Part 23
"You want him. You want his baby."
"Yes, Lucky... I want him and his baby."
"If you think I'm going to sit back and watch him take over-"
"Take over? This isn't a turf war, it's my life!"
"No... it's mine." Lucky grabbed her shoulders and held her against the counter as his mouth descended on hers.
Elizabeth's mind was reeling; it was a nightmare, wasn't it? She would wake up any second and this would all disappear.
Then his hand fisted in the hair at the nape of her neck and she felt exactly how real it was. She tried to push him away, but he had too much of an advantage with height and weight and the pain knifing through her back from the edge of the desk didn't help, either.
So, she took the only advantage she had. Surprise.
Lifting her foot she slammed her heel onto his instep. Lucky let go and stepped back. "Why did you do that?"
She looked at him, much closer than she had initially. His skin was pale, sweat dotting his face. "Where did you get the pills, Lucky?"
"Pills?" He looked around, uncomfortable. "What… what are you talking about?"
"You're high." She edged along the counter, heading toward the opening. "You just got out of jail and you're high again."
"It's hard to keep it together without you."
She shook her head. "I don't buy it, Lucky. You couldn't stay sober with me."
"It's all because of J-"
"No… don't you blame this on Jason."
His eyes narrowed and he blocked her escape route. "Who else should I blame? You? I could do that… easy."
"Elizabeth?"
She turned and gave Epiphany a desperate smile. "You came back from lunch."
"Yes… I did. What's going on here?"
Lucky clamped a hand down on her shoulder. "Nothing that concerns you."
Epiphany gave him a dark glare. "Now, we have two problems that I need to fix. Number one, you know we only allow hospital personnel behind the desk. So you'll need to move on the other side of the counter. Number two, unless you have official business here, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. You don't look like you're in any shape to argue with me, Mr. Spencer and I'm certain you don't want me calling hospital security. They'd have to turn you over to the authorities and by the looks of you… you'd end up right back behind bars."
Taking advantage of Lucky's momentary hesitation Elizabeth nearly ran over to Epiphany's side, her eyes full of gratitude for her friend. "You have something for me to do?"
The older woman nodded. "Mrs. Hankins needs her meds. You can take them to her."
"Sure."
Elizabeth started walking over to a rolling cart, her gaze focused on the tray of meds labeled for the individual payments.
"Don't." She heard his voice, but kept moving even when she heard the elevator doors open. She was hoping the distraction would keep him away. "Don't you walk away from me!"
She felt a chill roll down her spine and she actually flinched when Epiphany called out. "Elizabeth!"
She lunged for the cart, hoping to swing it around and put it between them. Elizabeth almost made it. She felt Lucky's hand close around her upper arm and she twisted around with her other hand closed in a fist.
The key turned in the lock and she swung the door open easily. "Jason? Jason? I'm home!"
There was nothing but silence that greeted her.
"Okay." She dropped her purse on the chair closest to the door and dropped the handle of her suitcase, letting it fall to the floor behind her. "Great. I come back and he's not here."
Moving over to the desk she picked up the phone and quickly dialed an old familiar number. Tossing her hair over her shoulder she held the handset up to her ear. "Come on…answer."
The line went active on the other end, interrupting the harsh ring-tone. "Jason? When did you get back?"
"Back?" Sam felt a wave of emotions plow through her. "Where did he go?"
"Sam? What… what are you calling about?"
"I was calling to find out where he was. Isn't he doing a job for you?"
"No… Carly called and Jason's with her."
Sam felt relief flood through her. He was with Carly. Carly was safe… Carly was his friend… Carly wasn't Elizabeth Webber.
"Okay… that's all I needed to know, Sonny… thanks." She hung up before he could say anything else. Flopping down on the couch she laid her head back and let out a sigh of relief. She hated it when she thought of the two of them together. She tried to ignore the doubts in her mind, but it was always there, this picture of Jason and Elizabeth making love. It was impossible to forget it… impossible to let it go.
