Part 4 of 4 - A Promise Honored

Jason looked down at his hands, at the red stain that seemed to be part of his own skin. Thankfully his trademark black clothing hid the rest of the blood that had soaked him on the dock of Pier 52, but he could feel it on him, and it made him want to scream.

Moving toward the emergency room doors, Jason let one of his blood-soaked hands rise up and reach out for her. She was looking through the windows into the room as if her very life were the one they were trying to save. It might as well be. Jason knew that to Alexis and Sonny there was no longer a stop and start of whose life was whose - it was simply their life. At least it almost had been. God, they had been so close.

Telling Alexis that he had hidden Carly's duplicity and therefore kept from her that Helena was once again a threat had been one of the most difficult things Jason had ever done. Alexis had been understandably furious, and he'd taken what she needed to dish out because he knew that in some way, he deserved it. Because his keeping the secret had ultimately helped Sonny to find his way back to Alexis didn't change the fact that Jason had begun keeping that confidence to protect Carly and Sonny's "relationship." But he hadn't known then what he knew now. Jason had learned in the four months that led up to that night of revelation that there was even more to respect and admire and love about Alexis than he had ever guessed. She was his friend now, and that he had betrayed her for anyone made him feel somehow dirty.

But, of course, as was Alexis' way, once she'd vented her anger, she had forgiven him. The fact that he had been protecting her himself and using Sonny's own men to keep Helena's menace at bay was not lost on her, nor was the fact that he had done all this without permission or order from Sonny. Alexis also doubted she would have been able to withstand the strain of the months that had recently passed were it not for Jason's constant friendship and support. Keeping the baby from Sonny had taken its toll on her, but she knew it was a far less painful burden to bear because Jason had helped to carry it.

Sonny had been true to his word, and though he never felt it necessary to tell Alexis the details of his confrontation with Carly, he had come by the next morning to tell her that things were settled and to ask her if she had thought about what he'd said the night before. Jason had tried to excuse himself, but Alexis hadn't quite been ready for that discussion and said only, "I'm still thinking. Is that all right?" Sonny reiterated his promise to do, give and be whatever Alexis needed. When she told him she simply needed some time to think, Sonny smiled and headed for the door.

A full week went by and Alexis did not hear from Sonny. Jason knew it was eating Sonny alive to stay away - after having dinner with Alexis, Jason would cross the corridor each night to check on his friend. Patience was not a virtue Sonny had ever been forced to develop, not until Alexis had become important in his life. Patience had won her representation, her friendship and, eventually, her heart. Then his carelessness had ripped her heart almost completely out of his grasp. Almost. Sonny was determined to use the last tenuous hold he had to pull her back into his life and into his arms completely. Jason had little doubt he would succeed. Alexis didn't want to let go after all, she just needed some time to trust again. Still, it was a little fun to watch him trying to hold himself back from simply running across the hall and taking what he wanted.

At the end of the first week, Alexis finally called. She asked Sonny if he wanted to go to her next doctor's appointment with her. Jason watched as Sonny tried not to jump up and down like an excited 17-year-old who just got the most popular girl in school to go to the prom with him. He of course said yes. Because the doctor was a tad concerned about Alexis' blood pressure, she went in for an appointment every two weeks. One doctor's visit with Sonny led to another, then another, and then when Sonny tentatively offered to cook Alexis dinner after their third appointment, she accepted.

During this time, Jason had tried to slowly pull back a bit from both of his friend's lives. It wasn't that they didn't need him anymore, he knew they did. But he knew it was time to give them space to need each other again. Besides, Jason had another duty to fulfill, and knowing Alexis was in Sonny's keeping left him free to do what needed to be done.

And that was search for Helena Cassadine.

Carly had sworn she would never forgive Jason for telling Sonny the truth and encouraging him to go back to "that whore" Alexis. It had taken every ounce of strength, and the good teachings he assumed of Monica, that still lived somewhere inside of him to not smack Carly in the face when she had insulted Alexis. Talking to his former friend had done him no good, and instead he had gone to Luke Spencer. Luke was also less than thrilled to learn that Jason had known about the threat of Helena for so long and not told anyone, but he was willing to share information with Jason as long as there was no more withholding on the younger man's part. And there wasn't. The problem was Helena was slick and she'd had years of practice hiding from Stefan while they had fought for control of Nikolas and the Cassadine Empire. Each time they would get close, Helena slipped through their grasp. But as long as they kept chasing her away from Port Charles, Jason felt that his friends were safe.

