Dream a Little Dream

Chapter 22

Brooke Lynn Ashton stood on the sidewalk, arms folded, glaring at her mother.

They were going shopping for Brooke's outfit for the Nurses' Ball, where she would be singing a solo. Lois Cerullo had led her daughter to an upscale formalwear shop.

“This is ridiculous,” Brooke pouted. “I'm not a princess pop star.”

Lois sighed in exasperation.

“Brookie, there are two things an artist should know – the material and the audience,” she said. “You aren't singing pop music, but a classic hymn. And this isn't the Nurses' Arena Rock Show, or the Nurses' Coffeehouse, or the Nurses' Mosh Pit. It's the Nurses' Ball. You have to dress appropriately for the occasion.”

Brooke sighed back. She knew her mom was right. Still ... she looked up at the window and made a lemon-sucking face.

Lois followed Brooke's gaze and burst out laughing. In the window was a pink, puff-sleeved nightmare of a dress with about ten miles of billowing tulle in the skirt.

“I don't think so, darling,” Lois said. “This isn't the Nurses' Fashion Show of Bad Bridesmaid Dresses, either.”

“Then what do you have in mind?” Brooke asked.

“Something simple, young and pretty,” Lois replied.

“Okay,” Brooke said guardedly. “I can do that.”

They walked into the store.

* * *

Michael sat at his father's side during breakfast, not even looking at Jason. Carly had her talk with him after leaving Jason's room the other day, but Michael was still cool to Jason. All he saw was Jason hurting his dad, and he didn't like it.

“What are you doing today, Michael?” Jason asked. “I'll be home after my class this afternoon, if you want to practice passing.”

“No, thank you,” Michael said. “Dad and I are going to a game in Rochester today.”

“What time does your class end, Jase?” AJ said. “We could pick you up afterwards and you could come with us.”

Jason saw Michael's face harden. He longed for some time with Michael, to talk and explain things. But the idea of spending an afternoon of seeing Michael happy with his dad was too much to contemplate.

“I won't get out in time, sorry,” Jason said. He was stung to see Michael's face relax in relief.

Jason got up to leave. He paused at the dining room entry.

“Have a good time today, Michael,” he said. “Make sure your dad stays away from the beer concession.”

AJ's face was red in anger. Jason taking out his anger on him was one thing. Dragging Michael into it was another.

Monica and Alan were also stunned speechless. Monica recovered first, sternly calling out, “Jason!” but only got a slammed front door in response.

“That was out of line,” Alan said.

“He's a jerk!” Michael burst out. “I wish he'd stayed in his stupid coma!”

Michael ran upstairs. AJ slumped in his chair. Everyone sat in silence for a few minutes.

“What do I do, Dad?” AJ asked. “I can't let Jason do that to Michael. I know I have no right to tell him how to think or feel, but I won't let Michael be put in the middle of this.”

“You're right, Son,” Monica said. “But I think you better let us handle this one. He won't listen to you right now – he's still too angry.”

Carly stormed into the dining room.

“What the hell just happened down here?” she demanded. “Michael is completely upset. Saint Jason takes a crap on AJ again, and Michael this time, but no one dares point out that his stinks just like everyone else's?”

“Shut up, Carly!” Monica said. “Jason was completely out of line, and he's going to realize it when he comes home tonight.”

“I'll make sure of that --” Carly began.

“No, you won't!” Alan said. “We're not going to allow this to get out of hand. Let us handle this one, Carly.”

“So, what, you're going to just talk to him?” Carly said. “Tell him to play nice, pat him on the head and give him a cookie when you're done? God, did you two always play favorites like this?”

“Stop it right now, Carly!” Alan shouted. “This is not open to discussion. We will take care of our son as we see fit.”

“Fine,” Carly sneered. “And I will do the same for mine.”

She stomped out of the dining room and back upstairs.

“I better go calm her down,” AJ said, getting up. He went upstairs to their room. Carly was sitting on the window seat.

“You okay?” he asked.

