Heart's Desire-17
by: Cristina
It is around three in the afternoon, when Jax hears a knock on his officedoor. "Come in," he says without looking up.
Sonny strides into his office, carrying a large manilla envelope. "Well, Jaxxy boy, hard at work, I see."
Wearily, Jax looks up at Sonny. "How on earth did you get in here?"
"Simple. I just waited until your assistant left her desk." Without waiting for an invitation, Sonny sits down across from Jax. "I thought that we should have a little talk."
"Get out of my office."
Sonny leans back in the chair. "But, Jax, we have so much to discuss."
"We have nothing to discuss."
Sonny goes on as if Jax didn't say anything. "It's really sad that you have such bad luck with women. First, there's Miranda, who gets blown up and would rather make you think she's dead than actually be with you. Then, there's Brenda, who never really loved you to begin with."
"I've had enough of you."
"Don't you want to hear what's wrong with Cassie? I mean, she is gorgeous, I'll give you that. Too bad she'll be spending the next 25 years in jail."
Jax looks at him like he's crazy. "What are you talking about?"
Sonny slides the envelope across Jax's desk. "It really is a shame that a woman like her should go to prison. You really should improve your choice of women. A murderer this time."
Jax takes out a stack of picture that are inside the envelope. They arepictures of Cassie leaving Dorman's apartment building. She's wearing what she was wearing the night that he was killed. Jax looks up at Sonny.
"That's right. Just a few hours after she threatened him at Luke's, your lovely little girlfriend put a bullet in his head."
"That's a lie."
"The pictures don't lie, Jax. I had a PI following her ... Fair is fair, the two of you were investigating me, I figured it was perfectly within my rights for me to investigate her. Anyway, look what he turned up." Sonny stands up and walks toward the door. "I just wanted you to be aware of the situation. So you aren't taken by surprise when the police come knocking on your door." Sonny opens the door. "Have a nice day."
**********
About an hour later, Cassie hears a loud knocking on the front door of the carriage house. She walks over and opens the door. It's Jax. "Hi there. I didn't expect to see you so soon. I thought you had work to do."
Jax walks inside, closing the door behind him. "Yeah, well I had something important to discuss with you."
Cassie perches on the arm of the sofa. "This sounds serious."
"It is." He sits down next to her. "Where did you go last night after you left my house?"
"I told you, I went to my office."
Jax hands her the pictures that Sonny gave him. "Not according to these."
She flips through the pictures. "Where did you get these?"
"From Sonny Corinthos. He stopped by my office today to tell me that you were this close to being arrested for murdering Dorman."
Cassie sets the pictures on the table. "Jax, I'm sorry that I lied to you.But I promised ... I promised that I wouldn't let this get out."
"Promised who?"
"The Quartermaines."
Jax looks at her. "What do the Quartermaines have to do with this?"
"The other night, after I left the lighthouse ... I really intended to let it go with Dorman until we could figure out a plan. But, my cellphone rang and it was some woman saying that Emily Quartermaine was with Dorman. I thought it might be a setup, but I didn't want to take the chance. So, I went to his apartment. The door was open and Emily was there. She was higher than a kite. I don't know how she got there, but I suspect Dorman lured her. Anyway, on the couch ... Dorman was lying there dead. And the gun was on the table."
"Emily killed him."
Cassie nods. "I think so. I wasn't sure what to do, so I called AJ."
"Why did you call AJ?"
"Because, she's his sister. Before he came, I wiped any prints off the gun. When he came, AJ agreed with me that we shouldn't get the police involved. He took Emily out the back, while I went around to get my car. I guess that's when Sonny's spies got the pictures of me leaving."
Jax nods. "Then what happened?"
"AJ and I took Emily over to the Quartermaines. We decided to tell them what happened, because Emily needed help. Alan and Monica checked her intoa rehab center and Ned made me promise not to tell anyone about this."
"Then why are you telling me now."
Cassie reaches over and caresses his face. "Because I love you. And I hated lying to you, even for one day. And I don't want you to think that I killed Dorman. Can you forgive me?"
