PART II
Pain, that's all he felt. His entire body throbbed in pain. His shoulder felt like it was on fire and his breathing was shallow. Breathing hurt, it felt like fire was burning his insides with every breath he took. The crushing pain in his chest felt like a ton of bricks was weighing it down. He tried to open his eyes but couldn't, it was almost as if his eyelids were glued shut. Where was he? What had happened? He could hear voices, whispers, but he couldn't tell what they were saying. Concentrate he thought just concentrate as he struggled again unsuccessfully to open his eyes. Gradually he slipped back not into unconsciousness but into a deep healing sleep as the pain medication he was just given started to take affect.
Ten hours later he awoke again, hurting and disoriented. Where was he? "Is this a hospital?" God, he hated hospitals. Slowly he opened his eyes, the effect was dizzying and he quickly shut them again. Taking slow but painful breaths he carefully tried again, concentrating on focusing so that the room steadied and became clearer.
Very slightly he turned his head to the left and saw that he was in a bedroom and not a hospital and that gave his a small sense of relief. He tried to remember how he got there and what had happened but his brain was still too foggy to recall.
Trying to move his body around, he quickly realized that was a mistake. His entire body started to throb, his head, and his chest, where the pain was most concentrated. He held himself completely still to gradually let the pain subside and again he slipped back into sleep.
The next time he awoke he was more alert and realized he was not alone in the room. Remembering the last time he slowly opened his eyes and looked around to locate the source of the voices he heard. It was Sonny and Max.
"What happened?" he asked in a whisper. The whisper was unintentional his voice just wouldn't come out any louder. Sonny mumbled somthing to Max and Max looked at Jason nodded and left the room. Sonny walked over to the bed.
"Glad to see you are back with the living. How are you feeling? Not as bad as you look I hope because frankly you look like hell".
"Then I obviously look better than I feel. What happened?" he asked again as his voice was gradually getting stronger.
"What do you remember?"
"I, don't rem…. the boat, it exploded. I was supposed to go out but I got off at the last minute. I was coming back to shore when the other boat exploded." As memories flooded him, his vision was getting clearer and he became more oriented to his surrounding.
"Yeah, luckily Johnny and Max were watching from the pier or when you went into the water you could have drowned. They pulled you out of the water called me and we brought you here. As far as Roscoe knows you're fish bait.
"How long?"
"It's been almost a week. The doctor kept you heavily sedated for the first couple of days. Gradually for the last two days you have been coming around." Sonny noticed that Jason was about to drift back off to sleep. "Look, Jason this is tiring you out and you need to get all the rest you can to get back on your feet. We can talk about this later."
"Sonny, wait" he stops him from leaving, his eyes are getting heavier but he fights to stay awake. "Where is Gia?" he gets out finally but he falls asleep before Sonny can answer.
Jason felt the pain before he opened his eyes. It was not as severe as before but it was pain never the less. He was more focused and he remembered everything. The assignment, the explosion and that he had been laid up and out of it for almost a week. He also remembered asking about Gia, but he must have fallen asleep because he doesn't remember the answer. He looked over and saw Max was sitting in a chair reading a magazine.
"Max, I need to talk to Sonny as soon as possible, face to face".
"I'm glad to see you awake Mr. Morgan, and I'll get Mr. Corinthos on the phone right away and tell him you would like to see him." He replied and left the room
Jason was concerned about what everyone had been told about his whereabouts. He was sure he knew the answer because he was at a safe house and not in a hospital somewhere. His mind turned over at all the possibilities of the situation and along with the pain in his body he felt a tightening around his heart. Squeezing his eyes shut tightly as his thought centered on Gia, he shook his head slightly and murmured, "I'm sorry baby".
Max returned to tell him that Sonny was on his way. He knew he needed to eat so he sat propped up on some pillows and tried to down some soup. He questioned Max about his injuries because they didn't expect the doctor back until the next day. He had fractured a couple of ribs and dislocated his shoulder. Complication had set in because a piece of fiberglass from the boat had lodged into a portion of his thigh and it became infected. Max explained that he was feverish by the time he arrived at the safe house and that while the antibiotics worked to eliminate the infection he was out of it for about two straight days. He swallowed the warm soup and it made him a little drowsy, but also gave him a warm feeling inside. He dozed briefly while he waited for Sonny.
When the door opened again he awoke from his light doze to see Sonny had arrived.
"You're looking a lot better", he commented, "the doctor should be back tomorrow and he may allow you to get up".
"It doesn't matter, I plan to get up tomorrow anyway."
"Jason, you have to listen to the doctor or you could hamper your recovery". Jason just looked at him. It was not like Sonny to stall, he knew what Jason wanted to ask and he was trying to put it off.
"What did you tell everyone when they investigated the boat explosion? For some reason I don't think anyone knows that you have me stashed here. Which would be logical and the fact that I'm not in a hospital says just about everything doesn't it?"
