Title: Second Chances

Author: Ms. Quartermaine

Summary: Written for the LJ Tracy Q. Ficathon. Tracy ends up trapped in an elevator with someone she has no interest in listening to, but with her life on the line, she might not have a choice.

CHAPTER ONE

"No one can find out about this conversation. Are we clear?" the bald and tattooed janitor said in a threatening tone.

"Very," the other man nodded.

"Good," he responded.

Nearby, Tracy Quartermaine stood at the hospital's circulation desk. She looked up for a brief moment, not expecting her eyes to meet with Manny Ruiz's.

He put on a big smile, "Good day," he told her. The janitor waved.

Um, okaaaay. She ignored him and checked the time. Oh, I'm late!

"Hold that elevator!" the acerbic businesswoman cried out as the heels of her luxurious shoes stridently tapped the floors.

"If she heard that conversation, she needs to disappear," Manny whispered. "Follow her."

Not paying attention, Tracy entered the elevator very quickly and out of breath. "Whew," she rested her head on the wall and closed her eyes for a second—

This moment of peacefulness was interrupted by an oddly quiet, yet noticeable crashing sound, followed by a sudden jolt. "What the hell?" she opened her eyes. "Ugh," she said disgustedly. "You have to be kidding me."

The man who stood in the elevator was much too familiar. Leather jacket. Gray T-shirt. And blue jeans. "Mr. Morgan," she responded in an irritated tone.

He just stared.

"I am trapped in an elevator with Jason Morgan," she managed to spit out, unenthusiastically. "Move," she ordered while reaching for the emergency telephone. "Hello!" she shouted into it? "Hello? Is anyone there!" She paused. "It's not working."

And he stared some more.

"Well," she put on a smile. "We'll just sit and wait until someone comes from us. The Charity Guild is expecting me. Someone is going to notice I'm missing. And until then, the two of us," she gestured, "will not have any association. Are we clear?"

Again, he stared.

Tracy Quartermaine decided to make herself comfortable. After removing a handkerchief from her purse, she cleaned a small area of the elevator floor, so she could have a seat. She proceeded to look to the left and then to the right while rubbing her hands together. Then, she glanced up at Jason. He stood motionlessly; his hands in his pockets. He continued to stare. Goodness. WHAT is he looking at?

She checked the time. 1:58pm. Surely, despite the incompetent maintenance staff, someone would realize the elevator wasn't working and fix it. Soon. She tapped her recently manicured nails on the ground and once again, glanced up at her brother's son.

"All right!" she shouted suddenly, standing up. Jason didn't move. "WHY…ARE… YOU…STARING?"

This time, he blinked.

"Ooh, I'm impressed," she teased. Then she turned serious, "I don't understand. Are you planning your latest victim's demise or what? What could possibly going on in that mind of yours?"

"Tracy," he said, slightly annoyed.

"He speaks…" she noted in a resonant, dragged-out voice.

And then, silence filled the elevator…again.

"This has to stop," she decided as she clapped her hands together. "Sitting here in the peace and quiet isn't going to go over too well with me."

"It isn't?"

"Nope. This is your fault, and— "

"My fault?"

"Wow, Jason!" she said incredulously, "You are capable of carrying on an actual conversation," she paused. "And yes, your fault. You shouldn't have held the elevator—"

The sharp sound of a fire alarm interrupted her.

"What the hell?" Tracy asked, pretending to more so irritated than afraid.

PREVIEW: With Jason's help, Tracy makes a startling discovery.