When Monica arrived, Jason was just getting out of surgery. He was in recovery when Monica saw Elizabeth. "Monica, the doctors just came out of surgery. The bullet has been taken out and there is no major damage to any of his organs. He was very lucky."

The doctors had heard about Dr. Monica Quartermaine. She was a legend up north in cardio surgery. "Dr. Quartermaine, your son came through with flying colors. No major damage was done and the bullet was successfully taken out. He is in recovery and will be here for a few days but I think that he will be fine then. We just must make sure that Jason does not get any infections. Do you have any questions?"

"No, I am fine with what you said. I heard that my daughter-in-law shot my son because she was trying to shoot the mother of another of my grandchildren. He stepped in the way to protect Elizabeth. Thank you for taking such great care of my son."

Elizabeth and Monica went out to eat while Jason was in recovery. Monica had asked her why Elizabeth moved to Florida. She told her that she needed to get away from Port Charles and the memories that the town holds for her. "Monica, I did give up Jason when I saw that he went back to Sam. I left and I had no clue that Sam felt that way. She had no reason to worry until she had those men follow me. Then I needed to find someone to help protect my sons from these men. I saw Johnny and Francis a couple of weeks before that and called them. Francis called Jason to tell him what his wife was up too and the rest they say is history."

"I believe that Jason never truly gave up on his love for you. I don't think that I ever told you that I have always admired you. You were such a great friend to Emily. We all saw you as another part of the family. When you fell in love with Jason and he fell in love with you. I know that I took out my anger on you when Jake "died". I think it was because of all the loss that I had in my life and to find out that you and Jason had a son and no one told me, it hurt. I know that I was wrong for that and I am truly sorry for that. I am so happy that he has come back and Jason has too. I wish there was a way to make Helena pay for all the damage that she has done in our lives."

The rest of the lunch was done in a nice easy silence. The food was terrific and there was a little more chit chat but the important things had been said. Elizabeth and Monica received a text from the hospital saying that Jason was up in his hospital room.

The two of the went back across the street and went up to Jason's room. Monica went in to see him first. He smiled at his mother but he was worried about Elizabeth. He didn't have a lot of strength but Monica knew that he wanted Elizabeth. He gave her son a hug and went to get Elizabeth.

"Hi! You must stop playing hero okay. Thank you for saving my life again. I love you Jason. I want you to know that. The reason I left was so that you could concentrate on your family up there. I came down here to try to forget you but I never could do that. I also did that because of the lies that I told you that kept you from your life. I am very sorry about that but everything else that we ever talked about was true. You have a place inside of me that can never be filled by anyone else but you."

Jason, just looked at Elizabeth. He tried to talk but he was too tired. "Don't fight it. I am not going anywhere and your mother is staying put too. Sam is in jail and she can stay there forever for all I care. I do think that Diane needs to know and Alexis because of Danny."

Jason held out his hand to Elizabeth. She took it and gave it a kiss. She then kissed him on the cheek. She looked at him and he was sound asleep. Monica came inside of the room. The two of them watched him sleep for a little while. The two of them left his room but didn't go far.

"I need to call Diane about Jason. She needs to know that Sam tried to shoot me and Jason got in the way. She also needs to know that Sam in is jail and that Jason will want full custody of Danny."

Monica laughed. "I bet she already knows and has the paperwork already started. I talked to her and told her before I left today. She is preparing the paperwork and Alexis knows too. I told her that Jason is going to be down here for a while so either Alexis can bring Danny down or I can go up and get him. The sooner we do this, the better it will be for all of us. Especially you, Jason and your boys. I am sorry but instead of being outnumbered 3 to 1; it will be 5 to 1."

"I think that we will need a bigger house and I need a female dog. There are some great houses in my neighborhood. Or maybe we could find one on the beach. I do need the dog though. I will be outnumbered but I love them all so I will be fine but having a dog will make me feel better if Jason has to go somewhere."

Monica and Elizabeth relaxed for a while so Jason could sleep. Francis and Johnny were entertaining the boys. They heard what Jason did for their mother and were crushed to see that Jason got hurt. Francis told them that Jason was a survivor and that his mother and their mother were taking care of him.

Jake asked if he could go to see him. Francis promised once he was recovering that they would all go see him. The boys decided to make some pictures and a funny video to make Jason laugh.

Johnny had come back to relieve Francis. Someone had to go work at the bar. Johnny was there for the past couple of hours but now it was getting close to the time when the entertainment was there and Francis had made all the rearrangements.

There were several people trying to get in touch with Jason. The head nurse had to go ask Monica to talk to them because they kept calling. Monica knew that Carly was probably the one that was causing the most fuss. She knew how Carly thought and she wanted to spare Elizabeth as much as she could.

