Jason & Courtney #2  December 5, 2002 - 8 hr original edit

Courtney borrows some supplies from Kelly's to use to make a dinner for her and Jason. Liz pretends it doesn't bother her that Courtney and Jason have become such close friends lately. She tells her that she has no problem if Courtney decides to start seeing Jason. Courtney tells her that she is cooking dinner for Jason as a thank you for all the help and safety he has given to her. As she is leaving Kelly's, A.J. walks in and tries to get her to forgive him and not divorce him. Courtney listens to him but doesn't believe she can trust him anymore. She tells him to sign the divorce papers and let her move on with her life. Sonny asked Jason to do something for him that evening but Jason tells him he has plans tonight but will get someone else to do it for him. Sonny is understanding and tells him not to worry about it right now. Later, Sonny leaves. Carly asks Jason to fix one of Michael's toys for him and uses that as an excuse to question him about what he is doing tonight and with whom. Jason doesn't tell her much. She gets all nervous preparing dinner and Jason arrives. She spills wine on the carpet and then on him later while they are eating. She goes to clean the wine off his shirt and Jason leans in and kisses her. Courtney kisses him back. Jason stops and asks her if she really wants to do this. She looks at him softly and nods yes. They kissing passionately. He struggles to take off her sweater, giggling she stops him and seductively unbuttons her top. She takes him by the hand and takes him into her bedroom. They hear a thump at the door and both jump guiltily. Its just Rosie returning, having escaped from the neighbors. Jason leaves abruptly, leaving Courtney puzzled.

Later, A.J. stops by to discuss the divorce and Courtney rushes to the door, believing that Jason has returned and Courtney is obviously crestfallen when she finds that it is only her husband at the door. A.J. tries to get Courtney to accept some kind of settlement, asserting that he wants her to have enough money to realize some of the dreams she talked about. But Courtney angrily insists that she wants nothing from A.J. Then A.J. notices the festive dinner table and reminds Courtney that Courtney and Liz had told A.J. that Courtney was helping out with a Church bake sale tonight! A.J. suddenly guesses that Courtney has already moved on. He guesses it is with Jason. He accuses her of sleeping with his brother and heads to the bedroom to confront Jason, Courtney stops him. Courtney tells A.J. that it is no longer his home and that A.J. has no business investigating anything. A.J. deduces that he is right about Courtney having been in bed with Jason and Courtney tells A.J. that who she is with is no longer any of A.J.'s business. But A.J. tells Courtney that A.J. now believes that he lied to himself when he invested himself in believing in his wide-eyed, innocent bride when she was, all the while, just an ordinary every day slut.

A.J. tells Courtney that he was in love with who he thought Courtney was, a woman who loved A.J.! A.J. tells Courtney that he now believes she is trash just like her mob-boss brother. A.J. reminds Courtney that A.J. gave up everything in his life, just for Courtney, then Courtney turned around and jumped into bed with A.J.'s brother the first chance she got. But, A.J. confides, this is going to be the one time that Courtney will turn out to be the bigger loser ! A.J.: "So, I really hope you enjoyed the little roll in the hay with my brother. Because it is not going to last long. You see my brother has a thing for sweet, innocent, untouchable girls - GOOD girls! And you blew that the minute you jumped in to bed with him!' A.J. goes on to tell Courtney that he knows Jason well enough to know that: "To him, right now, you are nothing but easy sex!' And, A.J. warns, when the next sweet, innocent, untouchable girl comes along, Jason will walk away from Courtney without a backward glance because Jason is incapable of having feelings for anyone. Courtney is obviously shaken by what A.J. has to say. After A.J. slams out of the door, Courtney goes back and looks at the empty bedroom and remembers Jason's abrupt departure.

As Jason returns to the Penthouse, Carly stops him with questions about his 'date.' However, before Jason can give Carly any answers, Sonny interrupts to talk business with Jason. Carly tries to tease Jason about his date with Courtney but Jason bluntly tells Carly to stay out of his private life. As Jason leaves the Penthouse, Ric shows up, asking for Sonny and Carly reminds Ric that Sonny did not want Ric to be seen at the Penthouse. Jason suddenly grabs Ric and tells Carly to check Ric's briefcase for a gun. Carly tells Jason that Sonny hired Ric, but Carly still searches for a gun and finds nothing. Ric tells Carly that he has information Sonny needs to get right away, but Carly says that Sonny went out to meet Ric. When Ric pleads ignorance, Carly guesses that Sonny lied and Carly further speculates that Sonny rushed right out to rescue Brenda again! When Jason tries to caution Carly about exploding, Carly curtly tells Jason to stay out of her private life!

Courtney is surprised when Jason returns to her apartment. Jason admits that he left earlier because he believed that things were moving too fast for him. Courtney tells Jason that she is glad he came back and they kiss. Courtney is napping with her head on a pillow in Jason's lap, then awakes. Courtney says she doesn't want this to stop. Jason tells her it doesn't have to. He receives a call from Sonny saying that Brenda's going to be released. Jason says he'll go get her. Courtney says she wants to know when she can see him again, even though she isn't supposed to ask. Jason says he'll be back as soon as he can, and she can ask this question. He wasn't that way with Liz. Jason reiterates that he doesn't like Brenda, and their marriage is just a sham. They kiss goodbye.

Brenda walks out of the questioning room and over to Jason. She starts to interrogate him. Jason and Brenda have to stay married until the Alcazar fiasco is over. Scott approaches them and does his usual "everyone is going to jail" speech. As Jason and Brenda leave the hospital, reporters accost them. A reporter asks Brenda if she can ever be faithful to one man. Jason tells Brenda, in no uncertain words, that she's staying at his penthouse because she's supposed to be his wife. Sonny appears. Again, he says he's working on getting Jax off. Brenda says if something doesn't happen soon, she'll have to do something desperate. Brenda finally gets the picture that she needs to choose between covering for Jax, and taking Sonny and Jason down with her confession. Brenda says that Scott said Sonny wants Jax to go to jail so Sonny can have her all to himself.

Jason returns to the apartment. Courtney says she saw him and Brenda on TV. Jason tells her that he will have to continue playing Brenda's devoted spouse until the Alcazar murder case is cleared up. But Courtney tells Jason she is not sure she can bear to be apart for that long. Jason suggests that they could meet in secret. Courtney agrees that she will look for a quiet, out of the way place where they could meet. Courtney reminds Jason that A.J. has promised to make the divorce proceedings a long, painful, uphill struggle and Courtney warns Jason to make sure that A.J. does not find out, since A.J. already suspects that Jason and Courtney have already consummated their relationship. When Courtney returns to Kelly's, Elizabeth asks how Courtney's dinner with Jason went but Courtney only says that it was nice. Then Courtney adds that, since Courtney is going through a divorce and Jason is involved in Brenda's legal problems, it would be a long time before a relationship between Jason and Courtney could turn into anything serious. But Liz remains suspicious that Courtney and Jason's relationship is already no longer platonic.

Carly spots Brenda on the way to the elevator and tries to stop her. As Brenda and Carly argue in the hallway about Brenda confessing to save Jax, Jason returns and Carly immediately reports to Jason that Brenda was headed down to the PCPD to confess to Alcazar's murder. Jason takes Brenda home and angrily asks his wife: 'How many lives are you willing to destroy to save Jax?' Brenda, "As many as it takes!'

Sonny tells Jason it is time for Jason to take his new bride on a nice, long honeymoon out of the country. Sonny is surprised when Jason appears to be reluctant to take Brenda out of the country and spend time alone with her on one of Sonny's private islands. Sonny suspiciously asks if Jason has another reason why Jason does not want to leave Port Charles just now but Jason just states that spending time alone with Brenda on an island somewhere is his idea of hell. At the same time, Courtney begins calling real estate agents to find a secluded apartment where she and Jason would be able to meet insecret, away from the prying eyes of the press. As Sonny and Jason talk at the Penthouse, Courtney suddenly arrives across the hall, looking for Jason. As Courtney is ready to leave, Carly comes up in the elevator and guesses that Courtney is trying to meet with Jason. Carly tells Courtney to stay put, then Carly goes inside her Penthouse and asks Sonny to get her a drink of water. While his back is turned, Carly signals to Jason that he is needed out in the hall. Jason is surprised to see that his visitor is Courtney, and they leave together to look at apartments that Courtney has found. Later, as Carly envisions the opening night for her new club, she suggests that even Jason could have a date maybe even with Courtney. Sonny suddenly tells Carly that if Jason laid a finger on Sonny's sister, Sonny would have to kill him!

