Chapter Four

Standing at the large window and watching the lights of the cars reflecting off the wet road, Elizabeth gently rested her forehead against the cold glass. Her silence for the last two hours had both Johnny and Ritchie exchanging uneasy looks. The bubbly brunette had not spoken since learning that Zander and Francis was believed to have perished in the explosion. Unfortunately, the fire had made any chance of visual ID impossible and it was going to be a tense wait to learn the DNA results.

The shrill ring of Johnny's cell phone exploded in the silent room. Snatching it up from the nightstand, the solemn guard looked at caller ID before hitting the talk button. "Hey, Sonny. Is everything okay on the island."

The Cuban cleared his throat. "Yes. I had Courtney taken to our medical facilities. She is now under lock and key there until I figure out what to do." He paused before continuing. "Have you told Elizabeth?"

"Yeah. It's been rough," was the flat response.

"Damn. I want to kill my sister!" Sonny exploded. "What she did, hell, I can't believe it. Carly is beside herself, worried about Elizabeth. Is she okay physically?"

"For now, yes." He motioned to the still woman with his head and Ritchie nodded in understanding. Johnny stood and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. "She isn't eating, Sonny. I am afraid that she is going to hurt herself, not meaning to."

"We all are. While her and Zander weren't romantic anymore, he had become her support system. Her best friend almost. Not to mention that he is the father of her child. I can't imagine what she is going through, or even thinking. I know that she hates my sister, and she should. I do," he sneered.

"I didn't tell her," Johnny confessed softly. "I was afraid that it would be too much. And with Morgan heading to meet us, I was afraid that she would snap on him."

"You are probably right," he conceeded. "Speaking of Jason, he is about a day away from the meeting spot. How far away are you?"

"A day if we go straight through, but it all depends on her. I won't push her."

"No, don't. Take your time, but be careful. Bernie said that most of Alcazar's men disappeared. I am concerned that they are looking for you. I am leaving Carly and the boys here with Max and Milo. I am heading back in two days. I have to see the families."

Rubbing his tense neck, Johnny sighed. "Is it safe to come back? It could be a trap."

"I have to. I can't hide away, O'Brien. I will have Marco and a couple others with me. I have to go. Tell Liz that we are thinking of her. Stay safe."

"You too."

Exiting the bathroom, his eyes caught on the untouched take out containers. Walking over and gently placing his hands on her shoulders, Johnny turned her toward him. Her bleak and vacant eyes made him want to wince, but he controlled his response and only looked at her with soft eyes. "You have to eat, Lizbits. At least for the baby. You both need the nurishment."

"I'm not hungry."

Happy just to hear her voice, he shook his head and led her to the small table. "Think of your son, kiddo. You have to. I know that you are hurting, but you have to remember that someone else is depending entirely on you."

Tears filled her eyes, but she ruthlessly blinked them back. "He was trying so hard. He wanted to be a good parent, a good father. Zander had turned his life around, Johnny. And Francis, God, he was the best person. Why? It makes absolutely no sense!"

Ritchie moved forward and sat across from the her. "Life isn't fair, Elizabeth. I know that sucks, but it is true. Fate is mysterious, unpredictable. And both Zander and Francis would expect you to take care of yourself. I'm not saying not be sad, to miss them. But you are here, with an innocent life inside you. Cherish that part of Zander."

As she collapsed in tears, Johnny tucked her against his side and looked over at the other guard, astounded that he had reached her. Ritchie smiled sadly and shrugged.

"I'll take watch tonight. You two sleep. I'll rest while you drive tomorrow, O'Brien." With that he left the room and closed the door gently.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~b~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pulling the motorcycle to a stop in front of the motel room that he had rented for the night, Jason rubbed his neck tiredly and took out his room key. Letting himself into the small nondescript room, he popped the top of one of the beers that he had bought and let his mind wander.

To think that Courtney, his wife, was responsible for the mess that they were all in now floored him. He had always known that she had not liked Elizabeth, but what she had set into motion was unthinkable. One of Jason's best friends, Francis, was presumed dead, along with Zander and several other men. He was mourning Francis because he had been a true friend, but the regret that he felt for Zander Smith stunned him.

