A/N – Thank you for commenting and I'm glad you like Liz getting her gumption back. No one at the PCPD thinks Jason did it, but the law is the law.

Chapter 10

Carly listened to her mother ramble on about Elizabeth. Apparently even Bobbie had a soft spot for Muffin.

"Carly are you even listening to me?"

"Yes, mama."

"What's wrong?"

She sighed. "I'm in trouble as usual."

"What now?"

Carly fought back some tears. "I may have done something really stupid that can't be forgiven." She wasn't talking about the cheating, because Sonny and her had been down that road before and found each other afterwards.

"Oh Carly."

"I know. I should have just done the right thing, but I just couldn't and thought I was protecting someone."

"Please don't tell me this involves Jason."

"I can't tell you everything, but I'm scared to tell the truth."

Bobbie took a sip of her coffee. "Why now?"

Carly glanced up. "What?"

"Why do you want to tell the truth now?"

"Let's just say that I found out something and I put myself in the other person's shoes and realized what a bitch move I made."

Bobbie watched her daughter break down, stunned by the show of emotion. "Whatever this is won't go away unless you face it. If Jason is truly your friend, he'll appreciate the fact that you told the truth and find a way to forgive you." It had to be Jason because no one else would have her daughter worked up this much.

Carly stood, pushing her chair back, making Mike look up. "Not this time. I've already lost him."

Bobbie's eyes locked with Mike who shrugged and got back to work. This was really bad and Bobbie wasn't sure that she even wanted to know.

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Max couldn't stop smiling because Elizabeth had turned a corner. Gone was the shy waif who seemed uncertain and he really liked that she is trying to get her life back. It is a testament to her strength.

"Max."

"Yeah?"

"Take me to the PCPD."

A wrinkle graced his brow as he blew out a harsh breath and turned the car around. Jason was probably going to kill him, but he wasn't going to mess with Liz, not after what he had just seen.

When they arrived, he parked the car and they went inside.

She strode up to the desk where Dante was filing. "I need to see Jason."

Dante groaned.

"Please Dante. It's important to his case."

"Come on." He led her into the interrogation room and then went to get Jason.

Once inside, he cuffed one of Jason's hands to the chair. "I'll be watching from outside."

"Thank you," Liz said softly.

Jason's eyes hadn't left her and she stared into a stormy sea of blue. "Why did you come?" He didn't want to mess up anything regarding her getting Cam back.

"Because I just ran into Lucky and Luke Spencer and I also wanted to see how you are doing."

He could see the underlying anger on her face and decided to let his argument go. His hand opened and she slipped hers inside as it formed a warm cocoon. "Was Johnny with you? What happened?"

"Max was right there. I ran into them and threatened to bury Lucky if he hurts Cam in any way."

"Really?"

She nodded. "I meant it. You're not doing it though because you're in enough trouble. After what he said, I might just do it myself."

"Elizabeth…"

Her eyes brimmed with fury and determination. "Let's get something straight, I'm done letting people walk all over me. Done! And it felt so good to tell that jackass off. I even told him you were bigger and better in bed, and even smacked him for calling Cam a bastard."

Jason's eyes narrowed. He didn't care what she did to that idiot, but at some point, he is beating the shit out of that turd. They will have that conversation later. "Is that all?"

"It was exhilarating and Max and I had a good laugh over it in the car. Oh, and I told him that our permanent lock was over."

He smirked because she looked so hot and pleased with herself. "Anything else?"

"Ric showed up at the mansion earlier and I kind of laid into him."

Just the mention of that dick made him tense. "Johnny told me that he was there. Don't worry, he won't bother you again."

"I think I saw to that myself. God, aside from you I have shitty taste in men."

He loved it when she cursed because it seemed so wrong and he wanted to punish her with his mouth. Shaking off his illicit thoughts, he rubbed the top of her hand. "I just don't want you to get all stressed out."

"Standing up for myself is the best thing I've done in years. I'll be careful. I just need Cam back and you out of here."

"I'm doing whatever I can."

"I know."

"Go to Johnny if something goes wrong."

She nodded. "Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do."

She thought for a moment, trying to find the right words. "If the guys report back something odd, I need you to believe in me."

He tried to interrupt.

"No. Hear me out okay?"

It was his turn to nod.

"I need to take care of myself and feel empowered and I don't want to tell you how I'm doing that because you might not approve and honestly, this isn't about you. I know you want me to be safe and I am doing that, but everything I do is my choice and I don't want to lie to you, but right now I can't tell you everything either." Normally, she would probably ask the guys for help, but their attention is on her son where it should be.

