Chapter 9

After the encounter in his kitchen with the Pepe Le Pew t-shirt Jason had gone to work. It had been a completely frustrating and totally unproductive day. Loading and unloading sacks of coffee beans exhausted him but did nothing to exhaust his mind or imagination which constantly fantasized about Elizabeth. In fact he had been unable to think of anything else all day. Jason had decided that to save his own and everyone else's sanity he had to keep his distance from Elizabeth. Which meant as little to no time alone with her as possible. In between his fantasies about Elizabeth he also couldn't shake his concern about taking Michael to meet the Quartermaine's. What if AJ questioned that Jason was Michael's father? How would everyone react to that and to Elizabeth? There was potential for disaster but he knew Elizabeth was right, Michael needed to meet his extended family.

Emily, Elizabeth, Michael walked into the warehouse and headed for Jason's office, with Francis and Andrew following close behind. When Jason had heard Emily would be spending the day with Elizabeth he'd assigned one more guard to work with Francis.

Emily knocked briefly and then opened Jason's door to find Sonny sitting opposite Jason.

"This a good time?" she asked.

"Yeah it's fine" Jason replied as he gestured for everyone to come in. Sonny stood as Emily and Elizabeth entered and Francis and Andrew took up positions outside the closing door. Jason's eyes roamed over Elizabeth, thankful that Sonny had captured their attention. He groaned inwardly, Elizabeth was dressed for a summer's day, looking fresh, cool and gorgeous. She'd tied her hair up in a loose ponytail, and donned a blue dress of light floating material, skimming her curves down to an inch above her knees. The dress had tiny little straps exposing her slim pale shoulders and graceful neck. She wore no makeup but her lips glistened and no jewellery. In short he couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Hello ladies!' Sonny greeted. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"

"Elizabeth has to pick up her tracking device" Emily quoted and grinned at Jason.

"Her WHAT?" Sonny spluttered "Tell me you didn't?" he asked Jason.

"He did!" Elizabeth assured Sonny.

"She's not going to say anything Sonny" Jason smirked still staring at Elizabeth.

"You sure? Women stick together you know" Sonny replied not liking that Jason was giving away secrets, but noting with fascination Jason's interest in Elizabeth.

"Sonny I'm hurt? You think I'd give you and Jason away like that?" She asked her eyes shining with laughter.

He stared at her for long moments "If you do I'll NEVER make you chicken and mushroom pasta again"

"OH that is low Sonny. But really there is no need to threaten me, my lips are sealed. Jason explained it to me" Elizabeth laughed at Sonny.

"You're a good girl Elizabeth." he smiled hugging her to his side. Jason moved around the desk and lifted Michael from her arms.

"Have you been having a good time? What have they got you doing?"Jason asked Michael, who girgled and dribbled his happiness through a toothless smile.

"I took them shopping. Michael is my nephew and I wanted to buy him a present." Emily smiled. "He's so adorable Jason, and so good. I'll babysit him any time. I can't wait for Grandmother to see him"

"This weekend" Jason confirmed, thankful to have Michael in his arms and a reason not to stare at Elizabeth.

"You should probably know that everyone is home this weekend" Emily ventured.

"Great!" Jason's reply lacked warmth and enthusiasm.

"Look at it this way, you'll get all the introductions over in one meeting. Everyone will know at the same time and you don't have to face that again.' Emily pointed out.

"Yeah!" Jason muttered.

"But it won't be the last visit. Michael needs to get to know his family" Elizabeth pointed out, looking straight at Jason.

"I know" he replied "I just can't guarantee I'll be a regular visitor"

"That's fair enough" Elizabeth.

Sonny decided it was time to change the subject. "So what are you doing for the rest of the day?"

"We decided to meet Nik and Lucky at Kelly's. We're headed over there for a late lunch." Emily told him.

"Lucky told us Bobbie is working for Mike today" Elizabeth told Jason.

"You want me to come with you?" he asked her.

"I know the last thing you want to do is have lunch with the Nik and Lucky, but if you aren't too busy I'd really appreciate you being with me when I introduce Michael to her." she told him.

"It's fine I can take off from here for a few hours" Jason replied. "You okay with that Sonny?"

"Of course. You're on call for the shipment tonight so go ahead" Sonny replied.

