Part 4

-The Next Morning -

AJ pulled up to PC High and barely had time to put the car in park before Emily jumped out. "Hey, wait!"

Emily whirled around on the sidewalk. "Oh, yeah, thanks, AJ... but I've gotta run!"

"Emily, wait!" AJ rounded the car to stand beside her. "Give me a sec."

Her whole body seemed to slump and her eyes rolled heavenward. "What?"

"I was wondering if you could just let me know..." He struggled with his thoughts, trying to find a way to say what he wanted without arousing any strange thoughts in his sister. "Let me know if you see Elizabeth Webber today."

That shocked her. Emily leaned back to look up in his eyes. "Elizabeth Webber?" Her lips curled a little. "Why her?"

AJ pushed his fingers through his hair and shrugged, hoping it looked nonchalant. "I met her last night and I was wondering..."

"Oh, hey!" Emily turned away and waved excitedly at someone over his shoulder. "That's Sarah. Hey, Sarah!" She waited until the girl stepped up onto the sidewalk beside them, Emily looked up at Sarah as if she was the prom queen. "Sarah, this is my brother AJ."

Sarah looked him over and gave him a languid smile. "Hi, AJ." She held out her hand and he had no choice but to take it. When she withdrew her hand she let her fingertips slid along his palm. "Nice to meet you."

"Yeah, likewise." He turned to Emily. "About Elizabeth-"

"AJ!" Emily's mouth gaped open in an exaggerated expression. "Sarah is Elizabeth's sister. Sarah WEBBER."

"Oh." AJ looked at Sarah and struggled to see any resemblance between the two. He couldn't. Sarah was taller... her hair was lighter... her skin had a tan... her eyes... her eyes weren't the same color. "Yes, well, I was wondering where Elizabeth was."

Sarah's expression darkened and her posture straightened. "Well, she's not here... that's for sure." She raised an eyebrow and looked at Emily. "She gave Grams some story about being sick today... saying she couldn't come to school," her sigh was meant for effect, "personally, I think she probably got drunk last night and she's hung over... you know how, Lizzie is."

Emily's curious expression said that she, in fact, didn't know how 'Lizzie' was and AJ didn't like the implication that Sarah was trying to give her sister's character.

"She's home sick." AJ didn't mean it as a question. His own mind was full of thoughts revolving around the young woman in question. Without another word he ran around his car and got in. In the next moment he gunned the engine and then he was gone.

Sarah and Emily were left standing on the sidewalk wondering... "What was that about?"

Emily could only shrug, she didn't know... not really. Still, what she did know might be useful to Sarah, so she explained. "AJ said he met Elizabeth last night. Maybe he just wanted to say hi?"

"Sure, that's it." Sarah's look didn't seem to agree with her words. "Well, I have to get to class." She turned away but Emily followed after her.

"Hey, I'll walk with you."

- AJ's car -

As he drove, he couldn't escape the feeling that something had gone really wrong since he'd left her. Dialing the phone number for Mercy Hospital he waited for someone to pick up.

"You've reached Mercy Hospital. This is Nurse Owens speaking."

"Oh hey, Nurse Owens, this is AJ Quartermaine. I came in last night with-"

"Yes, AJ. How is Elizabeth doing?"

"That's the thing," he exhaled sharply, "I don't know. When I dropped my sister off at school, Elizabeth's sister said she stayed home sick. Do you think the doctor missed something last night?"

"No, I don't think so," her voice was really soothing, "Dr. Armstrong is one of the best... but if she's sick, please bring her in."

He shook his head. "You must think I'm crazy to worry like this."

"I think you're being a really good friend, AJ."

"Okay... thanks."

Moments later he arrived at the Hardy house and got out of his car, his eyes trained on her window. The curtains were drawn and there was no light he could see through the thick draped.

He walked up under her window and called up. "Elizabeth?" No response. "Elizabeth?" A little louder. "Are you okay?" AJ was concerned enough and crazy enough to look for the a way to climb up to the window. "I don't want to bother you... I just... your sister said you were home sick and I wanted to check... Please."

The curtains pulled aside and he saw her look out of the glass and held up a finger for him to wait.

Moving to the front door he waited until he heard the dead bolt slide open and Elizabeth opened the door to him.

She was wearing a fluffy pink robe over something that must have been her pajamas.

"You didn't have to come out of your way."

"I didn't." He half-shrugged. "I wanted to check on you... make sure you didn't need me to take you to the doctor... or pick up some medication... or something else..."

She shook her head, her damp curls bouncing around her shoulders.

"Did I get you out of the shower?"

"Which one? I've a dozen or so since last night." She blushed. "I'm sorry... I didn't need to tell you that I..."

"Hey," he gave her a smile, "you tell me whatever you want to tell me."

She looked into his eyes and saw the truth of his words. She didn't need to say anything... but if she did, he would listen... he wasn't going to judge. "I did feel sick," she explained. "But I just couldn't go to school... I felt like I had this... this thing hanging over me and that they'd take one look at me and know... know what that man did to me. I couldn't bear the thought of it."

He nodded. "I get it... I just... if you were sick... or hurting... I wanted to check on you. Help, if I could."

"If you don't have anything else you need to do... you want to come in for a while?" She looked up at him. "I've been jumping at every little sound. Mr. Merchison's cat almost gave me a heart attack!"

