Rating: PG - 13 (M - NC17 as marked)
Disclaimer:
I own nothing related to or affiliated with Disney, ABC Daytime, or General Hospital. Characters are not mine; they are merely being borrowed.
AN:
So... mom my has the worst taste in movies ever. Seriously. What does have to do with LiLo fic you ask? Trust me I was shocked too but it does. While her taste in movies is truly awful she occasionally picks something decent. To be honest I'm not sure which is worse.
A few months ago my mom forced me into yet another movie night. Why me? I mean don't I have a sister? It's not like she's good for anything. But I digress. One of the movies was Did You Hear About the Morgans? Not my type of movie but it was the best movie of the night. Again what's this got to do with Lilo?
I'm getting there! Parts of the movie where truly cute. But as always Clio insisted LiLo would be cuter. I hate her. So here we are another new fic that I don't need but won't leave me alone. Like anyone but me is complaining.
The updates on this one might be sporadic because I'm trying to wrap up some none LiLo fic. Like you care. Right? Just breath, enjoy, and feel free to stalk me. Roomie this does not apply to you. ;)
~Kelly~
Background:
Yeah... this is one of those you get nearly squat- okay squat in the way of background. Since it mostly AU/AR toss most of GH out the window. Hopefully you don't get too lost. As always you can ask but I don't promise to answer. All you really need to know is two things. 1) Jake doesn't exist. And 2) Trust me. ;)
Sanctuary Chapter One
"No." Steven said firmly trying to get the men to leave. Why of all times did the FBI want his help now? This complication was the last thing he needed. "I'm not doing it."
"You don't have a choice Steven. We had an agreement." Jagger reminded him firmly. He didn't know why Steven was refusing. Most of the time the doctor barely blinked when he showed up at the door. It's part of what made him so valuable. However, as unusual as this was he didn't have the time to figure it out either.
"I get that and you know that I would normally never say no."
"And yet you are."
"My sister and her kid are here. I can't have- people just show up out of nowhere."
"Look it's not like I'm not asking you to take in some criminal Steven. I have an agent that was shot while undercover. He needs a place to hide and rest." Seeing the news didn't affect the doctor as much as he hoped Jagger pulled out the only card he had left to play. "It's Lorenzo."
The doctor closed his eyes knowing immediately he had to say yes. Steven owed Agent Lorenzo Alcazar his life and for him that would be reason enough. Except they were also close friends. Something everyone including Jagger was aware of. "That isn't fair."
"I know but life isn't fair," the FBI agent admitted honestly. If life were fair, he'd be home with his wife. Not in the middle of nowhere with a dying man in his car.
"Fine." he said letting out a deep sigh. "He can stay with one condition."
"I'm not agreeing to anything until I know what you want."
"Lorenzo can stay but only until he isn't critical. I can't have him here. Not now."
There was something in the doctor's behavior that made Jagger suspicious. The man was hiding something that much was obvious. "What aren't you telling me?" the agent demanded to know.
"Nothing that concerns you." Steven snapped back without much thought. After several tense and quiet moments, he asked. "Is that a no?"
"How about we agree to revisit the situation once he's well?"
"Fine." Steven agreed knowing the other man wouldn't budge. It was better than nothing anyways. "How bad is he?"
"Not dead but just barely." the agent replied honestly. He wasn't even sure how Lorenzo had survived this long. "A couple of our men found him during a raid. My guess is they wanted him alive but suffering."
"You think his cover was blown."
"Probably. I can't see any other reason for them shooting Lorenzo like that."
"Terrific." Steven mumbled his eyes drifting down the hall.
"We were careful Steven," he said answering his friend's unspoken question.
"I hope so. Let's get him settled so you can leave."
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It had taken all three men to get Lorenzo into the spare guest room. Steven was shocked at how bad his friend looked. Jagger was right about them wanting him to suffer. He must have pissed off someone good this time.
Shaking his head the doctor began to work. Taking care of bullet wound, even an infected one, was the same no matter the setting. The process of cleaning and repairing the wound was simple enough that a med student could have handled it. The IV however could be trickier. Under normal circumstances, Steven let the nurses handle this particular task. Tonight that wasn't an option. Taking a deep breath to steady his hands he inserted the small needle in the back of Lorenzo's hand. He almost smiled at how smoothly things had gone so far. Steven knew that it wouldn't last.
For a moment, he let his mind drift to the two occupants of the other guest bedroom. When his baby sister had shown up unexpectedly Steven knew he couldn't turn her away. The instinct proved to be right hours later. Now while part of him was still angry most of him was relived. That is until Jagger showed up.
He didn't want to think about Elizabeth's reaction to Lorenzo. To be more accurate he couldn't think about it. It would serve no purpose except make him even angrier. Steven knew the emotion was useless especially since he didn't have an outlet for it. What he need was to figure out a way to control the situation. Pfft. Like that was possible. This situation was a powder keg waiting to blow.
