When something happens to Jason to alter his life, the Q's band together to help him and he picks up a more than friend along the way.

A/N – This is a more Jason-centric fic, while it's definitely Liason endgame, it's also about his relationship with AJ and the Q's. I have included the Newman family from the Young and the Restless. If you are not familiar, you can look up their pictures. I'll give you what you need to know. Elizabeth has never been raped. This is about Jason Quartermaine's journey to love and healing. Liz is 24, Jason is 28, Emily is 21, and AJ is 31. You're not going to find out what happened to him for quite a while. Let me know what you think. I'll try to post MWF.

Chapter 1

AJ made his way across the room at Eli's to meet with his best friend. Elizabeth Webber had come into his world when he just didn't believe in anything or anyone and life just wasn't the same after that. For the last two years, they had been inseparable and he thanks God for her every day. She never knew the golden boy, so it was good to talk to someone with a fresh perspective that didn't discount his feelings before he could even open his mouth. While their age difference gave some people pause, the younger woman is wise beyond her years. She had been going through a tough period when they had met, juggling design school and taking care of her sick grandmother. AJ was a hot mess and practically the whole town wanted nothing to do with him. When he had started to stumble out of Jakes in a drunken haze, it was her that came to the rescue when a couple of punks tried to beat him up. Once he was sober, she listened—really heard how he felt and gave some rather sage advice. So, to pay her back for her kindness, he helped her study and take care of Audrey while he dried out. After that, everything changed for the better.

"Hey," she said standing to accept his embrace.

"How did your day go?"

Liz sighed. "It was fine."

"No, I can tell something went wrong."

"I lost a client because that damn Carly Benson seduced another married man. God, I hate her."

AJ scrunched his face. "How many is that this month?"

"Two."

"What a walking STD."

Liz shrugged. "Maybe I'm just uptight or need something to enhance the girls."

His jaw dropped. "Take that back or I'm going to start dating her and you'll be forced to see her all the time."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Try me. I'm not going to sit here and listen to you act like she has something on you when she doesn't."

"Whatever. Let's change the subject. Who lit the fire in your pants anyway? I was right in the middle of a Dawson's creek marathon."

He smirked. "God forbid that I interrupt that."

"Ha, ha."

"He's coming back."

"Who?"

"The golden boy."

"Oh." This is bad and she wonders if AJ will survive it this time.

AJ calmed a little, seeing by her solemn expression that she totally understands. "I know I'm a different person now, but he just has this way of commanding everyone's attention without even trying."

"I thought he is running the Paris office."

"He was, but something must have happened because Edward is bringing him home."

"Who told you?"

"Emily."

AJ gets along with his little sister well enough. Emily had been really busy away at college and had just come home to work for the family business, but she is a train wreck when it comes to relationships and he's totally suspect of her current beau, Logan Hayes, who is a controlling asshole. She has lost all her light, but she just won't confide in him.

Knowing where his mind had just gone, she reached out and gripped his hand. "I'm sorry. I know you think she's in trouble."

"She'll never admit it, but I think he has hit her before."

Liz swallows hard. "Why do you think that?"

"Because she had a bruise on her face one day and she lied about it."

Totally losing her appetite, she pushed her dessert aside. "What are you going to do?"

"I can't do anything but be here for her when she finally wakes up and realizes that she deserves better. You taught me that."

She nods. "Well, do you think Jason can reach her?"

He rolled his eyes. "They aren't that close anymore, so who knows." Emily is a lot younger than them, so it's not like they all hung out. With her being away at college, it had just furthered the distance. Jason had been busy at ELQ and AJ had been trying to keep his life on the rails which meant Emily had been left to flounder on her own.

"You can't let Jason ruin your sobriety."

"I know, but I tend to go crazy when it involves him."

"Why? If Edward played favorites, is that really Jason's fault?"

He shot her a look. "Love and family isn't always rational."

