Chapter 9

"So how's our boy?" the sinister voice requested.

"You were right Mr. Zacharra. He took off to Sonny's after leaving the Webber girl's house… not that you could call it a house any more." He snorted.

"Thanks for the photo's you sent." His psychotic boss praised "Must of been one hell of an explosion! I especially like the one you sent of Mr. Morgan on his knees. So much pain.." he remarked exuberantly. "I think I'll have to put it up as my screen saver or use it for the cover of my next news letter, 'Wise Guy Weekly.'"

The crazy old man laughed uproariously at his own joke. Tony chuckled uncomfortably with his boss knowing his mood could (and most often would) change on a dime. Zacchara could kill or order a hit no matter what his mood, good or bad.

"Where is he now?" the boss asked.

"He got home about an hour ago. It was touch and go for a minute. After leaving Mr. Corinthos I thought he was going to drive himself over a cliff. As it was he pulled out of it at the last second. Not sure how he managed it though."

"When he left was Corinthos alive?"

"No word on that yet. Lou stayed back to see if there was any movement."

"Call Lou and you guys can head home. You've done a good job tonight, we can find out the fallout tomorrow from our guys on the inside."

"Thank You Mr. Zac-" The phone clicked off before he could finish showing due respect to the diabolical fiend. Tony let out a relieved sigh; pretty confident he hadn't made any mistakes that could get him whacked on his boss' whim.

*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

With a shaky hand Max dusted off the couch he and Milo stashed in the lobby, then stretched out on it. Along with his brother Milo, they'd spent many long hours on its cushions guarding Johnny. As relaxed as he might appear Max kept nervously looking down the hall anticipating Jason joining Johnny and him. Finally he heard Jason's footsteps before he saw the enforcer and stood at attention waiting for him to appear.

Stupidly Max had ignored young Zacchara's words of caution to wait before going back to speak with Jason. Almost the minute he stood at the padded room's door the guard regretted it. He quickly and quietly retreated but not before inadvertently hearing the anguished sounds coming from the steely enforcers gut-wrenching breakdown. The depth of emotions from a man he always considered had ice filling his veins was shocking. Thirty minutes later it still made him feel oddly disturbed. He'd witnessed crazy ranges if emotion from Sonny over the years, but overhearing one of the strongest men he had ever known so broken just wasn't something he couldn't shake so easily.

Jason came into the dimly lit lobby with Elizabeth's hand clutched tightly in his. She was oddly dressed he noticed right away. The nurse was usually a little more conservative but there she was in shorts and an ill-fitting sweater. Johnny hadn't been exaggerating; she really had been drug straight from her bed to the asylum.

"Max." Jason acknowledged.

Clearly uncomfortable Sonny's guard kept his head down, shoved his hands in his pockets, and shuffled his feet.

"Ummm.... Hey Jason," Max tipped his head toward the young Zacharra dozing in an oversized chair. "Johnny was just filling me in." Desperately looking anywhere but at Jason, afraid of what he might see if he looked him in the eye.

"So, what's the plan?" Johnny asked, getting to his feet to join the small group.

"Right now my first concern is making sure Elizabeth and the boys are safe."

Ignoring Johnny's muttering of "its about damn time", Jason continued. Looking down at Elizabeth hesitantly, he knew she wasn't going to like what he was about to offer.

"For now the best way to do that is to make sure Anthony believes he succeeded and that Elizabeth and the boy's are...." Jason swallowed hard when his voice started to crack.

Elizabeth squeezed his hand tightly, turning into him she placed her other hand over his heart, then leaned her forehead against his shoulder. He was right, she didn't like what he was saying but offering him the comfort he still so desperately needed was still her first instinct.

Jason pulled her closer, breathing in her scent, calming his turbulent emotions. When he had himself back under control he continued while keeping Elizabeth tucked in close to his side.

"Jason, I'm worried about my Grandmother; this will devastate her. With her health I'm not sure if she can take hearing her great grandson's are gone."

Jason barely survived thinking they all had died so Elizabeth had a valid concern. "Do you think she will be able to go along with this, lying and pretending to grieve?"

"If it's to protect me and the boy's, yes I know she could."

"OK," he nodded, "I'll trust your judgment."

Elizabeth's eye shone bright, "Thank you Jason," she cried throwing her arms around his neck, squeezing him tight. "Thank you for believing me."

Jason was more than a little surprised by her reaction to his expressing faith in her. Didn't she know that he trusted her more than anyone? This was just another issue they would deal with later, but for now they had to focus on a plan to keep them safe.

"Max do you have your sat-phone?"

"Sure, it's in the truck."

