Thank you! I can't believe people are still reading this story. I've been slow to update so your loyalty is appreciated. The good news is I have more time to write lately. The bad news is I have two stories going now! .....As usual, your reviews and comments are so appreciated!
"The Lion"
"What IS that?" Jason grunted as he shut the front door. A startled Spinelli and guest jumped but only turned their heads for a second. He put away his side arm waiting for them to find their tongues.
"Master, this," Spinelli tried explained, between intense clicks on a wireless controller, "is The Jackal's new monitor on which to display- OH No No!- um, his die- diversions."
Spin struggled with his proclivity for etiquette but couldn't take his eyes off the screen for more than a second.
"Yeah, we are," Jude suddenly stood frantically aiming her controller while raising her voice, "battling BoJa Drones! Die you vacuous mesh of circuitry!!! DIE!!"
Spin jumped up aside Jude to do battle. Standing they were still dwarfed by the giant flat screen. The couch was pushed as far back as they could and still seemed too close. She took one leap up and stood on the couch. Each wore some form of battle armor, if only Jason's flack jackets.
The gamers grew more and more excited as Jason tried to take it all in. He was still tense from having to leave Elizabeth at the Metro Court. It was safer for everyone if Jason left, he just didn't want to. His skin refused to stop vibrating where she'd touched him. As for Carly, his best friend was still alive only because the enforcer didn't run into her on his way out.
The whole drive home he tried reorienting himself by focusing on the clue Maxie provided via Spinelli. Bernie and Diane were researching it. His roommate could probably dig up all kinds of confidential information on Equinox but Jason was trying to keep the kid from getting too involved. He'd first see what his corporate team could dig up.
With a loud whoop and giant sigh the two gamers plopped on the couch and sprawled out.
"Wow. That was fierce. This game ROCKS." Jude proclaimed.
"Master?" Spin turned his head to look behind him.
Jason hung his jacket where the woman who came twice a week would pick it up. Spin had yet to meet her officially after all this time but he was convinced she existed. Next Tuesday he knew he'd find the same jacket hanging with a dry cleaning cover over it.
Jason was intent on his thoughts moving from closet to desk where he tossed his keys. He kept referring to his cell.
Noticing his Masters furrowed brow, "Does he seem irritated to you?" the Grasshopper whispered to his new friend. She shrugged. He spoke louder to get Jason's attention. "If the enormity of the screen displeases you I can try getting it into my room?"
"It's alright." Jason said already forgetting about it. He was struggling to turn his thoughts. Some part of him remained in that wine cellar and he couldn't wrench it away.
"Why do you keep looking at your cell?"
"Am I?"
"Yes you are." Jude validated with a smile.
"Just checking the time."
"What time is it Master."
Feeling goaded Jason looked up, "Time to get back to your game."
The gamers looked at each other and shrugged; doing as they were told each pick up their controller.
Jason took the stairs to his room two at a time. He jumped in the shower. Water streamed down his body cleansing everything but the thoughts in his head. He should be getting some rest but he felt compelled to wait for the picture showing Elizabeth was home and safe. He should be debriefing Cody again but he was too distracted. He hated distraction.
It felt good to run a sponge across his hard muscle. Maybe he'd get up early and workout. He liked that his body was toned and strong. It's the only real tool he has besides his mind. Rinsing the soap from his chest it was Elizabeth's touch he still felt. Jason had experienced this kind of passion before when they had their affair but this time was so much more intense. There was commitment behind it. The future was still unsure but they were at least trying for one together. It seemed no matter what Elizabeth was finally choosing him and that made him feel strong. He leaned on it to get focus.
Shutting off the faucet Jason stepped out dripping onto the mat. The mirror had fogged up but the warm glow of his form still reflected back at him. He didn't need to ask himself again what he wanted. He knew.
"Is he OK?" Jude asked after they'd vaporized another legion of vile BoJas.
"Things have not been flowing per the customary routine these dark days. Stone Cold is under a lot of pressure and I am afraid his heart is taking the brunt of it."
"Can we help him? I felt kinda bad, he looked worried."
"Alas I wish it were possible."
"I could dress up again?"
At the offer Spinelli fell silent. He pictured his buddy in that low cut, tight-fitting red dress and blushed to its near identical shade of crimson glory.
