Every once in a while someone comes into your life and you'll wonder how you ever lived without them. That's love.
Riding back to town, Jason couldn't really explain it, but it felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Though his body still aches from the fight he was in, he could honestly say that he had never felt this good. With her arms around his abdomen, her body flush against his as she lays her head on his back, the feeling was indescribable.
He wasn't sure what he expected when he made his way back to the safe house after his meeting. One thing was for sure, though, he didn't expect her to handle it the way she did. She didn't ask questions that he couldn't answer. She didn't poke or prod. She just took care of him, something he wasn't used to, but found that he truly didn't mind.
For the first time in his life, Jason's driving the speed limit, wanting to make this ride last as long as possible. Once they get home, they're going to have to go their separate ways, most likely unable to see each other for the rest of the day. Sonny will undoubtedly want the blow by blow of what happened and she has the night shift at the hospital.
Pushing away thoughts of what awaits them, he focuses on the moment they have right now, together on the back of his bike with a good amount of road ahead of them. As she snuggles deeper into his back, a soft smile graces his lips, not caring that his body still aches all over.
From the moment they got on the back of his bike and began their journey back to Port Charles, Elizabeth has held tight to Jason, knowing what'll await them when they get back. Every part of her is thankful for the day they had together, away from the complications of their lives, away from everything.
Though, like he said, it didn't turn out the way they had both wanted it to, it was still a trip well worth having made. Admittedly, seeing him in the condition he had been in wasn't exactly high on her must sees, Elizabeth was grateful that she was there to take care of him. It meant more than words could describe that he allowed her to do that.
Most men, including the ones that she has dated in the past, tended to be more of the macho type. Regardless of the fact that they needed help, they'd pretend like they were fine, as if accepting help made them any less of a man. If she was the bitch type, she'd have told them that they weren't that much of a man to begin with, so no risk of tarnishing their rep.
Holding him close, taking in the feel of the wind blowing past them and his body flush against hers, she closes her eyes and pushes away thoughts of what awaits them back home. For however long this lasts, she's going to enjoy being on the back of his bike, giving her something to hold onto while she suffers through another night shift.
Passing through the border, officially back in Port Charles, a feeling surges through Jason, causing him to turn off onto a back road, away from the main part of town. He knows that he has to check in with Sonny and she should go home to relax before her shift, but he just didn't want it to end yet.
Driving faster through the back roads, he pulls off onto the direct path to the winding road, driving as fast as his bike can take them. Just as they hit the first turn on the winding road, he feels her lift her head, most likely taking in where they are. Before long, she throws her head back into the wind, that familiar feeling of laughter and shouting could be felt vibrating through her.
Shutting off the bike atop of Black Stone Canyon, he watches as she walks over to the middle of the bridge, leaning over the railing to look at the water below. A part of him had expected her to question him on why he didn't just drop her off at the estate like planned, but another part is thankful that she didn't.
"Are you okay?" she voices, pulling him out of his thoughts, causing him to realize that he had physically flinched in pain. "I didn't hurt you during the ride did I? I know I was holding on pretty tight and..."
"I'm fine." he assures, walking over to meet her eyes, portraying his sincerity. "You didn't hurt me."
"Are you sure?" she looks at him skeptically, the concern clear as day in her eyes, prompting him to reassure her further. "I mean, honestly, I should have known better. I'm a nurse, for heaven's sake."
Claiming her lips swiftly, to stop her from worrying about him, Jason gently pushes her up against the railing of the bridge, his hands gripping her waist. After a moment, she finally gives in to the kiss, wrapping her arms around him and melting into his embrace, successfully lulled.
"I'm okay." he whispers, laying his forehead against hers. "You worry too much, you know that?"
"I may have heard that once or twice." she laughs softly, meeting his eyes with a hint of humor. "Or maybe more."
"Or maybe a lot?" he counters teasingly.
"What can I say?" she shrugs, looking at him wholeheartedly. "When someone I care about is hurt, I tend to worry."
"You can worry about me if you want, but you don't have to." he assures, gently caressing her cheek, touched by her concern. "Okay?"
"Okay." she replies, pulling away slightly, a playful smirk on her lips. "Thanks for the permission."
"I didn't mean it like that."
"I know." she chuckles, shaking her head. "And I'm still going to worry. Its just who I am."