Courtney takes Jason to see a perfect apartment that Courtney loves and the prospective landlady beams at the enthusiasm of her 'newlyweds' moving into their first apartment. But, then, the landlady recognizes Jason as Brenda's husband and mentions that she has watched Jason and his wife on some newscasts. The landlady tries to warn Courtney that Courtney is getting involved with a married man. Courtney thanks the landlady for her concern but tells her that Courtney knows what she is doing. However, Jason offers to pay double for the apartment if the landlady will keep their secret and she agrees. Jason tells Courtney that he just wants the place so they can be alone together without Courtney needing to worry about A.J. suddenly showing up. Jason asks Courtney point-blank if she is having second thoughts about the fact that they have already been to bed together and Courtney admits that she would like to slow down their relationship and take it one step at a time. Jason agrees, but tells Courtney that, since Jason is not very good at picking up on signals, it would be better if Courtney sent Jason a note or something when she is ready for their relationship to take a different turn.

Jason returns to the Penthouse and Carly tries to encourage Jason's interest in Courtney, but Jason angrily demands that Carly leave his life alone. When Sonny returns to the Penthouse, Sonny tells Jason to go see Brenda and try to convince her that the Alcazar things is not going to go away just because Brenda is thinking good thoughts. Jason assures Sonny that Jason will be able to convince Brenda to listen to him. But, instead, when Jason leaves the Penthouse, Jason goes to meet Courtney and did not go to Brenda's Cottage first!

Courtney arrives at Club 101 (now owned by Skye) and says she'll stop by later to say hello to Sonny. Courtney goes to the bar and says hello to Skye, who directs Courtney to table six where AJ is waiting. Courtney tells AJ they have nothing to discuss. Sonny wants to intervene, but Carly tells him to let her handle it by herself. AJ says he's fighting the divorce all the way. Courtney then tells Skye she doesn't need a job where she's pressures to deal with a man she can't stand, and quits. She stops by Sonny and Carly's table, tells them she just quit, and lands a job as a hostess at Carly's new club. After she leaves, Sonny marvels at the change that has come over his newly confident sister.

Courtney tells Jason that Skye set her up with AJ, and that Courtney quit halfway through her shift. She says AJ accused her of sleeping with Jason and that he was fighting the divorce. Courtney says AJ has lost his power to manipulate her. Courtney and Jason begin a romantic dinner at their new apartment, but Liz interrupts when she calls Courtney's cell phone and asks Courtney to come to Kelly's and pinch hit for an ailing Penny. Courtney and Jason agree to meet later and pick out their first Christmas tree together. When Courtney arrives at Kelly's, Elizabeth apologizes for calling Courtney on her cell phone but Courtney tells Liz that Courtney is fine with the situation she can use all the extra money she can get, between the divorce and needing to be able to buy Christmas gifts. Jason soon arrives and Liz can't help but notice the look that passes between Courtney and Jason. Carly soon arrives at Kelly's and tries to get Jason interested in blueprints of Kelly's, which show a hidden room. But Jason tells Carly that he does not have time for her little project.

However, as Jason prepares to leave, Ric arrives and sits down with Carly and is immediately interested in Carly's blueprints. Jason watches as Ric flatters Carly. Jason tries to warn Carly against trusting Ric. But Carly insists that Sonny himself checked Ric out and could not find anything wrong in Ric's background. Jason warns Carly that someone who seems too good to be true probably is! Courtney finishes her shift and motions Jason out to the Christmas tree lot and Jason soon splits but not without Elizabeth noticing that Jason appears to be following Courtney. They meet up at the tree lot, pick out a tree. Mike arrives as they are leaving and offers to take over for Jason. So of course the tree goes to Courtney's old apartment that she shared with AJ. Later, Courtney asks Jason if it would be too late for them to return to the Christmas tree lot to pick another tree. He has a surprise for her and takes her home to their place and shows her that he has already bought another beautiful tree. Hanging on it is one ornament, it is a golden retriever!

As Jason, Carly and Michael make plans for the Penthouse Christmas tree, Courtney arrives with a box of cookies and Carly makes an excuse to leave Jason and Courtney alone together. But, when they are alone, Jason informs Courtney that he may need to leave soon to take Brenda away. Sonny arrives at the Penthouse and huddles in a whispered conference with Jason, informing Jason that a new witness has identified Brenda as Alcazar's killer. When Sonny asks if Jason knew about the other witness, Jason informs the Mob Boss that, if Jason had known about another witness, Jason would have discussed it with Sonny before taking any kind of action. Sonny tells Jason that he believes that Jason should take Brenda away that evening. Jason tells Sonny that Brenda is at the Quartermaines and that Jason will go there to pick her up. Courtney and Carly wonder what Jason and Sonny are huddled about, but Carly cautions Courtney against asking too many questions. Jason suddenly asks to speak to Courtney alone and kisses her good-bye, telling her that he may not be back for a while but can not explain to her what he is doing! Courtney insists that she understands. Carly tries to figure out what is going on and where Jason has dashed off to but Sonny evades her questions and goes to decorate the tree with Michael. But Taggert suddenly barges in and formally arrests Sonny for obstruction of justice. When Taggert demands to know where Morgan is, Courtney angrily informs the police officer that Jason is not at Sonny's Penthouse. Sonny angrily denounces Taggert for arresting him in his own home so close to the holidays, but Taggert reminds Sonny that that is just one of the hazards of Sonny's chosen 'profession.' As Michael clings to Sonny, Taggert tries to reassure Michael that he does not plan to hurt Sonny. When Sonny requests a few minutes to explain things to Michael, Taggert waits until Sonny has finished, and, while Taggert is waiting, Taggert suddenly asks Courtney if Courtney knows where Jason is. But Courtney pleads ignorance. When Sonny has finished speaking to Michael, Taggert arrests Sonny.

Jason has arrived at the Q's to get Brenda. When the tree is lighted, a short causes the electricity go off. Just at that moment, Mac arrives with a squad of uniformed police officers and announces that he is there to arrest Brenda for murder. But Brenda and Jax, and Jason slip away in the dark. Brenda and Jax run through the grounds, but Jason suddenly appears and hits Jax on the head, grabs Brenda and takes off with her. Jason drags a protesting Brenda to her Cottage and demands that she pack and get ready to leave immediately. But, when Jason enters the darkened Cottage, Jax steps out of the shadows and hits Jason over the head. Even though Brenda insists they should make sure Jason is okay and maybe even take him to the hospital, Jax refuses and insists that they tie Jason up and leave him there. Jason regains consciousness in the darkened Cottage and works at freeing himself, but by the time that Jason is free, the Police have arrived with spotlights glaring and sirens blaring and announce that the Cottage is surrounded and that Jason needs to surrender.

Carly informs Courtney that they now need to go down to the police station to bail Sonny and Jason out of jail. When Courtney questions the need for both of them to go to do that and reminds Carly that they will be leaving Michael alone when they go, Carly informs Courtney that, as long as the man you love often lands in jail, you need to learn the ropes of the system so that you can help. Courtney and Carly finally leave for the PCPD. Brenda and Jax arrive aboard Jax's jet and make plans to fly to the Caribbean, Jason arrives at the Port Charles Police Department under arrest down to the PCPD with her. Then Courtney rages at Taggert that the arrests are not fair. Taggert quarrels, "Fair? You want to know what is not fair, Ms. Matthews? Try three failed indictments against your brother for RICO violations. Try years of failed investigations because he made a deal with the FBI, and they sealed his records. Try people that have disappeared or met with accidents or ended up dead in an alley, courtesy of Mr. Morgan. The law is fair. And it has finally come back to bite both of you!' Sonny protests that he and Jason are innocent and Taggert agrees that Taggert is beginning to believe that Brenda really did kill Alcazar!

