A/N: So I'm sorry for taking so long to update, but softball just started up and I haven't been able to update from lack of energy, time and not being home. Anyways, here's chapter 3! Enjoy!

Hellz-on-Earth: Thanks for the review! The Patrick and Elizabeth scenes were my favorite of the entire week. I only like Carly when she gets into it with Sam. I have no idea how Jason's going to react to Robin's death, so hopefully I portrayed it as close as possible. Yes, my favorite part of writing the chapter was the ending.

DevilJolie: Thanks for the review! I hate how Maxie ratted out Elizabeth, so I decided to have her back at work. Yes, the only one to get Jason to calm down was Elizabeth. If only that could happen on the show. I'm so fed up with how Sam is treating Patrick, it's not even funny. I agree with you saying that Sam only banned Carly from seeing Jason because she was marking her territory.

Freshman11: Thanks for the review! I'm looking for a big blowup with Sam and Carly to happen on the show. You will definitely see more Patrick in the upcoming chapters, especially with Emma, Elizabeth and even Anna. Not sure when the funeral will happen, maybe this chapter.

lostluv: Thanks for the review! I'll try to update as fast as I can, but the more reviews, the more motivated I am to update. Definitely more Liason scenes to come

Melissa2575: Thanks for the review! Thank you for your kind words. Too bad that last chapter wouldn't play out on the show, I bet you the ratings would skyrocket, but we can dream.

twin69: Thanks for the review! It was a pretty sad chapter, wasn't it? Unfortunately things have to get worse before they can get better. I'll explain what happened in the hospital room when Jason went batshit crazy on everyone ;)

Virgy15: Thanks for the review! Red is one of my favorite bands and I love all their songs. Simply amazing… What I would give to have that last scene actually happen on the show.

lrobinson01: Thanks for the review! I still don't understand why Jason got back together with Sam after all the things she did to Jake. Oh well… That won't happen here. Yes, Elizabeth is the only one who knows Jason, well, maybe except for Carly. This is the chapter where Sam experiences the backlash of not telling Jason about Robin from him The scenes between Patrick and Emma were so sad yet so cute at the same time.

L- Thanks for the review! Short and simple. I like it. Anything you would like to see happen?

Kimmy123: Thanks for the review! Glad you found it! Sam as a character is selfish. She will do anything for Jason, which isn't a bad thing, but she takes things to the extreme. I do agree with how she didn't tell Jason at first about Robin on the show, but she better fess up soon before it gets worse. Don't be mistaken, I'm not a Sam fan at all. That's just my opinion on the matter. If only Elizabeth could be there when Jason finds out about Robin.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, just the storyline.


"Love that we can not have is the one that lasts the longest, hurts the deepest and feels the strongest."


Chapter 3

Shadows

Previously on Start Again…

Jason slightly nodded. Elizabeth sadly smiled at the broken man she was holding. They looked into each other's eyes, not saying anything because there was nothing to be said. Everything they were feeling, the same feelings, were conveyed through their eyes. Finally, Jason broke down in Elizabeth's as she held his head to her chest as the Mob enforcer fought the sobs tearing through him. He gave up the fight inside him.

"Help me."

"I know it hurts."

He couldn't stop the tears that were flowing from his eyes. He hated crying in front of people, it showed how weak he was when he was supposed to be an enforcer. He nodded his head as the mother of his dead child held him close to her.

"What happened?"

Elizabeth felt Jason pull away from her and she let him go. She took a step back while Carly and Sam swarmed him. She moved back to the doorway and watched the women baby Jason. That's not what he needed. He needed to be told the truth.

"You didn't have to do that."

Elizabeth looked over at Sonny who was now sporting a nice bruise on his lower jaw.

"It's my job. Plus Jason was my friend."

"Was?"

Elizabeth sighed as she walked out of the hospital room with Sonny right behind her.

"We don't really talk much anymore, not since-"

"Jake."

Elizabeth sullenly nodded as she walked into the nurse's station and looked through the charts.

"Well, I still appreciate what you did back there. It seemed like no one was going to calm him down."

