Chapter 3 - Three weeks later
Jason raced through the doors of General Hospital. He knew he was only a few minutes behind the ambulance transporting Elizabeth and Lucky. He had to find her and make sure she was alright. He'd asked many times at the docks but she hadn't seemed to hear him, she was preoccupied with Lucky and his pain. Jason's first impulse had been to pick Lucky up and carry him to the hospital in a bid to calm the absolute fear in Elizabeth's eyes. But that long buried instinct, which he could only attribute to the forgotten Jason Quartermaine, told him that was wrong. Lucky needed to be kept immobilized and calm, to minimize any further trauma or damage to his back. Elizabeth was calling for an ambulance and Jason took over to give their location. Together they worked side by side to help Lucky until the ambulance had arrived and Jason had watched them load Lucky in to the back and Elizabeth follow to sit beside him. His last glimpse of her had been as she turned to look out of the ambulance doors a fraction of a second before they closed and mouthed the words "Thank You".
He scanned the hospital for a familiar face and saw Emily, he didn't hesitate.
"Where's Elizabeth?" he demanded not attempting to disguise his fear.
"With Lucky. They're examining him now." Emily replied her concern for not only Elizabeth and Lucky but Jason too, apparent in her eyes.
"What about Elizabeth? She needs to be examined too. That sick bastard had a knife at her throat." He informed who through a clenched jaw.
"I'll check on her. You wait here and I'll come back with news as soon as I can." She told him over her shoulder as she hurried off.
Jason watched her walk away. It felt so awkward to be around Emily, knowing that she was involved with Sonny. When did he loose his ability to make her see sense? He shook his head, she was safe in the hospital. Startled, he realized that wasn't true. Manny had abducted Elizabeth while she was going about her daily work, in the hospital. Jason sat down exhausted on the couch in the waiting area. What was it with this town? That the places you should be safe you weren't.
Jason had let Elizabeth go 4years ago for her own good, to protect her from his life style. Yet in those years since, she had been drugged and nearly killed by her own husband who claimed to love her and she'd been run over. Her husband was a cop, but still she was in danger. Jason realized that the danger didn't only exist in his business it was everywhere. He wondered if his decision 4 years ago had really protected Elizabeth or had it put her in a different kind of danger. Maybe instead of protecting her and saving her life, Jason had failed her and left her in more danger than when they had been together. Those kinds of thoughts had been his constant companion for weeks now, and they were torturing him with "what if" questions.
This damn town, what was wrong with it? He was tired, he wasn't sleeping well. The realization of what he'd set in motion and what was happening to Sonny's business right under his nose, threatened to overwhelm him. But this situation only proved to him that he was right. If Sonny had been paying attention, instead of romancing and trying to impress Emily, Manny would have been taken care of weeks ago and this abduction of Elizabeth could never have happened. He had told Sonny as much. They were together arguing when Jason got the call about Elizabeth. He'd exploded at Sonny. He blamed him and told him there was no going back. Sonny was aware of what Jason would be doing and he would be trying to counter it. But Jason had anticipated that, after all Sonny wasn't paying attention, and because of that there was nothing Sonny could do.
He just needed to see Elizabeth. He got up and walked in the direction Emily had gone in search of Elizabeth. He saw her through the glass in the swinging doors and hesitated. Her shoulders were hunched and he knew from the way her shoulders were shaking she was crying. Where was Emily? Elizabeth needed her. He looked around for Emily with no luck and with no further thought Jason pushed through the swinging doors and quietly put a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder so as not to startle her. She leaned in to that support and Jason gave in to instinct and wrapped his arms around her from behind, as Elizabeth gave in to the sobs that wracked her. He rocked her soothingly, trying to calm her, his voice a whisper in her ear "Elizabeth..shhhh. It's alright. You're safe. Lucky's safe and the doctors will help him."
She turned slowly in his arms and he loosened them but couldn't let go completely. She brought her hands up to rest against his chest, raising watery eyes to look in to his.
"I knew you would come save me Jason. I always trusted you to do that" she told him with complete conviction and Jason froze. That's what she'd said in that awful nightmare right before he shot her.
"I know you do. I'll always save you Elizabeth, as long as you trust me and let me help you. I knew you were going to make that move and I knew you trusted me to take that shot. You helped save yourself." His voice soft and comforting.
"Why do I trust you so much and not Lucky? It didn't even occur to me to make a move like that so Lucky could take the shot. But somehow I knew you would and could do it. What is wrong with that picture Jason? That I trust you and not Lucky?" Elizabeth muttered in confusion, her eyes begging him to make her understand.
"I don't know Elizabeth, I'm just happy you do. I always seem to be around at the right place at the wrong time?" he smiled weakly.
