Chapter 10

"Damn it Carly" thought to herself. "Where did Jason go?" She had followed him out of the hospital and to his car. She thought she was following at a discreet distance but he must have realized and given her the slip. Where the hell was he living? Why was Lizzie the looser in the loop, but Carly his best friend out of it? And while I'm at it what the hell was the deal in the supply closet? Her jaw nearly dropped on the floor when she saw Jason come out of that closet seconds after Elizabeth. I don't like it. What ever is going on, I don't like it. She's trouble, where as Sam is so easy to handle, she's no threat to Jason and Carly's relationship or Carly's place in his life. But that idiot stalker Lizzie is and always had been. For some reason Jason was confiding in Liz and not Carly, it may have something to do with Sam, but Carly hated the secrecy. Sure fire way to piss me off is to keep a secret from me, she thought to herself. I hate it. Well Liz wouldn't find it so easy to shake Carly. She'd follow Liz, because sooner or later she would lead her to Jason.

Jason chuckled to himself. That was a lot of fun. Letting Carly think she could follow him. He'd headed over towards the warehouse and ducked behind a truck as Carly drove past, then continued on towards the Studio. If Carly was ever going to be successful at tailing someone, she would have to use someone else's car and do something about all that blonde hair. God he'd never seen so much hair on one head in his life, it meant she stood out like a beacon. It was a good day he thought to himself. Sam was getting better every day and would be released from the hospital tomorrow. Soon he'd be able to have that talk with her and hopefully find the right words this time that will make her let go and move on, so he'd be free to be with Elizabeth. The day would have been perfect if he and Elizabeth hadn't been interrupted. But he was a patient man, he'd waited seven years, a little longer wouldn't hurt him, and Elizabeth was definitely worth the wait. He had asked Elizabeth to come by the studio. He wanted to continue what they had started in the supply closet. At the moment though he was hungry and decided Kelly's take out was exactly what he needed. He could get some food and take it back to the studio, and think about Elizabeth...Yes it was a good day. As he opened the door to Kelly's he spotted Emily and Elizabeth sitting at an inside table. He didn't hesitate just walked straight in, and walked on over to them. He hadn't seen Carly behind him. She watched as he entered Kelly's, she took a seat where she could watch him leave and be prepared to follow.

"HA Jason Morgan I got you this time."

Jason acknowledged Emily with a nod as he approached, laying a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder to get her attention. She blushed, stuttered a "hello". Jason flashed Elizabeth a brilliant smile and enjoyed how her blush deepened. She quickly looked back at Emily, who was watching their interaction with interest. Jason looked at Emily properly too, and was immediately concerned. Emily looked tired and strained, he wondered if it was to do with Sonny.

Elizabeth jumped out of her seat. "I have to get going but you take my seat and listen to your sister and YOU tell him what you've just told me. I guarantee he won't say I told you so."

Jason took Elizabeth's seat and turned to watch her leave, smiling at how "distracted" she looked. He knew she was thinking about the supply closet, like he was. Jason turned back to look at Emily once Elizabeth was out of sight. She was watching him with interest.

"Well even if Elizabeth hadn't told me what was going on with you two, I'd have figured it out from the way you were looking at her and she was reacting." she observed.

Jason smiled, the first genuine smile his sister had received from him in a long, long time. Emily's breath caught in her throat and tears sprung to her eyes.

"Em what's wrong tell me." Jason asked with concern.

"You smiled at me Jason. I thought you were so angry that would never happen again." she told sadly.

"I love you Emily, you should never doubt that." he told her plainly.

"I didn't feel like it anymore. There were times Jason when you looked at my like you hated the sight of me. It hurt." she told him not hiding her pain.

He had his own pain at the distance with his sister "There were times when I wished I did hate you. It would have made things easier. But you scare me Emily. You think your love can save Sonny and you make the mistake of thinking you know him better than I do. You are wrong. I know Sonny better than anyone and because of it I'm scared for you."

"Still?" she asked in exasperation "But he's out of it now Jason. You are in charge."

