Harbor in a Tempest

by Leila

Hi everyone! Having read the fanfic for ages, I finally decided to give it a try. Hope you like it. Me? I like feedback! Leila

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Brenda woke up in her bedroom, which was filled with late-winter sunlight, and stretched her arms over her head. Glancing at the bedside table, she gave a little groan, pushed the covers off, and headed into the shower. When she stepped out, She glanced around her room, satisfied with its decor.

The bed was wood, with metal roses inlaid in the head and footboards. She had cushions in green and blue velvet covering the seat of the bay window, and gauzy light green curtains. In a display case against the far wall sat the most treasured objects in her life: a picture of Robin and Stone, a picture of Lois and Brooke Lynn, and then, the box which contained her memories of Jax. Crossing to it, Brenda ran her fingers over the carved flowers in the wood, before sitting on the foot of her bed. Brenda opened the box. Inside there was Jax's aboriginal charm, and a picture Robin took of their day at the beach, and the pieces of the yacht she had taken from the storage room when she had stayed with Jax briefly in the fall.

Sighing, Brenda got up, still holding the picture of herself with Jax in her hand. She kissed Jax's face and smiled, saying "Soon..."

Across town at the PC Hotel, Jax had been awake for hours. Rubbing his hand over his face, Jax admitted that he hadn't really slept. He could see her, standing so close to him he could almost feel her body against his like more than a memory. Eyes shining, smiling. She was as beautiful as ever. Brenda. The woman he knew he would love forever. He could feel himself falling backwards in time and emotion, to when things were so right between them, before Miranda and Harry and the Cave. Even thinking of it, over a year later, he could remember the terror before she was found, and looking into her eyes and knowing that something had changed forever.

Breaking free from the thoughts of the past, Jax walked to the window and looked out over Port Charles. Maybe if he just got away for awhile things would be better. Just then, the phone rang, and Jax just had a strange feeling he knew who it was. It was a kind of game he played with himself, to see how often he could guess right.

"Jax here"

"Jacks here"

"Jerry." Right as usual.

"Jax, I know we didn't part so well"

"Jerry, you gave me a pretty nasty shiner. Not well is an understatement."

"Enough with that. Jax, I'm coming to Port Charles. I'm actually about five hours away."

" And you just mention this now?!?"

"You should be grateful I called at all"

"Why are you coming Jer?"

" I can't tell you that on the phone, Jax, or I wouldn't be on my way to that backwater you call home. Why are you still there anyway? You really should have joined me in Greece. Oh, I forgot. That would take you away from what wa it I saw in the Inquisitor 'Mad Supermodel'"

"Jerry, we aren't going to discuss Brenda, and that's final. Wait a minute, did you say Inquisitor? I've got to go Jer"

"Wait a minute, Jax. How the hell am I supposed to get to your house from the airport?"

"You got yourself this far, I'm sure you'll figure it out"

Jax hung up the phone grabbed his coat and keys and went out the door.

On his way to the front of the hotel, he stopped at the newsstand, and picked up a copy of the Inquisitor. There it was " Mad Supermodel a Ticking Bomb"

His blood already boiling, Jax called for his car from the front desk phone and headed to Brenda's

Part 2

Jax drove up to Brenda's cottage, parked his silver BMW Z3, and loped up the front stairs. Before he even had a chance to knock, Brenda pulled open the door.

"Jax, I saw you drive up, I'm so glad you're here, because I've got a surprise for you and-"

"Brenda can I come in?"

Brenda noticed the serious expression on Jax's face and nodded, opening the door a little wider, and stepping aside so Jax could walk through. "What is it, Jax? And don't even bother saying its nothing, because I can tell something is wrong by the expression on your face"

"Its this Brenda" Jax held up the tabloid. " I would have rather that you not see it at all, but since I knew you would, I thought you might as well see it right away, and from me"

Brenda took the tabloid " I don't understand how anyone could do this, how can they do this without any facts or statements or anything"

" Someone did make a statement...Mac"

Locating Mac's comment, Brenda turned white, then her eyes began snapping with anger "Miss Barrett's behavior and appearance in my establishment indicate to me she is unstable, a bomb waiting to go off"

"What would make Mac say this, I know I'm not his favorite person, but still. Well, I'm not taking this laying down. I'm going to the Outback. You coming Jax?"