"Sure, I can come in for awhile."

Elizabeth stepped to the side and AJ entered the living room that he'd been summarily kicked out of a few hours before. "I hope that Grams didn't say anything really horrible to you. She was under the impression that I was supposed to be at the dance with Lucky last night."

"Lucky? Lucky Spenser?"

Elizabeth lowered herself down on the couch. "That's the one." She tugged her robe tighter around her body. "And I was supposed to go with him, but he told me that he was also going to be there with my sister, Sarah."

AJ winced. "That sounds like a whole lot of..."

"Crap." Elizabeth gave him a half-smile. "That's why I never went to the dance." She looked down at her hands. "You've met my amazing and beautiful sister... would YOU want to play second fiddle to her?"

"Well, first... I don't really want to dance with Lucky Spenser, so that kind of puts a damper on things."

Elizabeth's mouth turned up at the corners. "Yeah... probably not your style."

"Then again," he continued, "I've met your sister and I really don't see what you're worried about."

Elizabeth looked at him from the corner of her eyes. "You don't have to lie to make me feel better... but thanks."

AJ reached out and settled his hand over both of hers with a gentle touch. "I wasn't lying... and you're welcome."

She looked up and smiled at AJ and some of the tension in her face melted away.

"So," AJ leaned in a little, "is there something I can get for you while you're home?"

Elizabeth was just about to tell him she was fine when her stomach emphatically spoke up. "Oh, great."

"Sounds like you're hungry." He looked at his watch. "Way past my lunchtime... so it must be yours too."

She shook her head. "You don't have to go and get me something... really. I'm fine."

"Okay." He gave her a lop-sided grin. "How about I make you something?"

"Make something?" Elizabeth's incredulous look was almost comical. "Oh no... Grams doesn't let me cook anything... she's too afraid of me melting a pot or burning down the house."

He arched an eyebrow at her words. "I'd be more afraid of you catching that robe on fire."

Elizabeth looked down at the fluffy pink robe she was still wearing. "Hey... don't judge... my Grams thinks I look cute in pink... Me? I hate the baby colors. Ugh." She switched gears. "What about you? Doesn't the Quartermaine mansion have a cook on staff?"

"Cook isn't there all the time," he smiled at her, "sometimes we have to make things for ourselves." He saw her dubious look. "Don't worry, I haven't melted a pan... in years!"

AJ stood and Elizabeth got up to stand beside him. "I should just come with you... just in case."

Smiling, AJ swept out a hand. "After you."

"Ah," she joked, "ever the gentleman."

"That," he answered back, "and I don't know where the kitchen is."

- Hardy Kitchen -

Elizabeth sat on the counter and watched AJ as he expertly made a grilled cheese sandwich. "You really do know what you're doing."

"Don't sound so shocked." His protest was tempered by his laughter. "A guy's gotta eat... and it's not like a soufflé or anything difficult."

"Still," she held a plate out to him, "I'm still impressed."

"Good," he gave her a grin and handed her plate back to her. "Wait until you taste it."

As Elizabeth slid down from the counter, her robe slipped off her shoulder and AJ's good mood darkened. Her upper arm was a mass of bruises. He looked away before she turned back to look at him, busying himself with his own sandwich. As she settled herself at the table he heard her sigh. "It doesn't hurt that much."

He bit the inside of his cheek to keep his own anger in check. "It looks like it should." He might as well say what was on his mind. He'd promised her he would. "Is there something I can do? Something I can get you?" He turned from the stove with his own plate in his hand.

She smiled and spoke around a bite of her grilled cheese. "I've got the meds that the doctor prescribed so it keeps the pain in check. I don't really notice it all the time." Her tone made a liar out of her. "Actually... I haven't really thought about it... since you've been here."

Her smile, the soft blush, the light in her eyes... all told him that she was being open with him. He was glad... very glad.

- Nearly an Hour Later -

AJ looked down at Elizabeth as they stood in the doorway. She held a piece of paper in her hand with his phone number on it. "Call me... if you need something... if you want to talk... just call me... anytime, ok?"

Elizabeth's eyes were bright with tears. "Be careful," she warned, "don't blame me when you get a call in the wee hours of the morning."

"Wee hours?" He laughed. "Who says wee hours anymore... but yes... anytime."

"Thanks, AJ."

She surprised them both when she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. AJ wrapped his arms gently around her, afraid of causing her pain, but he couldn't help the way he laid his cheek on her head as he felt her breath fan through his shirt. "I'll see you later."

AJ felt her step back and he let his arms fall away. He walked through the doorway toward his car, smiling even as the door clicked closed behind him.

- DOWN THE STREET -

Sarah stopped short and Emily, who had been following after her, nearly walked right into her back. "Isn't that your brother?"

Emily gaped at the sight of her brother getting into his car just outside the Hardy's house. "Yeah... that's AJ."

Narrowing her eyes at the house, Sarah saw Elizabeth peering out of her window as the car drove away. "I wonder what he was doing here." She dashed down the street and fished through her pocket for the key. "Look, Emily, I know I said you could come to my house, but I really think I need to see if my sister's okay. I'll talk to you later." Sarah opened the door and shut it in Emily's face.

Emily seethed as she headed off toward home, fishing out her cell phone to call their driver to pick her up.