Chapter 18
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With a tired groan, Jax attempted to stir from his slumber. He felt a
light, feathery touch run across his hand and opened his eyes. He
smiled and held Keesha tighter, kissing her back softly. "Good
morning."
She barely responded, moving up a little on the bed, and taking a deep
sigh before settling back into that rythmatic breathing of sleep. Jax
peaked over her shoulder. "Keesha...." one arm left her body and the
hand pushed her hair back, so he could get a better look at her. "Wake
up..." His other arm reached around and rested against her stomach.
"My love..." he mumbled against her shoulder quietly...
Keesha's eyes flew open at Jax's words. She could have *sworn* that
Jax....she turned around and faced him.
"Don't you start classes this morning?"
Class....reality hit her, obviously for the first time, she realized.
She must be projecting what she wanted to hear, with what was really
said. "Yes." she leaned over and kissed him slowly. "Thank you..."
she smiled at Jax, running her finger across his lips. He grinned,
taking her hand and holding it in his.
"You are very welcome." he planted a small kiss on Keesha's hand. "But
you had better leave before I decide to make you tardy."
"I suppose." she reluctantly sat up in bed. "Are you going to sleep a
little longer."
"No, I have some things to do in preparation for tonight..for us."
"What happens tonight?"
"You'll see."
"Jax...I hate that..."
"Too bad..." he pushed her gently. "Get up and get ready for school."
"Where are you going?" Hannah reached out for Sonny.
"To Luke's, I should run into her...she's having lunch with him today."
Hannah sighed. "You said you already tried to warn her...AJ tried to
warn her...why don't you just let it go."
"Because now there is walking, living proof among us."
"Miranda."
"Give the lady a prize." Sonny smiled and kissed her quickly. He
stood straight putting on his gun holder. "How can she avoid the fact
that Miranda is lucky to be here at all. All I have to do is steer her
way of thinking, to the fact that she may be next, and may not be as
lucky. She'll catch on sooner rather than too late...." the gleam left
his eyes as the phone rang. "Corinthos...yes Jason...when was
that...okay, I'm on my way."
"Moreno or Jax?" Hannah was sometimes tempted to ask who Sonny hated
more. But she realized she already knew.
Jax...no contest.
"Moreno. Be careful, in fact why don't you stay in today?"
"Because I have work to do."
Sonny stared at her. He was tempted to order her, but he knew what
that would get him....nothing but a fight, and though he enjoyed
fighting with Hannah sometimes, she had so much of Brenda in her when
she was being stupid and not listening to what he said, right now, he
didn't have the energy. "Then be very careful." he finished and left.
"I love you too..." Hannah mumbled and then laid back in the bed. He
had too much going on....she smiled and got up to get ready. She knew
what she could do.
Jerry got up from the couch, walking over and opening the door.
"Hey...okay...what's going on?"
"Nothing."
Jerry stared at him for a moment before moving past to let him in.
"Then why do you look like a Chesire cat?"
"No reason....is Bobbie here?"
Jerry laughed and hit Jax on his back. "It finally happened!"
"Shut up Jerry."
"My baby brother has let someone in..." he hit him again.
"I don't know what you mean..." Jax pushed Jerry and he fell back a few
steps. "Stop hitting me."
"You don't know what I mean...what about who I mean...Keesha Ward
-*Jacks*..." Jerry empahsized "has gotten to you."
"Shut up Jerry....I don't even know why I bothered coming here..."
"Okay...okay, I'm sorry." Jerry tried to contain his happiness. "Sit.
Talk to Jerry."
"Go to hell..." Jax started to leave and Jerry grabbed his arm.
"I won't say another word."
Jax stared at Jerry as he thought. Finally he stated. "I'm not sure
how to tell her....Jerry..."
Jerry waited.
"Speak Jerry." Jax couldn't help but smile.
"Tell her what?"
"That I love her."
"They have three simple words for that you know. I love you."
"It's not that simple. I don't know when it happened, but I do know I
was...*open* to it happening for longer than she has been. It took her
*this* long to even admit to that she has genuine feelings for me. If
I tell her that I'm in love with her, it will probably scare her half
to death...."
"Good point. On the other hand..."
"On the other hand...one thing I've always tried to do, but only
recently *really* understood the importance of, was living for
today...because you aren't always sure what's coming. I am in love
with Keesha, and I want to tell her. Jerry, when we woke up..."
