A/N – Thanks for the comments! I do appreciate them! Glad you like the group and the progression!

The reason I made a comment about the story is because of the views. I had 250 views for 5 chapters on this story and Break the Silence (for ex.) had over 2300 for 4 chapters. So, was just making the comment that I don't think a lot of people were reading this month and that hopefully it was just a vacation/back to school thing and not that people don't take to it.

Jessie: If you're reading this - just left a comment on Only in Vegas. It's kind of hard to maintain that level of humor for 25 chapters and it not seem out of place for their world which is why I kept it short. They are in the mafia which is really serious. Just would be challenging. That's why I took them out of that world and put them in Vegas where they could let their hair down. But, I promise I'm writing some stories with a snarky Liz and there will also be some lighter ones. I appreciate your suggestions. It can't be angst all the time which is why I wrote those.

As for the rest of you, I have a lot of story ideas partially written right now, but if there is something you really want to see, feel free to say something in the comments or PM me.

Chapter 7 – Reality Sucks

Sonny smiled when Johnny walked up to the table. "Hey, take a seat."

Nicole bit her lip. He is really good looking and has beautiful eyes.

"This is Johnny O'Brien. He's one of my guards and he's going to be here uncover. There have been some threats and he's here to keep me safe," Sonny explained.

It was easy to forget the business that Sonny was in because it wasn't something they sat around and discussed and he didn't act like a mob boss around them.

"I'm Carly," she said smiling.

One by one they introduced themselves.

"It's nice to meet you."

When Nicole heard his accent that pretty much put her over the top.

"Do you carry a gun?" Tess asked.

"Normally yes, but not in here."

"Then how can you protect him?" Carly asked.

Johnny smiled. "Because these hands are lethal."

Liz chuckled.

"You're not supposed to laugh when I say stuff like that. You'll ruin my cred."

She grinned.

"So what's your cover story? I know I made you cry the last time I kicked your ass at pool, but I didn't think it was enough to put you over the edge," Jason said.

Johnny laughed. "I've been practicing, so be prepared to lose next time. I'm here because of work stress. Sonny's a tyrant."

Sonny gave him a look and everyone smiled.

Manny walked up and sat next to Carly. "So, what do we have here? Johnny O'Brien."

"Manny Ruiz. Funny finding you in a place like this."

Manny chuckled and held up his hands. "I have no beef with the Corinthos organization."

"Good."

"Is Sonny in trouble?"

"There have been threats," Johnny said.

For them to put a guard on the inside instead of just around the property was an interesting development.

John had been pretty quiet. He, like Manny, sensed something else was going on. Sure, there were a lot of people who knew that Sonny was holed up in here, but his men said it had been very quiet. For them to bring Johnny in, something was definitely going down.

Sonny could practically see the wheels turning in John's head.

"I finished my painting," Liz said.

Carly smiled. "Really? I want to see it." They were all excited about Elizabeth getting the scholarship.

"Yeah, me too," Nicole said.

The girls got up and went to the art room, leaving the mean alone to talk.

"So what's really going on?"

Jason sighed. He thought something was up too.

"Just know that Elizabeth might need some protecting. That is why Johnny is really here. I can't go into details, but she is not to know because we're not sure."

Jason didn't like this at all. "How bad is it?"

Sonny sighed. "Look, I can't really say. Just watch out for her. She should never be alone."

"Can we tell the girls?"

Johnny and Sonny looked at each other for a minute.

"It might be the only way to keep her safe," Johnny said.

"Look, between all of us, we should be able to cover it. This might all be for nothing anyway. Just watch her back."

The girls came back to the table. Jason got up and walked away. He hated not being able to tell Liz and right now, he needed to think.

"What's wrong with him?" Tess asked.

John shrugged.

Liz watched Jason until he disappeared.

"I'll go talk to him," Sonny said getting up and following Jason outside. He quickly caught up to him and they sat on a bench. "Talk to me."

Jason sighed. He had felt a rage coming on but had been able to squelch it. "Sonny, I feel like Elizabeth deserves to know the truth."

"We don't know anything yet. We can't upset her until we know if there is an actual threat. She's doing so much better now."

Jason stood up and started to pace. "You want me to lie to her and I can't lie."

"You're not lying Jason. She has no idea what's going on so there is no reason that you'll have to. Jason, are you starting to like her?"

Jason stopped in his tracks. "She's so young. I just—she's special and I hate that someone tried to ruin her."

"It's okay to like her Jason."

He shook his head. "No, it's not. I'm a fucking train wreck. She deserves so much more than I could ever give her. I'm damaged and I just can't drag her down with me."