“No!” she said. “I am so sick of the way this family puts your brother up on some sort of pedestal! He's a person, not a saint! It was one thing when he came home. But now he's not only trying to drag you down, and bringing Michael into it. It's got to stop and soon.”

“Let it go, Carly,” AJ said, sitting down next to her. “Mom and Dad are going to deal with Jason tonight. We were talking before you came down, and it's best to let them handle it now. He's not going to listen to anything I have to say. You were able to mend fences after the other day, but it might not work again if you go after him so soon after that. I'll talk with Michael today.”

Carly laid her head on AJ's shoulder.

“How are you doing with all this?” she asked.

“I'm still sober,” he said. “Anything else, I'll have to handle somehow.”

* * *

Justus smiled at Brenda and Jax. They were sitting in a conference room at the real estate office, getting ready to sign the papers for closing on the property.

For all their wealth, Justus thought, they look like two young newlyweds buying their first bungalow – excited and a little scared.

Justus, the sellers' attorney, the sellers, the Realtor, Brenda and Jax read over the paperwork to make sure everything was right.

Everything was silent for a while, then Jax put down the papers and smiled at Brenda. She beamed back at him.

“Justus?” Jax asked.

“Everything is set,” Justus replied. “Go ahead and sign your life away.”

Jax and Brenda laughed as they signed the forms, followed by the sellers and the attorneys. Everyone shook hands.

“I hope your memories there are as happy as ours,” said one of the sellers, a daughter of the farmer who'd owned the land before he died.

“Thank you,” Jax said. “For everything.”

The sellers and their attorney left.

“Thanks, Justus,” Jax said, shaking Justus' hand. “You helped make a dream come true for us today.”

“It's nice to do that sort of thing,” Justus said. “A good break from corporate law or dealing with scumbag slumlords.”

Brenda turned to Jax.

“Can we go there now? Please?” she asked.

“Definitely!” Jax said. “The architect is meeting us there in an hour.”

“You two aren't wasting any time,” Justus said.

“We've been waiting for this for long enough,” Brenda said. “I want to get everything moving.”

* * *

Lois and Brooke Lynn started at opposite ends of the rack, working towards the middle. One was too girly. One was too purple.

“What about this, Mom?” Brooke asked, holding up a red halter dress with a plunging neckline.

“Like your father would let you on stage in that?” Lois replied. “That's a bit too much for you.”

Brooke suppressed a sigh over being seen as just a kid.

“Here's one!” she said. It was a simple one-shouldered, figure-skimming gown in black matte fabric, with crystal and silver beading flowing about six inches down from the top of the shoulder.

“That's nice,” Lois said, nodding. “See if it comes in another color. Remember, Lucy said no black. The Nurses' Ball is about hope and the fight, not mourning.”

Brooke checked with the saleslady. No dice – it only came in black.

“Rats,” Brooke said.

“Set it aside, anyway,” Lois said. “It'd be a great dress for another occasion.”

“Wow!” Brooke said. “Thanks, Mom!”

Brooke then pulled out a strapless number in chartreuse, with a low sweetheart neck and lots of bodice beading.

“Oh, my gosh!” Brooke said, laughing.

“Ugh!” Lois said, joining in the laughter. “Alexis Carrington called, she wants her dress back!”

Brooke put it back with a grin. Then ...

“Mom?” she said, holding out the next dress she found. Lois smiled.

The dress was a high-necked halter in shimmery silver satin. Matching silver beading went around the collar and the waist. The skirt was figure-skimming at the top, but gored a bit at the bottom for a swishy effect when walking.

“Try it on!” Lois said.

Brooke slowly turned in front of the dressing room mirror. The back was low, but not too low. She looked ... grown-up. Sophisticated. Elegant. She could wear her hair up, or straight and flowing.

Lois' smile wobbled a bit. It seemed like just yesterday when her little Brookie was in Garanimals. Now, she could see her daughter was shooting towards womanhood like a comet. She was proud, and a little bit sad.

