~ The Docks ~

It was a beautiful spring day and a cool breeze blew through the air. Courtney came to the stairs of the docks and flashed back to the intense kiss experienced here nights before. It had been a few days now and she kept her distance, plagued with guilt over kissing a man that was not her husband, a man she hardly knew, but knew all the same. She hadn’t met with her stranger since the night of their kiss, and she felt bad about that too, but made vows and intended to keep them. Her parents had quickly given up on their marriage, and she was not going to be as weak.

Jason came across the docks and memories of nights earlier dashed through his mind. He hadn't seen her in days, but couldn't get her and their kiss out of his head. He missed her, but understood her need to stay away. She was married after all and he wanted to respect that, but deep down he couldn’t. She got to him in a way no other woman has before. All these conflicting emotions were running through his head. It was a new experience for him, and he wasn't sure what to do about it.

She shook her thoughts free and continued down the steps on her way to meeting Skye for lunch at Kelly's. She and Skye had taken to each other, both outcasts in the Quartermaine mansion.

He continued along the docks, trying to clear is mind of thoughts of her. He had work to do; that would surely help him focus on something other than her.

Suddenly she felt a jolt, as she came in contact with a hard chest. He put his arms out to catch the person who had just run into him.

"Sorry," she looked up to see who she collided with. "Hi…"

"Hi," he said, dropping his hands from her shoulders.

"I'm sorry about the other night. I shouldn't have run off like that. I just couldn't be near you."

"I understand, I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have kissed you," he told her, staring into her ocean blue eyes.

She let out a soft short laugh, "You didn't exactly do it yourself."

"Yeah, but I shouldn't have let it happen…" he paused, looked down at the ground beneath him, then back up to her. "I miss you though."

She smiled up at him, "I miss you too." Their late night meetings were an escape for her and not having that these past few nights left her feeling trapped and stir crazy.

"I want to be your friend. I hope we can still hang out together if I promise not to kiss you anymore." It was a promise he didn't want to make, but he didn't want to lose her, even if it was only a friendship he was holding on to.

"I'd like that… a lot" she smiled. "You've been a great friend to me and I don't want to lose that."

He returned her smile, with eyes that shone brightly. He was about to suggest a ride on his bike when he heard a loud voice from behind and groaned.

"Well well Morgan, when did you get back in town?" Jason just stood there staring at Taggart, completely ignoring him and the other officer standing beside him. "Aw, don't clam up on me now." Courtney watched the scene play out before her with a mixture of confusion and curiosity.

"Look, am I committing a crime? Do you want to arrest me for talking to someone on the docks?" Jason finally said.

"Watch your step Morgan. I'm just waiting for you to screw up and you will screw up." Jason just rolled his eyes as Taggart walked away.

Once they were gone, she moved closer to Jason and asked, "What was all that about?"

"Nothing, he just likes to harass me."

"Oh…" She didn't want to push the issue. "So…Morgan, that's your name?"

He smiled and shrugged shyly. "Hey now that you know my name, don't you think I should get to know yours?" he said playfully.

Smiling, she told him, "It's Courtney, Courtney Quartermaine."

Jason froze, the shock setting in. This woman who had invaded his every thought and emotion was Sonny's sister and his brother's wife.

"Hey...is something wrong?" she asked nervously. He had all of a sudden gotten real quiet on her.

"What? Ah no, nothing Courtney," he smiled.

"You kinda zoned out on me there."

"Sorry."

"It's ok," she said looking up into his eyes, still confused by the moment that just past between them. "I have to meet someone for lunch, but I'll see you around?"

"Sure."

She gave him one last smile and then made her way to Kelly's. Jason was left on the docks to ponder this new information. He didn't know what to do. Should he tell Sonny that he has somewhat formed a relationship with his sister? Should he tell Courtney who he was? He didn't know, but there was one thing he knew for sure. There was no way he was going to let AJ hurt her again.

A few hours later, Courtney returned from her lunch with Skye. She was about to enter the living room when she heard AJ screaming into the phone.

"WHAT? When did he get back in town? What do you mean you don't know? Then what the hell good are you? Find out why he is here and get back to me tonight! This could ruin everything!" AJ slammed the phone down and took a few deep breaths.

Courtney cautiously entered the living room and asked, "What was that about?"

"Courtney! When did you get home?" AJ jumped as if he was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"About 10 minutes ago, what has you so upset?"

He sighed, "My brother is back in town."

"The brain damaged one?"

"Yeah, Jason, and I don't know why he's back and it bothers me," he told her.

"Why does it matter?" she shrugged.

"All my life, I've been compared to him. He was golden and I was the screw up. And now things are really starting to fall into place. I have a gorgeous wife," he said pulling her closer to him, "I working on getting my son back. I'm so close to having the family I've always wanted, and I just know Jason will screw that up for me. He always does."

"How could he? He has nothing to do with us."

"He will find a way. He has taken my son and my wife before, and he could easily do it again," he said, looking into her eyes.

Courtney didn’t understand him. She didn't even know AJ's brother and he was worrying that he would ruin their marriage. "He won't, I won't let him," she told him with a reassuring hug.