She covered her eyes with her hand and tried to shut out the picture, but the darkness only made it worse and squeezing her eyes shut only made them hurt and tear up. Dropping her hand to the side she sucked in a breath and let it out slowly, the noise keeping her from hearing the penthouse door open and close.
"Are those tears in your lovely eyes?"
"Jason?"
Carly's question shocked him from his thoughts and he turned away from the window. "What did the pilot say?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "He said that we're stuck on the ground until the thunderstorms clear."
"Isn't there a way around it?"
"Around the storms?" She gave him an exasperated sigh, "I asked, but he said that the tower isn't letting anyone up in the air. It's too dangerous."
He scrubbed a hand over his face and rubbed at his temples. "Did he say how long?"
She leaned back against the couch cushions her eyes looking at the ceiling. "A few hours… at the most a day."
Jason turned back to the airplane window. "A day… just great."
"Are those tears in your lovely eyes?"
It didn't register for a moment. She couldn't place the voice. Sam lifted her hand and wiped at the tears coming down her cheeks. "Who-?"
Spinelli knelt down in front of her and took her hand in his. "I'm so sorry…"
"Sorry? What…"
"It had to totally mess you up when you heard."
"Heard? Spinelli-"
He shook his head and waved her off. "Hey no, you don't have to explain anything to me, Goddess. I can totally understand why you're crying. If I found out the same thing about the blonde one and someone else, you know," he turned pink and nearly purple before he could spit out the rest of his statement, "if they had been, you know, interfacing… and that the… the interfacing brought about a serious upgrade, then I'd be in tears too."
"Spinelli…" she covered his mouth with her hand and waited for him to meet her gaze, "what are you talking about… you're not making sense."
He smacked his forehead with his palm. "Stupid me. I can't believe I brought this up…you're probably trying to forget it all... and I can't blame you... imagine if it was the Jackal on the receiving end of all this pain. I would try to erase the data… purge my hard drive. You are so right to forget about this."
"Forget about…?"
"Jason's baby with Elizabeth!"
Part 24
He smacked his forehead with his palm. "Stupid me. I can't believe I brought this up…you're probably trying to forget it all... and I can't blame you... imagine if it was me on the receiving end of all this pain. I would try to erase the data… purge my hard drive. You are so right to forget about this."
"Forget about Jason?"
"No… no… Jason's baby with Elizabeth!"
She sat there, silent. Her hands started shaking.
It took Spinelli a moment to realize she was shell-shocked.
"Oh My God."
"Jason's baby?"
"Oh My God."
"With Elizabeth?"
"Holy Bandwidth, Batman… I messed up." He dropped down on his knees, face looking down at the floor. "You have my major apologies, Goddess."
"She's pregnant with his child?"
"Oh man… I should have purged that memory from my data drive."
"I have to go." Sam got up out of the chair and headed for door, turning around once to get her keys and a second time to get her purse. Spinelli followed her around, apologizing every half a second.
She stopped at the door when Spinelli grabbed at her arm. "What? Haven't you done enough?"
He took the comment like a punch to the gut, his face draining of all color as she shook off his grip. "What if Stone Cold comes back? Where do I tell him you went?"
She laughed a harsh sound that came out like a slap. "I'm going to give Elizabeth my congratulations, but if my hypocrisy can't handle it, then I'll tell the virgin queen of Port Charles exactly what I think of her."
The door slammed shut in his face.
She lunged for the cart, hoping to swing it around and put it between them. Elizabeth almost made it. She felt Lucky's hand close around her upper arm and she twisted around with her other hand closed in a fist.
"Lucky!"
Elizabeth tried to pull her punch as Lucky was wrenched away from her, but momentum carried her forward and she threw out her hands to keep herself from hitting the floor.
"Whoa there… I got ya."
She turned her head to the side and stared up into Milo's face. "What are you… Lucky!" She struggled to sit up and Milo stepped back so that she could see. "Nikolas?"
Milo took her arm and helped her up, Epiphany coming up on the other side. "You want me to call security?"