"Good, go get it." After Max left the room Jason addressed Johnny.

"I can't thank you enough... for what you did tonight... saving them...." Jason said sincerely, reaching out shaking his hand in a firm grasp. "If there is ever anything you want or need, whatever it is, if it in my power--"

"For now you can stop being such an moron and take better care of them." Johnny replied grimly.

"Believe me I will." Emphatically looking deep into Elizabeth's midnight blue eyes, his cerulean orbs spoke promises only their hearts could hear and understand.

Max's return broke the spell between the two lovers. Jason swallowed hard to clear the lump that wouldn't go away, "Does your grandmother have any clothes for you and the boys?"

Her sweater had come loose so he could take in the outline of Elizabeth's breast under the shear top. Her taught stomach and smooth creamy legs were pleasing to him but he didn't want to share her with other's eyes. God she was beautiful, pulling her in close again. Jason sneaked a peek at both Johnny and Max to make sure they weren't showing too much interest in the alluring brunette on display before them.

They both had been sneaking looks at the irresistible beauty. What red-blooded male wouldn't but they were careful not to get caught by the boss fearing their health could suddenly take a turn for the worst.

"I'm sure she will have a few things." Elizabeth replied preoccupied trying to think of what she and the boys would need. Concentrating on her mental list she was totally oblivious to the admiring glances of the three men surrounding her.

"Um here call her. You have to dial 011 and then the area code. Make a list of stuff you and the boys might need for the next couple of days. If your grandmother doesn't have it we can send Max." At Max's surly look he added, "or maybe Diane wouldn't mind going out shopping for you?"

Nodding Elizabeth stepped away from the group to make her call.

"Johnny, I need you to take Max to Stubbs Brewery," being one of Jason's subsidiaries it wasn't easily traced back to him, "Max you can use one of their trucks without drawing too much attention. Load up my bike. If it's gone people will assume I took off because of Elizabeth and the boys."

While Jason issued orders Elizabeth moved from his line of sight so he subtly shifted his stance in order to keep an eye on her. "I'll need some clothes as well. My bag's next to the front door, just dump what ever is in there and grab some clean stuff. Oh, take this too," handing the guard his cell. "I don't want Spinelli getting any bright ideas about tracking through the GPS. I usually leave it on a charger on the desk. Just pick me up a few of burners. I'm also going to need a sat-phone not associated with the Corinthos business."

Seeing, Elizabeth hang up the phone, he raised his eyebrow. "She's on board, worried about us, but glad we're safe. In fact she's determined to play her part to keep us that way. Grams will have a bag packed and ready to go by the time someone gets there. She asked about Lucky...?"

Shaking his head, Jason was afraid Lucky would come up. "No. I'm sorry Elizabeth, but we can't risk it. The more people who know…"

"I know...." biting her lip she added cautiously.. "I just... he's going to be devastated..."

"Elizabeth, I know you don't want to hurt Lucky, I don't either but what if people start picking up on the fact your grandmother or Lucky don't really appear to be grieving? Or what if he decides he should be the one to handle Zacchara? Besides he's a cop, him being involved would tie my hands in doing whatever I might need to do to protect you and the boys. Lucky will wait until the investigation is complete. When they don't find bodies right away he will hold out hope."

"So he will think we are still alive? Won't Anthony think that too then?"

"Not finding bodies won't be conclusive. Explosions like the one your house experienced often vaporize corpses. It will buy us time though. The forensics will take a while to conclude there were no bodies in the house when it blew. Lucky won't give up despite you and the boys being missing. But if he knows where you are, he will try to step in and take control. Like he did when the Russians...." Taking a deep breath, trying to control his regret over the mistakes he had made when it came to protecting his family. If he had followed he's instincts then...... "I won't ever allow anything like that happen again......" he spoke with steely determination.

"I get it... OK your right." she conceded. "I trust you, Jason I know you'll protect us but it's time you realize I feel the same way. I'll do what ever it take's to protect my family." She stated emphatically, looking candidly into his eyes leaving no room to doubt her words.

"Good" Jason sighed. "Call her back. Tell her she can't tell Lucky. Also tell her to take the bag to the Goodwill on 6th and Main. I'll have someone there to pick it up."

While she placed her second call to her grandmother, Jason turned to the men waiting further instructions.

"Max, after you get everything from my place, either you or someone you assign will have to go by that Goodwill.."

Reaching out grabbing her hand pulling her close again when she returned.

"I made Gram's promise not to tell anyone, not even Lucky unless she gets the OK from us. She's agreed. The bag she's dropping off is green by the way. An army green duffle."

