Wild Things
Starring: Liason
Disclaimer: Do Not Own Anything Recognizable
Opening Note: I can't say it is or isn't going to be like the way it was on the show. They had been friends on the show before he was shot and they aren't in this story. Will there be connecting while they are stuck together? Well, that's something you'll have to read on to find out, but their troubles aren't going to be fixed right away. Not with all that has gone down between them. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this update and let me know what you think. Its a rather turbulent one, even if I do say so myself. - Amber
This last week has been troubling to say the least as she worked her damnedest to keep Jason alive. The fever had been the hardest to break, but the antibiotics and painkillers paired with hourly applications of a damp cloth to his forehead seemed to do the trick. Thankfully, for her sake, he remained relatively unconscious through it all, uncertain of just what she'd do or say to him had he awoken and thrown her his usual attitude. Not that he could run away at the moment, seeing as he was literally stuck on that couch till he healed.
With the opening night of the gallery pretty much a done deal, her absence from the estate hasn't raised suspicions, especially since they all know how she gets when she delves into her art. As far as Tracy and the rest of them are concerned, she has locked herself away with her paintings until she's absolutely certain they were ready for the public. Tracy still calls routinely, making sure she's taking care of herself, anxious to see what she creates for the gallery. If only she could see what she was really doing.
The only visitor she's had since she's been locked away with Jason in the studio is Johnny, who has been a true friend through all of this, to be honest. He's been bringing her boxes of groceries and any art supplies she happens to run out of. With an unconscious Jason as her only company most of the day, she's glad to have Johnny with her for however long he's allowed to be there. There were a few nights where he even stayed over, talking with her through the night, keeping her mind off all that's troubling it, something she's truly come to appreciate.
Though he can be a big flirtatious goofball most of the time, she's glad to see a deeper side of him, the kind that is caring and compassionate. Understanding. Boy was he understanding. All the hours that he sat there, listening to her go on and on about the past that she shares with Jason and Robin both, and understanding just how destroyed she was when things ended. No one really gave her that before. A true understanding of her heart and how she could love someone so deeply that broke her beyond measure.
"I understand because I loved someone like that once." Johnny explains, pouring her another cup of hot chocolate. "It was an all encompassing kind of love. The kind that blinds you to what's right in front of you."
"What happened?"
"She found someone that could give her what she needed." Johnny says simply, not really wanting to get into it in that moment. "I was angry. Angry that she'd hurt me like that, but it also made sense. She needed something I couldn't give her. This life we live, this job...its not for everyone. It takes a special kind of person to stay with someone in this life. To accept it without question and just stick it out through the danger."
"All jobs have danger."
"Yeah, well, this one has a particularly brutal kind of danger that hangs over you daily." Johnny explains. "Its not for the faint of heart."
"Yet Robin seems to be doing just fine." Elizabeth counters, confused by the look that graced his face. "What's with the look?"
"Nothing." Johnny replies simply before rising to his feet. "I gotta head out. You gonna be okay by yourself?"
"I'm never by myself." Elizabeth reminds him, gesturing to the unconscious patient. "But yeah...I'll be okay."
"Okay." he says, hugging her snugly before kissing the top of her head. "You've got my number if you need anything."
"Thanks, Johnny."
"If I were you..." Johnny says as he pulls open the door. "I'd take this time to get the answers you want. For closure, if nothing else."
"You really think a bullet wound will get that brick wall to fess up?" Elizabeth counters with an arched eyebrow.
"Probably not." Johnny chuckles. "But, if anyone can pry information outta someone, my money's on you. Hell, you got me confessing to stuff I've never uttered to anyone before in my life."
"Bye, Johnny."
"Bye."
Closing the door, she shakes her head slightly, a soft smile on her lips, before she makes her way over to the blank canvas that sits atop the easel. For days, she has stared at this blank canvas, trying to find something worth painting, anything worth painting, but nothing comes. What she wouldn't give to find the painting within that canvas that's just begging to be painted. Lifting up her sketchbook from beside the canvas, she walks over to the window seat, deciding to sketch the buildings below to pass the time.
It was well into the afternoon when the grumbled noise of Jason coming to could be heard rumbling through the still air. The moment his eyes opened and landed on her, she almost wished he'd close his eyes and fall back into the deep dark slumber he had been in moments before. He glances around the room, evidently trying to piece together what had happened, before realization hits through the form of pain shooting up from his abdomen. He was shot. He was shot and she's there.
"Don't even think about getting off that couch." Elizabeth snaps at him when he tries to move into a sitting position. "You even try to set back your recovery and I promise you extreme pain."
"Excuse me?"
"Sonny has me taking care of you until you're back on your feet. Something I don't see myself doing for longer than is necessary." Elizabeth states nudging him back into a laying position. "This whole thing will go a lot easier if you'd just stay exactly where you are. Understand?"