The sincerity in her eyes told him that there was no way to get her to change her standing on that. Of course, if he were being honest, he'd admit that he didn't want to change that about her. The way she cared for him was unlike what he had with anyone else before. Open, accepting, and intense without the added sprinkle of crazy.
Without voicing it, they both know its time to head back to town, straddling the bike together before riding away. If nothing else, Jason has solidified one thing in their day together, the fact that he doesn't want it to end. After only a few days of knowing her, she has made him feel so many different things that he never thought possible.
Before she knows it, the ride is over and they are parked outside of the Quartermaine estate, bringing their goodbye that much closer. Dismounting the bike, she waits for him to do the same before allowing him to hold her hand in his.
Slowly making their way to the door, they turn to face each other just shy of the threshold, Jason promptly pulling her into his arms and holding her close. For a long moment, they stay like that, just holding each other close before goodbye is all that's left to be said.
"Thank you for coming with me." he whispers, pulling away to stare into her eyes. "It meant a lot."
"Thank you for asking."
Claiming her lips once more, the two go their separate ways, both preparing for the tasks ahead of them. While he makes his way to his boss, Elizabeth heads upstairs to her bedroom to soak in a bubble bath and relax, anticipating the workload ahead of her during the night shift.
"Ms. Elizabeth." Alice stops her as she's heading for the stairs. "How was your trip?"
"Amazing." she admits, smiling softly. "How were things here?"
"Its the Quartermaines...pretty much how you'd expect it to be." Alice concedes before getting serious. "I just thought you should know that AJ was in your room yesterday."
"Did he say what he was doing there?"
"No." Alice shakes her head. "But I warned him to never do it again."
"Thank you, Alice." Elizabeth replies gratefully. "I appreciate you telling me that."
"Of course." Alice waves away her gratitude. "Its what I'm here for."
Making her way up to her room, she checks to make sure that nothing's out of place before heading into the bathroom. She'll deal with AJ later, that much was for sure, but not right now. Right now she's going to soak in a hot bubble bath and relax for her shift.
Like he predicted, Sonny had him describe what happened from start to finish, needing to know what their next move will be. What he didn't predict was that their meeting would still be going on after nightfall. Checking his watch, wondering when the meeting would be over, he realizes that Elizabeth's almost halfway through with her shift.
"Sonny, its getting late." Jason says, a thought hitting him. "We'll pick it up tomorrow."
"Since when do you care about the time?"
"Since now. I'm hungry." Jason says simply. "I'll meet you at your office in the morning."
"Jason, I have dinner cooking in the oven if you're hungry." Sonny says seriously. "We need to finish this tonight."
"It'll keep until tomorrow morning." Jason counters, rising to his feet and sliding into his jacket. "I'll see you later."
Walking out without another word, leaving a confused Sonny in his wake, he makes his way to the diner to pick up some food before heading to the hospital. Though he has never been really good at spontaneity, it felt right, so he went with it.
"Hey." he greets her as she's about to walk onto the elevator he's on, clearly catching her by surprise. "Dinner break?"
"How did you know?" she looks at him curiously. "Were you spying on me?"
"You told me when you usually take your breaks." he reminds her, knowing that she was just teasing him. "And I brought food."
"A man after my own heart." she says with a soft smile, placing her hand over her heart. "Keep this up and I just might have to marry you one day."
"I'll keep that in mind." he replies, placing his hand into hers to tug her into the elevator before shutting the door.
Hand in hand, they make their way to the cafeteria to have dinner. From the expression on her face, he rests assured that he made the right choice by bringing her dinner. A part of him knows that he shouldn't have blown Sonny off like that, but the situation has been handled and the only thing left to do was take claim to the territory in Rochester. Which can wait for morning.
What couldn't wait for morning was seeing her. As strange as it felt, he just wanted to see her, to talk to her, to be with her. Maybe its because its still new or maybe it was something else entirely, but his gut told him to go to her and it hasn't let him down yet.
"I'm really glad you're here." she voices as they sit down to eat. "I honestly didn't think we'd see each other until tomorrow."
"What can I say?" he uses her words, smiling slightly. "I couldn't wait."
"You better be careful." she says softly. "I just might get used to that."
"Good." he says seriously. "Because I'm not going anywhere."