He has never liked the little punk, had thought that he was nothing but trouble from the time that he had arrived in Port Charles. But over the last six months, since learning that he was going to be a father, the young man had straightened up considerably. From starting to take responsibility and being dependable in his job, to taking care of Elizabeth when she had told him about their child.

Elizabeth, there was someone that he was unsure what to expect from. Sonny had told him that she was reeling, and he could only imagine. He knew that her and Zander were close, but he wondered exactly how close they had gotten throughout her pregnancy. Was she loosing the father of her child and a friend, or was it more?

Snorting in self disgust, he drained the bottle. It wasn't like she would probably be very happy to see him. His wife, the woman that had repeatively hurt in the past, had set all of this into motion. Then factor in the way that their friendship had never fully recovered after Sonny had faked his death, he didn't know what to expect from her. But no matter what, he was determined to help her now. She had no one else and he had never stopped caring for her. Besides, it was his wife and Sonny's sister that had torn her world to shreds.

Carly was even wanting to come home to be there for the young woman that she had despised for years. His sister had been blowing his phone up for the last day, demanding tearfully on the voicemails to know if Elizabeth was safe. No one in Port Charles knew that Johnny had gotten her out of town safely, and he meant to keep it that way. Ric and Alcazar had long reaching connections. Sonny had sent Bernie to make sure that Kelly Lee was compensated to stay noncommintal about her visit to the ER that night. It was the last time that Elizabeth Webber had been seen.

His mind drifted to the woman that he had taken vows with and his stomach revolted. Wishing that she was not Sonny's sister, he knew that they would have to deal with her. He just hoped that his friend was prepared to treat her just like any other rat in the organization. Because vows or no vows, she had broken a cardinal rule, and the consequences of those actions were clear in his mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~b~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ric carefully watched the enraged man that was pacing in front of him. He was dying to find Elizabeth and bring her home, but he knew that it was dangerous to even move in the mood that Lorenzo was in. The man had become possessed at learning who had died in the explosion. A detail that had not escaped his astute observation.

Lorenzo's second in command, Peyton, opened the door and strode into the office. "We have confirmation from traffic cameras that O'Brien got Miss Webber out of town. Unfortunately, we lost them afterwards. I have sent men looking for their location."

"I want Courtney Matthew Morgan's head!" Lorenzo stood and his eyes flashed with hate. "She screwed me over and knew it. If she comes back from Corinthos' island, I want her grabbed."

"Certainly."

Ric frowned at him. "Why? She did exactly what we all agreed upon? She gave up the guard rotation. She did not know that the Irish guard would take my wife to the ER that night."

"You mean your ex wife? After all, you are divorced," he said with scorn as he glared at the attorney. "And as for Courtney, she said that Corelli and O'Brien would be at the warehouse. Not Smith."

A smug smile filtered across his face. "It worked out better that way," he said airly as he turned toward the door. "I am going to rest. Let me know when my wife is located."

Peyton shook his head at the stupidity as he watched Ric leave without seeing the muderous look that Lorenzo was exhibiting. "His time is almost up. We just need to keep him alive long enough for everyone to blame him for Miss Webber's disappearance."

Slamming his fist against the oak wood of his desk, Lorenzo snarled. "I cannot wait to gut that spineless bastard!"

"Soon you can."

Taking a deep breath to calm his self, the South American only sighed. "Not soon enough. Make sure that when we find Elizabeth, that the men know that she is NOT to be harmed. I may have messed up once, but I will not have anything happen to her or the child that she is carrying."

Peyton smiled. "They all are aware that Miss Webber is to be treated with respect and taken care of. I have confirmation that Morgan is back in the States. I would say that he is the best one to lead us to her location. He will want to protect her."

Lorenzo released a shark like smile. "Too bad that his past mistakes is what set this all in motion. There is no way that he will be taking care of the mother-to-be. I already lost my an chance to reveal the truth because of his wife's apparent need for revenge. There is no way in hell that Corinthos or Morgan will be a part of Miss Webber's child's life or hers after I find them. Zander cared for her, that much is clear from his actions. In honor of him, I will take care of her now."

The man watched his boss carefully. "I thought that you were just planning to take the child after it was born?"

"That was before I realized what a disgusting creature that Lansing is. Zander wanted his family, cared about them. I will take care of them now. After all, I am family," he added with a small smile. "I only wish that Zander had not been working that night. He was never meant to be hurt. Damn that blond bimbo!"