Disclaimer:

I own nothing related to or affiliated with Disney, ABC Daytime, or General Hospital. Characters are not mine; they are merely being borrowed.

Background:

This take place around the time of Jake's kidnapping. It's not the focus of the story though. Let's just say Lucky's been keeping a few secrets of his own from Elizabeth. Any questions just ask. I don't promise to answer though. LOL!

Underlying Love

Chapter One

John loved New York City. He love the sights and sounds. Living here had been his dream and now it was his reality. But what he loved most was the anonymity the city gave him. He didn't even use his real name. He hadn't in years. John, it was such a common name. He had no desire to answer questions about his past. And few people here really cared. What he didn't know was the the simple anonymous world he had spent years building was about to come crashing down.

Looking back now, John knew that it was the last day of his new life. He had met some people, you might call them his friends, for drinks. It was one of those places that had TVs everywhere. He wasn't much of a TV watcher so he ignored them for the most part. That was, until Andy brought something to his attention. "Someone took a baby. What kind of wacko does that?"

Later, John would realize that his friend had rambled on, but the man was paralyzed, staring at the screen. AMBER ALERT SIX WEEK OLD JACOB SPENCER. How in the hell was happening? How was this even possible? Something wasn't right. Port Charles wasn't home anymore but people he loved still lived there. Right now all he cared about was answers. Grabbing his keys from the tabletop stunning his friends mid-sentence.

"John, man, what's the matter with you?"

"I.. have to go. There's something I need to do." He stopped at the door, gripped the frame and inhaled sharply. Briefly considering what he was giving up...his life, his anonymity, everything he had come to cherish, he shook his head and stepped into the night air. That boy, that baby boy Spencer...he knew he had to go.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The moment Jason saw Elizabeth in the interrogation room he knew something was wrong. Very wrong. It wasn't just her tears. It seemed to Jason that something was broken inside of her. He said her name. Her voice barely a whisper, "Jake's gone," was all she could manage.

The guard tried to take Jason back to his cell when he saw Elizabeth. But he resisted. "She's upset can you just give me a few minutes?" When the guard turned to leave, Jason refocused all his attention on her.

"Jason, I am so sorry."

"Just tell me exactly what happened."

"I took the boys to the park. We were getting ready to leave so I put Jake in his stroller. Cam needed his shoes tied, so I tied them. When I turned around Jake was gone. I'm so sorry."

Jason knelt behind her chair. "I know you're upset but I need you to focus okay? Maybe you saw something..."

"That's just it I didn't. I didn't see or hear anything. One minute Jake was there the next..." She told him as she moved away. "Who does this? Who would take a baby in broad daylight with his mother right there?"

Jason didn't have an answer for her. Not one she would want to hear, anyway. He moved to stand beside her. "Look at me. I promise you I will do whatever it takes to find our son," his voice was surprisingly steady and sure. Elizabeth nodded and started to cry again. Jason felt helpless, the only thing he could do was pull her into his arms and let her cry. After a few moments they pulled apart. He hated asking her more questions, but Jason needed all the information he could get. "When did you decide to go to the park?"

"This morning. I had the afternoon off and I saw how beautiful it was out."

"When you got there did you make any stops?"

"No. We headed straight for the swings. Then Lulu and Spinelli showed up."

"Were they meeting you there?"

"No. I think they were just crossing through. Spinelli was admiring Jake, so I let him hold him. And then Sam showed up."

This got Jason full attention. What was she doing hanging around Jake? "Was she looking for you?"

"Of course not. Why would she be looking for me? She said she was taking a walk."

"Did she stay long?"

"We talked for a few minutes about the boys. Then she left. Shortly after, Spinelli and Lulu left."

"Was there anyone else around?"

"There were people all over, but nobody was paying attention to Jake."

"When, exactly, did you realize Jake was gone?"

"I just put him in the stroller while I tied Cameron's shoes. Jason, I should have been more careful."

"It's okay. You... you didn't do anything wrong." Jason said trying to reassure her.

The door opened capturing their attention.

Mac and Lainey walked in, and Jason sensed Elizabeth immediately tense, "What are you doing here?" Mac asked Jason.

"The guard brought me up to wait for my lawyer."

"We need to ask you a few more questions." Lainey said to Elizabeth.

Jason didn't even give her the chance to answer. "Forget it." He said before turning to Elizabeth. "There is no reason you should have to talk to a shrink."

"That's not your call to make. Jake Spencer is not your son." Mac told him. If he only knew. Jason thought briefly. "Who Elizabeth talks to to help find him doesn't concern you in any way."

"Elizabeth is a friend of mine. It concerns me when you're treating her like a suspect, when her own son has been kidnapped."

Jason's word pulled Elizabeth from her grief. She couldn't believe what he was saying. "You think I did something to Jake?"

Lainey ignored Elizabeth's question. Directing her words instead to Jason, "I realize you think you're trying to help but..."

"Yes or no? Do you think I would hurt my own child?" Elizabeth grew angry, cutting her off.

"What I think is that Post Partum Depression is a very serious illness."

"I am not suffering from Post Partum Depression and I did not hurt my son!" Elizabeth told them furiously.

"Everyone needs to calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down! My son has been kidnapped and you're treating me like a suspect!"

Lucky joined them in time to hear her argument,"Just take it easy."

"Do you know why Lainey's here?"

"She's just trying to help." Lucky countered.

"She thinks I did something to Jake."

"There just trying to..."

At that point Jason had had enough. What was wrong with that man? Didn't he know Elizabeth at all? "If you can't support Elizabeth, then get the hell out!"

Diane walked in, disrupting the interrogation, "Why are you people in here with my client? I want you all to leave now."

"Alright, we're going. Elizabeth, we still need to speak with you. Mac said as they left.

"No." Jason said adamantly. "You are not blaming her for this. Now get out."

Diane waited until only the three of them remained, "Would one of you like to tell me what's going on here?"