Elizabeth's world was slowly narrowing. She barely noticed her grandmother or the deceased guard lying in her doorway. She could hear faint moans but didn't realize they were her own. All that mattered was Cameron's abduction. Jason had promised to protect him and failed. Elizabeth had followed her selfish desire and her son was taken from her. It was Jason's fault. If he had truly loved her, he would have protected them better.
She shook her head. Blaming Jason was counter-productive as he was probably the only one capable of finding her son now. As the shock began to wear off, Elizabeth turned her attention to Audrey. The older woman would want to call the police just like any other normal person. But Jason's world was far from normal.
"Gram," she whispered. When Audrey failed to hear her, Elizabeth cleared her throat and tried again. "Gram!"
Audrey had been desperately trying to resuscitate Milo. At her granddaughter's shout, she stopped. The young man was dead. Audrey's thoughts then turned to Cameron. "We've got to call the police! Surely Jason had some kind of video surveillance. They can get the license plate and Cameron will be home by dinner." Audrey rose and embraced Elizabeth. "Don't worry, darling. It's going to be fine, just fine."
Elizabeth didn't return the hug. It would never be fine again. Even after Jason brought Cam home, there would still be danger. If she left, there would be heartache. Either way, her future was looking desolate. And if Jason didn't bring Cameron back to her . . .
Elizabeth squeezed her eyes shut, only opening them when she heard Audrey asking the 911 operator for the police. Quickly she grabbed the phone and disconnected. At her grandmother's wide eyes, Elizabeth explained. "We have to call Jason."
Audrey began shaking her head. "Elizabeth, we have to call the police. Jason is not the solution here; he's the problem!"
"I'm not having this argument again. Those men are Jason's enemies and Jason is the only one who stands a chance of finding my son. If you call the cops, they might kill my little boy. Is that what you want, Grams?" Elizabeth took a deep breath. She wanted to cry and kick and scream but she needed to focus on Cameron. Doing what she wanted was what got her into this nightmare to begin with.
Audrey pursed her lips but said nothing more. Elizabeth dialed Jason's number and waited. When he finally answered, she tried to speak. The tears began falling and then she fainted.
Lorenzo Alcazar had made his last mistake. Jason was going to find his son and then beat the man to death. He was going to take his time and enjoy it, too.
After offering what little comfort he could considering his own fear and rage, he had left Elizabeth in Audrey's care and driven to Alcazar's home. He probably should have called Sonny and he definitely should have called Max. Leaving that task to Francis was a mistake. Max deserved better after so many years of loyal service. All that mattered was bringing Cameron home to Elizabeth.
As he had feared, the rival crime lord's home was deserted. Jason demolished file cabinets and bureaus. He broke into the three safes. He shredded pillows and mattresses. There was no clue as to Lorenzo's plans. The whole trip was a complete waste of time.
Jason drove home slowly, carefully reviewing everything he knew about Alcazar. That son of a bitch was behind this. Spinelli was the key. The kid would need internet access to obtain the information Alcazar wanted. Jason tried to picture his living room as he had last seen it. Was the kid's laptop still there? Would Spinelli be able to send him a message that way?
As hard as he tried to focus on his next move, all he kept coming back to was that lost look in Elizabeth's eyes. Jason didn't doubt that he would find Cameron. Spinelli was the target, not the small boy who had only just become his son. By now, they realized their mistake. There would be a phone call and a meeting soon. Cameron was safe. He had to be because Jason didn't think they could survive if he was not.
Sam McCall had been humiliated and Lorenzo Alcazar was going to pay. After enjoying her striptease, he had sent her away. He didn't touch Jason's trash, that bastard had taunted.
She hid across from Harbor View Towers and watched as those incompetent goons had snatched Elizabeth's son as well as the geek. Fools! Jason would kill them for so much less than this. They couldn't run far or fast enough.
As she followed the black sedan out of the city, an idea began to form. Jason was going to kill them and probably Alcazar, too. Then he would take the kid back to precious Elizabeth and they would fall even more nauseatingly in love. What if Jason didn't find Cameron? Losing their son would be the perfect revenge. And Lorenzo paying the price? Icing on the cake. Sam began to laugh. Jason and Elizabeth would mourn, Alcazar would die, and she would get a son. Sometimes you really could have it all.
