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Chapter 36

Jerry got out of his car. He stared at Miranda, sitting on his doorstep. "I thought you already had your things." he stated simply as he walked up. "I want to talk to you." she stood. "We have nothing to discuss." "Jerry, please." she placed her hand on his arm. "Please listen..." "I'm tired of listening to you. Besides, I wouldn't beleive a word you were to say anyway." "I don't..." Miranda sighed. *How* did he find out about her and Hendrickson? *How?* "Jerry, please. Just give me a few minutes...please." "No." Jerry opened his door and stepped inside, shutting it immediately. But he couldn't turn away from the door. Part of him really wanted to hear her side...and he was wondering why he cared so damn much. "Persistent little thing, isn't she?" Jerry opened his eyes slowly. He leaned away from the door and turned. "Bobbie?" "So what did she do?" "Nothing." Jerry immediately turned on the charm as a grin grew across his face. "...with what do I owe the pleasure?" "What did she do Jerry?" Bobbie asked again, her anger growing. Keesha placed her menu back on the table. "What's wrong?" she asked quietly. Everything. "Nothing." Jax replied just as softly. "Don't keep things from me, Jax." "I'm not. Really. I've just had a tiring day." She continued to stare into his eyes, trying to pin point what exactly could be bothering him. "Is it about this morning?" she asked as she reached across the table, taking his hand in hers. Jax smiled. He looked down at their hands. "You never give up do you?" Then he sighed, pulling his hand away. "I don't want to discuss it now, if you don't mind." Now Keesha was completely confused. She thought the whole point of meeting Jax here was so they could discuss exactly what was going to happen to their marriage...whether they were going to continue it, as she hoped, or take some steps back and get the divorce, like they originally planned. "Okay, you're starting to worry me..." Keesha stopped speaking as Jax's phone rang. He excused himself and reached into his pocket. "Yes." "Can you come over?" Jerry looked at the ring on the table. He refused to pick it up...maybe if he left it, she would return. "Jerry...what's wrong?" "Just come over." Jerry hung up. "Jerry?" Jax walked into Jerry's house. He looked around the living room, and saw the cabinet to the wet bar open. Slowly he walked behind it. "Jer?" "Want some?' Jerry looked up from the floor. He held up the bottle of tequila. Jax stared at his brother for a moment. He slid down and joined him, leaning up against the wall. "What happened?" "Bobbie left me." Jax blinked. "She..." "Left. Walked right to that door...threw the ring I gave her for our one year anniversary and hit me with it." he laughed bitterly. "Nice aim those Spencers." "Jerry..." "And then I watched her walk out...and I don't want to hear it." Jerry stood. "I can't go after her. It wouldn't change anything." "I don't understand." Jax looked up as Jerry stood carefully. "Of course you don't. Neither do I." "How did this happen?" "You know, Miranda....Cassadine...wanting to know if I knew about Corinthos....it was just one big fight-where we just rehashed things over and over, and got absolutely nowhere. Have you ever had one of those fights? Oh yeah...we have." Jerry laughed again. "And we made up too." Jax offered Jerry some hope. "I don't know what I would have done without Bobbie there to support me then. I don't know what I'll do without her now....I really love her, you know." Jerry admitted, his voice growing soft. "Then why are you telling me, Jerry. Go and find Bobbie, and tell *her*." "I tried lying to her, for you." Jerry attempted to change the subject. "But I couldn't..." "Jerry we aren't discussing me..." "I'm sure that Bobbie beleives I had something to do with Sonny. Whether she tells Carly is another story....you know what they say-there's nothing like a woman scorned." "Damn it Jerry...let me repeat myself." Jax stood. "This is not about me, don't worry about it...I can handle Carly. In fact, I'll just go and tell Carly myself." Jerry grabbed hold of Jax's arm. "You can't. It won't do any good." "Why?" "Because Bobbie is not going to forgive me, whether you tell Carly it was you or not. And it wasn't just you, I knew all along...I helped even. You setting yourself up is not going to help me, and all it's going to do is hurt you, and then..." what would he do? "Just don't, Jax. I need your word." "And once again, Jerry sacrifices for Jax." Jerry and Jax turned at the sound of the female voice. "Miranda." Jerry said quietly. "Get out." Jax commanded. "I won't say anything Jerry." Miranda focused. "I promise. You want it kept quiet...and I will keep it that way." she glanced over in Jax's direction. "But only for him" she pointed at Jerry. "....because that's what *he* wants." "Miranda, leave. This doesn't concern you." Jax attempted to control his anger. Jerry didn't need any added stress right