PART 21

- the Hardy House -

Audry opened the front door, even though she knew from a quick look through the peep hole that it was Jason on the other side of the door. She stood in the doorway for a moment looking at him, really looking at the man inside of the mob-covered shell. She saw the shadows under his eyes and the tight, drawn look of his face. She saw beyond the newspaper stories and hushed gossip of Port Charles and saw the dogged determination and deep worry in the tension of his body. "Jason, I appreciate you coming by-"

"I'm not here to cause trouble, Mrs. Hardy. I just... I wanted to see Cameron again."

Her fingers tensed on the door frame. "I'm not so sure that's a good thing right now." She tilted her head as she looked at him. "Cameron's having a hard time accepting his mother's death and I heard what he said to you at the memorial, and-"

"I think he's right, Mrs. Hardy." Jason saw the utter disbelief in her eyes and he was tempted to mirror the look with one of his own, but there was that undeniable tug at his heart that he couldn't ignore. "I have my men looking for her..." he decided to bare his worries to her in hope that she would understand, "Elizabeth is carrying my baby."

Audry's hand clapped over her mouth. "Your baby."

He nodded. "I didn't want to tell you like this... Elizabeth will confirm it when I have her home safely, but until then... I want you to know that I will do anything it takes to find her and bring her home to you and to Cameron."

Reeling from the news, Audry backed away from the door and let him in. "Cameron is upstairs getting ready for bed. It's the second door-"

"Elizabeth's room," Jason completed the thought before he sprinted up the stairs.

- Elizabeth's Room in the Hardy House -

Cameron looked up from his Chuggin' Charlie book and smiled at Jason. "Is my mommy with you?"

The trust in the boy's eyes... and the equal of it in his heart, humbled Jason. "No, Cameron... not yet... but soon."

Sighing, Cameron's shoulders slumped. "Fine... but I'm really tired of people trying to tell me she's not comin' back! I know my mommy, Jason... and she wouldn't leave me all alone."

An invisible hand clutched at his heart. "No, Cam... she wouldn't... not your mommy."

Cameron nodded and set his book aside. "You'll bring her back, Jason... I know it." He scooted across the bed and slid down to the ground beside Jason. Taking the bigger man's hand, Cameron tugged Jason down beside him. Cameron knelt at his bedside and folded his hands together. "Dear God," he began, "keep watchin' over my mommy and my mommy's new baby until Jason can find them. I don't want them to be all lonely. Let 'em know that I miss them and I," he looked at Jason for a moment before closing his eyes again, "that we love them and want them home soon. Amen."

Jason couldn't move his lips or take a breath. His eyes, full of unshed tears squeezed shut as Cameron climbed back onto the bed. When he looked at Jason he gave a little sigh. "Amen, Jason... you have to say 'Amen.'"

Nodding, Jason found some air in his lungs and force it out for Cameron's sake. "Amen."

- Brookly, NY - Outside Artie's Booze 'n Balls -

Craig waited outside the bar, listening to the discordant sound of balls crashing together on nearly a dozen pool tables every time the door opened. He waited for no other reason than the fifth of Scotch beside him and the anger seething in his middle.

A couple stumbled out of a side door, the man leaning heavily on the woman. Craig watched as she steered him to the alley, behind some crates. The ma thought he was about to get lucky, it showed in his posture... the roaming of his hands over her rather generous assets... she was about to roll the poor slob. Her posture spoke volumes. Not nearly as drunk as her momentary boyfriend, she was already tugging at his wallet, trying to free it from the pocket as he slid his hand up her skirt.

If it was any other night, Craig might have let it go, watched the pro take Dorn's money and knock him over the head so he woke up hung-over and soaked in his own piss. But tonight... tonight, Dorn owed him big... and when a man owed him, Craig was going to get what he wanted even if the other man died trying.

Tired of the farce being played in the shadowed alley, Craig moved across the road, reaching into his back waistband for his pistol.

- Outside the Hardy House -

Jason came to an abrupt halt when he saw Cruz leaning against the side of his car, just outside Audry's driveway.

"Hello, Jason."

Sizing up the detective, Jason answered back. "Cruz." He looked back over his shoulder and saw Audry's face in the window before she closed the drapes. "A bit late for a visit."

Cruz looked straight in his eyes. "For both of us."

