A/N - Thanks for the comments! Dreamlover – Fun and drama! * Kikimoo – Re: Max – Yes! * Virgy15 – lol good! * doralupin86 – I was trying to think who can I set Max up with and her named popped into my head! Thanks! * lrobinson01 – Thank you! * ilovedana53 - Sam will pop up here or there. I'll be taking out some of my frustrations with the show on her. Thanks! * klj5017a – lol re: Borg although I still think he's borgalicious. * Liasonluv – Thanks!

Chapter 6 – Pushing Buttons

Elizabeth and Milo had a great time at Kelly's and then made their way to the park.

"If you want to go to Jake's tonight, Ellie will be there."

Liz grinned. "I would love to."

"Good, I'll pick you up at 6 for happy hour."

Liz held onto his arm as they walked. She had missed her brother. Milo and Liz were close in age so they tended to stick together more. Sitting on a bench, they watched Leticia chasing after a little boy and laughed as he successfully evaded her. And Liz watched as the little boy ran towards them and just as he was about to make his escape she jumped up and grabbed him and he squealed as he laughed.

"Where are you going silly boy?" She asked as he squirmed in her arms. Walking towards Leticia she smiled and handed the boy to her.

"Thanks for the assist. He can be a handful." She said trying to catch her breath.

Liz smiled. "I'm Elizabeth, I'm new in town."

"I'm Leticia."

"Very nice to meet you."

"Is he yours?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm a nanny."

"That's cool. Have you met my brother Milo?"

Leticia looked around her and saw Milo who waved. "He looks really familiar actually."

"You seem really nice. He's taking me to Jake's to meet his girlfriend tonight. You should come. You'll probably need a drink." She said looking down at the little boy. "Hope I don't sound like a weirdo."

Leticia smiled. "No, I haven't gone out in a while. That might be nice. I'm actually off early tonight."

The boy wiggled free and ran towards the swings.

"Duty calls." She said. "See you later."

Liz turned around and looked at Milo, grinning wickedly.

"What did you do?" He asked as she sat back down next to him.

"Just make sure Max is at Jakes tonight."

Milo grinned. "You're good."

"I know."

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Sonny walked into Jason's office. "So, how's the new roommate situation going?"

Jason almost groaned which made Sonny chuckle. "That bad?"

"She makes me feel old."

Sonny laughed loudly. "If it's too much, I'm sure I can call Maximus and make other arrangements."

"I can handle it. It probably will only be for a few months. Robin Scorpio is coming back to town."

"Really? Wow, we haven't seen her for a long time."

"I know. Apparently, she is friends with Elizabeth."

"We'll have to get together for dinner or something."

Jason shrugged.

"I think that Stan has a lead on whoever was shooting the other day."

"Good."

"There's a shipment coming in at 8:00 right?" Sonny asked.

"Yeah."

"I heard that Johnny will be overseeing it."

"You heard right."

"Why? I thought he was on the rotation for guarding Elizabeth."

"Not anymore."

Sonny sighed. "Jason, I need you to be a little more forthcoming."

"They are fighting and I need him to be focus. With Maximus breathing down our necks, we can't take a chance with Elizabeth's life."

"Was he okay with that?"

"No."

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Johnny poked his head in. "Can we talk?"

Sonny stood up. "I was just leaving. Keep me updated on the shipment."

Johnny waited for Sonny to go and then sat down.

"Do we have a problem O'Brien?"

Johnny's jaw clenched. "Do you want her Jason?"

Jason rolled his eyes. "Do you really think that babysitting was on my list of things to do?"

Johnny glared at him. "That's not what I asked."

"Look, I am just doing what Maximus requested; nothing more, nothing less. And I don't have time for this bullshit. You come highly recommended. I need someone that I can trust and frankly, from your reputation, you are way too good to just be a guard. So, do you want to take this opportunity or not? It's up to you."

Jason watched the anger in Johnny's eyes dissipate slowly.

"Fine, I'll take the opportunity."

"Good. Do you want to talk about her?"

Johnny almost groaned. "There's unfortunately nothing to talk about. I love her but she doesn't love me."

"I think she does care about you."

"I know. Her heart is broken so she can't let herself go there. I was stupid and got too close."

Jason nodded.

