Jason & Courtney #8  January 22 - March 24, 2002 - 8 hour original edit

Courtney and Michael play outside Kelly's. Courtney is in a very good mood. Brian comes over and says hello to them. He asks Michael why everyone is so happy. Michael tells Brian that Courtney is happy because she is getting back together with Jason. Brian can't hide his dismay but puts on a smile for Michael's benefit. Courtney asks Michael to go inside Kelly's and get them each a cupcake and she will be right in. Brian asks her why she would even consider getting back with Jason knowing he is a hired killer. Courtney doesn't have an answer for him.

Jason comes into Alcazar's other house and finds Alcazar grabbing Carly. He pulls a gun on him and gets the wrong idea. Carly tells Jason to put the gun away and defends Alcazar and tells Jason that Alcazar didn't hurt her and helped get her out of the hospital. Jason puts the gun away and asks her why she didn't call him when she got to Alcazar's. Carly tries to explain that she couldn't but Jason cuts her off and tells her that he can't do this anymore with her and tells her she is on her own from now on. Carly worries about Jason telling Sonny about her. She tries to explain to him why she has to leave and go back to her family. He tells her to go home before Sonny gets there and hears from Jason first. Jason returns to the penthouse and tells Courtney that he went there and found Carly with Alcazar and how she wanted to be there and that he will have to tell Sonny the truth when he sees him. Courtney starts to make excuses for Carly's actions thinking she is still confused and maybe Alcazar gave her more drugs. Jason tells her that she was fine and not under any influence of drugs when he saw her and how she made excuses for Alcazar and didn't want to leave with him.

Courtney overhears Carly on the phone with Alcazar and corners her about it. Carly tells her that she isn't going to leave Sonny for Alcazar and that she is just going go see Alcazar to tell him goodbye. She asks Courtney to let her do this and promises her that she will come right back. Jason returns and Courtney tells him she saw Carly and that she went off to talk to Alcazar again and tried to stop her but couldn't do it. Jason starts to worry about Carly and the mistakes she is making with her marriage. She tells Jason that she believes Carly loves Sonny and will choose her family over Alcazar. Jason tells her that sometime love's not enough to mend things. He tells her that Sonny won't understand the situation with Carly. Sonny walks in and sees the sad looks on Jason and Courtney's faces. Sonny asks where Carly is. Jason tells him she went with Alcazar. Sonny thinks that Alcazar kidnapped her again. Courtney tries to explain Carly's actions but Sonny cuts her off and asks Jason where Carly is. Jason tells him that she went to meet Alcazar at his lake house and gives him the address. Courtney tells Jason she knows that he didn't want to tell Sonny but he felt he had to and feels Sonny has the right to know about Carly.

Jason meets with Morales assistant and hands him a payment. Morales' assistant informs Jason that Morales wants Sonny to accept the shipment in person as a sign of good faith. Jason tells him that probably won't happen. Courtney comes in to find Carly with Alcazar. She tells her she had hoped she had gone home with Sonny. Alcazar leaves them to talk in private. Courtney asks her what she is doing with Alcazar after everything he did to her. Carly tells her that she only came over to say goodbye to him and Sonny showed up and got the wrong idea. She tells Courtney that she shouldn't judge her since she wasn't shot in the head and end up in a coma having dreams about another man she is supposed to hate. She tells Courtney she plans to go home and talk to Sonny and that she will make him understand what she did and he will eventually take her back. Courtney tells her that it may not be that easy this time and that Sonny has a harder time with forgiveness than her. Carly reminds Courtney that Sonny isn't perfect and that not too long ago he was found kissing Brenda goodbye and that she forgave him.

Sonny returns to the penthouse just as Jason is talking to Morales' assistant. Sonny tells the man that he is running his business the way he wants to and that Morales won't be dictating the terms of the shipment. The man leaves. Sonny goes over to get a drink and rants to Jason about how he will be making his business a priority from now on. Morgan starts to cry from upstairs. Sonny yells upstairs for someone to shut the baby up. Jason goes upstairs to see to the baby and Michael. Sonny admits to Jason that he saw Carly with Alcazar when he got there and that he doesn't want her to live with him anymore and that it is over and she made her choice to be with Alcazar. Jason asks him what he is going to do since he knows that Carly will be coming home to see her children soon and asks him if he is planning to throw his whole family out. Sonny doesn't know what he is going to do right now and tells him he has to get out of the penthouse because he is starting to feel suffocated. He asks Jason to handle the shipment when it comes in. Carly returns to the penthouse later. Jason is there loading his gun. Carly asks if Sonny is there. Jason tells her he left a little while ago. She tells him she needs his help to get her out of the hole she is in. Jason tells her he can't do that when he doesn't understand her himself. He asks her why she went to see Alcazar when he told her to stay put in the penthouse since Sonny was coming home soon. Carly tells him she went there to say goodbye to Alcazar. Jason tells her to stay home and that he will help her tomorrow to fix things with Sonny.  

Brian gives Ric a call on his cell-phone on his way downstairs into Kelly's. He sees Courtney sitting at the counter and tells her to have a good night. Courtney gets suspicious of Brian's phone conversation and quietly follows him out at a distance. She overhears him telling Ric that they are planning to ambush Sonny and Jason and bring them both down this time. Courtney ends up showing up at the meeting place where the shipment arrives. She sees Jason and his men opening the shipment when Faith's men show up including Zander. The cops also show up to arrest Jason and Faith's men. Zander gives the okay for Faith's men to shoot at Jason and his men with the goal to kill Jason. Courtney watches the raid of the coffee shipment unfold and is shocked at the shoot-out. Suddenly she sees Brian come up behind Jason and point a gun at his back. Before Brian can shoot Jason, Courtney pulls the trigger and shoots Brian instead. As Brian falls to the ground, Jason sees Courtney, realizes what she's done, and drags her away before anyone can catch her. He takes her back to the penthouse, where a frantic Carly is searching for Sonny. Jason brushes Carly's questions off and tells her to give Courtney an alibi and stay with her.

At the hospital, Ric angrily lashes out at Lucky and Capelli when they tell him the shipment was legit. He sees that Brian has regained consciousness and begins to question him on who shot him. Although Brian sees the image of Courtney, he doesn't give her up to Ric. Ric presses him to name a shooter, and asks if it could have been Jason. Knowing that Jason was in front of him when he was shot from behind, Brian tells Ric that it couldn't have been Jason, but that's the only thing he knows. Courtney tells Carly what happened on the docks. Carly feels for Courtney, but tells her that she had no choice. She tries to reassure Courtney that she saved her husband's life, and that Brian was in the wrong. Courtney is unconvinced however, and she's devastated that she shot an innocent man who was only doing his job. Ric shows up to question Sonny and Jason, but they aren't there and Carly demands that he leave. He tells Courtney that Brian was shot, but is going to be ok. Once he's gone, she ignores Carly's protests and goes to see Brian at the hospital.

Carly begs Jason to tell her where Sonny is staying. When Jason refuses, Carly worries aloud that Sonny might try to hurt himself, and that Jason should at least be with him. Knowing Sonny is with Sam, Jason assures Carly that Sonny is fine without him, and that Carly needs to let him cool down. Carly continues to persist, and Jason grows angry with her for creating the situation. When she protests that she can't control the damage that her brain received from the bullet, Jason softens and tells her to try and love Sonny enough to leave him alone for now. He leaves to find Courtney. Brian questions Courtney on her whereabouts during the raid, but they are interrupted by an eavesdropping Zander. Lucky tells him that he's wanted for questioning, and Zander races away from Brian's bed and runs off, prompting a police chase. Brian continues to question Courtney, who tells him that she knows he used her to get information for the raid. He says he'll tell her the truth if she tells him what she knows about his shooting, but before she can answer, Jason arrives to take her home. Brian asks her to stay, but she tells him she only wanted to make sure he was fine, and she leaves with her husband. The couple returns to the penthouse to discover that Carly has gone to the hotel in search of Sonny. Courtney continues to be devastated by her actions, and Jason tries to help her by explaining that she did nothing wrong. She admits she'd shoot Brian again, in order to save Jason, but can't come to terms with the life that she now finds herself immersed in.