"I'll try. Why did you go over there in the first place?"
Cassie gets up and starts pacing. "Because ... Someone had to stop him.He was using Emily to get dirt on her family. I know what that feels like. I told you about that reporter that used me. He did the same thing Dorman did. Except my diary was actually published in some sleazy taboid."
Jax suddenly understands. "That's why you reacted the way you did."
Cassie is about to say more when there is a knock on the door. It's AJ. She lets him in. AJ looks over at Jax uncertainly, not sure if he should say what he's about to say in front of him.
Cassie makes the decision for him. "AJ, it's okay. I already told Jax what happened. I know that I promised Ned--"
"Don't worry about that," AJ interrupts. "I was hoping that you would tell him. This is serious. And since I'm the only family member willing to come out here, I'm afraid I'm the messenger with bad news."
Cassie sits next to Jax. "What now?"
"Cass ... the police are about to arrest you for killing Dorman."
"You can't be serious." Jax stands up. "This is a joke, right?"
"I only wish it was. You know, Grandfather has a judge friend. Apparently, Mac has asked for a warrant. He called, because he knows the situation with Dorman and my mother. Ned thought it would be best to tell you."
Cassie nods. "To see if I'm willing to go to jail?"
AJ shakes his head. "No. I won't let you go to jail for a crime you aren't responsible for."
Cassie smiles. "Don't worry about it. I have no intention of going to jail. AJ, I think you should leave now, and forget that you came here."
"What are you planning?"
She walks over and kisses his cheek. "Just trust me."
After AJ leaves, Cassie walks over to Jax and kisses him. "I'm sorry ... but, I think you know what I have to do."
"What's that?"
"Leave Port Charles."
Jax can't believe she's saying this. "Are you crazy? You are going to leave town?"
"What choice do I have? Thanks to Sonny, the police think I killed that slime. Obviously, he had that woman call and tell me that Emily was with Dorman. But I can't tell the police that. I'm not going to offer Emily up to the police. Besides, they wouldn't believe it anyway. The comissioner would much rather get back at me for that story I wrote about him."
He slowly nods. "I'm begining to see your point. What are you going to do?"
"I have to explain the situation to Stefan and Alexis, they can arrange things. I'll have to leave right now."
"You would really spend the rest of your life running from a crime you didn't commit."
Cassie sighs. "Jax, it isn't forever. When Emily is stronger, then we can straighten things out."
He leans over and kisses her. "Okay. Let's go talk to your uncle."
"No, Jax, I think you should stay out of this. I don't want Mac to have any reason to arrest you."
Jax smiles. "He won't be able to arrest me because I'll be with you."
"What??"
He pulls her into his arms. "Did you really think that I would let you do this all by yourself?"
Cassie smiles and caresses his face. "Jax, I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm not about to let you become a fugitive because of me."
"Let me worry about that. Cassie, you were there for me when I needed you. You risked your life to help me with Jerry and this mess with Corinthos. It's because of me that he's trying to have you put in jail. He set you up for murder because of me. Like it or not, I'm coming with you."
She shakes her head in wonder before kissing him. "I wonder what I ever did to deserve you."
Jax smiles and hugs her. "Just lucky, I guess."
**********
A few hours later, there is a knock on the front door of Windemere. Mrs Lansbury ushers Mac Scorpio into the living room. Stefan and Alexis are sitting there waiting for him. Mac doesn't waste any time on small talk.
"Where is she?"
"Where is who," Stefan asks, feigning ignorance.
"You know exactly who I'm talking about. I have a warrant for the arrest of your niece. I was just out at the carriage house and I stopped by the paper. She's nowhere to be found. That leaves you. Listen, it's best for all involved if you just tell me where she is."
Stefan smiles slowly. "I honestly have no idea where she is. Cassandra doesn't usually clear her plans with me. She's a bit of a free spirit and tends to do exactly as she pleases. I'm sorry, but I can't help you."
"Are you saying that you don't know where she is?"
Alexis clears her throat. "Would you mind giving me a copy of the warrant? I'm sure that I'm entitled, as her attorney."
