A/N – Thanks for the comments! Glad you like Edward, the Q's, and Diane!

Chapter 21 - Carly

When Elizabeth woke up, Jason stood up and brushed the hair off her face. "You okay?" He asked.

"I'm fine."

"Your scans look good. The seizure didn't do any damage." He said softly.

"Good. Can I still go home tomorrow?" She asked.

"Yes."

She pushed the button on the bed so she could sit up more.

"I hate to do this right now, but I need to tell you something." Jason said.

"What?"

"Your building is kind of being condemned." He said softly.

Elizabeth's mouth dropped open. "What? Where the hell do I live—in a slum?"

"It's not the safest place in the world. That is the one thing we used to argue about."

Elizabeth sighed. "What am I going to do?" She asked tearfully.

"For now, I'm going to move your things into the gate house."

She crossed her arms feeling helpless. "You mean the one at the Quartermaines?"

"Yes. I have my things there temporarily but there is plenty of room there for you. It has four bedrooms."

Her eyes narrowed. "That's a big house."

"What do you say? You think you could stand to have me as a roommate for a while?"

Liz could tell he was loving this. "I guess. Do I get to pick my bedroom?"

Jason smiled. "Of course, although I think I already know which one you'll want."

"You think you know me so well don't you?" She asked grinning.

"Considering that you always manage to find a way to surprise me, let's just say I know you well enough."

Johnny walked in. "Your stuff is in the gate house." Johnny said before pulling out his phone. "Here are the four bedrooms." He said handing her his phone.

She flicked between the four bedrooms. "That one." She pointed to one that looked like there was a balcony."

Johnny chuckled. "Jason won the pool. That's the one he picked. It faces the gardens."

Liz shook her head as Jason smirked.

"I know MY girl." Jason said definitively giving Johnny a look.

The way he said it made Liz grin.

"I can't wait until she remembers how important I was to her." Johnny said sighing.

Liz chuckled at the Jason's expression. "I would run if I were you."

Johnny rolled his eyes. "He'd just shoot me. Running isn't exactly his thing."

"For you, I'd make an exception."

"It would ruin your rep and might mess up your hair. Bad boys don't run." Johnny quipped.

Jason shook his head. "Don't you have something to do?"

Johnny grinned. "No, I thought I'd hang out with you guys for the rest of the day."

Jason blinked at him a few times as Johnny and Liz laughed.

"I'm glad you two are so entertained." Jason said.

"Actually, I do have to go. I'm on Carly surveillance. I think she's up to something."

Jason groaned. They had talked it over and she was at the top of both of their lists.

"Great." Jason muttered.

"I'll let you know what I find out." He said before turning to Liz. "Call me if you get bored."

Liz grinned and shook her head.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

After a moment of watching Jason lost in his thoughts, Liz spoke. "What are you going to do if Carly steps over the line?" She asked curiously.

Jason closed his eyes. His relationship with Carly hadn't been all bad but he of all people knew that he couldn't underestimate her. When she felt she was threatened she did very stupid things. Michael was his nephew and he loved the boy. The thought of him having to grow up without a mother did give him pause although the little boy was pretty screwed if he had to live with Sonny and Carly anyway. He decided he was going to do what he could to help AJ be a part of Michael's life. At some point, Sonny and Carly would self-destruct and Michael would need some stability. "I'm not entirely sure. Maybe I'll surprise everyone and let the police handle it."

"I'm sorry you have to deal with this." She said softly.

He laid his head on her thigh and she gently stroked his hair. "Me too." He said quietly.

"Considering Michael, and that she hasn't managed to do any damage so far, I wouldn't be upset if you give her a warning before acting." Liz said.

Elizabeth hoped Carly didn't push Jason past his breaking point. She didn't understand why the woman hated her so much. It was petty and immature, but now that she knew Carly would probably be gunning for her, she was also determined to fight back.

"If she hurts you, I'll have to do what I have to do. I hope you won't think less of me."

Liz sighed. "I trust you to protect me Jason. If she hurts me, she deserves what she gets."

He hugged her, wishing they didn't have to deal with this right now.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Johnny chuckled. Did Carly really think she was fooling anyone with that stupid wig she had on? She looked ridiculous. She walked into a seedy bar. He cautiously followed her and slipped inside. After a few minutes, a man slid into her booth and they talked. Carly looked furious at one point and then stalked away and Johnny stayed and made his way over to the man.

