| Table
of Contents
Chapter
4-10
Chapter
11-17
Chapter
18-22
Chapter
23
Chapter
24
Chapter
25
Chapter
26
Chapter
27 & 28
Chapter
29
Chapter
30- 34
Chapter
35- 36
Chapter
37-42
Chapter
43-44 |
''But Joe...what am I going
to do with the tickets?...I understand, but...okay, fine, bye,'' Karen
Wexler slammed down the phone in the on-call room.
Her fiancée Joe
Scanlon was canceling their plans for the evening. His ex-girlfriend Courtney
Kanelos had called him and asked him to come over to the Scanlon house
and spend the evening with their son, Neil. She claimed that Neil missed
spending time with his father, who was now living with his fiancée.
Courtney played some guilt trip on Joe knowing that Joe couldn't say 'no'
to his son. She knew that Joe felt guilty about moving out, and she preyed
on that guilt.
''Damn you, Courtney,''
Karen cursed kicking her locker door shut.
''One of those days, huh?''
Eve Lambert joked walking through the door.
''With Courtney around,
every day is 'one of those days','' Karen replied bitterly.
''Hmm, let me guess. Joe
canceled another date because Courtney said Neil wants to spend time with
his father, when we all know that it's HER that wants to spend time with
Joe,'' Eve concluded.
''You guessed it! You'd
think he would have caught on to her little game. Everyone else has.''
''Karen, he will catch
on, but unfortunately he's going to have to figure it all out on his own,''
Eve stated as Karen rolled her eyes, 'Sooner or later it will happen. Joe
loves you Karen.''
''I'm just afraid he'll
catch on when it's TOO late. I know that Joe loves me, Eve, but so did
Jagger, and look what happened there.''
''Oh Karen, you can't compare
the two situations. Joe will not cheat on you and you know it.''
''I don't know what to
think anymore, Eve. Joe has been acting so different lately. He's been
short-tempered and distant. He didn't even apologize for canceling tonight.
He's just not the same Joe anymore,'' Karen explained holding back tears.
''You know what? I think
we need a girl's night out. Just you and me. We both just pulled a long,
grueling shift and I know I'm ready to go out and have a few drinks. What
do ya say?''
''I'm really not in the
mood...''
''Well get in the mood!
I'm going to take a shower and when I get out, you had better be ready!''
''Fine, I'll go out with
you, but I don't want to be out too late in case Joe comes home.''
''Don't worry, I'll have
you home by curfew!'' Eve teased heading for the shower.
''Karen, I'm not going to
make it to the concert tonight. Courtney called and asked me to come over
and hang out with Neil tonight...I don't know what to do with the tickets!
Do what you want, I don't care, my son misses me and I have to be with
him...I have to go, I'll be home after Neil goes to sleep, okay?...'' Joe
heard the dial tone before he could say goodbye.
Joe couldn't understand
why all of a sudden Karen was so jealous about him spending time with Neil.
He had already lost so much time with his son because Courtney hadn't told
him about having a son until a little over a year ago. It really made him
angry that Karen was acting so childish.
''I take it Karen wasn't
happy,'' Courtney smirked,''I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pull you away from
your plans. I just hated to see Neil miss you so much.''
''It's alright Courtney,
I'll do anything to be with my son. Karen's just going to have to realize
that he needs me and I have to be there.''
''Dad, come check out the
new 'Superman' movie Mom bought me! I watched it with Uncle Frank yesterday,
it's so cool!'' Neil beamed running into the kitchen.
''Sure pal, I'll put some
popcorn in the microwave and be right in,'' Joe said giving his son a hi-five.
''Where's Frank and Lark,
tonight?'' Joe asked looking for the popcorn.
''Frank's on duty and Lark's
out for the night with Liz Webber and Emily Quartermaine. Looks like it's
just the three of us and Superman!'' Courtney replied heading into the
living room.
''Alright sunshine, let's
go,'' Eve said grabbing Karen's hand and dragging her off the couch.
''Eve, I just want to let
you know that I completely object to this and I'm only going because you're
forcing me to.''
