CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Jason takes one look at her face and stands. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing I want to talk about right now." Carly shakes her head as she takes the baby from the stroller.

He gives her the patent Jason stare until she sighs. "I ran into Lucky on the docks. Liz told him we want full custody so he was in full fight mode."

"Why would she do that?" Jason frowns.

Carly rolls her eyes. "Because she's a bitch? Because she wanted Lucky to fight her battle? Take your pick."

"What'd you tell him?" Jason sits on the arm of the couch.

She hands him the baby. "What he already knows. His wife is a liar and all we want is to be able to see Jake."

"What else?" He smiles down at his son.

She snaps a picture with her phone. "That's it. I called her a liar and walked away."

"You walked away?" Jason jaw drops in mock disbelief.

She flips him off. "Yes. My fight is with Liz not Lucky."

"You don't have to fight with either one." Jason turns serious. "If she wants to play games I'm not going to let her. I will sue for joint custody if she wants to go that route."

"Are you sure?" She questions gently. "Then everyone would know…"

He sighs as he walks over to the window with baby Jason. "I know and things would change. I'd have to rearrange the security I have on him from subtle to direct but I'm not going to let her keep me from my son."

"You're a good father." Carly rests her head against his back. "Jake will be lucky to have you."

He uses his other arm to pull her against him. "Us. He'll be lucky to have us." He leans down to kiss her then draws back. "What else happened?"

"That's it. I told you." She frowns in confusion.

He shakes his head. "There's something else. I know you Carly. Your fight with Lucky would've left you on a high…especially if you got the last word. When you walked in you seemed sad. What's going on?"

She chews on her bottom lip. She doesn't lie to Jason but she promised Maxie the night. "Are we alone?"

"Yeah Spinelli is working on something for me at the office. Johnny's taking Gia to some Broadway thing she wanted to see." Jason informs her.

She sighs and leads him over to the couch. "You have to promise me that what I'm about to tell you stays between us at least for tonight. I gave my word I wouldn't say anything till tomorrow."

"What's going on?" He demands to know.

She draws her legs underneath her. "I was with Maxie earlier and I found out she's been screwing Johnny Zacchara."

"Are you sure?" He hands her the baby.

She nods. "Maxie confirmed it."

"What is she going to do?"

Carly rocks him gently. "I told her she has to tell him. I can't know she's screwing him over and not do anything about it. He's family."

"So you told her she has to tell him tonight or you'll tell him tomorrow." He nods. "Why didn't she leave him if she's into Johnny?"

Carly sighs. "Because she's not…not really. I mean I'm sure she's attracted to him. He's a handsome kid but Maxie is just using him to sabotage herself."

"What?" Jason gives her a confused look.

She takes his hand. "I told you…I see a lot of myself in Maxie. This is no different. She feels she doesn't deserve Spinelli. She's done too much. Hurt too many people. She doesn't get to have the great guy who is completely devoted to her. You've seen the way he looks at her? She has too and it's the scariest thing in the world to someone like her. Because it's real and when you lose something that's real there's no coming back from it. She feels like eventually he's going to wake up and realize she's trash so she does something that's going to speed up the process."

"That makes no sense." Jason shakes his head. "Why screw it up? Why not trust it? Trust him?"

Carly swipes at the tears she didn't realize she was crying. "Do you know how hard that is? Maxie's real parents walked away like it was nothing. That pretty much shatters any illusion of trust that you may have. If your own parents don't want you do you know how hard it is to convince yourself you're worth loving? She had Mac and he truly loves her but it's not the same. People think it is but it's not."

His eyes soften as he realizes they're not only talking about Maxie. "So how do you get through to someone like that? Someone hell bent on self-sabotage."

"You stick." She locks eyes with him. "Through all the hurt and pain…you stick and love her anyway. Even if you can't be with her like that you stay and be her friend. You help her see that maybe there is something about her worth loving. That she doesn't need to be with a guy who treats her like crap. A little therapy doesn't hurt either."

"I love you Caroline." Jason kisses her.

She smiles through her tears. "I know."

"Maybe I should talk to Johnny." He rubs the back of his neck.

She shakes her head. "I don't think so. That's another thing. I saw the way he looked at her. He's not doing this for kicks. He's in love. He's in love with her and she's going to choose Damian. This is going to suck for everyone involved. If they want our help we'll help but I think we should stay out of it until then."

"You don't want to butt in?" He gives a look of surprise.

She reminds him. "How did you feel when people got involved with our mess? I know I didn't appreciate everyone putting their two cents in. Of course it was probably different for you. I was the slut in that scenario."

"You aren't a slut." He hates when she refers to herself like that.

She smiles. "I know Jase but that was one of the nicer names I was called back then."

"They don't know you." Jason dismisses them.

She shrugs. "Didn't stop them from taking their shots though."

"I'm sorry." He leans his forehead against hers.

She touches his cheek lightly. "We both are."

They're interrupted by the door slamming open and Spinelli rushing upstairs with Maxie hot on his heels.

Carly and Jason exchange a look. "She told him."

"Why?" Damien asks for the hundredth time with tears in his eyes. "I have loved you. I've defended you. I have been your staunchest supporter. Why would you hurt me?"

Maxie struggles to explain. "I'm sorry Damian. I'm so sorry. I didn't do it to hurt you. You have to believe that. If nothing else tell me you believe that."

"You need to leave." He opens the door to his bedroom.

She pleads. "I need you to forgive me."

"I'm sorry but I do not care what you need." He refuses to look at her. "Not anymore."

She places her hand on his arm but at the look he gives her she retracts it slowly. "I'm sorry."

"Please don't make me call for the guards." He looks at a spot above her.

Maxie bites back a sob as she leaves. Jason and Carly watch her depart with a touch of sympathy. A moment later a crash sounds from above them. Carly nudges him.

"Go."

Jason heads for the stairs but she stops him and hands him a bottle of orange soda and a bottle of Vodka. Jason looks down at it then nods.