna argue about it some more?" He challenged.
"Yeah." Carly crossed her arms over her chest feeling completely at a loss for words for the first time in her life. "I think I do."
"Then let's have the next round when we get there." Jason smiled. "I'd hate for us to run out of things to fight about."
"Not likely, Skippy."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Docks.
"Come on Kenny boy." Renee tapped her foot impatiently. She congratulated herself on escaping Luke. It wasn't easy. Luke had a basically suspicious nature that she found very irritating sometimes. Honestly! Couldn't the man trust her while she snuck out? She paused for a moment and re-ordered that thought in her head. Anyway, it didn't matter how she did it. All that mattered was that she was another step closer to putting a nail in Moreno's coffin.
"You the reporter?" A slender man in his late 20's with greasy blonde hair, and a leather trench coat approached Renee, his eyes darting around.
"You Ken?"
"Yeah." He pulled out a file and passed it to Renee. "These are shipping lists for some of Moreno's outfits. You tie these in with the invoices and you'll have him." He said. "They'll show that Moreno's sending out twice as much as he's selling. I'll give you a clue. It ain't out of the goodness of his heart."
"These don't prove anything without hard evidence to back it up." Renee told his tucking the folder into her jacket pocket. "I need to get inside that warehouse. Can you arrange it?"
"You a cop?"
"Do I look like a cop?" Renee asked. "No. I want a story, and if I'm gonna tell that story I want it to be a good one. So you'll forgive me if I don't just automatically trust any Tom, Dick or Kenny that calls me up to feed me information. I wanna ask you some questions. "
"I don't think that's a wise course of action Ken." A silky voice answers from the shadows. "In fact, I think that decision would be most UNwise." Anthony Moreno emerges from between two warehouses. "Good evening Ms. Carson."
"Aww! You know my name, why, that's so. . . sweet!" Renee purred to cover the knocking of her knees. She should have been a nice dental hygienist instead. You hardly ever heard of a dental hygienist being fit with cement shoes.
"I try." Moreno declared modestly before turning to Ken. "Ken, you seem upset. Why don't you let Drew and Conklin show you to your car?" He suggested while the two heavy set men grabbed him. Once he was dragged kicking and screaming, Moreno pulled out his own gun. "What to do? What to do about our own Brenda Starr? I'll take that file if you please." He held out his hand for it."
"Come and get it." Renee spat. There was nothing she hated more than a bully.
"Brave and stupid. I like that in a woman." Moreno's voice was a low growl. "Of course both those qualities can shorten a person's life expectancy."
"Aren't you in the least bit curious about what I have up my other sleeve?" Renee asks taking a seat on one of the benches. "Ken was one piece of information, I've been on this story for months. You don't think that he's the first link do you? You know what they say "It only takes one bad apple to spoil the whole bunch." If Ken turned on you aren't you dying to know who else turned on you. Who else sold you out? But hey. Go ahead and kill me now. I don't mind if you live uncertainly for the rest of your life, always wondering who's waiting in the wings to blow you head off."
"I don't believe you. Journalistic integrity would prevent you." Renee buffed her nails on her shirt and examined them. "I'll let you in on a secret Moreno, if it comes down to a choice between breathing, and journalistic integrity, I'll choose breathing." She answered him coolly offering him the file.
"My my, a woman of brilliance."
"No. Just a woman of keen survivalist instincts." Renee responded.
"I will take the file." Moreno said never lowering his gun. "But I know your reputation too well to believe you Ms. Carson. " Conklin reappears.
"What now?"
Noticing the blood on his shirt, Renee bit off. "You killed Kenny! YOU BASTARD!" When both men turn to glare at her she shrugged. "Come on, it sounded so cute when those kids on T.V said it."
"Dispose of her body where no one can find it." Moreno ordered walking away. "Good-bye Ms. Carson. It was a pleasure having you killed."
Once Moreno is gone Renee returns to Conklin. "So. . . .how about those Yankees?"
Ushering her into the shadows, Conklin answers with a feral grin. "I'm more of a Red Soxx fan myself." He puts her into a black sedan and forces her into the driver's seat.
"Lemme guess. . . .drive out of town for five miles, you'll take me into the woods."
"Sounds like a plan." Conklin nods. "You done this before?"
Ten minutes later Renee was walking through the woods barefoot. Conklin wasn't a amateur. He'd taken her jewelry and shoes and all I.D. She was scared. More scared than she'd ever been in her entire life. She would only get one chance and if she blew it, she'd be dead.
"Let's get this over with." Conklin said coldly. "Get down and I'll make sure you don't feel it." Renee dropped to her knees, execution style, her head aligned with the end of his gun. She waited as he cocked it. Before he could pull the trigger Renee's arm shot out wrapping around his arm, while her other hand reached out and snagged the gun. She dropped to the ground, and landed several sharp kicks to his tough abdomen forcing him to release the gun. Once she had it between her own hands, she rolled into a defensive position on the ground, lifted up and shot him twice in the chest.
She lay shivering on the ground for what seemed like hours. Then rose to her feet on shaking knees and checked him for a pulse. She patted him down for the car keys, and flashlight. She was able to control her nerves until she reached the car. Once inside she locked the doors and slumped over the steering wheel.