“You look like a star,” Lois said. That was all Brooke needed to hear.

“What about shoes?” the saleslady asked.

“Nothing with a very high heel,” Brooke said. “I don't want to risk tripping.”

“A pretty kitten heel sandal would be perfect, then,” the saleslady said. “We have one with some silvery beading across the front that would peep out from under the dress.”

“I like that!” Brooke said. She then submitted to the fitting for both the silver dress and the black one. They'd be finished in a little over a week.

“Thanks, Mom,” Brooke said as they left. “Not just for those great dresses, but for understanding.”

Lois hugged Brooke's shoulders with one arm.

“You're welcome, sweetie,” she said.

* * *

Carly and her father sat at the table in his apartment in a downtown high-rise. John had made lunch for them both – pastrami and mustard on rye for him, turkey and pickles on wheat for her. He had a surprise for dessert – chocolate cake.

“Judging by your face, it wasn't a good morning at Casa Quartermaine,” John noted.

Carly made a face as she chewed and swallowed. She told him about this morning's scene, and what had happened on Wednesday.

“He used Michael to get to AJ,” Carly said. “I won't stand for that.”

John knew the situation at the Quartermaines' was combustible, and that Carly's impulsiveness and manipulations could help set things off.

“Be careful, Carly,” he said. “Think about AJ right now and don't make things worse for him. This is a delicate situation. See how Alan and Monica handle things, and how Jason responds, and go from there. Keep control of yourself, and you've got a chance of keeping everything else under control.”

“Mom warned me about 'manipulating things,'” Carly said. “But I have to protect AJ and the boys. And if that means making nice with Jason, I'll do it.”

John paused to suck a bit of mustard off his thumb.

“She's right in a way,” John said. “You can't go too far. But if you have an advantage that will protect your family, I say, use it. Just don't do anything to deliberately hurt Jason. That would only backfire. And think twice before you say or do anything. When you act on impulse is when you get into trouble.”

Carly nodded. She knew her dad was right. It was up to her to protect AJ, since Alan and Monica were still so blind when it came to Jason. She had to play this right.

“Thanks for understanding, Dad,” she said. “It kind of surprises me, though, with your law-and-order ways.”

“I didn't get where I was by being nice and laying down for everyone,” John said. “I had to play the game from the minute I started college. I made myself over from a poor white 'cracker' into a polished professional. I learned who could help me, and how to curry favor without it being obvious. But I always kept my ethics – I never deliberately stepped on or hurt anyone. Not just because I had to live with myself, but because I knew that making enemies would serve me no good. It comes back to bite you in the butt, usually when you can least afford it. Making friends and allies is where the money is – it's how I was able to come here in the first place. And it's how I have the power to keep the FBI guys here in check. Catch your fly with honey, Carly. Save the vinegar for when it's really needed.”

John got up and went to the fridge. He returned bearing the chocolate cake. Carly grinned like a kid at a birthday party.

“So, what's going on with you?” Carly asked, licking a crumb off her lips. “All work and no play isn't good, Dad.”

“It's all I have going on right now, Kiddo,” he said with a grin. “This is for your ears only, but we're dealing with a gang problem that we have to nip now before the mob tries to worm its way back into town. Working with the FBI and the local cops is taking up a lot of my time.”

“The mob?!” Carly gasped. The old fear came rushing back, with an image of a glowering Sonny Corinthos.

“Relax, Honey,” John said, seeing her face. “As I said, we're stopping it now before the mob can get any kind of foothold. I won't let scum like Corinthos was terrorize this town again. We've got a bead on them, and everyone's working together. It's not like it was before. We've got a good network of informants, and we'll squash this.”

Carly beamed with pride. She'd been ashamed of her adoptive parents growing up, unfairly so in some ways. Her adoptive father had long ago run off with another woman, and her adoptive mother had died the night Carly's connection to Bobbie was revealed. She'd long forgiven Virginia Benson any shortcomings, and hoped that somewhere, Virginia forgave her. She'd often wondered about her birth parents growing up, and was thrilled they were people she could point to with pride – Bobbie had pulled herself out of the gutter and become a respected nurse, and John was a highly-regarded prosecutor.