Marcus gleefully informs Sonny and Jason that they'll remain guests of the city for the holiday. Courtney talks a reluctant Mike into visiting his son at the police station on Christmas Eve. Ric calls in a favor to get Sonny and Jason released. A call comes in from Judge Weston who releases Sonny. Sonny tells Jason he didn't call in the favor as he couldn't get a hold of anyone. He promises Jason he will get him out. Carly arrives and is thrilled her husband is coming home for Christmas. Ric shows up and Sonny realizes Ric is responsible for his release. Tagger is beyond annoyed that Sonny is being released! Sonny isn't happy about Ric's invovlement and tells Ric he isn't his attorney and does not want him working on his behalf. Carly pulls Sonny aside and asks Sonny to have Ric get Jason out of jail that it is about Jason being home for Christmas. Sonny agrees and asks Ric who goes off to make a couple of phone calls. Christmas music montage to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - Ric plays guitar for Liz, scenes from the GH Christmas party, Coleman at Skye's bedside, Courtney standing sadly before the tree in her empty apartment as Jason returns home and they embrace, Sonny kisses a sleeping Michael and Carly as they are curled up on the couch, and ends with Jax and Brenda on their island terrace.

Jason tries to leave Courtney's new place while she is sleeping but she wakes up. She gets upset about him leaving without saying goodbye since she worries that the cops will arrest him and put him away and she wouldn't know it. Jason agrees to let her know and say goodbye each time he has to go somewhere. She suggests that they run off together and hide out somewhere. Jason turns down that idea and tells her he has to meet with Sonny soon. Courtney comes to visit and thank Carly for helping with A.J. Carly tells her that A.J. will stop at nothing but destroy her family and try to get Michael including using Courtney to do it. Carly lets slip that A.J. is responsible for setting up Jason and Brenda by paying that witness to lie about Jason threatening her and paying her off and seeing Brenda kill Alcazar. Courtney starts to blame herself thinking she caused A.J. to get revenge on Jason. She tells Carly that she will speak to A.J. and get him to confess to setting up Jason.

As Jason hides in the bushes outside and watches the Quartermaine Mansion with a camera, A.J. wanders in and asks Ned whatever happened to Ned's plan to take Sonny down. Ned replies that if A.J.'s plan to take Sonny down does not work, Ned has another plan already in action. A.J. points out to Ned that the longer Jax succeeds in keeping Brenda out of the country and on the run, the better the chance will be that only Jason and Sonny will be prosecuted as Brenda's accomplices in Alcazar's death. When Courtney learns that Sonny and Jason suspect that A.J. bribed the new witness to the Alcazar witness to lie to implicate Brenda and Jason, Courtney insists to Carly that Courtney should try to help in some way, but Carly advises Courtney to stay out of Sonny's plan to prove that A.J. IS connected to Ida. A.J. turns around, he realizes that Courtney has suddenly arrived, and A.J. is suspicious about Courtney's visit. Courtney announces to A.J. that she is willing to give A.J. a chance to prove he truly loves her. Courtney appeals to A.J. to urge Skye to withdraw her story about seeing Brenda push Alcazar over the arms dealer's balcony railing. Courtney points out that everyone can see that Skye is turning into a wreck and that Courtney believes that Skye is sticking to her story about witnessing Brenda push Alcazar only because A.J. is urging Skye to stick to her story and all because A.J. is jealous of Jason.

When A.J. mentions the new eye witness who backs up Skye's story, Courtney suggests that A.J. could bribe Ida to change her story and just say that she came forward because she wanted to be in the midst of all of that police activity and publicity. A.J. is shocked that Courtney would ask A.J. to bribe a witness! A.J. suggests that he would be interested in a trade. A.J. informs his estranged wife that if Courtney returned to A.J. and never saw Jason again, A.J. would try to find a way to clear Jason in Alcazar's murder. Courtney reminds A.J. that Jason covered for A.J. when A.J. burned down The Oasis Club, but A.J. insists that the person Jason covered for was Courtney not A.J.! A.J. accuses Courtney of beginning to 'want' Jason the first moment she laid eyes on him. When Courtney insists that A.J. is wrong - A.J. tells Courtney that if she truly wants A.J. to help clear Jason, it would be necessary for Courtney to come clean with A.J. about her feelings for Jason. When Courtney reminds A.J. that A.J. lied to Courtney while we has stalking her. A.J. reminds Courtney that she has just asked A.J. to lie to get Jason off the hook! A.J. informs Courtney that, to get A.J.'s help, Courtney would have to put on a convincing act that there was a true reconciliation going on. All the while, Jason is watching the entire confrontation through the telephoto lens of his camera.

Brenda calls from out of the country to check on the status of the case. Taggert tells Brenda that Jason and Sonny have been arrested for conspiracy, Brenda suddenly hangs up. When Taggert's fellow officer informs Taggert that Brenda hung up too soon for the call to be traced, Taggert expresses his confidence that Brenda heard enough to head back to Port Charles to clear Sonny. As Jason watches from the terrace, AJ asks Courtney how far she is willing to go to save her boyfriend, like she was willing to strip to save him. She mouths off and he warns her to watch her tongue, which causes her to raise her arm as if to slap him. Jason rushes in and tackles AJ, punches him, and holds him against the desk in a chokehold. Courtney tells him to let go, but Jason resists. Finally, Courtney tells Jason it was her idea to go over there and see AJ and begs him to please let him go. Finally, Jason relents and starts to ask for more details about what she planned on doing, but then he gets a call that Brenda turned herself in, so he doesn’t have time to talk to Courtney. He says he has to go to Brenda, but first, he is going to take Courtney home.

At the police station, Jason shows up, wondering where Brenda is. Scott mocks him as the “concerned little husband.” Alone, Jason and Sonny wonder who paid Ida off if it wasn’t AJ. Just then, who shows up at the police station but Ida. She sees Sonny grinning at her and gets spooked a little. Sonny says hello to her and suggests she has some misunderstanding regarding him. He tells her he hopes she is able to clarify her witness statement. Before Scott can drag her away to check out the lineup, Sonny notices her diamond bracelet. Jason astutely tells Sonny that he thinks Ida is lying. Sonny thinks Ida showing off the bracelet means she is for sale to the highest bidder. They think if not AJ, then perhaps Skye is paying her off and they think all they have to do is pay a higher amount. In the lineup, Ida easily identifies Brenda.

In Kelly’s basement, Ric and Carly have arrived to knock down the wall. Bobbie is a little reluctant to go along with it though, and worries that the bricks might actually be holding up the structure. Carly finally gets Bobbie to admit that she is a tiny bit curious, too and then she finally agrees and Ric starts hacking away. Once he gets a decent-sized hole cut away, Carly walks through and is startled, “Oh my God!” Ric and Carly are astounded to discover a speakeasy frozen in time at one minute past midnight on New Year's Eve, 1926. An elderly woman suddenly appears and tells Carly the story of her club's opening night. It opens with Carly as Katherine, Sonny as Marco, AJ as Murphy, Jason as Joe, and Courtney as Violet. Murphy and his men plan on taking Sonny out that night. Kathering and Marco share a dance and some quiet moments before the club opens. He presents her with a beautiful diamond necklace for her to remember the evening. Though Violet urges her fiance to elope with her that very evening, Joe reminds her how Marco wouldn't approve of them running out on Katherine's grand opening. Later, Murphy and his men crash the party long enough to taunt Marco and enrage Joe. Back in the present day, the elderly Katherine continues her saga and describes for Carly and Ric how her dreams all came true on that New Year's Eve. With the bash in full swing, Joe and Violet decide to head to Niagara Falls and tie the knot after the stroke of midnight. Marco slips the mayor a fat bankroll (Scotty) to prevent him from closing down the joint.

At midnight, Murphy's men return and spray the club with their machine guns, sending terrified patrons screaming to the floor. Joe leaps to save Marco and is cut down in a hail of bullets. They gather at Joe's funeral, Katerine tells them that he was the heart of their family. After a grief-stricken Violet suffers a nervous breakdown, Marco kills Murphy and dies in prison. Katherine felt forced to send her son away so he wouldn't follow in his father's footsteps. Ric escorts Katherine back home. Carly is shaken and in tears as Sonny and Jason come in and ask if she is okay. She hugs them both and shakily tells Jason that he is her best friend and she isn't sure she has told him exactly how important his friendship is to them.

