Stranded

Epilogue -- One Less Enemy

Day Six, later that afternoon

Taggart sat on the beach, wondering where Sonny had gone and when he was coming back. He wouldn't go as far as to say they were friends now, but he did feel a certain camaraderie with the gangster that he never thought possible. When they got back to Port Charles, if they got back, Taggart was planning on recusing himself from any case involving Sonny. He would simply tell Mac that he could no longer be impartial. He chuckled and asked himself, "like you were impartial before?" Something out on the water caught his eye. "OK, now you're really losing it Marcus." He looked harder, squinting his eyes and using his hand to block the sun. "Oh fuck! It is a boat!" He got to his feet as best he could, and hopped closer to the water on his good leg. As he waved his arms at the boat, he called out, "Corinthos! They found us!"

"There!" Jason yelled, pointing at the island off the port side. Johnny rushed over to him, "is it Sonny?" "No, it's Taggart," Jason replied, scanning the beach for any sign of Sonny. "Where is he?" he asked under his breath. "Uh, maybe Taggart…" Johnn reluctantly began.  Jason nodded his head, "maybe." He handed Johnny the binoculars and took out his gun, which he checked over, cocked, and stuck back into the waistline of his pants. "What…hey, I don't want any trouble here guys!" the boat's owner exclaimed. Johnny looked at him, "then I suggest you shut up and get us over to that island."

Meanwhile…

Sonny had gone for a long walk along the shoreline. He had felt himself slipping into a depression, and since he had nothing to smash and break, he figured some exercise might help snap him out of it. And he wanted to get away from Taggart for a while; their new 'relationship' was weirding him out. He was so used to thinking of the man as his mortal enemy, thinking of him differently was going to take some getting used to. After about thirty minutes, he turned back. As he walked, he could hear Taggart yelling in the distance. Sonny's heart soared at the thought that someone had found them, and he started running.

The boat stopped a few yards out, and Jason and Johnny jumped into the water and waded ashore. "I never thought I'd be happy to see you anger-boy!" Taggart exclaimed with a big smile on his face. Jason pulled out his gun, "you never were too bright Taggart." Taggart put his hands up, "hey, wait a minute!" "What'd you do to him, huh? Did you kill him on the boat Taggart? Did you shoot him, and dump him overboard?" "That's not what happened!" Taggart yelled. "You fucking bastard!" Jason yelled back, ready to shoot the cop in the head. "Jason! Jason!" "What Johnny?" Jason asked without looking at him. "I think you'd better take a look." Jason turned his head as Taggart yelled, "it's about time Corinthos. Your attack dog was just about to blow my head off!" Sonny smiled and yelled back, "well maybe I shouldn't stop him!" Jason closed his eyes in relief, then re-opened them and smiled at his friend. "I almost did it. I thought he killed you," he informed Sonny who had finally reached them. "Well now that would have been a real mess," Sonny replied. He looked at Jason with tears in his eyes, "I knew you wouldn't let me down man…you never have." Jason reached out and embraced him. "I never would have stopped looking for you." Sonny nodded his head as they hugged. Johnny stood by watching, feeling both relieved and a bit envious. He'd never had a friendship like the one Sonny and Jason had, and he doubted he ever would. Sonny released Jason and looked at him, "Johnny…good to see you man." He hugged his guard, catching him by surprise. "You too sir. I'm glad you're all right." "What, no hugs for me?" Taggart remarked. Jason glared at him, and Sonny laughed. "They weren't the ones stuck here with you Marcus." Taggart looked at him with surprise, "that's the first time you've ever called me that." "Really? Well, it's better than a lot of the other names I've called you, don't cha think?" Taggart laughed and reached out his hand. "Thanks Sonny…for everything." Sonny nodded his head and shook his hand, "you're welcome. Johnny, help him onto the boat will you?" Johnny did as told, and Jason and Sonny watched as they waded out. "Am I seeing things?" Jason asked; "since when are you and Taggart friends?" "Friends? Naw, not friends Jason. But maybe we don't hate each other anymore. Come on, get me home." Jason didn't reply, but went with Sonny to the boat. The men all rode in silence, and Taggart and Sonny smiled at each other knowing they were going back to a world where they now had one less enemy.

THE END