"Jason doesn't like to be handled. He wants the truth, no matter what."

"You really did get him, didn't you?"

"I thought I did."

Sonny gave her a sympathetic look as he walked back to Jason's room. Elizabeth sighed as she went through her usual morning routine. By the time lunch came around, Jason's name had popped back up on the charts. She was hesitant to go visit him after this morning's mishap. She shoved the feeling aside and decided to be an adult.

She knocked on the door quietly, but no one answered. She knocked once more.

"Go away."

She dryly smiled. Jason must be alone right now and doesn't want any attention. Plus he's the worst patient in the world.

"It's Elizabeth."

She waited for a reply.

"Come in."

She opened the door to see Jason sitting up in his bed. She gave him a small smile as she looked through his chart.

"It seems you're stabilized and your vitals are good. It looks like you're on your way to a full recovery."

Jason silently nodded as he watched the woman he thought he could have had a life with walk around checking the machines.

"Dr. Drake should be back in ten minutes to give you a full report."

She was determined to not have a deep conversation with him right now, it was too soon and she knew she would cry. She hated crying in front of people, acting vulnerable because that's not who she is. She's feisty and independent.

"Elizabeth…"

She stopped at the doorway, closing her eyes and praying that he wouldn't mention-

"Thanks, for uh, earlier. I'm sorry you had to see that."

She slowly turned around and put a smile on her face. Looking at Jason, she knew how much he was hurting. All she wanted to do was comfort him, but that wasn't her right anymore. She had only done it this morning because everyone was in shock.

"It's my job to take of my patients."

"You know what I mean."

He gave her a small smile, which she gladly returned.

"How are you holding up?"

Even when he's the one hurting, he's always making sure she's okay. That's one of the many qualities she fell in love with.

"I'm fine."

"You're lying."

"Jason, I really don't want to get into this right now."

She watched as his face fell and felt horrible, but just thinking about talking to him about Robin made the pain feel unbearable.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. It's just that I know when you're lying. Your face scrunches up and your lip quivers. And your eyes don't sparkle like they usually do."

"My eyes sparkle?"

Elizabeth smiled at the look on Jason's face.

"Oh well, I…"

"I'm not fine, but I am doing better."

He gave her a warm smile.

"I'm glad that you're okay."

Jason carefully watched her as she walked out of the room. He sighed, knowing that's not how he wanted it to go. Now she's probably going to assign another nurse to his room. He settled back onto the bed and closed his eyes. Not even two minutes later, his wife pops back in.

He tries to fake being asleep, but he can hear her sniffling. He cracks an eye open to see Sam dabbing at her eyes.

Sunset, I close my eyes
I pretend everything's alright

"Sam?"

"Oh, Jason, you're awake. Sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay. What's wrong?"

"It's nothing."

Drowning in anger from all these lies
I can't pretend everything's alright

"Sam."

He looks at her, slightly frustrated that she's not answering his question.

"I went to see Dr. Kelly."

Please don't let me fall forever
Can you tell me it's over?

He grew nervous as he tried to remember what happened earlier that morning.

"Can everyone stop staring at me and tell me what happened?"

Jason looked from person to person. Finally, Monica stepped towards him.

"Jason, you are recovering-"

God, he hated when people treated him like he was a baby. He hated being told what to do. The deeply buried anger he used to harbor for his parents lashed out.

"Monica, please, spare me the sympathies."

The hand Monica had outstretched towards him quickly retracted as if he had burned her. Technically he had with his words. He felt bad for the way he sounded, but it's the way he felt.

Monica stepped back with a hand over her mouth. Jason sighed as he looked to the distraught Patrick in the corner. He had never seen the arrogant doctor like this before. It was very discomforting.

"Patrick, what are they talking about? I'm well enough to hear anything right?"

Jason watched as Patrick stared at him. Jason took a gulp as the eyes staring back at him were dead and they weren't shining. There was nothing. Nothing.

"I can't do this."

Patrick walked out of the room with a hand over his face. Jason shook his head, the pit in his stomach growing bigger and bigger each second that was wasted that no on was saying anything.

Sam took his hand in hers and he looked at her. There were tears in her eyes.

