Chapter Twenty-one

Jason watched Elizabeth pace the small room. He could tell she hadn't changed her mind about Ric. He didn't know what kind of hold that bastard had on her but it was going to be over tonight. "What did you think of my research project?"

"Why are you doing this to me Jason?" Elizabeth asked ignoring Jason's question. She didn't want to think about Ric's past anymore. All Elizabeth cared about was the future they were building.

He blinked in surprise. To be honest he didn't think Elizabeth would figure it out. She was too wrapped up in Ric Lansing. "I already told you why Elizabeth. I'm protecting you."

"You call this protecting me? Have you lost your mind? You had Emily help kidnap me."

"There's no need to get hysterical." Jason mumbled rolling his eyes. "I have to admit Emily did something stupid. She acted without thinking."

"Unlike you?" Elizabeth snapped sinking on to the bed. She suddenly felt very strange the room was spinning and her whole body tingled.

"Yes. I know exactly what I'm doing. Someone has to make Lansing pay for what he did. Why can't you see that, Elizabeth? However, you don't have to get hurt too. I could protect you from all this."

"All Ric ever did was get you convicted. What's the matter Jason you couldn't handle jail? That's too bad because that's where you are headed. When Ric finds me..."

Jason wanted to laugh at Elizabeth's delusions. "He isn't going to find you. No one knows about this place except Emily. Do you really think she would ever betray me? Especially after, you broke up her and Zander. I promise to let you go Elizabeth. All you have to do is leave town and..."

"Let you kill my husband? Do you think I am stupid? I know exactly what your plan is. You're using me to distract Ric so you can kill him."

"Well you do have some brains left in that head of yours I was starting to worry. Yes I plan to kill Ric and there's nothing you can do." Jason said not concerned that Elizabeth had figure out precisely what his plan was. In his opinion, Ric was getting what he deserved. A man with enemies like Ric should never show their weakness and that is exactly what Elizabeth was.

"Please don't do this. I..." Elizabeth paused as her back suddenly spasmed. She immediately knew something was very wrong. "Jason some thing's wrong."

"How stupid do you think I am, Elizabeth? I'm not going to fall for that trick."

"It's not a trick. Please, Jason… Some... something is wrong."

Jason just shook his head at her obvious lie. "You might as well drop it Elizabeth I'm not letting you go."

"What is wrong with you? Why do you have to destroy everything you touch?" Elizabeth shouted. "You're going to let my baby die for some stupid revenge?"

"The bastard shouldn't exist." Jason snapped coldly. He couldn't believe Elizabeth was attempting to deceive him this way. Jason thought Elizabeth knew him better than that.

"How dare you.... I hate you Jason Morgan. I hate you and everything you stand for." Elizabeth said through the tears that had started to fall. She was so frightened. The last thing she wanted was to lose this baby. Carefully she stretched out on the bed and prayed.

Jason watched Elizabeth for a few more moments. He was sickened at the display she putting on. He lowered his head resigned to the fact Elizabeth was do anything to protect Ric Lansing. Jason checked the house carefully before simply leaving.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

When Lucky reached Ric's office, he knocked and then opened the door. As he, suspected Ric was there. It did appear however that he had left. "I see you finally went home."

"Yeah. I needed to break." Ric said sitting on the edge of his desk. He was surprised to see Elizabeth's brother with Lucky. When he called Audrey, it never occurred to him that Steven might join her in Port Charles. "You must be Steven."

"Why is that?"

"Well there's the fact you two look similar. Or it could be the picture Elizabeth showed me." Ric said trying not to enjoy Steven's discomfort. Even without the picture, Ric would have recognized Steven. He looked too much Elizabeth not to.

"Elizabeth has a picture of me?"

"You should really talk with your sister."

"I would if anyone knew where she was." Steven shouted back angrily. He had not missed the fact Ric had to be his age. Steven couldn't figure out what a man like that would want with Elizabeth. "How do you even know Elizabeth?"

"I meet her at Luke's. It's this blues club here in town."

"No !#?" Lucky interrupted. He had never asked Elizabeth about details of her relationship with Ric. "You met her at my dad's place?"

"Yeah. Then I moved into Kelly's. So of course we saw each other everyday." Seeing the confusion on Steven face Ric took pity on him. "Elizabeth used to work there as a waitress."

"She doesn't anymore?"

Ric shook his head smiling at the question. "She quit after she graduated collage."

"In art right? Sarah said something about her painting."

"Yeah. She's amazing. Of course Elizabeth says I'm biased."

Steven didn't know Ric that well but even he could see that how much the man loved his sister. He didn't know how to deal with the knowledge thankfully; Ric's phone rang giving him a reprieve.