"Or the wrong place at the right time? it depends on your perspective I guess." her watery eyes attempted to return his smile and almost crumbled.
"Does that even make sense?" he asked as he pulled her closer, dropping his chin to rest on her head "I mean I've never really understood it, the right place at the wrong time, or the wrong place at the right time. All I know is it shouldn't have happened and I'm just thankful you are safe." He nuzzled her hair, saying a silent prayer that she was safe.
He felt her move, as her body adjusted slightly, to fit itself more closely to his. Her head tipped back to look at him as her hands smoothed up over his chest towards his shoulders as Jason gave in to the urge to tighten his arms around her once more. Her eyes never leaving his as she smiled "Jason let me thank you properly."
She reached up on the tips of her toes, wrapping her arms around Jason's neck and pulling him lower. Her head moved to the side so that her lips were close to his ear. "Thank you Jason for rescuing me. Again." she whispered.
Jason gave in to the relief he felt at the strength in her arms and relished the tingle of awareness that traveled down his spine. She must be alright. She was so small, he always felt like a giant who was capable of smothering her when he hugged her. At least that was until he got her in his arms. How could someone so small fit so perfectly in his own embrace? It reminded him of when he had come home the last time and they ended up in her studio. She had told him she wanted him and he'd been ecstatic. Lucky had hurt her, but he didn't care that was the reason she was seducing him. Yes that's right his very own Elizabeth Webber had tried to seduce him. He smiled at the memory. He didn't question her eagerness to make love he just gave in to it. He realized he was going to get the woman he'd spent the best part of a year fantasizing about. It hadn't worked out that way of course, she called a halt before things got to out of hand. But it was a great memory, one of Jason's favorites, which he'd called on many times since. He loved Elizabeth's studio. It was one of the few places he ever felt truly happy and content.
Emily entered through the swinging doors as Jason and Elizabeth broke apart.
"You didn't wait?" Emily questioned him, noting the closeness of the couple.
"No, you took to long." He muttered awkwardly. He turned his attention to Elizabeth "Will you be alright Elizabeth?" his voice softened in concern.
"Yes Jason thank you again for saving my life and Lucky's" she told him, straightening.
"I have to thank you too. I can't do with out Elizabeth and Lucky" Emily told him, her voice faltering.
Jason didn't answer, he couldn't. Instead he focused on Elizabeth and stepped forward to plant a firm kiss to Elizabeth's forehead as he headed for the doors, all but shouldering Emily out of his path. Elizabeth saw Emily's face fall, she was crushed that her brother was ignoring her "thank you". He stopped at the door to look back at Elizabeth.
"Take care Elizabeth. If there is anything you need just call me, please. OK?" he asked.
Looking at him intently and feeling Emily's hurt she nodded "Yes. There is one thing."
Jason let go of the door turning his full attention to Elizabeth "Name it"
"Be nice to your sister." She demanded.
"E liz a beth" he groaned. He didn't want to talk to Emily it was too hard.
"You said I could ask anything." Elizabeth accused softly. He looked at her knowing there was nothing he could deny her.
"Alright" he gave in smiling at Elizabeth. He hesitated and turned solemn eyes to his sister. "Bye Emily, look after Elizabeth."
They both watched him exit, Emily's face crumpling as she lost the fight to stem the flow of tears. Elizabeth feeling her distress put a comforting arm about her shoulders, as she sobbed her hurt.
"He's so angry I'm starting to wonder if he'll ever forgive me."
"He's not angry. He's scared and today only made it worse for him. Manny could just as easily have grabbed you." Elizabeth told her as she squeezed her arm.
"It was a random act, it could have happened to anyone. So why does mine and Sonny's relationship get blamed?" Emily asked incredulous.
Abruptly Elizabeth removed her arm to face Emily front on, annoyance and frustration sharpening her tongue and raising her voice, as she gripped her shoulders, shaking them.
"Oh God Emily. Grow UP. Stop living in a romantic haze, this is not Nikolas you are involved with. You need to face reality, this is Sonny Corinthos. What happened with Manny wasn't random. He was after Skye, because Lorenzo betrayed him. I tried to protect her and he grabbed me instead. That it is what you are signing up for with Sonny. That is what Jason was trying to protect me from 4 years ago. The difference is Jason doesn't pretend, but Sonny does. Sonny doesn't want you to see that side of his life. He'll deny it even exists. Jason warned you Sonny is broken and he's looking to you to make him better, when really he is what he is."
Just as abruptly Emily pulled herself together and straightened to her full height, denial in every bone of her body.
"Well thank you for that lecture but I think I know Sonny better than you do."
