A/N: I own nothing and have no permission or authority to be borrowing these characters from Walt Disney.

Truth or Die?

Chapter One: Always last.

August 2008

Elizabeth watched as Jason finished talking to Lulu and Carly outside of Kelly's while she and the boys were getting some dinner inside. The enforcer hadn't even seen them, he had been so engrossed in whatever drama the two blonds were enacting this week. Later on, that evening as she prepared the boys for their evening with Lucky, she once again thought about what she had seen outside Kelly's. Her hands were shaking in anger as she picked up her phone and placed the necessary call.

When Lucky returned with the boys that evening, she was furious to realize that he had been over to Sam's with them. They had agreed to abide by her timeline in regards to the skank getting close to her sons and now he thought he was just going to do what he wanted. Not likely. Looks like Lucky had to be added to the list of names that she took care of tomorrow. Right after Jason, the man who was too selfish to care about his own son.

Jason listened to Elizabeth's message, his hands shaking when he listened to it for the fourth time in a matter of minutes, then erased it. He would be there, even though he knew that it was dangerous, even though he knew it could endanger his sons. But she was his flame, his center and if it was even for the few minutes it was going to take to tell her not to call anymore, he would have that. Another memory, fleeting and precious.

It killed him that the woman who was the only one he would ever truly and purely love could never be his, that his son would grow up calling Lucky Spencer daddy, that he already was starting to do so. But he didn't have a way to go back and change the mistake he had made when he chose this life all those years ago.

THE NEXT MORNING

As she entered the safe house, for the last time she made sure to take the sketch that she had done of Jason and Jake and then finally her spare bathrobe. It would join the Wind in her grandmother's act. That made her laugh, that should have been her sign. When Jason hadn't taken the Wind. When he left it saying it was something to come back to, only had never come back for it. Saying that was just words, the same placating words he always used.

Standing in the center of the bedroom, looking out the back window at the incredible scenery that Jason had told her about, she kept the tears inside. It was too late for tears and it was time to let the pain go. Jason was never going to choose her. He was never going to put her and the boys first.

Jason had double checked to make sure that no one saw him, then drove by the safe house, to another one they had down the road. Taking the hidden door out the back, he walked back to his safe place, the place where his heart was. As he entered from the kitchen, Jason automatically looked for the picture of Jake and him, when he saw it was missing his heart stopped.

Then he saw it standing next to a black bag sitting next to the closet. He had an incredible feeling of Deja ju. It reminded him of when she had moved out of his penthouse telling him that Sonny was his first, last and everything.

Elizabeth stood in the open doorway. She wanted to feel something, but she was numb. There was no feeling left. "I just want to talk. I have a few questions that cannot wait."

"Why is the picture down?" he asked.

"It isn't safe. What if one of the Zachara's found it. Who knows, they might decide to go looking for your safe houses. After all, we can't even smile at each other in public. In spite of the fact that we have known each other for how long?" she sneered.

"Elizabeth, I am trying to keep everyone safe; you know that."

"Really, everyone or just the boys and I. From where I stand it looks like the only people you are trying to keep safe are the boys and me. AFTER all, I see you still talk to Carly."

"I told Carly to stay away. That is wasn't safe, she just doesn't listen. She is trying to have my back as always."

"Jason, Jason, Jason. Don't you realize that the only reason she is the only person to have your back is that she is still obsessed with you? She is never going to let you get close to anyone else." she mocked.

"I do have to ask though, I have taken care of you twice when you were shot, where was Carly then? Or when I shredded that file to help you and when I snuck you into the hospital or any of the other times I have helped you. Tell me where was Carly because I don't recall seeing her. Unless she was turning up wanting you to fix some problem of hers."

When Jason started to speak; he couldn't, the bitterness coming of Elizabeth was palpable. "No, I have had enough of your talking, your not very good at it. Now, where was I, oh Carly. I think enough time has been wasted on the woman who told me that she wished Diego had killed me, that it would have been better than your hurting your hands."