"Don't kid yourself Emily that it's going to stay like that. Sooner or later he'll come back for the business and he won't care that it may cost him you. All he will see is that he lost it because of you. That's when he'll start to look at you differently. He'll make a show of making a new life and being a better person but deep down that bad place that Sonny goes to inside himself is still there." Jason told her cruelly, but honestly.

Emily lowered her head slightly, and nodded sadly acknowledging for the first time the truth "There is something wrong with Sonny, it's been gradual but it's happening. He has these moments of extreme violence."

Jason had to interrupt at that "Has he laid a hand on you?"

"ME? No never. But he threatened Milo the other day, and then he attacked Nikolas." she admitted sadly.

"You have to get out of that house. He may not have hurt you yet but it's coming Emily and then I'd have to kill him and I don't want to." he told her forcefully.

"Jason I think there is something wrong chemically in Sonny's head. I think I can help him but he has to be willing to go see Lainey. I've tried to ask him but he shuts down in the bleak dark moods. I can't reach him. I need you to tell him it's ok to see Lainey." she told him in whispering desperate tone.

"When he gets like this Emily you just need to keep him away from people and alcohol and just let the mood take its course." he replied.

"I know that was Carly's advice too. I can tell you what I told her if you like?" she told him with force.

"No I don't think I'd like to hear my sister cuss me out" he replied with a smirk.

She leant forward her head propped on her hand tiredly "I know you and Carly have done your best to help Sonny through these episodes but he needs professional help. If he goes to see Lainey and she evaluates him and finds some treatment to help him, Sonny may never have another episode again and he and I can live happily together and you won't need to be afraid for me anymore."

"I would love nothing more than to think Sonny would be free of these episodes. But he won't get the kind of help he needs." Jason told her shaking his head, thinking back on his history with Sonny

."He will if you and I both ask him." Emily stated with conviction. "Will you help me?"

"I'm not sure he will Em, but yes of course I'll help"

She closed her eye's with relief "Thank you Jason can you come over tomorrow?" her voice shook.

"Sure." he thought for a moment and continued "I want to change the subject"

"Okay" she agreed with surprise.

"You said you know how I feel about Elizabeth? How do you feel about it?" he asked curious to know his sisters opinion. He had been remembering Emily's reaction at the mere idea of them together in Elizabeth's studio.

"I don't want her heart broken." she told him surprising him. "You seem so in love with Sam and she makes you happy."

"She did. But I don't think I've actually ever been in love with Sam. We got together so I could protect Sonny and Carly's marriage and the boys and their home." he paused considering how to explain "We became friends and I loved and wanted her baby. But I never fell in love with her. Not like I did with Elizabeth. I cared about her, I wanted her happy and there were times I needed her and she was there for me. But in love? I don't think that was ever case."

"We were talking about Lucky." Emily began "She thinks he's taking drugs and while I was listening to her talk I realized that Elizabeth has never gotten over the boy Lucky was. The boy who helped her heal from her rape. She is constantly searching for him and he doesn't exist anymore. She loves Lucky the teenager not Lucky the man." She paused to let that sink in, before the expression on Jason's face told her he'd already figured that out for himself. She continued with her observations

."She seems to love you an awful lot Jason." Emily was rewarded with an instantaneous smile from her brother.

"Good! I feel the same." he smiled "I want a future and a family with her. All the things I thought about when I asked her to go away with me all those years ago. All the things I've been waiting for ever since." his voice was warm thinking about their past, the present and definitely the future.

"When did you ask her to go away with you?" Emily asked curious.

"Years ago." he mused "Remember when she was hiding me out? I was so in love with her and I think she felt the same. I asked her to leave Lucky and go with me. I wanted us to be together." he finished a ghost of a smile hovering around his lips.

"She turned you down to be with Lucky! Yeah what a disaster that was." she acknowledged. "Well Jason if you and Elizabeth make each other happy who am I to tell you not to be together." she gave her blessing as she reached for his hands "Just remember she's married Jason and even though she loves you it will play on her conscious to leave Lucky now or to try and have a relationship with you while she is still married."

Jason nodded thankful for her insight."I know I can wait. I've waited seven years already" he assured her.