***
Alejandro felt Detective Spencer's eyes bore into his back the whole time he had Elizabeth on the dance floor. It made him hold her closer, it caused him to press his hand into the small of her back bringing his pelvis flatter against hers, and it made him feel superior. Who cared if in the end she only gave him a peck on the cheek as they said goodnight. It was enough to know he drove her ex husband insane with jealousy. OK, maybe not insane, but he was clearly bothered. It didn't escape Spencer's date either. The brunette's dark eyes only grew darker the less Spenser paid her any attention.
Somehow the slight conquest helped Lake loosen up and forget how angry he was. His gut told him he'd missed something in California but what? All he had was a shirt. While moving Elizabeth around the dance floor they reminiscing about the movie, the game of pool, the cliff restaurant, anything to get her talking and maybe slip up. Boldly Lake even whispered in her ear asking if she still had that sexy cowboy shirt. He got nothing but the feel of her cheek puffing against his pectoral muscle as she smiled.
Lucky fumed seeing Lake press his lips against Elizabeth's ear. Her smile and blush only pushed Spencer more. Maybe Ali's dance floor interrogation was fruitless as far as the operation was concerned but his ego got some thing out of it. Passing the detective's table Ali tossed him a wink milking it for all it was worth.
The plain manila envelope for 'Mr. Lake' waited patiently at the front desk of the Metro Court. He collected it heading straight for his room. Shedding his clothes down to his Diesel briefs Lake sat his lean bronze body on the bed with his laptop next to him. The DVD slid into place and the computer whirled. He tapped the empty envelope anxiously waiting for a picture to emerge.
***
As the people of Port Charles nodded off to dream the city tucked its massive arms under its collective chins and closed its many eyes along with them. Each wink, a day as the city naps like a lazy lion after a kill. People go about their daily lives while the city dreams up its next chapter. Everyone who had a stake in the game digested their clues like meat rotting in the lion's belly. Sonny, Jason, Lucky, Lake, Raynor, Sam, Anthony all turn over there facts and plots hoping the acidic juices would break something loose or give them a hint about what's next, if not, at least some kind of gastronomic relief. It's as if everyone awaits the beast to awaken hungry again before they can be called into action.
Jason has the most success cutting through the fog. During the quiet wintery week he worked diligently with his team. Equinox is discovered to be a front for a facility doing work for the government. Set up to appear as a cancer research laboratory, it looks as if the chemicals they deal with would cause cancer, not cure it. Over the last week doctors Drake and Scorpio-Drake took the mantle of heroes. Spinelli had the bright idea to go to Robin with what Bernie and Diane dug up. For Jason, Robin accepted the challenge. The young doctor pooled her plentiful resources and concluded Equinox was definitely a front. They didn't know for what yet but they did know, despite its government affiliations, the company was not on the up and up.
The mysterious agent who shadowed Raynor for a few days and gave them their Equinox clue hadn't resurfaced. Even with no new intel on him it nagged at Jason's instincts enough to keep his men and women focused on the ghost. He expanded their fact-finding reaching as far as DC where rumblings of something big still came down the pike.
Jerry Jack's warning was never far from Jason's thoughts but he couldn't ignore the Feds. He was starting to fear Raynor's desperation. The agent went so far as to arrest Spinelli. Jason resisted the impulse to storm the FBI on Spin's behalf. The last thing he needed was Raynor cornering him with an ultimatum regarding Sonny. Diane had Spinelli released the very same day. The agents probably felt as if they had been stormed anyway. Having Diane flanked by Maxie, Jude and Sam all showing up to demand The Jackal's immediate release probably felt like Hurricane Mama Bear rolled over them.
Agent Lake was at headquarters that day. He had to hide in an office till the brood left. He was taking a break after days spent days with the DVD. Over and over he watched the events around the tower that evening. Jason Morgan went in. Jason Morgan came out. The guy wearing the western shirt went in but he did not come out. He was nobody. A dock hand probably moonlighting as a construction worker, he was certainly built like one. He must have just left a lot later. Some how they'd missed it. But then how did that shirt find its way to California?
The agents assigned to pick up James a.k.a. Jimmy (last name unknown) came back empty handed. Dock workers said he'd proposed to his gal and they were on their honeymoon. Jimmy was all they knew him by and since Lake instructed the agents not to ask too many questions they didn't press. Ali didn't want to give himself away to Morgan just in case he was on to something.
For now James and the western shirt were a dead end.