"That seat's taken." The man said.

"Shut up and listen to me." Johnny growled. "Whatever she asked you to do, don't do it."

The man frowned. "Who the fuck do you think you are?"

"Do you know who Jason Morgan is?"

The man's demeanor changed a little. "What's it to you?"

"I'm his partner. Carly was probably asking you to do something against Jason's girlfriend. So, if you value your life, you won't go there."

"Message received." The man said quietly. "I wasn't going to hurt her, just scare her."

"I'll be watching." Johnny said before leaving.

The man downed the shot sitting in front of him. There was no way in hell he'd mess with Jason's girl. Carly wanted him to scare her; not hurt her but he was going to call her back and turn the job down. He wasn't planning on dying anytime soon.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Johnny walked into the hospital room. Liz was sleeping and Jason was standing by the window looking out. He slid beside him and quietly told him what happened.

"I need you to stay here with Elizabeth." Jason said quietly.

"Done."

Jason walked out and made his way over to Greystone.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

He got out of his truck and Max walked up to him. "Jason, what are you doing here man? Sonny will have a fit."

"He doesn't have to know Max."

Max sighed. "Jesus, Jason."

"Carly tried to hire someone to hurt Elizabeth."

Max's eyes grew big. "You're not going to kill her are you?"

"Not at the moment, I'm giving her one warning. You need to stick by her and stop letting her ditch you because if she hurts Elizabeth, she'll have to pay and you'll go down with her." He said lethally.

Max nodded slowly.

Jason brushed by him and slipped into the house. Carly was on the couch and her eyes were closed. He crept up to her and then quickly grabbed her neck with his left hand and the woman's eyes snapped open with fear—shocked when she saw it was Jason.

"You will listen to me." He growled. "I know where you were today. I know you were responsible for the recording at the hospital and the physical therapist. This is your only warning Carly. If you try to hurt Elizabeth again, I will take Michael away, your money—everything you love." Jason threatened as Carly's eyes grew big. "Do not fuck with me. You shit on our friendship by doing this. Elizabeth makes me happy and the fact that you ignore that just because you are jealous of her, shows me that you have no idea what true friendship means. You are a selfish bitch and I want nothing to do with you. Even if Elizabeth and I don't work out, I will never be your friend again. Don't speak to me. In fact, if you see me coming, cross the street. You brought this shit on yourself." He said as he jerked her body with a shake before releasing her.

Carly was sobbing. "Please Jason, don't do this. I love you."

"If you call what you did love, then you are sick and need help. Trust me, I will make sure you end up in Shadybrook for good if you even think about Elizabeth again. That is a promise. Don't make the mistake of thinking that I won't end you Carly." He said before turning on his heel and walking out.

Carly didn't know what to do. She had just lost one of the most important people in her life and she was broken.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason needed to clear his head. He hopped on his bike and took off for Vista Pointe for an hour before heading back to the hospital.

Liz was a little agitated. She knew something had happened. Johnny was quieter than usual even though he tried to cover it and Jason had been gone for a while. When he finally appeared in the doorway, she let out a shaky breath. He looked hurt and she wondered what had gone wrong.

Jason walked into the room with his head down and Elizabeth held out her arms and he hugged her. They were silent for a few minutes and then he pulled back.

"What happened?" She asked.

"Carly." He said softly. "I found out that she was probably behind all the things that happened. Johnny had followed her and she was trying to hire someone to scare you. We can't prove the other things but I believe it was her and she didn't deny it."

Liz swallowed hard but didn't say anything.

"I went to Greystone and threatened her; that I'd take everything away—even Michael and make sure she goes to Shadybrook if she even thinks about you again. I can't help but feel like this is my fault. That if it weren't for her obsession with me, which I should have stopped years ago, then you wouldn't have been targeted."

"Jason, look at me." She said softly.

He slowly looked up and met her gaze.

"This is all on Carly. She did this, not you. So, I don't want to ever hear you say that again. As far as I'm concerned, that bitch deserves to go down. She was being cruel. God only knows what that man would have done to frighten me. I hope you won't be mad but I can't let this go. I know I said to give her a warning, and I'm glad you did, but I want more than that. I will find some way to show her that she can't just steamroll over people to get what she wants." Liz said firmly.

"Okay. That is your right and of course I will support you in whatever you want to do."