"Or when she came to my hospital room while I was recovering from my injury in the fire and told me that she was going to take my bastard children. Wait that is wrong, she was going to help you take your bastard child, since I was an unfit parent and make sure that my other bastard child ended up in foster care. I believe it was."

Jason stood there, he didn't want to believe it. He had told Carly to stay away from Elizabeth, he had told her to stop treating her that way. Why would she do that?

"I know that you told Robin to stay away, of course, that was after having coffee with her at Kelly's. I can guarantee she will stay away. She thinks your life is dangerous. She warned me about it so many times."

I do have to ask have you told Lulu, Maxie, Spinelli, Monica, or even Diane to stay away. Since I have seen you with all of them, dozens of times since you told me it was dangerous to be near you."

"Yes, I have."

"Of course there is Claudia, sister of a mobster, have you told her it is dangerous to be near you. Or wait, is she is another Courtney. She is part of the life so it is safe for her. Is that your excuse for chasing off to New York with her... or no, she is really more like Sam. Another person is safe to have around you. I have to ask why is it safe for all these people to be around yet not your son and not me. The woman you supposedly love. Jason actions speak as loudly as words and your words and actions don't match. Unless of course, we are talking about your words and actions in regards to me and the boys"

"I could not stand to see you get hurt, don't you get that," he said, he didn't know where this was coming from but he had to stop it. It was hurting too much, she was hurting too much.

"How am I supposed to take that. Does that mean you wouldn't protect me if you had to."

"You know that's not true, I would die for you and our sons."

"Yes, but Jason the problem is that you won't live for us."

Jason felt her words as though she had slapped him.

"I heard Carly and Sonny fighting yesterday. They didn't see me, but it told me exactly where the boys and I stand. According to their fight, you took over the business, placed the final nail in the coffin of our chance for a future for her. You took OVER ONLY TO STOP HER FROM RUNNING WITH Morgan. Was that true? Tell me Jason did you do that?"

"Yes," he whispered, he had no fight left.

"Well, I guess that answers all my questions. Jason do you want to know why you were always the chance that was too big to take? That is the reason, because like Sonny at the warehouse with Kate and Micheal. If it was Carly and I standing there with the bullets flying, you would save her first. Your rationale would be that she doesn't have the common sense to duck and I do.

If it was Sonny or Cameron it would be that Cameron was smaller and the target was more likely Sonny, that is what you would say to me after apologizing for the hundredth time over my son's grave.

And if it was your son, your flesh, and blood, if it was Jake or Micheal, you would save Micheal. Using that promise you made to him years ago as the excuse. It would never be my sons or me. There would always be a logical excuse but that is what it boils down to.

Jason, when you get a family, they are supposed to be your first priority. But the family you made with me will never be more important than the one you made with Carly. You, not she will never let that happen. That is why I am walking away for the last time. I am taking the family you never wanted so that you can go back to the family you always did. Goodbye."

Jason stood there, watching as she picked up her bag and the picture and left quietly. This time she didn't slam the door, like the night at the penthouse, this time she killed him with a whimper, not a bang.

~GH~

Elizabeth had finished the afternoon rounds getting ready to leave for the day. This was what her life would be. She would be a single mom, taking care of her children the only way she could. As she saw Monica entering Dr. Ford's office she smiled at Emily's mother. It was about time she came back to work.

"Elizabeth, there is a patient on the tenth floor, she said you were her nurse when she was here before and will only let you draw her blood," announced Leyla as she tossed down the file. Crazy old bat.

"What's the name?"

"Lena something or other?"

"Isn't that the file?" asked an exasperated Elizabeth.

"No that is the file for the patient in the room next to hers, she has her file and refused to give it back. Would you please handle it before Epiphany gets back."

"Fine, you take care of Mr. Milam in 602."

