Sorry it's been so long! Most of my fanfic is posted at our Liason site. If you want to check it out, look on my author page, and whne you apply, let them know you've been reading beth's stories. :-)
Obviously, I don't own Jason, or I wouldn't be writing. Or any other characters, either.
As Jason was led into the courtroom, his gaze swept over those seated. Carly behind Diane, Sonny nearby. His sister Emily, seated near Lucky Spencer. Lulu and Spinelli, both looking nervous. With a nod to the police officer removing his handcuffs, he looked back up at the sound of the doors opening. Elizabeth walked in, her blue eyes meeting his, worry for him apparent in her gaze.
Carly turned to see who Jason was looking at, frowning as she saw Elizabeth. "Big surprise," she muttered, irritated that even married to Lucky, Elizabeth couldn't leave Jason alone.
Diane was quick to observe the exchange, and she hissed to Jason, "Sit down. Staring at Mrs. Spencer certainly won't help your cause."
Elizabeth looked around, and realizing that Lucky hadn't noticed her in the busy courtroom, she sat in a chair near the back, clutchng her purse nervously, knowing that this trial would seal Jason's fate.
Both lawyers had their opening statements, then Ric began calling witnesses, relentless in his goal of putting Jason Morgan away for good.
Calling "Damien Spinelli," Ric smiled as the teen approached nervously. It should be easy to frighten him into giving damaging evidence against Jason.
"You work for Jason Morgan?"
"Y-yeah, well kind of. Stone Cold is more like my-"
"Stone Cold?"
"Oh, uh Mr. Morgan. He's like, my guide through the perils of-"
Exasperated, Ric asked, "Is Jason Morgan your boss, or not? Do you recieve a paycheck from him?"
"Well, yeah. I mean, it's more like, like an allowance or something. And he makes sure I've got all my chips and stuff, that the Jackal's computer maintains it's high quality standards."
"And where do you live?"
"Oh, with Stone Cold and the Fair-" he paused, saying softly, "I mean with Stone Cold."
"Mr .Morgan?"
"Oh, right. Right."
The questioning continued, and though he tried, Ric couldn't pin the teenager down with anything to incriminate Jason with. Finally, he told the judge he had no more questions, leaving Diane to smile calmly at Spinelli as she rose to question him.
The doors opened quietly in the back, and Carly turned to see Sam walk in, pausing to give Elizabeth a cold look before sitting down nearby. Carly raised her eyebrows curiously, then turned to Sonny. "What is Sam doing here?"
He shrugged, "I don't know."
Diane wasted no time in asking Spinelli what she needed to know. "Why did you come to town, Mr. Spinelli? In everyday speech, please."
"I came for higher education. "
"And who employed you?"
"The evil-" at a sharp look from Diane, he stopped, beginning again. "Mr. Alcazar."
"Lorenzo Alcazar?"
"Yeah."
"And who was working with Mr. Alcazar at that time? Whose company did you see him in?"
Spinelli paled a little, but answered. "The- Mr. Lansing."
She smiled triumphantly. "Thank you."
Finally, Spinelli was dismissed, and he gave Jason a weak smile as he walked past, returning his seat next to Lulu.
Ric played the tape of Lorenzo saying Morgan, before the sound of a gun firing, and he and Diane mercilessly questioned the expert, finding that while the tape had been found after the dissapearance, no time was given.
Ric then called his next witness. "Samantha McCall."
"What the hll is he doing?" Carly asked Sonny furiously.
"No idea," he responded, seeing Jason stiffen at the defense table.
Sam settled into the witness chair, striking in the tight fitting square necked white shirt. She looked at Ric, wondering why he'd called her to the stand, and then over to Jason. He wasn't looking at her, instead staring straight ahead, avoiding her gaze.
She answered Ric's questions, her tone hostile. To Diane's relief, the questions were general, questioning Sam about Jason's job activities.
"So, you're saying you don't know exactly what Jason does at his job?"
"He's a partner at Corinthos Morgan Coffee."
"And his real job?"
"Jason doesn't discuss his work with anyone."
Ric frowned, then asked, "Why is it that you and Jason Morgan are no longer together?"
Jason's head snapped up, and he looked not at Sam, but back to Elizabeth. Seeing that, Sam's anger flared, and Ric smiled with satisfaction, knowing his barb had hit home.
"Because Jason kept secrets from me."
There was a murmur in the courtroom.
"About his work?"
