Chapter 6

Elizabeth awoke slowly, feeling the strong arms wrapped around her. Knowing that he was already awake, she opened her eyes and met his steady gaze. He smiled at her and kissed her gently. Relaxing into his embrace, she returned the kiss and deepened it when he kept it light in the beginning.

Regretfully, Johnny broke away. Noticing her frown, he ran a hand softly over her cheek. "Trust me, I want nothing more than to continue. But I honestly think that you need to think carefully about what you want, Lizbits."

"I have thought of nothing else since you showed up, Johnny," she confessed.

Holding in his groan, Johnny nodded. "I know that you think that now, sweetie. But you need to talk to John before you decide. He is coming back for you and Cam."

Sitting and leaving the warmth of his arms, Elizabeth shook her head. "Johnny, I understand why he left. I do. However, things have changed while he was gone."

"Things changed while I was gone too, Liz."

Pulling her hair into a messy ponytail, she studied him. "It's not the same and you know it. You never let me believe that you were dead. I always knew that you were alive. You, Johnny, you was who was with me when I had Cameron. You were there. Where was he?"

Johnny shook his head. "You know as well as I do that it is not that simple. Trust me, I want nothing more than to be with you and Cam. But I want you to take the time and really make sure that this is what you want and the best decision for you. Yours and Cam's lives have been completely turned inside out. He may not see all the changes as clearly as you do, but they are there. You need to face your past, Lizzie, before you head into the future." He stood and walked over to where she was looking at him. Tilting her head so that he was looking into her sapphire blue eyes, Johnny brushed their lips together. "I am not going anywhere. I will be right here when you are ready."

She was still standing in his arms when there was a knock on the door. Separating, Johnny pulled open the door and glared at A.J. "What?"

"Mac Scorpio is downstairs wanting to talk with you, Liz. I think that he has been completely shocked for the morning." A.J. laughed. "Zander let him in and Emily was in the living room playing with Spencer and Cam while Nik and I were talking. Needless to say, he is a little confused as to why your house is full of dead people."

Elizabeth smirked while heading toward the doorway. She grabbed Johnny's hand. "Let's go give him another shock, Johnny."

Knowing why the commissioner was there, both men stayed close to her when they entered the living room. Emily had taken the boys into the kitchen where Enzo was fixing their breakfast so it was edible.

"Mac, hi. Have a seat. A.J. told me that you wanted to talk to me."

The older man sat and looked at the remaining people in the room. It may have been years, but he definitely recognized Johnny, and Francis who had just entered from the outside. Seeing two of Corinthos old guards made him wonder exactly what was going on. "Sorry to disturb you so earlier, Elizabeth. Before I get to why I am here, can I ask when all the people who are suppose to be dead showed up."

Not liking the tone of the question, Francis snarled at the man. "Sure you can. However, I do believe that is a question to them, not Liz. I also think that if you want to ask them that, that you should request their presence at the station and that they should have their lawyer present. Would you like to take care of that now, or would you like to tell us the real reason you showed up here this morning at the bright and early hour of eight-thirty?"

Stuttering a bit, Mac took a deep breath. He had forgot how sarcastic the man could be. "Of course. There is no easy way to do this, Elizabeth." His sympathetic eyes met hers. "There has been evidence that has come to light recently. The FBI received a video tape, along with the PCPD, of Jake's accident. It was not Luke. It was Samantha Morgan that was driving the vehicle that hit Jake."

Stunned, Elizabeth swayed on her seat and Francis steadied her gently. Gathering her into his arms as she started to sob, he saw Johnny looking ready to kill Mac. Catching the Irish man's eyes, he discreetly shook his head.

Mac really hated that he had upset the younger woman. She had traveled a rough road almost all her life and he knew that she was dying inside over the death of her youngest child. He had been there too. Georgie's death still ate at him so he could understand completely what she was going through. "Taggart arrested her yesterday, Elizabeth. I thought that it was only right to tell you in person before you heard it on the news."

Looking up, she offered a watery smile. "I am thankful for that, Mac. I just can't believe that she would do that. I knew she hated me and that Jake existed, but this is just incomprehensible." Remembering who she was connected to on both sides of the law, Elizabeth sat up straighter. "Will the charges stick, or will Alexis get her off? I want her to face the consequences of what she did."
"The FBI filed the charges. They are sticking. Alexis refused to see her last night after viewing the tape. She was sickened by it. However, Jason is supplying her with attorney, but Miss Miller was not happy about representing her client in this case. Taggart wanted me tell you that he will be in touch."

"Marcus Taggart?" she questioned, awed that the man was back in town.

Mac smiled at that. "Yes. He was hoping to be here this morning to see you, but we had some problems crop up that needed to be dealt with."

"I want her in jail, Mac! No excuse she can offer is good enough. My son is dead."

"Trust me, Elizabeth, I do understand. We are all going to make sure that this is prosecuted. Now I need to go." He rose and looked over at Johnny. "I would appreciate if you and the other undead people could stop by within in the next day or so. I am very interested in how you all came to be alive, in Port Charles, and staying at this house together." After receiving a nod of acceptance, Mac again offered a still pale Elizabeth his goodbye before leaving.

Standing and facing the two men, Elizabeth snarled. "Is it true and did you know?"

Francis grimaced at the hurt and anger in her voice. "We sent Taggart the tape," he admitted softly.

Turning to stare at Johnny, Elizabeth was almost shaking with rage. "You are controlling the territory for Cam right now, correct?"

Not liking the gleam in her eyes, he nodded without speaking.

"Kill the bitch! I want her dead, O'Brien!"

"Elizabeth, we will be the first ones looked at," Francis protested quickly.