Elizabeth waited for the elevator to reach the correct floor, wishing she could take the boys to the park after work but they had to go home and pack for the week at the beach with Audrey. Her grams had given her no choice. Elizabeth was going to the beach whether she wanted to or not. That she had something to discuss with her granddaughter about her gramps.

Walking out the opening doors she had just entered the room, when she heard the alarms going off, turning to find out what had happened, she felt a close covering her nose and then nothing.

THE PARK

Jason was wandering through, trying to calm himself down, Max and Milo had gone to work for Sonny. They had said that they felt like they owned the mobster something. He had wanted to tell Max he was a fool but knew that Max didn't think so.

A year ago, hell three months ago, Jason had been just as blind. He knew that Max's relationship with Diane was over as a result. That was what working for Sonny was like. He was the only one allowed to be happy. He wished the former guard would listen to him, but knew from experience that it would take losing everything for him to learn it.

He smiled when he saw the little kids with their daycare teacher. She had a GH badge around her neck, the other staff members with her did as well. Looking around even though he knew he shouldn't he didn't see Cameron or Jake. Maybe Elizabeth had the day off.

As he entered the area close to the hospital, he saw the mass exodus, rushing over he saw Patrick and Robin taking care of patients as staff members rushed other patients off to waiting ambulances. Seeing a frantic Carly he rushed over and asked what was going on and why was she here?

"Morgan had a doctor's appointment, we got separated." she sobbed on his shoulder. "Jason find my little boy, please. I can't lose another child."

Rushing into the burning building, Jason saw the fireman putting out the fire that was blocking their entrance. He slipped past as soon as he could, finding the missing little boy in the stairwell, with a daycare worker.

"I can take him out, please get help there are other kids in the daycare. Two waddlers and two older kids. Let me take him out."

"Follow me, I will get us to the firemen, they will get the kids." Jason grabbed Morgan then escorted them out, as they exited the building Carly pushed past the fireman trying to restrain her and rushed over to her coughing son. Turning to thank Jason she saw him talking to the woman he had escorted out of the burning building.

"Where are the other kids?" he asked urgently.

"They were coming up the stairwell from the courtyard. Two were sick and Miss Webber doesn't like her boys going to the park without her after getting kidnapped last year. So they were still at the daycare." she was talking to no one she realized as the man had rushed back into the building. Just as he arrived at the stairwell, he saw the firemen rushing down the stairs, only to feel the heat of the fire. Then the backdraft came. Jason was thrown onto his side, the heat and flames rushed over his head then retreated.

"Sir, let us handle this." stated the fireman trying to restrain him.

"Th-there are four kids down there, my so-my sons are down there. Look I will stay out of the way, just get my son's out of there." Jason waited until they started down then he grabbed a cloth soaked it and followed.

Hearing a woman's shouts, then the firemen saying to get a couple of boards relieved him, they were going to be just fine. The firemen were bringing up the kids and the daycare worker when Jason saw their faces. Jason saw the two scared little girls and started forward. They looked upset, not relieved. One man stopped him, saying sir, don't go down there, let us bring the bodies up.

Jason froze at the word bodies, then wrestling his arm out of his grip rushed down the stairs, and moaned when he saw the men covering up the small bodies. He slowly came falling down the last few stairs.

When he reached the firemen, he saw they had stopped. Seeing the looks on their faces, he knew but he had to see for himself, he had to see that he had proven Elizabeth right in the most horrific manner possible. In her worst nightmare in fact.

As his trembling hand reached for the cloth, he felt a hand on his arm. "Jason, don't do this to yourself, let my men handle it."

Mac knew that Morgan was close to Elizabeth Webber, that if he hadn't screwed up somewhere in the past, these boys would have been his instead of Spencer's. He watched as Jason seemed to recognize something on the burnt bodies. They were going to need DNA tests to be sure, but it looked like Cameron and Jake were dead.

