Sonny helped Alexis to a bench. His mind was reeling. Should he scold his guards for leaving Alexis unattended or should he hug them for wanting to help Mike? Should he be angry at Mike for not coming to him when he got in over his head or should he just be happy he hadn't got himself killed?
He knew deep down that he couldn't handle loosing Mike, even though half the time he inwardly wished he wasn't around. He also knew that he couldn't be too hard on him because there was a possibility that if Mike had come to him he would've turned him away. He was blown away that Jax would risk his own safety to help Mike. He was upset with all of them for leaving Alexis unguarded, yet ready to burst with emotion because they had saved Mike's life.
He was surprised that Jax had intervened. Mike prepared for Sonny's oncoming wrath. Jax walked over to Alexis. "I shouldn't have left you alone. I'm sorry."
She grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. "No need to apologize. You did good." She winked at him and he gave her a crooked smile. His face shining brightly with the occasional arrogance that Alexis was familiar with. She liked that look on him. The look that said 'I'm proud of myself. That's all that matters.'
"Jax, um, can I speak to you for a minute?" Sonny said nervously.
"Sure." Jax said not knowing exactly what to expect.
Alexis pulled him down by his jacket. "Behave!" she said loud enough for everyone to hear. Sonny's dimples shown. Jax's face was dutifully reprimanded as if to say 'Yes Mother.' Mike laughed and sat down next to Alexis. Sonny took Jax aside far enough so they could speak softly without being heard, which didn't stop Alexis from trying to eavesdrop. Mike and Alexis watched them from there place on the bench wondering what was being said.
*~*~*~*~* "Well, I couldn't just walk by and not do anything." Jax looked at Sonny incredulously wondering 'What kind of man does he think I am?' but knowing the answer. 'Maybe this will set him straight, not that I care what he thinks about me.'
"I just never pegged you for the Good Samaritan type, that's all." Sonny was waiting to here that Jax had done it 'for Brenda.' That would make sense to him, but it didn't seem as if that was the reason. Jax seemed to have done it just to help Mike out and that didn't make sense to him.
"Well, if it makes any difference I don't peg myself as any type." Jax laughed and Sonny smiled deeply shuffling his feet and looking down.
*~*~*~*~* "Are you responsible for that?" Mike asked Alexis as they sat on the bench wondering what it was that Jax and Sonny could both laugh about.
"I'm still not sure what 'that' is?" she turned to Mike and said, "All I know is that we can't hear what they are saying so we might as well stop trying to over hear their conversation and start our own.
*~*~*~*~* "So how much did you have to give those creeps to back off?" Sonny said pulling out a wad of cash from his pocket.
Jax laughed. "I didn't even count it." Jax waved Sonny's offer of money away. "Don't worry about it. It wasn't your debt I paid."
"Mike may never be able to pay you back." Sonny paused but realized Jax meant what he said and put his money back in his pocket.
"I'll take my chances." Jax said looking over at Alexis who looked thoroughly enamored by Mike.
*~*~*~*~* "...So I told the man, take her, she's not my type anyway." Alexis laughed as Mike told his story.
"What happened after that?" Alexis smiled totally engrossed by Mike's charm.
"Well, she'd never before won a race, but from that day on she won every single one." Mike smiled.
"That's life." Alexis smiled back at him.
He nodded sympathetically, saw that she was a little uncomfortable and helped her to change her positions. He seemed to notice the bandage on her face for he first time and asked. "What happened to you Alexis?" She started to tell him the story.
*~*~*~*~* "He has that affect on women?" Sonny smiled. "And if you don't mind me saying so, your wife has the same affect on men."
Jax knew it was true and was surprised that it didn't bother him that Sonny brought it up. "She's a gem. I haven't forgot it." Jax smiled when Sonny's facial expression showed that he remembered when he had said those words to Jax.
'This is crazy. I have an inside joke with Jax.' Things were getting too familiar between them. This had to stop. He made himself look serious and said, "I just wanted to let you know that Luke, his friend Roy, and I are tracking down those papers they took from the penthouse. I'll let you know when we get them. We figure, if she's gonna have her life in jeopardy for knowing something, she might as well know what it is."
Jax didn't get a chance to tell Sonny about the copies though, because at that moment Mike came over and said that Alexis was really tired and needed to get home. Jax immediately forgot everything but Alexis. He knew she hadn't been ready for this. He started beating himself up for taking this chance. He walked over to Alexis followed closely by Sonny and Mike. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Jax, just a little tired." Alexis said her breathing telling a different story. She was exhausted. She'd worn herself out completely. Jax took her by the arm and helped her off the bench.
"See you later, Alexis." Sonny said. "It's good to see you up and around."
"Thank you, Sonny."
"Oh and Jax." Sonny said making up his mind at that very moment, "That favor you owed me?"
"Yes?" Jax was a little shocked that Sonny had brought it up in front of everybody.
"You did me a big favor tonight, by helping Mike out, consider the debt canceled." Sonny cleared his throat and turned away before he could see the amazed look on Jax's face.
*~*~*~*~* "I think I might have that guy all wrong." Jax said aloud.
Alexis was stunned. "I hope I had a part in this peace or whatever it is going on between the two of you."
"I wouldn't call it peace. I think we are just in a 'let's not killing each other' phase, but yes, if there is a melting of some of the iciness between us its because of you."
She smiled up at him. A smile that took his breath away. He wanted to kiss her so badly, but he knew it wasn't right. "I thought so," she said breaking the moment and looking away. 'Had she felt the electricity of that moment as well?' He wasn't sure. They walked the rest of the way in silence, his arm around her body for support.
*~*~*~*~* "Well I sorta thought you'd be biting my head off by now." Mike said still standing with Sonny on the docks.
"I figure I don't really like it when you act like my father, I'm not gonna start acting like yours."
That hurt a little, but it was better than getting into an argument with him so he went with it. "Alexis told me what happened. She's a good woman. I hate thinking she's in so much danger."
"You and me both." Sonny cleared his throat. He felt awkward. He was about to say his good-bye's and leave when his cell phone rang. "This is Sonny."
"Sonny, we got the goods." Luke said into the phone. "We're at your place, Frances let us in. I've taken a look at it but it's mostly in Greek. I don't know really who to trust with his. We probably should take it to Alexis. She can translate."
"No. Stay there. I have an idea." Sonny slipped his phone back in his pocket. He turned to Mike. "Would you be interested in finding a way to pay back Jax and help Alexis at the same time?"
"Of course I would, Sonny." Mike said wondering what was going on.
"Then don't just stand there come with me."
*~*~*~*~* Jax and Alexis stopped at the front desk for their mail on their way upstairs. When they were on the elevator and Jax started to look thru the mail.
"Anything important?" Alexis asked casually.
"Well, there's a letter from Chloe." He didn't say it excitedly, but he didn't look disappointed either.
She on the other hand tried to hide how she was feeling and said. "Oh that's nice." She wondered if she sounded at all convincing.
They stepped off the elevator and into the penthouse. The guards took there place at the door and Alexis thanked them before shutting the door behind Jax. "Hey Jax, I'll look through the rest of this. Read your letter."
He made sure she was comfortable, handed her the stack of other mail, sat down across from her and began to read. She was so engrossed with the other mail items she didn't notice when his expression clouded.