Jason had to admit that the man was right. "I came to see Cameron."

Nodding sadly, Cruz looked at the upper floor of the house where a light had just gone off. "I know Lucky hasn't been by to see the boy at all since... you know."

The admission fed Jason's anger toward the younger Spenser. "He's missing his mother."

Cruz nodded thoughtfully. "I was just stopping by to ask Audry if she'd seen Ric Lansing since the trouble at the Metro Court." As Cruz began to move toward the house, Jason's voice stopped him short.

"Ric Lansing? What does he have to do with this?"

Shrugging, Cruz continued on, "Don't know if he does... but after he was relieved of duty during the crisis he seemed to just disappear. "So far we haven't found any trace of him, but Mac thinks-" He watched as Jason took off for his own car, "nice talking with you, Jason. As always."

- Brookly, NY - Outside Artie's Booze 'n Balls -

Dorn tasted blood. No. That was too simple of a word. His tongue was bathed in it. He'd probably swallowed a tooth, but his lips were too damaged to help him feel and he didn't want to risk cutting his tongue on his teeth of Craig decided to punch him again. "Wait."

A jab to his midsection doubled him over.

"Stop."

Craig stepped back far enough for Dorn to see the slumped body of a woman a few feet away. Observant of Dorn's curious stare, Craig sighed. "Don't feel too bad for her... she was going to rob you blind and stick a nail file between your ribs." He smiled at the sad shock he read in Dorn's eyes. "But if I don't get the information you promised me, Dorn... I'm going to stick her nail file in other places... "

- Hartford Critical Care and Clinic - Private Room -

Elizabeth moved restlessly in her sleep, her hands reaching out into the semi-darkness for something that wasn't in the room... only in her head.

The park was warm... bright sunlight surrounded them. There in the sandbox, just inches away, was the small form of a little boy. He worked at the idea of building a sandcastle and wouldn't hear his mother when she told him he'd need to wet the sand first. He didn't really care about the castle she surmised, he enjoyed the digging and the pouring and as he worked diligently as they sat side by side she longed to study his face.

Soft chocolate curls bent with the soft breeze the floated through the park and as he looked up into her eyes again she reached out a hand to touch his face. "Cameron."

There was an emptiness beyond that word. She didn't know what was wrong with her...

- Brookly, NY - Outside Artie's Booze 'n Balls -

Dorn whimpered as he sank down into the gutter behind the bar. He'd been trying to keep the devil at bay by ignoring him... but that hadn't gone over well. Now, as the rain started to fall, Dorn felt the rush of his own blood from his leg into the gutter beneath him. Craig had been good to his word. He'd promised to let Dorn go after he got the information and he had. He'd left behind the woman's nail file... sunk deep into the flesh of Dorn's thigh. Severing the artery had been a bonus for Craig. He'd laughed at the gushing blood coating his hands and wiped them on Dorn's coat before he'd walked away.

His last thought, as Dorn lost consciousness, was that he hoped there was a pile up on the highway to Rhode Island and that Craig was dead in the middle of it.

- Hartford Critical Care and Clinic - Private Room -

Ric entered the room and closed the door swiftly behind him. He leaned over the bed watching Elizabeth as she stirred from sleep. Seeing her blue eyes open and fix on him he grinned. "Hello, beautiful."

Elizabeth flinched at first and then seemed to shake off her initial reaction. "Ric... what time is it?"

Trying to ignore her reaction or assign blame for it, Ric made a conscious effort to keep a positive outlook on the situation. He was so close to having everything he wanted. "Elizabeth, sweetheart," he leaned closer, taking her hand in his, "I want you to remain calm." He could see her anxiety begin to build and so he stroked the back of her hand to soothe her. "It's Sonny," he schooled his features as he'd been practicing, "it seems he's in some trouble."

Her expression of concern was genuine and made him seethe with anger. "What happened? Did he call you for help?"

Ric pressed a kiss to her hand and held it tightly between his hands. "No. It's something else entirely," he lowered his gaze as he spoke because he could not seem to get the truth out of his eyes, "he wants me dead... and I'm afraid that when he comes after me, he'll hurt you and baby instead." Swallowing the bile of lies he finally met her eyes again. "So we have to leave, sweetheart... we have to run away... for the sake of our baby."