Three months after the night Sonny had opened his heart to Alexis, she called Jason and asked him to come over. Jason sat on her couch as attorney-at-law Alexis Davis recounted all the reasons why Alexis Davis the woman should run in the opposite direction of Sonny Corinthos. He was amoral, dangerous, violent, had a tendency toward alcoholism, was a complete chauvinist and would probably never change. Alexis Davis, the woman, launched a pretty formidable counter attack. Sonny was all those things, but never with her, and she knew never with their child. He loved their baby deeply already, and Alexis knew that Chloe Adele would always be the most important thing to Sonny, even if his life depended upon it. And finally, after months of not being sure, Alexis said out loud, "and I know he loves me, too, that he really loves me."

Jason knew the moment she said the words and heard them in her own voice that Sonny had finally won his battle. In those three months, he had given space when asked, come when called, offered love in the only ways Alexis could accept it and stayed a true friend. Sonny had finally proven to Alexis that she was perhaps the one thing in his life he did not and would never regret.

That night, Jason walked Alexis across the hall and hugged her tightly before he left. She returned the embrace and quietly said thank you before walking into Penthouse Four. Jason didn't have to tell Johnny that no one should get near that door until further notice.

Two days ago. Could it only have been two days? Jason still remembered how happy Alexis had looked, her heart and her mind finally on the same page. Now she was standing here staring through the glass doors, watching the man she loved fight for his life. Her gray suit was covered in his blood, blood shed to save her and their unborn child. Blood shed, Jason felt, because he had failed.

If he'd just gotten there sooner, ran faster - Jason knew he was only torturing himself, but he couldn't stop. Knowing he'd done all he could didn't help, not standing there beside Alexis, not watching her fight the urge to fall apart as she watched Monica Quartermaine try to stop the bleeding that was threatening to steal Sonny away.

Luke had called him less than an hour ago with the news. Helena's man Andreas had been spotted in town. Jason knew that Alexis and Sonny had gone to dinner at the No Name. He didn't want to panic Sonny or Alexis, so he'd called Johnny to find out if they were still there.

"They're on foot, Jason. Adam's with them. We stopped by the office to pick up some coffee contracts and they decided to walk home."

"Johnny, call Adam, tell him to get them inside somewhere now, and tell him to keep his eyes open. I'm on my way."

Jason had hung up and flown out of Jakes. He knew he could cover the ground between where he stood and the warehouse faster on foot than dealing with traffic, so he took off running. Five minutes, ten...he had just rounded the corner of Pier 52 when he saw Adam fall to the ground. From the way his body dropped, Jason knew he was dead. The man who had killed him was already moving toward Sonny and Alexis, and Jason jumped the railing and moved toward them, his gun drawn. He was already firing as Sonny shoved Alexis behind him, but it was too late; Andreas' knife stood buried in Sonny's chest.

Alexis screamed and reached for Sonny as Jason pumped four more bullets into Andreas' body. Helena's loyal minion fell dead upon the dock, and Jason stepped over him coldly as he moved to where Alexis knelt, her hands desperately trying to stop the bleeding from Sonny's wound. Jason put his hands with hers and spoke words of comfort to Alexis as he ordered Sonny to survive. Then there was a blur of sirens and cops. Jason had held Alexis steady while the paramedics loaded Sonny into the ambulance, releasing her only when it was time for her to follow him inside the vehicle. He promised he would be right behind her. Taggart had reached out then, determined to stop Jason from leaving, but he had simply turned and leveled his gaze at the cop.

"She's seven months pregnant, Taggart. Even you can't possibly think leaving her alone to deal with this is fair."

Jason felt every second of the two and a half minutes Taggart stood there weighing his options. Finally, the detective had raised his finger and pointed it directly in Jason's face.

"You be at that hospital when I come looking for you."

"I won't be anywhere else."

So he was here, waiting, his hands on Alexis' shoulders ostensibly for her support, but Jason knew she was keeping him going as much as he was her. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Monica approached them.

"The knife missed his heart, but it did cut one of his arterial veins. We've got the bleeding under control, but we've got to get him into surgery. I'll have someone come out and tell you as soon as we're done."

Jason watched as Alexis took in the words and simply nodded in response. So many of the other women who had occupied Sonny's life would have demanded to see him, would have been fighting their way into that room, but Alexis didn't want drama, she just wanted Sonny safe. Her carriage in the situation only reinforced to Jason how right Sonny's choice had been. As the orderlies brought Sonny out of the E.R. treatment room, Alexis simply kissed the fingers of her right hand and pressed them to Sonny's check briefly. She didn't seem to register the blood on her hands or on her clothing. Her whole focus was on Sonny.