''You're right, I am. I'm
tired of seeing you so miserable because Joe's blind. So, I'm going to
take you out so you can get your mind off of Joe and Courtney.''
''Wher are we going?''
Karen asked as they stepped onto the elevator.
''I don't know, how about
Luke's?''
''NO!'' Karen yelled.
''Why, what's wrong with
Luke's? I've only been there a few times, but it seems like a decent place.''
''Luke's used to be, um...it
used to be...,'' Karen attempted to get the words out.
''It was Sonny's stri...,''
Eve started, realizing what the problem was as Karen's eyes lowered,''Oh
Karen, I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking.''
''It's okay, Eve, it's
not your fault. I'm the one who should be sorry, I shouldn't have yelled
at you.''
''Why don't we just go
to the Outback?''
''We can go to Luke's.
I've just got to remember that it's not the Paradise Lounge, anymore, and
that I'm not the same person who used to strip there.''
''You sure you're alright
with this?'' Eve wondered as they got into the car.
''I have to go in there
sooner or later, so why not go now!'' Karen reassured Eve while trying
to reassure herself.
''Okay then, let's go,''
Eve pulled away from the hospital and headed to Luke's.
Karen hesitantly opened
the door to the club. She stepped inside and looked around. The place looked
different, but in her mind, all she could see was the Paradise Lounge.
She closed her eyes and had a flashback of being up on the stage having
drunk men whistle at her and yell for 'Carrie'.
''Maybe this was a bad
idea...'' Eve started, noticing the look on Karen's face.
''No, it's okay, I can
handle it, let's get a table.''
Eve and Karen sat down
and each ordered a drink. They talked for a while and ordered a second
round of drinks.
''I'll be right back, I
just want to go check my machine to see if Joe left a message,'' Karen
said standing up.
She turned around to look
for the phone and bumped into someone.
''I'm so sorry, I didn't
see...'' Karen stopped when she realized who the man she had bumped into
was.
Chapter
2
''Karen, hi. It's okay, I walked
into you,'' Jason Morgan replied.
Karen just stood there
for a second, not knowing what to say to her ex-boyfriend who couldn't
even remember them dating.
''Wow, Jason, it's been
a while,'' Karen found the courage to say,''Um, this is Dr. Eve Lambert,
we work together at GH. Eve this is Jason Quarter...Jason Morgan, my ex...''
She stopped herself before she made an already awkward situation worse.
''So, this is Jason Morgan.
It's nice to meet you,'' Eve said shaking his hand.
''Beep...Beep...Beep''
Eve's pager went off.
''It's the hospital, I
have to go. Good thing I barely got a sip off that second drink, huh?!
You coming, Karen?''
''Actually, I'd like to
stay and talk to Jason for a bit, if that's okay with you,'' She looked
at Jason and he nodded,''I'll call a cab to take me to the hospital to
get my car.''
''Sure, I'll call you tomorrow.
Nice meeting you, Jason,'' Eve rushed out the door.
''See Dad, I told you the
movie was cool! Can we go play basketball in the driveway?'' Neil asked
jumping off the couch excidedly.
''Anything you want to
do, we'll do. As long as it's okay with your mother?''
''Can we Mom, please?''
Neil begged.
''One game, but then you
have to go to bed, it's getting late.''
''Alright! Will you play
too, Mom? You can be on my team. Dad won't stand a chance!''
''That's what you think!''
Joe picked up Neil and threw him over his shoulder and ran outside with
Courtney at his heels.
''Neil, if you wanted to
win, you really should have been on my team,'' Joe joked sinking his tenth
basket bringing the scrore to ten to three,''Five more points and I win!''
''It's just a game, Dad.
That's what Mom always tells me when I get too excited about wining,''
Neil lectured.
''Well, thank you 'Dad'.
I'm sorry,'' Joe laughed,''That's a pretty smart boy we hae there.''
''He takes after his father,''
Courtney flirted.
Joe threw the ball to Neil.
He dribbled towards the basket until Joe got in front of him.
''I'm open, honey. Pass
it to me!'' Courtney yelled.