Jason meets Faith on the docks and warns the her that she should stay out of sight. At Kelly's, Courtney is haunted by memories of shooting Brian and is shocked when Emily informs her that the police believe Zander was the one who shot Brian. Courtney is shocked when she overhears Ric tell Emily that Detective Beck himself was the one who identified Zander as the shooter! Courtney runs outside to get some air and runs in to Jason. Jason warns Courtney not to even consider confessing that she was the one who shot an on-duty police officer in the back! Courtney protests that the guilt of knowing that she was the one who shot Brian is tearing her up inside. Jason continues to warn Courtney against saying anything about witnessing the shootout on the docks. As Courtney and Jason argue, they are surprised when Ric suddenly shows up. Jason bristles when Ric asks Courtney what she knows about Brian's shooting. Later, Ric tells Jason that the police just need someone to corroborate Brian's identification of Zander as the shooter. Jason remains silent. After Ric leaves, Courtney again insists that she will not be able to live with the knowledge that Zander is going to be prosecuted for a crime that Courtney committed. Jason reminds Courtney that if she confesses, she will go to prison!

Sonny returns to his Penthouse and tells Courtney that his marriage is finally over, because Carly just admitted that she slept with Alcazar. Courtney again tells Sonny that Carly only went to Alcazar's apartment to tell the drug lord goodbye, but Sonny refuses to believe what his sister has to say. Courtney tries to reason with Sonny, but Sonny announces that he no longer wants Carly. Jason meets Samantha on the docks and offers Sam a suitcase full of $1 million to walk away from Sonny. Sam haughtily informs Jason that she likes Sonny, but would not take money from Sonny to stay and will not take money from Jason to leave. Jason warns Samantha not to believe that anything could ever come of her relationship with Sonny. Jason tells her that she has no future with Sonny and that Sonny loves his wife and won't leave her for her in the long run. Sam tells him she lives her life the way she wants to and won't be ordered by him. She asks him what Sonny would think if he knew what he was doing. Jason tells her that Sonny won't be happy but he doesn't care.

As Sonny assures Courtney that his marriage to Carly is over, Carly arrives to pick up Michael and Morgan. But Sonny slams the door in Carly's face and tells her there is no way she will be allowed to see her children. As Carly pounds on the door in desperation, Courtney implores her brother to change his mind. But Sonny turns a deaf ear to Courtney's advice and to Carly's desperate protests outside the door. Sonny slams the door on Carly when she tries to come into the penthouse to see the children. She beats on the door and insists on seeing the children and that he has no right to keep her away from her children. Courtney is there with Sonny and tries to persuade him to let Carly come in and see the children. Sonny refuses to let her in to see them. Carly yells at Sonny through the door and insists he let her in.

Michael hears Carly's voice and comes running downstairs to see her. Courtney runs out into the hallway to talk to Carly while Sonny keeps Michael inside the penthouse to talk to him. Michael wants to know why Carly is not there with them. Courtney comes out and tells Carly to stop yelling at Sonny and informs her that Michael is downstairs and she is upsetting him. Carly starts to calm down when she hears that Michael heard her yelling. Carly tells Courtney that Sonny can't keep her away from her children and wants to go in and talk to Michael. Courtney tells her that she needs to leave and let Sonny calm down and that he is still angry and that Michael shouldn't have to hear them fighting like this. Carly asks Courtney if she is taking Sonny's side. Courtney tells her she isn't thinking of anyone but the children. Carly agrees to go for now but tells her that it is wrong what Sonny is doing to her. Courtney goes back inside and tells Michael that Carly had to leave for a while and will see him soon. Michael tells her that he doesn't want Sonny to send her away again like before. Courtney tries to persuade Sonny not to keep Carly away from her children but Sonny refuses to listen to her and says that Carly is out of his life and the children are staying with him. Courtney tries to reason with Sonny but nothing works.

Jason returns to the penthouse. Courtney tells him that Carly showed up and Sonny refused to let her see her children and asks for his help. Jason confronts Sonny about it after Sonny overhears them talking about him. Sonny refuses to let Carly near the children since she is with Alcazar and accuses Carly of always using Michael from the beginning to manipulate people's feelings. Jason points out that it isn't right to punish Carly by keeping her from her children and that they need their mother and she loves them. Sonny refuses to listen and tells him that he wants him to get rid of any trace of Carly in the house. Jason tells him to do it himself. Courtney and Max bring all of Carly's belongings to the Port Charles Hotel. Carly sees that everything is there and that Sonny must have insisted all of her belongings be sent at once so she would have no reason to return to the penthouse. Courtney tries to get her to cool off and let Sonny have some space and that they can probably save their marriage in the end. Carly tells her that their marriage is over and that Sonny is a cold and unforgiving man and that she won't let him keep her from her children. Courtney sees Alcazar come into the hotel and approach them. She can't believe Carly would choose to be with Alcazar after he tried to ruin her life and tells her that. Carly tells her that Alcazar has been there for her. Courtney leaves and goes back to talk to Jason at the penthouse. Jason and Courtney talk about the situation with Sonny and Carly while they watch baby Morgan in his bassinet. She tells Jason that she worries what their fighting will do to the children. Jason hopes that they work things out since they have been through rough spots before. Courtney questions Jason about how they go back to the love they shared so easily before and wonders how they can live together like they did in happier times. Jason doesn't have an answer for her.

Carly calls Jason and asks him to meet her at the hotel and is crying and needs him. Jason comes right over after leaving the children with Courtney. Jason arrives at Carly's room. She tells him she is covering old ground and needs him. He realizes though that she called him to lure him away from the penthouse. He asks her what she has done. Alcazar shows up at the penthouse and gets in without any sign of a guard. Courtney refuses to give him the children and asks him where the guards are. He tells her they are incapacitated at the moment and that Carly wants her children now and he isn't leaving without them. Jason gets Carly to admit that Alcazar is the person she's sent to the penthouse to retrieve Michael and Morgan. He flips out, but Carly tells him that she had no choice, and that Sonny created this situation. Jason obviously feels for her, but tells her that this is not the way to go about things. Meanwhile, Courtney refuses to allow Alcazar near Morgan and Michael. Alcazar tries to reason with her that Sonny is not allowing Carly to see her own children, but Courtney will not listen to her. Michael runs into the living room, screaming for Alcazar to leave, but he's subdued when Alcazar tells him that his mom sent a message for him.

Alcazar, Courtney, and the children then go to the PC Hotel, where Carly is with Jason. Jason hides her while they come into the lobby, and tells her he will allow her to say hello to the kids, but is then taking them home. Jason continues to explain how he will help her, but she has to do it his way, until Sonny walks into the lobby and sees Michael. Carly spots him and runs to her son and tells him to stay with her. Sonny demands that Michael stand beside him, and not wanting to frighten her son anymore, Carly allows him to be taken home by Jason. After Michael and Morgan leave she tells Sonny that he will not take her children away from her, and to prepare for the fight of his life. In turn, Sonny warns Courtney to never again allow Alcazar near his children if she wants to ever see them again. Courtney races up to Carly's room after Sonny's departure, and blasts her for being as bad as Sonny. Carly apologizes to Courtney for her getting caught in the middle, but refuses to feel bad over her actions. She tells Courtney that Sonny is the one who is keeping her from Michael and Morgan, and she will not stop fighting for her kids. Back at the penthouse, Sonny explodes to Jason. He calls Carly a slut, and says she'll never get near the children. Jason tells him to be quiet and not insult Carly loudly so that Michael will hear, and he tries to reason with Sonny. Sonny refuses to listen and declares to a shocked Jason that since Carly took sides with his enemy, she is now his enemy, and if she tries to see his sons again, he will treat her as his enemy and act accordingly. Edward asks Jason to come back into the family and help him with the company, but Jason tells him that he's happy with the life he has now and leaves.

Jason shows up at the penthouse to ask Sonny if he can take the boys to the zoo, and they discover them missing. Michael shows up at the PC Hotel and tells Carly that he took Morgan in the stroller and left the penthouse in order to see her. As she is hugging him, Sonny and Jason appear in the lobby. Michael tells them that he left with Morgan, and Carly had nothing to do with it, but Sonny tells her that she's to blame for Michael being upset enough to do such a thing, and that he's getting a restraining order against her so that she can't come near the kids. Despite Jason's pleas to reconsider, Sonny enlists Justus to put the paperwork together barring Carly from her sons and granting Sonny full custody.

