A/N – Thanks for the comments! I'm so glad that you like Doreen and Jim! * Guest - lol re: Prius. I have had a lot of newfies over the years. This is in honor of my sister's newfie Chloe who is probably leaving us soon. Poor lovebug. * Wendi – Definitely!

NC-17

Chapter 10

Jim frowned and opened the door. "Kyle?"

The sheriff smiled and held out his hand and they shook. "Hey, Jim."

"What brings you by?"

"There's a huge hunt going on for this couple. Their names are Elizabeth Jerome and Jason Morgan."

Jim took the picture he offered from his hand and pretended to study it. "What did they do?"

"They're missing and we just got the picture faxed to us. They disappeared and there are a lot of people looking for them. I saw you when you came through town and figured I'd check with you. Did you just come from down south?"

"Yeah, I was in Jersey making a delivery. This story seems kind of strange though. Are they dangerous or something?" he asked before handing the picture of Elizabeth and Jason back.

"Well, that probably depends on who you ask. He's actually a mob enforcer and she is the daughter of a mobster, although she has nothing to do with the business. She's an artist. According to the police, they were dating and then mysteriously disappeared after a public attack. The father disappeared too and one of the warehouses just blew up. I guess they are trying to figure out what is going on before the violence gets out of control." Port Charles isn't that far away.

The look of shock on Jim's face told Kyle all he needed to know.

"That sounds like some crazy television show. Do you think they are around here?"

"Probably not, but you never know. Canada is close by and it's possible they could have doubled back from New Jersey and would try to cross here. Personally, I think they are dead."

"Well, if I see anything that is amiss, I'll let you know."

Kyle nodded and left.

Jim stood in front of the basement door for a long moment, wondering how he should handle this. He had grown to like Elizabeth and Jason, but he is also scared. The mafia is nothing to mess around with and if they are being hunted, it is a good possibility they will probably be found. Somberly, he walked down the stairs, his buzz all but worn off by his worry.

Jason could tell the minute he came around the corner that Jim's demeanor had changed.

"Doreen, take Elizabeth to the shelter."

His wife nervously nodded, confused by the name, and then pulled her into the tunnel.

The two men stared at each other for a long moment.

"How bad?" Jason finally asked.

"It was the sheriff. I know who you are."

Jim is surprised when Jason doesn't even flinch.

"Do you want us gone?"

"What? No."

"I wouldn't blame you."

Jim shifted. "I'm not going to lie to you. I'm scared for you and for us. This is far more dangerous than I thought, so I want you to stay in the shelter tonight. No one knows about it but us." The person who helped him build it was killed in a car accident a year ago. "I'll get your things and bring it to you. The only reason he asked me was because he knows I was probably in New Jersey. He has no reason to suspect, but I don't want to take any chances. He also thinks you're dead. Jason, it's not safe for you to go anywhere. They are looking for you and I couldn't turn you away to die. I don't have it in me."

Jason felt like shit for dragging him into this in the first place. It wasn't his way of doing things and he thought he had made a bad mistake. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you the whole truth. I should have. I knew our pictures were on the news. I was just hoping that you wouldn't see it before we could leave. Tonight—there aren't enough words—thank you for letting us relax a little. It's been hard on Elizabeth to be away from her dad. He was shot in front of her."

Jim let out a puff of air.

"Jim, I need you to be really honest here. I have money and passports…."

"No. You can't go to the border right now. They'll spot you. He said they were anticipating that is where you would go. Just—you are staying here for now."

"Maybe I should leave and get away from here, it will draw him to me and Elizabeth would be safe with you."

Jim's eyebrow raised. "You really think that she'll be okay with that? If you want to have children in the future, I wouldn't mention it."

Jason leaned against the wall and Jim could see the burden the younger man carried.

"I didn't have children. Doreen can't. If I were Liz's father and had entrusted her into your care, I wouldn't want you to leave her. I have cameras all around the property. I don't have a permit for the bomb shelter. No one knows about it but me and Doreen, so for now you are safe." He just had a bad feeling that if Jason left, he would never come back and Liz would be devastated.