She'd harbored a dream ever since John came back to town that her mother and father would reunite someday. But John never made a move in that direction, and now Bobbie was dating Jerry Jacks. Carly wondered privately how much of Bobbie's new relationship was secretly hoping to make John jealous.

“I was kind of surprised to see Mom take up with Jax's brother,” Carly said.

“Your mother's entitled to some fun,” John said. “From what she's told me, her marriages were all about settling down, and making a family. Sounds like she's going against type here.”

“Not really,” Carly said thoughtfully. “Mom's always had a jonesing for bad boys. First it was Roy DeLuca, then Noah Drake. And D.L. Brock turned out to be the worst of the lot – a batterer. Later on, it was Damien Smith and Stefan Cassadine. Each one of those relationships ended badly, and left her really hurt. Jerry Jacks has a reputation as a real playboy, even more than Jax was before Brenda. I have to wonder what her motivation is here.”

“Maybe, like I said, just have some fun,” John said. “They've gone out on some dates, it's not like they're picking out china patterns.”

“No,” Carly said. “But how do you feel about it, Dad? After everything you and Mom have been through ...”

“That was a long time ago, Carly,” John replied. “In many ways, your mother and I aren't the same people we were all those years ago. People grow, and change. We've both put our past behind us in a lot of ways.”

Carly wasn't buying John's evasion.

“You've had lots of opportunities to date since you came to Port Charles,” she said. “You never did. And you and Mom get along great. I'm sure she was waiting for you to make a move. Why didn't you?”

John felt himself slipping into dangerous waters.

“Because I'm not sure how I feel,” he said. “Your mother is wonderful. She has the same vivacity and passion for life that made me fall in love with her all those years ago. But I don't know if that's enough. I think we both need more than just an old flame.”

“But what are you going to do now, Dad?” Carly asked. “You never gave it a chance, and if you don't do something soon, you may never get another chance.”

“I'm not going to do anything right now,” John said. “I'm not sure how I feel, and I don't think I should interfere with your mom's life unless I have something more concrete to offer. That's all there is to say on the matter, Carly, and I expect what's said here to stay here.”

Carly agreed, although in her head she was already planning how to steer her mother away from Jerry and back towards where she belonged – with John.

* * *

Jason got out of his rescue squad classes that afternoon and wondered what to do.

He wasn't in the mood for going home after this morning's scene. He'd heard the displeasure in his mother's voice when she called after him, and didn't want to deal with that yet. And Carly might need time to calm down.

Going through his wallet, looking for a dollar bill to buy a soda, Jason came across Kevin Collins' card. He took it out, and called Kevin on the cell phone he'd gotten soon after coming home.

Fortunately, Kevin was home. His afternoon and evening were free, as Lucy was working at the Haunted Star.

“Come on over, Jason,” Kevin said. “You know where the old lighthouse is, right? That's where we are.”

* * *

Brenda and Jax spent several hours walking their new land with the architect, a woman with a New York City firm that Jax knew well. She had designed some homes on the Hamptons and in the Hudson Valley that he'd admired.

Jax and Brenda gave her their wish list, showing her where they wanted the house to be, and the views they wanted. The architect said, since Jax had signed with the firm stipulating they would be her sole clients while she was working on the project, she could draw up preliminary plans in a week or two, then, after Jax and Brenda made any changes, she'd go ahead and make more detailed plans. After that, they'd be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission for approval. Then work could begin.

After the architect left, Jax went to the car and pulled a picnic blanket, a basket and a cooler from the trunk. He spread the blanket next to a small grove of trees, where a small hill hid them from view. After he and Brenda sat down, he pulled out a bottle of champagne from the cooler, along with chocolate-covered strawberries. Two champagne flutes, and napkins, were in the basket.

“To our future home,” Jax said, clinking his glass with Brenda's.

