The greatest weakness of all is the great fear of appearing weak. Jacques Benigne Bossuel

Max was officially a dead man.

There was no mistaking the lethal gleam in Jason's eyes when he shot the man a murderous look before returning his attention back to the very agitated woman he still firmly had grasped in his clutch.

" Um, I can, um, come back." Max rambled nervously. " If you ah, want me to."

Neither Jason nor Elizabeth acknowledged that they had heard him.

Max's feet were moving backward and he bumped into the hallway wall before staggering in the direction of the front door. " I'll just get her, uh, stuff then."

" Do that." Jason murmured, his eyes seemed to be stuck in place, on the girl Elizabeth. They never left hers, never wandered an inch off her face. Max couldn't decipher whether his boss was angry with her or not, but judging by the extreme effort for control that was cutting across the man's face, something was definitely up.

The bodyguard's short interruption spurred Elizabeth's actions, breaking the spell Jason had had over her. She didn't fight, knowing it was useless against his massive strength, but there were other fears besides Jason's physical closeness that scared her.

" Talk to me."

And that was it.

The way he could read her. It was like he could sense her vulnerability, sniff her out, and know which button to push to crack the impenetrable wall she had taken years to forge.

When she was fighting him, the pull to give in to him was easier to ignore. She could argue back and somewhere between their bickering and anger her feelings would be forgotten. But when his voice got all soft and warm, like now, like a cloak of heat was being laid over her body, she couldn't think clearly, couldn't respond the way she wanted to.

Ten seconds ago he looked like he wanted to bite her head off. Now he was sucking all her strength away with just one melting plea.

" Why is he here?" She tugged at his hold and was startled when he released her, making her trip a step back.

Using her clumsiness to her advantage, Elizabeth slid further away, leaning her hip onto the stove and failing at her attempt at casualty. She switched the stove off, her eggs already rubbery and ruined for her taste.

Jason couldn't help but watch her under hooded eyes, licking his lips, swallowing, wondering what she was thinking. She had that closed off look again in her eyes. He had lost whatever small gain he had made with her.

Fuckin Max.

Part of him was thankful for the interruption. Jason didn't doubt that if Max hadn't bulldozed in the house in that very second he would have definitely kissed her, would still be kissing her now.

He hadn't planned on kissing her, it wasn't even something he let himself dwell on for too long considering the circumstances between them. But he would have and that scared him more than anything. The knowledge that that feeling, that urge, could jump on him without warning, gave the temptation to take her a strength incomparable. Like that sneaky overpowering under toe he always seemed to experience around her.

He knew his actions were unacceptable. He wouldn't deny how irresponsible he was being. This wasn't like him. He was stronger than this. He wasn't trying to tease himself, test how strong his will was. Jason wasn't there to confuse her or himself for that matter. He really was curious of why she became a mute sometimes, why she closed herself off from the rest of the world, and why, even though he knew the truth, she didn't trust him.

For some ungodly reason, he had to hear the words from her mouth. Maybe if he did he would be set free from this caging attraction that seemed to deepen and grow with each passing minute. If he could hear how much he disgusted her, how someone like him made her pristine skin crawl, maybe this imprisonment he was in would finally end.

The single conclusive thought jump started his mouth.

" Because I asked him. Don't change the subject."

Dumping the pan in the sink, Elizabeth ran it under the hot water. She shrugged her shoulders, her words occupied by her present actions. " I'm not."

" Don't lie."

Slicing the knob down, she grabbed the towel next to the sink and rigorously began washing her hands. " Lying is one of your specialties. Don't stand there and talk to me about it."

Unhindered by the words that were clearly delivered to wound, Jason continued. " Keeping things secret is part of my job. Lying to yourself." He waited until she looked up, made some sort of eye contact with him. "What you're doing right now is different. You're only hurting yourself."

" Thanks," she replied in a dry tone that reeked contradictory to her words. " Buts that's a risk I'll take if my only option is you."