"GOD it's that attitude and that denial that Jason is scared of most. That and your ability to hang on to your sanity around Sonny. You are a fool! You are in love with him and that makes you blind. You may know him better than I do, but my opinion is not based on a desire to only see the good. Yours is, and that scares the hell out of me and Jason." Elizabeth told her bitterly. "One other thing, just remember you don't know him better than Jason and if you think you do, then Jason is to late you've already lost your mind, just like Carly."
Elizabeth turned on her heel and walked back through the swinging doors, not witnessing the shock and hurt on Emily's face, but knowing it was there anyway. She was angry and she'd taken it out on Emily. She'd apologize later for her tone but not her opinion. She wanted to find Jason again. She used the telephone at the nurses station and dialed Jason's cell.
"Morgan"
"Jason it's Elizabeth"
"What's wrong is it Lucky?"
"We weren't finished" she told him.
"I know. But I thought you'd want to talk to Emily"
"hmm well turns out I only wanted to lash out at her. Can you come back to the hospital or can I meet you somewhere?" Elizabeth asked.
"I can head back to the park across from the hospital. I'll be about 5minutes." He replied.
"See you then. " Elizabeth told him and ended the phone call.
Elizabeth saw Jason first and ran to him, throwing her arms a round him.
"I get it Jason and I'm so sorry I got angry with you the other day. I may not like what you did 4years ago but I don't blame you and I'm not angry any more, I forgive you. I understand why you did it and agree you have to do it for Emily too. She is in denial. She can only see the good in him and I swear to God Jason she thinks because she's in love with him she knows him better than anyone, even you." Elizabeth rambled.
"It's alright Elizabeth." he told her soothingly, loving the way she was rambling. "I've set everything in motion." He confessed.
"What did you do?" Elizabeth asked intrigued.
"I took Sonny's business. I've been working on it for weeks, ever since the night Sonny nearly got Em killed. If he wants it back he has to give up Emily." He admitted.
"You think the business means more to him than Emily?" Elizabeth questioned not believing Jason's plan could work.
"I don't know. Sonny feels entitled to this business because in his eyes he built it from the ground up. In actual fact he caught some lucky breaks over the years. He was minor league when he first came here, and Frank Smith took him under his wing. When Luke came back and killed Frank he didn't want the business so Sonny took over. Then he got Lily's father's business. It's not hard to kill a man who is already on his death bed." Jason recounted in a matter of fact tone.
"Anyone listening would think you hated Sonny and I know you don't" Elizabeth pointed out to him.
"Right now? I've never hated him until now. Sonny is good at running the business, but he's never really had to do his own dirty work. Someone has always done it for him…Like me. I will do it again too, but not until he gives my sister up. He won't do it at first he'll rebel but eventually he'll give in, and then I'll give the business back." He related the facts as he saw it, then turned his full attention to her "You are the only person I can talk to about this and yet you are the one person I shouldn't talk to. This business is everything you hate." His tone was apologetic.
"You can't talk to Sam?"
"Sam and I are at each other all the time. She doesn't agree with my stance so I've told her to stay out of it." He replied shortly. Elizabeth blinked, absorbing the information.
"What about Carly?" she suggested.
"Ah well she's to much the other way. I think she'd like to rip Emily a new head" he replied with a ghost of a smile, which Elizabeth returned. There it was in a nutshell, he could only count on Elizabeth to be even headed and support him.
"You can talk to me anytime. I will help you if I can." she assured him.
Jason stared at her, her beautiful face and his mind whirled in rewind "You are so beautiful" he whispered.
"Jason?" she looked at him puzzled.
Jason smiled, momentarily forgetting the serious subject at hand, and instead feeling free for the first time in his life to look at Elizabeth the way he always wanted to. Now that she knew how it was for him. He smiled.
"It's not right that I want to kiss a married woman is it?" He was deliberately being playful and flirty to lighten the mood and she welcomed it.
"No." She told him sternly and then with a ghost of a smile teased "Which married woman?"
"YOU" he declared, his face a broad sexy smile, only for her.
"Oh..just checking. "she moved out of his arms and flicked him a flirty smile over her shoulder 'I have to get back to work"
"That's right run away" he joked
"It's safest" she told him truthfully.
"Bye Elizabeth" he wanted the last word, but he wasn't sure she'd allow him it.
"Bye Jason "
He was smiling as he turned to walk away. He liked to flirt with Elizabeth she had never been very good at it and could never wipe the blushing smile from her face when she tried. It was cute to watch her attempt it.
"Jason?" she called and he turned to find her watching him. "Did anyone ever tell you that you have a great butt?"
His smile broadened and threatened to engulf his whole head.
"No No I don't think they ever did. " He realized she had gotten better at the flirting…damn that woman was under his skin.
She couldn't help smiling as she walked away. But it faded as she got closer to the hospital and reality of what was waiting for her and Lucky with his injury. It would be a tough painful road.