“To our future,” Brenda said, smiling into his eyes.

After draining the glass, Brenda curled up in his arms. She leaned against his chest. Jax kissed her hair, then moved down to her ears and neck. His hands slowly unbuttoned her blouse, reaching under as he unbuttoned. Her breath came quickly. He softly pulled off her blouse. Brenda lay back on the blanket, pulling Jax onto her. They lay there kissing and caressing, slowly undressing, and came together. Jax made love to her slowly, thrilling as her passion built. They moved faster, gasping and groaning, until Brenda threw her head back and let out a soft, moaning cry as she reached her peak. Jax soon followed.

After they dressed, they lounged on the blanket together, drinking more champagne and eating the strawberries.

“I guess we've broken the place in,” Jax teased.

“I say we keep this place untouched,” Brenda said. “It'll be our secret place, where we can go to be together like this whenever we want.”

“Then we'll do that, love,” Jax said.

Just then, his cell phone rang. He checked the number before picking up. It was their adoption agent.

“Hello?” he said. Brenda, who hadn't seen the number, was startled to see Jax jump to his feet.

“Are you sure?” he asked, then listened for a few minutes. “Okay, we can be there whenever you say. All right. See you then.”

He smiled down into Brenda's quizzical face.

“That was the adoption agent,” Jax said. “He thinks he has a child for us. He said to come on Monday to find out all about it.”

Brenda stared, then burst into tears.

“It's happening!” she said. “It's really happening!”

* * *

Stefan Cassadine and his sister, Alexis Davis, sat on the couch in Stefan's apartment.

“Oh, God,” Alexis said, with a groan of despair.

They were looking at a European celebrity gossip magazine, sent to Stefan by a Cassadine International executive in their Paris office. On the front cover was a headline, Cassadine Prince Caught With His Pants Down! The spread inside showed just how true the headline was.

It was even more salacious than Stefan had dreaded. The story breathlessly told of Emily and Nikolas' affair, and the disastrous reveal of it at the Quartermaine party. Old Quartermaine and Cassadine scandals were referred to. But the pictures were what made Stefan and Alexis shudder.

The Cassadine island was private, but it was also near a waterway favored by the rich and famous residents of nearby islands to get to the open sea. A luxury yacht going by far away would not have attracted attention. And, apparently, Nikolas and Emily were so wrapped up in each other, they never noticed the yacht that slowly cruised by several times, a huge telephoto lens attached to a camera manned by someone on the boat.

Pictures showed them frolicking on the beach, lounging and kissing. There were also several showing Nikolas and Emily making love – on the beach, on the dock, on the small speedboat anchored there. Only a black bar across the crotch area kept the pictures from being pornographic.

Alexis put her hands over her eyes, and looked away. Stefan closed the magazine and sighed.

“This is bad,” Alexis said.

“Understatement of the year,” Stefan replied dryly.

“The board is going to be up in arms,” Alexis said, shaking her head. “Nikolas going away with no notice was upsetting enough, then the Nurses' Ball rumors, now this. They're going to hammer him when he comes home.”

“I don't give a damn about the board,” Stefan said. “Let Nikolas take his lumps – he's earned them. Maybe he'll finally grow up and realize what he's done. My concern is with the Quartermaines – they're going to be humiliated. Fortunately, this rag isn't circulated much in the States, so maybe Zander can be spared this. Are you going to tell him?”

“I don't know,” Alexis said. “I'll talk it over with Cameron and see what he thinks. Zander's been doing better – he's going to school, and is involved in the Nurses' Ball. His friends have really come through, being there for him. I don't want to upset him if I don't have to. But we should warn Alan and Monica.”

Stefan nodded.

“Let's go over there now,” he said. “Get it over with.”

* * *

Despite the ugly scene that morning, AJ and Michael had fun at the lacrosse game. Michael was in his element, chattering up a storm about players, statistics and strategies. He was even able to get some autographs.

AJ was even able to forget the morning's nastiness, and his troubles with Jason, watching his son enjoy himself so much.