Big Joe never thought to check if someone else was watching Webber. If he had everything he watched for might have been different. As it was he simply noted her comings and goings found her most vulnerable times and reported them to Zacharra. Joe had no illusions about his surveillance skills. He knew it wasn't his specialty. He was too literal for that kind of work. It was easier to bribe someone for her schedule. It only cost him twenty bucks to get a kid in her neighborhood to tell him when she got home. He knew how long it took her to get from work to her house, when she was most likely to be alone and who her friends were.
Elizabeth's guards noticed Big Joe however. They knew who he was but Joe only surfaced a couple of times at the hospital. Couldn't be sure why he was there. Was it a coincidence he was seen on Elizabeth's floor? Could he be running an errand for Anthony, had own appointment, scouting security for an appointment his boss had? Big Joe's presences was noted between the guards and reported to Francesco who decided not to burden Jason with yet.
Elizabeth, Cameron and Jake- the pictures came to Jason's cell like clockwork. She'd met with Agent Lake twice since that night. There was one picture of her taking a coffee break with Dr. Hunter. Each time they came through he looked at them for no more than three seconds then deleted them. It was a rule he broke only once. He stayed on picture of Elizabeth in workout attire, her hoodie zipped up tight keeping out the cold, going into an unmarked building. He thought he recognized the structure but wasn't sure. It took five seconds to memorize every detail his damaged brain could before deleting it.
***
Nurse Webber's week seemed to float on some kind of plane that rose a few inches off the ground and never hit a bump. Jason was the cake but her diet didn't seem to include it so she was enjoying the frosting instead. Ali was spoiling her with roses and luncheons. Matt kept giving her dreamy eyes. He was kind of cute after all so that didn't hurt. Lucky offered to do her any kind of favor she needed from unstopping a drain to watching the boys.
In place of Jason she had her guards. When Elizabeth would spot an elusive sentinel she'd know her lover was watching through their eyes. She wished she knew when the pictures would be taken so she could be sure to smile or look relaxed so he wouldn't worry.
Her best nights were two sessions with Francesco. She dropped the boys with Lucky and met him at his nondescript warehouse cum dojo. He barely said a word when she contacted him initially. His directions were cryptic but got her to the blank faced, under lit building. She wore form fitting gym clothes and didn't bother with a purse.
Fran timed it so he would be taking over guard duty an hour before their scheduled meeting. He found her to be an impressive student. She wasn't completely green which pleased him but General Hospital's self-dense classes only showed her 'polite' ways of defending herself. He was there to show her how to stay alive.
"Ok. The strike areas: Again."
She took a moment to catch her breath and wipe away sweat. Fran kept the building dark and warm. Suddenly lunging at him, Elizabeth called each shot. As she did they did an almost dance spinning and connecting. It wasn't graceful like Capoeira, it was raw and bruising but practical. She narrates each maneuver on Francesco as plays the part of attacker.
"GROIN: strikes to the groin using the," kicking at him, "knee and shin. Hammer Strike: if the attacker surprises me from behind." Francesco wrapped his arms around her. Exerting force using her forearms she breaks his hold. Spinning back to face him, "Face: eye gouge- using thumb, nails - scratching the face from forehead all the way down passed the eyes. Ears: grabbing the attacker's ear and tearing them off by pulling as hard as I can." Lizzie shows him where she would grab the upper portion and pull downwards with all her force.
They were starting on their third hour on their second session. Elizabeth was exhausted, soaked through with sweat, her shirt clinging to her; Fran's gi still completely unruffled and cinched comfortably at his waist.
"MORE." Francesco demanded. Even though he didn't raise his voice it felt like a yell.
Sucking in some air she bellowed, "Pinkie-finger:" he grabbed her thin neck, "If the attacker has me by the throat I wrap my fingers around their pinkie and pull back as hard as I can." Holding Fran's fingers she cringed a little imagining the sound of snapping tendons, "its one of the weakest muscles in the body and will brake with very little pressure."
"Excellent. Now tell me some of the items that can be used during an attack."
Shaking out her arms and legs, Elizabeth recalls what she's learned, "Keys: hold them with the longest key sticking out from in between my index and middle fingers. Use them to strike to the eyes and throat." Stretching the heated muscles in her legs as she continues, "Heels: If an attacker has wrapped his arms around me from behind, I stomp my heel as hard as I can centre mass of the attacker's foot directly above the toes."
"I'm going to get you some pepper spray. I'll make sure it's the right kind and teach you how to use it so you don't get blow-back."
"There is one more strike."