Jason ran a hand through his hair. "Alright."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Doreen showed Elizabeth where everything is including the guns and ammo they have stored there. The space is big enough to store a lot of food. The bedroom is separated from the living room by using a curtain attached to a track on the ceiling, similar to how a hospital room is set up. There is also a bathroom with a small shower.

Liz plopped down onto a couch and put her head in her hands and started to cry.

Doreen rushed to her side and threw her arm around her. "Elizabeth, no one knows about this place. You'll be fine."

"We can't stay here forever. I watched my father get shot and it was devastating. He made me go with Jason and I didn't want to leave him. I'm scared I'm going to watch Jason get hurt too."

"I have a feeling that he knows how to take care of himself."

"I feel like he's all I have right now, that if I lost him…"

Jason closed his eyes as he listened to her.

"He's not going anywhere," she said as she rubbed her arm.

"The man that is after us wants to use me to get to my father."

Doreen frowned. "Why doesn't your father give him what he wants?"

"I honestly don't know all the details. Maybe it's something dangerous. Right now, he knows I'm safe so he doesn't have too."

"Don't give up hope okay?"

Jason made some noise and cleared his throat before walking in. "You okay?"

Elizabeth didn't answer him because she is trying to choke back her emotions.

Doreen kissed her on the head and then squeezed Jason's hand before she left. Jim dropped the bags onto the floor. "I'm locking the outer door and hiding the key. You can unlock it from in here, but I wouldn't unless it's an emergency. You have everything you need in here. If you turn the television on, there's a monitor where you can see the property and the basement area. There's some movies over there you can watch too. I'll check on you tomorrow night. We'll go into town in the morning and do our normal routine. I can get a pulse on the situation and make sure everything is good."

"Be careful," Jason said.

"I will."

He left and Jason sat next to Elizabeth.

"I don't know what's right or wrong anymore. I feel horrible for getting them involved. I actually told Jim I was thinking of leaving and drawing them to me."

Liz gasped and turned to look at him.

"He told me that I shouldn't tell you that."

She fingers closed into a fist. "You can't leave me, Jason. I just—you can't. I need you and can't let you sacrifice yourself. Please tell me that when I wake up tomorrow morning, you'll still be here."

His muscles twitched under his shirt as he wrenched his hands before his eyes closed and his shoulders slumped.

"Jason!"

"What?" he said standing up in a huff. "I'm trying to protect you. That is my job."

"Is that all I am to you? I'm just some stupid girl you must look after and that's it? You don't even care if walking out that door meant that you die?"

He swallowed thickly. "I do care."

"Whether you like it or not, we have formed a bond. I know you care about me, Jason. Sacrificing yourself is not the answer. Leaving me for good…" her voice trailed off as she looked at him wildly. "You don't get to make that choice. It's not just about you." She slammed her fists against his chest. "You don't get to decide to give up and die."

He grabbed them. "I know how to defend myself. It's what I'm good at."

She tried to move her wrists and when he wouldn't let go she let out a heart wrenching sound and lowered her head. "I can't—leave Jason, that's what everyone does—my mom and most of the men in my life. Why would you be any different? Go be the hero and just leave me be."

Her words stung him and he dropped his hold and then pulled her body against his. "I'm sorry. Usually I know who I'm fighting against and it's easy to know what to do. This man is more powerful than anyone I've ever dealt with. I'm not used to being scared. I couldn't protect Kristina and Molly and now I'm worried that I can't protect you."

It is just too much pressure. They are both mentally exhausted. She retreated backwards and then wiped her face. "I need to know something."

"What?"

"Was the kiss in the truck a hello or a goodbye?"

"Elizabeth…"

"I'm not asking you to marry me, Jason. I just need to know. Do you want me Jason? Forget about everything else and go with your heart."

Her chest is heaving as Jason struggles with his thoughts and whether he should do what he wants or what he should do which is the opposite.

She touched his face. "Please…"

He surrenders and blows out a puff of air as his body relaxes. "Yes, I want you."

She pressed a finger against his lips. "Don't say another word. You'll ruin the moment." There was always a "but". Her hand slowly retreated as her stomach churned. "I want you too. I thought I was stubborn, but you wrote the book."

His eyes softened. "I tried to warn you."

She fell forward, her head banging against his chest. "I wish you would let go, just for one night—let yourself feel."