"I don't think she sees it like that. Elizabeth needs all the friends she can get. Don't turn your back on her or try to make her choices for her. Look, how about I promise that if I get any proof that the threat is real, that we'll tell her. Dr. Turner knows what's going on and I trust that she has Elizabeth's best interests at heart."

"Why do you care?"

"I care about all of you. I guess you've gotten under my skin."

Jason smirked. Johnny walked up to them and plopped down next to Sonny.

"Alright, tomorrow she has an art class and unfortunately it's also family day." It occurred once a month at the facility.

Jason rolled his eyes. "Great."

Sonny smiled. "I think I'll lay low for that. Please tell me that the Zaccharas aren't coming."

Johnny shrugged. "I'll check with John. I really don't think that he wants his dad anywhere near him and I think his sister is out of the country."

"Find out for sure. I want to avoid Anthony at all costs," Sonny said.

"Okay boss."

They had enough to worry about without involving that lunatic. He needed to me in Shadybrook more than all of them combined.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Dr. Turner sat across from Elizabeth. "So, how are things going?"

Liz smiled. "Great. I feel more like myself now."

"No more sightings?"

She shook her no. "It's kind of weird, but I feel really safe here. Maybe it's my new friends. I don't know for sure."

"Well I'm glad that you feel that way, because you have made some great strides."

"It feels good not to feel so twisty."

"Is there anything else going on?"

She shrugged and turned red.

Violet tilted her head. "What? You can tell me anything."

"I have a little crush that's all."

She smiled. "May I ask who?" She already knew what Liz was going to say, but she wanted her to talk about her feelings.

"Jason."

"It's okay to have a crush. Does he like you too?"

"I'm not sure—I mean I think so, but I am seventeen and I don't think he'll go there."

"Well, you'll be eighteen soon. Get to know him during this time. If it's meant to be, then he'll wait for you."

Liz sighed. "I'm scared—not of him really but just that I'm not enough. I don't have any experience and what if I can't be intimate with him?"

"Intimacy grows from trust. The more you trust Jason, the more your walls will come down. It just takes time. As long as you lay down rules and Jason respects them, you'll be fine. You forget that a lot of this is new for Jason too. He doesn't remember anything from before the time of the accident."

"He does have sexual experience though. I don't. What if I'm not enough?"

Dr. Turner put her pad down. "I can assure you that if Jason is the man I think he is that he will never make you feel like you are not enough. Once you let go in that moment, you won't be thinking about anything else but how your body is feeling."

Elizabeth blushed. This topic was so uncomfortable for her. Due to what her rapist had done, she didn't think she'd ever enjoy sex.

"I can tell from the look on your face that you can't relate to what I'm saying. That's okay. In time, you will fully understand it. Just don't shut yourself off okay? When you are finally with someone who loves you, it will be so different than your prior experiences. The feelings it will evoke will come from a completely different place."

"I think I'll just stick with being friends for now."

Dr. Turner smiled. "That's safe—for now. There's no need to rush."

They finished up and Violet went to talk with Sonny.

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Tess pulled back from Johnny's lips. God he was so handsome. He was crazy about her. For some reason, she just lit a fire inside of him that he didn't know existed. Being with her was making him finally feel like he could have a future with someone.

"Is anyone coming to see you for family day?" John asked.

"No. I didn't tell them about it. I wasn't up for the drama."

"Me either. I made the guards promise to keep Anthony away. Claudia is in Italy."

She smiled. "Then I have you all to myself."

"Definitely. We'll hide in the tree house."

"Sounds perfect."

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Nicole plopped down next to Johnny.

He slightly smiled. She was definitely his type. "What's wrong?"

"Family day is tomorrow and well, I have none."

"Me either."

She tilted her head. "What's your story O'Brien?"

He shrugged. "I moved to Port Charles and Sonny hired me. I started as a guard and worked my way up."

"No wife and kids at home?"

He shook his head. "Nope. I don't think I'm the best at relationships. My job pretty much seals that."

"My past pretty much seals it for me."

Johnny closed his eyes for a minute. Sonny had told him about Nicole and they were searching for her dad. It was just hard because he used assumed names. "I know. If I catch up with him, I'll kill him myself."

His tone was lethal which she found to be totally hot. "Thank you. I don't know if I'll get over what he did, but I'm trying."

"That's all you can do. Someday, when love comes around, maybe you'll open up to it and it will change everything."

She started laugh.

"What?"

"I'm sorry but that was so hallmark. Maybe I'm just realistic you know? I'm damaged goods. Usually once someone finds out, it's a deal breaker. My dad always finds a way to ruin things for me."