now. "Do you want me to go." Miranda ignored Jax and stared at Jerry once more. "Promise me." Jerry looked at them both. "I promise." "As if a promise from you means something." Jax countered against Miranda's agreement. "Jax...leave us." Jax turned and looked at Jerry. "No..." "This is my house and I want you gone. I need to speak with Miranda alone." "Jerry..." "Now, Jax." Jax sighed deeply. He turned his attention back to Miranda. "If you take advantage of my brother in any way, I will destroy you." he promised with a icy glare before walking out. Miranda watched as Jax closed the door. She looked over at Jerry once more. "I'm sorry." she held her arms out. Jerry studied her quietly. "Please, Jerry. Let someone take care of you for a change." Jerry looked down. And then slowly he came over, and Miranda wrapped her arms around him tightly. It was just a matter of time. Jax came up the porch slowly. He couldn't let Jerry take the blame for his stupidity. And he couldn't let harm come to Keesha. If only he had just left Sonny alone.... But he hadn't. And now he had to fix things. Jax closed the door to the house quietly. "How's Jerry?" Keesha asked cautiously. "A mess. Bobbie left him." "She...she left him?" "Miranda is with him now." "Miranda?" "She knows that I am why Sonny's in jail." Keesha ran her fingers through her hair. "We are why Sonny is in jail." "Not as far as she knows. And it's going to stay that way." "How?" "Because...because you are going to leave me because of it." "Are you nuts?! I am *not* going to leave you..." Keesha stood from the couch. "You *have* to. Keesha...sweetheart..." Jax closed his eyes. Forcing himself to open them he continued, keeping his voice calm, and his tone rational. "It's not safe. Bobbie thinks Jerry is involved, and I will not let him take the blame for this. If she even considers telling Carly, I have to go forward." "I understand that...." "No, you don't really understand. Because of me..." "*Us* damn it!" "Because...Sonny and Jason *and* Moreno all are going to have serious axes to grind when it comes to me. And the best way to get to me...is through you. Unless they think the only reason I married you, was to get the information." "No..." Keesha shook her head. She absolutely refused to let this happen....she couldn't be alone again. And she couldn't leave Jax alone again.... "And if they think you just found out...and that you thouht I used you...and that's why we're not together then..." "I cannot...I *will* not be without you, Jax...you can't ask me to do that...because I refuse." Keesha took a breath, adamant. Jax closed the space between them. He took her hands and offered, "You won't be without me...I love you." "And I love you." Jax looked down. "I know. We love each other. And that's why, we won't really be without each other...if you need me, then I'll..." "I need you *now*." Jax looked up at her small plea. "Keesha..." Jax reached up and wiped the tears from her eyes. "You can't just make a decision like this..." "I didn't. It's important for me to get you to understand...*why*. I'm trying to be as honest as I can..." "I'm not..." Keesha pushed his hands away. "I am not leaving." "Keesha...if you don't leave...I will." "No, you won't." "Yes. I will." "Then I'll just...I'll tell Sonny myself..." Keesha turned quickly and started to go upstairs... Jax grabbed her and pulled her to him. She fell back against his body and he wrapped his arms around her tightly as they each faced the stairs. "It would kill me if something happened to you Keesha." "That's not fair..." "This isn't *about* fair. This is about you...and keeping you safe. I promised you...I promised myself when this started...that I would keep you safe. And right now, keeping you safe...means asking you to leave." "Jax, please..." "Keesha, Miranda knows. It's only a matter of time before Sonny finds out. Don't you understand that?" She bent her head, shaking it slowly. "I don't want to hurt you. If I hadn't been so damn selfish...." Jax closed his eyes. "I'm sorry." he buryied his face in her hair. Promises. Jax had promised to keep her safe. And though right now she couldn't care less about that, she did care about her promise. Not to hurt him. And if she stayed that's exactly what she would be doing.... "Let go." Keesha said quietly. Jax looked up. "What?" "Let me go." Slowly Jax released his grip on her. She turned around and then she reached up, standing on tiptoe. She brushed her lips against his, and he opened his mouth to her. They kissed gently, holding hands and lacing their fingers. Jax reluctantly pulled away "I love you." Jax mumbled against her mouth. "I love you." Keesha replied with a small smile. And Jax tried to regain his senses, tried to prepare himself for her asking him to let her stay...insisting on staying... "I'll always love you." Keesha finished. Jax closed his eyes again. "Keesha..." Jax opened his eyes, watching as she moved past him quickly, running out the door. Shani