This was going to kill Elizabeth and Lucky. It looked like it did kill Morgan. He watched as Morgan picked up the boys, gently one at a time and kissed their foreheads as tears ran down his face. Mac didn't know what to do, Spencer was off dealing with his father, out of state again. Audrey was outside, he didn't know how or who was going to help him tell Elizabeth that her sons were not coming home tonight.

Jason watched as they placed the bodies in the black bags and zipped them up. He turned to Mac and asked numbly. "Where is Elizabeth? Mac, Jake was my son. We kept it hidden so that he could grow up happy and safe. It doesn't matter anymore, no more secrets, no more anything really."

Mac hated the person that Jason Quartermaine had become, but he had lost a child, so he did what he had to, he held onto the man, he hated. The man he blamed for his daughter's death because no one should ever see their child like that.

As the two men staggered out the ER exit, doctors rushed over. Jason pushed them away, as they tried to treat him, asking for Elizabeth Webber.

~GH~

Leyla was counting her blessings, she was alive, so were most of her friends and coworkers. According to the firemen, who were still checking the floors, only four people had died. Then she saw the firemen carrying out two small bags and knew something wasn't right.

She went towards them listening as they talked. "Two children, in the stairwell from the daycare. The one staff member fled leaving the other with four children. Two were caught in the backdraft along with the fleeing staff member. A nurse was found dead on the tenth floor, of smoke inhalation. Here is her id. Someone needs to contact Nurse Webber's family."

Leyla backed away from them, saying no, that she had heard that wrong. That Elizabeth Webber hadn't died because she had been incapable of doing her job. That woman with children hadn't died because she had been incapable of dealing with a patient.

"Nurse Mir, I know we are in the middle of a tragedy, but I need you to do your job." called out Epiphany as she helped Nadine load up another bus with ambulatory patients. "Nurse Mir. NOW."

Turning towards the head nurse, she pushed past Carly Jacks who was waiting for someone. "Eliza-Elizabeth Webber is dead." then she passed out.

Carly froze at the news, she had wanted Elizabeth out of Jason's heart, but no one deserved to die that way. She watched as the blond nurse and an older woman rushed to catch Leyla. As she did so she thought with a strange detachment, well at least Jason can claim his son now. Then groaned, knowing her best friend he would try to claim the other kid as well. She would just have to make him see that Lucky deserved to be with Elizabeth's other brat.

Jason was looking for Elizabeth, as he asked yet another staff member, he saw Max in the crowd. Grabbing his former guard, he told him to help him find Elizabeth Webber. After asking Patrick, his father, and even Dr. Ford, he was starting to get worried. Maybe she had gone with a patient.

No, she would have never left without her boys, unless Mac Scorpio had found her already. He had agreed to let him tell Elizabeth but he might have changed his mind. As he pushed past two firemen carrying a body bag, he saw Mac stiffen at the name and turn to look at him, with sorrow in his eyes.

Jason staggered, then fell against the fire truck behind him. No, he was wrong, it was someone else. He started to spin and keep searching when he saw Epiphany Johnson rushing over with tears, she stopped when she saw him. Hugging the man she said, "Just remember she loved you and those boys of her and let's do this together."

Jason stopped the firemen who had collapsed the transport, getting ready to place it in the medical examiner's truck. He knelt down next to the bag, not noticing the muck he was kneeling in, and taking a deep breath unzipped the bag...He knew what he would find, but hoping for the best or that it was a mistake, he saw her still and peaceful which astounded him.

"Jason, she had gotten knocked out somehow and could not escape the fire, they found her in a bed on the tenth floor." Epiphany had listened to the man talking but it seemed far away and distant. Not real. Her nurses were supposed to be her first priority after her patients, they weren't supposed to die.

Jason reached in and started to touch Elizabeth, drawing his hand back. He had no right to touch her, no right to be sitting here, once again he had disappointed her. Then he laughed scornfully, maybe not, she's had no expectations that he would do it right and he had proven her correct.

