Chapter Four:
The Enemy of My Enemy
Jason had been having a hell of a day when he walked into the diner and saw her sitting there. A part of him was a little shocked, but his feet moved before his brain could really catch up. Looking her over he felt a stinging pain deep inside. It was because of him that she was in the state she's in. From the look of her skin, it was obvious this wasn't the first time it happened, but it didn't make the guilt any less vibrant.
Once again his body reacted before his brain could and his feet moved him from in front of her to the counter. He couldn't help hearing what she was talking about with her brother and he also couldn't help being at awe of her. Paying for his food, Jason took his order and left. Knowing it wouldn't be the last time he'll see her. As he straddles his bike, Jason has to reach for his cellphone instead of his keys when it starts to ring.
"Yeah?" he answers.
"The warehouse on 3rd & Price just blew up." Sonny says sternly. "Take a guess who's responsible."
"I'm on my way." Jason hangs up, shoving his phone into his pocket before starting up his bike and taking off.
He could see the destruction before he got to the sight. There was something missing and it took him a minute before he realized that there weren't any police cars or fire trucks, nothing. The place was completely void of law enforcement, not even the sound of sirens in the distance, nothing. Arriving on the scene, Jason found an irate Sonny pacing back and forth in front of the collapsed warehouse.
"What is it?" Jason asks, gaining Sonny's angry glare.
"Apparently we filed for the demolition of our warehouse weeks ago!" Sonny snaps, turning to look at his worthless property. "All the paperwork are filed and that is why the police aren't swarming the place."
"Were there any fatalities?" Jason asks, knowing that it was a genius way to take down the warehouse.
"None. The men were distracted with a situation a street over." Sonny groans, running his hand down his face. "The only thing lost is the merchandise."
"What now?" Jason asks, knowing what Sonny would say, but needing him to make the order before he acted.
"We assess the damages and rebuild." Sonny says firmly. "They're going to expect us to fly off the handle. I won't give them the satisfaction. Its business as usual...for now."
"I'll get on it." Jason says, completely surprised by Sonny's levelheadedness, but not questioning it.
Elizabeth leaves her brother and walks down to the docks. She got a call from Zander that her father made the first move of many to come and it was only a matter of time before she's pulled back into the trappings of hell. No matter how angry her father gets, he still finds use for her many talents and she'll soon find herself blackmailed into returning.
Pacing the docks, the smell of the water calming her nerves, Elizabeth ties to think through her situation. On the one hand she has her evil father and the other she has the ill fate of having to trust Claudia. Both situations don't bode well for her, but only one ensures Johnny's safety and freedom from the devil himself.
Her phone ringing prompts her to stop pacing long enough to dig it out of her pocket and answer it. Oblivious to Jason, who's standing just up the stairs, Elizabeth answers it and isn't happy to hear Claudia on the other end when she should be on a plane to Port Charles by now.
"What the hell do you mean you're not coming yet?" Elizabeth shouts. "You said you'd be on the first plane out!"
"I know what I said." Claudia says calmly, having anticipated her reaction. "I will be heading to Port Charles. Just not yet."
"Dammit, Claudia!" Elizabeth couldn't believe her ears. "I never should have trusted you to keep your word!"
"Will you relax?" Claudia says seriously. "I have a reason for not being there yet."
"Oh really?" Elizabeth scoffs, standing on the edge of the pier. "This should be good."
"You're going to hate this." Claudia says, a certain tone to her voice. "I mean, really hate this."
"Just spit it out!" Elizabeth snaps. "You know I hate it when you play the stupid mind games."
Jason was completely confused by the conversation happening just before him, but he could see that she wasn't happy. He knows that her sister's name is Claudia and it would be stupid to assume its anyone but her, so the next question is why they're fighting. She was clearly angry and it didn't look like she was getting any happier with her sister.
"You want me to what?" Elizabeth shouted, angry pouring through her body. "I can't believe you! I just escaped and now you want me to go back?"
"No. I want you to wait it out until they find you." Claudia corrects. "Make it look good, but let them take you back."
"You're right." Elizabeth says sternly, staring out at the water. "I hate this."
"But you're going to do it because you know what's at stake." Claudia says matter-of-factly. "I'll be in touch once you're back in hell. They should be out looking for you by now...so it'll probably be three days before you're dragged back."
"This better pan out or I swear..." Elizabeth clenches her fist by her side. "Use your imagination."
"Retract the claws Lizzie." Claudia says with a smirk. "I know the kind of damage you can do. I still have the scars."