Sam shook her head, looking at Jason, waiting for a sign, anything from him. However, he just sat there, his gaze on hers, his face impassive. "No. About his private life."
"And so you found you couldn't trust him?"
Her answer was quiet, the bitterness clear. "No, I couldn't. I never thought he would hurt me like that." Angry tears shimmered in her eyes, andshe wanted to hurt Jason like he had hurt her. To ruin Elizabeth, the woman Jason had lied for. The woman who sat in the back of the court room, a constant reminder of Sam's ruined life.
Ric smirked at Jason, then asked Sam, "And what was this secret?"
She looked defiantly at Jason. "His relationship with another woman."
"And what was this relationship?"Ric asked.
Diane shoved her chair back, standing quickly. "Objection! What relevancy does this have to this trial?"
"The questioning shows Jason Morgan's tendency of dishonesty, your honor."
Carly stood up. "This is ridiculous. Jason is the most honest man I know. And we all know what a liar Sam is."
Jason turned, his voice sharp as he told Carly to stop. The judge yelled for order. "Sit down, or I'll have you removed frommy courtroom. Mr. Lansing, I believe you've made your point with this witness. Do you have any other questions?"
Ric frowned, saying "No," and the jusge asked for Diane's cross examination.
She leaned towards Jason, telling him, "I need to do damage control here."
No." He responded tightly.
"We need to discredit Ms. McCall."
"No," He repeated. "Just get her off the stand." Well aware of how volatile Sam was, he was desperate to get her off the stand before she ruined Elizabeth's life.
Ric called Skye to testify shortly afterwards, questioning her about the last time she'd seen Lorenzo.
"So, when did you leave Mr. Alcazar downstairs?" Later, Elizabeth was called to the stand. She had heard Skye's testimony, and realized that, judging by the timeline, the only way that Jason would be free, would be if she told where he was at that time, how he had been holding their son in his arms.
Skye met his gaze, thinking back to her talk with Lo, the clock clearly showing 4:15 in the background. "I went upstairs to put my daughter Lila Rae down for a nap at 3:00."
"And you went downstairs to find it empty when?"
Skye once again remembered that day, thinking of when she went downstairs to find Jason about to leave through the patio doors, the room eerily empty. They had nodded at eachother, and Jason had silently left. "At 3:30."
As Diane stepped up towards her, she looked over at Lucky, realizing that if she helped the man she loved, she would destroy the family she was trying to salvage.
Jason sat at the defense table, watching Elizabeth, furious at Diane for calling Elizabeth as a witness after he had told her no. Elizabeth looked over at him, their eyes meeting, a wealth of meaning in their gazes. He shook his head imperceptably, trying to tell her she didn't need to do this. Elizabeth looked away, meeting Diane's sympathetic, determined gaze.
The questions started easily, but soon became more pointed. "Have you been friends with Jason Morgan for a long time?"
"Yes. We- we became friends when I was still a teenager."
"And, you've been very close since then?"
Feelig awkward, Elizabeth nodded. "Yes. Jason is someone I can always depend on. He's always- he's always been there for me when I've needed him."
Diane nodded sympathetically. "Is your friendship well known?"
Lucky frowned as Carly leaned forward, trying to figure out where the lawyer was going.
"I don't- I - probably."
Diane changed the conversation. "Where were you on May 9th?" (Sorry if Lo's shooting date is wrong. Work with me.)
"I was...in the hospital. Waiting to go home with my newborn."
"And did you have a visitor?"
Elizabeth bit her lip, her eyes meeting Lucky's. His eyes narrowed as he wondered what Diane was talking about. "Yes." she said quietly.
"And that visitor was?"
She looked at Diane, her voice low. "Jason Morgan."
A murmur went thorugh the courtroom.
"And when was that?"
"It would have been 3pm. I was waiting for my husband and my other son to come pick us up."
"And he left when?"
"Just after 3:30."
Diane smiled at her triumphantly, pleased that she had alibied Jason without telling the secret of his son. She sat down, and Ric rose, furious that Elizabeth was yet again defending Jason.
"Elizabeth, is it fair to say that Jason Morgan matters a great deal to you?"
"Yes." She watched her ex-husband approach, knowing how far Ric would go to ruin Jason.
"That when Jason was on the run last year, you hid him, nursed him back to health after a gunshot wound?"