"Just take good care of her Jason. She's a smart, beautiful, and funny and unfortunately she was hurt badly. I thought loving her would help her move forward but I think in a way, it might have made things worse. I just don't want her to do anything stupid. She tends to run."

"I promise I'll watch out for her."

Johnny stood up. "And later on down the line, when you fall for her—and you will, don't tell her you love her because apparently it's the kiss of death." He said bitterly.

Jason didn't move.

"Thanks for the opportunity. I won't let you down."

Jason watched him leave. He seemed like he was a good guy. Elizabeth was turning out to be more of an enigma then he had originally thought. Someone had broken her heart so badly that she wouldn't return love. He could have easily asked Johnny, but he decided that it was her story to tell and if she wanted him to know, she would tell him.

He grabbed his motorcycle keys and headed out, needing to clear his head.

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Elizabeth got ready to go out with her brothers. She studied herself in the mirror. The short jean skirt hugged her hips and she had an off the shoulder blouse on and wedged heels. Satisfied with her hair and makeup, she went downstairs and waited.

Nathan pushed the door open for Milo.

"Hey Sis, you ready?"

She smiled and stood up. "Do I look okay?"

"You look beautiful as always." He said offering his arm.

"Thank you kind sir."

They headed out with Nathan trailing behind them.

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Elizabeth laughed at the redhead sitting across from her. She liked Ellie and all her quirkiness. And it was clear that the woman adored her brother.

Max walked over to them and sat down next to Liz. "Hey squirt—Ellie." He said smiling.

"Hey Max." Ellie said.

"What took you so long?" Elizabeth asked.

"We had a shipment come in. I was helping."

Elizabeth took a sip of her margarita.

"What happened to straight tequila?"

"It wasn't that kind of a night." Liz said smirking. She looked up and saw Leticia come in and felt Max tense next to her.

"You didn't." He muttered.

"Oh, I did." She said grinning. "Leticia, I'm so glad that you came."

She groaned and sat down. "Let me tell you, after my day with Damian—not his real name mind you, I needed a drink."

"What would you like?" Milo asked.

"A beer is fine."

"Coleman." Liz yelled. "We need a beer over here." She yelled.

Leticia smiled.

"Ellie, Milo, and Max, this is Leticia."

Everyone said hello and luckily, Max managed not to blush.

"I met Leticia in the park today. She's a nanny."

"Well it's very nice to meet you." Ellie said.

"What do you do?" Leticia asked as she took the beer from Coleman.

"I'm a lab technician at G.H."

"And you?" She asked Milo.

"I'm a guard for Corinthos/Morgan." He said waiting to see her reaction.

She just nodded. "And you Max?" She said turning to him with a smile.

"I'm a foreman for one their warehouses."

"Do you enjoy it?"

"Yeah, I do."

"My brother is being modest. He's more than just a foreman and he's also a great cook too." Liz said proudly.

"Really? What is your specialty? I love to cook too."

"Italian."

"Max makes the best linguini I have ever tasted." Liz said proudly.

"Don't tell Sonny that." Max said.

Milo chuckled.

"What do you cook?" Max asked.

"Mostly anything, but I love Cuban food."

Max smiled. "I don't think I've ever had Cuban food."

Leticia's eyebrows shot up. "Really, well then maybe I'll have to have you all over one night."

Max blushed. "That would be nice."

Liz shot a look at Milo; mission accomplished. "Leticia, do you have a boyfriend?"

She shook her head. "Not at the moment."

"Neither do I. Max is single too. I'm going to go shoot some pool."

Max shook his head as Liz walked away. "Subtle she is not. I think she forgot to take her medication. I should call her doctor and have him double the dosage."

Leticia chuckled. "I think it's cute."

Liz glanced back at the table and grinned. A man approached her. "You weren't going to play alone, were you?"

She turned and smiled. "Hi Lucky."

"Hi."

"If you want to get your ass kicked, then by all means, grab a stick."

Lucky put his beer down and watched her break. "I take it that you're feeling better."

"I'm just peachy." She said sinking a shot.

"Good." He said watching her sink another one. "You're a pool shark aren't you?"

She looked up with a grin. Someone bumped her from behind and she spun around.

"Oh shit." Milo muttered. Everyone at the table turned to look.

"Watch it buddy." Liz said.

Jason walked into Jakes and stopped when he saw Elizabeth.

"You're a fiery one aren't you?" The drunk said grinning.