Elizabeth slowly pushed the pram carrying Michael towards Kelly's as Emily and Jason followed closely. They decided to take a table outside until Elizabeth and Jason could talk to Bobbie. Lucky and Nik hadn't arrived, so they all took their seats and smiled as Mike stepped through the door and approached them.

"Elizabeth! I don't believe it. You here for a visit?" Mike asked.

"No I'm here to stay Mike. I'm working at GH studying to be a nurse. It's good to see you" Elizabeth smiled as Mike leant closer wrapping an arm around her shoulders to gently squeeze.

"Well it's good to see you two darlin. What can I get you all?" Mike asked.

"Well we're waiting on Nik and Lucky for lunch but I could go for a orange juice" Emily replied.

"Chocolate milkshake for me please" Elizabeth added.

"I'll have black coffee Mike." Jason added "Is Bobbie inside?"

"Yeah she is, you want me to get her?" Mike confirmed "Hey who is the kid?"

"Michael Benson, my son with Carly" Jason replied. It was the first time he'd ever said it out loud to anyone but Elizabeth and Sonny and Jason was surprised to find it felt right.

"OH" Mike replied his eyes wide. "Oh"

"Elizabeth here was friends with Carly and she has been taking care of Michael. We need to tell Bobbie what's going on" Jason told him.

"I'll get her if you like" Mike offered and Jason nodded his thanks.

"Jason lets go inside and sit at the counter. We can talk to Bobbie there and if she wants to meet Michael we'll bring her out here" Elizabeth suggested.

"Okay" he agreed standing to help her out of her chair and holding the door as she preceded him through, and headed for the counter.

It was only a few minutes and Bobbie came flying out from the kitchen and around the counter. "ELIZABETH!" she cried as she dragged her off her stool and into her arms.

"It's so good to see you."

"You too Bobbie. You look as fantastic as ever" Elizabeth told her sincerely as they hugged.

"You look beautiful! Doesn't she Jason" Bobbie prompted as she pulled back to study her.

"She does" Jason agreed, making Elizabeth blush that Bobbie had put him in such a position. She knew she couldn't take his compliment seriously. To distract herself she focused her attention on Bobbie.

"Ah Bobbie I have something to tell you and it may come as a shock." Elizabeth began shakily.

Bobbie looked backwards and forwards between Jason and Elizabeth

"What you two aren't?,,," she began and stopped. Elizabeth looked lost, she didn't know where to begin.

"Bobbie" Jason turned her to look at him "Carly Benson was killed in a hit and run accident early last week in Colarado"

Bobbie reacted with a start. "In Colorado?" she looked at Elizabeth knowing that was where she came from.

"I knew her Bobbie. I've known her all my life" Elizabeth told her quietly, grief overwhelming her again. Bobbie saw it and took her hands.

"Did she hurt you too? Did she ruin your life?" Bobbie asked.

Elizabeth looked down momentarily. "No she didn't"

"You're lucky" Bobbie responded, not knowing how to feel. She hated Carly with a passion, but she was her flesh and blood and she was dead.

"Thing is Bobbie, the Carly you knew, the one who caused so much pain and heart ache for so many here, was not the Carly I knew" Elizabeth told her "She was a huge part of my life and I loved her like a sister. She was wonderful to me, and it's hard for me to reconcile the Carly you knew with the one I knew"

Bobbie abruptly dropped her hands. "She was evil Elizabeth"

"I don't want to sound like I'm defending her, but I hope some day you'll let me tell you about the Carly I knew and grew up with. Maybe then you can see she wasn't all bad, even though she did very bad things to you" Elizabeth replied emotionally.

Bobbie stared at her, Elizabeth was a good, kind girl, the type any mother would want as a daughter, but she was naïve. May be Carly conned her like she did so many others. She nodded wanting to change the subject.

"Are you here for a visit?" She asked taking her hands again, trying to smile through her pain.

"No I've moved here. We'll be working together at the hospital I start Monday" Elizabeth smiled.

"You dropped out of Med school?" Bobbie asked shocked.

"Yes it's a long story" Elizabeth replied and Jason took his opportunity to move things a long.

