Chapter Ten
Liz was rushed into the ER; Dr. Lee had already been called and met Liz as she arrived. "Hi Liz, how you feeling?"
"I feel like it is time to have this child." Liz said with a shaky laugh, for in her heart of hearts she had truly wanted Jason present at the birth of his child, whether it be the first or tenth.
"Don't fret; I will do all I can to make sure this labor goes as smoothly as possible." Dr. Lee said with a smile.
Liz was examined and Dr. Lee confirmed what she already knew, she was indeed in labor, but it looked like it was going to be awhile. So Dr. Lee hooked Liz up to different machines to track her contractions and to monitor her heart rate and that of the baby. Dr. Lee understood how important it was for Elizabeth to keep this baby alive, not just, because the baby was Jason's but because she had already had two miscarriages.
Liz was just beginning to adjust to the contractions when Carly stormed into her hospital room. "Umm, I think you have the wrong room Carly." Liz said, perplexed at the blonde woman's flashy entrance.
"I have the right room, I know that with Jason unable to be here right now, you need someone, and since you don't really have that many friends and it is obvious the ones you have, have been alienated thanks to all your lies, that no one will be here when your child comes into this world." Carly said sarcastically. Although in actuality, she could sympathize with Liz, she had miscarried before and had her children kidnapped, so the palpable fear that radiated off the bed bound woman, was beyond understandable.
"Did you come here to insult me? If so you can turn around and leave the way you entered, I have better things to do than listen to you. What happens in my life is none of your business." Liz said, her anger very apparent, as an after thought, she added, "And I am sure Jason would not take kindly to you insulting the mother of his child." The chastised look on Carly's face was very enjoyable; it had even distracted her from her contractions at least for a few moments.
"I am here for Jason, so don't get any ideas about you and I being friends, it is to him that I owe my friendship, not you." Carly said in a huff.
"Understood, but just the same, I don't need you here." Liz said, hoping the annoying woman would leave.
"I'll be back, I am going to call Sonny and see what is going on with Jason and get a drink." Carly said as she left the room. Her dander once again rising as a thought sprang into her mind, "Don't hate me because I don't like her Jason." It was a simple thought, but one that grabbed her attention more so than even Sonny cold have hoped for.
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Just happy to be alone, Liz closed her eyes for a few moments, the contractions had eased off considerably, so sleep wasn't all that hard to obtain. Sleep claimed her quickly and within mere moments of falling asleep, a dream besieged her.
"Liz, please hear me, I need you to tell Sonny where I am, I don't know exactly what I have taken, some kind of medicine, but the delirium that came with the fever has seemed to pass, but I don't know how much longer I can wait. Look, see, you know where I am." Dream Jason begged.
Liz came awake as another contraction hit, not knowing how long it had been since the last one; Liz began to worry even more about Jason missing the birth of the baby.
Sitting beside her bed was Carly, silently flipping through Soap Opera magazine, when she noticed that Liz was awake, she put the magazine aside. A snide remark died on her lips when she saw the tears that Liz was trying so hard to hold inside. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know, all I know is that Jason needs to get here and in order for that to happen I need to speak to Sonny, can you get him here, please?" Liz asked as another contraction struck.
Wanting to tell her to leave the rescue up to Sonny and his men, Carly thought better of it and left the room to make the call. A few minutes later, she came back, telling Liz that Sonny would be there shortly.
Both women sat in silence there own thoughts consuming each one. For once the animosity had been tempered, both understood it was not likely to continue after this day, but for the time being, it was rather nice.
Sonny arrived at the hospital fifteen minutes after the call from Carly. He couldn't imagine what Liz wanted to speak to him about, but he knew Jason would want him here, so that's what he did. Sonny nodded to Johnny as he entered the room, the guard keeping close watch on the two women inside, he was shocked at the silence that greeted him. He nodded to Carly before turning all his attention to Liz. "Liz, what is it that you needed?"
After Carly had left the room and then returned, Liz had sat thinking, her dream had finally all come back to her, she now realized that she had had this same dream five days out of the six, since Jason was gone. It was just shortly before Sonny had entered that she finally remembered why the dream seemed so familiar, or rather, why the place that the dream occurred in seemed so familiar.
