Okay, Kel inspired this, so this one is for her Jaxis lovin' heart and because we all KNOW something happened out in that cave even if the candy-ass writers didn't tell us about it. And thanks to Kristen for helping me try to get my facts straight :)


A Night In The Desert

New Years Eve had promised to be a long and lonely night for Alexis, but that was far more pleasant an option than what Ned had proposed. Dinner and dancing with the whole Quartermaine clan, not to mention Lila hounding them about a wedding was the last thing she needed. So instead of going out, she was on her balcony wrapped in a down comforter and staring out at the night sky.

Being alone tonight somehow seemed right to her in some way, she thought, though a quick kick in her midsection reminded her she was not entirely alone.

"I know, little one, I know. We won't stay outside too long, I promise."

Settling back in the comfortable lounge chair she had bought for the balcony, Alexis let her thoughts wander back over the tumultuous year just passed, but she would not let herself dwell on any thought that involved Sonny. She just didn't have any more energy to spend thinking about him or what had happened between them; at least, not about anything except the child they had created together.

Alexis could hear the sounds of several loud parties nearby -- music playing, people laughing -- and her heart ached a little for the person who so loved the parties and celebrations of the holidays. Kristina's loss still burned deeply in her heart, and Alexis knew it always would.

Shifting in the chair and snuggling deeper into her comforter, Alexis tried to focus on something good, something happy to think of, but nothing came. Oh, there was always the baby. Her little one was all that kept her sane sometimes. But with Ned constantly hounding her, Sonny being, well, Sonny, and Brenda's reemergence from the dead complicating everyone's lives...finding the good was getting kind of difficult to do.

That's when she heard the knock at her door.

Alexis glanced at the door, curious who would be stopping by so late on such a big night. She slowly unwrapped herself from her warm cocoon and padded her way to the front door.

"Who is it?"

No answer. Curious, Alexis moved to the door and looked through the peephole. No one there.

"Is someone there?"

Again, no answer. Alexis stepped back and considered her options. She knew that logic said she shouldn't open the door, but she really wanted to peek outside and see what the heck was going on. Chances were someone was just looking for her neighbor's party and had knocked on her door by mistake, right? Right, she voice out loud as she unfastened the lock and opened the door cautiously.

Her eyes scanned slowly from the height one would expect to see a face at downward until she saw a small white box with a red satin ribbon tied around it sitting on the floor.

"What the...?"

Alexis carefully stooped down and picked up the box. She again looked out into the hall, this time glancing in both directions to see if anyone was there. Nothing.

"Okay, that's strange," Alexis commented as she walked back inside and re-engaged the locks. "Well, little one, should we see what it is?"

Alexis strolled over to the couch and sat down. She was a little nervous because of the mysterious nature of the gift, so she shook it carefully. It made a shushing noise, and she wasn't sure if that made her feel less nervous or more excited.

"Oh, Alexis, just open it!" she admonished, and soon the red ribbon was untied and the lid of the box was opened up.

Her confusion was not lessened by the contents of the box. It was sand -- very dry, very prickly desert sand. Looking down at the round mound of her stomach, Alexis put her hand to her forehead.

"Okay, clearly your mother not only has strange relatives and unseemly ex-associates not to mention questionable taste in men, she also apparently knows strange people who think sand is..."

Suddenly Alexis' rant ended. Sand... As she put her hand back into the box and let her fingers move through the grains it held, she remembered....


*******************************************


She had fallen asleep somehow, the warmth and security of Jax' body against hers allowing her enough comfort that she could finally rest and momentarily forget the danger they were facing. The respite had not lasted long, though, and now Alexis lay still, hoping not to disturb Jax as her thoughts ran away with her.

Once again, Helena had struck out and once again, someone Alexis cared for might pay the price right along with her. Jax had become a friend, and he was a strong ally; it seemed unfair that he should suffer because he was trying to help her uncover whatever secret it was Helena was hiding. But here they were, trapped in this ungodly desert and with each passing hour it seemed that this might be where they would die.

Alexis shivered and snuggled closer to Jax. She didn't want to die, not here in this desert and not because of Helena. She had promised herself after the Katharine Bell debacle that she would not allow Helena to dictate her life or control her fear any longer. Now here she was, praying for rescue, hoping with every once of strength she had that Helena wouldn't win. It reminded her very much of those days long ago in Greece when she had silently begged an unseen force to help her survive.

