.I do not own GH or the characters…..No copy write infringement intended…..

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Elizabeth sat in the rose garden with Georgie on a small concrete bench. The tension in the house had skyrocketed once Johnny had escorted her young friend in the sitting room and she'd wanted to get her away from the dark glares that Tracy and Lulu had been casting her way. She'd also caught the way Dillon watched Baylor with narrowed eyes. When Johnny joined O'Brien and Marco out front, Elizabeth suggested that they escape the less than welcoming members of the house. Now listening as Cam, Jake, and Baylor played in the expansive garden, Elizabeth tried to focus on anything to distract her from the worry eating at her.

Almost as if reading her mind, Georgie hugged her. "Johnny swore it was not bad. Jason's tough, Elizabeth, you know that."

"I do, but God, he was shot and they have no idea by whom." Torturing her lower lip with her teeth, she blinked back the moisture gathering. So far the boys had no clue that Jason had been injured and she wanted to keep it that way.

"They'll keep looking until they do. You're always telling me to trust them, now you need to follow your own advice," she admonished lightly. "Kelly's gonna hit the roof if your blood pressure goes back up."

Unconsciously resting her hands over her abdomen, she decided to follow Georgie's suggestion, knowing the woman would regret making it. "Okay, then you can tell me how things are going with Johnny and you. We haven't really talked that much in private for several days."

Georgie blushed and averted her eyes. "Good."

"Uh huh, spill!" she ordered after catching the reaction.

"You don't want to hear about us," she protested weakly. "Not with Jason being hurt and all."

Elizabeth grinned. "I knew it!"

Georgie shot a look in the direction of Logan and the kids. "Stop before I never hear the end of this," she hissed in embarrassment.

She grabbed her hand suddenly, causing Georgie's eyes to rise in surprise. Elizabeth read the conflicting emotions and wished she could say that she had not expected Georgie's turmoil, but in truth she had. Too much was still unsettled in the younger woman's life not to have doubts and insecurities haunting her ever decision. "Just be happy, Georgie. Don't look back years from now with regrets because you let guilt override what you need to be happy."

"I'm trying," she whispered. "What I feel when I'm with Johnny is unlike anything I've ever felt. It's like I am just consumed by him no matter how much I try to fight it. Love scares me. Only thing that it's ever resulted in is heartache and pain. But I do love him, Liz. I tried not to and I couldn't stop myself. But at the same time I'm terrified that my feelings for Diego will resurface when I see him face to face. Especially now that I know he didn't kill Leticia and Emily."

"You'll have to face that when it happens. But you also can't live life with 'what if's' looming over you." Elizabeth grimaced before adding, "There's a chance that you might not see Diego again. The guys haven't located him no matter how much they search. And if he truly cared about you, he wouldn't fault you for falling for John. People change and it's been almost three years, Georgie." When she shivered at those last few comments Elizabeth blinked at the way she bit her lip and apprehension briefly crossed her face. "What?"

"Nothing," she quickly denied.

"I don't buy you're afraid of nothing."

"Elizabeth."

Jumping from the bench and throwing herself into Jason's open arm, Elizabeth placed an enthusiastic kiss on his lips before scanning him for any injuries besides the other arm. Finding nothing she sagged in relief. "I was so worried!"

Pulling her as close as possible before squeezing her side lightly, Jason just held her. "It's going to take more than some sloppy handiwork to get me away from you and the boys. I'll be good as new before you know it."

Watching the other couple drawl strength and comfort from one another Georgie startled when a hand touched her shoulder. Turning, she released a groan. "Did you need something, Lulu?"

Careful to keep her face friendly even if she felt anything but, Lulu leaned closer so her voice didn't travel. "Enjoying your time as Johnny's wife? If you hadn't slept with that monster and given birth to his brat, you never would've stood a chance of snagging a man like him. Are you so desperate that his using you for control of the Alcazar property doesn't bother you?"

Counting to twenty, she prayed for restraint. "Go away. I don't give a damn what you think you know, Lulu."

"You were never even on his radar when he arrived in PC years ago. That was me," she pointed out gleefully.

A slow grin curled her lips and Georgie laughed. "Yeah, well we all make mistakes, Lulu. Funny thing is, most people learn from theirs. Can you say the same?"