"Sonny, I think I know where Jason is, I believe he is in the crypt that I was held in a few years ago. I can't explain how I think I know this, but I have a hunch that is exactly where he is." Jason would have been shocked to know it was the same crypt, although it was the reconstructed one, seeing as how the original one was blown to smithereens.
Sonny wasted no time in calling Max and Milo, he didn't know if Liz's hunch was correct or not, but he didn't wish to dismiss it, all other avenues had been exhausted. Sonny left to meet with his men, hoping that this would turn out the right way.
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Jason had not seen Ric or Lorenzo in quite some time, he was antsy to say the least, he could tell something was wrong with Elizabeth, once again there was no reason behind his feeling, but by now he was coming to accept it.
He paced restlessly from one end of his confinement to the other, trying to figure out a way he could possibly get someone's attention to let him out or to even get a message to his friends. But with the crypt enclosed by a fence and the gate to the fence securely chained, as was the main door of the crypt, there was no point in shouting. he hadn't even heard the caretaker, which at first he had hoped would come by and investigate, but by now, he had resigned himself to the possibility that he could very well die, right here in this crypt.
At every turn he came up empty, everything seemed aligned to prevent him from making any progress. Jason finally took a seat, unable to stave off the weariness that was settling over him. He had maybe been sitting for five minutes when he heard the chains on the outside of the crypt rattle, then the door was opened, he had expected it to be either Ric or Lorenzo, but it was neither of those men, Sonny, Milo and Max all entered the crypt. Speechless, Jason rushed up to his friends, happy at having been found. "I've got to get to Elizabeth, something's wrong." Jason exclaimed, worry written clearly upon his face.
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Carly had gone back to her reading, or so it seemed, until Liz gasped. She looked at Liz with a mixture of hate and worry. However, she didn't need anyone to tell her what had just happened, it was quite obvious, and her water had just broke.
The thin sheet she had been covered with now had a rather moist look. Not bothering to placate Liz, if she so needed to be, Carly reached over and pushed the call button, hoping the attending nurse would be quick about it.
She was slightly annoyed that Liz hadn't mentioned the fact that her contractions were getting closer and more so annoyed that she hadn't clued into the fact.
She had been scanning the magazine, but in fact, she had not been reading it, just using it as a smoke screen, her worry about Jason written clearly on her face, and for once, she didn't want to worry or panic anyone with her on fears.
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"Jason, how did you know Liz was in labor?" Sonny asked, clearly baffled.
"I don't know… Wait, did you say labor, is she at the hospital?" Jason said, clearly he had thought it was something completely different than her being in labor, but that fact didn't reduce his fear, he knew she was still a few weeks away from her due date.
"Easy Jason, you look like hell, you need to get checked out before going to see Liz, you don't know if there is anything seriously wrong, you have been held captive for over 6 days." Max said, knowing even as he said it, that the likely hood of Jason listening was nil to none.
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Dr. Lee came in and did a quick examination of Elizabeth, noting that she was now five centimeters dilated, and while that meant she was moving along quite nicely, she still had a little time to go. "Liz, would you like an epidural or anything to lessen the pain?"
"No, I'm fine, right now I need this pain, it is the only thing keeping me from screaming." Liz said.
Dr. Lee looked at her, confusion evident in her facial features. "Excuse me, how is the pain stopping you from screaming?"
"It just is, you wouldn't understand." Liz said, while she quickly glanced at Carly, knowing that her fear was growing, and her fear had a chance of growing into something worse, if Jason didn't get here soon.
Carly was shocked by Liz's silence, she had pegged her for the one to blow everything that had happened the last week or so wide open, making Jason and Sonny suspects of something. Her silence gave Carly a somewhat new respect, she was not even close to claiming they had a chance at being friends, but it was a step in the right direction.
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Jason ignored his friend's insistence and head directly to Elizabeth's room. He had badgered Sonny the entire way for the room number, finally against his better judgment; he gave up and gave in, telling Jason the number to her room.
Max didn't even have time to stop the car, before Jason was out and rushing inside. The three men left in the car looked at each other, an understanding finally being seen.
Jason ran down the hall, not stopping until he was beside her bed, looking into her beautiful eyes.