"Yes?"
When he taught her this before her self-conscious inhibited her. But she felt ready tonight, "NOISE: Scream and make as much noise as possible to attract others who may help." Elizabeth followed the statement with a roar that reverberated off the walls.
His lips curled. For Francesco it was as close to a laugh as he got. Fran was proud. He put his arms behind his back and looked her over. Lizzie couldn't help but grin back at him.
"Come, we'll have tea."
The room was mostly shadows so she followed him closely to another room only pausing to grab a cotton towel he'd set out for her. He liked his students to feel the threat of what might be lurking in darkness. Attacks at night meant ones vision will be impaired so Fran simulated it in training.
He opened a paper scrim to an area lit a bit more brightly with bamboo and paper lamps. There were mats to sit on but no chairs. She didn't see one item of décor. It was as sparse as an empty warehouse yet felt like a living, breathing space.
The teapot he served from was small and heavy. Where it came from she had no idea. He probably kept orphans in the back to serve him, she joked to herself. The aroma from the oat straw tea nourished her. She cupped the tiny vessel he'd filled for her between her palms. The texture of the teacup felt chiseled, like it was made of metal not clay. Taking a sip she waited for her teacher to speak first. Probably too many kung fu movies made her believe that was proper etiquette in a dojo with one's master.
Time passed silently. Finally draining the cup of tea, Fran set it down on the shaved wood tray. Elizabeth automatically picked up the teapot to refill his cup. He nodded his approval. A small cough to warm up his voice, Fran took a breath and started to speak. His voice was low and clear.
"You must mentally prepare yourself as much, if not more so, than your body. It will take constant practice and repetition of these moves to make them a reflex but for now you can prepare your mind. See your attacker as coming after your children, not you. This will push the fear back and allow you to do harm to another human being. Once you have removed yourself from the equation and replaced it with something of greater importance you forget about being harmed and will act far more aggressively and with much less fear."
She nodded her understanding and set her cup down. Her sharp blue eyes caught his, "Like a mama lion."
***
In the heart if DC Dante Falconari felt like a lone wolf on the tundra. He'd never felt so isolated and exposed before. Day in and day out he followed his mark. The man Dante was supposed to be protecting never did as he was told leaving the agent playing catch up instead of being a step ahead. He was afraid to tell Raynor everything was NOT in control. Raynor was counting on him. This was the first big pay day he was taking a lead role in. He had to project confidence.
At least the last days had been quite. Earl Bragg finally showed up. Working in tandem made DC a little bit more manageable. He was sure they could keep the exchange contained even with their corporate no-brain target's arrogance messing up their security detail. Once this phase was complete and Bragg had the asset in hand the hard part would start. All they had to do was get it though Corinthos' territory, aboard the ship in Port Charles and they'd earn their money.
Port Charles.
How could one little harbor town be so much trouble? The Corinthos organization was unique. They had a stronghold on the piers and that was priceless. Their operation was profitable enough to stick to a no-drug policy. No drugs meant manageable people. It was hard for Falconari to find thugs dumb enough to be hired by an outsider but he found some.
The Rowen brothers were perfect. They'd rolled into Port Charles looking to get in with Zacchara. They were too dumb to find out the score first. Rejected by Zachara the brother's were broke. Their only marketable skill being extortion made them prime for Dante's scheme. He didn't need them to be completely reliable. He wanted them to botch the job after all. The Rowen brothers knew they were kidnapping someone but didn't realize it was to get Morgan's attention.
With Morgan thrown off his and Raynor's scent it would be easier for Bragg to get the asset through Corinthos' territory. After Raynor arrested that kid Spinelli and Morgan didn't show, they knew the kid wasn't strong enough bait. It was going to be the girl, Webber. The Rowen's had her picture and schedule. They were just waiting for the man in black's call.
Port Charles.
He hoped the city was ready for him when the time came. It was quite now but Dante knew in his gut if things went wrong it could get bloody. Like poking a hungry tiger with a sharp stick, no telling if they would all survive. There were too many variables for him to plan for with such a small crew. Even if things went smoothly he doubted in the aftermath the tiger wouldn't still poke back. It was just a question of who's blood would the tiger be licking off its mighty incisors?
Continued….
(note to those who don't know *wink*: BOJA (referenced in the beginning of this chapter) stands for: Boil On Jason's Ass. It's a pet name my friends a.k.a The Cream Team, have for a character on GH.)