Hi everyone thanks for all the birthday wishes yesterday. I had a great day and I caught one of the stray kittens living under our deck. He, or she is now hiding under my bed, and early this morning was hanging out on the curtain rod looking down at me. If it's a boy his name will be Dexter, since he used to live under the deck, and if it's a girl I'm naming her Delilah, just cause I like the name. Anyway, onto another chapter. Thanks also for the positive feedback I've been getting. It really makes all the difference for me.
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"Brenda. "
Lois sat next to Brenda's bed holding her hand, rubbing it slightly in an attempt to keep it warm. She had been in the hospital for three days at this point and was starting to feel caved in. Last night had been the worst, a nurse had gone into her room to check her fluids and make sure that everything was going okay. Brenda had flipped out completely. She had ripped the IV out of her arm and then she had attacked the nurse. She hadn't woken up since they gave her the sedative.
"Come on honey wake up. "
"How is she? "
Jerry had been by to see Lois last night after he had heard about the incident. Brenda was still strapped to the bed. Her face streaked with tears, her eyes shut and her breathing even. Lois's eyes were wide open but Jerry could see the exhaustion there, and he frowned.
"No change. "
"You need to get some rest. "
Lois turned back to Brenda rubbing her hands and talking to her.
"Lois..."
"I'm not going anywhere Jerry. I can't leave her alone. She won't be able to handle it. "
"Okay, you don't have to leave, but take a break tell me what's going on. "
"Was Jax released? "
"The paperwork is going through now. "
Jerry sat down opposite Lois and watched his brother's wife's heart monitor. It beeped steadily.
"He's coming here right after his release. He wanted to come last night but they wouldn't let him. He's pissed. "
"Yeah. "
Lois didn't take her eyes off Brenda.
"Tell me about what's happening here Lois. Let me help, let Jax help. "
She swallowed.
"Nobody can help Brenda, Jerry, that's why she left Jax in the Bahamas without telling him they were married. "
"Why does she hate hospitals? "
Lois shook her head, tears spilling out of her eyes.
"Talk to me Lois. We can get Brenda the help she needs. "
"She doesn't need help Jerry. This only happens to her in hospitals. "
"Why? "
"I can't..."
"Lois does anyone else know the cause of her fear? "
"Alan Quarteramine, but he got the information from her sister Julia. "
"Other than that? "
"Just me. "
"Talk to me Lois. "
Jerry reached over and took her hand.
"I just want to help. "
***************************
Jax paced in his room. He was ready to burst. The news had come to him last
night from Jerry, apparently Brenda had freaked out and punched a nurse.
They had sedated her and strapped her down to keep her from hurting anybody.
Didn't they know what they were doing to her. Jax had felt his heart racing
and the panic and had known that something was wrong. The image he had had
of her in the hospital of a child hadn't helped either.
"Jax. "
"Dad, can I get out of here? "
"The paperwork is all taken care of son. "
"What room is she in? "
"Right down the hall Jax, 314. "
John watched Jax take off and followed him. His son had tried every trick in the book associated with his position as a WSB agent and nothing had been able to get him into Brenda's room last night. They had even kicked Lois out. He followed Jax. Well, this would be interesting.
*******************
"When she was 12 Brenda's father put her in an institution for troubled teens.
Well, actually it was more of a place rich parents would send their troublesome
kids to get rid of them. But Brenda wasn't really troublesome, she was just
lonely. Her sister was perfect and her father loved her, but Brenda was ignored
and so she did what any teenager who was ignored would do, she tried to get
attention, anyway she could. "
Jerry glanced over at Brenda as she shifted in her sleep. Lois brushed a strand of her hair away from her eyes.
"So once she went too far, at least the way Harlan saw it. She had just lost
a lot of weight and was feeling pretty good about herself, her 13th birthday
was approaching and her father had announced that there would be no party
for a little tubbo. Brenda was heartbroken. Well, she found out about a deal
her father was working on. She was pretty smart, and made arrangements for
the plan to fall through. Harlan was furious when he found out what she had
done. "
Lois heard the door open and turned to see Jax standing there, a look of
fury on his face. He turned and walked out of the room.
"So he had her committed. "
"It was horrible Jerry, from what she's told me about it, from the nightmares she's had about it still. They kept her in a padded room and drugged her, lord only knows what else they did to her, but she can't handle hospitals. When Sonny raped her, she went to a clinic, and that was hard enough but this is killing her. We have to get her out of here. "
"I'll see what I can do. "
Jerry leaned forward and kissed Lois's forehead.
