Chapter 11

The next morning after a night of worrying and little sleep, Jason is lying quietly in bed enjoying having Elizabeth wrapped in his arms. It was late when they had gotten in the night before and they had agreed that talking about things could wait until today. He hears the boys trying to sneak into the room but keeps his eyes closed and pretends to be asleep. When he hears them giggling he opens one eye and sees that Cam and Jake are standing by the bed looking at him. He opens the other eye and asks, "What's so funny?"

Cam just grins but Jake says honestly, "Your hair is funny," which causes Cam to laugh out loud and roll in the floor.

Jason, being well aware of how his hair looks after a night of tossing and turning, grins back at Jake and says, "So does yours," and then grabs him and begins to rub his head.

Elizabeth groans at the noise and pleads, "Quieter, please."

Cam jumps on the bed and says with a big grin still on his face, "I think Mommy's hair is funny too," and starts to run his hands through her hair.

They all spend the next half hour playing and laughing until Jake decides he is hungry. Elizabeth tells the boys to ask Uncle Steven for breakfast. Once the boys are out of the room, Jason looks at Elizabeth and says, "I'm a little surprised that they didn't question me being in your room."

Elizabeth shrugs and says, "Jason, it's not like they walked in and found a stranger. If we don't act like it is a big deal, then they'll probably go with the flow."

Elizabeth jumps out of bed grabbing Jason's hand as she goes, "Let's get out shower and get dressed. Then I want to show you this place. This was my sanctuary when I didn't know how I was going to get through the next day. This is where I learned to be whole again and feel safe for me and my boys. I will never let this place go and I want to share it with you."

Jason nods his head and replies, "I'm glad you trust me enough to bring me with you and share this with me. We also need to talk about what is going to happen next."

"I know," Elizabeth agrees, "but can we just enjoy the morning and talk after the boys are out and about?"

"Yeah," Jason says pulling her into his arms. "Why don't you start the tour by showing me the shower?" he says with a leer. He lowers his head to kiss her and begins backing her toward the bathroom.

After their shower, Jason and Elizabeth head to the kitchen for breakfast. On their way to the kitchen, Elizabeth shows Jason the house. He had briefly seen the boys' rooms the night before while putting them to bed but really hadn't seen much else except the staircase they had climbed to get to the bedrooms. He is somewhat surprised at how large the house is and how old. He has a lot of questions about how Elizabeth came to be here but knows he needs to let her tell him in her own time.

They spend some time with the boys as they finish their breakfast. Steven has informed them that he is taking Cam and Jake to the beach.

Once the boys leave, Elizabeth turns to Jason. "Jason, why don't you go put on some swim shorts and we'll take a walk and maybe swim a little. We are too far away from the ocean to go to the beach unless we drive but we have a small pool in the back. We can finish our tour and then I can tell you how I came to be here."

Jason is returning from their room after changing into his swim shorts when he sees Elizabeth in deep conversation with Lee. Things seem to be tense between them and he wonders what is going on. "Elizabeth?" he questions as he approaches them.

Elizabeth just stands there looking at Lee until he finally throws his hands up and says, "OK. I'm going to trust you on this as long as you are sure you understand what the consequences will be if he turns out not to be trustworthy. I don't risk my family lightly."

Elizabeth quickly hugs Lee and says, "I know you don't and I'm sure you can trust Jason."

Lee pats her on the shoulder while replying, "Well, why don't you go check on your studio while Jason and I talk."

Elizabeth nods at Lee and gives Jason a quick kiss and tells him, "Lee will tell you how to get to my studio when you are done taking." She leaves the two men silently eyeing each other with a certain amount of distrust.

Jason speaks first. "I'm not sure what you want Elizabeth to keep from me but I don't like that you are trying to get her to keep secrets from me."

Lee shakes his head at Jason and replies, "Get over it Morgan. Not everything is about you. Do you know me well enough to want to tell me your deepest secrets and trust me to keep them?" When Jason doesn't answer Lee continues, "I thought not. I'm going to tell you some of mine because Elizabeth trusts you and I trust Elizabeth. Have a seat, this will take a little while."

Lee goes on to tell Jason about his days in CIA special ops and some of the missions he went on. He wants Jason to understand the dangerous things he was a part of and what he is capable of before he tells him the rest of his story.

Lee pauses to walk over to the bar and pour himself a glass of water. He drains the glass and then walks back over and sits down again. He looks at Jason and says, "This is the part I've been hesitant about sharing with you. I want you to understand that if you ever use this information in any way that causes harm to anyone that I care about, I will kill you. The fact that Elizabeth loves you and Jake is your son won't stop me. Do you still want to hear the rest?"

Jason quietly observes him for a moment and sees that he means what he is saying. Still, he feels like he needs to know so he nods and says, "I give you my word that I will never use anything you tell me against you unless you turn against Elizabeth. If you ever try to harm her or the boys then the deal is off."

