Replay by Tyra

Julia looked at Thomas incredulously as he told them of Jax's beliefs and what plan he thought would bring them together again. She thought it had no hope of succeeding, borderline criminal, and wildly dangerous. She was so angry at Jax at that moment and she let her feelings be known to Jerry and Thomas.

"Why should I go to all that trouble to get my sister back together with that man. Look at all the pain he's put her through this year!" She begins to tick off Brenda deeds on her hand. "Brenda has, saved his life in the ocean, in a hospital room, in a museum, nursed him to health, and loved him with every single cell that comprises her body. And what does he do in return for her devotion? He practically calls her a hooker by leaving a gift behind as a remembrance of their time together. Why didn't he just lay thousand dollar bills on the nightstand?!"

Thomas looked at Julia with a troubled expression. His plan had no hopes of working without Julia's assistance. "But Julia, I have explained to you, how this all came about. Why can you not forgive him for his foolishness, in the name of love. You know they are both less than they can be without each other. Yes, Jax hurt her badly, but that can be rectified if all is made clear to both of them. Jerry and I need your help in order for this plan to have a chance of working."

Julia turned on a fury at Jerry, slapping him on the shoulder with the back of her hand, "Did Jax tell you that this was the reason that he hurt Brenda like that? Why didn't you tell me? I've told you how difficult and confusing this has been for Brenda. How could you make her suffer like this? Brother or no brother, I should have know about this!"

Jerry backed away from his place on the couch near Julia, and held his arms up as protection, "Hey! Don't attack the innocent party here! Jax told me nothing about their breakup. I'm his brother, not his lovelorn advice columnist. MEN don't DISCUSS their feelings as often as you girls do. Jax told me that they broke up, that's all he said, and I didn't ask why. It's none of my business, just as you and me are none of his."

Julia's temper lowered by a few degrees but she was still hot. She turned on Thomas next, "So you're telling me that because Brenda talked in her sleep about some guy she barely knows, he left? That is so typical of men! You always jump to conclusion based on circumstantial evidence. Brenda doesn't know Sonny Corinthos, except for that incident on Fiji where he attacked Miguel and the other incident at the Guggenheim. What she knows of him, she hates. Why would he think she loves a man that tried to kidnap her and shoot him!"

Julia stands and begins to pace the room, running her hands abstractly over her hair, "She probably wasn't even dreaming about that Sonny. Brenda has been having nightmares about some man named Sonny for years, way before she ever met Mr. Corinthos. It started when she came back home over two years ago. She had these horrific nightmares that had her screaming in terror at least once a month. They gradually lessened, and almost disappeared when she got together with Jax."

Thomas faced brightened as he stood, excitement filled his voice, "Yes! I know what you mean. When I first met Brenda I was her tour guide on Ngau! The first day I arrived to show her the island I heard her screaming through the door. Her screams were chilling. I remember what she said, even now. She screamed, 'Stop Sonny, you don't have to do this! I promise I'll be good. Stop it please, I won't disobey you again!' Whoever this Sonny is, she was quite fearful of him. That happened before Jax ever met her or she met this Sonny Corinthos."

Julia sat down and gripped Jerry by the forearm, "You see, that proves that Brenda is innocent and your brother is an idiot."

Jerry reaches down and pries Julia's nails out of his arm, while he speaking to Thomas, "You can include me in on your plans mate, this debacle of a situation between Jax and Brenda has gone on long enough. It needs to be resolved one way or the other."

Thomas nodded, "Julia has been good for you Jerry. You now have more heart that you had before. The love of a good woman has softened you, made you more grounded, you feel your brother's pain."

Jerry rubbed the nail impressions off his arm, "The only pain I feel, is the pain Julia is inflicting upon me because she is all worked up over those two. The sooner I get them back together, the faster I can heal from her slaps and scratches. Not that some slaps and scratches aren't entirely pleasurable, but I digress."

Jerry grinned as Julia swatted him again.

Thomas remained serious, "So Julia you are the last to decide. Are you in agreement with this plan?"