He took her hand. "I think you're beautiful Nicole." Just her eyes alone were enough to slay just about anyone. "You just have to believe that you deserve love. I think we all do. Finding the right person is a difficult process."

"Would—never mind."

"No. Ask me whatever you want."

"Knowing what you know, would you date me?"

He slowly smiled. "Yes and if you need me to prove that, I'll look you up once we're out of this place."

She squeezed his hand. "I think I'd like that."

"Are you against dive bars?"

She shook her head no.

"I'll take you to Jake's and teach you how to play pool and we can go from there." He just wanted to take her to a place where they could relax. They could do fancy later.

"It's a date."

He smiled. "I need to go find John."

"He's probably in the tree house making out with Tess. Just close your eyes before you look in there."

Johnny chuckled and stood up. "Thanks for the tip."

She watched him walk away. She took it back, Morgan was not going to be her husband, that job was now going to Johnny.

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Sonny sat across from Dr. Turner.

"So, how are you handling the medication?"

"It's okay. I feel like my moods are starting to even out."

"You know, I probably could let you go soon."

He nodded. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but can I stay a little longer. I just feel like I need to make sure that Elizabeth is fine."

Dr. Tuner smiled.

"What?"

"You're a good guy at heart, aren't you?"

Sonny flashed his dimples. He thought Violet Turner was beautiful. There was just something about her that made her endearing. "I try. I really don't want to be like my step father was or like any of the men that hurt the girls."

She knew who he was referring too. His group was like 'The Breakfast Club' of the facility. "That all comes down to choices and allowing someone to really see who you are. Honesty is important."

"I get that."

"So, what is the first thing you're going to do when you get out of here?"

"That's easy. I'm going to cook the most delicious meal and scarf it down. No offense, but the food here sucks."

Violet chuckled. "Sounds really good."

"You could join me." He watched her mouth open and close a few times. "You don't have to answer that. Just know that if you want it, the invitation would be there. And don't look so shocked. You're beautiful and smart. I'd have to insane not to notice that."

She blushed and then grinned. She could honestly say that she had never dated a patient or wanted to, although he wouldn't be her patient anymore. Biting her lip, she crossed her legs wondering how the hell she was letting Sonny Corinthos get to her.

He stood up. She hadn't said no so that was a good sign. "I think we're done here."

She watched him walk away and shook her head. Damn he was fine.

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The next morning, Elizabeth hurried to the art room. "Cris," she yelled before giving him a big hug. He was shocked but glad that she trusted him so he returned it.

"What was that for?"

She blushed, realizing what she had done and stepped back. "Um, I'm just so happy that you got me into the art program at PCU. Thank you so much."

Cris smiled. "You did all the hard work."

"May I ask who my benefactor is?"

"Lila Quartermaine."

Her mouth dropped open. "She's related to Jason?"

"Yes. He's her grandson."

"Wow."

"It's a small world." He handed her a few things to put on the desks.

She stopped for a second. "Did she know who I was?" She knew that Lila and her grandmother got together sometimes.

"Later in the conversation I said your first name and she put it together."

Her shoulders dropped. "It wasn't pity was it?"

Cris frowned. "No. I would never bring anyone to her attention unless I thought they were really talented, regardless of their past. She's looking forward to seeing your work. In fact, she'll be here today to see Jason. Are you willing to meet with her?"

Liz took a deep breath. "Yes. You think I could show her some of my work?"

Cris smiled. "She would love that."

Manny walked in. "What's up for today?"

Liz smiled. Manny was always the first one there. He loved the class. "Charcoal."

His eyes danced. "Awesome."

Cris smiled. "You know, I have a client who asked me about some comic book illustration. It's not up my alley, but I'd be happy to introduce you once you got out of here if you want something different to do."

"Really?"

Cris nodded. "It's definitely your style."

Manny grinned. "That would be awesome." His smile quickly disappeared and Liz walked over to him.

"Manny, what's wrong."

"Maybe I shouldn't accept. My life is dark Elizabeth. I'm in the same business as Sonny and you don't get out once you're in. It's dangerous and I don't think I can do something normal like draw and all the other stuff."

"Isn't there someone else who could take up the slack?" She understood, but she knew what light art brought into his life.

"I don't know."

Cris understood too. "You think about it. I'll show you some of what you'd be doing and see if it calls to you. If it does, then try and make it happen."

Manny nodded.

Carly walked into the room. She saw the look on Manny's face and was surprised because he was usually happy. "You okay?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I just got reminded of the real world."

The classroom quickly filled up. Liz noticed that Jason didn't show up and was immediately worried, but she didn't have time to focus on it because Carly needed some help getting started.