A/N – Thanks for the comments! I'm glad you are enjoying the story! I might have to add one more chapter. I started re-writing some of the last chapter and now it's pretty long. * Guest – re: choices. It's been six months since she has been gone, not seven. She was already pregnant for a month and didn't know it. Again, her and Jason were not together, so she didn't have to tell him anything about moving away. She was gone for two months, found out she was pregnant so really, it's been 4 months that she hasn't told him about the baby. Those four months are all she is accountable for. But yes, have faith.
I borrowed a former doctor from Grey's Anatomy.
Chapter 4
Monica picked up the phone. "Jason?"
"No, it's Johnny."
She couldn't help but start to cry when she heard the tone of his voice.
"Mrs. Quartermaine, please, he had surgery and he's alive."
"What?"
"Noah Drake's son Patrick works at the hospital here. We found Elizabeth and Patrick did the surgery."
She took a languid breath. "And?"
"It was difficult and he's not sure if Jason will survive or even be the same person."
"But he's alive. I have to hold onto that or I will go crazy."
Alan held her against his body.
She put Johnny on speaker. "He made it, but it could be a day or so before he wakes up. He's not in a coma, and he's stable, just weak."
"Where are you?" Alan asked.
"I can't tell you that. Jason is still in danger. The person who ordered this probably already knows that he's not dead. He knew we were in Canada. As soon as he is stable, we need to move him to a safe place."
"Then we'll be there. We'll take a leave of absence and take care of him. I won't take no for an answer."
"We haven't figured it all out yet. I won't leave him. We're hoping that by tomorrow night, we can do an air transport."
Alan paced back and forth. "There's a private clinic in Connecticut that a friend of my runs. He's a neurosurgeon. Jason could have a private room and occupational and rehabilitation help. He might need several months of care."
"Alright, we'll do it. We were thinking of faking his death, but Elizabeth shot us down."
Monica gripped Alan's arm. "Thank God."
"I'll take care of the air ambulance. Have Dr. Drake call me," Alan said.
"Use the name Alec Moore. Give him the address of the clinic and you decide a flight time."
"Okay. We'll meet you there."
"Our guards will have to transport you. You can take Sonny's plane, but someone could be watching you, so we'll probably use another airport further away."
"So we're talking cloak and dagger?"
"Yes."
"We'll be ready and packed."
"Someone will be in touch. Thank Mr. Q."
"He's my son. I will do anything for him."
IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI
Johnny explained the situation to Patrick and while he didn't like his patient being out of his care, he agreed to it and helped Alan make arrangements.
Elizabeth sat vigil in Jason's room, talking to him and holding his hand. Francis would make her lay down every once in a while to take naps and made sure that she was hydrated.
Johnny and Francis sat in the hallway drinking coffee.
"I can't believe it was you that helped her leave."
"She was devastated. I didn't want her to go, but I figured at least one of us would know where she is and could help her if necessary."
"I'm glad that you did. We may have never found her in time if you didn't."
"You don't know how many times I wanted to let you know that she was okay. I just didn't want to betray her confidence. If I did, she might have run and I couldn't take the chance."
"I wished you had, but again, I get why you didn't.
"How did you find us?"
"I remembered your favorite movies and Stan did the rest."
"I figured if there was an emergency, you'd figure it out."
"We didn't have a lot of time. Jason has been searching since she has been gone, but we didn't make a breakthrough until now."
Francis sighed. "When we found out she was pregnant, I kept urging her to call him, but she said she needed time and then it became that she just couldn't handle the stress. When she'd start to dial the number, her blood pressure would go through the roof and once, she was even hospitalized. We talked not long after that and she promised that she would call him soon, but due to Carly and his job and the rest of the people who would look down on her, she just decided that she had to put her and the baby first and make sure she was healthy before going home. She kept a book with her milestones and ultrasound photos for him. It was emotional for her, because she hated keeping it from him."
"If she was in Port Charles, she would have taken a lot of shit from people who can't mind their own business."
"I agree. It was the only reason that I went along with keeping it from him temporarily."
"We can't tell Sonny."
Francis was surprised he would agree to that. "I won't argue with that. The fewer people who know where he is the better." Sonny might tell Carly and that would just set off a shit storm.
Johnny answered his phone. "Hello?" It was around midnight, so he was surprised to hear from his boss.
"I couldn't sleep. How is he?"
"He made it through surgery."
"Now what?"
"Sonny, we're going to take him to a private hospital so he can recover. We need to get out of here as soon as possible."
"I agree. Where are you taking him? I'll meet you there."
"No. We think it's best that only a very few people know."
Sonny felt a little affronted.