"Jason, there was an accident."

She took a breath before continuing.

"And?"

"Well, it was an explosion in the lab."

Jason pulled his hand away from Sam's as his head processed what was happening. His hands came up to his head, trying to block out the pain that was inevitable.

"Was anyone hurt?"

He heard another sob as Carly brushed a hand through his hair.

"Jase-"

He opened his eyes and looked to Carly for the answer.

"Wait, Robin was working on my protocol in there."

Carly shook her head and took a step back from him. That was all he needed.

"Robin…she's-she's okay right? She wasn't in there during the explosion?"

Again, the silence was deafening.

"Oh God, she's…she's..."

Robin died. Robin is dead and she's never coming back.

"Jason, calm down."

His vision flickered a few times until it went black. He felt a hand on his shoulder, but he pushed it away. He heard someone fall down.

"Jason!"

There was another hand on his forearm, forcefully pushing back to his bed as he thrashed around in visible pain.

"Get off me Sonny!"

He lashed out at the person holding him down and felt his knuckles come into contact with bone. Instantly, he felt pain in his hand.

"Jason, calm down!"

The anger and pain that had been slowly building up inside him, strong enough to kill him, exploded and he couldn't stop it. He couldn't stop the wrath inside himself.

"HOW CAN I FUCKING CALM DOWN? ROBIN'S DEAD!"

He still couldn't see, but there was this light in front of him. It wasn't bright at first, but every time he tried to push someone away, it would grow brighter. Finally the light grew into a figure, some sort of person. It changed shapes into a woman. She was petite, with flawless pale skin and luscious locks of brown hair. Her eyes were the perfect size, and the color was alluring. They looked soft enough to kiss. The figure's eyes opened. They were a light blue, similar to his own. They sparkled in the light. Her eyebrows shot up in a questioningly look, making him smile.

Elizabeth

She looked like an angel. She was saying something, but he couldn't quite hear her. He watched her beautiful lips form three words.

Open your eyes.

He listened to her and there she was, standing in front of him amidst the chaos. The horrified look on her face quickly went away once she saw that he had opened his eyes and was looking at her. She quickly walked over to him and placed her soft hands on his face. They were cool to the touch, instantly soothing.

"Jason, can you hear me?"

He nodded, not wanting to speak because he was afraid of what he might say. She gave him a small smile as she watched him slowly calm down and a tear slid down her cheek. He wanted to wipe it away. He wanted to take the pain away from her. He wanted to just be with her. Jason finally broke in her arms.

"Help me."

Jason shook his head of the vision or memory or whatever the hell that was. He shouldn't feel that way about Elizabeth, not anymore. Somehow, every time he thought of her, there was some noise in the back of his head, like radio static. He couldn't focus on it long enough before someone or something else distracted him.


Elizabeth grabbed her coat from the locker and headed downstairs to check on Cameron and Aidan. They were still playing and she decided to check on Patrick and Emma, figuring she could make them dinner, then come back and pick up her boys.

There's a hate inside of me like some kind of master
I tried to save you, but I can't find the answer

She quietly opened the door to Emma's bedroom and smiled at the scene before her. Patrick was sitting on a pink wooden chair far too small for him with a tiara on his head. Emma was serving tea in plastic cups to all of her stuffed animals, Patrick included. Patrick looked up at her and she waved. He nodded and went to get up. She quickly shook her head and told him to stay. He nodded and she closed the door behind her.

Elizabeth wiped away a tear as someone knocked on the front door. She opened it to find Matt with a slightly lost look on his face. She watched him with concern as he swayed.

"I thought um... hi."

She gave him a reassuring smile as he smiled back, but it didn't reach his eyes. She looked into his eyes and all she saw was pain.

"Hi."

Matt took a shaky breath.

"Patrick's here, yeah?"

Inside, Matt was slowly breaking apart and he didn't know what he was doing. He had loved Robin like a sister, well technically she was, but he didn't know how to deal with his pain of losing her. So he thought he would stop by and visit his brother, knowing that they could through this together.

"Yeah. Come in, come in. He's in the room with Emma."