Julia shook her head stubbornly, "No, I can't in good conscious, help to put those two together again. He did this to her on her birthday Thomas, on her birthday! She's was devastated. She had made so much progress since she moved back home. She began to care about school, herself, the future. She believed that maybe, just maybe she deserved to be happy. That she wasn't just someone's abandoned mistake, left to wander this life alone. You haven't seen what she's been like this past year Thomas!" Julia's eyes are welling with tears. "She puts up a good front, she smiles, jokes, says all the right things, and still gets good grades. She works with Lois on L&B, and models for Deception. On the surface she has a full, happy life. She should be on the top of the world, but look in her eyes, look deep, beyond all the glitter and gloss. Do you know what I see? Emptiness, loneliness, unhappiness. And it was put there by Jax! How could you ask me to help in any plan to put him in a position to hurt her like that again?"

Julia's hatred filled eyes met Thomas' empathic, understanding eyes as he responded, "Because you know deep in your soul, that Brenda loves Jax with all her heart. And she will never truly be happy unless they are together again. I too agree that Jax was cruel and harsh with his payback for Brenda's mistaken betrayal. But you have to understand what his first wife's betrayal did to him inside. It scarred him from the innocent man who first fell in love. It caused him to react with irrational actions. Yes, it's not fair that Brenda has to pay for another woman's mistakes, but life and love is never equal. Sometimes you take more, sometimes you give more. It has been such, since the beginning of time. We would not be, if it were not in Adam's heart to forgive Eve for the apple. Let fall your own walls of distrust, hatred, and vengeance, then tell me that Brenda would not forgive Jax his actions if she were told. If you honestly believe that she would not give Jax one more chance, then I will accept your 'No', and leave things as they are between them for all time. So tell me Julia, will you help us in this plan?"

Julia looked at both Jerry and Thomas, then shook her head no as she focused her eyes on her tightly clasped hands, and whispered, "Yes, I'm in."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ Jerry's Hawker Jet - Airspace over Texas - December 26th ~

Jax looked shattered as Thomas finished what he had to say. He downed the rest of his soda and rose to move about the cabin. This was unbelievable! How could he have been so monstrously stupid! Why did he believe a few random words spoken while she slept? How could he have discounted all the words and deeds Brenda had bestowed on him for the three months they were together? Thomas reached out to stop his endless pacing. "Jax my friend, this constant pacing is doing no good. Let's sit and discuss how you wish to proceed with this information."

Jax sits, but his legs are twitching as he restlessly bounces his legs up and down. Thomas touches his knees in a silent plea to calm down, as Jax finally ceases his fidgety movements. Thomas looking directly into Jax's eyes questions, "Do you know what you want to do beyond saying you're sorry Jax? Because if you are going to approach Brenda with no thought of what you want to do beyond that point, I will not assist you. I saw her a few hours before you arrived in London, Jax. She is still hurting and confused. You can not continue to give her these mixed signals. You have to trust her, and she you, because without trust, there can be no love. Brenda deserves to be loved, and if you can not give that to her, then you should leave her be. If you are unsure of your feelings, it would be cruel to win her back only to let her go, when you decide that it is not right for you. This woman has saved your life time and again, and you left her feeling like a call girl Jax."

Jax's hands clasped behind his head pulling it towards his knees, as begins to rock back and forth. His head felt like it would explode. He didn't know what to do. What Thomas said was true. He could not begin to approach Brenda without a plan. How could he have been so quick to believe the worst in Brenda? Maybe there was something fundamentally wrong with them to begin with? Why else would he have lashed out at her after listening to her nocturnal mutterings? Maybe it would be best for all if he left things as they were. Their relationship had been based on one disaster and misunderstanding after another. It must be a sign from the heavens that it was not meant to be. He released a heavy sigh as he looked up at Thomas, "I think we should leave things as they are. What has been done has made things too muddled, too painful to ever repair. Love is more that a meeting of the mind and body, it requires timing. At that is something Brenda and I, have never had."

"Is this what you really want? You can walk away knowing Brenda will never be yours and will someday, truly give her heart to another?"