"I know this is extreme, but he barely made it. I can't risk anyone being followed. Please. We have to do what is best for Jason."
Sonny plopped into his office chair. "Fine, but you have to get word to me whenever you can about his condition."
"Agreed."
"Who are you keeping?"
"Milo if that is okay. I will send Richie and Logan back after the move. Francis is here."
Sonny was aware that Francis was involved. He wasn't sure what to think of situation. "Can you trust him?"
"With my life."
"Alright. Let me know once you are settled."
Johnny texted Stan and made sure he knew that he couldn't give Sonny any updates from now on unless he approved it.
"He asked you if he could trust me, didn't he?"
"Yeah."
"I guess I have a lot of explaining to do."
"You protected Elizabeth and kept her and the baby safe. He can't be mad at that."
Francis leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes, hoping that Jason would feel that way when he woke up.
IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI
The day was mainly spent monitoring Jason. He still wasn't awake.
"His brain activity looks pretty good all things considered."
"Why isn't he waking up then?" Liz asked.
"His body underwent a lot of stress the last few days. It might be a several more days before he's able to stay awake. Frankly, as long as he's not in distress and his brainwaves look good, I'm okay with that. His body needs the rest."
"And it's safe to move him?"
"Well, I won't lie. I'm completely against it, but apparently, if he stays here whoever put that chip in his head will come after him."
"You know who he is now?"
"Yes. I had a rather lively conversation with my father and he knows to shut his mouth about all of this. Jason's secret is safe with me," Patrick said. He didn't approve of Jason's lifestyle, but Elizabeth loved him and she was a good person, so that was enough for him not to completely judge his patient.
"Thank you, Patrick. I know this is highly unusual."
"It is. How did you meet him anyway?"
She smiled fondly. "Well, we were introduced by an ex and then one day he rescued me in a bar and it just grew from there. He has a good heart and he's been through a lot—we've been through a lot. I should have called him sooner. I thought that he had moved on when he hadn't and then later I found out I was pregnant and I wasn't ready to go back to the craziness."
"You were protecting the baby?"
"Yes, but it wasn't from Jason. It was his job and our friends and family. They have always judged us. I didn't need the stress."
"And now what?"
"We figure out who did this to him and move on. I don't know the where and how, all I know is that I'm never leaving him again. He knew he was going to die and the only thing he wanted was to find me and tell me that he loved me."
"That's some powerful stuff."
"Yeah."
"You know you can call me anytime. I consider you a friend."
"Thank you Patrick. I would love to keep up our friendship. You can't call me by my real name though."
"I know. I heard Johnny called you Elizabeth at first. He hasn't since then. I don't think anyone else heard it."
"We're trying to be careful."
"I understand."
"Is it really safe to move him tonight?"
"He should be fine. There are risks though, you know that."
She nodded. They had to take them. Right now, they had no choice."
Milo and Francis were packing up their apartment. Richie was going to make sure it was discretely delivered to a house close to the facility. It was big enough for them all to live there, including Monica and Alan. Everything was coming along nicely.
About an hour before the flight, as Liz was talking to Patrick, Jason's eyes briefly opened.
"It could be a reflex type movement, but it's good. His body is trying to come back."
"I hope he forgives me," she said quietly.
"He risked his life to get to you. I don't think you have anything to worry about." She left the room and took a quick shower and changed before they took him to the roof. He would be flown via helicopter to the air ambulance. It was safer that way. Liz was the only one traveling with them. Francis was already at the plane and Johnny and Milo were driving some of their luggage. They would have to go shopping for clothes when they got there.
Everything ran smoothly and soon they were up in the air.
IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI
Monica and Alan sat in an office, waiting for Jason to arrive. It was really early in the morning. They were hopped up on coffee and used to the weird hours.
"Derek, it's nice to see you."
He shook Alan's hand. "Thanks for trusting me."
Alan had done a lot of consulting with Dr. Derek Shepherd the last five years. He was impressive and had done a few surgeries at G.H. when Noah wasn't available.
"So, I was reading up about your son and looking over his medical records. He's had a lot of brain trauma in the past which concerns me. Patrick did a great job getting the device out, now it's my turn to see what I can do to insure that he has a normal life."
Monica had been quiet.
"Hello Monica, it's good to see you too."
She smiled and they hugged. "I wish it was under better circumstances."
"They should be landing about now and then he'll be transferred."
"He'll have guards and his girl friend Elizabeth will be accompanying him."
"That's fine. I'll have them put a bed in the room."
"We'll have to use fake names. You already know Jason's. Please refer to Liz as Abbie and I'm Alec Moore and this is Dawn."