He nodded as he walked past Elizabeth and towards the sofa. He took off his jacket and sat it down on the couch. He ran a nervous hand through his ruffled jet black hair. Elizabeth was carefully watching him as if he would break down at any second.

She probably thought he was crazy, he certainly thought so.

"How's he doing? I mean obviously he's doing well-"

"He's holding up. He's being awfully strong for Emma."

"So he told her?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah."

He couldn't say anything else.

"You would have been really proud of your brother."

Matt looked up at Elizabeth in puzzlement. He could tell she was fighting off the tears threatening to fall, and he wanted to comfort her. He took another step towards her.

"You were with him?"

She slightly smiled as she looked up at him.

"We tried to explain that Mommy went to heaven and not that she knows what that is, but I think she's starting to understand that Robin's not coming back."

Matt smiled at Elizabeth, feeling better that she was there for his brother. She was a very supportive woman, something he found so attractive about her.

"Yeah, I'm glad you were with him. You know, because I don't know what I would have done..."

Matt's head dropped back down, he was trying so hard not to break down. He felt her hand on his forearm and looked to Elizabeth. She was smiling, despite the pain that was currently taking residence in the Drake household. He smiled back as her hand took hold of his and gave it a gentle squeeze.

I'm holding onto you, I'll never let go
I need you with me as I enter the shadows

"You would have been fine."

"I don't even know what I'm doing here right now."

He let go of her hand and wiped away the tears in his eyes.

"You're showing up."

Elizabeth moved closer to the younger doctor, trying to comfort one of the men fighting for her affection.

"Yeah, well doesn't feel like enough."

Elizabeth dryly smiled up at him as he bleakly looked back at her.

"Sometimes that's all we can do."

He nodded and took hold of her hand, leading her to the couch. He sat down, and she sat down next to him. Their knees were barely touching. Matt stared out in front of him as Elizabeth watched him with concern. Finally a tear slid down his cheek as she pulled him into a hug.


"What was that about this morning?"

Jason inwardly groaned as Carly showed up in his doorway. Sam had left to take a nap at their penthouse after he told her to get some rest. She had told him about how she fell after Sonny bumped into her to get to Jason. She had reassured him that it wasn't anyone's fault, she was just clumsy. Dr. Kelly said the baby was fine, but the look in Sam's eyes said she wasn't telling the whole truth. Jason had let her go, not wanting to tell with anymore stress.

"What was what about Carly?"

"You and Nurse Webber."

Here we go again.

"Nothing. She was just doing her job."

"Uh huh."

She gave him a look and he just rolled his eyes.

"I'm serious Carly. Nothing is going on. I have a wife and a baby on the way. Me and Elizabeth parted ways three years ago."

"Yeah, but you two have a history. Is it really the smartest idea for her to be your nurse? Your wife is the most jealous bi-"

"You better not finish that sentence."

Carly grinned as she sat down next to him.

"Well, I'm just warning you. If Sam sees you with Elizabeth, she's going to get suspicious, no matter how many times you say that there isn't anything going on."

"Thanks for the warning, but it's unnecessary."

"Whatever, it's your life."

"Right my life."

Carly snorted and got up.

"I shouldn't be here. I was actually banned from your room by your wife."

"What?"

"Yeah, she believed that I would hurt you. As if…"

Jason shook his head.

"Yeah, well, I'm not really Sam's biggest fan at the moment."

"What's wrong? Something happen with you and the Missus?"

Carly leaned against the doorway, determined to hear an answer.

"I'm just ticked off that Sam lied to me about Robin. Was she even going to tell me or was she going to have someone else do it for her?"

"I have no idea was goes on up in that twisted head of hers."

Jason shot her a look.

"Fine, fine. I'll go. I was just checking in on you, making sure you were okay about Robin and everything."

"How's Patrick?"

Jason was genuinely concerned about the doctor. Granted they never got along because Jason and Robin had been great lovers, but he wouldn't wish that pain on anyone.

"I'm not sure. I haven't seen him since this morning. He's probably a wreck."

Jason nodded his head in agreement.