At the Hospital, as Bobbie and Courtney look after Morgan, Jason and Michael spot Brian and Michael is surprised when Jason warns Michael to stay away from Brian. Brian is hurt when Courtney suddenly arrives and backs up Jason's warning. After Michael informs Brian that they can no longer be friends and leaves, Brian blasts Jason for using a child as a go-between to send messages to Brian. Brian accuses Jason of being jealous of Courtney's interest in Brian, but Jason only warns Brian to stay away from his family. Later, Courtney reminds Jason that Jason's involvement with Sonny's business is making a recluse of Michael who is now afraid of trusting anyone other than Sonny or Jason. When Jason reminds Courtney that she is a stable constant in Michael's life, Courtney predicts that the day will come when Sonny turns on Courtney in just the same way that Sonny has turned on Carly. Courtney urges Jason to do something to try to persuade Sonny and Carly to call off their feud and make peace for the sake of Michael and Morgan. Later, when Courtney runs in to Brian at Kelly's, Courtney begins to blast Brian for using Brian's friendship with a child to try to get inside information about Sonny's business. Courtney is shocked when Brian calmly explains to Courtney that he knows that it was Courtney who shot him and that Brian was covering for Courtney when he identified Zander as the shooter!

Courtney asks Brian why he didn't tell the cops that she shot him after he tells her he remembers seeing Jason take the gun from her after he was shot. He tells her he did it to protect her. She asks him if he is doing this to have something over on her to get her to tell him about Jason and Sonny's activities. He tells her that he lied and told Ric that Zander shot him because Zander is like Sonny and Jason and already almost killed another person but that she is innocent. He finally tells her that he is in love with her and will never tell the police she shot him. She tells him that she can't promise him her feelings for him will change to something romantic. He tells her that he doesn't expect her to feel that way about him right now. Jason watches them talk from outside Kelly's. Brian leaves Kelly's when his beeper goes off and he returns the call. Jason hides around the corner until he is gone. He goes inside Kelly's and asks her what Brian wanted from her. She goes outside and tells him that Brian knows she shot him but didn't tell the police to protect her.

Jason warns her that Brian has been setting her up from the beginning to get information about him. She tells him she understands he doesn't trust Brian but that she doesn't totally not trust him yet even though she knows that he hasn't been honest with her all the time. She tells Jason that Brian told her he was in love with her and that is why he is protecting her. Jason thinks that he is going to eventually blackmail her with that information to use later to get her to roll over on him and Sonny someday. She tells him she won't help him like that but believes he is telling the truth about being in love with her. Jason doesn't believe it and thinks Brian is manipulating her and warns her not to trust Brian since he is a cop. Jason arrives at his room later at the hotel. He tells him about the Brian situation and how he knows that Courtney shot him but didn't tell his fellow cops about it and how he is worried that Brian will use that over Courtney's head and that even though she is loyal to them she may end up doing something to ease her conscience. Sonny doesn't like that scenario and tells Jason to take care of Brian, without coming right out and ordering a hit on him. Jason understands Sonny's meaning.

A fire spreads throughout the basement of the Port Charles hotel. Jason finds Brian and follows him down the hallway of one of the floors. Jason tries to get a clean shot of Brian so he can shoot him. Brian manages to go inside one of the other hallways and Jason can't shoot him. Jason continues to follow him. There is smoke in the next hallway. Jason gets a clear shot of Brian as they come face to face. Brian asks him if he is going to kill him. Jason starts to aim his gun at Brian but a little girl comes out of one of the rooms with her little brother to ask for help. Jason puts his gun away. Brian introduces himself to the children and tells them he is a cop and shows them his badge. The little girl informs them that their parents were at the auction upstairs and told her to call them if there was a problem but she tells them the phone in her room doesn't work and that there is smoke in the hallway and in her room. Brian and Jason realize they have to work together to help get the children to safety. Jason tells Brian that they have to get them out of the hotel as quickly as possible.

Brian brings them downstairs toward the lobby but Jason disagrees with him and thinks they should head upstairs toward the roof where a helicopter can come and rescue them. As they head upstairs, Jason realizes that the stairwells heading up toward the roof are getting more smoky and it may not be safe after all to head upstairs. Brian disagrees with him but Jason points out that they need to get the children out of the hotel before the fire spreads even more. Courtney hears the news about the fire at the hotel while watching TV. and caring for Morgan. She has Leticia watch the children while she goes to the hotel. Leticia tells her the authorities asked that all civilians stay away from downtown. Courtney tells her that she is going to the hotel because Sonny and Carly are there and that her husband may be there as well. Courtney arrives and Alan tells her that Jason was at the auction earlier and may still be in the hotel. She also learns that Brian was there as well. Courtney argues with the firefighters who try to keep her out of the hotel. She tells them that her husband is in the hotel and she needs to find him.

Courtney rushes up the hotel stairwell in order to find Jason. She's chased by a fireman who warns her to get out before she gets trapped, but she breaks loose from him and goes in search of her husband. She continues to run up the stairs until she encounters an old woman with a dog. The woman can't make it down the stairwell while carrying her dog, so despite of her search for Jason, Courtney agrees to take the dog and help them out. Jason and Brian are trapped in a stairwell with two children. They argue on how to get out, but try to keep it together for the sake of the kids. They finally find a door that isn't hot, and leave the stairwell into the hallway. The usher the kids into a room and give them water and fresh air from the window. Suddenly, they look up and the girl tells them that her brother left to go and help the firefighters, and Jason runs out into the hallway to search for him. Courtney continues to help the frightened old woman and her dog down the stairwell. When the woman grows too weak to walk alone, Courtney ties the dog to the rail and walks her down with the intention of going back for the dog. Once they get outside the hotel, the woman thanks Courtney and calls her an angel. Courtney tells her she's going back into the hotel to get the dog, and if the woman should find Jason to tell him that Courtney loves him. Elsewhere in the stairwell, Jason finds the lost boy, and then he and Brian take the kids to the roof for rescue. Once they get in the auction room, Jason discovers from the police report that the old woman gave, that Courtney is in the hotel. The two men run out in search of her. As they are looking, they hear the dog barking and find Courtney in a hotel room full of smoke. She rushes into Jason's arms, and ignores Brian completely.

On the twelfth floor, flames continue to burn. As Skippy the puppy succeeds in reviving Courtney with his constant yipping, Jason and Brian follow the little dog's cries and find Courtney. Courtney rushes in to Jason's arms, much to Brian's disgust. Jason and Brian both lecture Courtney about the foolhardiness of rushing back into the burning building. Jason advises Brian and Courtney that they should head for the roof, where helicopters are sure to rescue the trapped treasure hunters. But, at that moment, another explosion rips through the building. Falling debris separates Jason from Brian and Courtney. Jason orders Brian and Courtney to continue without him, assuring them that Jason will be able to find another way out of the fire. Brian finally convinces Courtney to follow him. Courtney is angry when Brian suddenly insists that they are closer to the lobby than to the roof and tries to persuade Courtney to go down with him rather than following Jason's orders to go up. As Courtney and Brian argue, Sonny suddenly shows up, with a drawn gun focused on Brian. Courtney is surprised when Brian accuses Sonny of sending Jason to kill him.

Jason finds himself on the twelfth floor and finds Carly in the midst of the flames. Still in the stairwell, Courtney implores Sonny not to shoot Brian, but Sonny warns Courtney that Brian is still using Courtney to find a way to put Courtney's husband and brother behind bars. Sonny decides that he doesn't want to put Courtney in a position where she would have to lie to protect her brother and orders Brian to leave. After Brian leaves, Courtney blasts Sonny for ordering Jason to kill Brian and angrily declares that she is through with Sonny's way of life. Jason succeeds in dragging Carly to safety. As Jason and Carly take refuge in one of the untouched rooms, Carly tries to tell Jason about being trapped in the elevator with Alexis. Jason shocks Carly by informing her that he believes that Alexis is dead because Jason found Alexis's identification in the rubble and Jason believes that Alexis is under the debris. As Carly wonders what will become of Kristina now that her mother is dead, Jason and Carly try to leave the room.