Audrey watched as her granddaughter walked into the kitchen to get some water. That girl was too blinded by Jason Morgan to face reality and Audrey needed to take steps to protect both Elizabeth and Cameron. She dialed Lucky Spencer's number and urgently pleaded with him to come. When Elizabeth returned, Audrey was once again sitting on the couch with her arms outstretched. Elizabeth sank into them and began crying again.
The knock at the door startled Elizabeth. Jason would just let himself in, as would Sonny and most of the guards. Jason's lack of formality was almost notorious in the Corinthos organization. That sound meant that an outsider was on the other side, possibly returning her son. She flew across the room and threw open the door.
Lucky was just lowering his hand and smiled sheepishly. "That was fast," he said as he glanced around. "Where's the guard? Milo, isn't it?"
Elizabeth sucked in her breath. "He's not here. What do you want?" She knew she was being rude but Lucky was the last person she wanted to see right now.
"I called him," Audrey announced.
Elizabeth spun. "What?"
"Elizabeth, dear, you must report this to the police. Cameron..."
Lucky stepped inside and immediately noticed the blood on the carpet. "Is Cameron okay?"
Elizabeth froze. It was now or never. What if Jason couldn't find Cameron? Would Lucky and the police have a better chance? As much as she loved Jason, her son's safe return was her only priority now.
Audrey took Lucky's hand and led him to the couch. "Oh, Lucky, Cameron's been taken." The older woman began to cry.
Lucky turned to his ex-wife. "What happened?"
Elizabeth opened her mouth but the words would not come. If she betrayed Jason now, there would be no going back. Willing herself to stand firm, she looked directly into his eyes and lied. "Gram is upset because I sent Cameron out of town with the guards while Jason and I house hunt."
Lucky knew she was lying, not because of Elizabeth herself but because of Audrey's gasp. When had she begun deceiving him? Was this Jason's influence or a result of his drug abuse and infidelity? "Tell me the truth, Elizabeth. I can help you but you have to be honest with me. Where is Cameron?"
Audrey started to speak but Elizabeth cut her off. "Lucky, there's nothing you can do for me except leave."
Lucky motioned to the stain on the floor. "That's blood. Something happened here. You can either tell me voluntarily or I'll get a warrant." He sighed. "Liz, come on, I'll protect you. Just tell me what happened. Where is Cameron?"
"Elizabeth doesn't need your protection."
All three turned to see Jason standing in the doorway. Elizabeth looked frantically for her son to no avail. Jason crossed to her and cradled her jaw in his hand. She nodded and fought tears. "I tried to tell Lucky about how we're looking for a house and you sent Cameron out of town with the guards so I can focus. Gram is furious that we didn't leave him with her and she tried to bring Lucky in on her side."
It was Jason's turn to nod. "You heard her, Lucky. This is none of your business."
Lucky stared at Liz. "But this is Jason's business, right?" Leaving no doubts as to his meaning, Lucky knelt and dabbed at the carpet. "I'll be back with a warrant soon." He slammed the door as he left.
Audrey gathered her things. Elizabeth held out a hand but was brushed aside. "If my great-grandson dies because of this madness, I'll never forgive either of you." She cast a disparaging look at Elizabeth and firmly closed the door behind her.
In the three days since her son's kidnapping, Elizabeth had slept little and ate even less. She tried to keep believing that Cameron was safe and would be home soon but, as the minutes and hours passed, her faith wavered.
This was her fault. She had wanted Jason so much that she ignored the danger. She foolishly thought that it wouldn't touch her or Cameron, that Jason was some sort of superhero who could save the day no matter what the circumstances.
Jason was human, no more, no less. He did his best and it wasn't enough. Elizabeth didn't blame him. He spent his every waking moment searching for their son and his failure was weighing heavily on him. Despite the awful circumstances, Elizabeth just could not lay the blame at his feet.
This was her fault.
Jason watched as Elizabeth paced the small confines of the safe house. Diane had just called with the news that the police, following Lucky's lead, had identified the blood on the carpet as Milo's and knew the young man was dead. They were naming him as the prime suspect and the lawyer firmly suggested that he remain hidden. He didn't care.
Jason had yet to tell Elizabeth that last night he found Spinelli. The abductors were now in the angry hands of Max Giambetti but they claimed that Cameron had wondered off in the woods and been lost. Sonny had men scouring the area but there was simply no trace of the small boy.
