A/N – Thanks for the reviews! Sorry I'm late. I had a recording session today (I'm a singer/songwriter)lol Virgymuwahhhh. Guest – I tried to make it clear in the A/N notes that this is a true triangle which means Elizabeth will be torn between two men and then choose. So, try to hang in there. Whether you like the outcome or not, I try to write a good story.

Chapter 12 - Regret

Johnny had gone to Kelly's to get some coffee when he ran into Jason on the way out.

"How's Liz?"

"She's fine. We got lucky."

"Have you beefed up your security?"

Johnny stared at him for a minute. "Of course."

"Good, cause I don't want anything to happen to her again."

"Are you still insinuating that this is my fault?"

"Isn't it?"

Johnny is livid and decides to put Jason in his place. Moving closer, he pointed his finger. "This is your fault you big jerk."

Jason gave him a look. "How the hell is it my fault? She's not even around me."

"Because the guy who grabbed her told her to tell you that he said hi."

Johnny knew he shouldn't have said anything, but hopefully, it would get Jason off his back and out of Liz's life.

Jason just stared at him for a minute. "Why didn't she tell me?"

Johnny's eyes scanned the room, making sure no one had heard him and then his attention went back to Jason. "Because she didn't want to hurt you."

Jason turned away from Johnny feeling shattered that once again, she had almost gotten seriously hurt again because of his life.

Johnny just shook his head and walked away, hoping that Jason realizes that he's not good for her.

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Abby is standing around the corner and heard the whole thing. She straightened her clothes and licked her lips and walked towards Jason, moving in for the kill.

"Jason? Are you alright?"

He sat on a bench and then looked up. "Abby?"

There are tears in his eyes which gave her pause. "Come on, let me get you home."

As soon as she pulled him to his feet, Carly raced around the corner and saw them.

"Jason?" He looks devastated and she hopes nothing really bad happened and then it clicks that Abby is probably taking advantage of the situation and her expression changed to disgust. "I'll take care of him." She pushed Abby out of the way and led Jason back towards her car leaving a livid Abby in her wake.

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Jason didn't say a word all the way back to the penthouse. Carly got him upstairs and sat him on the couch and then kneeled in front of him. "Jason, please talk to me. What happened?"

Jason tried to control his emotions. "Liz got attacked a few days ago."

"Oh my God, is she alright?"

"Yes. I found her unconscious in an alley."

Carly got up so she was sitting next to him.

"I brought her to the hospital and stayed with her that night. We watched movies, and ate. It was so nice not to fight and just be close to her."

Carly nodded.

"When she had a nightmare in the middle of the night, I ended up staying in the room with her. Nothing happened, but Johnny came back in the morning and found us."

"Shit," Carly said watching him closely.

"He confronted me and I let him know what happened. Liz had told me that she didn't remember what the guy said to her, so I made some flippant remarks to him and left." He paused as his fists clenched. "I saw him this morning and I guess I pushed him too far and he told me that Liz did remember what the guy said."

"Go on." She thinks she knows what is coming.

"The guy told her to tell me that he said hi."

Carly sighed. She totally gets why Jason is blaming himself, but if she allowed him to sink into a depression over it, the next few months could be ugly.

"Jason, you're blaming yourself for something you had no control over."

He abruptly stood. "Carly, she almost got hurt again because of who I am. He could have raped her or killed her."

Carly flinched at the hurt and rage in his eyes. "Jason, are you giving up on her again?"

"What choice do I have?"

Carly is livid and gets up and pushes him, leaving him stunned. "You, Jason Morgan, are an idiot. Maybe you don't even deserve her. She knew the risks being with you and she was willing to take them because she loved you. Do you know how much I would kill to have someone love me like that? You had it and you threw it away over what—twisted martyrdom? And now, you make a little headway with her and something else happens and you are ready to run again? Maybe she was right about not trusting you. You need to make up your freaking mind. If you want to be with her then stop running and do the best you can to protect her. Shit might happen, but is losing the love of your life the answer?"

Jason is shocked by Carly's outburst. "You hate Liz. Why are you saying all of this?"

"Because, I love you dammit! You are the best friend I've ever had and I know I was a complete jealous bitch to her before—which I'm sorry for. I had no right."

When Jason continues to look at her incredulously, she starts to smile.

"Who are you?"

"I know…surprise. Carly's growing up."

Jason wiped his tears and smiled. "I like this Carly."

She lovingly embraced him. "I can't stand seeing you like this, Jason."

He held her tighter. "Thank you for being there for me."

They pulled apart. "You think I was going to let that scheming bitch bring you back here and have her way with you?"

Jason chuckled. "Give me some credit."

"Really? She got you the first time because you were drunk and vulnerable."

"I'm not drunk."

She plopped onto the couch. "True, but I'm not taking any chances."

Jason laughed. "I got some thinking to do."

Carly got up. "Yeah, you need to work this out. Think of this as a little test. If you tell her that you know and you don't run, maybe she'll start trusting you again. I'll call you later."

"Thanks."

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Liz is very happy to be back to work. It gives her something to focus on. When she rounded the corner and bounced off of Jason's chest, she almost dropped everything in her hands.

"Jason?"

He smiled as he helped her re-organize them. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you for a minute."

"Follow me." She took him to an empty room and shut the door.

They stared at each other for a long moment before he broke the silence. "I know that the man said something to you."

Liz started to comment, but Jason cut her off. "It's okay. I know why you did it. I'm not mad at you."

She took a deep breath. "I'm glad."

"I—I just wanted to let you know that I'm doing everything I can to find out who he man is and deal with it. I don't want you to be scared."

"Thank you. Johnny has put extra people around."

"I have too."

She nodded. When he gets like this, there is no way that he'll budge.

"Francis is going to be around your building at night."

Liz smiled. She really misses the guard.

"I can't take any chances with you."

She looked a little confused when the realization that isn't running from her hit. "It's probably not safe for me to be seen with you."

"I'm not worried about that anymore. I will protect you with my life, if necessary."

Tears began to well in her eyes. She needed to leave because he's getting to her.

When she tried to brush past Jason, he pulled her into his arms and hugged her. She is crying, so he just holds her tightly. "I'll never give up on us."

That made her cry even more and finally, after a few minutes, she tore herself away from him and left the room.