Ch 2

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Elizabeth awoke to her darkened studio and someone's arms around her and their chest pressed against her face. 'Jason', her mind said numbly. Her eyes blinked open and her body stiffened at the thought. 'Oh my god, Jason. What did I do? Nothing, I didn't do anything. I went to sleep over there' she said looking at her side of the bed. 'So how in the hell did I get over here? And what was that ringing noise?"

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Jason was awake, he had been enjoying holding Elizabeth and then he heard her breathing change and felt her stiffen. He knew that she was awake. He also knew that she was probably confused as to why he was holding her. He hadn't meant to still there, he meant to leave as soon as he woke up. He couldn't, nothing and no one could have pulled him away from her. Well, no one but Elizabeth herself. He had a feeling that he knew what was coming.

"Elizabeth, I know you're awake. Your phone is ringing. You might wanna get that; it could be important."

She cursed to herself, 'damn body always giving me away.' She was dreading whatever conversation they were about to have. She was going to have to explain what she was doing lying on top of him. "I'm really sorry, Jason. I don't know what happened. I guess sometimes, when I'm asleep, I shift and that's probably, most likely what happened. I'm sorry. I'm sure that it's just because it was so cold and you're always so warm. I … I"

Jason looked down at her and smirked. She was rambling, again. She hadn't looked at him or she would know that he was laughing. "You don't have to apologize. You didn't do this, I did."

Elizabeth's eyes flew up to meet Jason's. "What? You did what?"

"Well, you were whispering my name in your sleep so I figured you wouldn't mind if I held you for a little while. With the way you were screaming my name, I figured me holding you would be tamer than whatever dream you were having", Jason said teasingly.

Elizabeth's eyes grew big and her mouth dropped. 'I was screaming Jason's name? What kind of dream was I having and why don't I remember it? Dammit'

Just then, the phone stopped ringing and her answering machine picked up. Hi, this is Elizabeth. I'm either working, working, or working right now. Leave a message and I'll call you back. Have a great day… unless you're a telemarkerter then you please stop calling. I don't want whatever you are selling. BEEP

Seeing the look on her face, Jason couldn't contain his laughter any longer. "Fine, ok, you weren't screaming my name. You kind of whispered it while you were sleeping. But still it proves that you were dreaming about me." He said with a smirk.

Elizabeth's shock turned to frustration. "Why are you playing with me? That's all this has been for the last 24 hours. You have been toying with me and I don't appreciate it." She went to get up but Jason's arms were still wrapped around her; and he wasn't letting go.

"I don't think so, Webber. Where do you think you are going?"

"To the bathroom, is that alright with you, Morgan?"

"I guess," he said releasing her.

She rolled over to her side of the bed and retrieved her bathrobe and slippers. She padded to the window and looked out into the dreariness that was morning.

"I hope you weren't planning on getting back to your little love nest anytime soon." She said looking out onto the massive amounts of snow on the ground.

At her words, Jason flinched. He hadn't done right by Elizabeth and she wasn't going to let him forget it. He got up, walked to the window, and looked out. There was at least three feet of snow on the ground. It had been snowing for hours and hadn't let up much.

While they talked, Bobbie's voice was recording on Elizabeth's machine.

Liz honey, this is Bobbie. I don't know if you have looked outside yet but there is no way we are opening today. So honey you have the day off. I'm, of course, not including this in your days off. I hope that you are staying warm and taking care of yourself. If you need to, walk over to Kelly's and get yourself something to eat, honey. I know you don't keep much in your studio. Call me or Luke if you need anything.

Elizabeth moved from the window and Jason took her spot. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. He was snowed in with Elizabeth. Sure, he could probably call and get one of the guys to come by but there was no need to risk someone else's life because he had been toying with Elizabeth Webber.

She came back from the bathroom and started to get dressed.

"Where are you going?" Jason asked.

"I have a shift this morning."

"Didn't you hear what Bobbie said? Kelly's is closed for the day."

"No, I wasn't really paying attention. I figured she was just calling to tell me that Courtney had called out, again."

