Chapter 11

Unexpected Words of Wisdom

Jason punched the heavy bag in the gym with everything he had. With every hit, his frustrations grew. The memories had been returning all week but Elizabeth was refusing to talk to him. He wanted to talk to he so bad. He called her and texted her but she wouldn't answer. He even showed up at the hospital a few times, and she was conveniently with a patient or in surgery. If Jason didn't know better, he would say that she had hep in dodging him but he couldn't prove it. Oddly enough, when he tried to talk to Carly about it, she dodged the questions too. How was he supposed to make Elizabeth believe in him again, when he could never get within talking distance of her? There was so much they had to discuss. Why couldn't she give him the time of day to do just that. She owed him at least that much he thought and then he got angry. He shouldn't be thinking like that. Yes she lied but he could forgive that and move past it so they could be happy again. With that last thought, he punched the bag so hard that his knuckles started to bleed.

"Woah, where's the fire?"Sonny wheeled in with Epiphany behind him. As much as he hated having Epiphany as his physical therapist, he couldn't deny that she was really helping...in her own bossy and demanding kind of way.

"Hey man" Jason took a swig of his water bottle as he stopped to take a break. His black t-shirt was soaked in sweat and clinging to him as he wiped his knuckles on his shirt.

"You going to tell me what's wrong or am I going to have to guess?" Sonny asked as Epiphany went in the other room to go clear the space that they were utilizing today.

"Do you really want to know?" Jason sat down on the bench.

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know." Sonny wheeled up next to him and turned to face his friend.

"It's Elizabeth, that's what's wrong."

"Are her and the kids okay?"

"Oh yeah, they're fine I guess. I wouldn't know." Jason scoffed a little

"What do you mean you wouldn't know?" Sonny asked. He was puzzled. He knew that Elizabeth and Jason weren't exactly talking. Carly had told him that much but she refused to say anymore which was unlike his wife. However, when she reminded him that they had promised to stay out of it and just be better friends too Jason, he couldn't argue.

"She is ignoring me." Jason said sadly and he turned to his mentor expecting to see some kind of empathy but all he found was Sonny trying to contain his laughter.

"It's not funny Sonny"

"Actually, it is, you two are still doing the dance" When Jason didn't respond, Sonny continued to chuckle as he tried to fill in his clueless friend. "Jason, I know you don't remember this but Elizabeth ignoring you isn't something new. In fact her whole attitude of indifference isn't something new either."

Feeling guilty at his friends words, Jason knew that he needed to let Sonny know about his memory returning, "Sonny before you continue, I have to tell you something," He paused.

"You can tell me anything Jase"

"I got my memory back, well everything after the accident that is. I remember being Jason Morgan."

Stunned Sonny stared at Jason as he nodded back at him. "It's true, I remember. I remember my best friends, Carly and you." Sonny's eyes filled with tears as he heard Jason's words. He had his best friend back. He felt as if he could finally breathe again.

"Jason, that is incredible." Sonny said finally. "So that means you remember both Elizabeth and Sam too and all the missing years?"

"Yes."

"You chose Elizabeth didn't you?" There was no accusation or disbelief from Sonny, it was just a question. Rhetorical yes but still, a simple question.

"Sonny, there was..."

"Never any choice to make" Sonny finished. Now it was Jason's turn to look surprised.

"Don't look so surprised Jason, you may have forgotten this, but I saw what you were like these past few weeks without Elizabeth, after you learned the truth that is."

"Not some of my best moments" Jason muttered as he thought of how he acted towards everyone...including Elizabeth.

"Agreed, but it doesn't change the fact that just because she lied didn't mean you weren't hurting without her." Sonny pointed out before continuing, "it also doesn't change the fact that you are still angry at her and at yourself."

"Why would I be angry at her. I love her." Jason stated confused.

"Jason, just because you love her and chose her doesn't erase what she did. She lied to you for seven months and you can't just ignore it because all of a sudden your remember. That's not a healthy relationship."

"So what, my relationship with Sam is..or was?" Jason bit back, "If you're going to tell me that I should be with Sam then,"

"Jason, that's not where I was going with this." Sonny said calmly. He waited until Jason took a breath before continuing.

"A relationship has to have strong foundations of trust and respect. You can't keep a relationship together without any of those building blocks. However as individuals in the relationship, you have to be allowed to feel what you feel without the other person being angry. Jason, yes you love Elizabeth and you want to be with her and I will respect that, but you need to allow yourself to feel that anger you have growing inside of you"

"That's not why I am angry. "Jason defended. "I am angry because Elizabeth won't let me in, not because I am angry and don't fully trust her all the way."

"Isn't that at least part of it?" Sonny asked patiently. He wasn't trying to disregard Jason's feelings, he just didn't want Jason to disregard his own feelings.

"I guess, but Sonny how can I move past those feelings when she won't even talk to me?"

"The trust between you two has been broken and I will admit that everyone had their part in that, including me. I never saw Elizabeth as more than that foolish little girl who had a crush on you and that's all I ever treated her as. I owe her an apology, I know that."

Jason put his head in his hands as he absorbed what Sonny was saying. He knew that was true. His relationship with Elizabeth had been destroyed over the years and this new betrayal had just pushed them farther and farther apart.

"What do I do?" Jason was wrestling with his feelings. He wanted Elizabeth back. He wanted their family but he also wanted her to hear how her lies had felt to him. He just didn't want to do it at the cost of losing her..again.

"Well for starters, can you accept your feelings of anger? Sonny asked

"Yes."

"Then say it. Out loud. Right here, in front of me." Sonny pushed.

Jason took a deep breath, "I am angry that she lied to me for months. It hurt like hell that she did that."

"That's a start. Do you feel better accepting your own feelings?"

"A little, but now what? I don't know what to do." Jason said as he felt a little helpless. Over the years he and Elizabeth had fought and sometimes had even fell out of touch but it never felt like this. The separation from her was killing him. He just wanted to take her in his arms and hold her and never ever let go, if only she would give him the chance.

"Now, you start over. You try and rebuild what made you two strong. Your friendship. You know what to do and how to get her to trust you Jason, just trust yourself." Sonny clapped him on the back as he started to wheel himself towards the other room so he could begin his ow recovery.

"What if she doesn't ever trust me again? What if I can't trust her again?" Jason asked as he looked up towards his mentor.

"Then you two won't move forward, but I wouldn't worry about that. I sure as hell don't." Sonny said.

"Why not"

"Because Jason and Elizabeth? They are unstoppable and hell hath anyone who gets in their way." Sonny grinned as he turned around leaving Jason smirking to himself on the bench. His mentor was right. He was going to find her and track her down and make her talk to him and hell hath anyone who got in his way.

A/N: So what did you think? R&R! Next chapter- Liason ALL the way!