It came back on the ride home.

“Dad,” Michael said from the back seat. “Why does everyone think Uncle Jason is so great? He's been nothing but a jerk lately.”

AJ was silent for a few moments.

“No one is perfect, Michael,” AJ said. “I think, because he was in the coma for so long, everyone forgot that he was just a good guy, not a saint. He has his faults, like everyone else. And he's pretty mad at me right now, and he has every reason to be. I took away nine years of his life. He should be a surgeon right now, maybe married with kids of his own. Instead, he's got to make a whole new life for himself. He's probably scared as well as mad, trying to do that.”

“But if he knows what drinking did to him, why would he say something like he did this morning?”

“He was trying to hurt me,” AJ replied. “He was wrong to try to get to me through you, and he probably regrets it already. Your grandparents will have a talk with him tonight about it. He can be mad at me, but we won't let you, or Morgan, or your mom be dragged into the middle of it.”

Michael looked out the window for a while. Then he spoke up again.

“Do you think he'll ever forgive you?”

“I don't know, Michael. I hope so.”

* * *

Alan and Monica were sitting in the parlor, drinking tea. Monica was just back from a morning surgery.

“So it went well?” Alan asked.

“Better than I'd hoped,” Monica said. “Mr. Calabro should make as close to a full recovery as someone in his condition could hope to make. He'd already made positive changes in his life before the heart attack, so if he keeps it up, he has a lot of healthy years ahead of him.”

Alice walked into the parlor.

“Mr. Cassadine and Ms. Davis to see you, Doctors,” she said.

“Send them in, Alice,” Alan said. Stefan and Alexis entered the parlor, where they were greeted warmly. Alan saw by their faces that something was wrong.

“What is it?” he asked. “Are Emily and Nikolas all right? Have you heard from them?”

Stefan and Alexis looked at each other. Stefan took the lead.

“No, we haven't heard from them,” he said. “But something has happened, and I think you should know about it.”

Everyone sat down. Monica reached for Alan's hand.

“We received a copy of a European gossip rag today,” Stefan said. “They're all over the story of Emily and Nikolas. They even went on the water near the island to get pictures.”

“Oh, God,” Monica said. “How bad is it?”

“Pretty bad,” Alexis said. “The vultures picked every bit of scandal they could from it.”

“Let me see it,” Alan said.

“I didn't bring it,” Stefan said. “I'm sorry, Alan, but there are some things a parent should not see their daughter doing. Let me at least spare you that.”

Alan's face went gray. “They took pictures of Emily and Nikolas ...”

“Yes,” Alexis said grimly. “They were out on the beach, and the dock, it was an easy shot to get. The magazine had to put little black bars on the pictures to get it past pornography laws.”

Monica put her hands to her flaming face.

“I can't believe it!” she gasped. “This is humiliating! Those pictures are probably all over the Internet by now!”

“I hadn't thought of that,” Stefan said. “I was hoping, since this piece of garbage isn't sold much in the states outside of New York, it wouldn't get up here. I guess you and Cameron will have to warn Zander about it after all, Alexis.”

Alexis was not looking forward to that. Just then, the front door opened and Michael and AJ walked in from the lacrosse game. Michael waved to everyone in the parlor and scooted upstairs to tell Carly all about his afternoon.

“Hey,” AJ said. “What's going on? Is Emily all right?”

Alan told him about the magazine. AJ flopped into a chair.

“They're just going to keep causing damage,” AJ said. “And they have no clue that they're doing it.”

Stefan stood up.

“I'm sorry to have to tell you about this,” he said. “Let's hope things calm down when they come home. I'll see you both at the hospital on Monday, Alan and Monica. Good to see you, AJ. Let's talk about the baseball plans soon.”

Alexis stood up to follow Stefan out.

“Wait,” AJ said. “Can I talk to you for a second, Alexis? It's nothing private, just something I wanted to feel you out about.”

“Sure, AJ, what is it?” Alexis asked.