Lee nods and resumes his story. "I'm not who you think I am. My real name is not Lee Grant. I gave myself a new name and identity when my team was all killed during an operation. I was the only survivor but I let everyone think I was dead. We had known going in that it was going to be especially dangerous. We didn't know that someone had betrayed us and given the enemy details of the operation and the true identities of everyone on the team. I won't bore you with all the details about how I escaped or how I survived for the first five years after I let everyone believe I was dead. I will say that Dr. Webber Sr. helped me after I saved him and his wife from certain death in the Baltic. He then steered me to Steven who arranged for plastic surgery so I wouldn't be readily recognized. Steven and I became good friends. Five years after my old self ceased to exist, I made contact with my family and let them know that I was alive. After convincing them it was really me behind this face, we made arrangements for them to hire me to work on the family estate so that I could be close to them. To this day, the outside world knows me as Lee Grant, valued employee and family friend. It was all made easier by the fact that my family owns this island. And to answer the question you had about the plane that brought us here, it also belongs to my family."

Jason's brows go up and he questions, "Your family must be wealthy to own an island this size. Why are you working for Elizabeth?"

Lee looks Jason in the eye and says, "It all started as a favor to Steven. He and I brought Elizabeth and the boys here to keep them safe and to give Elizabeth a chance to get her life back together. You don't know how close she was to an emotional breakdown when she left Port Charles. I came to care about Elizabeth and the boys and the rest of my family dotes on them. When she decided to come back to Port Charles I wasn't about to let them come without me. I'll stay with them until I think they don't need me anymore. Then I'll resume my place here on the island, close to my family. I guess how long that ends up being depends a lot on you. But, you should get used to the fact that I'll always be a part of their lives, just like Francis."

Jason jumps up and starts to pace. "I know everyone still doubts me. You all still doubt whether I'll stay the course with Elizabeth. You doubt whether I'll continue to put them first. You doubt that I'll take care of Sam if the time arises that I have the chance. I understand those doubts. Believe me, I know the way I have done things in the past supports those doubts. But, I'm telling you now, I will prove that those doubts are unfounded. I love Elizabeth and Jake and Cam and I will move heaven and earth to be with them and protect them."

"Well, then," Lee says with a slight smile, "maybe I'll be lounging in my hammock sooner rather than later. Come on and I'll show you where Elizabeth's studio is."

Jason quietly knocks on the door to Elizabeth's studio and enters. He smiles as he sees all the canvases filled with color. As he walks around the room he realizes that some of the canvases are very dark. He is thankful that he can see paintings better after his last surgery. He can almost see the progression of Elizabeth's emotional healing by the changes in the colors on the canvases.

Elizabeth comes up behind Jason and puts her arms around his stomach and hugs him. "How did it go with Lee?" she asks.

Jason turns and pulls her into his arms. "I understand where he is coming from and his hesitation in sharing his story with me. I want you to know I will never use anything he told me against him as long as he never turns on you."

Elizabeth pulls Jason over to sit on the couch with her and tells him, "Jason, Lee will never turn on me and the boys. We are family. His entire family has become my family. I want you to meet them all. We are going to the main house tonight with Steven and the boys for dinner."

"I'm surprised they sold you this house," Jason tells her.

"They didn't sell it to me," Elizabeth responds. "They have leased it to me and my heirs for 50 years for $1.00. It was to show me how much they consider us part of their family. It would have been Lee's house if things had worked out differently for him. He won't live here because he is afraid someone would question the help living in his grandmother's house."

"Wow," Jason says.

"Yeah," Elizabeth agrees. "You'll understand more after you get to know them. When this whole mess with Sam is over we'll come back and spend some time here. For now, let's go take that walk."

Later that night, Jason tucks Cameron in and gives him a kiss on his forehead. He smiles to himself as he remembers how free spirited and happy both Cam and Jake had been all afternoon. Then they had gone to dinner and Cam and Jake couldn't have been more excited about seeing Lee's family. It was easy to see how much they all cared about each other. At first, Jason had felt like an outsider but it hadn't taken long for Lee's family to make him feel welcome. He runs this hand through Cam's curls one last time and goes to kiss Jake good night. As he sits beside Jake and touches his soft cheek he can't help but be scared for what is coming. He hopes that he can figure out what Sam is up to before she has a chance to hurt Elizabeth or their sons.

Jason enters the bedroom he is sharing with Elizabeth and finds her already in bed apparently naked. He raises an eyebrow at her and says, "Elizabeth, you know we need to talk."

Elizabeth grins at him and says, "I know Jason but what's wrong with being comfortable?"

"Elizabeth," Jason sighs, "you are not going to distract me."

"Alright," Elizabeth pouts. "Let's get this over with. I'm going back with you and nothing you say will change my mind. I think you have had a chance to see that Cam and Jake will be well protected here."

"Yes," Jason agrees, "I do think Cam and Jake will be safe from Sam here. I wish you would stay here with them."

Elizabeth immediately shakes her head no. "Jason, I'm going back. We need to get rid of Sam once and for all and I should be there in case I'm needed as bait. When we get back we'll all sit down and come up with a plan. I'll agree to consider all the dangers in any plan we come up with, but I'm going back."

Jason sighs loudly and complains as he finishes undressing, "You are so stubborn but I know it is your right to make this decision for yourself. I'm going to hold you to that promise to consider all the dangers before you act."

As Jason crawls into bed Elizabeth grabs him and pulls him to her. "Can we start worrying tomorrow?" she asks as she kisses him.

"Oh, yeah," Jason replies, "I have other things on my mind right now."