Jason was never a man who liked to mince words so he went straight for his own jugular. " You don't trust me."

" No I don't." There was no mistaking the flurry of emotion that cascaded underneath her affirming statement.

" Fair enough." His voice echoed hollow between them. " I'm sorry. For the pain I caused you."

Ignoring the spark of an ache she thought she saw flash in him, she decided to try her odds. " Does that mean I can go home now? I miss my family."

Jason nodded, his tone cautious and quiet. " As soon as it can be arranged, you'll be free of this…of me."

" Okay." She answered absently, refusing to make eye contact even though his body and hard glare was demanding her attention.

" Good."

His sullen face transported to her, coursing through the air around her like a tangible wave. " I think I'm going to get some sleep."

Jason wavered a beat than spoke. " Wait."

Max entered again, two suitcases in either hand, two small bags crammed under his arms. He didn't stop for a detour of the kitchen again. Elizabeth wasn't sure where he went but he never returned.

" I'm leaving."

She paused, squinting her eyes at his announcement." Leaving."

" Yeah," he scratched at the middle of his chest, leaving a red mark. " I have to make an appearance. With Sonny."

She hadn't realized he was shirtless till that moment. Remembering his gunshot wound her eyes darted to his side. " Oh."

He followed her gaze. " Shouldn't be more than a few days."

Her stare immediately jumped to his face, her skin blazing hot. " So, I'll be here with…"

" Max." He supplied unthinkingly. "He's a nice guy. He'll take care of you."

" What if something goes wrong."

The fear in her voice wrapped around him, made him want to physically reassure her, whatever way possible to end the timidity that always crept it's way inside her. But instead he stepped closer and did what little he could to subside her worry.

" It wont. Trust m-" He sighed, closing his eyes and fisting his hand at his side. " I know you don't trust me, but I'm trying to take care of you. I'll make this right."

" Okay." She wiped her hands down her jeans. " Is that it?"

" No." He came forward, cornering her between the sink and the stove. " Listen to what Max says. He reports back to me so if you get out of hand-"

Her chin rose, along with the temperature in her face. " I get it."

He had triggered her temper, inadvertently. The fact both bothered and aroused him more than he was willing to admit. " If you do need anything…"

" I can't take care of myself." She cut through.

" I know you can, but that's not the point." He pinned her with hard appraising glare. "Elizabeth."

" I will." She vowed, her voice rising. When he didn't appear pacified, she gathered all the leftover strength she had and reciprocated his look. " I promise."

He abandoned eye contact first this time, bowing his head to the side, seemingly satisfied. " Okay."

He was walking away, his shoulders slightly slumped and before she could restrain herself she was calling out his name.

" Jason?" she said on a whispery gasp.

He didn't turn but he stopped. " Yeah."

" Are you…" She searched for words that her brain was in short supply of at the moment. " Does your side still hurt?"

He slid her a sideways glance, his reaction impervious as he scrutinized her. " No," he finally replied on a slight smile. When his eyes met hers again they were soft but stern in their icy blue warning. " Be careful."

The small rise of panic that entered from his subtle cautioning was not for herself, but for him. " You too."

The realization alone frightened her beyond explanation, but there was nothing she could do. She was helpless, out of her league, and nothing she was doing or saying made any sense.

She was watching Jason leave the room, knowing she wasn't going to see him and she waited for the elation, for the joy to overcome her. But when all she experienced was an empty sad feeling in the pit of her stomach, she decided it was time to stop. Stop thinking, stop pretending to figure out what was going on in her wacky brain. These circumstances didn't define who she was or what she felt. She just had to bide her time, get through this and then everything would go back to normal. The way it should be.

Elizabeth found the soaking pan in the drain board and flipped it between her hands. Eggs were a good start.

8

She woke up hours later. The darkness of the night eerie, like she was waking up in a black hole.

Strange surroundings were frightening enough, but in the dark, fears amplified into nightmarish possibilities when there was nothing to rely on, no familiarity, no one but yourself. Considering her unique situation, the room, the silence, the feel of her bare feet against the cold tile of the small foreign hallway, Elizabeth was surprised she hadn't had a heart attack by now.

