Chapter Three
The next day Jason watched as a cage like structure was assembled on the deck. It reminded him of the cells at the PCPD. Only smaller. He imagined that Taggert would love to sick him or Sonny in something like that. Steve had explained what is was for but Jason had a hard time believing anyone in their right mind would trust that with their lives. Steven seemed more than will too though. "Need any help?" He finally asked Johnny.
"No it's nearly done. I just want to double check everything before Lizzie gets in it." "Elizabeth is getting in that thing?"
"Well yeah." Johnny took in his boss's harsh glare. "Don't look at me like that. It's part of her job. What did you think she was here to do?"
Jason continued to glare at the other man. Johnny had a point. Elizabeth was certainly expected to do what Steven brought her here to do. Still it bugged the hell out of him that they would let her risk her life like this. Why did it matter? Why did she suddenly matter? Jason wasn't blind to the fact Elizabeth was a very beautiful women. It wasn't that though. Something inside Jason was demanding he protect her. Maybe it was last night. The way she opened herself up to him. Whatever it was Jason realized it was more than desire to bed her. Not that he hadn't thought about it. He had. Maybe too much.
"Okay. What can I do?" Elizabeth's voice called out as she stepped on to the deck.
Jason's jaw practically dropped when he saw what she was wearing. As a far as swimsuits went it was rather modest. But Jason found himself staring at Elizabeth anyways. Johnny noticed Jason's reaction and found t very interesting. Maybe this whole trip wasn't such a bad idea after all. "Noting Lizzie. In fact I'm nearly done." "Good you know how Steven gets when things go awry. We wouldn't have a tantrum the first day." "No. We defiantly don't want that." "You think?"
"Jason's a little unsure about the whole thing." "Awe. You're worried about me. Don't worry I'll be fine. I'm just going to be taking some pictures." "Why doesn't Steven do it?"
Elizabeth laughed at the suggestion. "He can barely operate a Polaroid let alone an underwater camera. Relax. I know what I'm doing." "You do know there are sharks in that water?"
"Of course. Come on, Jason. That's kind of the point of all this. Elizabeth said with a laugh. I promise I will be okay. It's sweet of you to worry though."
Sweet? Jason thought. Did she have any idea what she was doing to him? He looked at her once more and decided that she had no clue. If she did he would be in some serious trouble. "Just be careful." "I will."
Jason went below deck he didn't want to watch Elizabeth risk her life. Jason knew he wasn't being rational but he didn't care. When several hours he heard a commotion on deck he knew something had gone wrong. He immediately rushed to see what it was.
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Elizabeth loved the water. It was so calming. That's part of the reason she agreed to help Steven out this summer. She didn't expect to meet someone like Jason. Especially after she learned who was helping Steven out. Still there was no denying there was something between them. She heard the rumors about him and his partner. What they did. For some reason it didn't matter to her. She liked Jason. Elizabeth got the feeling not many people saw the side of him that he was showing her. What did that saw about things?
Elizabeth shook her head. Now was not the time to be thinking about her love life. She nearly laughed at the thought. A sharp jarring of the cage brought her back to her sense. She should know better. You had to be completely aware around sharks. Great Whites especially. Another shark hit the cage causing her to slam against the other side. Her body hitting the cage forcefully. When she did another shark brushed against her body. The rough skin of the shark left marks but thankfully they didn't bleed. A few second later she felt the small cage being raised. She knew Steven and Johnny had seen the commotion and acted. It was why she hadn't been afraid. She trusted them both.
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Fury was the first and only emotion that registered when Jason saw Elizabeth. She was shaking and something obviously happened. "What in the hell O'Brien?"