They discover that their path is now blocked by flames and slam the door on the flames. Sonny blasts Courtney because she changed her mind mid-stream about being able to live with Jason's "business." Sonny warns Carly that, by allowing Brian to get close to her, Courtney has given the police officer all the ammunition he needs to take them ALL down! While Courtney and Sonny argue, Skippy the puppy makes his way, alone, out of the fire and is happily reunited with Louise. As Brian tries to find his way out of the fire, he suddenly encounters a man with a gun, who shoots Brian point blank. The man walks away and leaves Brian for dead in the flames. Carly tearfully confides to Jason that she believes they are doomed and confesses that Jason has always been her best friend. When Carly asks if there had ever been a possibility of a deeper relationship developing between them, Jason admits that he believes it was possible. Carly asks Jason to kiss her goodbye and Jason complies with her request. Sonny and Courtney continue their argument, just as more debris from the ceiling falls between them, striking Sonny. An unknown person finds Brian in one of the rooms in the hotel and shoots him a few times. Brian falls down and lays there unconscious. The shooter is wearing a jacket with a hood. The person drops the jacket to the floor to escape.

Jason and Carly talk. The ceiling in the room they are hanging around in gets weaker from the fire and Jason tells her they need to make an escape route out of the hotel somehow. Carly panics and suggests opening up a window. Jason tells her not to since the fire is right outside the corridor and the oxygen in the air outside will make the fire bigger. Carly tells him she doesn't want to die and gets angry with Jason for suggesting they stay calm. They get out of the room. Jason and Carly reach the stairwell safely. A mystery man in a fireman's outfit and an oxygen tank and mask is on the stairs above them, dragging a bag of jewels with him. He hears Jason and Carly come in the stairwell and hides the bag of jewels from the treasure in a corner near the stairs. He/she doesn't talk. Jason asks the fireman to help escort Carly upstairs to join the others. Carly is reluctant to let him leave and go off on his own. He asks her to stop arguing with him for once and just do what he asks. He gives her his leather jacket to wear to protect her from the heat. The "fireman" escorts her upstairs. Carly starts to feel out of breath going up the stairs after drawing all that smoke into her lungs. The "fireman" stops walking up the stairs in front of her and turns around. He gives her an oxygen mask to help her with her breathing so she can make it the rest of the way upstairs. Carly makes it upstairs and joins the others near the roof. She finds Alcazar laying on the floor, waking up on his own. She goes to him. He is happy to see she is okay. He is dismayed though when she starts to worry about Sonny since she doesn't see him or Jason upstairs.

Courtney and Sonny argue in the hallway. Courtney tells Sonny that she can't live like him and that she can't be the sister that he wants her to be. Sonny grabs Courtney when the ceiling starts to cave in from the fire. He knocks her away from the ceiling and they are both o.k. Courtney thanks him for pulling her away from being killed. Sonny tells her she can't escape the life she has as his sister or as Jason's wife. He tries to get up but his knee gives in and he tells her that he can't walk on it on his own. Courtney uses pieces of wood from the ceiling that fell that aren't on fire and uses it to make a splint for his bad leg. She helps him climb up the stairs. Sonny tells Courtney about how he got involved with the mob and how he likes his lifestyle even if she doesn't and tells her that he loves her. She smiles at him and tells him she loves him too. They run into Jason later. Jason, Carly and Sonny arrive upstairs to join everyone. Ric asks Brian if he knows who shot him. Brian sees that Jason is wearing the same jacket that his shooter was wearing and points to him and tells Ric that Jason shot him. Nikolas confronts Helena about loosening the tourniquet on Emily's leg to kill her.

Capelli accuses Jason of shooting Brian, who is put on the helicopter first because of his gunshot wounds. Jason refuses to speak to him or Ric. Justus tells Ric that there is no probable cause to arrest Jason for Brian's shooting since no one was there to witness it and that Brian has a known bias against Jason. Ric is reluctant to arrest Jason at first. Sonny loses his temper at Ric. Ric has Jason arrested out of spite. Capelli tells Jason that he will not allow him to be on the helicopter and suggests he has to wait until the last helicopter comes. He then suggests that he take Jason down the stairs in handcuffs and bring him out that way. Ric is against this idea at first but Sonny's temper gets worse and he accuses Ric of murder if he allows Capelli to take Jason down the stairs and risk his life like that. He accuses Ric of getting someone to do his dirty work for him so his hands don't get dirty. Ric allows Capelli to take Jason down the stairs. Jason gives his number to Courtney to take and to get on the next helicopter instead of him. Courtney is reluctant to go on the next helicopter without him. She hugs him and kisses him and tells him she loves him.

Carly goes over to speak to Sonny to find out why Jason is being led to the stairs instead of being allowed to get on the helicopter. Suddenly the floor beneath them caves in from the fire. Sonny and Carly fall to the floor below them. Alcazar tries to go after them to help Carly. Justus pulls Alcazar back and tells him that it would be suicide to jump down there. Justus tells everyone that there is no way Sonny and Carly could have survived that kind of a fall.

Brian is still semi-conscious and asks Bobbie if Courtney made it out alive. Bobbie tells him that as far as she knows Courtney made it out alive but that she doesn't know about Jason, Carly, and Sonny yet. Courtney runs over to Mike to get comfort. He asks her about Sonny. Courtney overhears Ric talking to Elizabeth about Sonny and Carly. She notes a tension in Ric and asks him what is going on. He informs Mike and Courtney that Sonny and Carly fell through the floor that collapsed under them and that it looks like they are dead. Courtney and Mike are devastated. Courtney gets even more upset when she asks about Jason and is informed by Ric that Capelli arrested Jason for shooting Brian and is taking him through the stairwells to the front of the hotel instead of by helicopter. Courtney loses her temper and accuses Ric of purposely trying to get Jason killed. She starts punching Ric several times and accuses Elizabeth of being clueless about her husband. She tells Ric she hates him and that he should have died in the fire not Sonny and Carly.

Capelli follows Jason down the stairs. Jason is still in handcuffs. Capelli orders Jason to stop on the stair and points a gun at him and plans to kill Jason and make it look as if Jason tried to overpower him instead. Jason surprises Capelli by striking him with a kick instead and knocks Capelli's gun away. Capelli grabs Jason and throws him against the wall and knocks him out briefly and retrieves the gun. He handcuffs Jason to the stairwell and leaves him there. Jason asks him how he is going to explain the handcuffs being attached to the stairwell railing and Capelli tells him he will convince Ric that he had to handcuff him because he got violent with him and that he had to and that he planned on getting someone to help find him but it was too late. Capelli goes up on the roof and insists on getting on the last helicopter.

Monica, Emily, and Nikolas ask him where Jason is. Capelli lies and tells them that Jason got too violent so he had to handcuff him to the stairwell until someone could find him and get him out. Monica and Emily yell at Capelli. Nikolas tells Emily to go on the helicopter and he will go back and help Jason. Emily tries to insist on going with him to help Jason but he refuses to let her and makes her go on the helicopter and get medical treatment there. Emily reluctantly gets on the helicopter. Nikolas heads into the hotel just as a big explosion rocks the hotel close to where Nikolas is. Emily screams and fears that Nikolas could have been killed in the blast. Sonny wakes up after being buried under some rubble and parts of the floor that he fell under. He calls out to Carly and looks for her. He finds her unconscious and cradles her in his arms. He tells her that he hates her as much as he loves her and tells her she can't die on him now and that he wants more than anything for her to take care of their boys and love them. Alcazar finds them and watches Sonny cradle her.

Courtney breaks away from her dad and finds Capelli who tells her Jason isn't coming out of the hotel. Courtney can't believe her ears as Capelli makes up a story about Jason attacking him, and she begins to flip out. Her tirade brings Ric over, and she screams at him about Jason's situation. When a fireman tells her they've abandoned the search in Jason's area, she tries to run into the building herself, but is stopped by another officer. Courtney continues to struggle against the police, when Sonny, Carly, and Alcazar suddenly emerge from the building. She runs and throws herself into Carly's arms and tells them that Capelli handcuffed Jason to a pipe and left him in the building to die. Sonny yells at Ric that it will be on his head, but they all agree to believe that Jason can make it out alive.