There was little she could say or do that could comfort her. In fact the very conditions she lived in propelled her terror into overtime.

The rest of the house was dark, the moon casting slit shadows on the soft gray living room rug. She found herself walking to the back of the room, staring out at the large overwhelming windows, taking in the beauty of the woodsy ambiance in nightfall.

The view was spectacular and seemed to calm her split nerves, soothing the ascending panic that tended to come and go on its' own accord.

Her attic window was like a mouse hole compared this scenic dreamy woodland fairytale. There was a small drift of fog peeking between the trees. The sprinkle of stars in the sky splayed before her like glittering diamonds. The trees were mere shadows, leafy shapes and trunks, the only visible parts in the darkness.

All that was left to finish off the perfect picture was some enchanted fairy godmother riding on her white magical carriage with the sheer purpose to come and save her. Take her with her, take her away from this hell and the tricks her feelings were trying to play on her.

" You need anything?"

She was surprised she didn't jump. After all she had forgotten he was going to be her replacement babysitter. " No. No thanks." She hurried her reply.

" Well" he shrugged, sheepishly. "I'll be in Jason's room over there if you do."

She frowned at him." Jason left."

" Uh yeah. He went into say goodbye but you were already asleep."

The news shouldn't have been a shock, but she reacted inside like it was one. She should be happy he was gone, but she wasn't. She should be mad he was looking in on her, but she felt anything but mad. But all she could muster up to say was, " Oh."

" Don't worry." He caught her eye, smiling gently at her as if he was waiting for her to fall to pieces in front of him. " He'll be back soon.

She shook him off, her attention back on the dark world outside. " It doesn't matter."

" Okay…well…"

"I'm going for a walk," she announced with a determined air.

He stepped a bit towards her, not sure he had heard her correctly. He stumbled on the small step between the two rooms. " Not a good idea Miss Elizabeth."

Her brow corked up, but the rest of her remained in place. " Miss?"

Max's throat clearing resonated like a cranky bear being pulled out of hibernation. When he finally finished he was red from exertion. " Jason told me to be respectful." He hesitated, " Ma'am?"

She smiled despite herself. " Elizabeth's fine."

" Either way," The hard edge of his tone was unavoidably clear, " I don't think it's a good idea."

" No offense but I didn't ask for your opinion," She matched his tone, the antsy claustrophobic pressing setting off her irritability faster than her head was spinning. " I'm taking a walk."

As she walked past the large brick fireplace in the middle of the room, she noticed several books piled together. Catching their titles as she passed she realized they were biographies on some of her favorite artist and writers. Descartes, Michangelo, Poe and Hemingway.

" What's this?"

Max came to stand by her. " It was in the van." He sounded as clueless as she felt. When she looked up to him for an answer he offered her a shrug and a polite apologetic grin.

"He forgot to give it to you before he left. That's all I -"

Her mouth opened for several seconds before she actually said anything." How did he know-"

" I don't know." Max admitted genuinely. " Do you like them?"

" Yeah," she shook her head, wiping the emotion off her face in one sniffle and swipe of her hand across her cheek. "Yeah they're fine."

She settled the book back to where it was, laying it on top of the rest, and backing away from the stack like they were about to eat her alive. She hurried even faster towards the door. " I gotta go." And she was out of the house before Max could say otherwise. He stood there, feeling as if he had missed a big something. Man, he really hated having to play catch up. He was going to kill Jason.

8

The penthouse was barely lit when Jason entered. There were a few candles, one on the ornate dinning room table, another on his desk, and one near the dwindling fire that appeared ready to die out any second.

Jason took in the dreary living room, stepping in, and closing the door behind him. When he began to proceed further into the room, he heard something crunch underneath his boots. He couldn't make out what it was but it looked like the glass vase that used to be perfectly placed on the fireplace mantle. The decorative piece was one of Sonny's favorite small possessions, not to mention one of his more high priced pieces.