"No, she is closing. She said to go by for food, if you get hungry. She said that she knows you don't keep food here. Why not, Elizabeth?" Jason asked with concern.

"I'm always at Kelly's. If I want anything, I can always go there. I don't really need or have to cook. I didn't expect the storm to last this long. If I had then I would have gone to the store and picked up the necessities. I can tell by the look on your face what you're thinking. I take great care of myself, Jason. I just didn't plan. And besides I know that I can always go to Kelly's if I need food."

He knew that she wanted to drop the topic of conversation, and he would. But from now on he would be watching to make sure that she really was taking care of herself.

"You know, I can't believe that your phone didn't ring all night. I figured Corky would have called at least a hundred …" she trailed off realizing that she has just used Courtney's nickname in front of Jason.

He hadn't noticed the slip until Elizabeth abruptly stopped talking. "Corky, huh?" he said looking at her. "Is that what you call her?"

Elizabeth looked everywhere but at Jason. 'Crap' she thought to herself.

"What other little nicknames do you have for her?"

Elizabeth desperately didn't want to answer that question.

"So how about we walk over to Kelly's for some breakfast. I know you must be hungry. Or, at least, you want some coffee." She said attempting to walk by him to the door. She felt his hand around her upper arm and then she was turned around to face him again.

"Does your laughing fit yesterday have anything to do with Courtney's nicknames?" Jason asked looking down into her eyes.

Elizabeth blanched and then colored. He wasn't supposed to figure that out. 'What normal person would have put those two things together? Leave it to freaking Jason Morgan.'

"Don't even try to pretend that you don't know what I'm talking about. I noticed the laughing started and you three would look at me and Courtney. I paid no attention to it at the time, but looking back it makes sense. Now I know why Penny could barely keep her composure while she was at the table. And why she burst out laughing when she looked at Courtney. So, go ahead Elizabeth, enlighten me." Jason said as he released her arm.

"Fine, well let's see. There's Skipper, I think that was her original nickname. And once we found out about her time at the Oasis, I lengthened that to 'Skipper the Stripper'" Elizabeth said with a laugh. Then turned solemn suddenly when she noticed that Jason wasn't laughing with her. "Come on, Morgan, you have to admit that is funny. Ok, fine I guess you don't.

"Why Skipper?" Jason asked.

"Well because doesn't she look like a Barbie gone wrong? With the bleached blonde hair and the blue contacts, or are those real? I don't know. But then you add in the implanted bazookas" Elizabeth said demonstrating or rather over exaggerating with her hands. "Actually, I guess you like that look." She said dejectedly.

Jason didn't find the nickname as amusing as Elizabeth, but he had to admit, to himself, that the comparison was a little dead on. 'Why had he never noticed that Courtney looked like a life sized Barbie doll?'

Elizabeth noticed that Jason hadn't laughed once and was now sitting on the edge of the bed with a confused look on face. 'Or was that his concentrating look?' Elizabeth couldn't tell the difference. 'I guess that's another reason Courtney won, I look like a 12 year old girl and she looks like a life size Barbie. Who wouldn't choose grown woman over little girl?'

"Anyway, then there is Corky. Just fits in a Life Goes On kinda way. I'm sure you have no idea what I'm talking about, so I'll let that one slide. I also call her the pole stroller. That has to do with her days at Oasis, also. Yesterday I called her Beach Bimbo Barbie, that's what caused the laughing fit with me, Emily and Penny. Then we proceeded to make up more nicknames, I don't really remember most of them but as they pop into my brain I will tell you."

Jason let her words sink in. Elizabeth and his sister had been making fun of his girlfriend. 'Does Emily not like Courtney?' He would have to talk to her about that.

Elizabeth looked at Jason and wondered just how pissed off he was. She began to unconsciously nibble on her bottom lip and she began fidgeting with her hands.

He noticed that she was nervous. He wasn't mad at her. She had the right to be upset. He and Courtney hadn't been discreet with their affair and Elizabeth still had feelings for him. And he still had feelings for her. 'This is too complicated.' He thought with a shake of the head.