"There is another part to this story Bobbie" he began as Bobbie turned to study him "Carly did have a baby, a boy and Elizabeth has been looking after him." He let that sink in as Bobbie's expression gave away to shock. She once again dropped Elizabeth's hands.

"She didn't lie about being pregnant?" Bobbie asked in husky voice "Is it Tony's?"

"No she didn't lie about the pregnancy and I'm the baby's father" Jason finished. "Elizabeth and the baby have moved in with me, and she's going to help me raise him"

"OH" the relief Bobbie felt that Tony wasn't the baby's father pulsed through her. She looked back at Elizabeth her expression lost.

"The reason I dropped out of Med school was because Carly needed me and I wanted to help her." Elizabeth explained.

"Wait this is all too much. Who has been looking after him?" Bobbie asked.

"I have" Elizabeth replied simply "When he was born Carly was too scared to touch him, he was premature and she was scared of him. So I looked after him."

"Elizabeth is the only mother Michael has ever known" Jason added.

"Michael?" Bobbie asked.

"That's his name Michael. Would you like to see him?" Elizabeth asked nerves making her voice unsteady.

"NO!" Bobbie shouted "I mean. No I can't. I" she faltered. Elizabeth grabbed at her hands, looking in to Bobbie's eyes.

"It's alright, I understand perfectly. But if you ever want to see him, please please come to me" Elizabeth begged.

Bobbie stared at Elizabeth for long moments. "He is very lucky to have you" she whispered.

"I'm very lucky to have him. He makes life worthwhile." Elizabeth countered with a watery smile. Unsteadily Elizabeth let go of Bobbie's hands and Jason moved forward to rest a hand on her lower back. She looked at him, grateful for his strength and on shaky legs allowed him to steer her towards the door.

"Where is he?" Bobbie asked quietly.

"Outside with Emily and the guards" Jason replied.

"Maybe" she started and paused "maybe I could just look at him?" she asked "He's just an innocent baby, isn't he?"

"Of course" Elizabeth replied.

As soon as Lucky and Nik turned up for lunch, Jason made his excuses to leave. He had to get a handle on what he was feeling. He'd watched Elizabeth struggle to tell Bobbie about Carly and Michael, and then struggle again as Bobbie sat down and stared at Michael. It was way to emotional for Jason and he didn't handle emotional scenes very well. Bobbie had not picked Michael up, but anyone within a 10foot radius could feel the emotions overtaking her. She'd reached out a tentative hand to Michael who'd grasped at hers and held on with a firm little grip. Michael had smiled at her and Bobbie was obviously fascinated. Elizabeth watched it all, and Jason couldn't begun to fathom what she was feeling. Lucky and Nik's arrival saw Bobbie snap out of her emotional state to greet her nephew and Nik warmly, and then disappeared inside Kelly's.

Jason closed the door of his office and sat down heavily on his chair sighing. He needed something he just wasn't sure what it was. A knock on his door had him cursing until, Sonny stuck his head inside.

"How did it go?"

"It was rough man. I don't know how Bobbie and Elizabeth didn't just shatter" Jason replied gesturing for Sonny to take a seat.

"How are you?" Sonny asked one eyebrow raised.

"I'm okay" Jason responded beginning to close down.

"What do you think about Elizabeth?" Sonny asked. Jason scowled, he knew when Sonny was fishing. "What? It's a fair question, you've moved her and Michael in with you. I guess I'm wondering just how focused my enforcer will be" Sonny defended with the only weapon he had, Jason's job.

"When haven't I been focused?" Jason countered.

"This is different man and you know it. You haven't faced anything like this emotional upheaval, not even when Robin left" Sonny reminded. Him.

"I'm not emotional" Jason defended.

"You aren't? Well shit man you should be." Sonny barked.

"I'm fine. I don't do emotions" Jason snapped.

Sonny decided to try again "What do you think about Elizabeth?"

"She's alright, Michael seems to love her" Jason mumbled deliberately misunderstanding Sonny's question.

"Okay cut it out. You don't do emotions and I don't do stonewalling. My name isn't Taggert and I asked you a question. What do you think of her?" Sonny grumbled.

"I told you, she's alright." Jason snapped again.

"Let me try again. Do you think she's pretty? Does she turn you on?" Sonny tried again completely exasperated "How long are you going to let her believe Michael is yours?"