Just remembering those long-ago, terror-filled days brought tears to Alexis' eyes. She didn't want to remember. She didn't want to be Helena's victim any more.



Jax had felt Alexis wake and he knew she was trying not to disturb him in hopes that he was asleep. He had decided to leave her to her silent thoughts because he could sense that she very much needed some privacy, but she was unwillingly to give up the comfort his embrace offered right now. To his surprise, Jax found that he had no problem at all with that.

He had never imagined that he would feel any attraction to Alexis Davis, not because she wasn't gorgeous, because she was, and not because she wasn't fascinating, because she was. He had just assumed that his heartache over Brenda would prevent him from feeling any such feelings for any woman yet. Sure, he had fun flirting with Chloe and he thought she was beautiful, but he wasn't drawn to her, not like he was with Alexis.

But it was a bad idea. They were partners, and they were friends. Attraction could only ruin that.

Of course, that was probably precisely the reason he felt it.

She just made him smile so damn much. Her mind was amazing. Alexis was absolutely brilliant, and then in the next minute she could be so silly. It was a combination he'd never expected, but in the months of their partnership, he realized he'd been looking for it his entire life.

Still, he was content to just lay here beside her and try to alleviate her fears about their situation. Jax simply refused to believe that they wouldn't make it home, he'd put his own skin in peril too many times not to know when he still had hope and when it was time to give up. But he did need to rest so he could try and work the emergency radio again first thing in the morning, and he did feel honor bound as the gentleman Lady Jane had raised to do his best to comfort a lady in distress. So, yes, he was content to lay here and pretend he was still asleep.

Until he heard her cry.

"Alexis..." he said, turning her over in his arms.

She didn't answer him, too embarrassed by her own weakness to do so. Damn, Alexis, scolded, why did you let him hear you? Again, the ghosts of her past were in her head. 'Crying is weak...crying is weak...'

"Alexis, it's okay. I promise, we're going to get out of here," Jax whispered as he pulled her into him, her face resting against his chest, his arms wrapped tightly around her. He looked down at her when he felt her body shaking, realizing that she was crying even harder now that he held her so close. He also saw that her hand had come up and was shielding her face so that he could not see her cry. Gently, Jax moved his own hand down and pulled hers away.

"It's okay to be afraid, Alexis."

"No," she said, her voice shaky, "it's not okay. I can't be afraid. I can never let them..."

Alexis stopped suddenly, her tears renewing in strength as she realized she'd almost told him too much. "Jax, I can't...please, I can't talk about this..."

Jax wanted so much to know what had frightened this strong woman so much, but he sensed that he couldn't push her. Whatever it was that Alexis was reacting to, it was far deeper than this cave or the desert. Pulling her tighter, Jax lowered his lips to just above her ear.

"Nothing can hurt you, Alexis. I won't let anything or anyone hurt you."

Alexis nuzzled even more deeply into Jax' embrace as he spoke those words to her. Amazingly, she believed them, believed him. So many times people had promised to protect her or to take the pain away, but no one had, not Stefan, not even Ned. And God, did she need to feel safe right now...safe and alive.

Jax felt her move in his arms and he looked down into her face. There were tearstains running down her cheeks. Reaching out, he used the soft strokes of his thumb to wipe the moisture away as his eyes locked with hers. She was such an enigma...so strong and vulnerable all at the same time. It would be so easy, he thought, so easy to get lost in her...

"Alexis..." he began, but her fingers on his lips stopped him. She didn't begin to understand what she was feeling or why it was that this man could make this deathtrap of a cave seem like a warm, safe haven, but he was doing it somehow and she wanted to fall into it so much. Her life, her real life, was back in Port Charles, back with Ned, but this moment, this moment could be the rest of her life if no one found them. Would it be so wrong to take hold of it?

It was there. Jax saw it pass through her eyes, and he knew it was there. An invitation, a request, a need -- and it was all a mirror to what he felt inside. He knew there would be consequences. Ned was his friend, and he couldn't, wouldn't take away the woman his friend loved. But for this night, for this one, precious moment out here at the edge of the world, would it be so wrong to give them both the comfort that they needed?

His lips descended to hers, touching briefly, asking silently for permission. Jax felt her shift against him, her body molding more closely to his. Did she have to fit so perfectly? Then he felt her lips move against his...and he knew that there was no turning back.