"That's very true, but it still doesn't make it Jason's fault."

"Whose side are you on?"

"I have your back, AJ, but I won't sit around and watch you implode. Find a way to make things work with Jason and then maybe you both can save Emily."

"I'm not sure that we can be fixed." They weren't always enemies, but a lot of damage had been done and there were many words and actions that couldn't be taken back.

"You can do anything you set your mind too."

"Just don't fall in love with him, okay?"

She grinned. "Seriously?"

"I'm dead serious. I don't think I could take it."

She squeezed his hand and tilted her head. "AJ, even if he walked into this room and all of my clothes magically fell off and he took me on every surface of this restaurant, it doesn't mean we still can't be friends."

He smirked. "Brat."

"You asked for it. I'm not Carly. I can keep my pants on around a good looking guy."

His eyes narrowed. "You think Jason is good looking?"

"Is the Pope Italian?"

And just like that, she had rendered him speechless.

"From the pictures I've seen, he's gorgeous, but if he doesn't have the personality to back it up, then looks don't matter."

"Were the clothes coming off because of his looks, it was windy, or was it like a spontaneous—" His arm is promptly smacked, making him laugh.

"I have to go draw, so just try to keep your emotions in check where Jason is concerned."

"Yes, mom."

"Shouldn't that be the other way around cause you're like fif—"

"Don't go there, Lizzie."

She giggled and then stood. "Later, Alan."

He shook his head. "Good thing I love you."

"Right back at ya, bestie."

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Jason gazed out the window of the corporate jet as the ocean kissed the sky. He had lost control and now, he's paying for it. Not only had he been blackmailed by his ogre of a grandfather, but was also forced to go to rehab for a month as well to, as Edward put it, get his shit together. There are things that he had been desperately trying to forget, but still, he isn't AJ. One drunken weekend doesn't make him an alcoholic, it just made him human.

He thumbed through the folder Edward had sent. For some reason, the man is dead set on joining forces with Victor Newman and decided he wants Jason to work with Victor's daughter Victoria for a joint perfume venture, like he gave a shit about perfume. Just thinking about it made his blood boil. The only saving grace is that he at least gets along with Victoria, but that doesn't change the fact that he will be knee deep in all the drama.

Newman Enterprises has a rivalry with Zacchara Industries who is led by Claudia Zacchara. Most people would say she's a barracuda, and he'd probably agree. While they get along, she has made no secret that she wants him in her bed and Jason had always refrained and kept it professional. To make matters worse, Victor's prodigal son, Adam, is on the outs with his father and entered a partnership with AJ, who has a contract with Claudia, just to piss him off. Jason is getting a headache just thinking about it. Maybe it's good that Edward wants to get along with Victor since it will hopefully save them some drama.

The phone rang and he pushed a button and Victoria's face popped up on the screen that is secured to the wall in front of him. She's a year or so older than him with brown long hair and big blue eyes.

"Hello."

Victoria smiled. "Hey, you on your way?"

"Yes. I was just reading the file."

"And you didn't fall asleep?"

"I almost did. What's up?"

She notes that he looks tired and a little forlorn and wonders what the hell is going on with him. When she had gotten an email of a picture of Jason passed out at some hole in the wall bar, she was shocked. The man usually is all business and very professional, caring about the company's image. While she mentally debates on asking him what is wrong, Jason beats her to the punch.

"I'm fine."

Even though she tries to fight the urge to smirk, she gives up after a minute and chuckles. "I'm glad to hear that, although I don't believe you, but I also know that you'd rather go to the dentist then talk about it, so I'll let you off the hook this time."

He slightly smiles. "Thanks."

"I figured you'd might be bored and want to brainstorm."

"Okay."

For the next two hours, they shot ideas back and forth regarding their business venture until she is interrupted due to some model emergency, leaving Jason back to his relentless thoughts.

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Edward sat across from Lila at a small corner table at the Metro Court.