Jax could only nod and follow as Brenda grabbed her coat and headed out, completely stunned by the reemergence of the strong Brenda he knew and lo... enough with that thought, Jax stopped himself, and headed out.

When they arrived at the Outback, Brenda parked the car and jumped out. Jax was still in shock, from her taking charge. Brenda stalked into the Outback, clutching the tabloid. Mac was behind the bar, keeping an eye on Tess, who was visiting, again. As Brenda made a beeline towards him, with Jax not far behind, Mac knew trouble was on its way. "Mac, what exactly is the meaning of this quote? My appearance leads you to believe that I am unstable? I know you have never approved of me, or considered me a good influence on Robin, but I have never, may I repeat never, caused a scene in here due to my recent difficulties. If you ever say something like this again, I'll sue you for defamation of character. Oh, guess you always thought I was too stupid to stand up for myself, huh? Don't make that mistake again."

Jax was dumbfounded, impressed and completely confused. He had been so used to taking care of Brenda, he had forgotten how well she was learning to take care of herself. As Brenda swept by, she said "Jax, let's go." Arching a brow at her tone, Jax could only hope she wouldn't take this empowerment too far and turn bossy.

Outside, Brenda collapsed against her car door, leaning there with a dazed expression on her face. " Jax, I feel so released. I can't remember the last time I felt so strong in myself" She smiled, then laughed. " Did you see his face? Mac was completely shocked! He looked at me like I had been inhabited by space aliens, or grown a second head. Well, he better get used to it. I'm sick of being a ditz, or at least of acting like one. You ready?"

" I was beginning to wonder when I could get a word in edgewise. I kind of need to get back to the penthouse, so if we could go to your place so I can get my car, that would be great." They moved into the car, and Brenda responded as they were pulling out.

"Okay. Well I was hoping we could have lunch today, or something..."

Again she smiled in that slow way.

Jax felt his blood pressure and body temperature rise a notch. " Not today Brenda."

" I won't take no for an answer. How about tomorrow. I'll meet you at the penthouse" They had arrived at the cottage, in record time, mostly due t Brenda's semi-reckless driving

"I'll call you in the morning." Jax said, as he headed for his car. Brenda walked up to the door, trying to resist the urge to turn and look at Jax as he drove away. She failed. Walking into her cottage, Brenda removed her coat, and settled into the couch to relax.

Jax walked into the penthouse, to find Jerry leaning against the far window, smoking a cigar. "Jerry, what are you doing here? I thought you said five hours."

"So maybe I overestimated the time frame"

"You called from the PC airport, didn't you."

"Yep"

"And sent me running off to help Brenda"

"Yep"

"Why might I ask?"

"To get you out of the way for a while. Jax, I'm not here for no good reason. I think you better sit down for this..."

Jax gave his older brother a long-suffering glare and sat. "Go on"

"Someone's planning to kill you, Jax. I'm not sure who, but I will say that it's someone good. I've been doing some investigating, and the tracks are covered so well, its almost undetectable. But its there. This person is also trying to frame Mac Scorpio for it."

"Hence the article. Mac didn't say anything about Brenda did he?" "Nope. He didn't deny it, I take it?"

"No, and I wonder why?"

"That's what I'm here for, baby brother, to assist those members of the family with diminished intellects in their various pursuits"

"Good to have you back, Jerry" Jax smiled, his aquamarine eyes twinkling.

"Yea, yea, yea" But Jerry was smiling too, and with identical smiles creasing their faces, Jax and Jerry were so obviously brothers, despite the difference in their coloring. Jerry had greener eyes, almost emerald and chestnut hair.

"Where do we start?"

"With Mac"

The Jacks brothers grinned devilishly.

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