Spinelli said that they separated him from Cameron immediately. Alcazar had apparently not been specific and told them only to grab the boy. While they thought he meant Spinelli, there was always the possibility that the boss meant Cameron so they took them both. Alcazar had been furious but used the little boy to force Spinelli's cooperation. Spinelli had not seen Cameron again.
Jason frowned. He was missing something. Would Cam have crept off into the dark woods by himself? It was doubtful. Were the hired thugs lying? It was unlikely as Max was being very persuasive. Alcazar could still have Cameron but Jason didn't think so. At any rate Lorenzo Alcazar was still the only lead he had.
Jason turned his attention back to Elizabeth. There were dark circles under her eyes and her hair was roughly pulled into a saggy ponytail. Her clothes were looser from weight loss. All this after only three days. If he didn't find Cam soon, how much more could she stand?
He failed her. Jason knew that and hated it. He had drug her into his life despite her protests and now her son, their son, was gone. If he had let her walk away, Cameron would be safe.
Jason frowned. Maybe not. Lucky's drug habit was a serious threat. Elizabeth might have stayed out of some sense of responsibility. Cameron could just as easily ended up at the hands of an angry drug pusher. At least this way, Jason knew where to look and who to question.
Jason sighed. Who was he kidding? Elizabeth would have left Lucky and Cameron would be happy and home.
He failed her.
Lucky threw his coffee mug across the squad room, receiving several dark looks but acknowledging none of them. Three days since Jason and Elizabeth disappeared. Three days since finding fresh blood on the floor. Three days since Audrey called for his help and then refused to answer his questions.
The little boy he loved like a son was out there and Lucky knew in his gut that he wasn't with Jason's guards. Elizabeth might have faith in Sonny's killer but Lucky didn't. When he found Cam and brought him home, Elizabeth would see the light and leave Jason. Lucky would get his family back and then he could stop taking those damn pills. Maxie might be upset when he ended their relationship but she would get over it.
Lucky's hands were shaking. He needed to regain some control and the pills would help. With a guilty glance around at his fellow officers, he slipped off to the bathroom to feed his growing addiction. He would stop soon. He would.
"Elizabeth?"
She focused her gaze on him. "Jason, have you..."
"No, but there is something I need to tell you."
As she sat beside him on the couch, her heart collapsed within her chest. Jason was refusing to look at her, which meant he had bad news. "So tell me."
Jason clasped his hands together and took a calming breath. "I found Spinelli." She didn't react and Jason understood. She knew her son was still missing and that hope was fading. "Cameron wasn't there. There was absolutely no trace of him."
Elizabeth replayed his words. "Do you think..."
Jason shook his head. "He's not dead. We would have found, well, something."
Elizabeth nodded. "You would have found his body, you mean."
"Yes."
Elizabeth placed one hand over his. As painful as this was for her, she had to keep reminding herself that he was hurting too. They needed each other. No matter what happened once Cam came home, right now they needed to draw their strength from their love. "So you keep looking and I keep waiting."
Jason stood and pulled her up with him. "Right now you need to eat and then sleep."
"I can't."
Jason tilted her face to meet his. "You have to. Cameron needs you to take care of yourself so you'll be able to take care of him when I bring him back."
She couldn't fault that argument. "Okay, I will if you will."
"Deal."
Lorenzo knew exactly who had young Cameron Webber Morgan. He had men throughout New York and Canada searching for anyone matching Sam McCall's description. As soon as he got a lead, he was taking it to Morgan. It was his only chance to survive this.
That scheming whore had betrayed Jason without a thought. She could and would leave him out to dry as well unless he turned the tables on her.
His phone rang. The conversation brought his first smile in days. Sam had been found and there was a young boy with her. Lorenzo quickly penned a note to Jason and dispatched it with one of his most trusted men.
He smiled again. Oh, there would be repercussions from Corinthos and Morgan but, by returning the boy, Lorenzo managed to save his own skin. Poor Sam's was another matter altogether.
Samantha McCall loved kids. Her greatest heartache was not in losing Jason but in losing her daughter. She loved the smell of a little one after a bath and the sound of carefree giggles from play. She adored the soft texture of young skin and rosy glow on smooth cheeks.