“It's Morgan,” AJ said. “He was absolutely miserable after the party, missing Zander. He cried for him every day. He still misses him a lot. I was wondering, could we set up a playdate with Morgan and Kristina, where he could see Zander? I know Zander probably doesn't want to see any of the rest of us right now, so we could have Leticia bring him over. Do you think he'd be open to it sometime soon? If it's too much right now, I totally understand.”

Alexis thought for a moment.

“I'll broach it with him in the next few days and let you know,” she said. “I really don't know how he'll feel, but I can at least ask.”

“Thanks,” AJ said. “Talk to you soon.”

* * *

Jason pulled up to the lighthouse. It was painted a warm shade of white, with fresh trim in red. A modern addition was attached to it.

Kevin was waiting at the door when Jason walked up. The addition space was where Kevin and Lucy had their living space, a modern kitchen done in light cherry with a bronze and black granite countertop, and a hallway leading to the master suite, Serena's bedroom, and the staircase to the lighthouse, where Lucy had an office and Kevin had a painting studio.

After pouring Jason a Pepsi, Kevin and Jason settled in the living room.

“So, what's going on?” Kevin asked. He knew Jason wasn't the beat-around-the-bush type.

Jason told him of what happened Wednesday, when he took Michael out for ice cream and was late coming home. Then he told of the scene that morning.

“I couldn't stomach it,” Jason said. “Seeing Michael all chummy with AJ. It felt wrong. All I could think about was my dream, where I was Michael's best buddy, the person he would always turn to. But he was totally cold to me this morning. I had this urge to stick it to AJ for that, and the words were out of my mouth before I even realized what I was saying.”

Kevin was silent for a minute.

“Tell me about your dream, Jason,” he said. “The part that has to do with Michael and your relationship with him – what you did with him, what you were to him, what he was to you.”

So Jason told him everything from the beginning – how he'd let Carly have everyone believe he was Michael's father, how he'd taken care of Michael after Carly went away to get her head together, how he'd help Michael understand the mob world he was in, how he stood by Michael no matter what, how he protected Michael when they believed Michael had killed AJ.

“You're grieving for that, Jason,” Kevin said. “It's what drove you today, and what drives you to make a relationship with Michael.”

“I guess so,” Jason said, staring moodily at the area rug, a beige background with rectangles of plum, red, green, gold and brown.

“Even though it's a bunch of crap,” Kevin said. Jason's head jerked back up, his blue eyes wide.

“What do you mean?” Jason demanded.

“I mean, you were absolutely full of crap in your dream,” Kevin said. “Think about it. In your dream, you carried yourself as if you were always right and good. But you were a mob enforcer and hit man. How right and good is that? You stole Michael from his father, and lied by your silence to protect his out-of-control, destructive mother. You warped his mind and values by letting him think mobsters were good guys and cops were bad guys. You helped set him on the road to where he thought murder would solve his problems. And, when you thought he had murdered AJ, you basically threw him a party. In the cold light of day, does that sound right or good?”

Jason slumped in the chair.

“When you put it that way, no,” he said. “But it felt right then.”

“I think your dream affects you now more than you realize,” Kevin said. “It would be something fruitful for us to explore.”

Jason blinked, nodded and blinked again.

“Maybe you're right,” he said. “Something almost every day makes me think of it – something in the real world that is so different than the dream that it makes me wonder what's real and what isn't, and what in me is real and what isn't. I don't know how to react sometimes.”

Kevin nodded, and took advantage of this opportunity.

“I think we should up our sessions to twice a week,” he said. “You've got a lot to work through.”

Jason blinked, nodded and blinked again.

“Okay,” he said. “But my rescue squad classes are all day. I hate to take up your evenings.”

“Lucy's working five nights a week at the Haunted Star until Luke comes back,” Kevin said. “After he does, she works two nights a week. So why don't we say Mondays and Thursdays, 5 p.m.? That work?”

“That works,” Jason said. “Thanks, Kevin. I think I'd explode if I didn't have someone outside the family to talk to.”