Elizabeth was torn… wanting Lucky safe and on the other hand, he could hurt Nikolas. "Call them."
She didn't need to watch Epiphany, she heard her quite clearly above the row that Nikolas and Lucky were making. It didn't quite cross her mind to ask why Milo is there, he just was and she was grateful for his presence. It wasn't quite as Jason… not nearly as good as having Jason, but it would have to do.
Nikolas had Lucky's arm twisted behind his back and he was fighting his brother with every once of strength. "Stop it, Lucky."
"Damn it, Nikolas… let me go!"
"No… not until you calm down."
"She's leaving me."
"She left you and the way you're acting right now… I can understand it, Lucky. You're starting to scare me… when you're on the pills, I can't understand you."
Lucky sagged against the wall and Nikolas felt alright with loosening his grip. "She's the one I love."
"I'm beginning to think you love the pills more."
A blood-shot gaze swung around to stare him down. "I love Elizabeth."
Nikolas shook his head. "I don't doubt it, Lucky, but you're starting to really scare me."
"I had to see her."
"You're high. Where did you score more pills?"
Lucky looked down at the floor first and then away toward the wall. "I… I have a source."
"Listen to you," Nikolas hissed, "you have a source! You're going to get yourself arrested again and this time, they'll keep you in jail. Don't you understand that?"
He looked over and saw Elizabeth, barely visible behind Milo. "He's got his goons watching her."
Nikolas heard the anger in Lucky's voice and let out a frustrated sigh. "I'm going to take you back to the Island and you're going to sleep it off. Tomorrow…"
"Tomorrow, I'll call her and-"
"No, tomorrow, we're going to get you help."
Two men in security outfits spilled out of an elevator, their eyes searching the room. Nikolas turned to deal with them directly. "We're leaving. There's no need for trouble here."
"Hold on now, you're not the one would called them up here." Epiphany stepped up and pointed a finger at Lucky. "That one there was roughing up one of my nurses."
A guard, new to the hospital, looked over at Elizabeth as she emerged from behind Milo. "You want us to call the cops."
"I am one," ground out Lucky before Nikolas silenced him with a look.
Elizabeth moved closer, her hand protectively splayed over her belly. "If he promises to stay away from the hospital and me, I don't want him in jail."
"You don't want me anymore."
"Let it go Lucky." Nikolas took his arm and pulled him toward the elevator.
"Nikolas, wait." Elizabeth followed them, stopping just outside the doors. Lucky leaned against the wall in the back corner of the elevator. She met Nikolas's eyes and worried her lower lip with her teeth. "Take care of him… I didn't want this… the drugs…"
Nikolas nodded, his eyes lowering to the ground for a long moment before meeting her gaze again. "I know that, Elizabeth… so will he." He spared a glance for his brother, huddled in the corner. "Someday."
Elizabeth retreated into locker room the hem of her scrubs in her hand and her heart in her throat. It took every once of energy not to collapse on the floor just inside the door, but even as she headed over to her locker she couldn't help the tears that collected on her lashes. She couldn't help wishing that Jason would call.
Reaching into her pocket she drew out her cell and looked at the display. A picture of a cheery Italian countryside stared back at her. No New Calls.
Wrenching open the door to her locker she set the phone on the top shelf and pulled out her coat.
"Lucky's staying with us."
Elizabeth whirled around, her jacket clutched to her chest. "Emily? Oh... he is? That's good."
"I'm sure you would have asked eventually."
She blinked a few times; sure she was misreading the tone in Emily's voice. "I'm glad he's with you. He'll be happy there."
"He misses you."
Elizabeth choked on her thoughts, words trapped in her throat as she fought back the feelings of guilt that swarmed around her. "I miss him too, Emily… but I miss the safety I used to feel around him. I miss Lucky… not this man he's become."
"You promised to love, honor and cherish."
"We're divorced, Emily. And he left us in the middle of a fire. He left us to score pills."
Emily shrugged off her doctor's coat and hung it up in her locker. "He's struggling to make it work; you should understand that as a nurse. He could use your help, Elizabeth."
