One

"As far as I know, Elizabeth found Carly in a hidden room in her house. Ric was holding her there." Sonny paused and listened to something spoken to him through the small phone poised at his ear. He nodded his head. "Yeah, they're at the hospital; I'm on my way there now."

Sonny paused again to listen, and then agreed with whatever it was that he heard. "Alright, I'll meet you there."

He pressed the end button on his cell phone and managed the rest of the drive to the hospital in silence. When he arrived, a tall blond man was waiting there for him.

"Jason," he said, nodding his head in recognition. "Where's Carly?" Sonny immediately questioned.

"She's in room 401 in the intensive care unit. Elizabeth is just down the hallway from her," was Jason's reply.

"Is she…can I go see her?" Sonny asked.

"Uh, yeah…yeah, she's stable. Alan says the baby's alright, and that they should both make a full recovery."

Jason knew Sonny well enough to know the questions his friend had, and he answered them without the words ever spoken. That was the way it had always been since the day the two had begun working together.

Sonny left to go see Carly. Jason, however, appeared to be rooted in place.

His mother, Doctor Monica Quartermaine, approached him with the information he had been waiting to hear since Sonny had called him with the news that Elizabeth had found Carly.

"Elizabeth's condition is stable for now, Jason, however, she's unconscious. I'm assuming you're going to go sit with her, and so I would advise you not to do anything that would disturb her for the time being," Monica paused briefly before continuing. "She's been through a lot."

Jason nodded his head slowly. "I, uh…" He cleared his throat. "What was…what happened to her when she found Carly?"

Monica seemed uncertain as to how to answer his question, but the proceeded to tell him that someone had been poisoning her for months.

"Do you know what she was being poisoned with?" Jason asked.

"Some preliminary tests have been performed. We should know in a couple of days. Now, I have a lot that I have to get to right now, but don't hesitate to come to me if you need anything." She looked almost hopeful.

Jason thanked her and went to see Elizabeth. He passed Carly's room on the way there and saw that she was awake and talking to Sonny. He was glad that she was going to be alright, but the feeling of relief darkened when he remember that Elizabeth had not been as lucky, and was, at that very moment, lying in a hospital bed because someone had been poisoning her. He hated seeing her hurt, and dreaded walking into Elizabeth's room only to see her looking pale and weak.

He opened her door and was surprised to see that she wasn't asleep at all, as Monica had described. Her blue eyes were wide open and fixed upon him.

"I was hoping you would come visit me." She smiled weakly at him. "You wouldn't believe how lonely it can be when you've destroyed all of your past friendships to be with a man who kidnaps people to get revenge. Jason, I am so sorry that I didn't listen to you before about Ric. I was so –"

He stopped her there. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Elizabeth."

"I defended him, Jason. I hurt you in the process. Don't you see anything wrong with that?"

Jason sighed and sat down in the chair beside the bed. "Elizabeth, you defended Ric because he let you believe that eh was something he wasn't. Everything that's happened…it's because of Ric, not you," he said forcefully.

"I know, it's just…for months you warned me, but I refused to listen to you. I was so adamant in my defense of Ric that I was too distracted to pay attention to all of the warning signs he was giving me."

"Maybe; but Ric fooled Sonny, too. Ric is smart, and he knows exactly what to say to keep people in the dark," Jason reasoned.

Elizabeth gave him a weak smile and asked him how Carly was doing.

"She's alright; the baby's alright. Alan and Monica agree that they're both going to make a full recovery."

"That's really good. I'm glad they're both going to be okay," Elizabeth said. "What about me? Is there any word on why I collapsed?" she asked.

Jason became serious then.

"Jason?" Elizabeth prodded.

"Monica says that someone has been poisoning you," he told her.

"Poisoned? Is this like food poisoning, or…or what?" Elizabeth asked, shocked.

"The doctors aren't sure yet. They've done some tests, but the results won't be ready for a couple of days," he answered.

"Okay, so, someone poisoned me - probably my fiancé. He did it, didn't he?"

"I don't know if he did or not."

Elizabeth sighed. "Where's Ric now?"

The door opened before Jason could give her an answer, and Sonny walked inside the room. When he realized that Jason was already in the room, he stopped.

"I can come back later," Sonny told them.

"No, its fine. I should probably go see Carly, now that she's back," Jason replied. Turning to Elizabeth, he said quietly, "you don't need to worry about Ric anymore. He won't be allowed anywhere near you."

She believed him. "Thank you, Jason, for everything."

Jason nodded and left the room.

"Do you mind if I sit down?" Sonny asked.

"Not at all," she replied.

Sonny sat down in the chair that Jason occupied only a few moments before.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Never mind that right now. I feel fine. I need to apologize to you for not realizing the truth about Ric, or noticing that he held your wife prisoner in my house. Sonny, I am so sorry. When I think that I almost married that man, I feel sick to my stomach."

"Then we'll call it even," Sonny began.

"What do you mean 'even'?" Elizabeth asked, trying to sit up.