Carly jumped up and embraced him before he could do anything else, but before she did that, she saw the look that passed between the two; even Carly couldn't deny what she saw and felt when she was in their presence. It was clear, a feeling that was so pure, it didn't need to be defined, you just had to look at them and you could see the feelings that they had for each other. She quickly left her friend's warm embrace, even though everything inside her demanded that she make sure he was okay. Carly finally understood, Liz was the woman Jason wanted and no matter how much she might try to deny it, she made him happy.
Before anything else, Jason leaned down and wrapped Liz in a warm embrace, thanking the heavens that she was safe. He finally sat down, but did not release her hand.
"Jason, oh my God, are you okay?" Liz said, attempting to get up.
"I'm fine, how are you?" Jason asked his concern evident.
"We're good, but this baby is ready to be born, he or she will be greeting us very soon now. But Jase, you need to get looked at, you don't look so good."
"I am going to be fine; we will worry about me after this baby is born. I don't want to miss a thing; I have already missed so much. Just let me be here for you and the baby, if that is, you still want me around."
"Oh Jason, how could you ask such a thing? There is nothing that I want more, it's you, it has been you for so long now, I was just so scared, and I won't let fear dictate my life any longer. Do you want me though?" Liz asked, suddenly feeling very vulnerable.
"There is no one I would rather be with; your love has given me a gift I have never known, for in you, I have finally found home. I was wrong to try to push you away; I love you and cannot fight it any longer." Jason replied, tears shining, unshed in his eyes.
"Jason, I love you too." Liz exclaimed with a newfound lightness to her heart.
Jason's hand was all of a sudden in a crushing embrace; Liz was squeezing it for all she was worth, the bones in his hand felt like they were being ground to dust. He understood what was happening though, another contraction. She had barely loosened her grip when another contraction hit, causing her to once again grind the bones in his hand.
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Dr. Lee came in to check on her patient, the comedic scene of Liz breathing deeply and focusing on a focal point and that of Jason's face scrunched up in pain, was enough to cause Dr. Lee to laugh. She checked the readout and understood that the delivery was close at hand. She looked at the expectant faces and nodded her head, instructing Jason to step up to the head of the bed, Dr. lee examined Liz and noted that she was now fully dilated, it was time to head up to the delivery room. "Jason, will you be joining us in the delivery room?"
Jason looked from Liz to the doctor then back again, at Elizabeth's nod, he turned back to the doctor and confirmed with a decisive nod of his own.
Dr. Lee had the orderly prepare Liz for the trip, which didn't really take long. Jason saw Sonny and Carly as he left the room, and his heart warmed at the sight of them sticking around. But for right now, all his thoughts were on Liz.
Jason watched in awe, as the head of the baby appeared, our baby, he thought to himself. Robin was assisting Dr. lee, Jason felt comfort knowing Liz was in such good hands, as Dr. Lee worked Robin periodically looked up and smiled, reassuring him with such a simple gesture.
When Liz finally fell back against the bed, Jason watched with bleary vision, as his son took his first breath and cried his first cry, they were music to his ears. He had a son, and that alone was almost enough to take him to his knees, until he heard Dr. Lee order him out of the room. Panic with ice-cold hands rushed into the warmth of his heart, unable to discern what was wrong or going on, he paced back and forth waiting to hear some news, any news.
He could tell that nothing seemed to be wrong with the baby, but Dr. Lee was arduously working on Liz, from what he could see there was an unusual amount of blood.
After the Doctor had called for one more push, Jason had been so overwhelmed that he hadn't even looked at Liz, he knew nothing was going to go wrong, not now, now that they had beaten so many odds.
But as he now looked in on the woman who was, he hoped soon going to be his wife, he noticed with a sinking heart, she still had not moved from where she had fallen back. Her head lay motionless and her eyes were closed. Fear was once again a prominent emotion running through his mind and heart. They couldn't have come this far only to lose his love now, fate could not be that cruel or have that twisted of a sense of humor.
Robin finally stepped out into the hall, caring his little boy, Robin faced Jason head on, but from the look in her eyes, he could tell something was not right, before saying anything, she handed Jason his son, almost like she was trying to lesson the coming blow.