He breathed a sigh of frustration and wanted to tell her no, it wasn't acceptable, but then thought about how many times he had said something similar to her and realized, he couldn't control everything she does nor did he want to. "Okay."

Her shoulders sagged in relief. "Thank you. I can't even express how much this means to me—that you trust me. So many people act like I'm fragile and can't make my own decision because I can't be trusted to do the right thing."

"Well, they are wrong."

She really hoped that when he finds out about Claudia, that he'll feel the same way. "I promise I will explain later. Are you okay? I mean really okay."

"I don't want you to worry about me."

"Well, if you get to worry about me then I'm going to do the same regarding you."

"I'm handling it. It's just stressful because so much is on the line."

Dante stuck his head in for a second. "Two minutes."

"I'm going to kiss him." The words tumbled from her mouth before she could stop them. Maybe it was how she was taking back her life that made her feel bold, but whatever it was, she didn't plan on stopping it. Whether Jason is ready or not, she needed him right now.

Dante groaned and shut the door.

Elizabeth got up and sat on Jason's lap and wasting no time, laid a kiss on him he wouldn't soon forget.

"I think I like feisty Elizabeth."

She smirked. "Get used to it because I like her too."

They kissed passionately until they heard the door and reluctantly pulled apart.

"Please be careful," he whispered as she traced his face with her fingers tips, like she was memorizing every curve.

"I will. Be safe."

His eyes tracked her as she held up her left hand to show him she had taken off her wedding rings and smiled. When she got to the door, he is glad that she turns to meet his gaze one more time. The smile that lit up her face warmed him inside. It has been a long time since he has seen that look on her face and he is determined to make it stay. As Dante led him back to his cell, he started a list in his head that would need to be dealt with and Lucky, Maxie, Luke, and Ric were at the top of it.

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Elizabeth went to her temporary bedroom and laid down. She just wasn't in the mood to talk to the family and wanted a nap. As she entered the room, she saw an upset Emily sitting on the bed. "Em?"

"Hi. I hope it's okay I'm in here. I need to speak to you."

Liz sat on a chair, guessing from the look on her face that this is about Lucky again. "I know my grandmother asked you to choose, and I'll admit that initially, I wasn't sure that I agreed, but after seeing Lucky today and he called my child a bastard, I'm done."

Emily wiped a tear away. "I'm sorry. It hurts that he just isn't the same person as before the fire. It's like he looks like Lucky, but he's not, kind of like how Jason was. I just—I'm having a hard time reconciling it, but after today, I agree that a line needs to be drawn and for the record, I choose you."

Liz breathed a sigh of relief. "What did he do?"

"He called me and wanted me to be a go between and spy on you."

"Asshole." It was too bad she had turned him down because maybe they could have played him, but then she thought it might have been too much to ask Emily to do that.

"I would never do that. Just the tone of his voice and the horrible things he was saying about you pissed me off. Then I thought about the fact that he would even think I was weak enough to manipulate and that bothered me even more. I'm so sorry that I didn't have your back."

Elizabeth understood. What Lucky did to Cam made her finally face that the Lucky they knew and loved was completely gone. "Em, I need your help in something and I know you probably won't want to do it, but I'm going to ask anyway because it has something to do with Cam."

Her friend's eyes grew wide. "You're not trading yourself or something, right?"

"No, nothing like that."

"Then what?"

"I need to slip away tomorrow. I have an appointment with Dr. Baldwin at the hospital for therapy. After that, I thought I could come back here and pretend to take a nap and maybe—"

"You want me to pretend to be you?"

Liz nodded. "I know it's asking you a lot."

Em waved her off. "I owe you."

"I don't want you to feel that way."

"It's okay. I'll do it. What's your plan?"

"I was thinking I could sneak into the garage and take your car. I'll wear sunglasses and your windows are tinted."

Emily made a face.

"What?"

"I'm really not okay with you not taking a guard."

"The person I am with will have one."

"What time is your appointment?"

"Um, 1:00."

Emily thought for a moment. "I'll agree on one condition."

"What?"

"You're taking Alice."

Elizabeth groaned.

"She's a wrestler and I'm not letting my brother kick my ass because I let you out of here without some kind of protection."

Liz crossed her arms. "Fine." Alice was good at keeping secrets back in the day.

"I'll go get her."

A few minutes later Alice entered the room.

"Emily said you need my help."

"I do. I need to slip out of here and meet someone who is going to help me get Cam back among other things."

Alice frowned.