Sonny stopped her. "Easy, Elizabeth, you've been through a lot. Jason wouldn't be very happy with me if I let you tire yourself out now."

"I really don't think Jason cares about what happens to me right now. At least he shouldn't after everything that happened with Ric and Carly. Besides, isn't he engaged to your sister?"

Sonny smiled at her. "Listen, Elizabeth. I love my sister. She's family, and that's the most important thing in the world to me. Jason has always had somewhat of a soft spot for you, so believe me when I tell you this: he cares about his family as much as I do. You were his family once, and he cares about you."

"I wish I could believe that now, but after everything, I just…" she broke off with a small sigh.

"Well, if I can't convince you of that, then I'll just have to settle for thanking you for finding my wife. It means a lot to me and Michael…and to Jason," Sonny said.

"You're welcome, Sonny. I only regret not finding Carly sooner," Elizabeth told him.

He nodded. "I'll let you get some rest."

A small smile was her only reply.

It didn't take long for Elizabeth to fall asleep after Sonny left the room. Jason watched her sleeping through the window into her room until Sonny approached him in the hallway sometime later.

"How are you holding up?" Sonny asked him.

"I'm fine," he answered, turning around. "I was thinking that as soon as Carly is well enough, we should send her, along with Michael and Courtney, to the island."

I agree with you. Ric is liable to try to take Carly again when he realizes she's gone. I want my family kept safe from him," Sonny said. "What about Elizabeth?"

"I figured we would assign a couple of guards to protect her if she needs it, and I'll keep an eye on her, too," Jason replied. In truth, he wanted to make sure for himself that Ric stayed away from her, and he couldn't do that if she was away at the island.

"Where is she staying once she's released?"

"I'm not sure," Jason answered. "Probably with Audrey, her grandmother, but if not, I'll tell her she's welcome to take the spare bedroom in my penthouse until she can find a place to stay," he said.

A couple of days later, Carly's doctors deemed her fit for discharge from the hospital. Sonny decided that it was the best time to broach the subject of a trip to the island.

"No! Absolutely not, Sonny; I won't go!"

"Carly, please, it will only be for a few days. Just until we find Ric, and ensure he will be staying away from you and the baby. I promise you it won't be for long," Sonny pleaded with her.

"I don't understand why you can't just assign some more guards to us?" Carly asked, turning to glare at a passing nurse. The young girl flinched under her gaze and walked more quickly past the quarrelling couple. Carly turned her attention back to her husband.

"You've made it a habit of losing the guards," Sonny answered. "I just need to know that my family is safe, Carly. I won't allow you to be in danger again. I can't," he told her.

Carly wavered and gave in to the fear that was distinctly evident in his voice. "Alright, fine, we'll go. But you have to promise me that as soon as everything is back to normal, you'll let us come back."

"I'm only doing this because I love you, and I want you, and our family, safe," Sonny replied with relief.

"I know, Sonny. I know how important family is to you." Her eyes narrowed. "But if you think that you're going to keep us on that island until this baby is born, you had better think again. I just spent the first few months of this pregnancy away from you, and I'm not all that eager to stay away for the rest of them," Carly said sternly.

Sonny grinned at her and held out his arms to her. "Come here, Carly," he said. She frowned and walked into his embrace, allowing him to hold her. Sonny held her tightly against him.

"Promise me we'll only be gone for a few days."

"I promise you'll only have to stay at the island until its safe for you to come home," Sonny allowed.

Across town, Courtney Mathews had just agreed to a trip to the island herself, with her sister-in-law and nephew.

"I'm going to miss you so much," Courtney told Jason.

"Me, too. But, you know, you'll only be gone for a week at the most. Before you know it, you'll be back," Jason replied.

Courtney smiled at him. "I love you, you know."

"Take care of Carly for me," Jason asked before kissing her goodbye.

"I will. See you in a couple of days."

With that, Courtney turned away from him and left the penthouse. She had a plane waiting for her.

"Bye," Jason said just as the sound of the door clicking shut resonated throughout the penthouse around him.

He sighed. After a few moments of standing in the middle of the penthouse, Jason grabbed his jacket and left to go see Elizabeth. Today she would be released with a clean bill of health, and he had agreed to pick her up from the hospital.

When he arrived at the Port Charles General Hospital, a nurse directed him to the cancer ward. Apparently, Elizabeth had been visiting Jason's younger sister, Emily, who was also Elizabeth's best friend. Diagnosed with breast cancer, Emily was currently at General Hospital receiving treatment.

"Are you ready to go home?" Jason asked Elizabeth when he finally found her.

"Home?" Emily asked curiously. "You told me you were staying with Audrey, not Jason," she said accusingly.

"I am staying with Gram. Jason's only giving me a ride there since Gram's working for the next few hours."

"You can come to the penthouse instead, so you don't have to wait alone. I can bring you to her house when she's finished work," Jason offered.

Emily gave him a strange look from behind her friend's back, but Jason ignored her.