Moving tentatively deeper into the room, the dim lighting finally gave him some use. His eyes scanned the couch, found Sonny slumped over, partially sitting, partially lying down.

Jason sighed into the darkness.

Ritchie had said he had been like this for the past few days. He had presumed that when he came back it would stop, just like it always did, but it didn't. Sonny was worse than ever. Volatile, self destructive, Ritchie said he had been flying off the handle more than usual.

Jason could guess why.

Throwing his jacket on to the desk behind him, Jason stood there, taking in the not so unfamiliar setting and shook his head wearily.

He was so fucking beat right now. All he wanted to do was check in, get a good eight hours of sleep if his body would let him, and get so normalcy back into his life. Lift some boxes, make some stops for Sonny, get drunk, get laid, anything to make him feel like before.

He made his way over to the wall, flipped the switch on. The stark arrival of light made his eyes squint as they traveled back to the couch and waited. He watched, waiting, knowing any second his boss would start murmuring curses for he was being forced to join the living.

Jason saw his body stir for a few minutes before he slowly dragged his body up from its sleeping position. Rubbing his eyes, Sonny yawned, arching his back which had to hurt from the awkward sleeping position he had been in. It took several more seconds before he looked lucid enough to recognize his surrounding, to even realize Jason was there.

Ritchie was right. He looked horrible. Worse than any other time before. His eyes were drooped, three layers of lines bagged with tiredness. His hair was scruffy and wild, on his face, his hair. His skin was pale and off colored like he hadn't seen sunlight in weeks. He looked like a diseased man on the verge of meeting death.

" Hey man." Sonny's unused rough voice wiped Jason's morbid observations away.

Sonny liked to do this. Sometimes weeks, months, would go by and he would okay. No outbursts, no severe mood swings, but then Jason would leave or go on a job, take some time off, and Sonny would lose it. Trash his place, cut himself when it got really bad. He wouldn't clean, eat, nothing that involved participating in the daily activities of real life.

His behavior freaked the rest of the men out. Jason, for some reason, was the only one who could calm him down, get him to act like his old charming self. Jason really didn't do much. Listen, clean up, fix him something to eat and then after a few hours Sonny would be himself again. Jason wasn't sure what brought him back. He was just glad he was Sonny again, ready to go to work and be the ruthless cunning business man Jason had known him as for years.

Forcing his feet to walk toward the older man, Jason gave him a one second tight smile.

" Hey."

"What took you so long man. I know you like to get some air, but I've been dying here." Sonny rubbed the tip of his nose, leaning back into the seat, and taking a greedy breath like it had been his first in days.

" I had things I needed to do." Jason gave him a noncommittal answer, knowing Sonny wasn't really searching for specifics.

Sonny eyed the nearly dead fire, shaking his head. " You alright. I mean after everything…"

He wasn't himself yet. Jason could tell. The man sounded like he was a million miles away, so far gone from where he was. " Part of the job," he whispered, preoccupied with the strange fogginess around Sonny that usually began lifting the minute they started conversing.

" Part of the job," he mimicked, " Stop it, you know that's bullshit."

Jason tensed.

" I know you man. I know you better than you know yourself. You don't like to feel because it complicates things."

Jason shrugged. " Yeah, so."

" But its not that you can't feel," he waved his hand in the air, brushing the hair from his eyes, "you're just better at controlling your emotions than everybody else. You got a heart. I saw it."

Jason continued staring into the fireplace, a spark of a flame holding his sole attention.

Sonny was watching him, digging past his friend's trademark stone mask. " Admit it. That girl got to you."

Exasperated, Jason eyed him. " Sonny."

" Come on. I've never seen that before. I mean you're fucking heartless bastard most of the time. You treat woman like shit worse than me. You never commit to anything or anyone. You're probably the most selfish guy in the world besides for myself."

" Maybe." Jason admitted in a hushed voice.

