Scene ~ PH 2 (Jason's sitting on the floor between the couch and the coffee table, staring at nothing. His knees are up and one hand is resting on the opposite knee, the other hand is on his cheek. He looks up as there's a knock on the door, and gets up to answer it. Who else would it be - but Carly? He stands back with his head bowed, not looking at her. She shuffles inside, looking at him with worried eyes as she passes him. Then she turns to face him as he shuts the door.)
Carly: (quietly, uncertainly) You told him?
(he doesn't answer, bue he looks upset - well, relatively, as upset as Jason will look)
Carly: How'd it go? I must be getting smarter, or something. I just suddenly realized I shouldn't be here. I didn't want you to be alone, Jase. So I... (he looks at her briefly) But that's my problem, really. And - I'm the last thing that you need right now. So, I'll think about that, (she starts for the door) next time, before I show up.
(Otherwise unmoving, Jason reaches out his arm to catch her as she goes by, stopping her from leaving. She slowly comes around in front of him. He slowly moves to her to hug her. She gets the idea and and puts her arms around him quickly. His arms envelope her and he closes his eyes, then releases a deep, relieved breath. Carly's nose is buried in his shoulder and she frowns with worried concern, one of her hands lightly patting his shoulder.)
* * * * *
(They pull back, but remain standing intimately close, and staring at each other. Carly's hand slips from his shoulder to his chest, her other at his side. His hand slides from her shoulder to her forearm, and his hands keeps hold of it. His other hand lifts to her face, caresing her cheek as he brushes her hair back. For a moment, as they gaze at each other in the absolute silence, it almost seems like they are going to kiss... But it's only for the briefest flash of a second, before Carly breaks the silence.)
Carly: So what happened when you told him she was a fed?
Jason: (purses his lips and moves away a little, looking away from her with his hands on his hips) Nothin'.
Carly: (she tilts her head and touches his chin to get him to look at her) Jason? Was he upset?
Jason: (glances at her and shrugs) It was just a, you know, a business conversation like we have all the time. I gave him the tape, I told him... what he needs to know.
Carly: Did he believe you?
Jason: Yeah, he believed me. (long pause, he looks at her, pained) He said thank you. (pause) I left. And that was it.
* * * * *
Carly: How could it have been a business conversation? Jason, you're his best friend.
Jason: What do you- What do you want me to say? I told him - everything he thought he had with Hannah was a lie. (there's a tear on her cheek) Did I enjoy telling him that the woman he loves is an FBI agent? No. Am I glad that we were right about Hannah? I wish we were wrong.
Carly: So do I. (and she actually means it!)
Jason: Sonny loved her. (his eyes flash to hers but he looks away quickly and turns half-away, then rubs his face) And I took that away from him.
Carly: No, you didn't. Jason... Jason. (he turns back to her) Hannah's a creep, man. She's the liar here, not you.
Jason: How- How could she lie to him? I mean, how can people lie, and call that love?
Carly: Haven't I taught you more than you needed to know about that?
Jason: No, see. Look. You lie. Okay? You tell big, (deep sigh) big lies. But you're always trying to save somethin'. (a corner of her mouth turns up in a tiny smile) You know it's stupid, you know it doesn't work. You know it's wrong and people get hurt. But you don't purposefully set out to destroy somebody.
Carly: Thank you. (he sits back on the couch) Okay. You know, I probably should go. So, um... (she takes a small step closer to him) Take care of you, okay? (She touches under his chin with the fingertips of both hands) Okay. (her hands drop, she looks at him a moment longer, then turns to go)
Jason: Wait- Carly?
Carly: (turns back) Yeah?
Jason: Thank you.
Carly: You're welcome.