Elizabeth didn't notice a thing. "No, that's alright. I'm just going to relax anyway; I'll be fine on my own, but thank you for offering, Jason." She smiled appreciatively.

"The sooner I'm home, the better. Em, would you mind terribly if we left now?"

Emily made a motion to shoo them both out of the room. "Get out of her before I change my mind," she said with a weak laugh. "I should probably get some rest, too, while Nikolas isn't hovering over me."

Elizabeth smiled. "Oh, I'm sure he'll be back soon," she said laughingly.

Nikolas was Emily's fiancéé, and he was notorious for making sure Emily was never in any discomfort to the best of his ability. This sometimes entailed his well-meaning, but constant, presence in her hospital room.

"Tell him I said hello, and I'm sorry I missed him."

Jason held the door open for her, and Elizabeth gave her friend a small wave before leaving the room, Jason smiled at his sister and followed Elizabeth out into the hallway.

When they reached the underground parking garage, Elizabeth stopped short, and looked around. Jason almost walked right into her. Squinting in the dimly lit lot, Elizabeth asked where his motorcycle was.

"I decided to bring the car instead. The bike might be a little too much excitement for you right now."

Elizabeth pretended to pout. "I could have handled it."

Jason looked down at her thoughtfully. "I don't doubt that you could have," he replied, treating her to a rare smile.

He opened the car door for her, and, once inside himself, he asked how long she was planning to stay at her grandmother's home.

Elizabeth shrugged. "I don't want to impose on her for too long. I know she says she doesn't mind, but I'm only going to stay until I can find a more permanent place to stay."

This didn't surprise Jason. "You know, if you want it, the spare bedroom in my penthouse is always available. Courtney is away at the island with Carly and Michael -" he trailed off. Elizabeth was already shaking her head.

"I don't think that's such a good idea right now, Jason," she said quietly.

He didn't argue with her; he half agreed with her. Jason found he didn't like the silence in the car as he pulled the vehicle up to Audrey's home. "I assigned a couple of guards to you, just in case Ric tries to make any contact."

Elizabeth thanked him awkwardly, saying that it probably wasn't necessary.

He nodded. She waited for him to say something, unable to think of anything to talk about herself.

He took a deep breath. "Well, you know where to find me if you need me," he told her.

"I know, Jason, and I appreciate everything you've done for me. I don't deserve it, after everything that's happened," she said.

"This wasn't your fault, Elizabeth," he said sharply.

"Not all of it," she agreed. "But that doesn't mean I'm innocent either."

She smiled sadly at him then turned and exited the car. Jason waited for her to get inside safely, and drove away.

Later on in the evening, Elizabeth was having an inevitable conversation with her grandmother about the events of the past few months.

"I just can't believe how ignorant I was, Gram," Elizabeth confessed.

"Elizabeth…" Audrey sighed and took one of her granddaughter's hands in both of her own. "It's been my experience that these hardships we face, they have a purpose. Now we may not know the reasons for them at the time, but someday you will, I promise you. You'll know the purpose behind each of your hardships, and you'll be stronger and happier because of it."

Elizabeth nodded slightly in acknowledgement, her eyes tearing up, and Audrey continued.

"Just remember this: no matter how hard it gets, or how little you think there is to live for, Elizabeth…well, just remember you always have your family to turn to. No matter what."

"Gram?"

"Yes, what is it, love?"

"This is just a hypothetical question, but what would you do if someone you really cared about, and who never lied to you, warned you about Ric's true character, but you wouldn't believe that person because you have been blinded by Ric?" Elizabeth asked.

Audrey didn't need much time to ponder the question.

"I would do everything in my power to set things right," she answered. "Oh, Elizabeth, don't cry. Why don't you go speak to Jason?" she asked.

Elizabeth looked up in surprise, her nose already red, and her eyes swollen. "How did you know it was Jason?" she asked.

Audrey smiled. "I may be old, my dear, but I haven't lost my sight yet," she quipped.

Elizabeth laughed through her tears. "Oh, I need a tissue, or I'm going to look awful in the morning."

Audrey waved this off. "Elizabeth, you look beautiful no matter how much you cry."

"Sure, you're saying that now, but just wait until tomorrow when my eyes are so swollen they look like balloons."

Audrey smiled, and Elizabeth stood up. "You're right, Gram. I need to star working to make things right."

Audrey stood up as well. "Well, good luck then, and cry as much as you need to. I promise I'll still think you look lovely."

Elizabeth flashed a smiled. "Bye, Gram. Thanks for everything, and don't bother to wait up for me. I have a feeling this will be a long conversation."

About an hour later, Jason opened the door to cross the hallway. He needed to speak to Sonny.

Upon opening the door, however, he found almost face to face with Elizabeth. Her hand was poised to knock on the door, and he could see that she was trying desperately not to cry.

Elizabeth lifted her chin slightly, so she could see him more clearly.

"Could I…do you mind if I come in?"