Stefan nods. "Out of curiosity, what are the charges?"
Mac hands Alexis a copy of the warrant. "When I find your niece, she will be under arrest for the murder of Pierce Dorman."
"That's ridiculous," Nikolas interrupts from the entryway. "Cassie would never kill anyone."
Alexis stands next to him. "It's okay, we're handling this. Comissioner, Cassie isn't here. We have no idea where she went. Now, I suggest you leave our property at once."
Mac shakes his head. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that you don't know where she is?"
"I don't care what you believe, Comissioner," Stefan replies. "Now, unless you have a document granting you permission to be on my property, I suggest you leave."
Mac realizes that Stefan has every right to get rid of him. "And I suppose it's a coincidence that Jax is also nowhere to be found."
"I have very little knowledge of my niece's relationship with Mr Jacks. Besides, even if they did decide to leave town, I believe that is fully within their rights. At no point did you ask Cassandra to remain in town. How is she to know that you are about to arrest her on some trumped up charges?"
"So you do know where she is."
Stefan shakes his head. "That's not what I said. Now, I would like you to leave."
Defeated, Mac leaves; but he isn't about to give up. Once he is sure Mac has left, Stefan turns to Alexis. "This is going to be a big problem."
She sits down and looks over the warrant. "I know. I swear, Cassie gets herself into more situations than I can even fathom."
Nikolas doesn't like the sound of this. "What are you saying?"
Alexis looks over at him. "I'm saying that thanks to Sonny Corinthos, the police have plenty of evidence tying Cassie to Dorman's murder." She glances at Stefan. "It might be a while until they can return. If she is determined to let Emily Quartermaine recover in peace ... I'm not sure when Cassie and Jax can return to Port Charles."
**********
Meanwhile, Jax and Cassie are on one of Stefan's many planes, flying to Athens. She is resting her head on his shoulder, and Jax thinks that she is asleep. He gently kisses the top of her head.
"I'm so sorry about this," he whispers. "I didn't think Sonny would get you involved in his vendetta with me. I should have realized. But I promise, that I will protect you."
Cassie sighs and takes his hand. "It really isn't your fault. You need to stop blaming yourself. If this is anyone's fault, it's mine. I guess I should have gotten the police involved the moment I found Emily. I just thought that I was helping her."
"You were. I wish it hadn't come to this."
"Me too. Hey, I'm sure Alexis will be able to straighten all of this out before long, and then we'll be back in Port Charles. I still can't believe that Uncle was so calm about the whole thing. I fully expected him to flip out."
Jax leans over and kisses her. "I told you that he isn't so bad. You know, Stefan loves you very much. He just has his own way of showing it. I mean, he arranged for this flight out of New York before Mac could have gotten word to the authorities. And once we land in Greece ... there's nothing the police can do."
"Yeah. Are you sure that you want to go to the island?"
"Are you sure? Cass, you're the one that has all of these negative memories of the place."
She nods and snuggles into his arms. "I know, but it's still home to me, you know? Besides, Grandmother's gone, and Alexis called ahead for the entire staff to leave on holiday. We'll be all alone."
He smiles as she climbs into his lap and kisses him passionately. "In our own private paradise."
**********
Back in Port Charles, AJ is not about to sit by and let Cassie get railroaded for a crime that she didn't commit. He decides that Emily won't be too traumatized if he comes to see her. AJ sits down opposite her in her private room.
"Em? I know that you aren't happy to be here, but we all thought it would be the best thing."
She nods slowly. "I know. And I do want to get help. Tell Cassie I'm sorry ... I know that I promised her I wouldn't do any more drugs. She's really mad at me, isn't she?"
"No, she isn't. Cass understands."
"Is she here to see me?"
AJ takes a deep breath. "I know that she wants to come see you, but she can't."
"Why not?"
"Well. See, Jax and Cassie ... they had to leave Port Charles for a little while."
"For how long?"
AJ takes her hand. "Well, the police think that she killed Dr Dorman."
Emily's eyes widen. "She didn't. AJ, I know that she didn't do it."
