A/N – Thanks for the comments – Guest – Sorry you won't give it more of a chance. I'm not writing the story you described. Her sassiness is due to her hurt. She's on a journey to find out who she is separate from that hurt and she's young. It's not far off from how she was when she first came to town. And it's not like she's going to be shooting a gun the entire fic. She's not an enforcer. But she's in a mafia family so of course she'd make sure she could use one and could protect herself. But thanks for wishing me luck anyway! I knew this story probably wouldn't appeal to everyone, but that's okay.

klj5017a - Thanks for getting it! It's going to be angsty with a good twist thrown it. Thanks!* ilovedana53 - The OB aspect is hard for me to write because I love him. * doralupin86 - mother detail will be addressed way later * kikimoo - Johnny and Nathan are her guards. They switch off (one in each organization actually).

All I will say about Lucky is that I hated that pairing to the 9th degree.

Chapter 3 – House Swap

Jason sat up and Carly knelt next to him. "Are you okay?"

He nodded. "I'm fine. I think she hit her head before she went in or at least had the wind knocked out of her."

"I suppose you have no idea who was shooting at you." Lucky said sharply.

Carly frowned. "No one was shooting at Jason. He wasn't even with us."

Her cousin got on her last nerve with his holier than thou attitude.

Lucky rolled his eyes. "Well between you and Jason, I'm sure someone was gunning for you."

"Shut up Lucky." Jason spat. "Can't you give it a rest for five freaking minutes?"

Lucky glared at Jason but decided to keep quiet.

The EMT's put Liz into the ambulance and Max got in the back with her. Nathan helped Jason to his feet. "I already called Marco, he's bringing you some clothes."

Maya had gotten up and sat on a bench. Jason quietly sat next to her. "You okay?"

"No." She said softly. "I'm far from okay Jason."

He closed his eyes. He was going to miss her. At this point, he wasn't even sure why he bothered dating. They all left anyway. "I'm sorry."

She wiped her face. "It wasn't your fault Jason."

"You don't know that."

She looked up at him. "You know that I really like you right?"

He nodded.

"You are devastatingly handsome and I love spending time with you. But, I don't think I can handle all of this. I was scared to death. I—I froze like a complete idiot." She said as the tears started to flow again.

Jason reached up and wiped one away. "I understand Maya. And for the record, I really like you too." And sensing what was coming next, he really didn't want to hear her say it.

With a sob, she hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry." She said softly. Pulling back and standing up she said the two words that always made him cringe. "Goodbye Jason."

God he hated the word goodbye. He let out the breath he was holding and stared into the water as she walked away. Marco put at hand on his shoulder and sat a bag down next to him.

"Come on. Let's go see how Elizabeth is."

Jason stood up and walked over to the warehouse to change.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Elizabeth answered all of Patrick's questions with a monotone voice. He smirked at her bored expression. "Well, I don't think you have a head injury. You probably just got the wind knocked out of you."

She nodded. "So, can I go?"

"Not yet. We're going to have to monitor you for a few hours and you need to stay under those warming blankets. You swallowed a lot of water too. So, we're just being cautious."

Elizabeth sighed. "Can you go get my big lug of a brother who's probably blubbering all over the hallway?"

Patrick chuckled. "Sure."

She watched him walk away knowing that it was a close call but she didn't want to make a big deal out of it. Max walked into the room. "Hey, are you sure you're alright."

She nodded. "I'm fine. So, how did I end up in the water?"

Max explained everything including how Jason jumped in and pulled her out.

"You can't tell dad."

Max's face contorted. "Elizabeth be reasonable." He sputtered.

"Max, he will come here if he thinks I'm hurt. It's better that he doesn't know."

"He always finds out and then he'll be really mad when he figures out that we lied to him."

She was about to speak when she looked up and saw Jason standing there. Max followed her gaze and stood up, waving him inside.

"Hey." He said slowly making his way into the room. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm going to live." Liz said smiling. "Thank you for saving me."

He nodded. "I'm just glad that I was there."

Elizabeth could see Johnny out in the hallway and Max muttered something under his breath and walked outside.

"He's very protective."

Jason smiled. "I'm the same way with my little sister."

She nodded. "You weren't hurt were you?"

"No, I'm fine."

Milo came running into the room. "Max called."

"Please tell me you didn't call dad."

Milo turned red.

"Milo! How could you!" She yelled.