Monica got the phone and asked who was there. "Monica, is that you? How is Jason? Should I fly down to Florida to see him? Who shot him and why did he go follow Elizabeth anyway?"

"First, Jason will be fine in a few days. Sam shot him when Jason got in front of Elizabeth. No, there is no need for you to come down. When he gets better, I will have him call you, okay."

"I don't mind going down there. I need to know why he would go after Elizabeth when he was happily married to Sam. It doesn't make any sense."

"Jason went down to Florida to protect Elizabeth because Sam put a hit out on Elizabeth and her sons. Jason realized that he made a mistake and knows that he loves Elizabeth and not Sam. Sam is in jail now and I guess that is where she is going to stay until her court date. She has a bond but her family is not helping her out and neither are we. If you help her out, then Jason will know that you rather be friends with someone who tried to kill him instead of him. He will not like that."

"I understand. Just make sure that he calls me. Thank you." Carly hung up and Monica was ready for a drink.

"I don't know how Jason puts up with the women in his life. Carly is thinking about coming down here to take care of him. I told her no and when he is able he will call her."

"Monica, I can stay here till he wakes up. You look tired. I know that you have a hotel but you can stay at my home if you like or I can have Johnny or Francis take you to your hotel."

"Thank you. The hotel is just around the corner. Do you mind if I borrow your vehicle and I will be back in the morning unless something comes up? You have my number and I have yours so we should be all set."

"Yes, here are my keys. I will tell Jason that you have been here and that you had to put up with Carly. I will text you as soon as he wakes up. Drive safe. I am so glad that you came down but I wish it was for a happier reason."

The two women hugged each other and Elizabeth walked Monica to her vehicle. Elizabeth then went back inside and stayed by Jason's side. A few hours later, Jason woke up. He saw that Elizabeth was by his side and that she had fallen asleep. She looked so beautiful and all he wanted to do was touch her but he was afraid of waking her up. She sensed that he was awake and opened her eyes.

"You caught me. I was supposed to stay up for you but here I am sleeping on the job. Have you been awake long? Your mother is at the hotel relaxing right now. She deserves a reward for putting up with Carly. Your mother promised her that when you are up to it, that you would call her."

Jason just looked at her. He looked at her and the two held hands. His hands were rough and bruised. Her hands were soft and touchable. "Thank you for staying with me. You didn't have to do that. I screwed up your life again and I am surprised that you will even look at me."

"Jason, I love you. I have for so long that I don't even remember when I started. I know that I never have stopped loving you. You didn't screw up my life. I left because it hurt to see you and Sam together and happy. I wanted that for you but being there was too hard. She made a big mistake coming after me though because that is what brought you back to me in the first place. I would love to think that it is more but that is why you did come."

"I love you too. I never stopped but I did try to love Sam because she was my wife. I am not sure if I loved her before I "died" or if I was going with the motions. She is out of our life but Danny is not. He is a great little boy and as soon as I can, I want him down here. Can you handle having him down here? I know it might be hard at first especially since he will be a reminder that Sam and I were together."

"Danny is a great little boy. He is so sweet and so much fun to be around. I know that Jake adores him and his brothers like him too. You have no worries with me. He is your son and soon he will be ours. I am sorry. I hope that I haven't overstepped right not. I hope that you will stay down here with us. I know that Jake would love that and so would I. Cameron has always adored you but Aiden, he is a bit different. He may take a bit longer. His father, Lucky is never around and it has hurt him. He doesn't really trust that well but he adores Johnny and Francis. I think that in no time that he will adore you too."

Elizabeth gave Jason a kiss on his cheek and then walked away to send the text to Monica. She told Elizabeth thank you and if he needed her that she would be right back. If not, she was going to sleep.

Elizabeth texted back that he would be fine. She was just about to go get his doctor and return to his room.

The doctor examined him and was very happy at what he was seeing. There would be a few tests in the morning but hopefully he would be released the day after that. Elizabeth called home and told the boys good night and that Jason was out of surgery and getting better. Johnny said that he would stay the night and the next day bring the boys over to see Jason and then take them to school.

The nurses put a cot in Jason's room for Elizabeth to sleep on. She soon fell asleep next to Jason. When the nurses came to check on Jason in the middle of the night, Elizabeth was sleeping while holding Jason's hand.

Sam had tried to get in touch with her parents but they didn't accept the charges. Sam could afford a decent lawyer due to Jason taking the money out of their joint accounts. The money in Sam's account was next to nothing. She never had to worry about money until that point. Now, she was sitting in jail for attempted murder. There was a public defender handling her case and that of another hundred or so clients. Sam knew that she would be in that jail for a while before she even got to trial. She wanted to make bond but no one was around to help her.