Chapter 21

Jason let the next few months fly by without so much of a mention of Elizabeth's name to anyone. It helped keep her out of his mind. He supposed that the Italian's taking Elizabeth and the boys had nothing to do with him, but he couldn't be sure. He needed to focus on finding out what happened to Angelo Luciano; there was still no sign of him or his organization. His safest bet was to stay far away; that was the plan. Little did Jason know that John Zaccharra was taking on the position Jason had longed for. He was unaware that Johnny had spent all of his free time with Elizabeth and her children.

Over that summer, Elizabeth and Johnny would take day trips to the beach with the boys, and they even took the boys on a weekend camping trip. Elizabeth and Johnny had not connected romantically, but they had a special bond. She could depend on him, and not in a way that made her feel like she owed him. He was there with her to laugh, for her to cry, and even for the kids. He would help with Cam a few times that Elizabeth took Jake to the ER in the middle of the night for a fever. He was only ever a phone call away.

Then came the fall…

Elizabeth hadn't spoken to Robin in a long time. They both have had conflicting schedules at the hospital and would only exchange greetings in passing. Both friends smiled at each other as they both walked toward the nurse's hub.

"Well, it looks like we finally get to work with each other. Who in the world is making our schedules?," Robin placed a chart down on the counter.

Elizabeth laughed, "I know, I have been meaning to call, it's just, things have been crazy. Cam started school, so I spend all my time at home trying to keep him in tuned with education. I'm sorry I haven't called to get together, for a girls night out, or for a play date with the kids."

"Ugh, I can't believe Cameron is in school. They grow up too fast. Just the other day Emma walked up to me and said 'Mama, huggy.' I just about cried. I can not believe she is going to be two years old soon! But enough about the kids, how are you? We really need to catch up," Robin's pager went off, she looked down at it, "Ugh, I gotta run, but you know what, let's plan to sit at the same table at the hospital benefit at the Metro Court next weekend. See ya!"

Robin ran off to answer her page. Elizabeth had totally forgotten about the benefit. She needed something wear, and… a date. She could just ask Steven to go with her, but she didn't want to seem like a pathetic woman who couldn't get a date to a benefit, it wasn't anything romantic; maybe she would ask Johnny. He was actually at the house watching Jake. Her youngest wasn't feeling well and Johnny offered to watch him at home so he could relax instead of being in the chaos of the hospital daycare. When she got home, she would ask him to go… she picked up her charts and headed for the elevator. She was too busy reading to notice anyone was walking off the elevator. The collision knocked the patient charts out of her hands and onto the ground.

"I am so sorry, I wasn't looking," Elizabeth was too busy fumbling to pick up charts to even take notice as to who she ran into.

"It's okay. Let me help you."

Elizabeth knew that voice, "Jason." They stood up in unison as he handed her a few charts. Their eyes connected long enough to make it uncomfortable.

Elizabeth turned her head down to re-organize the charts, "Uh, what are you doing here?"

Jason not only stayed away because of danger, but because it was too hard to be close to her and not touch her, "I need to speak to Monica... What are you doing here?"

Elizabeth smirked, "I work here. Incase the scrubs didn't give it away."

Jason felt like an idiot. Of course he knew she worked there, but he was at a loss as to what to say to her, "Uh, yeah, how are you doing? Since… it all…" Jason was referring to the kidnapping.

"I'm doing well. As good as new," then the silence became odd, "Well, I better get these charts downstairs before I get fired or you will have to talk to Monica about getting my job back." Elizabeth stepped onto the elevator and pressed the button to close the doors. She was relieved that she was alone on the elevator because any person around her would be able to feel her heart aching. A tear formed in her eye. She wiped it away just in time for the elevators doors to open. She went back to the real world.