Liz rolled her eyes and turned back around. She was just about to take the shot when she felt a hand on her ass.

Max groaned. "I really didn't want to get into a fight tonight."

Elizabeth spun back around. "Did you just grab my ass?" She yelled.

Lucky put his beer down and started to move around the table as did Nathan.

"What if I did?"

"Wrong answer asshole." She said swinging the pool stick which connected with his head. He slid to the floor and she looked at the rest of his friends. "Anyone else want a piece of this?"

Jason smirked for a second before he realized that a few of the men stepped forward and one of them pushed her.

Lucky stepped next to her. "I really wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Who the fuck are you?" One of them asked.

Nathan moved behind him.

Lucky started to speak and Jason stood on the other side of Liz and all of them backed up.

"Sorry Mr. Morgan." They said shuffling back to the corner.

Liz looked up at him and glared. "Where the hell did you come from?"

"A your welcome would have sufficed." Jason said with a smirk on his face.

Liz pushed him back, completely taking him off guard. "Did anyone ask you to step in? Did I look like I needed help?"

Jason was totally shocked and just stared at her. Max jumped up. "Elizabeth."

"Don't Elizabeth me Max." She said glaring at her brother. "When I want your help, I'll ask for it." She said angrily walking away from all three men and heading to the bathroom.

Max looked at Jason. "Sorry."

He shook his head. "There's no need to apologize on her behalf. She has a mouth on her, so she can come apologize to me herself." He said walking away.

Lucky looked at Max. "She is a spitfire."

"You have no idea." Max said before realizing he was speaking to a cop. "Look, my sister is way too much for you to handle."

Lucky chuckled. "I seriously doubt that."

"It's your sanity." Max said walking away from an amused Lucky.

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Elizabeth washed her hands and looked in the mirror. "Lizzie strikes again." She muttered. Jason had been standing there looking so smug like she was supposed to bow down in front of him and gush her thanks all over his fucking black boots. Why did she let him get to her?

Leticia opened the door and walked inside. "You want to tell me what that was about?"

Liz groaned. "He just drives me nuts."

"He's certainly nice to look at though." She said smiling.

Liz smiled. "That's beside the point."

"You'll have to teach me some of your moves."

"That I can do. I had a great teacher."

Francis had taught her a lot and then Johnny had added some different techniques as well.

"Come on." Liz said walking to the door. "I could use another drink."

Leticia smiled and followed her.

They sat back down and Jason watched from the corner. He didn't understand why she had gotten so angry. No matter how good of a fighter she was, those men were big and there were three of them. Lucky walked over and pulled up a chair next to her and Jason growled. He hated Lucky Spencer and didn't even understand why Liz would even speak to him.

Elizabeth on the other hand had figured out that Jason couldn't stand Lucky. His disgust for the cop practically oozed out of his pores. She looked over at Lucky and said something witty, making sure to put her hand on his arm or touch him hoping that Jason was watching.

And he was but after the third touch, he couldn't watch anymore and she watched him walk out of the bar and soon heard his the rev of his motorcycle. She stopped paying attention to Lucky after that; not that he noticed. And about an hour later, she motioned to Nathan to take her home.

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Elizabeth came down the steps in her boy shorts and a tank top. Going into the kitchen, she grabbed some ice cream and a spoon and came back into the living room.

Jason stepped inside and she ignored him and sat down. "I asked you not to dress like that around me."

She concentrated on the ice cream. "Just ignore me. All my assets are covered up, I don't see what you're problem is."

Jason shook his head. "You have an attitude problem."

"And you're any better?" She asked slamming the container down.

"What is your problem with me?"

Liz stood up and they were soon toe to toe as Liz poked him for emphasis. "I can take care of myself you know. I don't need you rescuing me. Do you have some kind of hero complex or something?"

"Your father asked me to watch out for you and that is exactly what I'm doing. If you don't like it, we can call him. I'm sure he wouldn't mind visiting."

Liz's eyes narrowed. "So, that is how you think you can control me; throwing my father in my face every time I don't act the way you want me to?"

Jason sighed. "Why are you acting like such a child?"

Liz's mouth dropped open and she slugged him in the arm and ran upstairs. "I hate you." She muttered.

Jason plopped onto the couch. "Just great Morgan." He said picking up the container and then slowly tasted a spoonful. "Not bad." She was kind of hot when she was mad.