"*We*..." Jerry began until Jax cut his eyes. "Sorry...go on."
"This morning, I even started making plans for this big night...and how
I was going to tell her. But perhaps I shouldn't....besides, what if
she doesn't feel the same....then what? We made it so far, but if she
tells me that she's not in love with me..."
" *Yet*, Jax. If she isn't in love with you, then she's not in love
with you yet...it will come."
"I can't just wait for that to happen. I refuse to do that."
"So what would you do?"
"Tell her we have to go back to being friends, unless...."
"Until."
"Until...if...unless she changes her mind."
"You can do that?"
"No." Jax admitted quickly. "But I sure as hell can give it a try. I
will not be in love, and have her know it, and..." make love to her.
And hold her while she slept. And watched her stir in the morning.
Jax ran his fingers through his hair as he grew frustrated. "I can't
be with her and just sit around and wait for her to fall in love with
me."
"Then maybe you need to put off telling her. To give her a little more
time."
Jax nodded. That was probably the best way. "Let's talk about you
now...did you know your friend is here."
"Yes, I know Miranda is here. Bobbie told me. I don't know why she's
here, but I plan to enjoy the fact that she is...actually, we are
meeting for breakfast...so...."
"Can I come?" Jax teased.
"No."
Keesha switched her bag from one shoulder to the other. She was so
excited about taking classes. Already she knew she made the right
choice.
It must be a trend she was on. Making perfect choices.
Keesha looked at her watch and realized she was right on time for her
visit to Luke. She walked into the club. It was empty, save the
bartender and one other person...
"You have that newlywed glow." Hannah stood from the bar.
"Thank you...I suppose." Keesha didn't know what to make of Hannah.
Of course she didn't know Hannah.
"I didn't get the chance to say congratulations."
"Thanks again....have you seen Luke?"
"No."
"Okay, I'll wait for him." Keesha went to the other end of the bar and
sat down.
Hannah took her glass and came over. "That looks heavy...what are you
carrying..."
"No offense, but can I ask what you want?"
Hannah leaned back. "None taken. I just figured that just because our
husbands couldn't stand each other doesn't mean that we have to be
sworn enemies."
That could be true. If Keesha didn't hate Sonny at least almost as
much as Jax did. "So, you just wanted to say *hello* then..."
At that moment, the door opened and both women turned to look. Hannah
surpressed her smile. Right on time. She was hoping when she placed
the note that her interest would get the better of her and she would
come.
Miranda looked at Keesha and Hannah, debating her options. Finally she
walked slowly over. "Hi, I'm Miranda." she extended her hand to
Keesha.
"Keesha." she shook it.
"Nice to meet you. Hannah, I'm supposed to meet Sonny here. Where is
he?"
"I'm not sure. He called you?"
"A note was left for me at Katherine's....never mind...tell him next
time to be here..."
Suddenly a sound rang out. Keesha and Miranda jumped. Hannah's
bodyguard motioned at her to stay and then he went outside.
"A car backfiring." Hannah stated assuradely. She had heard enough
gunfire to know the difference. After a second, Hannah decided to make
the most of the situation. Two women, one an ex, one the current. If
they were human, Jax would have to come up, and then Sonny would get
what he wanted. Keesha would start to think about what Sonny had said.
"What's taking Tyrone so long?" she got up and walked out the door.
Keesha and Miranda looked at each other. Finally Keesha stated.
"Excuse me..."
The bartender came over. "Can I help you?"
"Yes, can you tell Luke that Keesha Jacks..." she almost paused,
noticing how easy that rolled off her tongue "...came by, but she has
to go home. I'll call him."
"Sure thing." he walked away.
Keesha got up from the stool.
"How's Jax."
"Fine, thanks for asking."
Miranda watched as Keesha got up....
"NO BODY MOVE OR SHE DIES!" The man uncocked the gun pointed at
Hannah's head. "Why don't you tell them what happened to your
friend..." he whispered in her ear.
Hannah closed her eyes, tears running down her cheeks as she thought of
Tyrone...laying dead on the ground, a rope wrapped around his neck.
"YOU GET OUT!" the man ordered to the bartender.
The bartender froze.
"NOW!"
He came from behind the bar, and started out. He'd get out call Luke,
Luke would know what to do. He started running for the door. He opened
it....