Liz nodded. "I need to think on it. Part of me feels guilty for her son but then again what is he going to be like if he's raised by that shrew?"

"I thought about that too. I'm still going to help AJ in any way I can. I was thinking about asking him if he'd like to help me in the business. If he can stay sober, he has always been a good businessman and I know his input would be valuable. After Carly had Michael, she lied at first about who the father was and I helped her not knowing that AJ was involved. I thought the baby was Tony's. She had post partum and disappeared and I raised Michael for a year. When she showed back up, she came clean that the baby was AJ's and it caused a riff between me and my brother until my mom convinced him that I didn't initially know. AJ was destructive and went on drinking binges. Carly got a judge to give her full custody and she married Sonny. AJ was devastated and no one could reach him. He almost killed himself with alcohol but finally he hit rock bottom and agreed to go to rehab. He'd stay on for a while and then fell off the wagon. He's been away for a while at a facility. Monica said he should be home any day now." Jason explained.

"But you were able to fix your relationship to a degree?" She asked.

"We were civil again. I think me being friends with Carly didn't help, but that's not an issue anymore. He was always trying to prove himself to Edward and kept failing. I think it would be better for him if he worked with me instead." Jason said. It would be taking a chance but AJ wasn't a bad person, he was just fucked up for many different reasons.

"I think that would be very nice of you. It would show the courts that he could hold down a job and maintain his sobriety." Liz said. "And if we can get some proof of Carly being unbalanced, we could cast some doubts with the judge. Maybe you could get some audio of Sonny losing it." She said throwing out some thoughts.

Jason smirked. "You are dangerous when you want to be."

She smiled. "I'm telling you, Lizzie doesn't play."

Jason smiled. "You just called yourself Lizzie."

She frowned. "What does that mean exactly?"

"It's how you and Emily would refer to you when you were being more forceful."

Liz chuckled. "Another memory. I hope this will become a habit."

Jason gave her a kiss. "I needed that."

"Anytime."

Chris entered the room. "I just wanted to let you know that your brain activity is still stable. After you leave, pay attention to how your body reacts to any memories you get; for example, do you get a headache or blank out. Okay?"

She nodded. "I will."

"Tomorrow you can resume your physical therapy too." Chris said.

Elizabeth was doing very well. Her body was responding well. It would take a few months before her stamina was completely back.

Chris finished up and then left the room.

"Get into bed with me." Liz demanded.

Jason took off his boots and climbed beside her. "Just what I needed."

"Me too." She said snuggling into him.

After several minutes, he felt her breathing change and knew that she was asleep. He would do anything to protect the woman that he held so lovingly in his arms. She was everything to him.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

The next morning they went back to the mansion and got settled into the gate house. Alice gave Francis some food to take to them and they ate lunch and then sat down in the living room.

"I like it here. It's peaceful." Liz said.

"Enjoy it because we'll be eating dinner at the mansion a lot." Jason said. Lila had made it clear that would be expected.

Liz smiled. "That's fine with me."

"Besides, we need to watch Emily's debut." Jason explained.

"Oh, I can't wait." Liz said smiling. "I know she must be so excited."

There was a knock on the door. Jason got up and was shocked to see that it was AJ.

His brother smirked. "Mind if I hide out here? I don't want anyone to know I'm back until dinner."

Jason nodded. "Sure, come in."

"So, Alice told me you were staying here and I almost choked to death. What gives?" AJ asked curiously.

Jason motioned for him to follow. "You remember Elizabeth don't you?"

AJ smiled. "Elizabeth, it's great to see you."

Liz tentatively smiled back and then looked over at Jason.

"This is my brother AJ." He said to her before looking away. "Elizabeth has amnesia. It's a long story which we can go into later. We're together and she was recuperating at the mansion but now she's here with me."

AJ smirked. "Nice, but I think you need to back track." He said plopping into a chair.

Jason sat next to Elizabeth. "I quit the business."

AJ's mouth dropped open. "What the hell happened?"

"Sonny was being an ass and I had enough. So, I'm done and I'm starting my own security business."

AJ was impressed. "Wow. A lot has happened while I've been gone."

"That's for sure. I'm no longer friends with Carly either because she was trying to hurt Elizabeth."

AJ's mouth dropped open. "Damn, give a guy some warning next time. Has hell frozen over?"

Jason rolled his eyes while Liz tried not to laugh.