Neil bounce-passed the
ball to his mother and she dribbled to the hoop. As Courtney went up for
a jump-shot, Joe playfully jumped in front of her to block the shot. She
tossed the ball at the backboard and as her feet hit the ground, her left
ankle gave out. She fell to the ground, clutching her foot; tears welling
in her eyes from the excruciating pain flooding her ankle.
''Courtney, are you okay?''
Joe asked gently taking her foot in his lap,''Where exactly does it hurt?''
''My ankle. I just landed
wrong. I'm fine,'' Courtney tried to get up,''Ow, bad idea.''
''Mom, are you gonna have
to go to the hospital?'' Neil wondered, concerned.
''You're Mom's going to
be fine, it looks like it's just mildly sprained,'' Joe examined Courtney's
ankle seeing no signs of it being broken,''Can you push against my hand?''
''Yeah, but it hurts. I
don't think I can walk on it.''
Joe helped Courtney up
off the driveway and scooped her up in his arms.
''Joe, you don't have to
carry me...''
''Well, I'm not going to
let you walk if your foot's sore. I promise I won't drop you!''
Joe carried Courtney into
the living room and placed her on the couch. He sent Neil to find an icepack
while he propped her foot up on some pillows. Courtney just layed back
and smiled deviously watching the man she loves cater to her.
Jason sat in the chair Eve
had left vacant. Karn sat across from him realizing from the way he was
dressed just how much he had changed.
''So, how have you been?''
Karen asked nervously.
''Good and you?'' Jason
replied simply.
''Worn out from work, but
other
than that, fine. I heard you're running a coffee importing business now.
It's weird, I remember back when you wanted to be a doctor...'' Karen stopped
wishing she hadn't said that last part out loud,''I didn't mean to say
that...''
''No problem. I used to
hear it all the time from the Quartermaines. They constantly remeind me
that I was supposed to go to medical school, not ride around on a motorcycle
and import coffee with Sonny Corinthos.''
Karen closed her eyes at
the mention of his name and flashed back to when they were involved. At
the time, she was happy with him. He was older, gorgeous, charming and
powerful. He made her feel safe. Or so she thought at the time, but then
again, she was always so strung out on amphetamines that even she
didn't even know what she was thinking.
''Did I say something wrong?''
Jason wondered noticing the uncomfortable look that masked Karen's face.
''What? No, you didn't.
I was just remembering something. Um, how is Sonny?''
''Sonny's good. The warehouse
is keeping him busy, along with keeping an eye on the club while Luke's
out of town.''
''That's good to hear.
It's been so long, I just wanted to know how he's been. I was sorry to
hear about Brenda, I know that really affected him.''
''Yeah, but Sonny's dealing
with it. He's...'' Jason was interupted by a voice.
''Carrie?''
Chapter
3
Karen knew instantly whose
voice it was. There was only one person who still called her 'Carrie'.
''Um, Sonny...hello,''
Karen stammered.
She looked at him, taking
it all in at once. Being there and having Sonny show up was probably more
than she could handle, but she knew that she had to face her past and not
be ashamed of it. It's a part of her that caused a great deal of distruction,
but also taught her a lot. Even though she'd rather not admit it, Sonny
had been the one to teach her. While he had opened up that life to her,
he also helped her grow up. Her experience with stripping and drug abuse
showed her that she had to hit rock-bottom to discover who she really was.
An intelligent young woman with the potential to become a successful doctor.
She had completely turned her life around, and wondered if the same could
be said for Sonny.
''I must admit, I never
expected to see you in here,'' Sonny said honestly.
''Well, I didn't expect
to be able to do it, but I'm not the same scared, naive teenager who used
to work here,'' Karen replied bluntly, surprising herself.
''From what I hear, it's
Dr. Carrie, now.''
''Dr. Karen, actually.
I...'' Karen started.
''Karen, I'm sorry if I
offended you. I'm just not used to calling you Karen. So, you're really
a doctor, huh? I never knew you had an interest in medicine.''