Sonny just looked at him and their eyes connected dark brown to vivid blue. "They think that I am dead don't they? All of them, Gia, Grandmother, Emily and Monica even Carly". He rattled off the names of the most important women in his life. The women that loved him; that he loved, the women that he would give his life for and the woman that he wanted to spend his life with. "I'm right aren't I?" he asked.
"Yes", he replied.
"I'm not going to ask how they are because I can imagine. At least the Quartermaines have each other and Carly has you. Have you been keeping an eye on Gia? How is she coping? Her mother nor Taggert approved of our relationship." He looked at Sonny with anguished pleading eyes. "Please, please tell me that she is not alone", his breathing was rapid and shallow, "even if you have to lie to me, tell me she is not facing this alone."
"I don't have to lie to you. She is not alone, no matter what her family thought about you they have supported her 100%. She has been staying with her mother and the word at the PCPD is that Taggert took leave because he wanted to help her through this. She is watched around the clock just in case Roscoe finds out that you are still alive. A coward like that would go after her to flush you out. She is well protected Jason don't worry".
"Yeah, protected from everything including the truth". He stared straight ahead at a point at the wall. "She’s gonna shut down Sonny and when she finds out that she was lied to she is going to hate me or you, hell probably both of us."
"I know this is hard on her but trust me Jason she will be so happy that you are alive that she will forgive us both". Jason turned to give him a `have you lost your mind' look. Ignoring the look Sonny continued. "We can't tell yet Jase, and I know how you feel because I have to deal with Carly and she is devastated. I don't know how much longer I can't not tell her, I can't take watching her in that kind of pain."
"Do you think, just because I can't see Gia, knowing she’s hurting is any less painful to me. I know this woman and I know what this is doing to her. I promised her that I would return. I don't make that kind of promise to her often, but for this trip I promised". He spoke angrily, "she believed me because she knows I wouldn't lie to her and she let me go. I know I can't control life and death but when I make those kind of promises to her it's only when I am absolutely sure and this was a trip I was sure about. She's never going to trust again, not about this"
"Jason you are not God and Gia knows who you are and she chose to be with you. This accident is not going to change that"
"Not the accident but this charade just might." At the point it was obvious he was mentally and physically exhausted.
"Jason, I'm going to leave so you can get some rest. Talk to the doctor and do what he says. If you need me just have Max of Terrance give me a call. Terrance and Sam are alternating surveillance shifts until the other three get back. You get some rest and just call me."
"Sonny wait! Who is watching Gia? Is it Kenneth and Timothy or someone else?"
"It's Kenneth and Timothy".
"I want a cell phone and their number so I can check up on them and find out what's going on."
"Jason, don't. You know you can't have any contact with Gia right now" he reminded.
"I'm not planning on having any contact. I just need to know how she is doing and that she is OK."
"Jason, we need to see this through, at least until you are in better shape. If you start getting reports about Gia; we both know what that is going to do to you and how you are going to react. I don't think……"
"The phone Sonny" Jason interrupted, " I want you to get me the phone". Sonny looked at him and nodded knowing that he wasn't going to change his mind.
Over the next week Jason gradually started to get better. His ribs healed and he was able to breath more freely. His shoulder was still sore but the doctor gave him an ointment that helped sooth the ache. His thigh was better, yet when he walked he moved gingerly. Everyday he was able to stay out of bed for longer stretches of time. Because he pushed himself by the end of that second week he was a little sore but very mobile.
All his physical ailments were almost mended; it was his heart and his psyche that were the problem now. He missed Gia. They had never been apart this long without some form of contact. Before while he was conducting business he would at least be able to hear the sound of her voice when he called her. Now nothing. He missed the sound of her sultry voice and even the way she would sass him when she thought he was getting out of line. He missed her smile and the way her eyes would glitter with happiness and the sensual language they spoke that he needed no words to understand. And most of all he missed her touch, her calming touch; a touch that soothed him and brought peace to his soul.
Just thinking about how long it might be before he saw her again was about to drive him out of his mind. The phone calls were his only salvation. Either Timothy or Kenneth would call him several times a day on his orders to tell him what they knew about Gia. Primarily, she was staying close to her mother and very seldom leaving the apartment. The times she did come out she was very inanimate and despondent. They were evasive at first about her emotional state. They had watched her for months prior to his accident and Jason knew they would recognize changes in her behavior and he demanded that they tell him. He was right she had shutdown. She needed him and he need her.
