Elizabeth buys a used car to replace the clunker she is currently driving. What she doesn't know is that a bad guy has hidden something inside that he needs back. He finds the car, but what he needs is gone and he is convinced that Liz has taken it. After feeling like she's being watched, she calls her friend Emily who calls her brother Jason to help.

A/N – Alright, sorry but, life is just crazy right now so I'll only be posting MWF for the foreseeable future. I didn't get much of break since I still have to write every day, but I did manage a few days off. I'm not sure how long this one will be. Jason is 25 and Liz is 20. I played with people's ages and relationships in like I always do. You'll get necessary info as we go along. It's AU/AH.

Chapter 1

Elizabeth slipped into her new but used car with a big smile on her face. It wasn't fast, the paint job was chipped, and there was a dent in the right back door, but she didn't care. It purred like a kitten and the heater worked. That was a win-win as far as she was concerned. No more walking in the snow when her stupid old car broke down. It was Maserati to her and no one could tell her differently.

She had saved all summer for it by working as Jax's assistant. It was long hours and a bit tedious going through all the paperwork for the merger he was planning, but in the end, it had been worth it. Jax hired had her full time so she wouldn't have to wait tables. The best part was that she could still do her art, which Jax readily encouraged, since he was also owner of a gallery as well.

Carefully, she drove back to her studio and paralleled parked into a tight space. "I rock," she muttered under her breath. She was late for dinner as usual. Emily and Nikolas would be along any minute to pick her up and she still had to change. A shower just wasn't an option, so she quickly hurried upstairs and ran to her closet and picked out something nice to wear. The last few weeks had been weird. Several times she had sworn someone was following her, but when she'd turned to look, no one was there. As soon as she had pulled the top over her head, she heard the knocking. "Darn," she muttered before grabbing her jacket and pulling on her shoes, stumbling as she made her way to the door. "Coming."

She finally threw it open and found an amused Nikolas standing there.

"Ready?"

"Is that a trick question?"

Nikolas smiled. "Come on. You look fine."

"You'd say anything to get me to move faster," she said before grabbing her purse.

Nikolas walked her down to the car. It was farther down the street so they didn't have to double park. They were half way there when Liz saw someone duck behind a building across the street. "Did you see that?"

Nikolas followed her gaze. "No, what was it?"

"I don't know. Would you think I'm crazy if I told you that I think someone was following me?"

Nikolas stopped in his tracks. "For how long?"

Elizabeth knew what he was thinking. "If it was Helena, I'm sure she would have made herself known by now. She likes grand entrances and there is no way in hell she'd let anyone else take credit for her handy work."

"You've got a point." He opened the car door for her and they got inside. His grandmother had been pretty quiet lately anyway, and downright agreeable. It was starting to freak him out.

"What's wrong?" Emily asked as she studied Liz's worried expression.

"Elizabeth thinks she's being followed."

"For how long?"

Liz shrugged. "A few weeks."

"And you're just saying something now?"

"I just figured that I was being over dramatic. You know I have a big imagination."

Emily rolled her eyes and pulled out her phone. "Hey, can you meet me at Eli's in ten minutes?"

"Emily…," Jason said dramatically.

"Come on. I wouldn't call you if it wasn't important."

Jason pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine."

Carly looked up at him. "What's wrong?"

"I have to go."

"Why?"

"Emily needs me, Ms. Nosy."

Carly smirked. "Fine. Since it's Emily, I'll let you off the hook for dinner."

"I'll see you later."

She watched him leave, wondering what was going on. Jason hadn't been back in town for long and she had really missed him.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason walked into Eli's and glanced around the room, finally locating his sister in the corner. She waved and he headed back there. He wasn't surprised when he saw Elizabeth and Nikolas since the three were practically inseparable. "What's up?"

The waitress interrupted him, clearly crushing on Jason. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"A beer."

Emily rattled off his brand and the younger woman hurried away.

Elizabeth stole as many glances as she could of Jason. She didn't blame the waitress for looking, he was so handsome. The kind of gorgeous that makes your knees weak if you look at him too long. Sighing, she glanced down at her drink. Of all people, Emily had to call the source of her biggest crush, something she hadn't admitted to anyone.

"Elizabeth thinks that she's being followed."