In the hours that followed Ned and Kristina arrived, Kristina mercifully bringing Alexis a change of clothes so that she could look at herself without seeing Sonny's blood, though no one could convince her to leave the waiting room, even for a minute. Jax came, and so did Zander and Elizabeth. Bobbie came by to check on Alexis and Mike and Courtney arrived, both of them looking shell-shocked and uncertain how they should feel. Taggart came and questioned both Jason and Alexis. They told him that Andreas worked for Helena and that she had been planning for months to make an attempt on Alexis' life. Jason didn't spare the details about Carly's involvement either. The game she had started all those months ago had played itself out in an all-too-violent form tonight, and Carly had coming to her whatever she had coming.

Not long after Taggart left, Luke stopped by. He assured Jason that he was working every angle possible to find Helena.

"When you locate her, Luke, you call me. I take care of her, no one else. Not even you."

Luke nodded and promised to call.

Johnny, who was himself wracked with guilt for having left Sonny and Alexis even though it had been at Sonny's behest, stood guard in the room silently, his eyes never wandering far from the door in case trouble arrived.

Trouble found it's way to the General Hospital waiting room in the form of Carly. Johnny saw her and immediately cleared his throat, gaining Jason's attention. Thankfully, Courtney and Kristina had finally convinced Alexis to go and change by telling her that she didn't want Sonny to see her with his blood all over her. They had been gone a while, and Jason suspected that away from all the prying eyes, Alexis had finally been able to let go of some of the emotions she had held in check all night. At least he hoped she had.

Jason moved quickly to Carly and stopped her from walking all the way into the room.

"Carly, what the hell are you doing here?"

"I came to check on Sonny."

"What makes you think anyone wants you here?"

"Hey, Jason, you aren't God, okay? I can be here if I want to be here. I'm still Michael's mother, and he's worried about his father."

"Then go home and I'll call you," Jason growled, his temper too short to deal with this. He grabbed Carly roughly and pulled her close to him. "Now get out of here before Alexis sees you."

"Alexis doesn't own him, Jason. Sonny will forgive me eventually, and I want him to know I was here for him."

Jason threw her away from him, his disgust evident on his face. When even Jax didn't move to reprimand him, Jason knew that no one else wanted Carly there either.

"You endangered the life of the woman Sonny loves and his child. He will never forgive you for that. Be grateful that he's even let you keep Michael and get out of here before you upset Alexis."

But it was too late for that. An audible gasp went through the room as Kristina, Courtney and Alexis returned, Alexis' eyes immediately locking on Carly. Jason could see that she had been crying, and he knew he'd been right about the few moments of release she had found while away from the larger group. Now whatever calm she had regained transmuted into anger and Jason watched as Alexis began to walk toward where Carly stood. She stopped a mere eight inches from Carly, her face seemingly devoid of any emotion.

"Look, Alexis, I..."

That was as far as Carly got before Alexis' hand made its way through the air and cracked against the side of the blonde's face. The slap was loud and firm and Carly was thrown back by its impact, her hands coming up to her face, her mouth hanging open in shock.

Alexis said nothing, she only turned and walked back to the loving arms and comforting embraces of her family and friends. Jason moved to Carly and took her by the arm, leading her to the waiting room doorway.

"You don't belong here, Carly. Deal with it, or I'll deal with you."

Jason hoped the menace in his voice wasn't lost on Carly. As he saw first shock then fear cross her face, he knew it had not, and he was relieved when she quickly made her exit.
Jason was about to go over and check on Alexis when his cell phone rang.

"Morgan."

"Hey, Junior, I got our girl. She's at a house about 30 miles outside of town. I picked up a Helena-looking goon at the crime scene trying to get a peek at Andreas' permanently stiff upper lip, and he turned tail, so I followed. Looks like she's packing to leave."

"Don't let her."

"No worries. Take Route 10 to Hillsborough, then turn right. You'll see my car."

"I'm on my way."

Jason hung up and crossed over to Johnny.

"I have a promise to keep. You have Alexis."

Johnny nodded. It was all the reassurance Jason needed. After getting the keys to Sonny's Jaguar from Johnny, Jason moved to Alexis and knelt down in front of where she was sitting.

"Alexis, I need to go take care of something. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Jason had learned to read Alexis' eyes well in the months that their friendship had deepened. He saw in them now a sense of acknowledgement. She knew where he was going, but she would not ask any questions.

"Be careful. We need you back."

"I'll be here."

