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Guest asked for another update. This is all you guys get for today. :)

Spring break is coming to my house! I'm going to try my best to not let if interfere with my posting schedule.

The way the story is written Liz is not a Giambetti. She just reminds Maximus of his daughter. I could change the fourth story I'm writing to make her one but it won't work here. Let me know in the reviews. I'm not going to make this a poll question because I want those of you who leave reviews but aren't site members to have a say. Also if you aren't a site member but have an opinion on the poll on my page leave it in the review. I will count it as a vote.

Chapter 21

Jason stood outside the door not quite able to leave. He wasn't even sure that he could make his feet move from this spot. Now that he had her back it felt so wrong to have her away from him. He wanted to be sitting next to her holding her hand.

Francis sighed deeply before approaching his friend and boss. "Come on downstairs Jason. Let Monica take care of Liz." Honestly he didn't want to go downstairs either. But he recognized that standing here would only be self-torture.

"I don't want to leave her." Jason told the older man.

"You're not leaving her. You're just going downstairs. Liz knows that you are here and I'm sure that is helping her." Francis placed a hand on Jason's shoulder and gently propelled the man forward.

Down in the front room the upper echelon of the Corinthos Morgan organization were awaiting word of Liz's condition. Sonny, Johnny, Max, Milo, Cody and Marco stood in various positions around the room. While she liked everyone these were the men that Liz was the closest too. The one's she trusted the most. Francis knew that there were a lot more guys awaiting a text letting them know that the woman who had they had searched for was going to be okay.

Jason stood in the doorway looking at each man in turn before walking over to stand in front of the large bay window that over looked the flower garden. This was Bess's favorite part of the house. She loved to stand here and look at all the colorful blooms. She often talked of wanting to sketch Sonny's garden. He was so lost in remembering the last time she'd stood here, during brunch just a month ago that he didn't hear Sonny approach.

"Jason." Sonny started before stopping and then speaking again. "I'm sorry." He knew that there were no words he could give to make up for what had happened while the other man was away.

Jason just turned and looked at Sonny not saying a word.

"Every time I need you, you come through never fail. You asked me for this one thing and I let you down. I let your girl get hurt." Sonny looked up at his partner and saw such coldness in his eyes that he almost backed up a step. Jason was beyond pissed and he had every right to be. This was twice now that Sonny had let Jason down where his girl was promised to keep Elizabeth safe and had failed. Him sleeping with Carly had fractured them and they were still working on moving past that. This could very well break them completely. Manny wasn't going to survive this, neither would Miguel or Mauro. Sonny couldn't help but wonder if he would.

Jason turned back to the window trying to calm himself before he spoke. What he wanted to do was to snap Sonny's neck. Jason was out of the country protecting their interests and his partner couldn't even keep that sick fuck Manny Ruiz away from Elizabeth. Sonny had sworn to keep his girl safe. Jason had once again put his trust in the older man and had once again been let down. He wasn't sure he could forgive this.

Of course Elizabeth might not forgive him either Jason thought to himself. He would totally understand if she never wanted to see any of them ever again. It was his lifestyle that brought this on her. She had suffered so greatly already and now this. Manny would have never known about her if she wasn't associated with them. "No more trips out of town." Was what he finally said.

"Understood." Sonny was in no position to argue. Anything Jason wanted he would get.

"I'm taking some time off, if Elizabeth will let me I'm going to take care of her." And if she walked away he would need time to figure out how to live without her. "When I come back we will be doing a re-structure of the organization." It was time for a change. Jason owned half of Corinthos Morgan, from here on out he was going to start acting like it.

"Okay." Sonny said softly. "Whatever she needs Jason." Sonny loved Elizabeth like a daughter so he meant every word of that last statement.

Jason just nodded not wanting to talk anymore. Sonny moved away and the room was once again plunged into silence until the clack of heels could be heard coming up the hall. Turning he saw Diane walk into the room. "How is she?" The attorney asked. Over the last four days she'd prayed that her friend would come home alive.

"No word yet." Johnny answered quietly.

"I brought over some clothing for her to wear home." Diane said holding up the bag. Since she'd been at the office when Francis called to say they had Liz she had swung by the penthouse and picked up some things. Looking around the room she saw a lot of grim expressions but it was the look in Jason's eyes that had her worried. Her boss was barely hanging on. Like everyone else she was enjoying the love story that he and Liz seem to be writing for themselves. If she had any doubt about how deep Jason's feelings went, after the all the man was not known for his communication skills, it was gone now.

"I'll take you up." Francis said stepping forward and leading her out of the room.

Diane stopped him in the hall. "You're keeping a close eye on Jason?"

"Yes. He's barely hanging on. Depending on what Monica says we may have to sedate him." Francis said looking down at the red-head. "They are both going to need us over the next few weeks." Maybe even months.

Diane looked up at Francis. "It's a good thing we live right across the hall then." She said cupping his cheek; she knew this was hell for him.

Francis looked down at his fiancée and couldn't help but smile. Then he frowned. He never thought he would marry, but Diane had blown into his life and he'd been done. He just couldn't imagine being without her now. The thought of someone taking her from him, of someone hurting her or scaring her left him cold. He was hurting for Liz, because he loved her. Jason was being ripped apart because he was in love with her. Francis leaned down and softly kissed her lips. "I love you Red." He just needed to say it.