"Thanks Jerry. "
He nodded and headed out the door. Jax already had Alan Quartermaine under the gun, luckily not literally.
"I want her release papers NOW! "
Jax had Alan against a wall.
"I'm afraid I can't do that. "
"You CAN, and you WILL! "
"She could be dangerous to herself, she's obviously proven to be dangerous to somebody else. "
"She was scared dammit. You know her history, no release her. "
Alan shook his head, arrogant wealthy son of a bitch.
"Not without consent from a family member. "
"Fine. "
Jax could feel his blood boiling.
"Give me the papers. "
"I said family..."
"And I'm her husband, give me the papers. "
"Without proof of identity..."
Jax brushed past Alan and headed back into Brenda's room. Lois looked up at him.
"Jax? "
"Get me a nurse who'll help me. "
He slowly pulled the IV out of Brenda's hand. He dimly heard someone in the hallway calling for security. Brenda stirred and looked up at him, eyes unfocused.
"Bobbie Jones. "
Jerry rushed down the hall and grabbed the first nurse he found. He pulled her back into Brenda's room.
"Excuse me..."
"Take these off her. "
"I..."
The nurse looked confused. Jax and Jerry whipped out their WSB badges at the same time.
"Now! "
She moved quickly unhooking all the machines and backing up.
"Jax? "
"Shhh, "
He kissed Brenda gently on the lips.
"I'm getting you out of here luv. "
"Okay. "
She snuggled her face into his neck fell asleep again.
"I'm warning you! "
Alan followed Jax, Jerry, John and Lois down the hall. Jane was at the nurses station signing Brenda's papers that somebody had the sense to get and then walked out of the hospital. Alan still bellowing in the background.
"Well, "
Jane draped a coat over Brenda as Jax carried her.
"that was interesting. Where to now? "
"Home. "
*************************
On Sonny's desk was a calendar with one date circled in red marker, September
20th . The big gala the Jacks men were throwing for the lady of the house.
Rumor had it that John Jacks intended to give his wife a gift. One of the
most precious sapphires in existence. She would only have it briefly. Sonny
smiled as he fingered the invitation he had forged for Cindy Johnson. Then
it would be his, along with Brenda.
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Hey everyone, well here's a kitty cat update, Dexter/Delilah is still under
my bed and as far as I know he/she hasn't come out yet today. Silly little
cat. So anyway, I decided to give the little sweetie some privacy and come
down to write. Thanks for the continuing support of this
story.
Susan
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Brenda stirred slightly and snuggled deeper into the comforter, her arms
wrapped around the stuffed bear in the bed with her and she sighed in her
sleep.
"How is she? "
Jax traced her nose with his thumb and smiled.
"Resting comfortably mum. I still can't believe this house. "
Jane rubbed her son's shoulders. Brenda had slept the whole night through after they had gotten her out of the hospital.
"Or this room. "
He gestured around him. Everything in the room was from his youth. A few model airplanes he had made were hanging from the ceiling. Even his teddy bear was still around, in Brenda's arms, missing ear and all. His surfing trophies lined his dresser, as well as his college diploma.
"Well, when we moved here a few months ago I didn't want you boys to feel as though you didn't have a home any more. I know how much the homestead in Alaska means to you but the solitude was getting to be a bit much. "
"I can understand that. "
Jane sat next to Jax.
"Why didn't you tell us about her? "
Jax swallowed.
"Honestly, I thought I had dreamed the whole thing. You know how there are moments in your life that you look back on and wonder, did that really happen or did I just imagine it? "
"I've had a few of those. "
"That's what I thought happened. I figured it was all the stress that led me to the Bahamas for rest had caught up with me and I had hallucinated the whole thing. "
"You'll tell me about the wedding? "
"It was beautiful mum. I'm sorry you weren't there. "
**********************
Jerry walked Lois up to the door of the Quartermaine mansion. She was ready
to crumble where she stood. He knocked on the door for her.
"Hello. "
A butler answered the door and frowned at him.
"I'm sorry but..."
He saw Lois.
"Mrs. Ashton, oh dear. "
He moved aside.
"Please come in. Brooke Lynne has been asking about you and Ned has been confused about what to say. Alan came home ranting and raving about some lunatics kidnaping Brenda out of the hospital. ‘
"Everything is okay Reginald. Where's my daughter? I've come to take her home. "
"Mommy! Mommy! "
Jerry turned and saw the most beautiful little girl flying towards Lois. Surprisingly, despite Lois's exhaustion she caught her daughter.