Jason goes to see Courtney. He finds her sleeping. He goes over and wakes her up. He tells her that she can no longer come to his rescue anymore and that she has to stay away from him when he is conducting business for Sonny. He asks her to stay out of his business since when she is around him like she was earlier at the Quartermaines, it distracts him so that he can't do his job properly. Courtney tells him she is worried about his life and that she only wanted to stop A.J. from hurting him anymore. Jason tells her that he can't have her doing that anymore. Courtney agrees to let him do his job without any more interference. Jason goes home and talks to Sonny about what happened with A.J. He tells Sonny that he was watching A.J. at the Q mansion and was waiting to see if Ida would show up but then he saw Courtney show up trying to stop A.J. from testifying against him to protect him and how he had to step in to protect her from A.J. Sonny tells Jason that he wants Courtney to stay out of harms way and that he doesn't want her even remotely involved in what he does for a living. Jason talks to Brenda about the arraignment and how she needs to stay calm and only plead "not guilty" and then they are done. Jason already told Sonny that he can't let Brenda be found guilty even if he can't stand her. They head to the courthouse together.

At the arraignment, Courtney runs into A.J. who offers her his deal to change his testimony if Courtney agrees to go back to him. Courtney refuses his offer and tells him that Jason can take care of himself and that she doesn't trust him to hurt Jason in some other way if she returned to him. Brenda pleads not guilty in court and Jason is about to plead the same way when his lawyer buts in and says that his client doesn't need to plead anything and that Jason would like to confer with the D.A. and plead to a lesser charge. Jason looks at him in disbelief and tells the judge he wants to fire his attorney and plead not guilty. The judge tells him that he needs counsel to represent him. The attorney defending Jason tells the judge that there is no evidence linking Jason to the crime and that it all points to Brenda only and that it is in his client's best interest to plead to a lesser charge. Jason looks to Sonny for help. Sonny asks Ric if he can represent Jason. Ric agrees to step in as his attorney after promising Sonny that he will allow Jason to plead "not guilty." Ric stands up and introduces himself to the judge and asks if he could represent Jason. Jason looks at Sonny who wearily nods his head yes to Jason. Jason accepts Ric as his attorney. Ric announces that Jason is pleading not guilty to the charge. The judge sets a trial date and recesses. Brenda talks to Jason and asks him if he is sure he wants to plead not guilty so he can help her. He tells her that he meant what he said about them being in this mess together and how they would get through this fine. Brenda thanks him and hugs him for the benefit of the public. Jax and Courtney look on with concern.

Jason questions Sonny about what he really knows about Ric, his new lawyer now. Jason tells him that there is something about Ric he doesn't like or trust. Sonny tells him that they don't have to like or trust him totally right now but they need to allow him to help them if he can and worry about the rest later. A.J. stops by Kelly's to harass Courtney and get her to agree to come back to him in exchange for changing his testimony about seeing Jason in Alcazar's limo that night he was murdered. Courtney tells him there is no deal and accidentally lets slip that Jason and Sonny already know that he bribed Ida Warren to lie about Brenda and Jason. A.J. plays coy and asks her how she knows that and guesses it was what Jason told her. Carly overhears the conversation and gets worried. A.J. tells her that she has been brainwashed by Sonny just like Carly and Brenda are. A.J. leaves. Carly tells her that she just blew it. Carly informs her that by telling A.J. that Jason and Sonny know about the pay off, A.J. has the upperhand against them again. Courtney feels stupid about it and Carly tells her not to make the same mistake she has made in the past like giving vital information to A.J. to get back at him when he upsets her. She advises Courtney to tell Jason right away what she told A.J. She tells her Jason may be upset but would rather hear from her first. She tells her that there may be time for Jason and Sonny to get to Ida first before A.J. if they know right now.

Jax and Brenda are kissing when Jason comes home and asks why Jax is there when he asked him to stay away from her right now. Jax tells Jason to stop giving him orders. Jason tells him that it is in Brenda's best interests if he isn't seen being with her and that he thought he understood that. Jason leaves. Jason goes to see Courtney at her place. He tells her about Ida's death/possible suicide. Courtney tells him she thinks she knows who killed Ida. She tells him about her conversation with A.J. that morning and how she let slip that he and Sonny knew about Ida's being paid off and that they knew what to do. Jason isn't angry with her and thanks her for telling him right off. Courtney asks him if A.J. could have killed that woman. Jason doesn't know who killed her or if it was a suicide after all. Carly tells Courtney she is afraid they could lose both Sonny and Jason, thanks to Brenda. Relating Katherine's tale to Courtney, Carly tells her sister-in-law why she's so determined to prevent a tragic piece of history from repeating itself. Carly describes for Courtney how Katherine's sad story seems to mirror their own lives with Sonny and Jason. Jason allays Courtney's insecurities about his relationship with Brenda.

Jason returns to his Penthouse and finds Jax and Brenda playing house. Jason orders Jax to get out, but Brenda protests. Outside Kelly's, A.J. meets with a Private Investigator and learns that Courtney has not been sleeping at home. A.J. orders the Private Eye to follow Courtney day and night. Elizabeth overhears the conversation. Later, when the Investigator enters Kelly's, looking for Courtney, Elizabeth pretends that she needs to call about Courtney's newest schedule before she can say when Courtney will be working again, but Liz actually tries to call Courtney to warn her and is disappointed when she only reaches the answering machine. When Courtney comes in, Liz loudly informs the investigator that Courtney may not be working until some time next week because they are revising the schedules and Courtney stays mum until the Investigator leaves. After the P.I. leaves, Liz tells Courtney that the man was a P.I., hired by A.J. But, when Liz tells Courtney that the P.I. had reported to A.J. that Courtney had not been sleeping at home and Liz asks Courtney where she has been, Courtney fibs that she has been worried about Mike's drinking and gambling and has been sleeping on her father's couch.

As soon as Courtney gets a chance, Courtney calls Jason and tells him they need to meet right away. Courtney fibs to Liz that she just got a call from Mike and needs to rush out right away to be with her father and Liz promises to cover Courtney's shift. Later, when Courtney goes to get her coat, Mike calls Kelly's and mentions to Liz that he has not seen Courtney for quite a while. When Courtney leaves, a suspicious Elizabeth follows Courtney to the apartment that Courtney shares with Jason. Before Jason can leave to meet Courtney, Carly arrives at the Penthouse and tries to persuade Jason to let Ric put Jason on the stand and coach Jason in the right way to answer the questions, but Jason refuses. Ric soon arrives and Jason warns Ric to never again use Carly to get to Jason, then Jason leaves. Jason arrives at the apartment he shares with Courtney and Liz watches from hiding as Courtney rushes into Jason's arms at the door.

Liz observes Courtney embracing Jason outside her apartment after she follows her there. Liz is very upset to learn that Courtney lied about being involved with Jason. Courtney tells Jason that A.J. hired a P.I. to follow her and that if he finds them together he will tell A.J. and he'll use that against them at his trial to show that Jason's marriage is a sham. She suggests they don't see each other for awhile and Jason asks her if that is what she wants. No, but she doesn't want to be the reason he goes to prison. She tells him she doesn't want to stop seeing him and he agrees that he doesn't want to stop being with her either and kisses her. Liz gets upset again when she sees Jason show up at Kelly's. He approaches her to thank her for warning Courtney about the P.I. that A.J. hired to follow her. Liz tells him she doesn't want to hear it and goes off on him about getting involved with Courtney. He tells her that as far as he was concerned she told him that she couldn't be with him after she found out that Sonny wasn't really dead and he didn't tell her. Courtney comes by Kelly's. She asks Liz why she is closing Kelly's early for and then thanks her for covering her shift for her so she could go see her father. Liz confronts her about lying to her about seeing Mike. She tells her that Mike called before. Liz calls Courtney a hypocrite and a liar for pretending to be caring and sympathetic when she told her about her feelings for Jason when all along she had her sights on Jason and even probably before she married A.J. Liz stuns Courtney by slapping her face as Jason sees them arguing from outside Kelly's.