"Well, if you see him, can you tell him I want to talk to him?"

"Jason, I'm not sure if that's the best-"

"Please Carly? For me? Your best friend."

"Ugh, fine, but you owe me."

"Fine."

"Bye Jase."


He felt Elizabeth pull away from him. They haven't been this close since the almost kiss on the boat and looked how that turned out. They could both feel the sexual tension, but both were too hurt to act on it.

Caught in the darkness, I go blind
But can you help me find my way out?

"So this isn't about me."

Matt shook his head. Elizabeth never made it about her; she was always making sure everyone else was okay first.

"You are grieving too."

Matt nodded his head again and swallowed the pain in his throat. Elizabeth got up and looked at the bills on the table, her back to him.

"Yeah, well I'm going to miss Robin everyday, but what I'm feeling doesn't even come close to Patrick and Emma. God Mac and Maxie! Have you even spoken to her?"

Even though she wasn't facing him, Matt could tell that she was trying to hold back the sobs. He got up and touched her arm.

"Not yet."

Elizabeth whirled around to face Matt.

"Well you should. She's going to need you."

Matt gave her a dumbfounded look.

"How can you even care about what Maxie needs right now?"

Another thing that made Elizabeth so alluring to Matt. She was selfless. God, what he wouldn't give to make her see how beautiful, kind, smart, and sexy she really is. She just doesn't see herself that way. She sees herself as a mother of two, friend to many and nurse to all.

"She and Robin were like sisters."

He took another step closer and risked brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Elizabeth eyebrows shot up in surprise to his forwardness, but then she realized that he needed the closeness of someone to get through this pain and she knew it couldn't be her. As much as she wanted it to be, he was still attached to Maxie and when he was sure he wasn't with Maxie anymore, then he could come to her.

"Im gonna find Maxie, okay? I'm gonna talk to her, but right now I wanna see my brother-"

Matt moved away from Elizabeth to see how Patrick was doing, but Elizabeth reached out for his wrist.

"Wait, wait, wait. No Matt, please. Just right now Patrick needs to be with Emma. Come back later. You need to go find Maxie."

Matt sighed, knowing he couldn't argue with the woman. He gave her a hug, wanting to make it last longer than it did. He felt her lips on his neck, leaving a lingering kiss and he smiled as he walked out.

Nobody hears me, I suffer the silence
Can you tell me it's over now?


"How's the baby?"

Jason watched Sam carefully, noticing that she wasn't looking him in the eyes. That meant that she was hiding something. Jason sighed in frustration. He was getting tired of Sam lying to him, no matter if it helped protect him or not. He didn't care anymore. It all hurts the same.

"Our baby is doing fine. I'm more worried about you."

There she goes again. Deflecting his questions so she can worry about him. She shouldn't be worrying about him; it wasn't good for the baby.

"Why do you keep doing that?"

"Doing what Jason?"

"Every time I ask you about the baby you always ask about me instead? I'm going to be fine. In fact, knowing that our baby is going to be fine is going to make me fine. Why is always an uphill battle with you?"

There's a hate inside of me like some kind of master
I tried to save you, but I can't find the answer

"Excuse me for caring about my husband. I didn't know that's what I wasn't supposed to do that."

Sam stood up in annoyance.

"Sam, that's not what I meant and you know it. I'm just tired of being treated like a child. Why didn't you tell me about Robin?"

"Because if I told you, it could have killed you."

"That's not true."

"Yes, it is. That's what Monica said. Jason, before you surgery, you were having blackouts without anything triggering them. What if I had told you about Robin? What if you had blacked out and never woke back up? I'm not taking that chance. I'm sorry if I hurt you by lying, but I'm not sorry I did it. You're the most important person in my life."

"Not even the baby is more important?"

Sam didn't answer his question so he knew her answer.

"I understand why you did it, I'm just mad that you lied."

"I'm sorry if you feel that way."

Sam walked out angry and just left Jason feeling guiltier for the way he was treating her. Something was changing inside him, something that had been stirring ever since he woke up from his surgery. He noticed it when he first saw Sam. He didn't get the butterflies in his stomach anymore. Her face didn't light up every time she saw him like it used to. Something had changed between them. Something that couldn't be reversed.


