A/N – Thanks as always for all of the reviews. I do really appreciate your comments. Plus, you guys always make me smile! Beckyfan1999 – I want you to feel for Johnny. He has a big heart. I think you'll feel for him even more after this chapter. GeorgieGirl75 – I have a feeling you guys all want me to continue with the story. So, I'll do that so Anthony and Claudia can be brought to justice.

Chapter 25 - Confessions

Johnny sighed and held Liz's hand.

"Hey beautiful, I have so much to say to you. I'm so sorry that he did this to you. And I'm even more sorry that I couldn't save you from it all. I want you to know that you were my heart. I know that you cared about me and I have to admit it, I love you Elizabeth. You still are everything to me." He stopped and tried to take some deep breaths. "I never thought that I'd ever feel like this. But, you dropped into my life and have forever changed me. I know you still love Jason. And I've tried so hard to make you forget about him. That is why I have to leave. You need to go back to him and either be with him or get some closure. I just want you to be happy." He laughed through his tears. "Of course, I wish you were happy with me, but we both know that in the end, that probably wasn't going to happen. So, I'm letting you go. I don't want you to feel bad. You were always honest with me. And I never once felt like you were using me or didn't have genuine feelings."

He stood up and kissed her forehead. "I will come back some day to check on you. But, for now, I'm saying goodbye my love."

He cried hard for a moment and then got himself together. He walked towards the door.

Felix was standing in the hallway and closed the app he had open. He had heard everything he said. He quickly walked away when he heard Johnny move towards the door.

Johnny took one more look at her and walked out.

The next morning, Jason was able to sit up and his head was feeling much clearer. Patrick came in to see him and said he wanted Jason to try to get up and walk.

"Can I make it to Liz's room?" He asked.

Patrick smiled. "Yes, it's just around the corner. Let me get a nurse."

Felix came back into the room and got Jason to stand up. He helped him put on some pajama bottoms that Carly had brought for him and then had him hold onto the IV stand. He slowly walked out the door. "I feel like an old man."

Felix laughed. "You look like an old man."

Jason chuckled. "You don't have a very good bedside manner."

"Technically, we're not near a bed."

They finally turned the corner and Felix steered him towards Liz's room.

Jason's knees almost buckled when he saw the machines. Felix steadied him and led him into the room. He pushed over a comfortable chair and Jason sat down.

"I'll leave you two alone for a while. Yell if you need anything."

"Thanks." Jason said watching him leave. He turned back towards Liz and reached up and took her hand.

"Baby, I need you to wake up for me."

Jason stared at her. He felt the tears build up in his eyes. If she didn't wake up, he didn't know what he would do.

He sat there for about a half hour willing her to wake up. "Elizabeth, if you can hear me, I love you so much. Every time you walk into a room, I hold my breath. I live to love you. I don't think there is anything about you that I don't like. I love the way you bite your lip when you're deep in thought or want me. I love it when you are pissed and you get that look on your face like you're going to kill someone. I love it when you're klutzy and you trip, because then I can catch you. You make me feel again. I know I'm rambling." He chuckled. "Maybe I caught that from you. And I know I'm not always good with words. But, I want you back in life. I will never push you away like that again. Please come back to me. I don't think I could go on without you." He said wiping away his tears.

He sat there for a few more minutes before Felix came back to get him. "Patrick said I need to get you back to your room so you can rest."

Jason nodded. Felix stood him up and Jason grabbed her hand one more time. He looked over at Liz and touched her hair. "I love you." He said softly. He went to turn and thought he had caught a movement. He looked at Liz's face and her eyes were slightly opening and closing.

"Felix, do you see that?"

Felix walked to the side of the bed and looked. "Oh my God."

He picked up the phone and called the nursing station. "Page Patrick Drake right now I need him in Liz's room. And get a respiratory nurse in here."

Felix turned to Jason. "I have to get you out of here to make room."

Jason nodded. He kept talking to Liz to make sure she was calm.

Felix ran out into the hallway and grabbed a wheel chair and ran back in. Jason sat down and Felix took him around the corner to his room and got him settled in.

"Felix, please keep me updated."

"You got it."

Carly came walking in. "What's going on?"

"Liz is waking up."

"Oh my God, that is great."

"I was in there and noticed her eyelids were fluttering."

"So now, we wait." She said sitting down.

Jason nodded.

"How did it go with Johnny?"

"Good, we hashed everything out."

"I'm sure Liz will appreciate that."

"He's leaving town."

"Really?"

"I guess he feels like Liz chose me while we were in the warehouse. So, he's bowing out."

"But, Liz doesn't know?"

Jason shook his head no.

"She's going to be pissed."

Jason smiled. "Probably." But, he'd rather have her pissed then the alternative. She could be dead.

Felix came walking into the room. "She's awake, they just took the tube out and they are monitoring her."

Jason breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you Felix."

"She's asking for you."

"There is no way Patrick's going to let me out of this bed right now. Carly, can you go see her."

Carly nodded. "Sure, I'll be right back."

Carly followed Felix to Liz's room. She waited until a few nurses left the room and then she went inside.

Liz looked up at her and tried to talk.

"Shhh…don't talk. I'm sure your throat hurts."

Liz nodded yes.

"And I'm sure you want to know about Jason?"

She nodded. A few tears fell.

Carly grabbed her hand. "He's okay."

Liz closed her eyes for a minute and then re-opened them.

"They took the bullet out and he's resting. He was here earlier."

Liz smiled.

"Johnny was here too."

Liz nodded.

"He's okay as well. Just very worried about you."

"He here?" Liz said hoarsely.

"No, he just left."

She nodded.

"Jason will be back later. He's not allowed out of his bed until this evening."

Liz smiled.

Carly stood up. "You should get some rest."

Liz nodded.

Carly left the room and went back to Jason.

About 3 hours later, Felix came into Liz's room. "Hello sleeping beauty, how are you feeling?"

Liz smiled. "A little better." She said clearing her throat.

Felix grabbed some water and a straw and held it up for her.

"Johnny?"

Felix put his head down. "Johnny's gone Liz."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know if I should tell you this right now. You need rest."

She grabbed his hand. "Please Felix."

"I was about to come into your room and I heard Johnny inside. I had just been in Jason's room when they were talking and I got the impression that Johnny was going to leave without saying goodbye. So, I did the only thing a nosy friend could do and I pulled out my phone and recorded it. I figured you'd want to hear it when you were awake."

"Okay."

Felix pulled out his phone and in a few seconds pushed play. Liz quietly cried as she listened to Johnny pour out his feelings. And when he said that he loved her, Liz squeezed Felix's hand as she cried even harder. By the time Felix finished, she was a mess.

It took her a few minutes to calm down and then she quietly said, "Thank you for being nosy."

Carly wheeled Jason into the room. "What's going on?" He said looking at Liz wiping her eyes.

"Johnny is gone." Liz said quietly.

"I know. He came to talk to me."

"Can you guys leave us alone for a minute?" Liz asked.

Carly and Felix nodded. Felix pushed Jason closer to the bed and put the lock on the wheel chair.

"Why didn't he wait?" She said crying.

"Because he had made up his mind and seeing you was kind of like torture." Jason knew exactly how Johnny felt and he took no pleasure in it.

Liz wiped away her tears. "I don't want him to ever think that I don't care about him."

"He knows you do." Jason said softly.