"Emily agreed, but said you have to come with me. Of course, if you're scared of the danger…"

Her chest puffed out. "I'll protect you."

"You can't tell anyone."

"Does Jason know?"

"To an extent. He trusts me and for now, no one can know about this other person."

Alice shook her head. "So in other words, Jason knows you're up to something, but doesn't know the details."

Elizabeth smirked and Alice chuckled.

"Welcome back."

Liz grinned. "Thank you Alice. It will happen after my doctor's appointment. So, probably 2:15ish."

"I'll be ready."

Monica called Emily and she ran downstairs.

"Alice?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you like to shoot a gun?"

Alice grinned. "Oh yeah."

"Well, that's part of the trip."

Her eyes grew big. "Awesome. Is it safe for the baby?"

"Yup. I did a lot of research."

"Can I bring my gun?"

"Sure."

Alice rubbed her hands together. "I can't wait."

Liz smiled and then laid down, feeling good that things were starting to look up.

Emily walked in. "Dinner is in an hour. I'll wake you up."

"Thanks! Em?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad we're going to be okay."

"Me too." Hopefully, Jason would forgive her too.

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Tracy looked up as Luke entered her office.

"Spanky pants, did you miss me?"

Tracy smiled and got up, pretending to happily greet him. Luke closed his eyes and puckered his lips and she threw a vase of water on him.

"What the hell was that for?" he sputtered.

She kneed him in the balls and then punched him and shook out her hand as pain shot through it and a loud thump reverberated along with Luke's groan. Edward hurried down the hall towards the commotion.

"What the—" A huge smile lit up his face. "Well done. There is hope for you yet."

She picked up the phone. "Carl, come take out the trash please."

He grinned. "I'll be right there." Everyone had heard what Tracy's husband had done and they were all disgusted.

"Tra—Tracy… Doctor."

"I should kick them again. You purposely are hurting a child and after all the things Elizabeth has been through, you are protecting that screw up of a son over her? You are dead to me Luke Spencer. I've already started divorce papers. The sooner you crawl back under the rock you came from, the better."

"No."

"Fight me on it and I swear to God, I will do everything in my power to ruin you if Jason hasn't done so already and don't think I don't know that you stole from me." A large sum of money was missing before she changed all of her accounts.

Carl and another security guard hauled him to his feet.

"You come onto my property again and I will tell Jason's guards to shoot to kill."

"No more scotch?"

"Only at your funeral," Edward growled.

The men dragged him out the door and Tracy looks like she is about to cry so Edward embraces her.

"I'm such a fool."

"I'm sorry. We'll get you a quick divorce."

At this point, Tracy was hoping that someone would just off Luke so she wouldn't have to go through all the trouble.

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Johnny opened the envelope that contained a picture of Cam playing and seethed. On the back, it said, "For now, he's safe." He threw it on the table. "Bastards."

"It looks like he's in a house."

"Where is the question. This was mailed from Port Charles. They probably paid someone to drop it off."

"I checked out the Zaccharas, they've been quiet," Francis said.

"You think that they are involved?"

"I wouldn't put it past Anthony, but he's been in Europe for cancer treatments. From what I hear, he's pretty sick and out there. They don't let him have a phone."

"And Claudia?" Johnny he wasn't worried about.

"She's lying low too."

"Good. How is the torture going?" They had a Russian man in a warehouse nearby.

"He still claiming he doesn't know."

Johnny stood. "Let me at him. I need to work off some steam."

"Let's go."

Too bad the guy wouldn't talk, but Johnny had no problem ending him.

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Liz sat across from Gail and got comfortable.

"Hello Elizabeth. How are you today?"

"I'm holding up. It's hard knowing that my son is out there somewhere and I can't help him."

"I can't even imagine. I know the courts ordered you to be here, but I would like to think you could use some support right now and will talk openly with me."

"I've come to a lot of conclusions the last few days. One of which is that I'm too nice for my own good. I'm finding my spine again and I can't tell you how good that feels."

"Go on."

"I've done so much settling and doing what everyone thinks I should do that I lost a big piece of myself and I'm determined to get it back."

"And how do you plan on doing that?"

Liz got up and tucked her leg under her. "Well, I'm already standing up to people who I have allowed to hurt me in the past. It feels good to vent and show them that they can't do it anymore."

"Anyone in particular?"

"Lucky and Ric for starters. I saw them yesterday and gave them a piece of my mind. It hurts that Lucky called my child a bastard. He's never had my back and our relationship has mainly been about him. My wants and needs were irrelevant."