''Yeah, who would have
thought? Karen Wexler wearing a lab coat and stethoscope tending to patients,
not dancing around a pole!'' Karen didn't know where this defensiveness
was coming from, but she couldn't help it.
If Sonny hadn't taken her
in and introduced her to stripping, she would have saved herself years
of therapy. No, that wasn't true. She was just as much to blame. Back then,
she didn't have the courage to say 'no'. Not even when Sonny seduced her.
In her head she knew it was wrong, but her heart was consumed with what
she thought was love. She got caught up in the moment and loved the fact
that Sonny Corinthos was showing interest in her.
''I'm sure you're an excellent
doctor, Karen. It just took you a while to find your area of...expertise.
The last time I ran into you, on the docks, you were with, oh, what was
his name?''
''Joe. Dr. Joe Scanlon.''
''Right, you and Dr. Joe.
How are you two doing?''
''Neil's out like a light.
I should head home, Karen's probably waiting for me so she can nag me about
canceling our date. Your foot any better?'' Joe asked coming down the stairs.
''A little, but ti's still
really sore. Do you really have to go now? Don't you want to stay and watch
the end of your favorite movie?'' Courtney pointed to the television.
''Ah, how can I say no
to Stand By Me? Just let me call Karen and let her know I'm going
to be late,'' Joe picked up the phone, ''Karen, where are you? Pick up
if you're there. Anyway, I'm going to be a little later than I thought.
I'm going to stay and watch a movie with Courtney. See you when I get home,
love ya.''
''Gee, Karen can't miss
you too much if she's not even home. Where could she be at this hour?''
''Maybe she's still at
work?'' Joe tried to convince himself, ''She gets mad a me when I
want to go out, but it's a different story when she wants to go
out!''
''Joe, don't worry about
it. Like you said before, she's just mad because you canceled your date.
She'll get over it. Let's just watch the movie, 'kay?''
Joe sat on the couch next
to Courtney. Before the credits even started rolling, they were both asleep.
''Things are going great.
Joe and I are doing fine,'' Karen lied.
''You may have changed,
but you're still a horrible liar. So, there's trouble in paradise?''
''I really don't want to
get into it.''
''I understand. It's not
like we're friends or anything. I'm probably the last person you want to
talk about your relationship problems with.''
''You've changed too, Sonny,
and it seems to be for the better,'' Sonny smiled at Karen's compliment,
''but I really don't know where we stand.''
''I've got to go. Sonny,
I'll see you tomorrow. Goodbye Karen.'' Jason left.
''I should probably get
going, too. Joe will be home soon...'' Karen began.
''Don't tell me he expects
you to be sitting up waiting for him everynight?''
''No, it's not like that.
He's with his son and he didn't know I was going out. I didn't get a chance
to call him.''
''He has a son? I take
it that's part of what seems to be bothering you?''
''Actually, it's Neil's
mother, Courtney, that bothers me.''
''Ah, I see. You're a fraid
that Joe will go back to her.''
Karen was surprised that
Sonny seemed so interested in her problems, but she was even more surprised
at how comfortable she was beginning to feel talking to him. Maybe they
could become friends? She definately believed in second chances, but it
wouldn't be easy.
''Not to be rude or anything,
but why are you so interested in my relationship problems?'' Karen confronted
him.
''Well, Karen,''
He emphasized her wish to no longer be called 'Carrie', ''I guess that
I just want to make sure that you're happy. You deserve it,'' Sonny admitted.
''Thank you for caring,
but I'm fine, really,'' Karen assured him, ''Where's the phone? I need
to call a cab.''
''Call a cab? Why? Johnny's
got the car out front waiting for me anyway, why don't you let me give
you a ride.''
''Sonny, I don't think...''
''Karen, it's just a ride.
Completely harmless, I promise.''
''In that case, I'd love
a ride back to the hospital,'' Karen accepted digging in her wallet for
maoney to pay the bill.
''Don't worry about that,
it's on the house,'' Sonny told her crumpling up the bill, ''Just don't
tell Luke!''
''Thanks,'' Karen followed
him out the door.
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