Sonny looked startled, wondering how Ric knew, while Lucky gasped, a cold sensation filling him as he flashed back to Elizabeth reassuring him she had no idea where Jason was. Jason leaned forward, the fury on his face obvious as Diane grabbed his arm, stopping him from standing.
"Yes." She whispered, her eyes on Ric, a sense of inevitability filling her.
"Than how do we know you're not just providing someone you care deeply for with an alibi? Why would it be so important for Jason to see you at the hospital then? Why not after you were home?"
She looked over at Jason, her eyes showing her conflict, and he straightened, shaking his head to tell her not to ruin her life to save his. She then looked at Lucky, seeing his dissapointment, his hurt that she had lied to him last fall. Her heart pounding, she looked back at Jason, and he straightened, seeing the look in her eyes. She turned back to Ric. "Because Jason wanted to see his son before we left the hospital."
Excalamations could be heard in the courtroom, and Ric frowned, sure he had heard her wrong. "Excuse me."
"Jason is Jake's father."
The room exploded into a chaotic riot. The judge yelling for order as Ric stared at Liz stunned. Carly was yelling, Emily touching Lucky supportively before he stood, striding out of the courtroom. Elizabeth noticed none of this, her eyes on Jason's, staring at each other as the truth they had tried so hard to hide sent ripples through the courtroom.
Jason ignored Carly as he and Elizabeth looked at each other, as he realized that she had destroyed the life she had tried so hard to keep together, for him. Tears glistened in her eyes, luminescant pools of sadness as the chaos surrounded them.
"Enough!" The judge yelled. "I will have order in my courtroom." As the room silenced, she looked over at Ric. "Mr. Lansing?"
Ric was staring at Elizabeth, stunned. Finally, he reacted, looking at the judge, aware his case had fallen apart. It was obvious that Jason was well alibied."Your Honor?"
"Do you have any other questions for this witness?"
"I- No," He said, looking at Elizabeth, still unable to believe that the woman he had loved for so long had given birth to Jason's child. "No I don't."
The judge looked over at Diane. "No further questions, Your Honor." The thrill of victory rushed through her veins. Thanks to Mrs. Spencer, her client was virtually guaranteed his freedom.
"You may step down," the judge told Elizabeth, and she walked away from the witness stand, stopping beside the defense table to look at Jason, a wealth of meaning in their gaze, the knowledge that both their lives had changed in the courtroom that day. Elizabeth's home life destroyed, Jason finally able to publicly claim his son.
Diane cleared her throat, and Elizabeth looked away, walking up the aisle, attempting to ignore both Carly's furious look, and Sam's malevolant gaze, as well as Emily's dissapointed one.
She stepped out into the hall, leaning against the wall, her face in her hands as she sobbed quietly. Relief at Jason's coming freedom warred with the knowledge that once again, she had ripped her childrens world apart.
Sonny saw her as he stepped out, closing the door quietly behind him. Jason had asked him to watch out for Elizabeth and her boys, and he would do so, until Jason was once again free. "Elizabeth."
She looked up, her cheeks tear-stained. "Sonny, I just, I just needed-"
"Is there anywhere my driver can take you?"
She shook her head, wiping away the tears. "No, I'm fine. Thank you." She turned to walk away, stopping as he added quietly, "He'll be free because of you, Elizabeth." he paused, then added, "Anything you or your boys need, just let me know."
She nodded, then walked out the door.
Jason collected his belongings, preparing to leave the PCPD. Diane stood close by, aware that Jason, already loathed by many of the policemen, was now being disliked for his relationship with Officer Spencer's wife, as well.
As he stepped towards the hall, Carly approached, running to him for a hug before she leaned back, asking disbelievingly, "You're the baby's father?"
He sighed, running a hand through his dark golden hair. "I wanna get out of here, Carly."
"Fine. You can tell me in the car." She grabbed his hand, pulling him along towards her car.
Elizabeth let herself into the Spencer house, she had left the boys with her grandmother, knowing her confrontation with Lucky was inevitable.
He turned from the empty fireplace, facing her, his face bleak, pain and hurt etched on his features. In his hands was their wedding picture.
"Tell me you were lying." Lucky said, his voice raw. "Tell me you didn't sleep with him, that he's not Jake's father."
Tears filled her eyes as she looked at him, the man who she'd once loved so much, the man she had dreamed of a happy future with, before the drugs, before the night that changed everything for her. "I can't." she whispered. "It was only the one night."
"Why?" he asked, agonized. "Why did you sleep with him? To get back at me?"