Jason runs into A.J. on the docks. He grabs his wallet out of his coat pocket and takes out the P.I.'s business card and keeps it. He tells A.J. that if he doesn't stop harassing Courtney and having her followed there is going to be trouble for him. A.J. storms off. Jason contacts the P.I. and meets with him on the docks. He informs the P.I. that Courtney is the sister of Sonny Corinthos and if he was smart he will stop returning A.J.'s calls and stop following Ms. Mathews. The P.I is scared and agrees to not help A.J. anymore. Jason arrives at Kelly's and, finding the door locked, he notices Elizabeth and Courtney arguing inside. When Courtney tells Liz that it was Liz's fault that Jason walked out of Liz's life, Liz slaps Courtney. Liz accuses Courtney of wanting Jason as soon as Courtney first saw Jason. As Liz claims that Courtney only pretended to be sympathetic while Liz confided to Courtney her feelings about Jason, Courtney protests that Courtney tried many times to get Liz and Jason reunited and Liz kept insisting that Liz could never accept Jason's criminal lifestyle. Zander arrives outside but Jason tells Zander to leave. After Zander leaves, Jason slips into Kelly's through the back way. He tells her if she has questions that she should ask him and not Courtney. Liz blasts Jason for moving on from his relationship with Liz to a new relationship with Courtney in the twinkling of an eye. Courtney tells Liz she thought is was over between them because that is what Liz told her. They ask her not to say anything as it could look bad for Jason and Brenda in the murder trial. Liz says she won't say anything as she doesn't care and tells them they can both go to hell, and storms out.

When Jason and Courtney return to the apartment they share, she questions if he thinks she trapped him, stole him as Liz suggested. He tells her he hated what AJ did to her but it showed her how brave she was and showed him who she is. Courtney asks about Jason's split with Robin and Jason. He admits he loved her but doesn't miss her anymore. He says that Robin fell out of love with him first. They split because Robin believed it was not right for Carly and Jason to construct an elaborate lie about Michael's paternity. He says that Robin was the one who told A.J. the truth that A.J. was really Michael's father. Jason admits that he was never able to forgive Robin for that decision and that was the day he stopped loving her.

Brenda tells Jax and Jason that she remembers seeing Ric at Alcazar's compound in South America. Jax suggests that maybe Ric was also the man Brenda saw at the Port Charles Hotel the night Alcazar fell to his death. Brenda tells them that her mystery man could have been Ric! Jax angrily gets ready to hunt Ric down, but Jason urges Ric to wait until they have proof before making any kind of move. But Jax refuses to listen to Jason and leaves anyway. Afterward, Jason warns Brenda: "You need to stop that idiot before he gets you put in prison!' Jason and Brenda argue and she defends Jax that he loves her but then she figures he wouldn't understand since he doesn't love anyone. He takes offense and in a very un-Jason like moment says that just because he doesn't run around screaming about his great love like her and Jax doesn't mean he can't feel, and he has people he cares about. Sometimes he might make a wrong decision because you don't want to hurt that person because doing what that person needs is more important than doing what is right or what is easy. Brenda stares at him puzzled, "What are you talking about? Are you talking about Robin." He brushes it of that he was just making a point. She says she never heard him talk that long before (the look of amazement on her face is too funny). Jason realizes he has given too much away and tries to back out of it. She realizes he isn't talking about Robin. She tells him that as his wife that she has a right to know if there is another woman! She continues the interrogation, "Is she a blonde girl? Is she Brunette? Is she short? Is it Elizabeth? Do I know her? Allright, I have to know her. Everyone knows everyone in this town. She would have to be passive, domestic, definitely a girlie girl..." He is really getting annoyed and tells her to shut up. As he is yelling at her, Sonny walks in. She says she will just ask Sonny, figuring he would know whose Jason's girlfriend is. Sonny asks her if she is driving Jason crazy. Sonny changes the subject with information about Ric knowing Alcazar. Brenda, Jason and Sonny compare notes about Brenda's recollections about Ric and what Sonny learned from talking to Ric and Sonny convinces Brenda to call Jax off before Jax gets the police involved. But Carly suddenly arrives with the news that Jax just took Ric at gunpoint to see Scott Baldwin. Jax arrives at the Court House with Ric and demands that Scott arrest Ric for Alcazar's murder. When Scott hesitates, Jax begins to announce Ric's involvement to the press.

At Kelly's, Elizabeth and Courtney argued over Jason. Elizabeth told Courtney that Jason wasn't as honest as he seemed and that there are parts of him that he would never open up to anyone. Annoyed, Courtney left and went to see Jason. Jason told her that the news with Ric didn't mean he was off the hook but that he wanted to be with her. Courtney asked him to promise that if the trial went against him that he would run, and though she couldn't commit to going with him, that he would ask and give her the chance to go with him. Courtney listens to the TV news about Ric's involvement in the Alcazar case, Elizabeth informs Courtney that Jason is safe from Ric turning on him. Courtney is incredulous when she learns that Liz is friendly with Ric and Courtney warns Liz that Ric could be Alcazar's killer. When A.J. comes in, A.J. warns Liz that, if Courtney could lie to A.J. she could eventually lie to Liz as well. Liz coldly orders A.J. to leave but, when Courtney thanks Liz for getting rid of A.J., Liz cooly informs Courtney that Liz just didn't like A.J. enough to let A.J. know that she agreed with every word that A.J. said.

An angry Jax arrives at Jason's Penthouse, looking for Brenda. When Jason says he has no idea where Brenda would be, Jax informs Carly and Jason that Brenda is missing. When Jax suspects that, since Sonny is also missing, Sonny has run off with Brenda to protect her. Carly insists that her marriage to Sonny is sound and Sonny would never do something like that. When Sonny returns to the Penthouse and everyone realizes that Brenda is not with Sonny, Jax becomes even more concerned for Brenda, but Sonny accuses Jax of being such a loose cannon that Brenda split to protect herself. When Courtney asks Liz for time off to go to the trial, Liz suggests that since Courtney is in bed with one of the defendant's husband, it might not be wise for Courtney to show up in court but Courtney refuses to listen.

Carly arrives at Jason's Penthouse and demands he wear something that makes him look like an ordinary fellow instead of Sonny's hired killer. When Carly insists that Brenda split because Brenda does not care that Jason will end up taking the rap alone, Jason surprises Carly by informing her that Jason believes that Brenda does care. This is a cute scene as she begs him to change into the new shirt he bought. He is in a hurry and doesn't see the need. She stresses that the blue will bring out his eyes and soften his appearence as he doesn't want to look like the cold, ruthless killer that Scott will try to protray him as.

When Coleman meets Skye and A.J. at the Court House, Coleman reports that Ric has been cleared because Colemen went to the police and 'admitted' that Coleman saw Ric in the alley when Alcazar fell. A.J. congratulates Coleman for a job well done, but Courtney overhears. After Skye and A.J. go into the Court Room, Courtney blasts Coleman for accepting money to help Skye and A.J. frame Jason. But Coleman pleads innocent. Courtney refuses to believe Coleman's rendition of events and threatens to take her suspicions to her mobster brother as she storms away. In the Court Room, Alexis tries to tell the court that she gave Brenda and Jason the wrong information about the trial's starting time, but Scott insists that Brenda and Jason have fled the jurisdiction. Jason suddenly appears, but has no answer when the Judge demands to know where Mr. Morgan's wife is. The judge in the murder case asks Jason where Brenda is and is not pleased with the hold up. Jason tells him he doesn't know where his wife is. Scott calls for a warrant to be issued for the arrest of Brenda Barrett. Scott tells the judge that it isn't the first time the defendant has fled the country. Meanwhile, Nikolas and Gia are on the docks. Nikolas and Gia find Brenda's body in the lake and drag her unconscious body onto the docks. Taggert shows up at the courthouse to announce that Brenda's been found nearly dead from being in the water and has been rushed to GH. Alexis asks the judge to call a recess and discontinue the trial until the condition of her client has been established. The judge decides to call a recess for now but wants the trial to resume at the earliest possible date. Alexis advises Jason to show up at GH and see Brenda and act like a concerned husband. Jason agrees to it. Courtney tells Sonny that she overheard Coleman talking to A.J. and thinks Coleman was the one who brought in Ida after paying her to use as a witness to set up Jason and Brenda. Sonny thanks her for the information and tells her to stay out of it from now and he'll handle it from here.