What she didn't love was the constant whining. Cameron wanted nothing except his parents. He refused to eat much and slept only after crying for hours. Sam kept reassuring herself that he needed time to adjust. It had only been a few days.
With each painful hour, she became more and more aware that she needed help. Lorenzo was probably dead and, even if he weren't, he would gladly hand her over to Jason.
It came to her in the early hours of that fourth morning. There was someone who hated Elizabeth being with Jason as much as she did, someone Cameron knew and loved. Sam would make a phone call as soon as daylight showed itself.
Audrey promised herself that she would give Jason Morgan only a limited amount of time to bring her great-grandson home before telling the police everything she knew. She hated it but was afraid that perhaps Elizabeth was right and Jason was the best person to bring Cameron back to them.
However, it had been three days with no results. Audrey was spending yet another sleepless night staring at the ceiling. First thing in the morning, she would call Lucky again and this time she would tell him what had happened that afternoon in the Morgan penthouse.
With a plan to help Cameron, Audrey was finally able to get some rest.
Jason held Elizabeth in his arms but neither was sleeping. It had been like this each night since they first arrived at the safe house that horrible afternoon. They would cling to each other wordlessly and stare out the window waiting for sunrise and a new day of searching.
He wanted to tell her that it would be okay. He wanted to see life and faith in her eyes again. Most of all, he wanted to see her holding Cameron again.
He tightened his embrace and felt her quiet tears on his chest. With a gentle squeeze, he tried to ease some of her pain and let her know just how much he loved her.
Elizabeth hated herself. She hated that she took such a dangerous risk with her son's life. She made plans for how different things would be once Cameron was safe. They would leave Jason and make a new home, just the two of them.
Elizabeth pressed her lips together. That was wrong. It would never be just the two of them again. There would be at least three of them, four if Jason knew her secret.
He would never let her leave now that she carried his child.
Elizabeth had it all planned so perfectly. Gram was there to watch Cam while she and Jason went to the Metro Court for dinner. As they danced to some beautiful love song, she would tell him that he was going to be a father. He would be surprised but then smile and kiss her. They would make plans and discuss baby names over some sinful dessert that she pleaded with him to get her in celebration. It was going to be a magical night.
Instead, Cameron had been taken and she was faced with the ugly reality of Jason's life. Cameron hadn't been safe and neither would this baby. Jason would try but sooner or later there would be another attack. Elizabeth couldn't live like this. She couldn't allow her children to live like this.
But wrapped in Jason's arms in the dark of night, she also knew that she couldn't truly live without him.
Audrey impatiently ate a bowl of cereal and flipped through the morning paper. She cast frequent looks at the microwave clock, willing the minutes to pass faster. Soon, Lucky would arrive at the station and she planned to be the first person he saw. Elizabeth might be foolish enough to trust Jason but Audrey never would. Time was rushing by and Cameron was slipping farther from them.
Just as she picked up her purse and keys, the phone rang. Audrey debated letting the machine get it but the hope that it might news about Cameron would allow that. She answered.
Lucky hated early mornings. Hours from his last fix, his hands were always shaky and his body aching and sweaty. Not even Maxie's soft curves could distract him from getting to those pills. He had rational moments, times when he knew the situation was out of his control and he needed help. He could see how badly he was hurting his young lover. What he could not do was break the cycle.
Running a hand down his chest, he tried to remember where he had hidden that last bottle from Maxie. The empty cracker box in the bottom cabinet came to mind and he carefully got out of the sofa bed without waking her. Now he could get his thoughts together. Today was the day he found Elizabeth and Jason.
As he quickly swallowed two pills, he planned his reunion with his ex-wife. She would apologize and promise that Jason was out of her life for good. She would mean it this time. And he would graciously take her and Cameron back.
Elizabeth watched as Jason laced up his boots. He was once again leaving their sanctuary to look for their son. He was pushing himself so hard and getting nowhere. The frustration rolled off him in waves that battered her already tattered emotional state.
She had heard the stories. Couples who turned away from each other after the loss of a child. It was happening to them and she didn't know how to stop it.
That was wrong. Elizabeth knew exactly what to say to draw Jason back to her. Once he knew she was pregnant, his attention would shift and Cameron might never be found. Sacrificing their relationship was a small price to pay if it brought her son home.