Carly comforts Courtney. Emily shows up, and together with Courtney, they worry as they wait for word on Nikolas and Jason. Ric kills their hope when he tells them that the building has become too unstable, and the rescue search has completely been called off. Emily begs Sonny to do something and make them continue looking when suddenly, Jason emerges from the building. Courtney runs to him, and he hugs her. Over his shoulder he looks at Emily, and she reads his eyes and knows that Nikolas isn't coming out with him. Courtney runs to Jason as he emerges from the building and hugs him. They exchange I love you's to each other, and then he walks over to Emily. He tells his sister that Nikolas survived the roof collapse, found him and saved his life, but unfortunately broke a gas pipe in the process. He recounts his memory of running into a hotel corridor with Nikolas when an explosion occurred, pinning them both under beams. Jason awoke and was able to get out, but he couldn't get to Nikolas. Emily begins to sob and refuses to believe that Nikolas is dead.

Jason and Courtney bring Emily back to the hospital to be checked out, but she can only call for people to find Nikolas. After they wheel her into a room, the police arrive to arrest Jason for the attempted murder of Brian. Courtney tries to follow him to the station, but he tells her to look after Emily. As Jason leaves, a nurse informs Courtney that Brian has been asking for her. She goes to his room and discovers he's been wheeled into emergency surgery and his prognosis is not good. Brian returns from surgery and has enough time to tell Courtney that while Ric did force him to use her, he did truly love her. He tells her that his wife and son are waiting for him, and he dies. At the police station, Ric tries to get Jason to talk by telling him that he knows that Capelli is on Alcazar's payroll, and he also thinks that Jason is innocent. Jason refuses to speak without his attorney, and Justus shows up in time to hear Ric badger him and tell him that he'll be executed if Brian dies and he's convicted of it. Jason explains what happened to Justus, and that he did not kill Brian and was only identified by him because he was wearing a sweatshirt he found in the hallway. Ric returns and Justus tells him that Jason is the victim of mistaken identity. Ric begins to argue, and Jason screams at him that he didn't shoot Brian. Capelli tells Jason he's going down for Brian's murder, but Ric returns with ballistic reports that set Jason free. Jason learns that Brian died and that Courtney took responsibility for burying him. Jason finds Courtney at Brian's gravesite. Courtney can no longer endure Jason's lifestyle and makes it clear they can't be together. Courtney is stunned when a man gives her a check for ten million dollars. Armed with a gun, Capelli ambushes Jason.

Courtney is surprised when the older woman she helped rescue from the hotel fire shows up with her dog to thank her for saving her life and her dog's. Courtney hands the check for $10 million back to the woman and tells her she can't accept it since it is too much money. The woman asks her to accept it anyway as her thanks and tells Courtney that she reminds her of her late daughter who was her age when she died. Courtney doesn't know what to say and is still in shock. The woman recommends that she use the money as a way to have many choices to do what she wants with her life. She recommends that Courtney share the money with her husband. Courtney informs her that she and her husband aren't together anymore. The woman tells her she is sorry and insists she keep the money. She tells Courtney that money doesn't buy happiness but that it can be used to bring happiness to others who need it and it allows people to make choices they didn't have with money.  

Detective Capelli points a gun at Jason and tells him to give him his gun when he finds him at the remains of the hotel. Jason tells him that he will never get away with killing him since the cops will find a bullet in his back and that he is already in trouble for handcuffing him to the stairwell during the fire. Capelli tells him he will think of a way to convince the cops and Ric that he killed him in self-defense after he "retaliated" for the fire by trying to kill him first. Jason hands over his gun and while Capelli is distracted, Jason presses a button on his cell-phone to get Ric on the phone. Ric answers his cell-phone and overhears Jason and Capelli talking. He hears Capelli tell Jason that he is going to kill him like he should have done at the hotel. Jason gets Capelli to admit that he shot and killed Brian in the hotel and tried to set him up for the murder. Jason tells Capelli that he wanted Brian dead himself and isn't going to tell the police any of that. Capelli tells him that he doesn't believe him when he says he won't retaliate. Capelli is about to shoot and kill Jason and Jason tells him that if he kills him he will have Sonny out for him and that Sonny will find him anywhere he tries to hide. Ric and some uniformed police officers arrive at the scene.

While Capelli is distracted, Jason jumps him and tries to get the gun out of his hands. The two men struggle for the gun when it goes off and Capelli falls to the ground. Ric checks his pulse while the two uniformed cops restrain Jason. Ric tells them that Capelli is dead. The cops start to arrest Jason and place him in handcuffs. Ric stops them and tells them to release Jason. One of the cops questions Ric's orders since they see Jason being a cop killer. Ric informs them that Jason shot Capelli in self-defense and commends him for using his cell-phone to allow him to hear Capelli's confession. The cops are given their orders to get Capelli sent to the morgue. Ric asks Jason to come to the station and make a statement about what happened with him and Capelli at the fire and what just happened now with the shooting. Jason refuses to make a statement without his speaking to his lawyer first. Ric tells him that he isn't up to anything with him and is just trying to do his job. Jason tells him that he is a liar and that he wants something from him like a favor in return for his statement. Ric tells him that when he has him convicted it will be for doing something illegal and that when that happens he will make it stick. Jason tells him he should have arrested him when he had a chance and walks away.

Courtney heads into Kelly's and sees Jason. She asks him if he came to Kelly's looking for her but he tells her he came to meet his lawyer there. Michael comes running over to them and asks him if he is going to the airport with them. Jason calls Sonny to let him know that Michael is with him. Sonny is relieved to know that Michael is safe with Jason. Sonny asks Jason to bring Michael to meet him and MorganÉ at the airport. Jason and Courtney argue about Sonny leaving with the boys. Jason warns Courtney to stay out of it, as he is trying to protect Michael and Morgan, but Courtney insists on telling Carly to go to the airport. Jason tells Courtney that it is better to walk away from this custody fight. However, it is easier for her to walk away than for him.

At the airport, Jason strongly advises Carly to not have Sonny arrested in front of Michael. Lorenzo escorts Carly out of the airport. Sonny informs Jason that Carly almost fell for his trap and if Lorenzo keeps helping Carly from "being her own worst enemy", the fight for his kids will be harder than he thinks. Lorenzo calls Jason to the pier stating they are the only ones thinking rationally and they have to work together to stop this custody fight. Courtney returns to her loft apartment, where she lived with Jason and tells the landlord she wants to buy the apartment for herself. While moving out of Kelly's, she tells Jax she is now making her own changes and Jax says he wants to help her. Courtney assures Jax she is starting a new life with her money, but he warns her to have a plan or she'll fall back into Jason's life. She pays off her dad's gambling debts, and begins to take control of her life. When Mike asks her about the money she was given, she hesitates and wants to keep things quiet for a while. Later, Jason goes into the office of the dock leasing company, and demands to speak to the CEO. Courtney spins around in her chair and is puzzled that he's looking for her.

Jason tells Alcazar that he will not work with him under any circumstances, even for the sake of Michael and Morgan. Jason blames Alcazar for the mess the Corinthos family is in. Once Alcazar leaves, Jason yells Meyer because of delayed shipment on the docks and is told that the dock leasing agreement is having problems. Jason goes to the penthouse to discuss the matter with Sonny, and tells him he thinks Faith is behind it. Sonny isn't so sure. He considers that Alcazar might be behind the problems, and orders Jason to go to the dock leasing company and find out who is in charge. Courtney tells Jason about the reward that she was given for saving Mrs. Phillips and the dog. She tells him that she's now the CEO of the company, and is willing to give him the same agreement he's always had on his dock space, but with some additional stipulations. He must not be involved in any violence or illegal activity, or she will take away his leases. When Jason responds that she's putting him in an impossible situation, she tells him that it isn't for a legitimate business. They continue to argue, with Jason assuming that Courtney's actions are to punish him, but she says they have nothing to do with him or their failed marriage, she simply will not hurt her chances of success by dealing with illegal activity. Jason says he needs to think things over, and leaves. He returns with a description of his first shipment, proving its legitimacy. Courtney thanks him for coming back. Jason carefully points out to Sonny that he is losing control of his actions.

