Chapter Three

Later on May 3rd

Elizabeth Home

Elizabeth knew she was in shock. It had set in after leaving Alexis office. With Cameron and Jake safe at her Grandmother's house for the remainder of the day and overnight, Elizabeth decided to return home. By the time the shock had warn off, the afternoon sun had cast a multitude of shadowed patterns across the silent and still living room. She had no concept of the time passing, no idea how long she had been sitting on the sofa staring at the phone on the coffee table. She was too lost in her thoughts. Outwardly she appeared as still and calm as everything else in the room. Inwardly she was anything but calm and still, only the small pulse beat in her temple gave hint to her inner turmoil. In the quiet of her home, accusing voices inside her head shouted at her and forced her to reassess the events of the last few years. With new eyes she examined every decision and every choice she'd made since learning she was carrying Jason's child. Since she had spoken to Alexis earlier that morning she had experienced a myriad of emotions. Initially it was complete and utter disbelief, how had this happened? The disbelief gave way to overwhelming, gut wrenching terror for her boys, and she almost gave in to the impulse to call Jason and beg for his help. But rage soon followed, she had promised she wouldn't call and she wouldn't. She couldn't, at least not yet.

After the rage, when she had worked through her own mind ways to deal with her situation, a numbness had set in leaving her with an overwhelming feeling of helplessness. There was nothing she could do to stop it or to protect herself and the boys. It was she, not Jason, who was the true danger to her boys. But unlike Jason she had no real skills or idea of how to protect Jake and Cameron. All day her mind raged with the options available to her. The nagging thought of how best to protect her children and herself from Helena and Tom and knowing there was nothing. Her decisions based on her fears about what "could" happen had left them all vulnerable. Never in her wildest dreams would she have thought she, herself and the Spencer's would bring danger to her children's lives. She realized she was just as guilty as Port Charles in their judgment of Jason and Sonny. She never dealt with her own actions or what the Spencer's were capable of or involved in. She had chosen Lucky as the safest option yet he was anything but safe.

Putting aside The Spencer/Cassadine war that she had happily participated in, there was also Tom Baker. A man who in his sick mind had an obsession for her, considered her his, he would not like the fact that she had moved on from the pain he'd caused her to have a life and a family. He would see her boys as an obstacle to his plans to have Elizabeth. Yes Tom Baker was a different kind of danger, but a danger none the less.

For awhile she wallowed in self pity until finally she realized she had a duty of care to Cam and Jake and she came to her decision. Once the decision was made, she calmed and started to formulate a plan. Slowly she picked the phone up off the table and made her first phone call.

"Max Giambetti"

"Hello Max it's Elizabeth Webber"

"OH wow Miss Webber! How are you?"

"I'm good thanks Max and call me Elizabeth. I have a favor to ask you"

"OH OK sure Mis…Elizabeth! What can I do for you?"

"It's not something I can ask over the phone. It won't take very long but could you come to my house?

"Sure I can"

"I mean right away? It's very urgent Max"

"Okay! Is this something I need to tell Jason about?"

"NO! No Max. Jason doesn't need to know. Can you please just come right away?"

"Alright! I'll be there in about 20minutes"

"Thank you Max"

"I'll see you soon"

Elizabeth sighed, "Well that was easy" and proceeded with her next call.

"Dianne Miller"

"Hi Dianne, it's Elizabeth Webber""Oh Elizabeth, what a pleasant surprise. What can I do for you"

"I need your professional help. I was wondering if you would meet me at the Metro Court for drinks this evening, say around 9pm?"

"Well certainly Elizabeth. I hope everything is alright""Not really Dianne but your legal advice may ease my mind a bit"

"Alright I'll see you later then"

"Thank you"

Another easy phone call, but then Elizabeth didn't expect anything different from Max or Dianne. There was one last call to make and that would not be so easy, but the timing wasn't right. She needed to get legal advice from Dianne before making her next call. Elizabeth proceeded to pack bags for herself, Cameron and Jake. She was moving in to the Metro Court until she was sure Cameron and Jake were safe and then she would wait it out and deal with Helena and Tom when they showed up.

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Evening May 3rd - The Metro Court

Elizabeth sat at the table the waiter had directed her to, waiting for Dianne. Her eye's darted about the room several times. She had to stay alert, Luke had taught her that much. Helena was always stealth personified. So it was a given Elizabeth wouldn't see her approach, just feel it when it was too late and hope that she could fight back when she did. As dangerous as Helena was, Elizabeth had beaten her at her own game. Tom was different, he'd beaten her. She'd survived but he'd won in the struggle. It was a small relief to know that Max would help her and she wouldn't be totally defenseless when the time came.

Flashback

"I don't understand Elizabeth. Why do you want a gun?"

"Why does anyone want a gun Max? For protection." she tried to soften the words with a smile but it came out shaky.

"If you need protection you need to speak to Jason or Sonny. Jason wouldn't like you having a gun"

"Well then Jason shouldn't have taught me how to use a gun" she retorted.

"That's not what I meant. I don't like the idea either. What or who do you think you need to protect yourself from?" Max didn't like it. He didn't like her request, he didn't like the idea of sweet beautiful Elizabeth Webber being scared enough to want to carry a gun. His protective instincts were sharpened and like the guard dog he was his hackles were up at anything that would hurt her.

Elizabeth eye's closed tiredly and she searched for the right words but ended up only pleading.

"Max please. This is not something I want to tell Jason about. He'll know soon enough and I just need to know that I can protect myself. Please Max! Alexis is organizing a permit for me, now I need you to at least recommend something to me. I don't know anything about them except how to shoot them. Please Max just some advice"

"I want to know who's threatening you" he replied stubbornly.

Elizabeth smiled in resignation and patted him on the arm.

"You know what? I'm sorry Max. I just realized I put you in a terrible position with Sonny and Jason. They would expect you to tell them and I would insist you didn't. I'm sorry, please forgive me and forget I asked. I'm sorry for taking up your time and dragging you all the way out here for no reason." She told him tiredly as she made to move past him and headed towards the door to see him out. But he stopped her.

Taking her hands in his.

"I don't like this, I don't like that you won't go to Sonny or Jason about this, but you've never asked me for help before so I figure it must be important. I'll get you a gun and arrange for it to be registered to you."

Elizabeth sighed in relief, removing her hands from his to grab the large man by the shoulders, hugging him in thanks.

"Thank you'

"But you have to promise me that if you need me you will call me. Right away" he demanded.

"Yes! I will. I promise"

End Flashback.

"Elizabeth?" Dianne's quiet enquiry snapped Elizabeth back to reality.