After what seemed like hours the meeting finally ended and Alan and Monica rushed back to the hospital while the others left more slowly. Alexis was trying to get out quickly when she remembered she didn't have her car with her.
Ned had come over to visit and fearing she may not come if left on her own he had insisted on driving her to the meeting. Yet another inconvenience curtesy of Ned, she thought angrily as she walked towards the one man who she could always count on.
"Alexis, you look like you want to rip someone's head off, should I be worried?" He asked with a nervous smile. She had forgotten she was supposed to be angry with him over his behaviour earlier.
"Well Jax, I am willing to spare your head, for now, if you do me a favour." She offered smoothly.
"Anything." He knew better to mess with angry Alexis.
"I need a ride home, Ned drove me over so I don't have my car." She explained.
"Sure, I take it you want to leave now?" He asked watching her glance nervously at Mason who was still in conversation with his father and Edward.
"Yes, if that's okay with you." She smiled trying to cover her nervousness.
The ride home was short and silent, as though by mutual agreement. As they entered Alexis' apartment Alexis turned as though to say goodbye but Jax walked past her to sit on the sofa.
"It's kind of late Jax." She told him hoping to avoid this discussion at least for a while.
"Alexis, I will leave if you answer one question for me, no avoidance, no quips, just the truth."
"Fine." She agreed.
"Are you in trouble?"
"Yes."
"Alexis..."
"No, Jax," she interrupted him, "you asked your question, I answered. A deal is a deal."
"Fine." He said reluctantly getting up. "But if you need anything..."
"I know where to find you, don't worry everything will be fine." She told him as convincingly as she could.
Twenty minutes later Alexis had changed in her pyjama's but found she was no longer tired. She was in the kitchen making popcorn when someone knocked on her door. She should have known he wouldn't have let her get away that easily. Bracing herself for the inevitable she opened the door. The only problem was that the man on the other side of it was not the one she was expecting.
"Sonny!"
"Expecting someone else?" He asked taking note of her relaxed attire.
"I wasn't expecting anyone Sonny, it's late, I was on my way to bed."
"Then why do I smell popcorn?" He asked smiling. "What's the matter, can't sleep?"
Damn it, the man knew her too well.
"I got a craving, I am pregnant, remember?" She replied testily.
"So what's up with this Capwell guy?" Sonny asked after seating himself on her sofa.
"No beating around the bush, no careful broaching of the subject?" She asked with sarcasm.
"Quit stalling, how do you know him?"
"Not that it's any of your business but Mason already explained, I went to school with his sister."
"Yeah and you spent your summers with the family."
"Right." She agreed carefully.
"Then how come CC Capwell claimed to know you when you were ten, we both know you were 14 by the time you came to America?"
"So he was off by a couple years, it's been a long time." She shrugged.
"Four years," he corrected. "I think we can both agree there is a big difference between ten and fourteen."
"Sonny, CC was never that involved in his children's life, I am not surprised he doesn't remember the exact age when he met of one of his daughter's friends." Again she tried to make it sound unimportant.
"Mason didn't correct him." Sonny pointed out.
"He was the older brother, I probably seemed very young to him."
"Okay Alexis I'm going to give you a break and lay my cards out on the table. I know you are not some childhood friend of Mason's sister, so why not tell me the truth?"
"Sonny I really don't care what you know or think you know, you are not a part of my life, this has nothing to do with you." If he could remove the gloves, so could she.
"I care about you Alexis."
"If that's true you'll leave this alone."
"Why? Alexis I saw your face when Mason mentioned his father, you looked terrified. Then when he saw you it was like he was seeing a ghost. What are you so afraid of?"
"Leave it alone."
"You know I can find out on my own." Suddenly Alexis went pale.
"Sonny you can't do that, promise me." In her desperation she grabbed his arm, it was the first time she had touched him in months she realised then drew her hand back quickly.
"Alexis..."
"Sonny, if you look into this you could hurt many innocent people. Please, if you have ever cared about me at all just stay out of it." She was pleading with him and she didn't care. This was too important, she was willing to do anything to keep this secret.
"Is it Capwell, are you afraid of him?" Sonny asked knowing that this was bigger than anything else Alexis had hid, she was so afraid.
"What? No, Sonny it's nothing like that." She dismissed quickly.
"Well, something's frightening you. I'm giving you one of my men."
"Thanks but my birthday's not for a few months."
"Alexis I'm serious."
"Read my lips Sonny; I do not want a bodyguard. I do not need a bodyguard. I do not want to see Johnny or Max or any of the others following me or standing outside my door 24/7. And don't even think about giving me one of the new guys so I don't recognise him. In fact if I see anyone hanging out in the hallways that does not live in the building I will call Taggert and have them arrested for stalking. Do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly." He answered, clearly frustrated by her refusal.
"Good, now if we are done here, I really would like to go to bed." As she spoke she walked towards the door and Sonny reluctantly followed.
"If you change your mind..."
"I won't."
"Fine." He said opening her front door and coming face to face with Mason Capwell.