She closed her eyes and turned her back on him. As much as the very thought of losing him hurt, she had to get her little boy back.
Jason left the safe house early and drove to Greystone. Spinelli was his best hope for finding Alcazar, who might be his only hope of finding Cameron. Despite hours of questioning, the young man could offer them no leads.
Jason could see the light fading from Elizabeth's eyes more and more with each hour that passed. She couldn't bring herself to think of Cameron gone forever but she couldn't let herself hope that he would be home again soon.
It all came down to hope, one thing Jason truly could not fathom. He always knew what he wanted but accepted what he got. Perhaps if he had been able to hope, he would have fought for Elizabeth all those years ago. He might have been there when Cameron was born. Better still, Cameron might have been his son in every possible way.
But he hadn't hoped, merely wanted. He hadn't fought, just accepted.
She was his now and he wasn't going to let her down. If she needed hope, he would find a way to give it to her.
For the rest of her life, Audrey Hardy would wonder why she agreed to meet Sam McCall for breakfast at an out-of-town diner. With firm plans to file a police report about her great-grandson's kidnapping, how could she have given in to the woman's pleas? However, she would never regret it.
Sam spotted her first and spoke to the small boy seated beside in the booth. Cameron burst into a wide smile and reached for his beloved Gram.
Audrey froze for a split second and then ran across the restaurant. She scooped Cam into her arms and whispered over and over again how much she had missed him. Cam laughed and asked if she was taking him home to Mommy and Daddy.
Sam chose that moment to speak. "Well, why don't we discuss that?"
Audrey shot her a venomous look. "There's nothing to discuss."
Sam smiled. "Yes, there is." She waved a hand over the bench facing hers and Audrey reluctantly sat down with Cam nestled on her lap. Sam smiled again and Audrey felt a chill.
"You have five minutes."
Sam nodded and fingered her hair. "Elizabeth put that little boy in danger. Jason's life is always going to be the way it is." She sucked in her cheeks and reached over to stroke Cam's arm. "I can keep him safe. I can love him better than she can. But I need your help."
Audrey was shocked. "Are you asking me to help you steal my granddaughter's child?"
Sam winced. "Steal is the wrong word. He needs to be protected but Jason and Elizabeth only care about each other. They let him be taken. I rescued him. Not Elizabeth and not Jason, ME!" Sam realized that her loud voice was drawing unwanted attention from the other customers and forcibly calmed down. "Look, we both want Cameron to have the best life possible. If you'll help me, I promise you won't regret it."
Audrey studied the younger woman's posture and facial expressions. Sam would not have invited her here if she thought Audrey would turn her down and she would have brought Cameron to Port Charles if she had any intention of returning him. Audrey realized that, if she didn't agree, Sam was capable of grabbing the boy and disappearing again.
Sam knew the nurse was struggling. She understood the difficult position Audrey was in but believed this really was for the best, for Cameron's best. "Please, please help me. Help Cameron. Please," she begged.
Audrey looked down at the small boy in her arms. Elizabeth had made her decisions and they had led to this. With only her love for Cameron to guide her, Audrey raised her eyes to Sam's and nodded.
Lucky knew that Sonny was the key to finding Jason. The two men kept in constant contact and sooner or later they would arrange to meet face-to-face. Lucky planned on crashing that meeting.
What he didn't count on was Jason's presence at Sonny's mansion when he arrived. With a grin, he pulled out his cuffs. "Jason Morgan, you're under arrest."
Sonny hissed. "Not now, Lucky."
Lucky chuckled. "You're kidding me, right? I've got everything I need to send Jason up for murder one."
Jason began to take short breaths. He could not be arrested. He had to be out searching for Cameron. There was only one thing to do. He ran for the patio doors and leaped over the stone wall.
Lucky automatically fired three shots after his rival and swore. With a furious look to Sonny and the young man sitting wide-eyed on the couch, he pulled out his radio and called for back-up.
Elizabeth spent the morning pacing the small confines of the house. She felt powerless, unable to do anything constructive to bring Cam back. Yet charging off to confront Jason's enemies would only put her unborn child in danger. She hated hiding and she hated that she had no other choice.
The door opening startled her. Jason stumbled in and fell at her feet, blood pooling at his shoulder.