"But…."

"Are you freaking crazy? Do you really want dad breathing down our necks?"

The last thing she needed was her overbearing father showing up on her doorstep. One time, he actually showed up at her college and stayed in her dorm room for a week. She was mortified.

Her monitor started to beep because her blood pressure had spiked.

"All right, everyone out." Epiphany yelled. "Now."

Elizabeth was shocked as Milo went scurrying out of the room. "Wus." She yelled out which made Jason chuckle.

"That means you too Mr. Morgan." Her tone wiped the smile right off his face.

"Epiphany, I wasn't the one making her blood pressure rise and I don't want to leave her alone."

The nurse rolled her eyes. "You're lucky you're cute Mr. Morgan. Now, sit down and don't do anything to upset her or else."

Elizabeth fought back a laugh and waited for Epiphany to leave. "Wow, she's tough. Maybe you and Sonny should hire her."

"Don't think we haven't tried." Jason said smiling. "Do you want me to call your father and assure him that you're okay?"

Liz smirked. This was going to be good. "Sure." She said crossing her arms. "Why don't you call him right now?" She knew that her father was probably already packing.

Jason handed her his phone and Elizabeth dialed and then handed it back.

"Mr. Giambetti, it's Jason Morgan."

Maximus frowned. "How is my daughter?"

"She's fine. I'm looking right at her."

"Have they released her yet?"

"No, they want to monitor her but everything is fine so far."

"I understand that it was you who pulled her out of the water."

"Yes sir."

"I'm eternally grateful to you Mr. Morgan."

And he truly was. He didn't know what he would have done if something had happened to his only daughter.

"I'm glad that I was there."

"Now, do I need to come out there? I don't even understand how any of you let this happen. I'm starting to doubt your reputation." Maximus said suddenly overcome with anger.

Jason sucked in a breath and Elizabeth tried not to laugh. "I—I will double her security detail and will personally oversee her protection from here on out." Jason said trying to appease the man.

Maximus smiled. The cool enforcer had stuttered. That was quite unexpected. "I do not want her to be alone in that big house. You will stay there with her and keep an eye on her."

Jason started to stutter again. "But—but…."

"Mr. Morgan, I could have lost my little girl today. She is the only little girl that I have. You will move in with her for the foreseeable future or I will." He threatened.

Jason swallowed hard and glared at Elizabeth who had tears coming down her face from watching Jason's expressions.

"Yes Mr. Giambetti."

"Good. I'll check with you in a few days. And tell Elizabeth to call me when she is released."

"Yes Sir."

Jason ended the call.

"Is he coming?" Elizabeth asked as she wiped her eyes and got her laughter under control.

"No." He said angrily.

"You rock. So then what's the problem? You looked pissed."

"I have to move into the house with you." He said quietly.

She frowned. "What!" She yelled. "I am not a freaking child who needs a babysitter."

Her monitor started going off and Epiphany came back into the room, standing there glaring at Jason with her hands on her hips.

"I know— I know—I'm going." Jason said turning around. "I have to go pick up some clothes anyway."

Elizabeth was flabbergasted. The last thing she had prepared for was that Jason freaking Morgan would be her roommate. She thought about that for a moment and then a wicked smile appeared on her face.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason walked into his penthouse. He was tired. The dip in the lake had completely wiped him out. And he certainly didn't want to move in with Elizabeth. She was beautiful for sure, but he could already see that she was seething over the arrangement and would probably cause trouble. His day had gone insanely wrong. Although, he had to admit that if Elizabeth hadn't saved Maya, she may have been hurt badly.

There was a knock on his door. He opened it to find Sonny on the other side.

"Hey."

Sonny walked in. "Max told me everything that happened."

"We got lucky."

"And Maya?"

"She was freaked out and broke up with me." Jason said disappointedly.

"Sorry about that man." Sonny said sitting down. "So, you spoke with Maximus?"

Jason nodded. "He's quite the character."

Sonny grinned. Most people were intimated by Maximus. "What did he say?"

"He insisted on me personally watching over Elizabeth and demanded that I move in with her."

Sonny frowned. "Wow. Are you going to do it?"

"I guess. If I don't, he's going to fly out here and apparently, that is a bad thing."

"Max and Milo are scared of him."

"Trust me, they will be my bitches for a very long time."

Sonny grinned. "When do you move in?"

