Chapter Twenty
Elizabeth was furious with Lucky. How dare he of all people tell her what she should so? Who did he think he was? She had been so angry she had stormed away from him. He had tried to catch up with her, but she had shrugged him off and eventually he had let her leave.
Elizabeth didn't know why she always felt drawn here whenever she was upset, but here she was once again. As she stared out at the water her whole body tensed with reaction. She could feel him behind her. She knew he was hesitating and she hated that they were like this with each other now. Where were the friends who would always be there for each other? What had happened to them?
"Elizabeth?" he said with a hint of question in his voice.
Elizabeth turned slowly to face him. She didn't know what to expect, but she knew she needed to see his eyes; she needed to feel the comfort of his arms. Yet it was something she dared not try. She knew if she allowed herself even a moment of comfort from him she would never walk away. It was too hard to be near him and not want what she felt she could never have.
"Elizabeth, what are you doing out here? You know it's not sa...," his voice trailed off. He had seen the sharp intake of breath as he had started to say the word he now knew she hated.
"You know I come here to think. The water and the night sky help me to see things clearly. Even if what it makes me see is the impossible," she said quietly.
Jason knew she was upset he could see the tenseness in her shoulders and the rigidity she was holding her body up with. "Is everything alright?" "Is it ever alright?" "Can I help?" "Not this time Jason, trust me its better if you don't know,"
"You know once upon a time maybe you could have," she told him. Elizabeth knew Lucky was right. She knew she should tell Jason about the stalker, but she couldn't. She couldn't do that to him, she couldn't allow him to be drawn back to her only because of danger.
"I want to help you," he said taking her shoulders with his hands he gently turned her to face him. "Just tell me what happened. I'll just listen like I used to."
"Is it Lucky? Did he do something?" he asked with a hint of anger.
"No, it's nothing don't worry about it," she said trying to move away from him.
Jason grasped her shoulders more firmly and finally unable to deny himself pulled her in to him. He hugged her gently at first holding her close resting her head against his chest. Allowing her to take comfort from the gentle cadence of his beating heart. He softly stroked her hair and finally pulled back slightly. He looked deeply into her eyes as he leaned forward. He saw no resistance only quiet acceptance and need. He could feel her need. He could feel her need for comfort and if she wouldn't tell him what the problem was he would at least give her that.
Jason kissed her cheek using his hand he tilted her head slightly and trailed his lips along her jaw before finally claiming her lips with his own. He felt her whole body relax into his as she gave herself over to him. He kept it gentle and comforting even though he felt a need boil within himself. She needed him in this moment and he was not about to ruin it.
Elizabeth needed air, she was becoming light headed. Pushing softly on his chest she broke away from him, shakily putting space between their bodies. "I'm sorry," she said breathlessly. "I shouldn't have let that happen." "Elizabeth..."
"No Jason, I can't do this right now, please if you care at all you will leave me alone," she said quietly.
"I can't do that," he told her. "It's dangerous here after dark. You know you shouldn't be alone on the docks at this time of night. Let me at least walk you to your car."
Elizabeth couldn't help it she laughed. It was an almost hysterical laugh and she saw Jason move a step closer to her again. She had to step back she had to keep her distance, it was the only thing that she could do. "My car is in the shop again, but if you need to you can walk me home," she told him.
"Alright," he replied and moved to her side. He walked next to her quietly neither one of them able to talk. Neither one wanted to break the quiet spell that had been cast around them. As they neared her house they seemed to slow their paces, longing for just a few more minutes together.
Jason took her hand as they walked up the steps to her door. "Will you be alright?" he asked.
"Jason stop worrying," she said.
"I can't. I'll always worry about you," he told her placing a gentle kiss on her hand.
Elizabeth turned from him and went to unlock her door. Jason waited in the shadows of her porch as she went inside and with one final look back at him closed and locked her door. He sat there for a few minutes before walking off the porch and to the darkened area of the yard. It was a place he went to often to catch glimpses of his family.
Jason stayed for a long time watching as Elizabeth allowed the babysitter to leave. He watched her and the boys go through their now familiar bedtime routine. What Jason was unaware of was the shadow on the other side of the yard also watching. The shadow knew he was there and delighted in the fact that he had been right all along about Miss Webber and Morgan.
With a sadistic smile Anthony turned to his assistant and motioned for him to get them out of there. He knew at the moment Morgan was distracted but he also knew that Morgan had unparalleled senses and it would only be a matter of time before he caught the older man.
Jason stayed most of the night and watched the house. For some reason he felt compelled to stay, as if his presence was the only thing keeping the danger for his family at bay. He wished Elizabeth would talk to him, he wished he could read her mind; know what she was thinking to help keep her safe. He had felt her fear at the docks and he had no idea what was causing it, but it intensified his own feelings of fear for her. So he stayed ever watchful till the early morning hours.