PROLOGUE
December 2009:
Elizabeth
As Elizabeth approaches the docks close to her studio, she decides she has been running long enough to deserve a break and stops to sit on her favorite bench. She is breathing hard but is exhilarated. She thinks about her decision to start running again and is thankful that while focusing on her run she is able to temporarily forget about all the bad things that have happened. But, as her breathing slows and she comes down from the high a hard run usually provides, the thoughts take over again. Grams sudden death from a heart attack had devastated her but it had also shocked her into taking a hard look at her life and how she was trashing it. When she finally acknowledged that she had to make changes, if not for herself then for her sons, she found a strength of will she thought she had lost forever. The first thing she had done was to end her relationship with Lucky and her affair with Nik. Lucky had been shocked and angry when he found out she had slept with Nik and had subsequently left town with Luke saying he couldn't be around her or the boys right now. When she told Nik she didn't intend to have a relationship with him he had taken Spencer to Greece for an extended vacation at his family home. It had been a tumultuous few weeks but Steven had been her rock. Elizabeth is lonely, sad and depressed and missing his support. He has been out of town for the last two weeks heading up a group of doctors and nurses on a mission of mercy to help tsunami victims in Asia. She is thankful for Steven and his unwavering support. It was Steven who encouraged her to start painting again as a sort of therapy and in some ways it has helped. She met a fellow artist and they are slowly becoming friends, something that is in short supply these days. She is not completely comfortable with Franco but it has been nice to share the love of art with him. Elizabeth hears a motorcycle in the distance and instantly thinks of Jason. Jason, who didn't even come to her Grandmother's funeral or acknowledge her loss in any way...Jason, who is sleeping with Sam, the woman who was willing to let her son disappear, not to mention her multitude of other sins against Elizabeth and her sons… Jason who was spouting off about what a great mother Sam would make and how she wanted to spend time with Jake..... She starts to become angry with herself for even thinking about him and the things he said last time they ran in to each other. She takes a deep breath and sighs as she turns to head home to the warmth of her boys and the love they surrounds her when she is with them. She wants to tuck them in for the night before heading out to meet Franco at his new gallery. He is trying to talk her into exhibiting some of her work but she doesn't think she is ready.
Franco
Franco is waiting for Elizabeth at his studio and is trying to decide how far to take things. He is obsessed with Jason and readily admits it to himself. He sees something beautiful in violent death and channels that into his art. Jason is intimately acquainted with death and violence and that is what draws Franco to him. Franco has studied Jason for several years and thinks he is the best at what he does and considers him an "artist". He has tried to develop a relationship with Jason but Jason cuts him off at every turn and Franco is angry that he feels belittled by him. Franco has decided to teach Jason a lesson and is mulling over his options. He can't decide whether to use Sam McCall or Elizabeth Webber.
When Franco opened his gallery it was for the sole purpose of using it however necessary to further his agenda with Jason Morgan. He used it to get close to Sam and Spinelli by using their PI business for security and has since been playing with them. He used it as a way to meet Elizabeth Webber and has been "bonding" with her over art and grief. She is oblivious to the fact that he is aware of her history with Jason or how that matters to his plans.
And then there is Jake. Jason is actually the one who tipped Franco off about Jake a couple of months before. Franco had been following Jason around town, as he often did, and although amused by the fact that Jason hasn't caught on he is somewhat puzzled. In the past Jason had always appeared to be much more attuned to his surroundings but has gotten sloppy since returning from Mexico. That particular day Jason stopped by a house Franco had never seen him at before. After Jason left, Franco went inside and saw the drawing of Jason with Jake and knew immediately what it meant. He recognized the little boy from the paintings Elizabeth had on display in her studio. He had originally intended to use Sam or Spinelli to finally get Jason's attention, but began to wonder whether Elizabeth and Jake might be the key. He debated with himself whether to use Jake against Jason but decided he didn't want to take a chance on hurting a child which meant it had to be Elizabeth. He almost wishes it could be different because he has started to like Elizabeth. She is so beautiful and warm and genuinely kind. He hasn't met many people like that in his lifetime. He doesn't want to physically hurt her but isn't averse to using her. He has acknowledged to himself though that things could get out of hand. After all, that's part of the excitement.
Jason
He hasn't been to the safe house in a couple of months and doesn't really know why he stopped today. He has just returned from a 3 day out of town trip and really should have gone straight to Sonny's to report. He knows he should get rid of the drawing of him and Jake but can't seem to do it. He realizes he is thinking of Elizabeth, Jake and Cam less and less and for a split second that feels wrong. But then his next thought is that it is for the best. They don't need him to mess up their lives and he has Sam. As he stands there rubbing his throbbing head, his phone rings. It is Sonny wanting to know why he isn't at the office yet. Jason tells him he'll be right there and leaves the safe house locking the door behind him.