With that, Jason stood and walked out of the hospital. He drove the distance carefully, not wanting to get pulled over or attract attention. Taggart had confiscated his gun as evidence, but Jason knew that Sonny always kept one in a hidden compartment in the Jag's trunk. As he parked the car alongside the hunk of tin that Luke Spencer called an automobile, Jason used the automatic release to pop the trunk. The Smith & Wesson 9mm felt good in his hand as he checked the clip and made sure it was fully loaded.

"She's still inside?" he asked, knowing the answer, but wanting to hear it from Spencer's mouth.

"Oh, yeah, though I think she's planning to fly the coup any minute."

"Minute too late," Jason said as he racked a round into the chamber of the gun.

Luke watched as Jason headed toward the house. It was so hard to reconcile the Jason that he had known as a little boy with this cold-hearted man walking away from him now. He felt for Monica and Alan and knew that the sense of loss they felt must be incomprehensible. He'd been there himself, with Lucky. He never wanted to go back.

Helena stood over her desk, her head throbbing as frustration overtook her. Damn Natasha for surviving again. That bastard girl would not die no matter what she did, what scheme she put in place. Well, Helena, thought, at least this time will cost her.

The sound of a gun firing four, five times drew her attention to the door of her office. She ran toward it, planning to turn the lock, but instead she reached it in time to come face to face with the tall man, stone-faced man she knew worked for Sonny Corinthos.

"Your guards are dead."

Somehow she'd expected his voice to sound cold, empty. But it wasn't. She heard hate in his voice - hate for her. That was confirmed for Helena as he raised the gun level with her head.

"Don't I at least get a final request?"

Jason fired once. Once was all it took. So quickly all the terror that Helena had brought into the lives of the people of Port Charles disappeared. He watched her body fall to the ground and then moved to make certain his job was finished. Jason sat beside her body for the twelve minutes it took for Helena's pulse to completely disappear.

Back outside the house, Luke watched as Jason walked back to the car and began to disassemble the gun. Soon it was in pieces and Luke knew each of those pieces would disappear in a separate place. Sonny had taught his friend well.

The men exchanged no words. None were needed. Each had done their part, and no one would mourn any of the souls that had perished that night in the middle of nowhere, 30 miles outside of Port Charles, New York.

Jason returned to the hospital to the news that Sonny was out of surgery and expected to make a full recovery. Monica had done her job, and done it well. He made his way to the cardiac intensive care unit and found Alexis sitting in a chair beside Sonny's bed, her exhausted body leaning against his bed for support as she finally got some much needed rest. Jason smiled as he saw that one of her hands was held tightly in Sonny's while the other rested on her very-pregnant belly. Yes, he thought, everything was as it should be.

"Hey."

Jason heard the weakness in Sonny's voice, and he stepped to the other side of the bed so that he could lean closer and not disturb Alexis.

"Hey."

"My girls are really okay?"

Jason glanced back over at Alexis' sleeping form and smiled.

"You did good. Not even a scratch."

Sonny closed his eyes briefly and nodded. When he opened his eyes again, Jason saw a familiar intensity there.

"Helena?"

"That's been taken care of."

Just then Alexis stirred, her cheek coming to rest atop her and Sonny's entwined hands. Both of the men turned their eyes toward her, and both of them knew how much more they would have done tonight to keep her and the tiny little girl inside of her safe. How far they had come from that first day when Sonny had practically blackmailed Alexis into coming to see Jason to discuss Michael's custody, and an angry Jason had tried to send her away.

"Jason."

Hearing his name, Jason drew his eyes back to Sonny.

"You're gonna be my best man, right?"

Jason looked at him with raised eyebrows, and Sonny smiled broadly, motioning slightly with his head. Jason's eyes drifted toward Alexis and for the first time, he saw that she was now wearing a modest but flawless platinum and diamond engagement ring on her finger.

"I practically had to beg. Guess I should have waited till after dinner, huh? Now I could get a yes out of her just like that."

"Bragger."

Alexis' voice was heavy with sleep, but hearing Sonny had brought her out of her dream and back into reality, and since reality was Sonny alive and on the mend, she didn't mind. She looked up and saw that Jason was back, and she surveyed his face for any signs that what he had gone to do had been difficult for him. She saw none. Standing, Alexis moved so that she was sitting on the edge of Sonny's bed.

"You really are too arrogant for your own good, and Jason is our best man, not yours."

Sonny laughed and Alexis brought his hand to her lips and kissed it. Jason took it all in and smiled. Despite all of the things that could have and did go wrong, he had kept faith and kept his word, and those he loved were still safe in his keeping.

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