"Okay, so there was a minor snag with the flowers, but I was able to work it out. Where did everybody go?"

Elizabeth looked up from her laptop and pictures of Robin to see that Matt had come back.

"Anna went with Patrick to find Emma something to wear for the service."

Matt nodded as Elizabeth went back to the pictures, trying to sort them, but she was unsuccessful.

"Oh, well everyone really appreciates you helping out."

Elizabeth smiled, knowing that Matt couldn't see it. It meant the world to her to hear someone say that because she had no idea how good of a job she was doing. It was breaking her heart that she had to organize another funeral for one of her closest friends. It just didn't seem fair.

"There are so many pictures. It's so hard to choose. I'm trying to do this in chronological order, starting when Robin was little."

Matt stood next to Elizabeth and leaned closer to her to look at the picture in her hand. He chuckled as he took the picture out of her hand and sat down on the edge of the table.

"That'll be nice. Wow, okay, Robin and Maxie are so young in this one. Maxie's gotta be like six or something?"

Elizabeth got up and stood next to him to get a closer look.

"Let me see. It's hard to be mad at Maxie when this whole thing is going on."

The light atmosphere had evaporated instantly as they both thought horrific situation they were facing. Elizabeth carefully watched Matt as he looked at the picture in his hand.

"Yeah, she's taking this thing really hard. Actually I've never seen her act like this before."


"I'm going to go home."

"You sure?"

The tension between Jason and Sam was so thick. Their earlier conversation had brought up massive walls between the two of them, and Jason was sure he wasn't ready to break them down.

"Yeah, I'm going to get some rest."

Jason watched as Sam held her hands around her stomach and then she flinched.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, it's just, the baby kicked I think."

Sam shyly smiled as she brought Jason's hands up to her stomach. Jason slightly frowned.

"I don't feel anything."

He looked up at Sam to see she was very nervous. He decided to let it go, so much had happened today already.

"Oh, well, maybe later then. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah."

No I love you's, no I hope you feel better's. No nothing. Jason watched as she closed the door behind her.

This isn't working.


"You should go check on Maxie."

Matt looked over at Elizabeth with alarm.

"Oh, no. She made it abundantly clear she doesn't want me around right now."

Elizabeth slightly frowned, knowing how hard Maxie must be taking it. She sighed as she looked at Matt, knowing that he wanted to do something for her, but she wouldn't let him.

I'm holding onto you, I'll never let go
I need you with me as I enter the shadows

"Everyone deals with loss in their own way. Sometimes in the beginning you don't want anyone around and sometimes you can't imagine the day when it will hurt a little less because that means you're letting go."

He watched as her eyes teared up for what felt like the millionth time that day. He took one of her eyes and gave her a reassuring smile. He knew she was referring to Jake.

"Yeah, Maxie used to talk about how Robin was an inspiration. She felt like Robin could triumph over anything, but this accident is going to take a piece of Maxie too."

He looked down at their linked hands, reveling in the fact that she hadn't pulled away.

"Our lives will never be the same without Robin."

Matt sullenly nodded as they both came to the same grim conclusion.

"I heard that you got your job back."

Elizabeth smiled as she dabbed at her eyes and went to sit down on the couch.

"Yeah, Monica had called me and apologized. Did you have anything to do with that?"

Matt deviously smiled, but then held up his hands in innocence.

"I didn't, but Maxie did."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I made her call Monica and recant her story about you stealing drugs."

"Why? Matt, I did steal those drugs."

Matt just shrugged his shoulders and grinned. With that wolfishly handsome grin of his, Elizabeth couldn't stay mad at him for long.

"I saw Jason today."

"How's he doing? I heard Patrick was his surgeon."

"Oh, the surgery went fine. Afterwards, well not so much. Sonny, Carly, Monica and Sam were all the room when he was told about Robin."

"Ouch."

"Yeah, but that's not even the worst part. He just went on this rampage, he even punched Sonny. No one could calm him down. It was like something in him just snapped. Finally, I calmed him down enough for him to fall asleep."