Alexis had spent her life fighting what she wanted in favor of what had to be done. To surrender in this surreal situation seemed the epitome of insanity and yet it was just...no, she thought, it just is...and this time, let it be.

His skin was so hot against hers as their clothing made its way into the darkness around them. Jax, meanwhile, marveled at how naturally they moved together, how it seemed like this was somehow supposed to happen and they had learned each other's secrets long ago in preparation for this night.

They never spoke as their bodies came together, their sweat mingling, their cries muffled against each other's necks and shoulders and lips. Later, they lay in silence as their hands wandered over arms and chests and perfectly shaped legs and then again, their forms merged in an act that became more than comfort -- it became a declaration of why they would survive.

In the morning, they dressed, their eyes focused on one another. There was no turning away in embarrassment, and there was no regret. They had taken their moment of peace and they would not feel shame for it.


**************************************************************

Alexis leaned back against the couch, her hand still inside the box of sand. No, there hadn't been any shame, not then, not when Ned had found them, and not when, in times of fear or sadness, she had let her thoughts return to that one special night when she and Jax had belonged to no one but each other.

She smiled at the memories. They were good memories. Finally, it seemed, she had found something good to hold on to through this long New Year's Eve night.

A knock sounded on her door. This time, Alexis knew who it was. She carefully set the box of precious memories down on the coffee table and walked to the door. Jax stood on the other side, his bow tie long ago undone, his tuxedo still looking every bit the sleek Armani masterpiece that it was.

"Don't you have a party you're supposed to be at?" Alexis asked sternly, but her eyes danced with delight at seeing him, and Jax saw it.

"You didn't get my invitation?"

"Oh, I see, you were inviting yourself to my party?"

"That was the plan?" Jax said, his customary charm on full display.

"What if I didn't want you to come?" Alexis asked, a small pout on her face.

"I would sink to my knees, cry and beg you to let me in until you either had to grant my request or call the PCPD to remove me."

"Well, in that case," Alexis said, stepping aside, "get in here now."

They laughed, and it was a true laugh, not the forced ones they had both been using in public during the hard months of grief over Kristina or confusion over Brenda's return and what it meant in their lives. It felt good to both of them.

Jax spied the open box on the coffee table, and he moved toward it. He picked it up and then turned to face Alexis.

"I hope you liked your gift."

Alexis smiled and moved closer to him. "I did," she replied, a little shyly.

Her sudden reticence made Jax smile. He reached out and took her hand and guided her toward the couch. Soon they were seated side by side, Jax still holding the box of sand.

"We've had quite a year, you and I."

"Yes," Alexis answered, "we have. Who do we talk to about not doing it again next year?"

"I don't know," Jax said, laughing, "but if you find out, please let me know."

The comfortable silence that was so customary in their friendship took up residence between them for a few minutes, and then Alexis reached out and put her hand softly against Jax' cheek.

"Why aren't you with Brenda?"

Jax looked down. When he looked back at her, his eyes were sad. "I love her, Alexis, I do. I just don't know what to make of all this. She keeps trying to explain, and I want to understand, but I just...do you mind if we don't talk about this?"

"Not at all," she said, leaning into the cushions of the couch. "Can I ask you a question on a different subject?"

"By all means, ex-wife, ask away."

Alexis let her eyes drift to the box in his hand, then she looked up at his eyes. "Why did you send it?"

The smile came back to Jax' eyes and to his face at her question. He reached into the box and took a handful of sand, which he let run through his fingers slowly.

"Because whenever I need a moment of peace, this is where I go back to. I was hoping it was the same for you."

Alexis reached over and took hold of his hand. She could feel some stray grains of sand still in his palm.

"It is, Jax. I think it always will be."



The New Year soon came to Port Charles. It found Jasper Jax still dressed in his tuxedo shirt and trousers laying on his side in Alexis Davis' bed. Alexis lay beside him, his arm wrapped around her, their entwined hands resting on her pregnant stomach.

He could tell from her breathing that she was falling asleep. He chose that moment to lean forward, his lips stopping just above her exposed right ear.

"Happy New Year, Alexis."

"Happy New Year, Jax," she whispered, before she fell asleep, safe once again from the uncertainty and pain of her life because of Jax and his friendship...and his embrace.

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