Replay by Tyra

" LUCY?!?!?! "

Jax and Brenda were stunned at the sight of Lucy's perky head sticking through their tent.

"Rise and shine people! We're already running a day behind! Tom and I missed the last ferry over here yesterday. Did you know this whole town closed for 'Boxing Day'? How silly is that? The thought that servants should have a holiday is lunacy. I mean how are we suppose to get anything done, if they don't work?"

Jax speaks to Lucy through pursed lips, "That's the point Lucy, they get the day off so those of us who use their services can better appreciate the hard work they perform in making our lives more comfortable."

Brenda leans forward resting her arms on her bent knees and looks oddly at Lucy. "Lucy, how did you find me? Why are you here?!"

Lucy's tone changed from upbeat to condescending, "Brenda, how do I always find my models? Through your agent of course! I called him to set up a booking to start on the new 'Deception for Men' campaign. He told me that you had told him all about how you were coming here for a 'Deception' shoot. Which I thought was a little odd since I haven't figured out how I want to promote 'Deception for Men' yet. But when he told me what the concept was, I flipped! So I contacted Tom, and luckily he was free and we made a dash to meet you guys here."

Lucy gestured flamboyantly as she looked harshly at Brenda, "Brenda? Why would you plan a concept and shoot without my approval? That's not what I pay you for you know. I could cancel your contract for this kind of insubordination. But don't worry, I could never do that to such a good friend. That along with the fact that your face sells millions of dollars of 'Deception' of course! Tom's angry that you contacted another photographer, where is he? Even if you were planning to surprise me, why wouldn't you use Tom? He has made you look spectacular in every shoot? Isn't school, being a record mogul, and a model enough? Now you want to take over as my creative director? And why is Jax here? Where is this new un-mined talent?"

Lucy then notices the unwrapped 'Gold Circle Coin' that is in Jax's hands, and their state of undress! "Oh my, there is no shoot planned here is there? Why in the world did you tell your agent such an elaborate story if all you were doing was leaving town for a little .. .. .. you know. Doc always tells me I'm too impulsive, that I shouldn't come charging up here, but you know me. Take charge Lucy! Well, Tom and I will just be leaving now. You two go ahead with what you were doing." She begins to back out of the tent, then reverses and charges back in. "Excuse me again, but since we're all here, that concept was a fabulous idea! Why don't we just set up and shoot? What do you guys think? It's a shame to waste all this scenery and time isn't it? It will only take Tom and I at most 3 or 4 or 8 hours to finish the shoot! These pyramids would be the perfect backdrop for my new campaign? Don't you think!"

Jax and Brenda are in hysterics. Only Lucy could turn makeout interuptus into a photo layout! Brenda pushes her hair out of her face as she looks up at Lucy, "Lucy! There is no male model here! Julia told me that you left a message for me to come here for a 'Deception' shoot. I didn't bring the model with me, I was told you had discovered some new God like model. We can't shoot a layout for 'Deception for Men' without a man!"

Lucy lips pouted as she paused to think. Her eyes alighted with an idea and she turned towards Jax. He didn't like the way she was looking at him. She made him feel like she was starving and he was the Christmas goose! He tried to back away, but there was no escape, "Lucy? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Lucy's eyes moved up and down his uncovered torso. He had never felt so naked, so uncomfortable before! "Well .. .. .. it's just that Tom and I are here, the temples are here, Brenda is here. And I noticed the mask of RA lying near your campfire as we approached." Lucy's eyes clouded suddenly in confusion. "If you weren't planning a shoot why do you have the costume anyway? Never mind, none of my business. I make it a practice not to get involved in the reasons for other people's perversions. I mean preferences!" Brenda was amused as she noticed that Lucy was actually blushing, but she prattled on. "So what do you say Jax? You have the right build and the mask will hide your identity. I can find a real model to take your place when the face is actually revealed to the public later next year."