"You were in there too?"

"I heard the yelling outside in the hallway and went to investigate."

Matt silently nodded as he thought about Elizabeth's romantic past. He knew about her and Jason, knowing how much they had went through. He knew he could never come close to the connection they shared, actually no one could ever come close to it, it was that strong and clear.

"I'm glad you were able to calm him down."

"Yeah, me too."

"Well, I'm going back to the hospital if you want me to give you a ride. I have a consultation to do."

"Okay, yeah, thanks. I think I've done everything I can for this slideshow. Do you wanna watch it with me?"

Matt nervously smiled at Elizabeth as she got up and sat down in front of the laptop.

"And start bawling my eyes out before I have to go back to work?"

"At least we'll be crying together."


Elizabeth was making her final rounds before heading home. The last stop was the one she had been putting off the whole evening.

She gently knocked on the door, praying that he was asleep. She opened to see him staring up at the ceiling with a faraway look in his eyes.

"Jason?"

"Yeah?"

He looked over at her and was surprised to see her standing in front of him.

"Sorry, I was just-"

"No need to apologize. It's not my business, but looking up at the ceiling and trying to picture things helps clear your mind."

Jason confusedly looked at her.

"Where did you hear that from?"

"Nothing. How are you doing?"

"Better. Haven't had any headaches."

"Well, that's a good sign. Unfortunately you're going to have to stay for a few more days."

Jason groaned at the thought of staying in this godforsaken building.

"I know how much you hate hospitals, so I thought I bring you this."

She pulled what she had from behind her back and watched as he slowly smiled.

"A guidebook to Italy?"

"Yeah, you were always reading those and I knew you always wanted to go to Italy."

"So did you."

"Yeah, maybe someday."

She handed it to him and noticed him wince in pain.

"Jason, what's wrong with your hand?"

"It's nothing."

"I think I know you better than that. I have treated you twice for gunshot wounds. Let me see your hand."

She sat down on the bed beside him and gently held his hand with her fingers, softly pressing into his skin. Once she reached his knuckles, she felt him wince and noticed that the knuckles were bruised.

"I think you've broken your hand. You're going to have to get it looked at."

"Okay."

Elizabeth looked at him in surprise. He had never agreed with her when it came to his well being.

"Okay?"

"Okay. I trust you and your judgment. If you say I have to get it looked at, then I'll get it looked at."

Elizabeth sweetly smiled.

"Where is Jason Morgan and what have you done with him?"

Jason grimly smiled.

"With Robin's death I feel like I've been taken people for granted and I'm tired of losing the ones I love."

He looked down to see that she was still holding her hand.

"I feel the same."

"Why did it have to be her? She was such a good person."

Elizabeth sighed, knowing that she had been asking herself the same question countless times.

"I don't know why Robin died. I don't know why the good people are always taken away. I have no idea."

Jason nodded and held her hand in his firmly.

"I'm sorry about Jake."

He watched as she teared up about their dead son.

"It's going to be a year soon."

There's a hate inside of me like some kind of master
I tried to save you, but I can't find the answer

Another tear fell down her cheek and he leaned in to wipe it away.

"Jason, I don't know how I'm going to get through this. Every day is a struggle and every night I see him in my dreams. Seeing my baby get hurt and not being able to do anything about it. I trying to fight off this darkness, these shadows, but I don't know what I'm going to do anymore. I'm tired of putting on a mask for everybody."

"I know, but you're going to be strong for your sons because that's just who you are Elizabeth. You're the strongest person I know. I don't have the answers for all your questions, but I'll be here to help you find them, no matter what."

I'm holding onto you, I'll never let go
I need you with me as I enter the shadows


A/N: I made this chapter extra long for taking so long to update. Lyrics to 'Shadows' by Red. I'm not sure yet, but I might have this as a Latte romance for awhile, but Liason will definitely be endgame. I enjoy the friendship that Elizabeth and Matt share, and wouldn't mind those lines being blurred from time to time. Anyways, let me know what you thought of this chapter and what you would like to happen. Until next time!