"It's what's best for her, so it is what I will have to live with, come to terms with. Besides, she would never forgive me for the insult I placed at her bedside that day. I wanted to hurt her badly Thomas, and I succeeded. How could she ever forgive a man who would do what I did to her. You know her father abused her as a child? Not physically, but mentally; he made her feel worthless. Which is what I did to her when I thought she had betrayed me. She deserves better than a reincarnation of her father. She will be better off without me. If you see her Thomas, just tell her I'm sorry."

Thomas slapped Jax on the back in commiseration, "As you wish Jax, as you wish."

Thomas stood and moved to the rear of the cabin, all the while studying Jax. He was the picture of abject misery. He hoped Julia was doing her part because this was going to be harder than he thought. Jax was deluding himself and someone needed to shake some sense into him. Had his miseries with Miranda frightened him away from an everlasting love? These two were so foolish. Afraid to love, afraid of hurt, afraid to be. Lucky for them, that he knew what was best. He prayed that all would be forgiven after the deed was done.

Jerry lowered the landing gear of his new Hawker Jet as he prepared to land in Belize City. A country just south of Mexico in Central America. Jerry had taken the last leg of the flight to allow Jax and Thomas to converse in the passenger cabin of the 8 seat jet. Jerry loved the feel of this jet. It responded quickly to the controls and had a smooth turn radius. The compartment was equally well designed with beige leather interior, forward and aft sofas, four overstuffed extra wide single seats, rear wardrobe and aft lavatory. At least this trip wasn't a total waste, this was a good test run for his new toy.

He resented not being able to spend last night with Julia, but this was for the greater good. Plus if everything worked out as planned, Julia would be so grateful, she was sure to shower him with her affection and gratitude. Shower! He wondered if she had ever experienced making love under a showering curtain of water, beneath a tropical waterfall. He made a mental note to convince Julia to return to Fiji with him when this intrigue was completed. He remembered the waterfall where he had taken Julia the first night they had met. If Jax and Brenda had not been there that night, he might not have had to wait SIXTEEN months to experience the thrill of Julia in bed, or on the couch, or on the floor, or on the boardroom table! If it had not been for them, Julia would have been his that night. He wondered if it was for the best that he and Julia had gotten to know each other so well, prior to succumbing to their baser needs.

He had never really KNOWN the women he bedded before. His overt charm and wealth had always worked within minutes. Women practically fell into his arms, his bed. He couldn't explain why he pursued Julia so relentlessly for what seemed like forever. But she had been well worth the wait. He had felt things with her he couldn't comprehend! His heart sometimes felt like it would explode when he was at the very edge of losing all control with her. Sex had always been and extremely pleasurable aerobic activity for him, but with Julia it was different, it was so much better! Maybe it was the difference Jax had always told him about. Between sex and making love. Was he in love? What a crazy notion! He'd never fall into the kind of trap! It had turned his little brother into this faded copy of a man, for almost a year now. If that's what love did to a bloke, he wanted to stay far away from it. Love! What a demented idea. He was no more in love, than Julia. Theirs was a friendship of fun, enjoyment and love. He meant sex, not love! He couldn't believe he used the word love when thinking of her! What was wrong with him? The sooner they were done with this covert operation the better. Thomas' philosophies of life and love were starting to infect his mind. Jerry returned to the job at hand as the jet touched down lightly. Jerry tore the headset off and flung it on the floor. He couldn't wait to do his part and abandon this country before the love bug infected him as well!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ Mayan ruins - Xunantunich, Belize ~

As the jeep cleared the brush at the top of the road Brenda was amazed at the sight of the Mayan temple. It was an arduous trip to get here but this was spectacular!

Lucy's promotions were getting more and more outlandish! For this Summer's promotion she was going to introduce a new fragrance, 'Deception for Men'. Lucy's idea was to use Brenda as the model for this shoot, leaving the identity of the male model a mystery for this promotion. Apparently she had hired some new face who was willing to be unknown for the first six months of this campaign. Tom Baker was going to be heading this shoot again. The last Deception ad had been so phenomenal, that he was now in high demand, but he had worked his schedule out to be here as a favor to Lucy. Lucy's concept was to have a tall figure finely muscled and bronzed, wearing a mask of the Sun God, RA. Brenda and he were going to stand at the top of this temple with her drape across this God of a man. The catch phrase was going to be 'Deception for Men will make you a God in her eyes, she'll never forget you.' Brenda smiled to herself. She didn't know how Lucy came up with these ideas. She thought they were wild, but they were working.