He was relieved Audrey didn't seem to make more of a fuss and Elizabeth was OK with not telling Lucky. After everything that had happen he was elated by Elizabeth's trust in him. Worried by her fearless determination to protect the boy's. Shaking off the trickle of fear, to focus on what need to be done.

God her skin was soft he thought running his finger tips along the inside of her delicate wrist. He couldn't stop touching her or needing her near. (Focus) "We're also going to need food. What will the boys eat?" Jason asked ashamed that he didn't even know the types of food his own son liked.

Sensing his self-reproach, Elizabeth stroked her hand up the inside of his bicep and squeezed the generous muscle. "I'll make you a list." she smiled, before stepping away to grab her purse. She wanted to check on the boys anyway.

"Want me to go with you Elizabeth?" Johnny asked. He was feeling useless just standing there. He saved the boys after all and really did kind of want to check on them.

"I'm fine she called out."

Johnny ignored the look Jason was giving him, shrugging his shoulders instead and watched her walk down the hall.

Jason continued to stare at Johnny as he instructed Max, "When you get everything together take the bike to my safe house, you know the one I'm talking about?" silence so Jason had to stop staring down Johnny to look at Max who was nodding. Jason continued. "I don't want to stay here any longer than we have to but it's too big a risk traveling during the day. Someone might recognize Elizabeth or the boy's. We should be OK here for today, right? Sonny isn't planning anything?

"No, not that I know of."

"Good, I also need you to go to Sonny and volunteer to look for me. I saw him last night and I have a feeling he will be worried when he discovers I'm gone."

Max gaped at Jason, "you not telling the boss what's going on."

"No! I'm not." he said forcefully. "If you have a problem with that you need to tell me now."

"Ummm.... no, I'm behind you all the way..." Max was finding it easier to look at Jason. There were no signs of the broken man he'd overheard earlier. It was actually nice to see him be so affectionate with Elizabeth. They fit, he thought.

"Thanks Max," Jason conceded. He knew the guard wouldn't like keeping it from Sonny, but he trusted Max to keep his word. "If you offer to track me down it will get you off rotation and free you up to help me with this."

"Sure thing, Jason."

Holding out his hand for the keys. "Is the truck hidden out back?"

The guard nodded handing him the keys. All three outlaws turned to see Elizabeth return, and with her that soothing aura that seemed permeate a sense of calmness through out the room. Taking note of the change Max figured the skill was probably what made her such a great nurse and mother.

"Here's the list Max," Elizabeth said handing it to him and placing a peck on his cheek.

As if he'd just cheated on Diane the big burley guard blushed muttering, "You're welcome…" before she'd even thanked him.

"Thank you Max," she said sweetly

"Uh hum, your welcome." he said sheepishly again. To Johnny he added, "I'll meet you out side." Before rushing off as if being chased by the boogieman.

Elizabeth retreated to Jason's arms. He was warm and safe. Tucking her into his side Jason turned his attention to the Zacchara heir.

"Johnny, I need you to help identify the men still loyal too, or working for, your father. Meet with Bernie and Spinelli for any help you might need. Tell them your looking on my behalf. Just make sure to leave Elizabeth and the boys out of it." He paused for a moment taking a deep breath. "I will never be able to repay you for what you've given back to me"

Looking Jason directly in the eye, "Maybe someday you will return the favor." Johnny said with meaning.

Jason gave him a slight nod, indicating that he understood.

"I meant it when I said I owe you. We'll talk." Jason grasped the young mans hand and shook it in a show of respect. "Go home and get some sleep. You can start naming names after you've had a chance to rest. I'll need you back here at 7 pm we'll go over everything then."

"Sure no problem," Johnny said with a small wave to Elizabeth as he turned to leave.

"Wait."

Johnny stopped to see Elizabeth approach him.

"Jason's not the only one that owes you. Anything you need, anything at all… I can't imagine what you are going through. You went up against your own father for my boys and me."

"It was nothing. That sounds stupid. I mean I'm just glad I was there to overhear what was going down. I don't wanna think about the blood that would be on my father's hands if I hadn't. He IS a monster. Going against him feels good actually."

"Regardless," She stood on her toes and placed a peck on his cheek like Max got, "I owe you. So if Jason can't pay up… talk me." She winked.

Johnny left and she found her way back to Jason. He wrapped one strong arm around her waist pulled her in close, while using his other hand to cup her face reverently. "Elizabeth," he murmured softly.

Leaning into him, she covered his mouth with the tips of her fingers. "Shhh. We'll talk tomorrow right now we need to get some sleep. The boy's will be up in a few hours."