"And by the way, Courtney and Sonny both have probably called a hundred times, but after I got off of the phone with Courtney last night, I turned my cell phone off. I didn't need or want that distraction. I said that I was spending the night with you and that is what I did."

"So you turned the phone off so that Corky wouldn't know that you were with me last night. I almost appreciate that. I'm sure Carly and Corky have formed a search party for you. Just think of it, they are calling all the hospitals. I'm sure they knew that you were on your bike. They must be worried Jason. You should call them and let them know that you're safe."

He didn't want to call. He didn't want to have to explain to either Carly or Courtney where he was. It would be an argument and he didn't have the patience to deal with either of them today. He wanted to enjoy being snowed in with Elizabeth Webber. He wanted to go to Kelly's and make a pot of coffee and have some juevos rancheros while she made her hot chocolate with all the fixings. He wanted to have another snowball fight. He was even willing to watch that movie that she had been talking about last night, Freddie vs. Jason. Anything would be better than listening to Courtney whine and Carly bitch. He decided then that he would do the next best thing. He called Johnny.

"Hello" the bodyguard answered.

"Hey Johnny, its Jason. I'm sure everyone is worried; I just want you to let them know that I'm alright. I don't want anyone to know where I am, but I figured if something happened then someone would need to know where I am."

"Man, where the hell have you been. Courtney came over to the penthouse last night and waited. When you weren't home by like 1 and hadn't answered your phone, they sent out a search party. They found your bike near the docks. They wanted to know why you were there. Courtney said something about the warehouse and you weren't there. I know of one place near the docks that you would be but you dropped kicked her for the blonde, so I know you're not there. Where the hell are you, Jase?"

Jason could hear the concern in the man's voice. "I'm safe. I want you to tell no one where I am. I am at the one place you thought that I wouldn't be. If you need me, call here or send someone here. Tell them I'm safe but I'm turning off the cell phone. I am where I want to be."

Johnny was frustrated. Everyone had worried for hours about Jason and he was with Elizabeth Webber. Johnny knew where this was going and he didn't like it. The guards liked Elizabeth; she was always nice to them. She and Jason played this unholy game with one another and one of them always wound up getting hurt. It was his turn, or was it hers? No one really knew, all Johnny knew was that they would either hurt one another … again. Or their world was about to come crashing down when the boss found out that Jason was choosing Elizabeth.

"So, I'm guessing Sonny doesn't get to know where you are."

"Not unless it's necessary" Jason said.

"You know that's not going to work for him. He has to be in control of every situation. He is going to demand to know where you are. And if it comes to my butt or keeping your secret you know which I'm going to choose?" Johnny asked.

"I know. If it comes to that, tell him. Hell tell them all, I just don't feel like dealing with it right now. I'll deal with them when I get home."

"Fine. Tell Elizabeth I said hello and that I miss her brownies."

"What do you know about her brownies?" Jason asked defensively.

"All the guys have had her brownies. And I do mean the dessert, nothing sexual. I can feel you scowling at me through the phone."

"I'll tell her. Bye" Jason said as he ended the call and then turned off the phone.

"So, Morgan, you're where you want to be? Why is that?" Elizabeth asked having over heard his conversation.

He looked at her and reached behind her to pull her to him. "Right where I want to be." He leaned in to kiss her. She pulled back… again.

"I think that we should make the trek to Kelly's and see what we can scrounge up.

"I think that would be a good idea. I need some coffee. I'm gonna buy you a coffee pot for this place."

She looked at him suspiciously. "Why would I need a coffee pot, I don't even like the stuff?"

"Yeah, but I do." He said with a smile as he put on his jacket and walked out the door ahead of her.

Elizabeth stood stunned for a moment and then she followed, locking the studio door behind her. When she reached the outside of her building, Jason was waiting. He grabbed her hand as the walked down the stairs to the docks. They stayed that way, hand in hand, as they made their way to Kelly's on a perfect snow covered day.