"I heard that Jason will be here soon," Lila said before taking a sip of her tea.

"He fought me every step of the way, but our boy is coming home."

"And not a minute to soon, I'm really worried about him."

"Me too. I spoke to his secretary and she says he just hasn't been himself for quite a while."

Lila fussed with her napkin. "I just don't know what changed. Did she say anything else?"

"Just that he had gone on vacation for a few weeks and called in to say he'd be working from home for a while. She juggled his schedule, and three weeks after that, he returned and was withdrawn and she said he looked almost haunted."

Lila closed her eyes. She had always been very close to Jason, so when the phone calls had stopped and he never returned hers, she was beside herself and asked Edward to get involved. The pictures of him passed out sealed their alliance to help their grandson, even if he didn't want it.

"Maybe I stepped over the line about rehab, but I just felt he was heading in the wrong direction."

Her eyes narrowed. "You mean you thought he was becoming AJ?"

Edward shrugged. "Maybe that ran through my mind, but I had to do something. After our argument about his future, I thought I needed to force the issue, so, we have him for a few months. I told him if he gets his act together and makes our deal with Newman Enterprises a success, then he can have the Paris office back." It wasn't easy for him to take it away, but he did what he thought he needed to in order to get Jason off a path of destruction.

While Lila doesn't always agree with Edward's tactics, in this situation, they just don't know what they are dealing with. "Just don't push him too far. You know that he can be stubborn."

"I know."

"And I really need you to think about making things right with AJ."

Edward scoffed. "As long as he's helping the enemy, I have nothing to say to him."

"You can't punish him because he's trying to make a living."

"He teamed up with Adam Newman and now, Adam is helping Claudia."

"So, Jason can screw up and bring bad publicity to ELQ and you go out of your way to help him, but AJ, who has stayed sober and is quite successfully running a security slash computer software company, you have no time for because you don't approve of his business partner. Honestly, Edward, you drive me crazy sometimes."

"I have given AJ so many chances and he pissed them all away."

"You made him feel like he was never good enough."

Edward rolled his eyes. "I didn't coddle either one of them. You have to be tough to succeed."

She sighed. "We'll probably never agree on this, but I don't think AJ has done anything to deserve you ostracizing him. I love him as I do all my grandchildren. While I may never agree with all their choices, my love for them will never falter."

He gazed at her for a moment. "I've never claimed to be as noble as you. They are lucky to have you in their lives, as am I."

"You're trying to change the subject."

He chuckled because he never could get one past her.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Emily closed the door to her office. Her mother had just informed her that Jason is in trouble and he's coming home. While they hadn't had a lot of contact due to their busy schedules, he could always see right through her and she just couldn't have that. Her personal life is out of control and emotionally, she's thrashed. Jason is usually pretty stoic, so if he's in trouble, it must be serious.

The door swung open and Logan waltzed in.

"What's wrong?" he asked before shutting it behind him.

"Nothing."

He backed her up towards the wall. "You're lying. Haven't I told you not to lie to me?"

Tears sprang into her eyes as she braced herself for what she thought would come next. She could smell alcohol on his breath and knows he has been drinking instead of looking for a job. He had been fired from his warehouse position a few months ago and things just went downhill from there and he took all his frustrations out on her. She is so scared of him and what's he's capable of, but he's blackmailing her into staying with him, so she doesn't know what to do.

He slid his face against hers. "What are you hiding?"

"Jason is coming home."

Logan rolled his eyes. "That's it?"

He fists her hair and pulls her into a punishing kiss. "I want you. Go into the bathroom so you can accept your punishment for lying."

Having sex with him is the last thing that she wants to do, but she knows that he'll leave afterward.

Just as she pushed past him, accepting her fate, her door swung open and her secretary, who had been on an errand rushed inside. "Emily—oh, I'm sorry."

"Maybe you should knock first," Logan said gruffly.

"Sorry."