"Hey baby girl. Were you good for daddy? "
Brooke Lynne giggled as Lois kissed her cheek.
"She was perfect. "
"Ned..."
He held his hand up.
"Is Brenda okay? "
"She will be. "
Ned eyed Jerry. He didn't like the way the man was looking at Lois and his daughter. He knew love when he saw it.
"And you are? "
He held out a hand for the stranger.
"Jerry Jacks. "
"Jacks, did somebody say Jacks. The sharks...oh my..."
Edward Quartermaine rounded the corner and grimaced.
"Edward. "
Jerry nodded to the older man. A slight smile on his face.
"Jerry. How's your father? The no good bastard..."
"Dad's fine Edward. I'll tell him you were asking after him. I'm surprised he hasn't dropped by to see you yet. "
"See me? Why on earth would that old coot..."
"But you mother has been by. "
Lilah Quartermaine wheeled into the foyer and took Edward's hand squeezing it.
"Here? "
Edward was fuming.
‘Yes here dear. She wanted to introduce herself to me since they've just moved here a few months ago. "
"In Port Charles? All the Jackses? "
"All of us. "
Jerry laughed. Then he looked at Lois she was barely hanging on.
"Well, it's been a pleasure to meet all of you, but I think I had better get these young ladies home."
Brooke Lynne looked over at Jerry.
"You talk funny. "
"Brooke..."
Ned's mouth had dropped open.
"I do? "
Jerry was slowly falling in love again. Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief. Where had she gotten that wonderful red hair?
"Uh-huh, funny but nice. "
The three year old grinned at him and he laughed. Lois was yawning. Jerry reached out and plucked Brooke Lynne out of her arms. She laughed.
"I'm from Australia. "
"Kanga's..."
Brooke held up her favorite stuffed animal. It was Roo from the Winnie the Pooh stories.
"Yeah, kanga's and koala's..."
"Lotsa k's. "
Lois stumbled on her feet.
"What do you say we get your mommy home and tucked in. "
"She's tired? "
"Very, and you can meet my mum and dad. They talk funny too. "
Brooke Lynne clapped.
"Kay. "
Everyone watched stunned as Jerry talked to Brooke Lynne. Usually she was a little wary of strangers but she just snuggled into Jerry's arms and waved bye to her daddy. When they were out the door Edward grumbled and headed into the living room. Ned just stood there watching his life walk out the door with another man.
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"We were exploring one day and found this beautiful grotto. Our tour guide
told us it was a sacred space. He said that it was where a lot of the locals
would go to get married, and that there was a similar place in Hawaii, but
theirs was more beautiful. It was mum, there was a waterfall cascading down
right next to it, and birds signing and flowers, all different kinds of tropical
flowers were everywhere. But there was a kind of a magic there as well, a
feeling you got when you stepped into it. Brenda and I both felt it at the
same time and when I asked her to marry me the next day she knew where she
wanted to do it. "
Jane watched Jax stroke Brenda's palm as he talked.
"So, that night we went back with the guide and his wife, and they got a local shaman, who was a very good friend of theirs to preform the ceremony. The moon was full and the sky was clear, stars everywhere. It was amazing. And before I knew it Brenda was my wife. We spent the night dancing under the stars with Jack and his wife and their friends who threw us a great part at the edge of the hotels property and then we went back to the room. The next morning I woke up and she was gone. Every single trace of her. Except for the ring. "
Jax fingered the ring on Brenda's finger and smiled at his mother. There were tears in her eyes.
"Mum..."
"No, "
Jane wiped the tears away.
"I'm just happy son, happy that you found her and that you'll have a chance. From what your father says she's had a rough time of it. "
"Yeah. "
Jax smiled as Brenda opened her eyes and stretched.
"Hey you. "
"Hi. How are you feeling. "
Brenda smiled at the woman sitting next to Jax. She was as beautiful as the picture he had shown her when they got married.
"Better, but hungry. "
Jane laughed and patted Brenda's leg.
"I'll go get something for you dear. "
"Mrs. Jacks...I just want to..."
"Not now dear, and call me Jane, you and my son need some time alone. "
Jane squeezed Jax's hand and walked out of the room leaving Brenda and Jax
watching each other cautiously, neither knowing where to begin.