"No! I went to him because I needed someone to talk to, because I'd seen you and Maxie in our home, and I was so hurt. And he's seen Sam and Ric, and one thing led to another." As he turned, staring out the window, she cried out, "Our marraige was done. And then before I could tell you the next day, ifound out you were in NA, and you said you couldn't do it without me. I couldn't leave you."
"You pitied me." He said quietly, the pain echoing in his voice.
"I loved you!" She cried out. "I couldn't leave you to struggle on your own. I had to try to help you, to help the boy I fell in love with so long ago."
"And Jason? When did you fall in love with him?"
"It wasn't like that, Lucky. When I thought you died, Jason is the person who made me want to live again. I've always been able to go to him. I never planned for this to happen."
"But it did. You stood here and said marriage vows with me, while you watched him, while you carried HIS child!" He threw the picture at the fireplace.
" I wanted to make a family with you. I wanted you to be happy, I wanted those nights as a family."
"You lied to me about Jake."
"How was I supposed to tell you? You got sober because of him. How did I take him from you?
"And Jason just agreed? He agreed to give up his son?"
"He didn't want to." She sighed, "But, he wanted Jake to grow up happy, and he knew you would work so hard to be a good father." She sank onto the sofa, "I shouldn't have lied to you. I know that. And I'm so sorry."
He nodded, tears in his eyes. "So am I." He walked to the door, pulling it open. "You should call Jason. He's out of jail, and he'll want to see his son." With that, he strode away, and Elizabeth curled up on the sofa, sobbing.
Carly waited until the penthouse door shut, then she spun around. "Elizabeth's baby is yours? And you've known all along? How could you keep this from me?"
He took a deep breath, seeing Spinelli sneak back upstairs out of the corner of his eye. "We decided Jake would be better off with Elizabeth and Lucky, away from the danger of my life. That Lucky would be a good father to him."
Yeah?" She scoffed. "And who through you in jail when you found "his" son? Elizabeth put you up to this, didn't she?"
"Carly," he said warningly, " I agreed. I made the choice to allow it."
"A choice Elizabeth forced, no doubt." At his sharp look, she sighed. "I want you to have a family, Jason, but with Elizabeth? Her, of all people?"
"Leave her alone, Carly. She has enough problems already."
"Because she got caught in her own lies. Whose fault was that?"
He frowned, raising an eyebrow at her, "This from you? You should be the last one talking about being caught in their own lies."
Carly humphed, knowing that Jason was right. "Fine. But you can't expect me to like it."
"I never said that. But, I expect you to leave her alone." As she opened her mouth, he snapped, "I mean it, Carly."
Elizabeth curled up in the guest bed at Grams that night, exhausted. By the time she had reached Audrey's house, her Grams had heard what happened, and was stunned, her dissapointment in Elizabeth obvious.
"Jason Morgan?" Audrey had said disbelievingly. "He's Jake's father? Do you know what kind of danger that puts Jake in?"
Sliding out of bed, Elizabeth pulled on some jeans. Maybe a walk would help calm her down.
Jason pulled up in front of the Hardy home, knowing Elizabeth and the boys were staying there for the night. It had seemed so long ago that he had stopped his motorcycle here, dropping off a young Elizabeth after her first ride on his bike. He looked up at the stars, still glimmering brightly in the sky.
Elizabeth stepped outside, enjoying the light breeze, when suddenly she froze, realizing who was at the curb. She walked forward, asking "Jason?" disbelievingly.
He turned to look at her, her curly hair loose, dressed in an old sweater and jeans. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly.
She smiled weakly, "Yeah. It's just been a long day."
"I'm glad you're out of jail."
"Yeah. Thank you." He looked at her, knowing that, once again, Elizabeth had saved his life.
"You're welcome." She sighed, looking up at the stars, reminding him again of a night long ago, a beautiful young gilr who'd grinned, carefree after a long bike ride. "I never should have asked you to give up Jake, to lie to Lucky."
He shrugged, "I agreed to it. And the truth is out now."
"Yeah. It is." She looked at him, " I know you want time with Jake, and I promise, I'll be glad to work out whatever you think is best."
He nodded, "We'll work it out." He smiled at her suddenly, surprising her. 'You used to tell me you thought best when you were riding. Still feel that way?"
She looked confused. "I don't know. I've never ridden with anyone but you."
He handed her a helmet, "Let's see if it still helps."