" Maybe he says." Sonny grumbled, chuckling under his breath. " Did you fuck her?"

Unresponsive as he knew he would be, Sonny smiled slyly in his friend's direction, noting how the edges of his features hardened. " You did, you dog. You fucked her. Oh man. I mean, I knew you were hard up and all, but she's a freakin kid. You could have at least waited till you got home. I'm sure that chick at O'Malleys would have screwed your fucking brains out, no problem."

He was testing him. Jason didn't have to have a goddamn degree to see it.

When it came to matters of the heart, Sonny was downright psychologically crafty. Testing, always testing. He knew the way to a man's motives was through his mind. How he thought, spoke, approached every subject, these subtleties were what told a person everything they needed to know about the other. He paid more attention than people gave him credit for and that was always their first mistake with Sonny. Never underestimate him, no matter what condition he was in. The wheels inside his head were always turning. Jason bet even in sleep.

Sonny always said if you knew where a man's heart lied, you knew where his loyalties lied as well.

Jason brushed off his jeans, hoping the subject of Elizabeth was closed once and for all. " Let me make get you something to eat."

Head falling back onto the couch, Sonny sighed harshly. " Man, listen, you can talk to me."

Jason was heading toward the kitchen." Go take a shower."

It took a couple of seconds but Sonny got up, stretching like he had been in the sitting position ever since he left. " You're back for good right."

Pausing in the threshold of the two rooms Jason turned. " No," he said in a matter of fact way.

Sonny's lethargic manner quickly disintegrated." What you mean no? I need you."

" I'm taking off for a while. Not too long."

" Jason," He spit his name out like a curse. " I need you."

Ignoring his boss's usual rise of anger, Jason returned his angry words with his own placated unperturbed ones. " It's not for good. Just for a few weeks."

" I don't like it." He bluntly responded, walking around the couch. " Do the guys know about this?"

" They have nothing to do with this."

" Ritchie!" Sonny bellowed. Ritchie was making his in the room before the last syllable of his name was out.

" Yeah boss," he skittered an anxious look between the two men.

" Did you know about this? About Jason leaving?" he interrogated mercilessly, not wasting a second to jump down the man's throat.

Jason came between the two, his back to Ritchie. " Ritchie's got nothing to do with this."

" Answer the question!" Sonny's black glare was centered on the meager bodyguard, stripping away his useless defenses. " Did you know-"

" No Sir. Not at all," the body guard voice cracked in between his explanation. " Jason and I don't talk about things that are none of my business."

" Is that right?" Sonny moved closer.

" Sonny." Jason placed a hand on his shoulder when he saw Sonny step closer. " Leave him alone."

Sonny's hands came up, his mood shifting again, his face lighting up as if he was being caught off guard. " You always were a sucker for a weakling."

Jason didn't return his sentiment, turning his head halfway. " Go Ritchie."

Ritchie left without another word. Jason and Sonny continued to stare at one another, neither of them backing down.

The door clicked and Jason didn't waste time hedging around Sonny's unpredictable mood." What's wrong with you?"

Sonny didn't conceal the suspiciousness that sneaked up in his own question. " I could ask you the same. When did you become Ritchie's big defender?"

Jason didn't like his loyalty being questioned from anyone, but he also had to consider the situation. When Sonny acted like this anything, including his loyalty was up for question. " He didn't do anything."

Sonny scoffed, snickering in a way that made his nostrils curl. " Ritchie's a little bitch. I was just playing around."

Staring the man down, Jason spoke without forethought." Just leave it be."

Sonny backed away, nearing the stairs that led to his room. He pushed out a large swoosh of breath, shrugging defeatingly. " Whatever. I'm going to shower."

Nodding, Jason continued to watch him.

" Make me something, okay?"

" Yeah."

Jason found his way to the kitchen just as Sonny paused in the middle of the grand staircase. He eyed the kitchen entrance then the door of penthouse, the wheels in his head, turning anew for the first time in a few days. Yep, something was up. Something was definitely up.