"Jason, why don't you let them take her." Carly tried to get him to let go of the metal side. He had been sitting there, not moving for almost ten minutes, as still as if he was the one in the black bag.

Jason didn't even look up at her, he just sat there, staring at the bag containing the weak girl he claimed to love, Carly didn't know what he saw in her, she would never be happy in his life. She would never have been able to handle it. Not like Courtney or Sam could. They had been at least part of it, but some part of Jason had always yearned for the petite brunette in the body bag.

She needed to get him out of there, he needed to go and see his son. Then she would get him to spend time with Micheal, that would help she thought. "Jason, come on you need to let go now," she said as she tried to get him to stand only for him to roughly brush her hand off his arm.

Mac saw the numbness on Morgan's face start to go away and turn into pure rage. When the pushy blond once again tried to get him to let go by saying "Jake needs you, Jason. So does Morgan, he is over there watching you. You need to pull it together. Do you want him to see you like this?"

It was like a light switch had been thrown, and all of them stepped back when Jason let go of Elizabeth and stood to turn towards Carly. "JAKE NEEDS ME, JAKE NEEDS ME. WHAT DOES JAKE NEED TO ME TO DO CARLY?! To BURY HIM, ALONG WITH HIS MOTHER. ALONG WITH HIS BROTHER, IS THAT WHAT MY SON NEEDS, CARLY."

He grabbed her roughly and pushed her face close to the small body in the black bag, "THIS IS CAMERON, CARLY, YOU KNOW THE BASTARD YOU WERE GOING TO GET SENT TO FOSTER CARE." Dragging her over to Jake, he said THIS IS JAKE, THE OTHER BASTARD THE ONE THAT YOU TOLD ME WASN'T MINE, SETTING THIS WHOLE NIGHTMARE INTO MOTION, THE ONE WHO COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE MINE SINCE IT WOULD MEAN YOU WOULD NOT GET TO BE THE CENTER OF THE WORLD, RIGHT CARLY!

SO MORGAN NEEDS ME DOES HE, WHERE'S HIS FATHER, WHERE'S HIS STEPFATHER. WHY DOESN'T HE NEED THEM. THIS IS SCARING HIM, WHY CARLY LETS'S FACE IT, YOU FLIP OUT LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME, NO MATTER WHO IS STANDING THERE WATCHING.

SO GO AND SEE YOUR SON, MAYBE YOU CAN TAKE BETTER CARE OF HIM THAN THE ONE YOU LEFT FOR ME TO TAKE CARE OF AND THEN TOOK BACK!

Jason just fell back to the ground, next to Elizabeth's body and said softer but still strong. "Go to someone else, anyone else Carly, I have nothing left to give you, I have lost everything that ever mattered to ME. I lost them, because of you, and because of Sonny. I have nothing left to give, so go find someone else to be your best friend, go find someone else to use. I can't do it anymore it has to end."

Audrey stood by watching, she was as stunned as everyone else who heard Jason. While she didn't know how this had happened she didn't honestly care, she had someone that needed her to take care of him since he had been the one to take care of others for so long. Plus she knew deep down that was what her granddaughter would want, that she had loved him, and now the elderly nurse knew that apparently, he had felt the same way about her granddaughter and great-grandsons.

Seeing Monica standing on the other side of the crowd, she nodded at Jason and the man's mother nodded back. They reached Jason at the same time, Audrey saying "Jason, let the men take care of Elizabeth. Let's get her away from the crowd watching her. Please let them take care of my grandchildren"

"I can't, she was right. I did the wrong thing. I thought she was safer without me around, she was still in danger and in the end, I saved the wrong person. Again." with that he bent down and started to kiss her like he had the boys. Stopping he said "I don't deserve your sympathy, Monica. You were right, I kill everything I touch. I won't do this, I won't touch her again."

With that he stood, walking away from the crowd, past Carly. Past Max, past everyone.

TBC