Sonny called him with news about the Quartermaines. Jason was also worried about his grandmother, Emily and Monica. Lila was an old woman and he was as concerned for her as was about Gia. This had to end and end quickly. These people cared about him and he them and they deserved the truth and he wanted to give it to them soon. The Quartermaines wanted to hold a memorial service for him soon and Jason wanted Sonny to try to put it off. Emily had called Carly to tell her about their plans and during that conversation Emily told Carly that Monica was going to talk to Gia about it also. Even Sonny was starting to come around to the inevitable that this charade had to end. He confessed to Jason that he was going to tell Carly the truth that night because he couldn't take her pain any longer. Jason told him it was about time and that it was also time for them to end this. Sonny said to give it just a few more days for safety reasons and tried to get Jason to agree. He neither agreed nor disagreed.
As he rested on the couch in the den he listened to the rain come down heavily on the roof of the house. The cell phone rang; it was Timothy.
"How is she?" he asked. There was a paused as Timothy hesitated to respond
"She is about the same. She did have a visit from Dr. Monica Quartermaine earlier today."
"I heard. So she stayed in today?" there was another pause before he answered.
"Actually she went for a walk about two hours ago and has yet to return to her mother's apartment.
"You are still with her? Right?" he asked quickly.
"Yes sir, she has never left our sight. It's just that…. Uh, she, uh she has been walking nonstop and it's raining and she doesn't act like she plans to stop anytime soon".
"So What? She's walking and it's raining are you trying to tell me that the rain is keeping you from doing your job?" there was a distinct coldness to his tone and that was communicated clearly over the phone.
"No sir, the problem is that Ms Campbell has been walking in the rain and it's now a downpour. When she left the house she didn't have a coat or an umbrella. She is just walking unprotected and getting soaked. She will probably get ill because her clothes are definitely soaked and from the way she keep walking it's like she doesn't even realize it sir.
He didn't think nor did he question whether he should do it or not he just reacted. "I'm going to call to have a car pick you guys up and I want you to bring her here. What's your location?'
"Mr. Morgan …?"
"What's your location?" his tone indicated that he would not be questioned. Timothy gave it and Jason hung up and placed another call for someone to pick the three walkers up. Within five minutes the phone rang, he answered, already knowing who was on the other line.
"Jason, do you think this is a good idea?"
"It doesn't matter Sonny, because I'm doing it. I can't let her go on like this. I'm also going to have someone notify Grandmother and the rest of the family. I know this is for my protection but things are just about solved with Roscoe right?"
"Right, but it could still go wrong. I think you should wait on this".
"Sonny, I know you have told Carly because you said you couldn't take her pain any longer. Trust me I understand that but we also have to tell everyone else because protecting me or not this is cruel. It's time to end this" he finished.
"I think it is a bad idea, but it's your decision".
"That's right it is." They ended the call and Jason looked at the clock on the wall, he had about 90 minutes he estimated before she arrived. It has been two weeks since the boat explosion and three weeks since he had seen her, held her; tasted her. Closing his eyes he imagined the feel of her smooth skin as his hands glided over her body. The way he would inhale her scent, an essence that was uniquely Gia. He thought about the way she loved to trace the features of his face with her finger and how he loved to put his mouth on the smoothness of her…. "Stop it" he growled at himself. His body started to react to the prospect of seeing her again and his mental imagery. He had a lump in his throat and tightness around his heart; which went all the way down to his stomach along with a distinct heaviness in his lower body that was a by product of his own imagination.
He lay back on the couch to rest up because he knew he would need it. He didn't want her to have to worry about his injuries and how ill he had been. Jason wanted to seem as fit as possible for her. Gia always spotted any bruise or blemish that he carried. He hated the way her eyes would glaze over with worry. Eyes that he only wanted to see shining with love, happiness and desire. Beautiful brown eyes that were soulful and mysterious; eyes that he sometimes felt that he could get lost in. He knew how she would react when she arrived, she would be shocked and scared, then her relief and elations would emerge and finally she would get angry, very anger and he had to be prepared because he knew Gia and he knew she was going to `kick his ass'.
He finally heard the car pull up outside. It was still raining hard and non-stop. He had taken the time to change into a fresh tee shirt and jeans and was waiting in the den for her to arrive. He had to admit that he was nervous. How do you reveal to someone you love that thinks you are dead that you are alive?
He started to pace the room as he heard the front door open and footstep in the foyer. Then the knock on the door, he was standing braced against the wall behind the door when the knock came. He answered or at least he think he did because the door opened and she stepped through. She was soaked from head to toe. She took about three steps into the room looked around and then turned like she intended to leave, and then she saw him and that unfroze his limbs and he stepped from his position against the wall.
His gaze took her in and he hungrily surveyed her from head to toe and then stopped to look intensely at her face and at her soulful eyes. She looked fragile, something he never thought he would associate with her and she looked lost. As he watched her she stood there for a moment as if doubting what she saw. Briefly she closed her eyes and then opened them again. He didn't move he just stood there immobile afraid to break the spell. She opened her mouth to speak, but instead was only able to take in a gasping breath. She held it for a moment and as he watched he noticed that her lips trembled and finally she exhaled and with it came his name said on an anguished whisper "Jason".