Jason heard a second shot coming from behind him. Courtney could feel the piercing pain in her side as she looked at Jason. Reaching for her side she pulled her hand up and saw the blood. “Jason, what’s happening?” she screamed as he looked at her. Turning quickly Jason surveyed the situation, spotting the assailant. AJ stood at the edge of the clearing, holding the gun.

“You shot her!” Jason yelled as he left Courtney’s side and went after AJ. Jason reached AJ before he could raise the gun again to fire. Jason hit AJ in the jaw, and then the stomach. AJ dropped the weapon and Jason kicked it away from them. “How in God’s name could you have shot her.” Jason continued to pound on AJ until he heard something.

“Jason, help me,” Courtney cried out through the pain. Dropping AJ in a heap on the ground Jason raced to Courtney’s side. Jason looked at the wound. Grabbing a napkin he applied pressure to the wound and then looked into her face.

“You’re going to be alright, I promise. Just hold on to me.” With these words Jason scooped Courtney into his arms. Courtney screamed from the pain and then went limp in Jason’s arms. ‘That’s probably for the best, this way she won’t feel the pain for now.’ Jason thought to himself as he made his way to the limo outside. Jumping in the car he told the driver to get to the hospital now.

Jason held her gently as they sped to GH. When they pulled up in the ambulance bay, Jason flew out of the car with Courtney in his arms. Bursting through the door, Jason screamed at the nurse on duty, “She’s been shot. Someone help her.” Rushing from the trauma room they brought a gurney and he laid her gently on it. Going with her as they wheeled her into the room, Bobbie stopped Jason at the door.

“Jason you have to wait out here,” she stated.

“But she needs me, I need to be with her,” Jason insisted.

Taking Jason by the arms Bobbie looked at him and calmly said, “Jason, let them do their jobs. I will let you know as soon as there is something to know. Now is there anyone who you would like me to call for you?”

“Sonny needs to know, but I had better call him, can you call Mike?” Jason replied as he ran his fingers through his hair. Reaching in his pocket he realized he didn’t have his phone. He hadn’t had his phone at the gardens or his gun. Had he taken them maybe he could have stopped AJ. “AJ!” Where was that little bastard. Jason was suddenly filled with a rage he had never experienced.

“What about AJ? You don’t really want me to call him do you Jason?” Bobbie asked, confused by Jason’s utterance.

“No, he is who shot her.”

“Who shot Miss Matthews?” asked Taggert as he entered the ER. Jason turned around and looked at Taggert. Never having been a fan of the PCPD Jason scowled as Taggert approached him.

“AJ did.” Jason stated. “We were at the botanical gardens at the zoo and he came out of the trees and fired two bullets before”

“Before what? You killed him and disposed of the body where no one will find it.”

“No before I got the gun from him and beat the hell out of him. I left the gun, and AJ in a bloody heap on the floor. Now go catch him and lock him away because I swear I will kill him if I find him first.”

Seeing Bobbie come from the trauma room, Jason side stepped Taggert and approached Bobbie. “How is she? Is she going to be alright?” Jason quizzed Bobbie, not giving her a chance to answer.

“They are going to take her to surgery to remove the bullet and to explore the damage. We’ll know more when she’s out of surgery and in recovery.” Bobbie finally said between Jason’s questions. Taking Jason by the hand she continued, “Now let’s go get you some coffee and I’ll take you to the surgery waiting room. The doctors will come out and talk to you when they’re done.” Handing Jason a small bag with her personal belongings Bobbie led him to the waiting room for surgery.

5 hours later in the waiting room……

Jason paced the floor of the waiting room, pausing occasionally to stare out the window. Mike was down the hall getting some coffee. Sitting on the couch were Carly and Sonny. Carly was asleep and her head rested against Sonny’s shoulder. Rising from the couch, Sonny laid Carly down and removed his coat to cover her. Sonny walked over to Jason at the window. Placing his hand on Jason’s shoulder, Sonny tried to comfort Jason as they waited for news. “Sonny, I don’t know what I would do if I lost her. She is everything to me. I just can’t see how my life goes on without her.” Jason stated, almost in a daze.

“Don’t be thinking like that,” Sonny replied. “She is strong and she’ll fight this. She’ll fight to come back to us, to you.”

Playing with the ring Courtney had given him earlier that evening Jason spoke, “You know, I had just asked Courtney to marry me when it happened. I guess she really felt the same way because she gave me this for Valentine’s Day. She was so happy, and then it all changed. Man, are they ever going to tell us what’s going on?” Jason turned and continued his pacing.

After some time Monica emerged from the operating rooms and approached Jason. “The bullet punctured a kidney and nicked her spleen. We repaired the kidney but we did have to remover her spleen. She’s being moved to recovery now. She’s in critical but stable condition.”

“She is going to be alright? Can I see her?” Jason quizzed her.

“We’ll know more in 12-24 hours but for now she is stable. You can see her, but only one at a time. Come with me.” Monica replied. Jason followed Monica down the hall to Courtney’s room.

Opening the door Jason looked at Courtney. She had tubes and machines all around her. Grabbing a stool he rolled up beside her and gently took her hand. Leaning forward he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Holding her hand he reached inside his pocket and retrieved the bag Bobbie had given him earlier. Jason removed the ring from the bag and gently placed the ring back on Courtney’s finger. “Now, right back where it belongs,” he whispered to her. Holding her hand between both of his he raised his hands to his forehead, almost like he was praying.

Jason stayed there for hours. Holding her hand, stroking her hair, talking to her. Still Courtney did not wake up. Jason was exhausted, but even when Sonny insisted he go rest he would not. “I am going to be the first thing she sees when she wakes up!” Jason had protested the last time. Sonny opened the door to bring Jason some coffee but instead found him asleep. Jason was sitting on the stool next to her bed. He had laid his head down beside her leg and was holding her hand against his cheek. Sonny tried to exit the room quietly but Jason jumped when he heard the noise.

“Courtney?” Jason inquired. Looking at her he saw no change. Turning his head he saw Sonny who returned a half smile to his friend.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. I just thought I would leave you this,” Sonny stated as he handed Jason the coffee.

“Thanks.” Jason returned his attention to Courtney as Sonny left the room. Taking a sip of the coffee, Jason set the cup down and lowered his head again. Placing her hand on his cheek he stroked her hand gently. “I just want you to come back to me so we can celebrate all the things ahead of us. I need you to come back so we can get married, and have a baby, and spend the rest of our lives together. Anything you want, I will do if you will just come back to me.”

Courtney gently pulled her finger across Jason’s face. Noticing the small movement in her Jason sprang up and looked at her. Stirring a bit, Courtney began to become more awake. Moving his body up he leaned to her face and said, “Courtney, can you hear me?”

Courtney moaned. Moving her hand again Jason took it in his hand and gently stroked it. Pressing the nurse call button he continued to talk to her. “Come on baby. Come back to me,” he said to her as she slowly awoke.

“Jason,” she whispered as she opened her eyes.

“Hey beautiful. Welcome back. Don’t try to move till they come and check you out. You had me scared there for a little while, but I knew you’d come back to me, to us. I love you so much,” Jason continued his words as she began to stir in the bed. Smiling at her, he was just so happy someone had been listening to his prayers.