Jax laughed outright at Lucy, "Lucy, you are demented. You are not going to dress me up in a floral print skirt and prance me about the Mayan ruins for all to see! Besides it's conflict of interest. I own Jacks Cosmetics, I can't be doing advertising for the competition. You've already made a dent in our fragrance market share because of Brenda's fantastic work. I'm certainly not going to help you introduce a whole new line of fragrances to compete against my own company."

"Oh, all right, we'll just have to discover a model quickly and trudge all the way back up here with Brenda. She'll be draped all over some other well built, half dressed most likely SINGLE male stud-like model. It will be probably take a few days, which means that Brenda will be working on .. .. .. New Year's Eve. But it should be OK since you two aren't really seeing each other anymore." Lucy glances down at the item still clasped in Jax's hand, "Or are you two .. .. .. back together again? But I can't be concerned about that. Brenda works when I need her work, that's what her contract says! The Quartermaines are having a huge benefit ball New Year's Eve too. Everyone who's anyone will be there. L&B is going to provide the entertainers too! But Brenda is going to be working.. .. .. here .. .. .. that night. But that should work out for you Jax, you'll be all alone .. .. .. on New Year's Eve .. .. .. more conducive for networking and making deals. Everyone knows that's what's most important to you, right? So anyways, I guess Tom and I will be leaving right now. See you back in Port Charles, Bren. TaTa!!!"

On that note Lucy FINALLY backs our of their tent and zips the flap shut. Jax and Brenda exchanged bemused glances. Jax's glance darts from his hand, to Brenda, to the tent flap and back, before he tosses the sadly unused 'Gold Circle Coin' on the floor of their tent. "I'll be just a minute sweetie." Jax unzips the tent and starts after Lucy and Tom. "Lucy! Wait just a moment . .. ..!"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The jeep made it way up the final hill as it pushed past the thick brush bringing the Mayan temple into view. Jerry brought the jeep to a sudden halt nearly sending Julia on to the dash.

"Jerry! Watch your driving! You almost sent me through the windshield. What's wrong? Did they destroy the campsite?"

Jerry said nothing but the look on his face worried her. She followed the direction where his finger was pointing and saw .. .. .. Lucy and Tom taking pictures of Jax and Brenda on top of the Mayan temple! Jax was dress as Jerry had described him to her and Brenda was wearing a similar skimpy outfit. Jax was wearing the mask Jerry had been laughing about; Brenda was barefoot with an ankle bracelet of flowers, a Dahlia behind her ear.

"Jer? The story I told Bren was pure fabrication, and you dressed up Jax as the Sun God as a prank. What's going on?"

As they both got out of the Jeep, Jerry was shaking his head, "I'm just as confused as you Jules. There was no photo shoot for Deception. How did Lucy get up here? And how did our ridiculous plan become a marketing concept?"

As they approached with the sun at their backs they heard Tom as he shouted out his directions, "Perfect Brenda! Lean in tighter. This man is a God you can't resist him! Come on Brenda turn up the heat, make me melt. You've got to make every man want to be in this guy's place. Just a few more shots and we'll be done!"

Jerry and Julia startled Lucy who was standing a few yards behind Tom watching this circus. Jax was standing there hands on hips. It looked like they had coated his chest with something oily because it gleamed in the midday sun. The glistening skin made the definition of his abdominals even more prominent. Jerry turned to make a snide remark about Jax to Julia when he noticed her interested gaze at the Sun God. "Hey! What are you looking at? That's my little brother up there!"

Julia's lascivious smile irritated Jerry as she responded, "He doesn't look so little from this angle Jer."

Lucy whispered, "Shhhh! They're almost done. Please be quite for a few more minutes. I don't want Tom distracted when he's on my dime. That brother of yours already extorted 5% of Deception's stock from me in exchange for posing in this layout! And I don't even get to use his name! Plus, I have to find someone else to take his place when the time comes to show the face of the 'Deception for Men'. How am I ever going to find a model with the same body as his?! Look at his chest, those abs, biceps. Oh hell, the whole package is perfect! Oooohhhh! I don't know how I let him get the best of me like that. One minute I had him on the ropes and the next minute, I've given him the farm! But these pictures are going to be HOT! We're going to take an even bigger bite out of the Jacks Cosmetics market share!"