Jax gets to the hospital and finds Brenda being rushed in. He finds her in a recovery room later and she is conscious. She whispers to him that she has a key to give him. Sonny watches Brenda give Jax something. Scott tries to stop Jason from seeing Brenda in recovery. Jason tells him he can't stop him from seeing her since he is her husband. He tries to bar Scott from going in to see her. Jax heads out of the hospital in a hurry but Sonny finds him and asks him what Brenda gave him just then and what he is up to. Jax tells him she only gave him her ring. Sonny doesn't believe him and follows him. Jason gets in to see Brenda alone. He asks her what she gave Jax just now and that it was brave of her to dive in the water and look for something inside Alcazar's sunk yacht. Brenda tells him she gave Jax a key to a safe-deposit box that Alcazar had. She tells him that she needed to get the key and that Jax needs to get the contents of the box before the police ceize it.

Courtney heads to GH, she comments to Jason on how close he and Brenda seemed as he stood over her hospital bed. Courtney asks Jason about his closeness to Brenda. Jason tells her that it is important for him to act married in public and takes off to go back to court. Courtney goes in to see Brenda. She tells her that Jason will do everything in his power to help her and that he was really defending her in court today. Brenda tells Courtney that Jason is very loyal. Brenda asks Courtney her name again and Courtney tells her that Jason is a good friend of hers. Brenda realizes that Courtney is the one that Jason is probably involved with right now. Courtney heads back to the courthouse. Jax gets to the safety-deposit box and takes out a videotape that says "The Murder" printed across it, Sonny has followed him there but the police arrive and confiscate it.

A camera crew show up in Brenda's hospital room and explain that Brenda will get a live feed of the courtroom so she can listen and see the trial from her hospital room and she will be able to see who is testifying against her and also the jurors will be able to see her on T.V. Back in court, Alexis gives her opening statement as the trial resumes. A.J. is the first witness that Scott calls. Scott asks A.J. about the night of the murder when he saw Jason driving the limo with Alcazar inside it. Alexis cross-examines him and gets him to admit that Jason is his brother and that he has had a grudge against him and his testimony is biased against Jason. A.J. continues to swear that he saw Jason driving Alcazar's limo. Meanwhile, Sonny is outside the courtroom at the same time that Coleman is out there. He approaches Coleman and tells him that he knows he has been working for A.J. and is probably involved with the death of Ida Warren. He tells Coleman that if Brenda and Jason get convicted he will see to him getting what is coming to him and gives him an idle threat to his life. Coleman is shaken by Sonny's threats.

Sonny sees Courtney heading to the courtroom and asks her why she came back. Courtney tells him that since Carly couldn't come back because Michael didn't feel well she thought she should come and support him and make up for not being a sister to him before. Sonny appreciates it and allows her to come inside with him to sit when he realizes she is as stubborn as he is. Skye is called to the stand. She testifies to seeing Brenda try to stab Alcazar in his room that night. Alexis cross-examines her and brings up being a recovering alcoholic like A.J. and what it means. It is obvious that Skye is drunk and Alexis gets her to admit her hatred of Brenda and admit she didn't actually see Brenda throw Alcazar off the balcony and that she was drunk that night and had sex with Alcazar as well and could have had a blackout in his bed. She brings up a motive for Skye to have killed Alcazar that night. Skye admits she had a motive to kill Alcazar and gets hysterical and heads over to the T.V. monitor and starts calling Brenda a whore and that she hopes she rots in prison which she deserves for stealing her husband from her. A.J. has to pry her away from the T.V. and Jax talks to Skye through the t.v. and tells her to stop blaming Brenda for the murder since she is innocent. A.J. takes her away and sits her down with the others.

Taggert shows up with the videotape and Scott announces it as new evidence. Alexis objects to it since she had no knowledge that this new evidence existed and that she should have been privy to its contents beforehand. Scott argues that Brenda was the one who provided the tape herself and so it wasn't new evidence at all. The judge asks Brenda how the tape was found and if she provided that information to the police. She tells him that she had a key to a safety-deposit box belonging to Alcazar that she found in his yacht and that she gave it to Jax to go to the bank and the police confiscated it. Jax admits to this happening when the judge asks him. The judge overrules Alexis' objection and allows the video to be shown to the jurors. The video shows Brenda in a hotel room with Alcazar. She tells him that she wants to go back to Port Charles and see Jax and Sonny from afar and say goodbye to them and that she doesn't want to actually talk to them but see them so she can say goodbye. Alcazar refuses to let her go back to Port Charles and confronts her about having pictures of them behind a picture of them together and asks her if she had her pills today. Brenda tells him she hasn't and he tries to stop her from taking the picture of Jax. Brenda takes the letter opener and tries to stab Alcazar with it and he grabs her by the wrist to stop her. The jurors see it and it looks bad for Brenda. Scott argues that Brenda was desperate enough to get to that tape by diving into the icy cold water to retrieve before the police found it and showed it to the court since it shows that it wasn't the first time she tried to kill Alcazar. Jason shakes his head and rests his hands on his face in defeat. Alexis continues to object to the tape being shown to the jurors. Sonny tells Courtney that it is all over now. Brenda and Jax react with disappointment.

Scott claims that losing the closed circuit TV feed is contempt of court, while Alexis argues that it is merely equipment failure. Alexis pleads for a continuance and moves for a mistrial, but the Judge refuses to listen to Alexis. Meanwhile, Sonny assures Courtney that, while the tape is a set-back, Sonny WILL be able to handle it. When the Judge declares a recess while they deal with the camera, A.J. assures Skye that the tape proves their case for them and that Brenda and Jason are going down, big time. But Coleman throws cold water on the siblings' glee by announcing that Courtney has discovered that Coleman is working with A.J. and Skye and that Sonny is also suspicious that it was Coleman who paid for Ida's false testimony. When they look around, they notice Sonny and Courtney watching them. Coleman lets A.J. and Skye know that Sonny warned Coleman that, if Jason and Brenda ended up on the wrong end of the jury's verdict, it will be 'Adios!' for Coleman. A.J. and Skye inform Coleman that that is Coleman's problem, and move away from Sonny's gaze. When Courtney sees A.J., Skye and Coleman leave, she asks Sonny why he is letting them go. But Sonny assures his sister that Sonny is taking care of it. Alexis informs Jason that she will need to put Brenda and Jason on the stand. When Jason protests that he is no good when he takes the stand, Alexis assures Jason that Alexis knows that Brenda and Jason are innocent, but she needs their help to prove it.

In their apartment, Courtney writes in her journal, confessing that she loves Jason. Jason suddenly comes home, sees her with the journal and teasingly asks to see the journal. As Jason teases Courtney about what she has written in her journal, Courtney comes close to declaring her love, but Jason receives a phone call, agrees to meet someone, and leaves. Jason promises to return as soon as he can. Jason meets Brenda on the Docks and Brenda warns Jason that Scott believes the trial will be over in a few days. Jason insists that Alexis will be able to stall, but Brenda informs Jason that the Judge has already turned down all of Alexis' requests. Brenda declares that their only hope is to go to Lisbon tonight! Realizing she fears she'll end up in prison or worse, Jason tells Brenda that he will flee the country with her and makes the necessary arrangements for them to fly to Lisbon. Jason then gives Sonny and Carly the news about their decision. Courtney is devastated by Jason's decision and wants to go with him. He won't allow it but does claim he'll send for her in time. At the airport Jason advises Brenda that while he has arranged for her to escape to Lisbon, he has decided that he can't leave town.