"Jason, I know you must be worried, but Dr. Lee is doing all she can to help Elizabeth. Liz passed out seconds after giving birth to this beautiful healthy little boy. Dr. Lee was trying to control the bleeding, but Elizabeth began hemorrhaging, we have stopped the bleeding now, but there could be complications, one's that no woman would want to hear, especially one so young as Elizabeth." Robin said taking a deep breath, clearly not wanting to hurt a man whom she had once loved. "But because she is so healthy and had with relative ease carried your son almost to term, she may not have to deal with any complications, only time will tell. For now we are going to keep her under observation and see what the coming days will tell."
"What exactly are you saying that Liz might never have anymore children?" Jason asked quietly, worry and anger making him more abrupt than he really intended on being.
"There is a possibility, it is a small one, but Dr. Lee wanted you to be prepared for anything. Liz is going to need you, now more than ever." Robin said before she re-entered delivery room one.
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Jason walked slowly out to the waiting room, his son still held securely in his arms. Sonny and Carly both rushed over to him, Sonny understood right away that something had happened, but decided to let Jason tell what he needed to in his own time.
"Jason, he's precious." Carly said, knowing the sex of the baby, by the color of the blanket. "Have you and Liz settled on a name?"
Jason was about to reply when he saw Liz being pushed towards her room. She was partially conscious but it didn't seem like she saw or heard anything. So Jason did the only thing he could, took her hand in his and walked with her down the corridor to her room. Once inside, Jason let Sonny take his son, while he sat and talked to Liz.
For once Carly didn't say a word, even when she heard Jason declaring his love for Liz, because for once, Carly finally understood Liz, beyond a shadow of a doubt. How could she really hate this woman, when it was Carly who had moved on from Jason not the other way around? And while there was a place deep in Carly's soul that revolted at the thought of Liz getting what she at one point in time had wanted, she could now see Elizabeth for what she truly was, a strong woman, much like Carly, capable and independent, loving and loyal. It was time to put past animosity to rest and finally let bygones be bygones.
"Liz, honey, please hear me. I love you, there is no one else in the world who I want to be with, it is you and only you. And when you are better and back on your feet, I'm going to ask you to marry me!" Jason hurriedly said, wiping absently at the tears that ran down his face.
Just then, Liz's eyes came fully open and slowly focused on the man in front of her. Tears of her own, slowing slipping gracefully down her pale cheeks. "What did you say Jason?"
Laughing in relief, Jason repeated, "I said, when you are better, I am going to ask you to marry me."
A smile touched her lips and transformed her, giving her an angelic like glow. She slowly took in the fact that they were not alone and saw that Sonny was holding her baby. "May I, Sonny."
Sonny nodded his head and handed her, her baby boy. "Isn't he beautiful darling?" Jason asked.
"It's… he's a boy, oh Jason, this is perfect." Liz said, more tears slowly tracing down her face.
"Congratulations, both of you, he's perfect." Sonny and Carly said together.
"Thank you, he is isn't he!" Jason and Liz said in unison.
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Sonny and Carly left the room, leaving the new parents alone; they had been through much and deserved this time. Before leaving the hospital, Sonny phoned Audrey, it was one of her conditions on not coming to the hospital.
"Audrey, how are you? I think you will be pleased to know that Elizabeth is doing well and she and her new son are going to be okay. I'm sure if you felt the need to visit, you would be welcomed with open arms." Sonny said, and then continued on his way out.
Carly looked at him oddly, not sure what to think, Sonny making phone calls to someone's grandmother was a little out of her comfort zone, but it was cute to see, although she was sure no one would believe her, even if she thought to tell someone.
"You were good in there, thank you!" Sonny said.
"You weren't to bad yourself, thanks for rescuing him. Do you think she can truly make him happy, and not try to change him?" Carly asked in all seriousness.
"I think there's a good chance of it, life doesn't spend seven years trying to get two people together, to not have it work out in the end. There is a connection I don't understand between those two, but it is undeniable, so perhaps we can leave it alone and see where fate takes them." Sonny said, while trying to suppress a smile, thinking that the same thing was true of him and Carly, he loved her with everything he was, but she was determined to marry Jax.
"Yeah, Yeah… Whatever you say, but just for the record, if this should all fall apart don't say I never told you so." Carly said playfully, knowing that there was no way these two would not or could not work, like Sonny had said, there was a connection, she could see it plain as day, nevertheless, that didn't mean she had to like it.
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