Jax pays a visit to Courtney at her new office. He tries to persuade her to let him help her in her new business. Courtney refuses to accept his help and tells him that he is underestimating her just like Jason and Sonny are and that she is going to prove them wrong. Jason gets upset with Carly for trying to blackmail him into testifying on her behalf by threatening to expose Sonny's mental instability in court. Jason tells her that by exposing that secret in court, she may as well sign his death warrant since his enemies will use Sonny's vulnerability against him. Carly tells him she doesn't want to expose Sonny's mental instability but that Sonny is pushing her into a corner by refusing to share custody of the kids with her. Jason tells her she always has a choice and suggests that she talk to Sonny in person and tell him what she just told him. Carly doesn't believe that will help anything. She asks Jason not to let her or the children down and tell the judge the children belong with her. Jason doesn't tell her yes and leaves.

Jason arrives at the penthouse and overhears Sonny tell Justus to provoke Carly in court and get her to lose it on the stand. Justus tells Jason that they need to talk and go over his testimony. Sonny orders Justus not to worry about Jason's testimony since he will be telling the judge the children belong with him. Jason asks Sonny what he is doing and suggests that he stand back a little and calm down. Sonny gets upset with Jason for telling him what to do about the custody of the children. Sonny assumes Jason will be on his side in court and Jason doesn't say no but is torn. Carly goes to see Courtney in her new office and asks Courtney to testify on her behalf in court and tell the judge the children belong with her. Courtney tells her she can't do that and that she plans to tell the judge that Sonny and Carly should share custody. Carly tells her that Sonny won't let her share custody and that he never allowed her to explain what happened with Alcazar. Courtney tells her that she doesn't approve of her seeing Alcazar, who she feels ruined Carly's life. Carly defends Alcazar to Courtney. Courtney isn't convinced he is some knight in shining armor. Courtney doesn't give her an answer one way or another. Courtney suggests to Carly that she go back to Sonny and try and work things out. Carly thinks that it is too late for that. Jason suggests the same thing to Sonny, who thinks Carly would not go back to him now that she is sleeping with Alcazar. Jason tells him she only did that when she found out he slept with Sam. Sonny doesn't believe Carly started her affair after he slept with Sam.

Courtney shows up to visit the children and finds Jason in the living room putting together a swing for the baby. She tells him about Carly's visit and how she expects her to testify for her. Jason tells her that Sonny assumes the same thing for him as well as Carly and that he wants them to share custody and was going to tell the judge that but somehow he would betraying both of them. Courtney agrees with Jason that Carly and Sonny should share custody. Courtney goes to hand him a screw for the swing and he grabs it at the same time. They find themselves touching hands and are reluctant to pull away. Michael comes downstairs and tells Jason that Morgan is crying and Leticia can't get him to stop. Jason goes up to help with the baby. Michael asks Courtney if she and Jason are getting back together. She tells him that they aren't. Michael asks her why she and Jason get along so well when they aren't together anymore but his parents are always fighting. Courtney tells him that she and Jason still care about each other and that they have no reason to fight. Jason hears what she tells Michael as he brings Morgan downstairs with him. The phone rings so Jason hands the baby over to Courtney to answer it. It is a call about the custody hearing. Sonny gets a call from the judge while he is at Sam's room. The judge tells him that he is going to ask Michael who he wants to live with. Carly and Alexis are at her house when Alexis gets the call from the family court and tells the person on the other end that they will cooperate fully.

Michael is going to be questioned today by the judge as to who he wants to live with. He tries to play sick with Jason, who tells him to tell the judge the truth. Michael says he wants to live with Sonny and Carly. Sonny tells Sam that he hopes he does not have to do the things he might to keep the boys. They compare childhoods to the current custody situation. Sonny tells Michael to choose living with him, so that Sonny can protect him from all bad men that Carly might bring into Michael's life. Jason tells Courtney to let him know if Faith approaches her, which Faith did earlier. Jason tells her that Faith will use this time to start a war and there can't be any violence during the custody fight. Faith wants to be partners with Courtney, while Courtney has said no. Faith goes to see Mike at Kelly's and realizes he is the ticket to getting Courtney to cooperate.

In the judge's chambers, the judge asks Michael which parent he'd like to live with, and Michael replies that he doesn't want to live with either one. He then emerges from the chambers and into the hall where his parents are expectantly waiting. They look at him, and he runs to Jason and throws his arms around him. The judge then asks Carly and Sonny to come into his office, and they are both uneasy with what might be happening. In his office, the judge informs them that Michael has asked to live with Jason and Courtney. They both are shocked, and say that is unacceptable.

Justus suggests to Courtney that she follow along with Faith in order to help Sonny, and he walks in on a terrified Courtney in her trashed office. Convinced by a note that Faith killed her father, Courtney has Justus open a blood-stained closet door to see if Mike's body is inside. When they find it empty, Courtney phones Mike and finds that he's okay. Justus then makes his suggestion, but Courtney refuses to compromise her new start in order to help fix the war between Faith and Sonny. Later, Faith happily meets with Courtney to discuss making a business arrangement. Faith pretends her stunt was just a little joke, but wants to know why Courtney is willing to work with her if she discloses what she will be shipping, when Courtney turned Jason and Sonny down. Courtney plays innocent, but Faith realizes that she's wearing a wire. Jason takes Michael back to the penthouse, and Michael tells him that he chose to live with him. Jason lets him know that he can't live with him because he's not Michael's parent, but Michael remembers the time that he was Jason's son, and tells him that he wants to be with him again. Jason clearly loves Michael as his own, but feels the need to be loyal to Sonny and Carly. He tells Michael that raising him was the happiest time of his life, but that he's only his uncle. He then shows Michael the first book he ever read to him, and is able to calm him down by reading from it again. Jason remembers his time with Michael as a baby, and promises he will never make Michael choose between his parents.

Faith refuses to believe that Courtney is genuinely wanting to strike a deal, and begins to hunt for a wire. As Lucky listens from the bug planted on a flowerpot, Faith refuses to incriminate herself. Courtney is able to get to the bug before Faith finds it, and finally gets rid of her. Lucky returns to the office and wants to know why Courtney isn't seeking help from Sonny and Jason, and she admits that she's trying to save Sonny's chances of getting joint custody. After Michael attempted to call her, Courtney rushes to the penthouse to make sure everything is okay. Jason tells her that Michael told the judge he wants to live with him and Courtney. Sonny bursts into the room and begins to yell at Courtney for tipping Carly off to Michael's talk with the judge, and Courtney tells him that it's only fair that Carly knows what is going on. Sonny doesn't want to hear it, and tells her she betrayed him, so Courtney lets him have his tantrum and walks out the door. Jason chastises Sonny for attacking Courtney, and Sonny tells him that he needs to let Courtney and Carly know which side he is on. Jason tells him it isn't about sides, it's about the kids, and how they need both parents, but Sonny refuses to allow joint custody because of Alcazar. As Sonny continues to rant about keeping Michael and Morgan away from Carly, Jason warns him he needs to get control of himself, or Jason will take his kids away from him.

Jason meets with Justus at Kelly's and is stunned when Justus warns Jason that it is not likely the Judge would award joint custody to Sonny and Carly. Justus furthermore informs Jason that the Judge would either agree to let Jason and Courtney have custody of Michael and Morgan or send the boys to foster care. When Monica and Alan spot Justus and Jason at Kelly's, and stop to ask about Edward, Monica is surprised when Jason asks to speak to Monica alone. When Jason asks Monica for her opinion about the effect that Sonny and Carly's custody battle might have on Michael and Morgan, Monica reminds Jason that she and Alan have never forgotten that they are Michael's grandparents and Monica encourages Jason to feel confident that he will be able to do a good job caring for Michael and Morgan, should the Judge assign the boys to Jason's care. Alexis advises Jason to talk Carly out of a custody battle if Carly is only trying to use family court to get her husband back then Alexis storms out. When Carly appeals to Jason for his help, Jason demands to know if Alexis is right. Carly admits that she still does care about Sonny, but has had no luck telling Sonny because they are always interrupted. Jason tries to persuade Carly to give up the custody battle to protect Michael and Morgan, but Carly refuses to listen. Carly confides to Jason that Alexis wants to tell the court that, statistically, men who were abused as children grow up to abuse their own children. Carly insists that she wants to protect Sonny and urges Jason to tell the court that Jason believes the children belong with Carly. Jason again urges Carly to arrive at a compromise with Sonny to keep from hurting Michael and Morgan any more.