"ah shit" Jason muttered and dragged his hand down his face. Sonny waited for Jason to continue.

"How did you know?" Jason asked.

"You forget I know the promise you made to Robin and I know no matter what you wouldn't go back on it. Then there is the fact that Elizabeth told me Michael's birth date and the circumstances around his birth. No way is Michael yours" Sonny explained. "So begs the question why did you start off your relationship with Elizabeth with a lie?"

"Elizabeth and I don't have a relationship" Jason denied.

"Jason don't act dumb with me, I know you aren't. You have a relationship with Elizabeth. You want people to believe she is the surrogate mother/nanny to your "son". THAT In itself is a relationship. Then there is the fact that she's gorgeous and NOT a teenager, no matter what you are telling yourself. You have a beautiful WOMAN living in your Penthouse with you, you are a family. THAT is a relationship. A new one I'll admit but a relationship all the same." Sonny lectured.

"GOD why are you doing this to me?" Jason muttered.

"Someone has to wake you up." Sonny told him confidently.

"Wake me up to what?" Jason snapped.

"Jason I've watched you since Robin. You've lived a certain kind of life style when it comes to women. The trashier the better, no emotion involved and it worked for a time. But I think what ever it was you were trying to work out of your system has run it's course. You haven't seemed as content with that life style in the last few months. Then a long comes Elizabeth, she's beautiful, intelligent and the furthest thing from trashy that exists. She is a great girl and she could be great for you if you give it a chance." at Jason's shocked expression Sonny added " Yes I said it, I think she would be great for you and you for her. What I DON'T think you should be doing is starting things off with a lie"

Jason gulped "Look Sonny I appreciate that you are looking out for me. But Elizabeth is just not my type, you know what I am and what I do. She deserves better than that" Jason replied.

"Bullshit! If I follow that line of thinking I'd have to believe that you think my marriage to Brenda and my family are a mistake, and I know you don't." Sonny snapped. "Look I saw you looking at her, watching her. It's written all over your face Jason" he informed him as Jason stared at him. "So answer me one simple question?" Sonny demanded and Jason nodded "No evasion, no avoidance, are you attracted to Elizabeth?"

Jason looked uneasy "Yes!"

"I think you need to give yourself a break Jason. You are a great guy despite what you do for a living for me. Give it a chance with Elizabeth, you could end up as happy as Brenda and I are" Sonny told him "It can't hurt to try"

"She's so young Sonny" Jason pointed out.

"She's 20 and she'll be 21 in November." Sonny scoffed "She's been raising Michael on her own, so it's not like she's flighty or unstable or even immature. Yes she's a little innocent and naïve about men but that is why you are ideal for her Jason. You are not the kind of guy to take advantage of her and if you don't feel something you won't lead her on." Sonny paused "What have you got to loose?"

"I don't know Sonny" Jason hesitated "I'm not even sure she's attracted to me. I just need some time to get used to her being there and work out what this attraction means."

Sonny ignored his statement "I'll tell you what you've got to loose, NOTHING, but you have everything to gain".

Jason stared at his friend for long moments, and finally "I know that. But what does she have to gain? A Mob enforcer with blood on his hands and soul"

"Ahh You've got the whole I'm not good enough I don't deserve something as good and sweet as Elizabeth vibe going?" Sonny asked.

"I guess" Jason replied.

"Maybe you should let Elizabeth decide if you are good enough." Sonny advised "I'll say it again, you're a great guy, people like and respect you outside this business where people fear you. And despite what those asshole doctors told you and how you like to show yourself to people. You do FEEL. You can love, I saw you with Robin. It's just that she was the wrong woman for you" Sonny said.

"That's just it, For the longest time I thought Robin was right for me and I was right for her, and I got that so wrong and hurt her and myself in the process. I don't want to do that again Sonny. For the time being I'm going to keep Elizabeth at arms length, get to know Michael, and support her. I have to get control of myself first." Jason swore.

"Okay! I'll leave it then" Sonny agreed "But if you want to talk, you know where to find me"

"Thanks" Jason muttered as he grabbed for the pile of invoices on his desk and mentally shut Sonny out as he started to work. He only looked up when he heard the click of the closing door. "I'm so screwed"