At the airport, Brenda informs Jason that she is not going to skip town and let Jason stand trial alone, but Jason assures her that Sonny will take care of everything. Brenda reminds Jason that Sonny has been singing that same old song for months and they are still in the middle of a mess up to their ears. Brenda insists that she will not leave without Jason and asks him if he plans to bodily put her on the plane and Jason grabs her and carries her toward the plane. The police arrive, looking for Brenda and Jason and the Morgans hide together in the shadows. From their hiding spot, Brenda and Jason overhear the police talking and learn that the police are searching for Jason and Brenda on Taggert's orders. Brenda finally agrees to board the plane if Jason will tell her why he can not leave then guesses the reason is someone who is blond. Brenda suddenly asks if Sonny knows about this, but Jason evades the question. Brenda pretends to get on the plane, but gets off right away and returns to Jason's Penthouse. Jason returns to the apartment he shares with Courtney and is stunned when he finds that she is gone. The landlady tells Jason that if he really loved Courtney then Jason would let her go. Jason pays the landlady for the next six months and the landlady leaves. Jason follows her out. Jason returns to his own Penthouse and, when he hears noises in the next room, he pulls out his gun. He is shocked when he finds that Brenda is there. As Jason and Brenda argue about Brenda's most recent failure to do what she promised to do, Taggert comes to the door and informs Brenda that she is under twenty-four hour surveillance as she left the hospital before she was discharged. Brenda informs Taggert that she did not know that was against the law. After Taggert leaves, Jason reminds Brenda that when she did not get on that plane she probably blew all of her chances to run. When Brenda confides to Jason that there are people in town she does not want to leave either, her husband assumes that she is talking about Sonny. When Jason asks Brenda point-blank if it is about Sonny and she does not answer him, he presumes that he is correct.

At Kelly's Courtney tries to communicate with Liz, who gives her the silent treatment. A.J. walks into Kelly's and approaches her at the counter. He tells her he had to tell the truth in court about seeing Jason in the limo. Courtney goes onto the docks. She prays to God that Jason stays safe from harm. Jason overhears her and tells her he is right there and to pray for something else instead. Courtney runs into his arms. Jason tells her he couldn't run away and not be close to her and he decided to stay and face the trial as well as Brenda. Courtney goes to the courthouse. Sonny tells her that she doesn't need to be there. Courtney insists on staying and sitting with him to show her support. Carly knows it's really about seeing Jason but doesn't say anything. Brenda and Jason show up with the press fast on their heels. The trial resumes. Scott introduces new evidence against Jason that Dara just barely heard about and didn't have time to review it in court. The judge allows Scott to enter it into evidence. It is a hair follicle belonging to Jason that was found on the balcony of Alcazar's room. Dara objects to the evidence since it could have been planted but then asks Jason why he didn't tell her he was on the balcony. Jason tells her that he went and checked out Alcazar's room a few days before his murder but he couldn't admit to that in his testimony for obvious reasons as Sonny explains to Courtney and Carly. Ric got a surprise of his own when he came out of the shower and saw writing on his mirror in red lipstick that said "They are innocent, and I can prove it."

Dara calls Taggert to the stand to question him about whether Scott presented all his evidence to the defense before the trial or if he omitted anything important from them. Taggert tells her his job is to gather evidence not prepare it for trial. Scott objects and tells the judge it isn't his fault that the defendants have another new attorney who isn't prepared for trial and that she has no right to pit the jurors against him in court. The judge agrees with Scott. Brenda gets out of her seat and approaches the bench. The judge asks Dara to keep her client in line or he will hold her in contempt of court. The bailiffs try to push Brenda away from the bench and back to her seat. Brenda asks the judge to allow her to take the stand and testify. Jason isn't to happy about her decision. Dara asks her to explain what happened that night. Brenda explains about the knife incident and that she had no intention of killing Alcazar but to just scare him. She tells them that Jason was outside the room and stopped her from going back into the room to confront Alcazar again. Scott cross-examines her and rips her testimony apart effectively. He tells her she couldn't have known where Jason was before he was in the hallway with her and could have killed Alcazar before he stopped her. Brenda tells him he couldn't have had time to kill Alcazar since she just ran out of his room and no one was there. Scott talks over her and tries to get her to admit that Jason killed Alcazar and she is helping him cover it up.

At the Court House, Ric receives a call from a woman who asks him to meet her on the Docks and informs him that she knows that Brenda and Jason are innocent. When Ric asks if the caller killed Alcazar, she hangs up. Much later, when Ric meets his mysterious caller on the Docks, the caller wears a dark coat with a hood and stays in the shadows. When Ric asks why the mystery woman is talking to him, the woman admits that she has found she needs to speak to someone about this - then she announces that she knows that Brenda and Jason are innocent because she is the killer! In the Court Room, Scott tries to pin Brenda down on the events of the night of Alcazar's death, although Dara keeps objecting that Scott is badgering the witness. As Scott accuses Brenda of covering for a cold-blooded killer for hire, Courtney suddenly passes out and creates a stir in the Court Room. As Sonny gets Courtney out of the Court Room, he insists that she go home but she refuses! Scott tells Brenda that he believes that Brenda confronted Alcazar and Alcazar attacked Brenda and threatened Jax. Brenda suddenly admits that she DID want to kill Alcazar! As Scott indulges in a self-satisfied grin, Jason quietly begs Dara to get Brenda off the stand. When Dara gets her chance to cross-examine Brenda, Dara only asks Brenda if she killed Alcazar and Brenda denies it. Dara asks if Alcazar was alive when Brenda left the room. When Brenda says yes, Dara announces that her Defense rests. As Scott sums up, he supposes that Alcazar suspected that one day Brenda would try to kill him and that was why Alcazar kept the tape of Brenda attacking him with scissors and marked it 'Murder!' When Dara sums up, Dara claims that Scott's only motive in the trial has been convicting Jason and all of Scott's case is based on circumstantial evidence. After Dara's summation, the Judge instructs the Jury, and they leave to deliberate. After the Jury leaves, Dara apologizes to Brenda for leaving her on the stand, but Dara admits that it was a tactic - Dara just wanted the Jury to see Scott badgering Brenda. Jason assures Brenda that she did fine on the stand. When Sonny, Carly and Courtney leave the courtroom, Brenda urges Jason to go spend a few minutes with Courtney.

Courtney is thrilled when Jason suddenly arrives at the apartment they share. When Jason asks Courtney what made her pass out in court, Courtney puts it off with being too nervous about the trial to eat. Jason tries to prepare Courtney for what will happen next if he is convicted, but Courtney refuses to fear the worst. Jason suddenly gets a cell phone call. Dara informs Brenda, Carly and Sonny that the verdict is in. When the Jury returns with the verdict, they pronounce Brenda and Jason guilty. Everyone else in the courtroom are shocked by the Jury's quick verdict but A.J. and Scott look pleased! The courtroom reacts to the stunning news that Jason and Brenda have been found guilty of murdering Luis Alcazar. Sonny warns Courtney to hold it together. A.J. congratulates Scott on the District Attorney's brilliant courtroom strategy and Scott smugly declares that he believes that life is grand. As Jason and Brenda are remanded to custody, Dara announces that she will begin an appeal immediately. Scott spots Sonny in the hall, and gloats about his legal triumph. Then Scott warns Sonny that Sonny will eventually slip up and Scott will nail Sonny as well. A.J. manages to remind Jason that Jason is merely going to jail to finally pay for his crimes, then Taggert leads Jason and Brenda away.

Meanwhile on the docks, Ric's hooded mystery woman announces that she is the one who killed Alcazar. She hands Ric a bag. Then the mystery woman admits that, on the night of Alcazar's murder, she struggled with Alcazar and the arms dealer's blood got on her coat. She declares that this evidence should clear Jason and Brenda. When Ric protests that that is not enough because the D.A. will argue about that the chain of evidence is tainted, the mystery woman runs away. When Sonny, Carly and Courtney arrive at the Port Charles Police Department, Scott continues to gloat about his court victory, but Mac allows Sonny, Carly and Courtney to visit Brenda and Jason. When Sonny goes in to see Brenda, Carly insists that Courtney be the first to visit Jason. When Courtney sees Jason, Jason tells Courtney that she should not be there. But Courtney refuses to leave. When Courtney leaves her meeting with Jason, she calls A.J. and tells him that she wants to see her husband right away. When Sonny gets a chance to speak to Jason, Sonny apologizes to Jason for making so many wrong decisions and letting Alcazar get the upper hand. Jason asks Sonny to take Carly home before Carly concocts a plot to break Jason out of jail. Later, Mac lets Brenda and Jason meet and Brenda tearfully apologizes to Jason for ruining his life when she returned to town. But Jason assures his wife that they will find a way out of their impossible situation. Brenda and Jason planned an escape after their sentencing.