Jason shows up to court dressed up. Michael asks him if he is going to court also. Jason tells Michael that he is going to testify in court and asks Sonny if he can hang out with Michael for a while before meeting him at the courthouse. Sonny says okay and leaves. Jason tells Michael that he will tell the judge what he thinks is best for him and Morgan. Jason suggests that Sonny stop this custody hearing before any real damage is done. Courtney is late to court. When a smirking Faith walks in, Sonny loses his temper in front of the judge, sure she had something to do with it. Justus finds Courtney tied up in her office. He asks her not to tell Jason and Sonny about Faith's actions as they would be compelled to retaliate and that would ruin Sonny's bid for custody. Courtney lies to Jason about why she is late to court, covering Faith's action. Jason sees through the lie and tells Sonny that Faith is involved, but Sonny reminds him they can't have any violence right now. Justus tells Courtney that Sonny is aware that Faith is leaning on Courtney. Courtney testifies that the kids should be with Sonny and Carly, leading Carly to make an outburst in court. Courtney testifies that Sonny never endangers his kids and she took the kids out of town because Sonny was occupied in the hospital with Carly. Carly yells at Courtney for her decision, but Courtney reminds her that she has always wanted them to share custody. If Carly didn't hear that, then she only heard what she wanted to hear. Carly attacks Jason saying he put Courtney up to this. Jason reminds her that shared custody is the best thing for the kids. Carly warns Jason that if he doesn't say she should have sole custody, then she'll have to testify about Sonny's unstable behavior. Courtney finds Faith in her office, who pushes the partnership issue while the custody hearing is going on. Faith calls the boys "brats" causing Courtney to push her down and tell Faith to leave. Faith pulls a gun on Courtney and shoots.

Faith warns Courtney that she should abide by her rules or trouble will be made for Sonny in his custody fight for his brats. Courtney grabs and attacks Faith and tells her not to insult her nephews. Courtney tells Faith to get the hell out of her office, but Faith grabs her gun and fires a shot, narrowly missing Courtney's head. Faith explains that was Courtney's last warning, and leaves. Courtney finds Michael with Alcazar on the docks. Michael explains he's trying to find a way for his mom to be able to come home. When he says he doesn't understand why his parents can't work things out, Courtney admits she doesn't know either and hugs the boy. Alexis puts Jason on the stand and gets him to admit that Carly is a good mother. Jason continues to help Carly's case by explaining the length she's gone to for her children, and how much she loves them and will protect them. She also damages Sonny when she forces Jason to admit that Sonny is surrounded by constant violence. Justus has his chance with Jason next, and is able to repair some of the damage by getting Jason to say that Sonny is the best father that he knows. In the end, Jason helps neither Corinthos fully, when he admits that it's his opinion that the best thing for Michael and Morgan is shared custody.

Once he's off the stand, Carly blasts him for not helping her. She tells him that he's left her no choice, and that she will have to testify against Sonny. She leaves and Sonny walks up to Jason to yell at him too, but Jason tells him he did what was best for the boys, and admits that Carly blackmailed him. Courtney reports to Justus that Faith is leaning on her again. Justus reminds Courtney that any investigation into violence on the waterfront would most likely reflect adversely on Sonny so Justus urges Courtney to be patient with Faith's bullying just a little while longer. Carly meets with Jason in the park and confides that she still loves Sonny and could not bring herself to tell the world about Sonny's breakdowns but that she also cannot give up her children. As Carly assures Jason that she could not bear the thought of losing Jason's friendship during the custody hearing.

Nikolas and Emily meet with Jason outside the custody hearing and explain Elizabeth's involvement in Zander's death. Emily explains that they would like for Jason to state that, before Capelli died, Capelli bragged to Jason that it was Capelli who killed Zander. Jason reminds Nikolas and Emily that IF he swears to something that is not true, it will be perjury and could be Ric's way of setting Jason up. However, Jason accompanies Nikolas and Emily to the Port Charles Police Department, where Ric hands Jason a prepared statement to sign. Jason reminds Ric that Jason knows that Ric could come after Jason later on a perjury charge, but Ric assures Jason that Ric's only motivation is to protect Elizabeth and guarantee Elizabeth the life that she deserves. Ric appeals to Jason as Elizabeth's friend to help them all protect Elizabeth. Ric assures Jason that Ric, Nikolas, Emily and Lucky would never have any reason to contradict Jason's statement and, since Capelli and Zander are both dead, neither of them would be in any position to contradict Jason's statement. Nikolas and Emily assure Jason that they believe that, in this instance, Ric's only motivation is to rescue Elizabeth and that they all agree that they should protect Elizabeth. Jason reluctantly signs the statement and Ric announces that the case is now officially closed. Even as Emily thanks Jason for his help, Jason again warns Nikolas and Emily to remember that Ric is not their friend. As Jason leaves, he runs into Courtney and asks her why she is at the PCPD. Courtney convinces Jason to walk with her in the park and reluctantly explains that Faith has been leaning on Courtney to move Faith's shipments on Courtney's docks. Courtney explains Lucky's plan to try to get Faith to incriminate herself on tape. But Jason reminds Courtney that she should have come to Jason instead of Lucky for help. Courtney reminds Jason that she cannot allow Jason to help her until the custody hearing wraps up because violence on the waterfront would probably end up reflecting negatively on Sonny.

Faith and tells her that after the judge makes his decision and the hearing is over, she won't be much good to anyone. At the courthouse, Alcazar and Alexis questioned Jason and Courtney about the car problem that had stranded Sonny and Carly together. Jason told Alexis he thought Carly must have

something on her, for Alexis to even be representing her. To the side, Alcazar let Alexis know that he thought the same. Out of earshot, Courtney told Jason she thought he had arranged the car problem to help play matchmaker for the estranged husband and wife. The judge comes back with the decision of joint custody between Carly and Sonny for their sons. Carly agrees to the terms, and just as Sonny is about to do the same, an explosion rocks the courthouse. No one but Alcazar is injured, and Max runs into the courthouse to tell them it was a car bomb in Sonny's limo outside. Alcazar is taken away to the hospital. Sonny shocks those around him when he asks the judge to give Carly full custody of Michael and Morgan. The judge happily gives the boys to Carly. After telling Sonny that he did a good thing, Courtney warns Carly that she only has the ability to keep the boys safe if she deals with Alcazar. Carly says she now has to be the good parent too, and that she is ending things with Alcazar. She goes to see him at the hospital, but before she gets the chance to tell him it's over, he turns to her and announces that the bomb blast has left him blind.

Carly runs into Courtney on her way out of the hospital. Courtney is there to lend her support post-breakup, but Carly tells her that Alcazar's condition has forced her to not only stay with him, but invite him to live with her. Courtney is horrified by this news, and tells Carly that she can't blame herself for the explosion, or further destroy her life by staying with Alcazar. Courtney visits Mike at Kelly's and reports that Sonny handed the kids over to Carly instead of continuing to fight for custody. Courtney confides that her ownership of waterfront property has put her in the middle of the war between Sonny and Faith. Courtney explains that she believes that she can't allow Sonny to do anything illegal on her docks, because it was the gangster lifestyle that drove Courtney and Jason apart. When Courtney expresses her conviction that Carly still loves Sonny, in spite of the custody battle, Mike suggests that, perhaps, Carly truly has moved on to Alcazar. But Courtney remains unconvinced.