Jerry whispered, "How did you come up with this concept?"

Lucy giggles, "Well, actually what happened was--"

"JERRY! Wait till I get my hands on you!" Unnoticed by the trio, Tom had finished with Jax and Brenda. As he removed his mask to cool down he saw Jerry and Julia in the distance. He was making a mad dash for Jerry as he shouted obscenities.

Jerry grinned quickly at Julia, "Be back in a bit, luv!" She barely heard the endearment as he ran for his life with Jax close on his heels. As they disappeared in the bushes she heard the sounds of Jerry's laughing shouts "Can't you take a joke little brother!"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Brenda nervously picked at her perfectly styled hair. She had been getting ready for the benefit for over two hours. She had bathed in Jax's favorite bubble bath scent, carefully styled her hair into an upswept top not with a few loose tendrils framing her face. Her dress was a strapless black velvet sweetheart neckline gown. She had utilized the trick of using double stick tape just beneath the neckline to make sure nothing embarrassing happened to her on stage tonight. How had she let Lois and Ned talk her into performing with him tonight? She had told them that her performance on Fiji had been her last, but they had convinced her that it was for a good cause. Ned also played on their friendship. He thought that having a supermodel appear on stage with him would be good publicity for his band, and therefore good for L&B. Ned was amazing, boardroom or showroom, he was ruthless at getting what he wanted. So as if agreeing to be Jax's date wasn't nerve racking enough, now she had to deal with singing and dancing in front of the Port Charles elite.

She jumped as Julia came from behind and placed a hand on her shoulder. "A little tense?"

"Yeah, a little. Jax and I have agreed to be just friends, and this is the first chance we've had to be together since Belize. We've just been surrounded by people, or drowning in work since we returned after you stranded us there. He told me that he was going to pull out all the stops to make me love him again and I'm really worried about tonight Jules."

Julia pulled Brenda into a comforting hug. "Fall in love with him again? You've never fallen out of love with him Bren. That's why Jerry, Thomas and I did what we did. We were hoping for bigger results, but at least you're together again, sort of. From what you said, if it hadn't been for Lucy, there would have been some major fireworks going by the time Jerry and I arrived."

"Julia! You guys got there at 2:00! Lucy crawled into our tent at 6:00 AM! What kind of stamina do you think we have?!"

Julia smile deepened, "Well if Jax is anything like Jerry, you still would have been occupied when we arrived!"

Brenda and Julia convulsed into giggles as they shared a mutual unspoken knowledge of the virility of Jacks men. As they composed themselves they saw the picture they made in front of the full length mirror. Brenda in black looking petite and exotic; and Julia in red looking tall and regal. They made a stunning picture; so different, yet so alike! Brenda spoke to Julia's reflection, "Do you suppose we could ask Lady Jane if John is insatiable too?"

Julia was taken aback by Brenda mischievous question, "Brenda! You can't ask that of their mother!"

Brenda smile just beamed, "That's right, you haven't met the Jacks yet, have you? You're in for a real treat. Believe me Jules, she'd love for you to ask that question. She is so down to earth and in your face honest. You're going to love them both! The four of them comprise the perfect family, the one we always wanted but never had. Did you ever stop to think that what we might find attractive about the boys, is their whole family thing? I mean they have what we both always yearned for. They're always there for each other in times of need, and they have loving parents. Maybe what we want is their family life and not them?

Brenda and Julia lock gazes in the mirror, then turned and looked at each other. "Nahhh" they both laughed as they headed out the door to meet their dates in the ballroom below.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Jasper! Stop fidgeting, Brenda will be here soon. You're lucky that she's at least agreed to see you again after what you did to her. Why did you tell us that absurd story about her wanting to wait until she graduated from NYU? If you had told us the truth, we might have been able to help you unscramble your brain. How could you have thought such things of Brenda? She spent three months dedicated to nursing you back to health. How could you have so little faith in her? You've always been the gentle one, the one who cared about others, how could you be so heartless towards someone you claim to love?" Lady Jane who is now in a froth over Brenda, reaches out and slaps Jax on the back of the hand. "And I still can't believe you chucked my ring into the Adriatic Sea!"