Lucy had heard about these practically untouched ruins in Xunantunich, Belize, by the Mopan River near Guatemala. As she looked around she wasn't surprised that this place was veritably untouched by man. Considering it could only be reached by a hand operated ferry that had a capacity of holding only one vehicle at a time, it wasn't very surprising. Even with their four wheel drive jeep, it had been a difficult trek to forge their way up the only road that led to this desolate place.

"Julia this place is awesome, but why isn't anyone else here yet?"

"Brenda, we took the only ferry in town. Tom's probably coming on the next trip. We might as well relax, it will probably be at least an hour until anyone else gets here."

"But Julia absolutely no one else is here! Don't you find it kind of creepy up here all alone?"

"It's Boxing Day. That's the day all the workers get the day off isn't it? This whole area is probably taking the day off." Julia laughed, "I bet that's why Lucy was so insistent that we come today. She probably got a good deal renting the place for the shoot today because it's a holiday."

"Hey Julia can you hand me the canteen", Brenda asked as she got out of the jeep to stretch her legs. This place is really gorgeous! It so tribal looking, I can almost envision, the Sun God RA stepping out of that pyramid. You know Lucy is crazy, but she's a genius. This shoot is going to turn out better than the last one and we know how popular that one was! I swear if another man walks up to me and asks if he's the one I'll never forget, I'll scream." Brenda's smile faded as quickly as it came, as a sad melancholy expression replaced the excited grin on her face.

Julia walked over to Brenda and hugged her tightly, "Bren, you've got to move on." They sat down by a river rimming the area as Julia continued to voice her opinions, "I've told you what Thomas told us two days ago. How can you continue to moon over a beast like that? He heard you murmuring in your sleep about a Sonny, and assumed you had betrayed him with Sonny Corinthos. He's beneath your contempt. If I were you I'd hunt him down and give him a piece of my mind."

"Julia, you don't understand what he went through with Miranda. He told me all about what she did. I'm sure that had something to do with his actions towards me, not that it excuses it. I can't hate him Julia, I just can't. It would be pointless to hunt him down. If something like a dream could make him lose faith in me, then maybe what I thought we had, existed only in my mind. You would think that what we shared together would have been strong enough to survive something as trivial as talking in my sleep. I have to ask myself, why didn't he just ask me? The only answer I can come up with, is lack of trust. Without trust, there can be no love Julia. It's over. I can't consider going back to a man who had so little faith in me. It would be like being under daddy's watchful eye again. I can't go back to worrying about every little mistake I make, praying that Jax won't find me lacking. No, Julia it's best this way. I guess we just weren't meant to be."

Julia looked on in silence, wondering if what she was doing was right. Brenda would be so angry with them when this was over. She hoped that Thomas was right. She didn't want to lose her sister over this. They had overcome so much to get this close and she would be devastated if this brought about a new rift between them. "I'll go with whatever you want Bren. Just be sure this is what you want, that this decision will be the best for you. Are you sure you don't want me to ask Jerry to find out Jax's state of mind? Maybe he wants to fix things between you. Can you walk away knowing that you'll never be together, and that Jax will eventually be with someone else?"

"It's not something I want to think about right now Julia. I just want to make it through this shoot and take some time off. I'm thinking about taking a quarter off from NYU to get my head on straight. I don't want to spread myself so thin at this point in my life. Besides if I'm not attending NYU, I don't have to live in Manhattan. I can change my home base to anywhere in the world. I was thinking San Francisco might be nice, and there might be some un-mined talent that I can acquire for L&B there."

"Sounds to me like you don't want to take the risk of running into Jax. Are you sure you don't want to give it one more chance Bren? Maybe if you both agree to be more open and above board, it will work this time."