Derek smirked. "Interesting life you lead."
"There's never a dull moment."
A nurse walked in.
"Kyla this is Alec and Dawn Moore. Their son Jake will be arriving soon. No one can know they are here."
"Of course, doctor. I will make sure that he has the same staff every day."
They were used to these kinds of arrangements. There were several doctors on staff, allowing them enough room to fit in lots of teaching and consulting in larger facilities.
"I can show you his room."
They followed Derek down a long hallway and went to the corner room. It was spacious and already prepped for Jason's arrival. Alan had told him to spare no expense.
Monica was happy that it had some light. It had a great view of grassy area.
Derek left and the couple embraced.
"We have a chance to show our son how much we want him in our lives," Alan said. It had killed him to walk away from Jason, but he just couldn't condone the dark career Jason had chosen.
"It's going to be tough. I have a feeling rehab won't be easy."
"Derek said that he could be here a couple of months."
They really weren't sure what they would be working with. An hour later, an unconscious Jason was wheeled into the room and they stepped back as he was carefully moved and all the tubes were adjusted.
About twenty minutes later, Elizabeth and Johnny walked into the room. Milo and Francis had gone to the house to tend to the unpacking.
Monica gasped as her eyes connected with Liz's stomach. "You're pregnant."
Liz nodded. "Yes."
"Is it Jason's?"
"Yes."
"Does he know?" Monica asked.
Johnny directed Liz to a chair and the three of them sat down.
"I told him when he collapsed, but I don't know if he'll remember. When I left, I didn't know. I found out a few months later and then I decided I wasn't ready to come back or deal with the stress of everyone coming down on me, so I stayed where I was and took some tests to be a nurse in Canada. I called Jason recently and told him that we need to talk. He didn't pick up the phone, so I left him a message. My plan was to tell him when it was closer to my due date. I've kept the secret for four months. My doctor said that I need to keep my blood pressure down. Before I left Port Charles, I mistakenly thought Jason was with Courtney which is why I bolted. I loved him and couldn't bare seeing him with someone else. Maybe deep down inside I needed him to fight for me and he didn't, so I pushed him away harder. I was so mad." She wiped a tear away and Alan put his arm around her.
"While I'm not happy with you for keeping this from my son, I guess I understand why you didn't want to come back. Carly is shrew on a good day," Monica said.
Liz slightly smiled through her tears. "It wasn't just her. I have friends and a grandmother who wouldn't be thrilled due to the danger. They just can't see me with anyone but Lucky."
"Well, I think you and Jason need to work on trust. Part of me probably should admire that for once, you did what you thought was best for you instead of doing what everyone else would have wanted you do. I don't think you should worry about my son's reaction, because he would never walk away from his child. He has a big heart. I understand your health was suspect, but you could have told him under the condition that he didn't tell anyone else."
"I'm sorry. I didn't keep it from him to hurt or punish him. I thought I was doing the right thing for me and the baby."
Monica sighed. She wasn't going to beat a dead horse. This was really between Liz and Jason anyway. "We have all made mistakes. I know I have made some huge ones. Elizabeth, have you ever had counseling because of your relationship with your family?" She was well versed in Liz's history due to the young woman's friendship with Emily.
"No."
"What about the rape?"
Liz shook her head.
"Maybe you should. I think you'd be surprised how much they affect your decision making and your self-esteem."
"I will consider it." She knew Monica was right. She carried a lot of baggage for someone her age.
"How far along are you?"
"I'm in my seventh month. It's a boy."
"Well you look beautiful," Alan said. "I always considered you a part of the family due to your friendship with Emily, that hasn't changed."
Some machines started to blare and Derek rushed into the room and barked some commands as the Q's and Liz held their breath.
Jason's body was twitching since he was having a seizure.
Finally, when it had relaxed, Derek did some tests and then turned to address them.
"That's probably going to happen a few times since his body is healing. We are alerted as soon as it happens, so help will come fast." He strode towards them. "Hi. You must be Abbie. I'm Derek."
"Hello. It's nice to meet you."
"Congratulations."
Liz smiled. "Thank you." Derek was definitely a handsome man. She was thinking if Emily wasn't with Nikolas, they would make a striking couple.
"There's a small fridge in the corner. It has some water bottles in it. We have a cafeteria that has fruit and snacks as well as meals. You should make sure you keep hydrated and maintain your stamina."
"I will. Thank you."
"I'll have Kyla walk you around. We have some gardens and an area where you relax and enjoy being outside."
"That sounds lovely," Monica said.
"Alright, he's stable. I'm going to check on another patient."
He left and Alan handed Liz a water bottle.
"Thank you."