"I don't know. I don't even want to think about it."

"She's not that bad."

"It's not that. I like my space Sonny. I don't want to have to go live with her."

"Then make her move in here."

Jason thought about that for a minute. It made more sense and he wouldn't have to stay inside that overgrown mausoleum she was living in. "I'll talk to her. But, I'll pack a bag just in case."

Sonny smirked. "You do that."

He was actually a little jealous.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason ducked past Epiphany and walked back into Elizabeth's hospital room.

"Can I talk to Elizabeth alone please?" He asked Max and Milo.

They nodded and left as Liz looked up at him curiously.

"I've made a decision."

"I'm listening."

"You're going to stay at my penthouse. It's more secure and since I'm doing this for you and your brothers, you can do me this one favor."

Elizabeth paused to make him squirm a little. "Okay."

Jason was surprised. "Just like that?"

"Yes. I've only been at the house for one night. It's not like I'm attached to it or anything."

"When can we go?"

"It should be soon."

As if on cue, Epiphany walked into the room and gave Jason a look. "Okay, Dr. Drake says you can go."

Elizabeth smiled gleefully.

Jason went out into the hallway and told Milo and Max to go get Elizabeth's clothes from the house and take them to his place.

Epiphany disconnected all of the equipment and Elizabeth stood up way too quickly in her haste to leave. She wobbled and Jason grabbed her and steadied her. "You okay?"

"Sorry, I probably should take my time."

Jason looked at Epiphany with concern.

"She'll be fine Mr. Morgan. If it continues to happen, bring her back in. I think she just needs some rest and maybe some food."

"When was the last time you ate?" Jason asked.

"At Sonny's last night."

He frowned. "I'll call in an order." They slowly walked to the elevator, both of them relieved to be leaving the hospital.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason insisted on carrying Elizabeth into the building and she really didn't mind. They finally made it to the penthouse and Johnny held the door open for them; trying not to look overly concerned. Jason sat her down on the couch.

"The kitchen is through there. Your bedroom is the first one on the right upstairs."

Elizabeth looked around. It was sparsely decorated which surprised her a little bit. The pool table amused her though.

Jason's phone rang and he groaned. "Alright, I'll be right there."

He opened the drawer to his desk and took out some keys. "I have to go. Dinner should be here soon."

"Thanks." She said softly.

She watched him leave and a few minutes later Johnny walked in. "Can we talk?"

She nodded. Part of her had hated the way they had left things. Hurting Johnny was not something she really wanted to do.

He knelt down in front of her. "You almost died today." He said quietly.

"I know." She said looking down into his beautiful green eyes.

"It would have killed me to lose you."

She reached down and touched his face. "Johnny…."

He leaned towards her and kissed her gently. "I know that you don't love me."

"It's not you. I'm just damaged." She said trying to keep her emotions in check.

"You're not damaged. You're just hurt. I get that. I just wish you would let me in." He said laying his head in her lap. "I would never leave you Elizabeth and I would never hurt you."

Liz closed her eyes. Johnny was such a good man. He made her laugh and loved her deeply yet she couldn't let her walls down for him. She couldn't accept his love because the one person she had needed to love her unconditionally had picked up and left her with no explanation and it broke her heart. To Elizabeth love was for the most part pain. Sure her father loved her but she felt like he used it to control her because he was scared that Liz would leave him too. She wanted nothing to do with love.

Clearing her throat, she almost didn't recognize her own voice it was so devoid of emotion. "Johnny, I don't want to hurt you and I just can't give you what you want right now. I don't know if I'll ever be able to."

"I'll wait." He said emotionally.

"No, I can't do that to you. I do care about you Johnny but it's not fair for you to throw away your life for someone like me. I think you should go." She said looking away.

The truth is that she didn't believe that Johnny really loved her. Her mother said she loved her too but she had abandoned her and Elizabeth felt like Johnny would end up doing the same thing. Part of the problem was that she didn't feel lovable.

Johnny looked up at her and saw the blank look in her eyes and knew she had shut down. It killed him that she held so much pain inside of her when she had so much love to give. He stood up. "I'll try to stay away. But I will always love you Elizabeth. I can't just turn that off." He said walking away.

Several moments passed and she looked over at the door. Any normal person would have run after him and Johnny would probably be upstairs making them scream his name by now. But, Elizabeth wasn't normal. She just couldn't put herself out there like that.