"No, Julia. Don't you see that we should have had that to begin with? If we didn't have that, then we had nothing but fairy dust and fantasies. And that's not enough to build a real relationship on Julia. We just didn't' have what it takes. When you see Jerry, just tell him to tell Jax that, I forgive him, I'll think of him fondly, and goodbye."

"All right Bren, but if you change your mind it's never too late to try again. Only death can permanently close the door between two people. Why don't you wait here Bren. I'm going to drive back and see if Thomas and Lucy are here yet."

Floating above the Mayan temple a strange little man with a clipboard watched and listen to the conversation below. That's what SHE thinks! Why did mere mortals insist on voicing opinions on subjects they knew nothing about. Death is the only permanent ending? Ha, A lot she knew. He checked a box off on his clipboard before flying off to check on the approaching bi-plane. He wanted nothing to go wrong this time!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Jerry I don't think this is very funny. Besides I thought we were going spelunking, what does this place have to do with spelunking?"

"Nothing little brother. But you lost the bet at last night's poker game. You know that it's always winners choice, and this is my choice."

Thomas was laughing at Jax's discomfiture as he turns to Jerry. "I am so happy I decided not to play last night. You brothers play too seriously, and the stakes are much too high based on what you have done to my friend Jax!"

Jerry playfully punches Jax on the shoulder. "Jax can take this. He's a big boy now. Besides no one is going to be down there but us, it's Boxing Day. The place will be deserted. I just can't wait to take a couple of pictures of him. It will be good for bribing ammunition in the future."

"If no one is going to be there Jer, what's the point of making me wear this get up?"

"Because I can little brother, because I can. And you're outfit's not complete yet, you need to put on this mask first. Let me get this on you. There it fits like a glove. What do you think of if Thomas?"

"I think Jax looks ridiculous Jerry. How can you do this to your own brother? He is of your blood Jerry!"

"That's the price he pays for losing a bet. He would have been just as merciless on me, if I had lost. Jax doesn't mind, do you Jax?"

Jax was struggling with the mask, "Jerry you have this padlocked about my head! I hate you Jerry."

Jerry laughed at Jax's misery, "It's a thin line between love and hate Jax. Don't worry, I have the combination to the lock. I'll undo it after I get the pictures I want."

"But I can barely see a thing. How am I suppose to steer the chute if I can't see two feet in front of my face!"

"Look down there Jax. Nothing but wide open spaces. You couldn't possible land on anything dangerous. And you don't have to worry about breaking anything. It's already ruins!"

The rental pilot turned around as Jax was about to punch Jerry again. "Mr. Jacks, this is the jump off point. You have to jump now. A ferry will be there to pick you up tomorrow morning. There is nothing running for the rest of the day because of the holiday. Enjoy your explorations Mr. Jacks."

"Come on Jax, you jump first. I don't want you getting your mask caught on any of our chute lines. As soon as you're away, I'll deploy the equipment chute, then Thomas and I will follow." Jax opened the door to the plane and was poised ready to jump as Jerry approached with final instructions. "One last thing Jax, we'll see you tomorrow at the ferry!" With his final words, he shoved Jax out of the door and heard a few choice words float back up towards the plane as Jax free fell towards the temple. "You'll forgive me someday Jax!" Jerry shouted after him as he threw the equipment pack after him and shut the door. "Take us back to Belize, Max" Jerry instructed the pilot.

The pilot simply shrugged and banked the plane for home port. These Australians were a strange breed!

Thomas was disturbed with the events he had witnessed. "Tell me Jerry, what was the point of putting Jax in that ridiculous outfit? To what purpose was the point in embarrassing him like that? This was not part of the plan. Why would you do this to your brother?

Jerry slapped Thomas on the back, "Sixteen months, mate. SIXTEEN months."

Brenda looked at her watch wondering what was taking Julia so long. She stood and began to move about restlessly. How were they going to get the shots they needed with half the day gone? The midday heat was taking its effect as her throat and lips felt dry. As she tossed her head back to drink cool water from the canteen her eyes spotted something floating down from the sky. It was hot, but not so hot that she should be hallucinating! He placed her hand above her brow to shade her eyes from the sun. As the object descended she realized it was a parachutist!