"Good." Elizabeth snaps, ending the call abruptly and screaming at the top of her lungs. "I hate this!"
"You okay?" Jason voices, making his presence known.
"What? Never heard a girl scream before?" Elizabeth snaps, glaring at him before turning to face the water. "Keep walking."
"I know that move." Jason says, walking over to her. "I use it sometimes when silence doesn't work."
"What do you want?" Elizabeth states, crossing her arms over her chest, another defensive tactic that he notes. "Don't you have a warehouse to fix up?"
"What do you know about it?" Jason counters, watching as a smirk touches her lips and she turns to him.
"Nothing." Elizabeth shrugs. "Just what the guards tell me."
"You wouldn't tell me if I asked, would you?"
"Probably not." Elizabeth shakes her head. "Its best you don't ask though."
"Because of Anthony?" Jason guesses. "Because of your loyalty to him?"
"Don't get me wrong, the old man can burn in hell for all I care." Elizabeth says with conviction. "But my brother is a different story. He's my life and I protect him above all else."
"Even yourself?"
"Especially myself." Elizabeth states. "My life means nothing if he's gone. That's how twins work."
"No one's life means more than another's." Jason counters. "I'm sure your brother would tell you that his life doesn't mean more than yours."
"Don't tell me you don't have someone you'd gladly lay down your life for." Elizabeth challenges. "Your boss? A sister or brother? Your parents? I know for a fact you have people you'd die for without question."
"You're right." Jason concedes. "There are people I'd die for."
"Great. Now you can leave." Elizabeth says, eyeing him intently.
"You see, there's a problem with that though." Jason says, as if she didn't speak. "You could have died for helping me escape. Why take that chance?"
"Two words." Elizabeth says simply. "Robin Scorpio."
"Still." Jason shakes his head. "You didn't risk your life for her. You risked your life for me...a complete stranger."
"You mean a lot to her and she means a lot to me." Elizabeth says plainly. "What more reason do I need?"
"Maybe you don't care if you live or die." Jason counters. "Maybe you need to come close to dying to feel like you're living."
"And maybe you should mind your own business and be glad you're not hanging from the wall in hell." Elizabeth says firmly, turning away from him.
"And maybe you need to learn how to trust people."
"Like who?" Elizabeth challenges. "You?"
"Why not?" Jason eyes her curiously. "We both want the same thing."
"And what is that?"
"For your father to disappear." Jason can practically see her connecting the dots. "From what I could tell, you're working to take him down and you don't trust the person helping you do that."
"What do you know about it?" Elizabeth eyes him intently.
"Nothing." Jason mimics her word. "Just what I overheard while you were on the phone."
"You handle your business, I'll handle mine." Elizabeth turns to look at him again. "Because trust me, I don't need your help."
"But I need yours." Jason says, knowing she wouldn't let him help her. "You probably know him better than anyone."
"True."
"Why not put our heads together and see where it takes us?" Jason suggests. "I've gotta be a better choice than someone you can't trust."
"She's my sister." Elizabeth concedes. "And you don't even know my name."
"But you know mine." Jason counters. "Have you ever heard the saying, the enemy of my enemy?"
"Is my friend...who hasn't?" Elizabeth sighs, really thinking it through. "Why should I trust you for even a second?"
"You're trusting me right now." Jason points out. "You're standing here with me...out in the open...no witnesses around."
"Touché." Elizabeth smirks, he really is quick on his feet. "I'll be in touch."
Jason takes hold of her arm as she's about to walk past him, prompting her to turn her head to look at him, making their faces mere inches apart.
"Thank you." Jason says sincerely. "I know what you risked by helping me escape. Regardless of the reason you did it...I owe you one."
"I'll keep that in mind." Elizabeth assures, smiling slightly. "And the name's Liz...in case you were wondering."
With that, Elizabeth walked up the stairs and out of his sight. She wasn't sure what had just happened, but she was pretty sure she just aligned herself with her father's enemy. Getting back into the safety of her apartment, she couldn't help but think about the real reason she saved Jason. The real reason why she risked her life for his. The one reason she still walks this earth in search of, but knows she'll probably never find. Crawling into bed, Elizabeth turns out the lights and thinks about her next move. Her father's men will find out she's living there soon enough and she'll need to find a new place before then.
All while making sure her brother doesn't get himself killed and never catches wind about what she's planning to do because that wouldn't bode well for anyone. The whole point in taking down her father is to ensure that Johnny will never have to share the same air as that man ever again. It would be pointless if Johnny throws himself into the middle of it and gets himself killed. Could her life get anymore complicated?
Review, please.