Jason admits that he is mystified when Carly summons him to her home. Carly confides that she wants to make sure that Sonny is handling the loss of the boys OK. Jason reminds Carly that it was Carly who confided the information about Sonny's breakdowns to Alexis and Alexis used the information in court. Jason wonders why Carly cares about Sonny's state of mind now, since Carly got everything she wanted, including custody of the children and a new life with Lorenzo. Carly protests that Jason is wrong, but, as Jason and Carly argue, Jason is interrupted by a call from Sonny, asking Jason to rush to the Penthouse and Jason leaves without explaining anything to Carly. Jason arrives at the Penthouse and Sonny explains that Samantha witnessed the bomb being planted and was stabbed by the bomber who is now after her. Sonny and Jason guess that the bomber was one of Faith's operatives. Sonny orders Jason to shake the truth about the bombing out of Faith then kill her! When Jason suggests that Sam needs a doctor, Sonny reminds Jason that if Sam were in the hospital, the bomber could make another attempt on her life. Later, Jason finds Courtney outside Kelly's and quizzes her to discover where Faith is staying. Courtney asks if Faith is going to meet with an unfortunately fatal accident. But Jason reminds Courtney that Faith fired a gun at Courtney's head not so long ago. Jason also reminds Courtney that Michael and Morgan could have been in Sonny's limousine when Faith blew it up. Then Jason suddenly apologizes to Courtney for trying to involve her again in his business, and rushes away.

Jason lets himself in to Faith's room and begins to search. Faith returns home and is attacked by Jason. Holding Faith in a hammer-lock, Jason demands to know if Faith set the bomb and if she is in cahoots with Alcazar. Faith insists that she had nothing to do with the bomb. Faith does admit that she was cooperating with Alcazar to make Sonny look bad during the custody hearing, but Faith protests that she had no motive for setting a bomb in Sonny's car. Courtney slips in to Alcazar's hospital room and accuses Lorenzo of being the one who set the bomb. When Lorenzo denies Courtney's accusations, Courtney tells Alcazar that Carly was prepared to back out of her relationship with Lorenzo, but is sticking around now because she feels sorry for Lorenzo. Jason demands to know if Faith can prove that Alcazar was the only one who hired a bomber. When Faith protests that Alcazar, obviously, would not have just told her that he was the one who set the bomb, Jason refuses to believe Faith, grabs her and begins to push Faith toward the apartment balcony. As Faith struggles with Jason, Luke suddenly arrives and orders Jason to put Faith down. Jason was ready to throw Faith over the balcony of her hotel room if she didn't tell him who she hired to plant the bomb under Sonny's car. Luke shows up at Faith's room and finds Jason holding Faith and making his threat. Luke asks Jason to let her down and do him a favor and let her live since he needs her for his gambling operation and that he will explain to Sonny why he needs her to stay around. Jason agrees to let her go this time on a warning to stay away from Sonny and his family but tells Luke that Sonny will want an explanation soon about why he wants this favor. Jason leaves.

Courtney pays Alcazar a visit. She informs him that Carly was planning on breaking up with him before she came to the hospital and only decided to stay with him out of pity. Alcazar doesn't want to believe her. Courtney tells him off about ruining Carly's life and how Carly still loves Sonny. Carly walks in the hospital room and overhears Courtney tell Alcazar that Carly doesn't really love him and thinks he is pathetic and weak. Carly tells her that is enough and tells her to leave before they both say something they don't mean. Courtney tells her that Alcazar ruined her life and that if she stays with him, she will soon live to regret it and it may be too late to mend things with those who love her. Sonny asks Jason to protect Sam with his life since the man who planted the bomb is after her. Courtney shows up at his apartment to find him sitting with Sam. She makes an excuse to leave. Jason asks her what she wanted from him. She tells him that she just saw Alcazar and that wanted to ask for his opinion. Jason tells her they can't talk now when she asks him why Sam is there and what is wrong with her. Sonny walks in and reminds Courtney that she doesn't want to have anything to do with their business. Courtney tells Sonny and Jason that she has a hard time remembering that and leaves. Jason finds her later after he tells Sam that he doesn't blame her for the marriage breakup of Carly and Sonny. He tells Courtney that he can talk to her now. Courtney is about to tell him about her visit with Alcazar but only says that he may have something to do with the car bombing. Jason feels uncomfortable when they run out of things to stay. Jason leaves after Courtney decides not to tell him what is going on with her. Mike comes out of Kelly's after watching Courtney and Jason talk. He asks her if she is all right. Courtney asks him why love can't be enough anymore. Mike grabs her and hugs her.

Carly had Courtney come over to see if she could talk to Michael about his disappointment. Courtney was upset when Carly said she was going to visit Lorenzo at the hospital. A little later, Courtney found some of her money missing with a note from Michael that he owed her $20. Courtney called Jason who came over and calmed her down. Sonny returned Michael to the house and made him apologize to Courtney. Sonny asked Jason to go back to the penthouse and watch over Sam. Jason was upset to hear that Michael had found Sonny and Sam together. At the penthouse, Jason found a note from Sam, telling Sonny that things were getting too complicated and that she was going to disappear. She returned to her ship, with the bomber waiting for her with a gun. Jason arrived, gun in hand, as the bomber took tight hold of Sam, gun to her head! Jason runs into the room and finds them, but the bomber pulls a gun and points it at Sam's head. Jason drops his own weapon, and tries to negotiate. Having none of Jason's suggestions, the bomber moves to shoot them both, but Jason pulls a second weapon and attempts to take the bomber out. Sam is left in the room as the bomber runs out with Jason in pursuit. Jason returns moments later to tell her the man got away. He takes her back to Sonny's penthouse. Jason returns later having again failed to find bomber. He explains to Sonny that he thinks Faith is telling the truth about not being the one who put out the hit, so Sonny tells him to find a way to tie Alcazar to it. As Sonny begins to discuss plans, Jason stops him and suggests he not conduct business with Sam in the apartment. Sonny says he doesn't need to worry about her, and that he wants her with him rather than a safehouse. Sam emerges at the top of the stairs in time to hear Jason point out that Sonny doesn't want Sam, he simply wants something to fill the void of Carly and the boys.

Jason tells Sonny that the only reason Sam is around is because Sonny doesn't want to be alone. He reminds Sonny that he is only using her to fill the void of Carly. Sonny replies that he has no illusions of love for Sam, and that he's been very clear to her regarding the terms of their relationship. Sam overhears this exchange, and is visibly disappointed. Back at her house, Carly receives a visit from Jason, who wants to check on her and the boys. Carly rips into Sonny over his relationship with Sam, and while Jason agrees, he feels the need to point out Carly's commitment to Alcazar. He allows her to explain how she feels obligated to Alcazar now that he is blind, but he points out that Carly doesn't love Alcazar, because she's still in love with Sonny.

Courtney interrupts Sonny and Sam making out. Courtney glares at Sam and delivers child custody papers for Sonny to sign. He moves to sign them, but Courtney tries to convince him to rethink his actions and put his family back together. She tells him that Carly was going to leave Alcazar before she found out that he was blind, but Sonny angrily retorts that Carly has made her choice. Courtney refuses to help him by passing the papers on to Carly, and she leaves, warning him that if he burns too many bridges, Carly will be unable to find her way back to him. Later, Jason shows up at the penthouse looking for Sonny, but Sam tells him that Sonny is out. She tries to demand that Jason leave, but he ignores her. She thinks that he needs to know how she feels about Sonny, and she warns him that she isn't going anywhere. Having enough of her power trip, Jason questions where she thinks she's headed with Sonny, and Sam admits that she's falling in love with Sonny.

At Sonny's Penthouse, Samantha tells Jason that she plans to stick around as long as Sonny wants her to stay, because Sonny doesn't judge her the way others do. When Sam admits that she hopes that one day, Sonny will love her back, Jason reminds Sam that Sonny loves Carly. Sam suggests to Jason that Sonny might be happier with Sam than with Carly. Sonny returns and instructs Jason to keep an eye on Carly, Michael and Morgan because Sonny doesn't want to keep showing up when Carly is with Lorenzo. Sonny confides that Courtney had raised his hopes when Courtney had reported that Carly had planned to break up with Alcazar before Carly discovered that Lorenzo had been blinded in the explosion at the courthouse. When Sonny took the custody agreement over to Carly as an excuse for seeing her, he had spotted Carly and Lorenzo in a lip lock. Sonny admits to Jason that he will probably always love Carly but it is not likely that Carly would change her mind and, for the time being, having Samantha around has helped Sonny cope with the fact that Carly, Michael and Morgan are now a separate part of his life.

**The End**