Her gaze not wavering from Johnny's, she only smiled. "So make it look like an accident or an attempt at a jail escape. I don't care. But, Johnny, do it. If you won't, I am sure that John will."

Both men watched as she left the room and headed upstairs. Uncertain, Francis looked over at Johnny who only sighed and rubbed his neck.

"She will calm down," Emily stated from the doorway.

"No, Em, she won't. You wouldn't either," Nik said with disgust as he entered behind her. "She means it and I for one can completely understand where she is coming from."

Thinking over everything, Johnny knew that Elizabeth was more devastated by this than thinking it had been Luke. At least with Spencer, you knew that it had to have been a horrible accident. With Sam, Johnny truly believed that it had been intentional. Pulling his untraceable cell phone from his pocket, he dialed Jerry's number while on his way to the back porch.

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

Monica was glaring at Taggart as he once again refused to release her daughter-in-law to her. "Dr. Quartermaine, there is no way that Mrs. Morgan is leaving this station. I don't care who you are or who your thug of a son is," he stated exasperated. "She killed Jacob Webber."

The older blonde snorted. "Maybe his slut of a mother should have been watching him better. Maybe you should file charges are on her," she spat, angry at the man standing before her.

"Well, I can see that Emily wasn't exaggerating. You really have lost your mind. Nice to know that you are so desperate for anything to do with the golden boy that you will disgrace yourself."

Taggart smiled at A.J. "I informed Mac when he returned earlier that the FBI has known about you and the others for awhile and I explained why you kept it quiet."

"Thank you, Taggart. We appreciate that." Turning back to his mother who was leaning on the desk and looking pale, A.J. glared at her. "What is wrong with you? Have you lost your mind? Protecting the woman that killed your grandson and then blaming the mother."

Monica was flabbergasted. Both of her dead children had returned and was singing the praises of the woman that had denied her the chance to know Jake. "A.J., where have you been? I am so happy that you are alive!"

He allowed his mother to hug him but did not return the gesture. After a minute, he set her aside from him and met her confused gaze. "I have been working on some projects that needed my personal attention. I could not tell anyone I was alive since it was Sonny and Jason that tried to kill me. After all, I know how much more important he is to you," he sneered.

Before she could respond the station doors opened and Emily entered with Edward. The older man looked shell shocked, not that anyone could blame him. Two of his family members had returned from the dead.

"A.J., Emily has showed me the papers and told me everything. It is nice to have you home, my boy." His look of happiness disappeared as he looked at Monica. "We, however, need to speak in private before you do anything else."

"No! I want to talk with my children!" she snapped.

"Too bad!" Emily retorted. "We want nothing to do with you while you are supporting that killer. Let alone the way you have been talking about Liz." Turning to her grandfather, she hugged the man before leaving the station with a silent A.J. who just looked at her in contempt.

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

Sitting on the park bench and watching as Cam played on the swings, Elizabeth tried to place the events of this morning behind her. Knowing of the danger that was still around, she was keeping close tabs on her son even though Jerry, Zander, Enzo, and Kurt were all around him. Turning to Francis, she smiled up at the older man.

"I am sorry that I snapped at you guys this morning."

"Don't be, Liz. We understand."

"Where did Johnny disappear to?"

"He had to take care of something with the families."

"I hate that," she muttered.

Francis only laughed. "He isn't too big on dealing with them either. He only does it for you and Cam."

"I know, but I hate it."

Seeing the blonde man walking toward them, Francis stiffened. While Jerry may trust his brother, he was not sure of anyone who would marry Carly. "Jax is heading this way."

Offering the man a smile, Elizabeth greeted him. "Hello, Jax."

"Elizabeth, hi. Francis. I was just wandering around and giving Carly some space. How are you doing?"

Thinking back to her morning, Elizabeth only shrugged. "I have been better. You?"

Jax ran a hand over his face. "Honestly, aggravated. I just don't understand why Carly has to react to Sonny's death by freaking out."

"Wait! Sonny is dead?"

Flushing slightly, Jax sat on the bench beside her. "I am sorry. I thought that you would have heard. He was killed last night. Shot in the head is what Mac told us."

"Who was it?"

"No idea. The police have no leads right now. There was no evidence left at the seen." He paused and cleared his throat. "I heard about Sam and the accident. I am so sorry, Liz."

Blinking back tears, she gave a watery laugh. "Thank you, Jax. Although I must say, I am not really surprised. Sam has hated me since I got pregnant with Jake. I will never believe that it was an accident."

The Australian agreed silently. "I have to get to the hotel. Once again, if you and Cam need anything, please call. Goodbye."

Watching as the man walked away, Francis sensed that he was actually sincere. "What is he doing with someone like Carly?"

"I am not sure, but he has horrible taste in woman. First there was Brenda, Courtney, and then Carly. He even slept with Sam." Elizabeth shook her head. "Did you know about Sonny?"

"Let's not discuss that here," Francis answered evasively.

Reading between the lines, she relaxed against the bench. "Ok. Instead, how about we discuss what your problem is with me and OB?"

Eying her, Francis moaned. "It isn't really that. I just think that with everything going on, you need to think things through. John is coming back tonight too. This is going to be an awkward situation at best, Liz."

Frustrated, Elizabeth stood and pulled her coat tighter against the chill. "Francis, while I completely adore you, I am capable of making my own choices. Just like John did without discussing anything with me."

"Liz, there was things going on and the decision had to be made quickly. I know that you are hurt and angry, but he did the best he could at the time."

"Really? The best choice was for me to mourn the father of my child while he was alive. I almost lost Cam! So now that he is coming back, I am suppose to just put all my anger, hurt, and pain away? I can't do that!"

"I would actually rather that you give me a chance to explain."

Elizabeth whirled around with a gasp and came face to face with John Zacchara and Johnny.