She backed up under the trees to hide her presence and looked around for Julia. Where was she? She didn't want to face whoever was landing here alone. This place was spooky enough without people approaching from the skies. In a panic she decided to make a run down the dirt road for the ferry platform. If she were lucky Julia, Tom and Lucy would be headed this way. She tripped and fell over a fallen tree limb knocking the wind from her. As she tried to regain her senses she heard someone yelling from the clearing.

"Damn you to hell, both of you!"

Shocked, Brenda crawled toward the clearing and peeked out. Her eyes opened wide as she saw a man dressed in nothing but a loin cloth; covered by a short colorful floral golden yellow sarong styled skirt! He was shirtless; his tanned muscular chest rippled as he tried to reach behind his head -- -- !!!! That was covered completely with a mask of the Sun God RA!!!! The poor guy! Lucy had actually made this poor model parachute to this place? She couldn't have brought him along with them? Lucy was the weirdest person sometimes. She watched as the model kicked at the large bag that had landed beside him on a separate chute. As he bent over to untie his belongings, Brenda decided it was safe to approach him.

"Hi! I'm Brenda Barrett. You must be Lucy's new discovery! You made quite an entrance. Too bad Tom wasn't here to get pictures of it."

She must have startled the man, because he turned and fell back as he tripped over his equipment pack.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to surprise you like that. Didn't Lucy tell you that this was going to be a two shot. We're suppose to pose on top of that pyramid over there. They should be here any minute. Julia went to meet Lucy and Tom at the dock. They should be here shortly. You look really uncomfortable in that mask. Why don't you take it off?"

The man merely gestured that he couldn't take the mask off. Why wasn't he speaking to her? She knew he wasn't' a mute. He was damning someone to hell before she approached.

"Let me check that mask for you. I'm sure it's awkward for you to reach the latch. -- -- -- There's a padlock here?! Why would Lucy padlock this over your head? Wait there's some numbers painted on the back of the mask. Sit down on this fallen tree so I can get a better look. As he straddled the tree she sat behind him and saw the number 0,6,9. Let me try these numbers they might be the combination to this padlock. I really must apologize for Lucy. She's really a nice lady, just a little odd sometimes. But I have to say this is really weird even for Lucy."

Brenda was a little uncomfortable with her silent partner but she figured he was just really embarrassed at her finding him in such a helpless situation. He would probably loosen up once she got this awful mask off his head. As the padlock popped open she squealed, "I was right! That was the combination. Just hold still a little longer and I should have you out of that mask in a jiffy!"

The man stood quickly and turned to face her. All she could see was the panic that filled his eyes! His panic stricken beautiful blue eyes. Brenda studied him more closely as she took a step towards him to close their distance. She was riveted to those eyes. She glanced down and noticed the line, the sinew of his chest as his breathing was becoming somewhat labored. She notice the pulse that was beating quickly, where his neck met those massively strong shoulders! She took the few remaining steps to close the distance and placed her hands on his chest and slowly moved them up towards the mask. She could feel his heart pounding against her hands as they made their up to open her new found treasure. His eyes closed as she pulled the mask open in the back.

She stepped back as she pulled the mask forward and off of his face. There standing before her was Jax! She was stunned as she dropped the mask at her feet. Her hands covered her mouth, her shoulders began to shudder, her eyes filled with tears, as she dropped to her knees and began to laugh hysterically, finally toppling to the ground as she lost total control of her limbs as she was choking on amusement.

Jax looked down at Brenda as he felt his entire body flame red with embarrassment. God how he hated Jerry. What was he going to do now? Jerry had said see you tomorrow! He couldn't believe that Jerry and Thomas would strand him with Brenda overnight. After everything he had told Thomas about the futility of trying to make things right with Brenda they had gone ahead and done this. And with Julia's help as well. He was sure that Julia had abandoned Brenda here as surely as Jerry had shoved him out of that plane. At least Julia hadn't make Brenda put on a ridiculous outfit; though she probably would look good in a burlap sack. He looked down at her as her body was wracked with laughter. Well, at least she hasn't' tried to kill me. That's a start .. .. .. ..

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ to be continued ~