Jerry's eyes are thin slits of glee. He is enjoying Jax's discomfiture at the hands of their mum. It wasn't very often that Jax was in the hot seat with the added pleasure that he was able to witness it happen! The shoe was usually on the other foot when it came to public tongue lashings. He leaned towards Jax and whispered, "You would think that Brenda was her daughter and you were her suitor the way she's having at you. If I were you I'd better find a way to get Brenda to take you back, or mum just might disown you. And while you're at it, you might want to hire a cadre of scuba divers to scour the Adriatic for mum's ring." He laughed heartily as Jax turned his angry eyes towards him. He was about to say something cutting when in the space of a heartbeat his expression changed.

Without turning around, Jerry knew in that instant, that Brenda had made her entrance. No one else on this earth could turn Jax's eyes to that shade of, besotted with love blue. He was drunk in love with that girl. For his sake Jerry hoped that Brenda didn't keep him dangling long. He needed Jax at his razor sharp best in the upcoming months as they plotted their latest takeover bid. Millions were at stake here and he didn't need his lovesick little brother distracted from their main goal of business. If things went as planned they would be looking at a quick twenty million dollar profit within days of the acquisition. The last thing he and dad needed was-- --

The scent of a familiar perfume broke into his thoughts. He glanced up and saw his own addiction. Julia was the embodiment of the 'Blonde Bombshell' tonight! She was dressed in a figure hugging red silk gown with a deep V neckline. She was wearing one of those trendy little knot necklaces made of rubies with the two small strings of diamonds dangling beneath the knot, like two arrows pointing in the direction of heaven. He stood quickly placing an arm around her as he introduced her to his parents.

Jax had risen and rushed to meet Brenda at the entrance to the ballroom. His heart was pounding at first sight of her. He loved it when she pulled her hair up away from her face. Taking her hands in his he leaned down and placed a friendly kiss on her cheek before pulling her into his arms for a quick hug. He whispered softly, "If you care about me at all, you'll tell my mother that you're giving me another chance. She has been ripping me up one side and down the other since they arrived in town. She can't believe she raised such a heartless, soulless cad. I can't say I blame her, but please make her believe that I still have a chance with you. I beseech you!"

Brenda's heart performed a little cartwheel as she felt Jax's breath tickle her ear. As he made his plea she was fighting off the old feelings of heat, desire, lust. He was so adorable when he was begging for help with his mother. He looked so lost and desperate, how could she refuse him. Besides, if he thought she was pretending that they were together, she would have an explanation for any slips she might make tonight. She could let him kiss her, dance with her, respond to his teases and tell him later it was all an act. Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at Jax, "Of course Jax, I can't refuse a friend a favor. What do you want me to do?"

Jax was breathless from the megawatt charm of her smile. He returned an equally charged smile as he answered, "Just follow my lead"

-- -- -- -- -- --

The party was in full swing by the time dinner had been served and enjoyed. Seated with the Jacks besides Brenda and Julia were Lois, Ned, Karen, Jagger, Robin and Jason. After what seemed like forever to Robin, Jason was finally seeing her in a different light. With the announcement of Karen's engagement to Jagger, Jason had finally lost hope. He and Robin both worked at the teen hotline on the PCU campus and their friendship was finally blooming into something more. Ned and Lois were hiding out at their table because Edward was fit to be tied. He had put up with Ned performing on college campus and small clubs and fairs around town, but this was the first time he would be performing in front of the uppercrust in his own home town. He had forbid Ned to perform tonight. He thought as CEO of ELQ, Ned should have more sense than to appear on stage in this leather contraption. Ned had told him to blow it out his ear! Edward had a fit and told him to sit elsewhere with that Brooklyn trash tonight. They had taken refuge with the Jacks table much to the delight of Lady Jane who was asking Lois about doing her nails the next day.