Despite Jagger's promise, he knew Lorenzo was here for a long time. He also knew it wouldn't take long for his friend to get restless. Steven couldn't image keep any of his houseguests confined to their rooms. So the real question wasn't when would them met but how to minimize the fall out.
When his friend moan Steven immediately forgot about everything but the patient in front of him. His friend almost immediately began to struggle to get up. Worried about the IV he gripped Lorenzo's left hand. The action only made the man react more. "Don't pull the IV out I'm not sure I can get it back in."
"Steven?" a ragged voice finally managed to ask.
"Yeah. Just relax man."
Lorenzo nodded not sure if that was possible after the hell he had just experienced. "I thought I was going to die," he admitted almost to himself.
"I hate to disappoint you but not today."
He wondered how he had been rescued and ended up with Steven but Lorenzo knew that could wait. For now, he was just grateful. "Not disappointed." the man said smiling slightly.
"Good to know. There are a few things we need to talk about but they can wait until your felling better."
"I feel fine."
"Right. Well as your doctor I disagree."
"What things?"
"Tomorrow." he insisted firmly. Finally, Lorenzo's eyes started to drift shut. "Get some rest and try not to die on me."
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"Shouldn't you be in bed?" Steven asked when a curly head peered around the corner. When the young boy flinched, he couldn't help the wave of frustration that swamped him. He hated knowing Cameron, one of the sweetest kids he knew, was scared. Not just of him but seemingly of every thing. It didn't help Elizabeth was in even worse shape. Steven knew his sister hadn't told him everything yet. Part of him was almost relived by the fact. Whatever hell they had been going through it was over. He would make certain of that much. Even if it meant calling a few favors in., "It's just me Cam."
"Sorwy." the four-year-old mumbled turning around.
"Don't be sorry." he said getting up from his desk. "Come here. I can't sleep either. What do you say I fix you a snack?"
"Brownies?" Cam asked a sudden mischievous smile appearing on his little face.
Steven noticed how much he looked like Elizabeth at that moment and sighed. He was screwed. He had yet to learn how to say no to Elizabeth and he knew his nephew would be the same way. "Sure why not. Just so long as we don't eat them all."
"Because mommy will be mad that we didn't share."
"Yeah." he agreed think Elizabeth would be madder about her son having brownies at one in the morning but what did he know. Two brownies and a glass of milk later Cam was half-asleep on his lap. Steven had tried more than once to put him down but the little boy refused. To complicate matters the long stressful day was starting to catch up with him. Barely holding back a yawn he said, "Okay buddy time for bed."
"Not sweepy."
"Uh huh. Well Uncle Steven is old and needs his rest," he said jokingly. Cam on the other hand didn't look amused. In fact, he looked down right scared. "What's wrong?"
"You can't 'tect us asleep."
"Cam look at me." Steven said gently raising Cam's eyes to meet his. "I promise you and mommy are safe here. No one is going to hurt either of you ever again."
"Prwomise?"
"I promise. How about a compromise?" he asked when Cam didn't look convinced. "We go get Wolfie and camp out here tonight."
"Really?"
"Really but we have to be quite because mommy's asleep." Steven said leaving out his unexpected guest. One crisis was enough for tonight.
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Elizabeth opened her eyes as the door closed. She knew Steven meant well but she wasn't up to dealing with anyone at the moment. She was still too ashamed by what had happened. She should have known better, been able to stop him something but she hadn't. It was only when her husband turned against their child did she find the strength to leave. That strength didn't last of course. It never did for her she had always been weak. Thankfully, Steven was willing to take them in.
No one knew she stilled spoke with her bother. Especially not her husband. She gave up nearly everything to make him happy. But Steven was the only family she had. Elizabeth refused to lose him. So she lied. One of the few she told him. Maybe that's why he believed her. That ignorance, she hoped, would keep them safe. At least long enough for Elizabeth to form a plan.
She didn't know what came next beyond allowing her body to heal. Elizabeth did know that Cameron had to come first. For too long that hadn't been the case. She had allowed fear and _ to rule their lives. That was something that could never happen again. Facing her little boy was hard enough without compounding her sins.
The trouble would be staying hidden from her husband. The man had connections everywhere. Add that to his power Elizabeth wasn't sure they would ever be safe. She knew he wouldn't stop looking. His pride would demand that she and Cam pay for humiliating him. No one in their town would protect them.
Most people already knew or at least suspected what was going on. A few of her friends tried to help but it didn't last. Most Elizabeth had been forced to cut out of her life. It was that or watch them ruined and she already had enough guilt for several life times. So in the end she had chosen to help make her prison. A prison she was now trying desperately to escape.