When Ric arrives at the PCPD later and announces that he has new evidence, Scott at first refuses to listen to Ric. But Taggert shows an interest in the new evidence and Scott grudgingly changes his mind. However when Sonny spots Ric going into Scott's office he declares to Carly that if he discovers that Ric is working with Scott and against Sonny, Ric will be a dead man! Ric informs Scott of his meeting with the real killer. Scott refuses to believe Ric until Ric's Mystery Woman places a personal call to Scott and confirms what she told Ric. Then the mystery woman informs Scott that there was another stab wound in Alcazar's stomach information that the police never released to the public and only the real killer would know about! Courtney meets with A.J. in the deserted Court House. Courtney appeals to A.J. to prove to her that he IS the man she fell in love with - someone who was basically good and decent - by telling the truth about A.J.'s involvement with Ida. When A.J. continues to deny any involvement with Ida's testimony, Courtney pulls out the gun that Jason gave her and reminds A.J. that Jason taught her how to use the gun.

Courtney forced A.J. at gunpoint to confess that he and Skye had hired Ida to lie about Alcazar's murder. Felicia and Rick told a disgruntled Scott about the new evidence and presented the blood-stained cloth. Tensions rose between Scott and Taggert as Taggert called the judge to present the developments and sent the cloth to the lab to be tested. Then Courtney arrived with a tape recording of A.J.'s confession. She only played the part where he admitted to framing Jason and Brenda, but she confessed to them that she had had a gun. Taggert and Scott convinced her that she would only incriminate herself by going public with the tape. Taggert reassured her that there were other new developments in the case. Courtney went to see Jason, who also squeezed the whole story out of her. Jason was upset and made Courtney promised that she would never try to save him again. While defending her actions, Courtney blurted out that she loved Jason.

Sonny is angry when he learns that Courtney risked her freedom in order to force a confession from A.J. at gunpoint. But Courtney explains that she believes that A.J. only hired Ida to lie about what she saw because A.J. was angry that Courtney was ending their marriage. Dara informs Jason that she is returning his case to Alexis. When Alexis shows up at the Court House, Jason informs the attorney that he does not want her representing him. Brenda talks Jason into accepting Alexis. The Judge sentences Brenda and Jason to 22 years. Ric explains to Courtney that a sentence has to be passed before the Judge can vacate the Judgment. When Alexis presents her 440 Motion, Scott objects that it is an attempt by the Corinthos crowd to derail the court with suspiciously trumped up 'new evidence'. But the Judge announces that the court is not easily derailed, then the Judge declares a recess while he considers the new evidence. When the Judge returns, he announces that the new evidence would have changed the outcome of the original trial and vacates the Judgment against Jason and Brenda. The Judge then orders that the prisoners be released.

The next morning, Jason reunited with Courtney. He told her he no longer wanted to hide their relationship now that the trial is over. Courtney was reluctant to make their relationship public. Jason told her that he is going to go get a divorce from Brenda right away. Courtney stops worrying and agrees they shouldn't hide anymore. Jason shows up at Brenda's so they can go to the Dominican Republic and get a quick divorce. Brenda asks Jason what his big hurry is. Brenda guesses that his rush to get a divorce right away has something to do with Courtney. Jason doesn't admit anything and tells her to keep out of his private life. Brenda tells him about her engagement to Jax. They head to the private jet that Sonny had set up for them at the airport. Brenda starts to really get on Jason's nerves when she starts to panic on the plane when they hit some turbulence. Jason reassures her that the turbulence has stopped and they are fine. (Note: This is pretty funny considering they were in a plane crash together back in 1998 that is all on the Brenda 1998 tape #2, and she was just in another plane crash). Brenda starts to annoy him more when she questions him about his relationship with Courtney. Jason tells her that Courtney doesn't need to be the center of attention like she does all the time and that she knows when to be quiet and not ask questions. Brenda makes fun of their relationship but Jason ignores her and refuses to say anything about their relationship. Brenda figures out that Sonny doesn't know about them yet and asks him why he agreed to marry her when he had Courtney. Jason tells her it was to help Sonny and that he didn't marry her to push Courtney away from his lifestyle. They continue to argue when they are ushered into their hotel room. Their escort informs them in Spanish that he is the Judge's cousin and he will get him for him. Brenda thinks they will be stranded together and no judge will actually come to help them get an annulment. They start arguing again and a judge does show up with annulment papers. Brenda is about ready to sign the papers but stops and tells Jason she is going to be sick and then tells the judge she can't sign the papers because she loves him. Jason looks at her in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Courtney has to deal with Liz's questions about her relationship with Jason. Courtney tells her that she won't take the blame for being with Jason since Liz made her decision to end things with Jason long before they got together after Liz accused her of listening to Liz explain why she couldn't handle his lifestyle and used that to get Jason for herself. Courtney walks away. Courtney went to see Carly and talk about how the shooting at Kelly’s had scared her. Sonny arrived and then Ric. Courtney and Carly went to look at interiors for the new club so Sonny and Ric could talk. Sonny asked Ric to look into someplace far away where he could set Courtney up in a safe place so she could go to college. Ric followed Courtney to her and Jason's secret meeting place. Jason told Courtney that he and Brenda hadn't ended their marriage as planned.

Brenda refused to sign the annulment papers, telling the judge that although she and her husband fought a lot, that she loved him. After the judge left, Brenda explained to a shocked and frustrated Jason that she needed to buy some time because she and Jax were moving too fast, that she was afraid of something going wrong and spoiling her happiness. Jason understood, but told Brenda that she should just tell Jax how she felt. Brenda said she couldn't because Jax would think it was because of Sonny. Jason asked her if it was because of Sonny and she said no, that what she and Sonny had was over a long time ago. Brenda and Jason returned to Port Charles. Sonny asked Ric to start making some arrangements to send Courtney off to college. Sonny told Rick that he would ask Jason to do it, but that he was not back from the Dominican yet.

Jason told Courtney that Brenda wanted to wait for personal reasons, not because she wanted Jason. Jason and Courtney made plans to go to the Caribbean together. They discussed telling everyone about their relationship. Courtney wanted to wait and enjoy their privacy. Jason told her that now was the time to tell Sonny, that they should have told him sooner but didn't have the chance. Jason left Courtney to go tell Sonny he was back. Jason arrives at the Penthouse looking for Sonny. Ric comes out and informs Jason that Carly and Sonny had left. Jason demands to know what Ric is doing there. Ric happily informs Jason that he's there because Sonny asked him to be. He informs him that he's there making arrangments for Courtney going to college. Jason obviously wasn't aware of any of this and Ric just tells him that he's sure that Jason knew all this already, being that he's Sonny's best friend and all. (he's loving rubbing this in his face, since he knows their little secret), Jason, confused, leaves and heads back to the loft.

Courtney arrives at Kelly's looking for Bobbie. She finds Elizabeth instead, she wants to know why she's there, again, and Courtney tells her that she wants to take a few days off, and she wants to clear it with Bobbie first. Elizabeth questions if she's sick or not, since she certainly doesn't look it. Courtney then just says it to her face that she's going to spend a few days with Jason. Back at their place, Jason told Courtney about Sonny's plans for her. Courtney was furious and felt that her brother was trying to run her life again. Jason convinced her that they had to tell Sonny about their relationship as soon as possible, and that they had to go to the cabin that night. Courtney and Jason discuss the reasons for telling Sonny about their relationship and the reasons for not telling him just yet. Courtney is worried that things won't go well when they tell him, but Jason insists that the time is right, and Sonny deserves to know. Courtney is worried that the little private world that they have created for themselves is going to fall apart and their happiness won't be as great as it is now. Jason assures her that everything's going to be just fine. Ric and Elizabeth wound up walking to Jason and Courtney's secret apartment where they saw Jason and Courtney leaving for the cabin. Not knowing that they were going off to find Sonny, Elizabeth misinterpreted their affection and nervousness and signs that they were going off to elope.

As Jason and Courtney drive through the storm to inform Sonny about their relationship, the storm gets worse. Jason suddenly skids on ice and the car careens off the road. When Courtney regains consciousness, Courtney suspects that Jason is badly injured and discovers that the cell phone was damaged in the crash. As Jason slips in and out of consciousness, Courtney keeps talking to help keep Jason awake. When Jason coughs, he realizes that there is blood on his hand, but keeps Courtney from learning the true extent of his injuries.

**The End**