Julia had been spending most the evening chatting with Lady Jane much to Jerry's displeasure. He had hoped that his mother would like Julia but not quite to this extent. Mum had lost hope that Jerry would ever bring anyone home that she considered good stock, something that gave him much pride. He lived for bringing home the most outlandishly inappropriate women, and watching his mother hit the ceiling. He wondered why he ever took this chance in introducing his mum to such a normal person. In some ways Julia reminded him of his mum. She was in your face honest, always putting him down, in his place. Yet she was different enough that he didn't feel incestuous in his attraction to her. She was more formal and mannered than his mum, but he liked that. It was that formalness that made him rein in his wildness, his wanderlust. And he knew that in knowing him, she had learned to let her hair down, be more wild and crazy. Something that her father had always taught her was wrong. She was blooming into the rarest of flowers to him. A beautiful cultured dignified woman by day who was naughty and untamed at night! Maybe that was what kept him by her side. The dichotomy between the two sides of Julia was so intriguing, he hadn't yet gotten bored.

While Jerry's was off in his introspective thoughts of Julia, Jax was showering all his attentions on Brenda. From the moment that she sat at their table he had catered to her every whim. Brenda was a little uncomfortable with all the attention. As the child of Harlan Barrett, she had learned that she was to be invisible, silent at gatherings. She had grown to hate formal occasions because that was when her father would berate her the most for not being more like Julia. Being surrounded by love all around this table was a novelty for both Brenda and Julia. She had learned recently that Julia had hated these types of parties as well. Daddy had coached her on what to say and what to do so she would present the best picture for his clients. Julia had never felt the freedom of being herself during her childhood. She had been Harlan's trained seal performing whatever tricks he had taught her. Yes this was quite a different feeling to be sitting at a table with a real family, not the dysfunctional one they had experienced.

Brenda placed her hand on Jax's forearm as she murmured, "Jax, you don't have to spend the entire evening with me. I'm sure their are plenty of people here that you should be networking with. With the price we're paying per ticket, you should be getting some return for your investment."

Jax's arm that had been resting on the back of her chair, moved to clasp her shoulder in a warm hug, "Now who's being the tough as nails entrepreneur? Just spending the evening with you is return enough on my investment. Besides Jerry and I have something big in the works, I don't need to be trawling for small fish tonight." Brenda's smile just beamed up at him, and he noticed his mum's look of approval. Brenda was certainly being affectionate tonight, maybe he would be able to convince her to take him back if he proceeded carefully with his plan tonight. He knew she was only helping him as a friend tonight, but those looks and touches couldn't all be an act. He felt as if they had never been apart, like they had time warped between March to now. They felt so right, so perfect together. His plans on how to pull at her heartstrings just had to work tonight.

When Brenda leaned over to talk to Lois, Jax gestured to Ned to see if everything was ready for tonight. Ned nodded yes and whispered to Lois who's dimpled grin got even wider as she stood.

"Well folks, Nedly, and the girls have to head back stage. We're on next! Not too late to join the chorus, are you sure you don't want to come with us Julia? Lady Jane? We can give you a quick run through of the steps backstage. It's for charity!"

Julia visibly blushed, "I can't sing. Brenda got her voice from her mom, I got mine from my father. It would be charitable on my part, to NOT sing."

Jerry whispered in her ear, "Don't be embarrassed Jules, I know your talents lie elsewhere. They're hidden deep inside you. Lucky me, that I'm the one who discovered them. That's more rare than a pleasant singing voice." If it were possible, Julia's blush turned a deeper shade of red as the family looked on in amusement.

Lady Jane wasn't sure how serious Jerry was yet but this one was a keeper. If she had her way, there would two mergers between the Jacks and the Barretts in the near future. She wanted her boys to get to it, she and John wanted to be young enough to enjoy their grandchildren when they finally arrived. She looked up as Lois tapped her on the shoulder waiting for her answer, "I'll leave the performing for you young ladies. I'm not for standing up in front of crowds. I'm more of a simply down home woman. Don't like all the fuss needed for the bright lights and cheers."