Emily made a low whistle "Seven years? That long? Wow. I'm proud of you Jason. If you and Liz can work it out I'll be more happy than I've been in a long time."

"I'll come over in the morning and we'll convince Sonny it's right to see Lainey." he told her as he relinquished her hands. He stood to leave and kissed the top of her head.

Emily watched him, thinking how lucky he was to know exactly who and what he wanted. Emily just wasn't so sure anymore.

Jason didn't see Carly as he hurried towards the docks. He was thinking about Emily and Sonny, and hoping Elizabeth would be waiting for him at the studio. But when he arrived she wasn't there. She wouldn't be inside he hadn't given her a key yet. He would do that when she came over. The light tap on the door made him smile and he rushed over to open the door. With a huge smile of greeting he threw the door open

"Elizabeth!" Then groaned with disappointment.

"Elizabeth?" Carly gasped in disbelief "NO I would be Carly. Your best friend! Remember?" she spat.

"God I thought I lost you hours ago" he groaned in annoyance.

"You knew I was following you?" she asked in shock.

"Of course! How did you find me again?" he asked not allowing her to enter.

"I saw you go in to Kelly's and I waited until you left and I followed you." she told him smugly

."OH"

"OH? OH? That's all you have to say. You've moved into this hole in the wall, you don't contact me for weeks, you don't tell Sonny where you are and I saw you come out of that supply closet after Elizabeth. Who are you and what the HELL have you done with Jason?" she demanded

The door had not closed properly and at that point no one heard Elizabeth approach. She listened for a few seconds and realized Carly was with Jason. There was no way Carly could know that Elizabeth was visiting him at her old studio. She was too vindictive and at the first opportunity would tell Lucky. Elizabeth turned and retreated back down the stairs, not wanting a confrontation with Carly at that point when she had no defense for her actions.

"Don't be ridiculous" Jason dismissed.

"ME? Are you going to tell me anything?" she demanded with a shriek

"Within reason. What do you want to know?" he replied evenly

"Elizabeth what is the deal with you being in a supply closet with my cousin –IN-LAW? Is she stalking you again? God why can't she just look after Lucky the poor guy is a mess at the moment, he doesn't need his wife chasing after you." she hissed.

"OK before I answer that you need to know. I'm not putting up with you bad-mouthing Elizabeth to me. If you can't say anything nice don't open your mouth" Jason warned.

"Don't give me orders Jason I hate that little bitch and I'll say what I like about her." she spat at him.

"That's IT" Jason stated as he lunged forward, grabbing Carly and lifting her off the ground. He walked awkwardly with Carly bucking and kicking toward the door. He lowered her long enough to open it and shove her out the door. "Don't come back Carly. I've got stuff I need to do for Emily and Sonny ."

Carly stood outside the studio banging and screaming at Jason to let her in. He ignored it and grabbed his cell to make a phone call. He needed to warn Elizabeth that Carly had seen them both come out of the supply closet.

"Hello?"

"It's me. I need to tell you something."

"I was just outside the door and heard you and Carly arguing. I didn't want to show my face and give her any ammunition against me." Elizabeth told him worriedly.

"It wouldn't have mattered Elizabeth. She tracked me down today because she wanted me to explain what you and I were doing in the supply closet." he admitted with a smile.

"Oh God..Jason what if she tells someone? Lucky or Sam? They're both recovering and Lucky is in a bad enough state as it is." her panic came through the phone to him.

"I kicked her out Elizabeth at this point she'll be weighing up her options, the pros and cons for each. We've got a day or two before she decides to act on what she knows. When Sam gets discharged tomorrow she's going to live with Alexis so I'll tell her then. It will be better with her family around her."

"What am I going to tell Lucky? "You've been a pain in the butt and basically making my life miserable, so I've fallen back in love with Jason. This is a disaster" she groaned.

"I don't want you to worry. I won't let Carly hurt you." he soothed.

"OK..I think we should keep our distance for a few days while you get through to her and settle Sam in at Alexis's." she replied.

"Ok I'll be in touch. I love you" he told his voice softening.

"I love you too".