Jason frowned. "How long?"

Liz looked up at him. She hated that question, since she already knows what the reaction will be. "Two weeks."

"And you're just saying something now?"

Emily sat back and crossed her arms across her chest as she smirked at her friend.

"I wasn't sure."

"Why do you think they are following you?"

Jason took a minute to peruse his sister's best friend. She was cute, but had always shied away from him. He wasn't sure why, but he always felt like he needed to keep his distance as a sign of respect.

"I saw a man dart behind a building tonight. Sometimes, I feel like someone is walking behind me, but when I turn no one is there. And one day, I could have sworn someone had broken into my car because things were out of place," she said as everyone raptly listened.

The waitress put Jason's beer down and then touched his arm. "Your dinner will be right up."

"I ordered you a steak," Emily said to Jason.

"Thanks." He hadn't intended on eating with them, but he figured he might as well. "I can put a guard on you," Jason said returning his gaze to Liz.

The waitress pouted and walked away when it was clear that Jason wasn't going to pay her anymore attention.

"Is that really necessary?"

Jason shrugged. "It doesn't hurt to be careful."

"Exactly," Emily added.

"Fine."

Emily started telling Jason about Lila's new foundation and before they knew it, the food had arrived.

The waitress put down another beer for Jason and when she had left, he noticed something was written on the napkin she had left and Nikolas chuckled.

Emily rolled her eyes. "She's a little forward."

Jason didn't say anything. He had no interest in the waitress. As far as he was concerned, a woman was the last thing he needed in his life right now. Most of them couldn't handle his life style and the rest were clingy and obsessive.

They ate in silence. Jason glanced at Liz and then grabbed an extra napkin and reached over and wiped her cheek, causing her to blush. "You had some sauce on your cheek."

"Jason!" someone shrieked.

"Dear God no," he said lowering his head.

"If you close your eyes, it won't make her go away," Emily quipped.

Lisa Niles was standing a few tables away with her hands on her hips.

"You don't know that," Jason said softly.

"She's still there Einstein."

Liz tried not to laugh.

"It's your fault. You shouldn't have slept with the skank."

Jason groaned. "Emily, nothing happened. I was too drunk. Do you really think I would have even been in the same room as her if I was conscious?"

Emily rolled her eyes. "God only knows. She is a blight on humanity and maybe you should think about how it felt when you realized you had stayed the night at her apartment before you drink so much again."

"Yes mom," Jason growled. Unfortunately, he had gotten drunk a few weeks ago when he first came back to town and had been stalked ever since.

Liz glanced at Nikolas who was having trouble not smiling too.

Lisa huffed and walked over to the table. "I know you heard me."

"They could hear you in Uzbekistan," Jason said exasperatedly before wiping his mouth with his napkin and throwing it down.

"Is that any way to treat the woman you love?"

Jason frowned and turned to look at her. "Are you off your medication?"

Liz started to choke on her water and Jason reached over and patted her on the back.

"Are you alright?"

She nodded as Lisa just glared at her.

Liz stood up. "I'll be right back."

Jason's eyes followed her until she reached the bathroom and then he returned his gaze to Lisa. "For the last time, we are not together. I do not want you, so stop stalking me."

She pouted. "But Jason, I love you."

Emily started laughing. "I have to give it to you Lisa, you are persistent."

Lisa glared at her. "I'll call you later after you calm down and there aren't so many haters around."

Jason's head dropped into his hands and Emily gave him a look.

"You brought this on yourself."

He rolled his eyes and then took a swig of his beer, definitely needing something stronger.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Elizabeth finished rinsing as the door swung open.

"Keep your hands off of my man."

"It doesn't seem like Jason wants to be your man," she said before tossing a paper towel into the trash can.

"He'll come around. He just doesn't realize that he loves me yet."

"You are so pathetic." She made a move to pass her and Lisa grabbed her arm. "Let go or you will be sorry."

Most people had no idea that Liz had taken boxing and grappling lessons from Alice. The maid made sure that Elizabeth and Emily could handle themselves in case some jerk tried something nefarious.

"I'm not scared of you. I know for a fact that I could kick your ass."

Elizabeth smirked. "Try me."