"I know, Em, but you've got to keep quiet about that."
"Why?"
"I don't think you're ready to deal with this right now."
Emily doesn't understand. "Deal with what? Wait, you think I killed him? AJ, I swear, I didn't."
"Maybe you don't remember; you were pretty out of it. But when Cassie found you, there was noone else there besides you and a gun."
"I know that, but I remember exactly what happened. I got some pot from this guy at school ... I think there was something else in it. Anyway, he took me to Dorman's apartment. I didn't know that was where we were going. After Matt left ... Dorman was ranting about Monica and about Cassie. Then, there was a knock on the door. I don't remember the guy's name. They said they were there for Mr Diaz or something."
AJ leans forward. "Then what happened?"
"Then, Dr Dorman told me to go in the other room. He said they were dangerous, so I should hide. I heard them arguing and they said something about Sonny."
"Sonny Corinthos?"
Emily nods. "Yeah. I didn't really understand everything ... the drugs and all ... but they said Sonny was taking over and they didn't need Dorman. Then there was this loud bang. Then nothing. I waited a little while before I went into the living room and then I saw him there ... dead."
AJ hugs her. "That must have been very upsetting for you to see."
She nods. "Yeah. Then Cassie came inside. Everything was pretty fuzzy after that. She told me to sit down until you came. Then you both took me home. And here I am. See, Cassie didn't kill him. I can tell the police that."
"I wish it was that simple, Em. But they will just think that you are trying to cover for her. Besides, hearing about Dorman luring you there will only give the police more evidence to use against Cassie. Let me handle this okay? I promise, that nothing bad is going to happen to her."
**********
Jax and Cassie have just arrived on Persephone, the Cassadine's Greek island. They are walking in the large doors of the mediterranean villa that sits atop a hill in the center of the island. The building is made of white stucco with a red-tiled roof. There are palm trees everywhere and the beach is covered with sand as white as snow.
The villa is impressive to say the least. There are huge rooms with vaulted ceilings and every room is decorated in the same color theme of pale teal, coral and white. The floors are whitewashed oak, and there are huge white columns. Cassie drops her bag in the doorway and walks into the gigantic living room. There is a huge white sectional couch with teal and coral pillows on it. The wall is lined with floor to ceiling windows, offering a view of the ocean and beach below.
Jax walks behind Cassie who is standing in front of the windows, watching the waves crash below. He puts his arms around her and nuzzles her neck. She smiles and wraps his arms around her more tightly.
"What do you think?"
"Well, princess, it's hard to believe that this is the oppressive island dwelling you've described."
Cassie nods to herself. "I know. The villa is very different from the way it was when I was growing up. After Uncle Stavros died, Helena didn't come here much. It was usually me, Nikolas and Stefan. When I got my inheritance, I completely redecorated the whole place, because I didn't think Nikolas needed all the darkness that I had grown up with. Of course, then Uncle found Windemere."
"You are so down on your uncle."
"Jax, it's my one pleasure in life. Don't shame me into giving it up."
Jax turns her around, so he is looking into her eyes. "I don't think that's your only pleasure," he says mischeviously as he wraps his arms around her body.
Cassie smiles and strokes the back of his neck. "You're right." She leans forward and kisses him deeply and passionately. Her hands move to the task of unbuttoning his shirt. Jax slowly unzips her dress. She lets it slide to the ground before sliding Jax's shirt from his shoulders. Cassie finds her way back into his arms and rests her head against his chest for a moment, just absorbing the warmth of his body. Jax wraps his arms around Cassie and lifts her into his arms.
She kisses him tenderly before resting her head on his shoulder. Cassie truly loves him. And she can't believe that Jax is willing to risk his freedom to stand by her. Jax is the most incredible man in the world. And she is not going to do anything to screw up their relationship.
Jax carries her to the couch and sits down, with Cassie on his lap. She runs her fingers through his hair before lovingly kissing his lips. Slowly, their kisses grow hotter and more passionate. Jax carefully lowers her onto the couch as their passion for one another makes them oblivous to the world around them
...to be continued...