"Well, all right, but you're going to miss out on lots of fun tonight!" All the ladies kissed their respective dates and ran backstage.

A cloud of alcohol fumes covered Jason as he felt a sharp slap on his back. "Jas, Robin looks all grown up tonight! Almost babe-like, wish I had seen her first. You've always had great taste in women. Let me know when you dump her, I'd love to pick up your leftovers."

Jason reached up and yanked him down to Robin's unoccupied seat, "AJ, I can't believe you're drunk again. I thought you said you had this under control? How can you show up at a benefit for Battered Women drunk?! You know that alcohol is involved in almost 75% of the battery cases don't you? What's wrong with you? Why are you drinking this time?"

"Who needs a reason to drink Jas? But since you ask, just look at that table over there. How can anyone live under their roof and not need to drink? I'm only living down to their expectations. Do you believe that he let's Ned run ELQ? He's doesn't even carry the Quartermaine name! That company should be run by me, I'm the genuine article, he's just an Ashton."

Jason maintained his grip on AJ as he tried to rise. "Just sit down and drink this coffee. Mom and Dad will have a fit, if you make a scene at Grandmother's benefit. Not to mention that Grandfather will go through the roof. Just stay here until you sober up."

Jason turned his attention to the stage as the curtain opened and Lucy introduced, Eddie Maine and the Idle Rich with the Sparkling Gems, plus one! He had to admire Ned, he had put the old man in his place tonight! Grandfather looked like he was going to have a coronary when he saw those leather pants. He hope that he would be able to withstand family pressure as well as Ned, when it came time to tell his family that he wanted to study medicine like Alan instead of business. He found it amusing that only in the Quartermaine family could being a doctor, be considered a less than honorable business. In grandfather's eyes, it was either ELQ or nothing. His ponderings of his future problems was interrupted by the thunderous applause by the audience.

To Listen Real Audio of 'I'm A Woman' - Click Here

Ned walked up to the mike to introduce himself as Eddie Maine. He thanked everyone for contributing so generously to the Quartermaine Battered Women's Center that was opening in Port Charles next week. And in honor of the occasion, the Idle Rich was going to open the entertainment tonight with a special number. As the crowd politely applauded the band moved to the very back of the stage and started with a blues downbeat before the stage went dark .. .. ..

A single spotlight hit the stage and illuminated Robin. She had added an accessory of yellow rubber work gloves to her white evening gown. As she started to sing she slowly stripped them off and flung them towards Jason. Jason caught a glove and waved it at Robin as she bumped her hips to the beat of the song.

The stage again went dark. Then the spotlight hit the far left of the stage and there was Lois dressed in a red mini dress covered entirely with 6" long fringe. She began to sing as she shimmied towards Ned. Caught totally by surprise, Ned missed the downbeat as Lois moved her body to within an inch of his and pretended move her body against his in an up and down motion.

A film of perspiration had broken out across Ned's face as the lights again went dark. The spot then beamed down in the center of the audience and there was Brenda sitting on Jax's lap. She began to sing as she ran her hands along his face and down the front of his tuxedo shirt. Then she ran her hands up into his hair and pulled his face an inch from hers before pushing herself off his lap as she began to undulate in belly dancer fashion.

Jax found it hard to swallow while he wondered what kept her inside that dress as the room went black. The spotlight now hit the center of the stage and there was Karen in her emerald green gown holding wads of paper play money. She tossed some towards Jagger before she took the remaining bills and shaped them into a stripper's fan as she began to sing.

The four rejoined on stage as they revved up to their big finish. Each taking a different pose on the stage ranging from precocious to down right sleazy. As all four sung in four part harmony you could feel the heat building in the room.