"Sonny has you doing what?" Jason tried to wrap his head around it, but he just couldn't. This couldn't be happening.
"Are you deaf?" Elizabeth arches her eyebrow at him. "I'm in charge of your care."
"No." Jason states. "Where's my phone?"
"Go ahead. Call Sonny." Elizabeth says throwing his phone at him before pulling up a chair. "But you're doing it laying down even if I have to tie your ass to that couch."
Snatching his phone from where she threw it, Jason lays back against the couch, the pain nagging at him too much not to, before he calls Sonny. Elizabeth just stares at him as he talks to Sonny in a hushed tone, as if the studio was big enough in any capacity to hide what he was saying, clearly angered when Sonny orders him to stay put. He tries to argue the point, but Sonny ends the call before they can get into it any further. From the look on Jason's face, it was clear that he wasn't pleased.
"Why would you agree to this?" Jason questions her in irritation.
"That's what you have to say to me?" Elizabeth snaps back. "I find your bloody, unconscious body in the middle of my studio floor, I get you help and agree to take care of your ungrateful ass and that's what you have to say to me? Un-freaking-believable."
"What are you doing?" he questions when she shoots up from the chair.
"Getting you something to eat! Now that you're conscious, maybe you can get something in your system." Elizabeth states irritably as she walks over to the closet to grab a can of soup. "You eating equals you getting better. The faster that happens, the faster we can go on with our lives."
"I hate soup."
"Yeah, well, too freaking bad because that's all you're getting." Elizabeth counters, popping open the can before dumping the contents into the pot. "You know what, I think I liked you better out cold."
"You don't have to do this." Jason points out, causing her to let out a loud groan. "I'm serious. I can take care of myself."
"I don't know any other language to put this in." Elizabeth says as she dumps the soup into a bowl and grabs a spoon, placing it down in front of him. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Because of Sonny?"
"Because, even if you don't give a damn about me, I still care if you live or die." Elizabeth states, taking the spoon from him when she sees he's struggling to eat. "Until I know for sure that you'll be okay, I'm gonna be here. End of discussion. Now open your mouth."
Jason stares at her for a long moment before finally opening his mouth as demanded. Silence falls over them as she feeds him the soup, something she was thankful for. As much as she hates having to deal with his moody self, she's glad that he's finally conscious, lending to a brighter outlook on his condition. If he can keep down the soup, remain conscious for long periods of time, his condition will continue to improve and maybe, just maybe, they'll be out of each other's hair sooner than expected.
"Here. Take this." Elizabeth says, handing him the pills and a glass of water.
"What is it?"
"Tranquilizers. How else am I gonna get some peace and quiet around here?" Elizabeth replies sarcastically before rolling her eyes. "Antibiotics and painkillers. Seriously, Jason, just what kind of person do you think I am? You know what, don't answer that, just take the pills."
While he's taking the pills, Elizabeth starts clearing up the mess, washing the dishes and such. Feeling her anger rising, she starts to take in deep steady breathes, reminding herself that the objective here was to get him back on his feet, not to kill him. He's getting better. He'll be back on his feet in no time and they'll walk their separate ways yet again. The slut will have him back and she'll go back to her life as if none of this ever happened. Taking the glass from him when he's done, she's about to walk over to the sink when Jason takes hold of her hand, stopping her in her tracks.
"What?" Elizabeth says, looking at him seriously, forcing herself to not think of his hand in hers.
"Thank you." Jason says carefully, releasing her hand when she turns to face him. "For saving my life. For agreeing to take care of me. Thanks."
"Huh." Elizabeth looks at him in disbelief, not at all having expected that. "You're welcome. Now relax and get some rest. The more you get, the better off you'll be."
As he relaxes back into the couch, his eyes slowly shutting, Elizabeth returns to her spot by the window with her sketchbook in desperate need of an escape. From downright biting his head off to completely thrown off by his gratitude, Elizabeth just wants to get lost in her art, in something she can understand, for a while. When she starts to hum, Jason's eyes slowly reopen, finding her at the window as the sunlight showers over her. It was a deep resounding deja vu for him as he watches her sketch. It was one of the many moments he has missed about their time together. The way she hums without really noticing that she's doing it. He watches her for a moment longer before the fatigue drags him under, her humming echoing through his mind as he falls back into a deep slumber. The situation in its entirety wasn't ideal, but he's thankful for this moment, as fleeting as it may be.
Closing Note: Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! For your reviews, messages, favorites and follows. And thank you for making it to the end of another chapter. I can't wait to hear your insights and predictions. Will they finally fess up to what happened between them? Lay out all their cards and come to an understanding? Or will Elizabeth continue to bite the devil couple's heads off for the foreseeable future? Who knows. Till the next chapter, I leave you with pleasant wishes for a wonderful week ahead. - Amber