"I love you too Frannie." She said kissing him back.

"As soon as we know that Liz will be okay I want us to get married. We can have whatever type of ceremony you want. I just want you to be my wife." Francis said pulling her close. Just needing to hold her.

"I'd like that." Diane said squeezing him hard. Something like this made you take stock of life. She wanted to be Francis's wife more than anything else in this world.

"Come on; let's get you to our girl." He said.

The guys waited. Francis came back downstairs and they waited. Not long after the big blonde's return Jason finally reached the point where he couldn't wait anymore and turned for the door only to be blocked by Johnny. For a tense few moments it looked like the two men might come to blows because Johnny wasn't letting Jason out of the room. Monica needed time and she was going to get it. No matter how painful the wait was for everyone Monica would have as much time as she needed. It was Cody who managed to get through to Jason. Breathing hard he finally turned and went back to his post by the window.

Over an hour after he left them upstairs Monica walked into the front room. Instantly every pair of eyes was on her. Jason turned but didn't move any closer. If he moved from this spot he would keep going out of the room and he needed to listen to what Monica was going to say so he knew how to care for Bess. "She wasn't raped." She started with that because she knew it was everyone's biggest fear. She could feel the tension lessen in the room. "In fact Liz is in pretty good shape physically. She has some bruising, and some scratches but they are already healing. Her ankles and wrists are abraded so I treated and wrapped them. I have a prescription for antibiotics that will need to be filled. Physically her biggest problem is that she wasn't eating or drinking regularly. She is also extremely sleep deprived."

Monica paused. "Emotionally she's a wreck, which is totally understandable. Right now she isn't talking so I don't know how bad it is. She also had a pretty bad panic attack, according to Diane that isn't anything new. Just keep watch."

"She wouldn't tell you what he did?" Max asked the doctor.

"When I say she isn't talking I mean not at all. She hasn't said one word since I got here. Did she talk to anyone earlier?" Monica asked the assembled group.

Everyone looked to Jason. "No." He said softly.

"I know she was in shock when I started the exam, but she was coming out of it by the time I finished. If you ask her a question she looks at you while you're talking. She will shake her head yes or no, but so far no words and no tears." Monica explained.

"She's locking herself down." Francis said thinking out loud. He felt his anger at Manny sharpen.

"She'll probably talk to Jason." Johnny said what everyone was thinking. Once again every man looked at the blonde enforcer who was still standing by the window.

"Until she starts talking we won't know exactly what he did to her. Since it doesn't seem to be physical I'm guessing it was mental." The thought that she might have been physiologically tortured didn't sit well with anyone.

"For the time being I'm going to recommend rest, quiet and regular meals. I'm sure she'll start talking soon. When she does it would be a good idea to get her to a therapist." Monica didn't know that Elizabeth already had a therapist. She handed the script to Johnny. "Diane is helping Elizabeth get dressed so they should be down shortly. I really like Elizabeth so thank you for letting me help. Please call me if she needs anything no matter what the time." Monica was escorted to her car and a guard assigned to follow her home. With Manny unaccounted for they would be tightening security.

"Take care of Miguel tonight." Jason ordered. He had no interest in being there when the eldest Ruiz brother died. Mauro had died this morning.

Sonny nodded, but before he could respond further they heard Diane's heels. She was moving slowly and everyone knew that meant she was bringing Elizabeth to them. Jason still didn't move from his spot. He would let her dictate just how close he could get. The two women appeared in the doorway and everyone got their first good look at Liz. She was pale and there were deep shadows under her eyes. Both her wrists were wrapped and the corners of her mouth were bruised from the gag. She looked so small was all he could think. She was the strongest woman he knew but right now she looked so tiny.

Elizabeth looked at her guys, because that's what they were, all standing there waiting to know that she was okay. For someone who had grown up without a lot of love it was a tad overwhelming. She knew that every man in the room would lay down their lives to protect her, not because they were paid to but because they were family. And that was what you did for those you cared about. She also knew there was a lot of guilt in the room. Mostly from Sonny and Jason. She could see it in their eyes. None of them had anything to feel responsible for. They had done their best and they had come for her. No matter how hard she tried she didn't think that she would ever be able to make them understand how much that meant to her.

She turned to Diane and gave her a big hug. Silently thanking her for the clothes and the support. Walking into the room she went right into Francis's arms. Hugging him hard letting him know that she loved him. He hugged her just as tightly as he dared. After him she moved to Johnny letting him hug her. He was followed by Milo, then Max, Cody and Marco. She turned to Sonny and pulled him into a tight embrace rocking the older man slightly just letting him know that she was happy he was here.

She could tell the guys were surprised but right now this was the only way she could let them know that she was grateful for all they had done. Without needing to be told she knew that they had been looking for her.

Finally she turned to Jason he was standing by her favorite window the sun streaming across him. She loved him so much. While she had been tied up in the dark she promised herself that she would tell him when he came. He didn't have to say the words back, but there was no way she could keep them inside any longer. As soon as she was able she would tell him and share what was in her heart. If she could speak she'd tell him this instant. She walked over and let him pull her close. As his arms came around her a feeling of peace swept through her. This was where she belonged, in Jason's arms. Sighing she snuggled closer to his warmth and strength. She was home.

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