They froze into four provocative poses as the music stopped, the room went black and silence slowly enveloped the room. Then the waves of applause washed over the room making its ways towards the stage. When the ballroom lights turned on, the four women had magically turn from vixens, into the four women that everyone knew. They linked hands and bowed to the crowd before exiting to a standing ovation.

They ran backstage hearts racing and collapsed in a gale of giggles. They couldn't believe how well the number was received. They had only practiced then number twice before the actually performance and neither rehearsal had come close to the heat they exuded during that number.

"Lo! You were so hot! I thought Ned was going to drop his guitar, or least hold it a little lower!"

Brenda squealed as Lois spanked her in response to her lewd teasing. "Bren! I can't believe you said that. I didn't touch Ned, which is more that I can say for you. I was getting ready to bring in the fire extinguishers for Jax. He looked ready to implode from the heat!"

"Well, he asked me to make his parents think we were back together. I think I've convinced them of that!"

"Hey girlfriend, it didn't look like play acting to me. Why don't you give him another chance? He is so adorably repentant. You said he told you he loves you, and you love him, so what's the problem. Plus his parents are wonderful! You can't get any luckier. Look at what I have to look forward to. The Q's are so hateful, yet I'm still hanging in there. The only one who's decent besides my Eddies, is Jason and Lila."

To avoid the line of questioning, Brenda turned towards Robin. "So you finally have gotten Jason to take notice. He looked pretty happy to be holding your rubber glove. So when did this all happen? I missed a lot by not going to PCU!"

"We've been seeing each other for about a month now. It started out with him just walking me home from our volunteer shifts at the Hotline and just gradually became dating." She snuck a quick glance to make sure Karen wasn't listening before she whispered, "I think I just was lucky to be around when he was on the rebound. But I don't think he really thinks of me that seriously."

Brenda gave Robin a look like she was crazy. "He looked pretty serious at you when you were up on stage. I think he would have fought AJ for that glove. Did you guys see AJ? He looked so drunk!"

Robin looked worried as she peeked through the curtain to see what was going on at their table. "Jason told me he was going to AA. I guess he fell off the wagon. Jason is so worried that he'll hurt himself if he can't get a handle on his drinking. I better get back to the table to help."

Brenda followed Robin as she made her way back to their table. "I'm sure Jason will get him to stop Robin. He's going to be a doctor, he should be able to help AJ."

"You don't understand about alcoholics Brenda. The first step towards a cure is to admit he has a problem, and AJ hasn't. Then only reason he's in the AA program is because Edward threatened to disown him. Jason thinks he's just going through the motions to get Edward off his back. Brenda! Come on it looks like Jason and AJ are fighting!"

Before they could reach their table, Jason took off after AJ as he ran out of the ballroom with some car keys. A horrible feeling began to build to panic proportions in Brenda's mind. Jax immediately approached as he saw Brenda's expression.

"What's wrong sweetie?"

"AJ is drunk and I think Jason is trying to stop him. I have this awful feeling that something horrible is going to happen. You've got to stop them from driving away Jax. I just feel it in my bones. We've got to stop Jason and AJ from getting into that car!"

She begins to run in the direction that she saw Jason depart, with Robin and Jax in close pursuit. Jax soon overtakes them both and disappears out the main door of the lobby. He didn't think anything was wrong, but if it was important enough to Brenda he would do something about it.

Robin and Brenda made slower progress as their heels began to slide on the freshly polished floors. They heard Jax's shouts to Jason and AJ, then three door slams and the revving of a high powered engine accelerating away. They had just reached the lobby door when the sound of screeching brakes followed with the sound of a bone shatter crash that vibrated the doors of the lobby. Brenda and Robin froze and grabbed onto each other for support briefly before the exited the hotel.

Jerry saw the girls exiting the lobby as he Julia and Jagger ran out to check on Jax. Julia was telling him that she was sure that Jax could take care of himself when an icy chill shot up her spine as she heard Brenda shrieks from the direction of the parking structure.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

* Song Credits Album "Soundtrack Smokey Joe's Café" Song "I'm A Woman" performed by the cast of Smokey Joe's Cafe