Hannah screamed as the man threw her to the ground, turning and
shooting the bartender in the back. The man closed the door.
Keesha opened her eyes. She said a silent prayer for the young man,
and then one for herself. She had to get back to Jax. She couldn't
leave him now...."What do you want?" she managed to ask as Hannah got
up from the ground and ran over to her and Miranda.
"Don't worry your pretty little head about it. But thank the long
haired brunette for setting up the perfect scene for me. What was your
name again sweetheart?" he added to Hannah.
"Hannah..." she whispered.
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"
"Hannah!"
"Hanner..."
Keesha and Miranda couldn't help but look at each other. For just that
millisecond, the man sounded Australian....
"Very beautiful name." The American accent was back.
The question was which was the real one.
Sonny slammed the phone down. He couldn't reach Tyrone. Hannah
refused to carry one....
Jax looked up from his coffee. "Lose someone?"
Jerry smiled.
"No one I know has been around you lately, I guess that would be a no...
"SHHH..." the waitress ordered as she turned up the radio.
*Again two bodies have been found outside of Luke's. The names have
been withheld until notifcation of family members. The police have
closed the roads leading there until further notice."
"TELL HIM TO COME!"
"Tell *WHO*!" Mac yelled into the megaphone.
"HE KNOWS. TELL HIM THAT I HAVE SOMEONE HERE HE MIGHT WANT TO SEE
ALIVE, AND IF HE DOESN'T COME, HE WON'T!"
"Who are you?!" Mac tried to stall for time. He didn't even know who
else was in there.
"GOOD QUESTION!" The man turned and looked at the women, all sitting at
the bar, their hands handcuffed together, and Keesha's, sitting at the
end, handcuffed to the end of the bar. "BUT I WOULD BE STUPID TO
ANSWER! JUST TELL SONNY CORINTHOS, JASPER JACKS OR JERRY JACKS TO GET
DOWN HERE...OR SAY GOODBYE...AND I ONLY WANT ONE! MORE THAN ONE, AND
ALL THREE WOMEN DIE!"
Women...he had 3 women in there. "Find out where Jax is!" he ordered
to cop and turned his attention back to Luke's.
"Sir, I've done a check on the liscese plates." Taggert stated as he
ran up. "The Lexis belongs to Hannah Corinthos."
"Of course. Go on."
"The Mercedes to Jasper Jacks....and the Acura is a rental
car...belonging to Miranda Jameson."
"WELL! WHO'S COMING?!"
The other cop ran back. "He was last saw at Kelly's."
Mac nodded. To Taggert he ordered, "Go and get Jax..."
"Why Jax?"
"Because Sonny will only care about Hannah, and Jerry is too damn hot
headed...and make sure that he comes here ALONE! Got me?!"
Sonny left Kelly's, but only got so far as the door.
"Corinthos...where do you think you're going?" Taggert stood in his
path.
"None of your business..." he had to get to Luke's.
"Actually it is...because you're under arrest." Taggert nodded to his
partner who started to put Sonny in handcuffs.
"For WHAT!"
"Gun possession." Taggert reached in the jacket and pulled out one of
Sonny's guns. "I know you don't have this registered."
"That was an *illegal search* You're getting sloppy..."
"Who saw it?"
"You're going down..."
Taggert bent, mumbling softly. "I am doing this for your wife, damn
it. Now shut up, and get going..." he watched as Sonny was led away.
Jerry moved past Jax and looked at Taggert. "You're getting quite bold
if I do say so myself."
"Desperate times. Jax, I need to speak with you, about V."
"That's my cue I suppose. I'm going to see Bobbie anyway...."
Jax nodded to Jerry and then waited. "What about her."
"There's a situation at Luke's...."
"Is V in there?!"
"No...but...what car did Keesha take this morning..."
"The Mercedes..."
"Blue, tan interior..."
"Yes....oh my God...." Jax's voice trailed off as it registered. "That
can't be right! You have to be *wrong*!" Life wouldn't do that...it
wouldn't take Keesha away from him *now*....
"Settle down...." Taggert looked around, and didn't see anyone. "She's
*fine*" Taggert hoped. "But she's in there with Hannah and Miranda
Jameson, and someone is holding them hostage. And that person wants to
talk to you...alone....I need for you to be calm here Jax...but will
you come?"
Jax pushed his way past, running.
He had to get to Keesha.
Shani
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