"It's okay, Mary."

The woman looks at them skeptically. She has her doubts about the relationship, but couldn't prove anything and knows that Emily will be mortified if she speaks up.

"Mr. Franklin is waiting in the lobby to see you. Here is the file."

"Thank you."

Logan sighed. "Fine, I'll go. We'll finish this later."

To Emily's relief, he left and she sank into her chair knowing that she needs to find a way to leave him before something really bad happens.

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Jason made his way through the small airport. Port Charles is the last place he wants to be, but he will do his time and then make his escape. He goes outside where Francis is waiting for him.

"Francis Corelli, you're still working for the old man?"

Francis grinned. "Yup. Hop in." He grabbed the two bags next to Jason and put them in the car. "You travel light."

"I shipped some things. They should get here tomorrow."

They got inside.

"So, anything new going on in the last few years?"

"Edward is as ornery as ever. AJ is sober and doing well for himself. Emily—let's just say her boyfriend is an asshole, and your parents and grandmother are fine. Tracy is still Tracy."

Jason smirked. "What about you?"

"I'm still head of security. I figured I'd come get you so we can catch up a bit." He had always liked and got along with Jason and after all the bad blood with AJ, he was surprised to hear that the younger man was returning.

Jason glances out the window. "Doesn't look like too much has changed."

"They are doing a lot of construction at the docks, but other than that, it's the same old place. So, what did he blackmail you with?"

Jason's gaze snaps to the front. "Why do you think he did?"

"Because you would never set foot here unless you had too."

"It's complicated."

"I'll take the hint, but know that you can always talk to me confidentially."

"Thank you, Francis."

Jason doesn't have a lot of friends and prefers it that way, but he does have a soft spot for him.

"Johnny is working for Claudia Zacchara."

Jason rolls his eyes. He's not the biggest fan of Johnny O'Brien. There were times that he put up with him because of Francis, but he mostly just wants to knock the grin off his face.

Francis chuckled. "O'Brien is an acquired taste."

"You've got that right." He hates to be teased and that is all Johnny seems to be able to do when he's around him. "So, who is this guy that Emily is seeing?"

"His name is Logan Hayes. Not only is he a hot head, but he has a serious stick up his ass. About a week ago, he showed up for an interview smelling like whisky."

"How the hell did Emily ever get involved with him?"

"They met when she was at college. Apparently, he had a trust fund and gave her lots of attention. When she finished school, he followed her here and that is where the story gets sketchy. I think they were happy for a while, but then somehow, the money went away and working for a living clearly didn't gel with him. His parents told him to take a hike and he lost his job a few months ago." Edward had ordered a complete background check on Logan when Emily started avoiding the family and acting weird.

"You think he's hurting her?"

"I'm not sure, but my instincts tell me that it's a possibility."

Jason's jaw clenched. He really hated butting into his sibling's lives, but he doesn't think he can sit back and watch Logan destroy his sister.

When Jason grows quiet, Francis glances in the rearview mirror and sees the grim expression.

"By the way, Logan is Scott Baldwin's kid."

Jason groaned. "That asshole is still the D.A.?"

"Yup. Unfortunately, he bails his son out a lot. He only found out a few months ago that Logan is his. Apparently, his mother had married some rich asshole, so Logan didn't really have a good role model. Scott told him that he's not bailing him out anymore and to get his shit together, but I don't think that will happen anytime soon."

"What a mess."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'll reach out to Emily and see how she reacts. If I find out he's hurting her, he'll be sorry he ever messed with a Quartermaine."

Jason didn't throw his name around a lot, but when he did, it stood out.

"Just be careful because Scott will arrest you. Even if he is pissed at Logan for throwing his life away, it's still his kid."

"He'll never see me coming."

Francis kept his eyes on the road. Jason can be very intense at times, but the man sitting in the back seat is wound way tighter than he ever was before and Francis can't help but wonder how it happened.