"I can… but I'm also a mother. We've tried it your way, Emily. We've tried it Luke's way…and we've tried it Gram's way. Now, I'm going to do it my way. I'm taking care of Cam and my baby. They're the first and only priority right now."
Elizabeth pulled on the coat, managing to button the top two buttons before it refused to swell over her pregnant belly.
"Are you living at Jason's now?"
She turned around, slowly… her mouth agape at Emily's tone of voice. It seemed harsh to her ears, but Elizabeth tried to chalk it up to the pressure they'd both been under.
"No. I'm not at Jason's." She closed her locker and headed out the door, her vision blurred with unshed tears. "But, we're safe, thank you for asking."
Milo fell into step behind her as she exited the locker room. He didn't say anything when she breezed past him and he didn't say anything when she let go of a swinging door and it nearly took off his nose. In fact, he didn't think she even knew he was behind her at all.
It bothered him a little. She'd have to learn how to know if there was someone following her. She'd have to learn to look for her guard before walking anywhere.
Elizabeth marched right up to the nurse's station passing by Epiphany and gave her friend a smile. "What's next?"
A low whistle escaped Epiphany's lips. "You have more courage than a body has a right to… it's either that or…"
"I have the worst karma of anyone I know. Everything is coming back to bite me in the rear."
"You shouldn't have to do this on your own."
A little shift within her womb drew her attention. "I'm not alone." Elizabeth smoothed her hand over her extended belly. "I'm never alone."
Epiphany leaned over the counter. "I'm not talkin' about wonder baby in there and you know it."
She gave her friend another smile. "I know, but as rough as it's been so far… I'm happy that I've been able to take care of things. It would be so easy to call in the reinforcements and let Jason take care of everything. You know he would."
"Mmm Hmm." Epiphany gave her a wink. "And look good doing it."
They shared a little giggle. "Thanks for sticking by me."
Epiphany reached over and squeezed her hand. "I'm here for you, whenever you need me."
Elizabeth checked her watch. "I've got a good hour left before it's time to pick up Cam. What can I do for you?"
"Well…" Epiphany gave her a wry grin, "there are a few empty beds that need a new set of linens. How does that sound?"
"It's right up my alley."
Elizabeth headed toward the linen closet and stopped just short of the archway. "You up for pizza tonight?"
Epiphany pointed to her chest and raised an eyebrow. "Have you ever known me to turn down pizza?"
"Well, Cam and I had this great idea to order in tonight… you game?"
"Isn't that going to get a little crowded? Where is Jason going to sit?"
Elizabeth felt her stomach clench as she caught sight of Sam stepping off of the elevator. "What are you talking about, Jason's not-"
"Jason's not home where he should be. So I'm going to go out on a limb and say you've got him stashed somewhere waiting to worship at your virgin altar." There was no mistaking the acidic edge to her tone.
"I'm not getting where you're going with this Sam. Jason's not waiting for me anywhere. I don't even know where he is."
"Right." She slanted a look over to Epiphany. "I suppose you're going to tell me to shut up."
"Noooo…" Epiphany sighed, "You're doing a great job of shoving your foot down your throat. Pretty soon you won't be able to breathe, let alone talk."
Elizabeth stifled a laugh. "Look, Sam… I don't know why you're here, but I… sadly… have work to do." She turned her back and headed for the linen closet again.
"I know the secret, Elizabeth."
She did another 180. "What is it?" She felt her shoulders tense. For all she knew Sam had been out of town since the Metro Court hostage situation… so there was only a small chance that she was about to be handed her own head on a platter… right?
She was allowed to hope that Jason would still have the chance to tell Sam about the baby... on his own terms... right? 'Oh Lord,' she thought, 'I really messed this up.' She gave Sam a look, and concentrated on softening her expression... this wasn't going to end up being a fight... at least she wasn't going to provoke it. "What do you know?"
Sam stepped around Epiphany's extended arm and stopped right in the middle of the room. "That Jason's the father of your little bastard."
