**it might be a few days for the next part... I have some strange pains in my arm... typing is very painful at the moment...**

Part 10, Snow White & Rose Red

Carly waved her hand absentmindedly and mumbled something to the masseuse.

"I'm sorry, miss? What did you say?"

With a huff, Carly turned her head and glared at the middle-aged woman. "I said… if you want a tip you better do better than that." She didn't even wait for an answer, Carly turned her head to fit back into the 'hole' in the massage table and groaned. "Much better."

The masseuse struggled to control her temper. This was the first time that she had worked with Carly Benson, but she hoped it was the last.

"Elizabeth?"

The young woman in question sighed and leaned back against the cushions. "I love the way you do that…" She saw his curious look and giggled. "My name… the way you say my name…" she straightened up a little and lowered her voice, "Elizzzabeth." She reached out and touched his hand where it lay on the bed between them. "I have to tell you," she leaned closer, cringing from the momentary surge of pain that wasn't covered by the hospital grade pain meds she'd been given a little while before. She looked over at the doorway and saw Francis standing just outside.

So she waved him closer with her good hand and 'whispered' at Jason. "I know you've got the 'brooding and handsome' thing going for you… but really, the dark angry glare you give some people?" She didn't wait for an answer. "It doesn't… you," she pushed a finger into his chest, "don't scare me."

"I don't?" He couldn't help the ghost of a smile that turned up the corners of his mouth. "Why not?"

The question seemed to catch her by surprise. "You just don't."

Then, it was her turn to have a ghost settle on her features, but it was a frown that furrowed her brows.

"I wish people were always like that."

Jason knew this was the opening he'd been hoping for. "Elizabeth?"

"Hmmm?" She turned to him, a dreamlike smile back on her face. "What is it?"

He watched her face carefully for any involuntary reactions. "Is there someone that does scare you?"

She opened her mouth and then closed it again, shaking her head. "No, no one." She plastered a smile on her lips and looked at the wall. "Everything is just fine, I-"

"Please don't do that."

Elizabeth heard an edge in his voice and turned her head further away. "Do what?"

"You're telling me what you think I want to hear. You're not telling me what you really feel."

A double take and then a shrewd look. "How did you know that?" She opened her mouth again, closed it, and then started again. "No one ever knows that!" Tears sprung into her eyes and she turned away covering her face with her good hand. "No one ever knows that… no one ever really sees what I really feel."

"And you," Jason couldn't help the strange feeling in his chest, the tightening around his heart at the pain in her voice, "don't like to ask for help."

"I'm not used to it." She lowered her hand down and hesitantly met his eyes. "I learned early on that being self-sufficient was the key to making everyone happy." She gnawed on her bottom lip and the pressure of her teeth made a faint white halo around her bite. "When I was little,we were in so many different countries that I stopped trying to remember what language I was supposed to speak in, so I just started doing things for myself."

Jason felt her fingers slide over his and he turned his hand over so their palms rested against each other. "How little?"

She shrugged, her eyes focused on him. "I don't remember."

"What did you have to do?"

"I got breakfast for myself, mostly oatmeal, Fruit when it was available. I made sandwiches. I-" she looked away. "I don't want to talk about this anymore."

He nodded slowly. "Okay." He watched her settle back against the pillows, her eyes closing as if she was tired, but he knew it was just a ruse. "We don't have to talk about it… ever. But hey," he let go of her free hand and brushed his knuckles gently against her cheek, "I want you to know that I see you, Elizabeth. And, I like what and who I see." He felt her tremor slightly and turned his hand to gently cup her cheek. "And if you need help… all you have to do is tell me."

She nodded. "Thanks," he almost didn't hear her whisper, but he heard the soft and even breathing as she slept.

Sonny picked up the new handset from his phone ."Corinthos. What?"

The short burst of derisive laughter on the other end of the phone crawled up Sonny's last nerve. "Missed me?"

"Why don't you come in and we'll see if I can miss you with my gun?"

"Oh no!" He turned his attention back to the task at hand. "I have a problem that I need some help with." There was silence. "And I'm willing to pay."

Shaking his head, even though no one else could see it, Sonny wanted to reach through the phone and choke him. "Oh, you'll pay… but first… what do you want, Luke?"

Luke hissed a little into the phone. "I need you to find someone for me."