"One night with you—if I start, I don't know if I could stop."

Slowly, her eyes rose to meet his. "Then don't." She didn't normally sleep with anyone she isn't in a relationship with, but they don't know what tomorrow will bring or even if they'll survive this mess. If tomorrow doesn't come, at least she could have him for one night.

His lips crashed down onto hers as they hungrily kissed. Elizabeth is struggling to keep up. His mouth and tongue are everywhere. Clothes went flying as he backed them up to the couch. He laid her down and then pressed his body against her, longing to feel her skin. Her legs curled around his hips as he slammed forward and then sucked on her tongue. Suddenly, his mouth retreated and he paused to gaze into her eyes. "Thank you," he whispered.

"For what?"

"For wanting me and making feel like this again, I had given up."

Her hand cupped his face lovingly. "I could say the same. Make love to me, Jason. I need you."

Languidly, his head neared hers and his lips lightly brushed against hers, lightly teasing her supple lips with his tongue, taking little nips as Liz's body hummed. It is exquisite torture. His hips bucked, making her moan as his erection brushed against her mound. "Jason," she breathed out.

He drew her into a punishing kiss, rough and sensuous as he began to thrust against her, shaking her body. She was lost in so many sensations, needing more. "Jason, please!" she yelled.

His lips moved down to her neck, sucking and nipping as his breath made her shudder. When his tongue flicked over her nipple, she let out a torturous noise as Jason began to suck and lightly nip it. Her hands threaded through his hair, holding him in place as he whipped her into a frenzy. After he moved to the other side and had her chanting his name, he slowly laid wet kisses against her belly and then peeled off her underwear.

"You're so damn beautiful," he said as he kissed his way up her creamy thighs. Elizabeth whimpered as he neared his target and very quickly he went in for the kill, stroking and tasting her until she shattered as she screamed his name.

Her legs are like liquid as she struggles to open her eyes. When they fixed on his glorious nakedness, as he stared at her like a predator, her body jerked and then trembled anticipating what will come next. Jason pounced, pressing himself against her as he kissed her wantonly. She could barely catch her breath as his intensity rocked her. When she felt his rod poke against her she yelped. "Take me, Jason. Don't make me beg."

He stopped, leaning on one elbow as he lined himself up. "Is this what you want?" he asked as he rubbed his head against her opening.

He had her all twisted up. "Dammit Jason! Now!" His mouth slightly curved up as he snapped his hips, burying himself in her to the hilt. Liz sucked in a harsh breath as Jason moaned.

"You're so tight and wet for me," he said through gritted teeth.

Her legs tightened around him. She never wanted to let him go. Then he started to move, shaking her body as he began to slam into her over and over. She yelled her encouragement as Jason grunted and groaned, the sweet friction making him thrust harder. He had a need to possess her and make her his. After several long minutes, he knew he couldn't hold on any longer. He ripped his lips away from her mouth, his need to come overwhelming his senses. Reaching in between them, he starts to stroke her nub as Liz mutters incoherent words while her hips urgently rose to meet his. "Come for me, Elizabeth. I want to see you fall apart."

Her breathing became harsh as the unimaginable pleasure started to build. She is moaning with each breath now, and then screams his name as wave after wave of ecstasy floods her body. Jason kept slamming into her as his balls tightened and several jolts wracked his body before he tensed and moaned her name as his body shook, almost making him black out as his head lolled back. She watched him shatter with hooded eyes. He is such a beautiful man. And then he lurched forward, still lightly pumping as their bodies melded together.

Their fractured breathing filled the room as they came down from their high.

"That was so worth it." Jason is magnificent in bed.

"Definitely."

"I never thought it could be like that."

He pulled back and lightly kissed her. "You inspire me." He finally pulled out and then it hit him. "Elizabeth, we didn't use protection."

Her eyes closed. "I should have stopped you, I just wasn't thinking."

"It's okay. I'll pull out next time."

She slightly smiled. "Next time?"

His eyes flickered with amusement. "You don't really think I could only do that with you once. I could easily become addicted."

"I'm already there."

Jason's eyes slightly darkened at her response. He stood and picked her up and took her over to the bed and they cuddled, both lost in their feelings for one another. For the first time, in a long time, Jason felt like he could be happy again.