Jason stood. "She's been gone too long." He hurried across the restaurant and heard a scream and ran into the bathroom. "Elizabeth!"

He froze and stared at her for a minute and then glanced down at Lisa who was knocked out on the floor.

"She shouldn't have tried to punch me," Liz said crossing her arms across her chest.

Jason's smirk elicited a small smile from her.

Emily rushed into the room and then laughed when she saw Lisa sprawled out on the floor. "Come on. Just leave her there. Nikolas paid for dinner and now he's getting the car."

They left Lisa right where she was and hurried out of the restaurant before someone called the cops.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason followed them to the mansion on his motorcycle and they met up in the boathouse.

"What now?" Elizabeth asked.

"Your guard will be here any minute."

Emily wondered who Jason picked. She figured it would be OB or Francis, so when a cocky John Zacchara walked in, she was shocked.

"Elizabeth, this is John."

He smiled and held out his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Liz blushed and shook it. "Nice to meet you too."

Emily, however, was not impressed. She knew that John was a huge flirt and had seen him in action at the hospital before, so she didn't want him anywhere near Elizabeth. She glared at her brother and he looked at her blankly. "So what's the plan?"

"John will shadow Elizabeth until I can figure out who is following her."

"That's fine," Liz said.

"The pleasure is all mine."

Jason stared him down. "Focus. You are there to protect her, not hit on her."

John held his hands up. "Alright, I get it."

Elizabeth was shy so the attention she was getting was making her want to crawl under a rock. Sensing this, Jason's gaze fixed on her.

"Elizabeth, I need you to listen to what John says. I'll give you my number just in case something happens and you need to get in touch with me. Pay attention to your surroundings and the less you're out at night, the better."

"That's going to be a problem."

"Why?"

"I work late for Jax and we're in the middle of restructuring a business that he bought."

"You can't leave by yourself and if you have to be there alone, then John will have to be nearby."

"Got it."

"I'm going to have Stan monitor you via video cameras. We'll set some up if Jax doesn't already have them and we probably shouldn't meet again in public. I don't want people to know that you're familiar with me. It's for your own safety."

"Won't people know that John works for you?"

"He's new and from out of town, so no one should suspect anything."

"If someone questions you, just say he's your boyfriend," Nikolas said.

Liz and Jason stared at him.

"What?"

John grinned.

"Alright, I'll go get started and I'll be in touch. This will be our meeting place," Jason said.

Nikolas really hoped that Jason would be able to protect his friend. "John can take her home right?"

"Yeah."

"And you'll follow her when she has to go somewhere too, right?"

John nodded. "Yes." He could always drive her, but Liz looked really independent and it was probably best to let her do her normal routine.

"That's probably good in case it dies on her," Emily said.

Liz's mouth dropped open. "Do not talk about her like that. She runs good."

"If you're racing a snail," Nikolas said.

Liz put her hands on her hips. "Fine, the next time you two need a ride, you can walk."

Jason's brow furrowed. "Is your car safe?"

"I just brought it and I had a mechanic look at it. Just because it's older doesn't mean it's bad."

"I didn't say it did."

"I work on cars on the side. If she has a problem, I can fix it," John said.

Liz smiled. "See, we have it under control. My Mazdarati is safe in his hands."

Jason couldn't help it and smirked.

"What? I drive it like a Maserati."

Nikolas shook his head. "Alright, I'm out of here."

"I'll walk you to your car," Emily said as she followed him.

"John, make sure you stay close to her. I'm afraid that they will get bolder."

"I will."

Liz hurried to catch up with her friends.

"If you need any money for her car, you ask me and I'll get it," Jason said.

"Okay," John said before hustling after Liz.

When Jason started to walk past the back deck, the glass door opened and Edward motioned for him to come closer.

"Yeah."

"What are you up to?"

"Nothing."

Edward gave him a knowing look. "Well, if you need my help, I really hope that you'll ask. I know we haven't always seen eye to eye, but if this is involving Emily or Elizabeth, I will gladly help." The Quartermaines would have made great spies, all of them were really good at eavesdropping and peeking around corners.

"I will keep that in mind."

"Thanks. Lila was about to go upstairs. Do you want to say hello?"

He nodded and followed him inside and when Lila saw him, her whole face lit up.

A/N – Let me know what you think.