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Chp 15
Hi everyone. Well, this morning I woke up to a little tap on my shoulder and there was my wild little kitten looking curiously at me. When I turned to him/her, she ran back under the bed, but I took it as a good sign. Anyway, today's episode and the beautiful use of that wonderful song from Armageddon, have inspired me so here's the next chapter. Susan :-)
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"So. "
Brenda fingered the one remaining ear on the bear.
"So. "
"Are you okay? "
She reached up to brush a wild curl out of his eye.
"Yeah, just a little tired still. "
"Why don't you get some rest? "
"Because Brenda, we need to talk. There are so many questions I have for you..."
"Jax I..."
"Let me finish. "
He held up a hand.
"I understand that there were several factors that cause you to leave the Bahamas without so much as a note to me. But now I think I deserve some answers. Wouldn't you agree? "
"You can't get involved in this Jax. It's too dangerous. "
Jax sighed.
"And there are a few things I need to tell you too. I suppose if I had been up front with you in the first place you never would have run from me. "
"Oh Jax, "
Brenda felt herself drowning in his eyes.
"I wasn't running from you. I was running for you. "
"But you didn't need to Brenda, look, I'm not a car salesman. "
"You're not? "
"I'm not. "
‘Then what..."
Jax pulled his WSB badge out of his back pocket and handed it to her. She held it in her hand, uncertain of how to react.
"The WSB, then you're a spy? "
"Well, kind of but not quite. "
Brenda digested this new bit of information.
"Have you ever killed people? "
"Only when absolutely necessary. "
"I have. "
Jax stopped.
"What? "
"I killed someone, that's why I left that morning, that's why Sonny Corinthos is after me. Because he's the only living soul who knows about it. "
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Jane hummed to herself in the kitchen. It felt good to have everyone home
again. John was in his office finishing up some work, Jax and his wife were
upstairs trying to sort things out and Jerry...just walked in.
"Hi mum. "
"Hi Jerry. You hungry? "
"In a minute mum, I'd like you to meet someone first. "
Jane turned around to see Jerry holding the most precious little girl she had ever seen. Sparkling blue eyes smiled at her. Her hair was a wild mass of red curls.
"Jerry? "
"No mum, unfortunately she's not mine. This, "
Jerry dipped forward and Brooke Lynn giggled.
"Is Miss Brooke Lynne Cerullo-Ashton. Lois's daughter. "
Wiping her hand on a towel, Jane approached her son and the little girl. He looked surprisingly comfortable with her. Funny, she had never pegged Jerry for a man who would like children. This new information about her eldest child made her grin. She held her hand out to Brooke Lynne and shook her hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Brooke. "
"Thank you. Unca Jerry, she doesn't talk as funny as you. "
Jane laughed. My, my the child was already calling him uncle.
"No dear I don't. And where, may I, ask is your mommy? "
"Lois is asleep in the car mum. I was hoping you could get Brooke Lynne settled while I got Lois into the guest room. "
"No problem son. "
Jane reached out and took Brooke Lynne from him.
"Are you tired? "
"Nope. "
"Hungry? "
"Uh-huh..."
"Well then. Why don't we see what I have for you then. "
"Kay. "
Jerry smiled as he watched his mother put Brooke on the counter as she continued to make sandwiches. He headed out to get Lois. When he gathered her in his arms she groaned.
"Jerry? Where are we? "
"My families house hon. You need to get some rest. "
"Okay. Jerry..."
"Yes Lois. "
"You make me feel all funny when you touch me. "
Jerry grinned as she fell asleep against his shoulder.
"You do the same thing to me Lois. "
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"So the ball is the 20th of September. All of the wealthiest people in Port
Charles society, plus a few other major players will be there. It's a celebration
of Jane and John's 40th wedding anniversary. They got married young. Anyway,
John is presenting Jane with the Angel Sapphire."
"I thought that was just a legend. "
Cindy turned to the man who had interrupted her. Jackson Miller, yeesh, if he wasn't such a good thief she would have nothing to do with him.
"Well, it's real and it's a 5 carat star sapphire. It's value is incalculable. Apparently Mr. Jacks found it on one of his wanderings. "
"And we're supposed to steal it? "
Maribeth Taylor piped up from a corner.
"Yes, it and one other thing. "
"What's that? "
Cindy eyed each of the eight people in the room.
"Mrs. Brenda Barrett-Jacks. "
****************************
Jax swallowed nervously.
"Who did you kill Brenda? "
She looked up from her hands, tears spilling over her cheeks.
"My mother. "
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