"Like you haven't screwed up?" she fired back indigently. "Your daughter's father is a serial killer, Georgie. So much for sweet and perfect, huh." Stepping backwards as the brunette stood, Lulu watched her face morph from anger to something she couldn't place.

"Wow, Lulu, you got me," she mocked in a sugary sweet voice. "I'm a horrible person. But if you want to talk about children and their fathers, lets. I seem to recall that your father is a rapist as well as a criminal that abandon his children at every single opportunity that he got, or you at least. He did stick around when Lucky was younger, so maybe it was just your arrival that made it impossible for Luke to play daddy dearest. Oh, and let's not forget that you have no right to judge what I've done. Maybe if you hadn't aborted your own child because it was an inconvenience I might actually listen to your complaints. But all you did was find the fastest way to get rid of the unwanted responsibility, which was your choice. One I supported you through even though all you did back then was hurt me. But hey, that was me, sweet Georgie the doormat that everyone walked all over. Then you had the wonderful experience of being babied because you faced a horrific decision. Well guess what, Lulu, you don't know shit about me or Baylor and why I did what I did. Focus on your own sad little existence and stay the hell away from me because I won't tolerate your shit another time around. My days of letting people walk all over me are long gone."

"You fucking whore!" Lulu screamed, incensed at the hard truths being flung at her. Swinging her arm back and going to slap the woman that she'd always hated, she relished the chance to knock the bitch down a peg or two.

O'Brien grabbed Johnny when he started toward them and shook his head from where they had witnessed the confrontation hidden in the foliage. "Trust me. Georgie's more than capable of dealing with her."

Georgie let the slap land on her cheek before grasping the same hand and twisting the wrist, taking satisfaction at the cracking sound right as Lulu collapsed to her knees and cradled her wrist while loudly crying. "I warned you," was all she said before turning and disappearing down one of the paths in the garden.

"Oh my God," Elizabeth breathed before reluctantly moving over to help the squalling blond.

Jason's impressed eyes rose to lock on dancing green ones as he moved over to where O'Brien stood looking proud and Zacchara wore a shocked expression. "When you said that she was a fast study at defensive maneuvers I have to admit that I didn't expect her to be so good."

He chuckled. "Georgie's a fast study and had a great teacher. But after seeing the medical history that Sarah had because she was her POA when she stayed with us, it's understandable that she wanted to learn all she could."

"What medical history?" Johnny demanded as his head jerked around. Seeing the man hesitate, he narrowed his eyes. "I want those damn records."

"Georgie…"

"I'll deal with my wife, O'Brien. You just get those damn records."

Jason scowled at his friend as they watched Johnny take the same path that Georgie had. Tuning out Tracy's screaming as she came out to investigate the noise, he pinched his nose. "Do you have any idea how he's going to go off the rails, OB? Why did you open your mouth?"

He shrugged. "We'll keep him from crossing the line but he needs to know. Georgie sure as hell wasn't going to tell him. And if it was Lizzie you'd be frothing at the mouth if I knew and never told you." He glanced back at the entertaining scene of Lulu pathetically crying and blaming Georgie with a story completely devoid of any actual events that occurred. "You should get Liz away from the little slut. I think she's gonna smack her around next if she keeps running her mouth."

Hearing the vile comments about Baylor and Georgie rolling off Lulu's forked tongue, Jason wished he could just put them all out of their misery. Approaching and taking Elizabeth's elbow, he tugged her to him and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Let's get the boys and go home."

Wetting her lips, her eyes traveled over him before she nodded. "I'm game," she whispered with in a throaty tone that had him smirking.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Francis watched the moron shake some more pills out the bottle while darting glances at the empty house. If he believed that Elizabeth would have been left at the house after an attempt on Jason, Lucky really was stupider than Francis had previously thought, and that was quite a feat. He knew Jason was dying to take the loser out, but his own finger was itching to end his life as well. The only thing that stopped Francis from killing Spencer was he understood that Jason had to be the one to carry it out. With him now jointly running the organization with Zacchara, normally the task would be handed off. But the past prevented the natural chain of things from running its course.

Motioning for Cody with a flick of his hand, the two emerged from their hidden spots, letting the condemned man become aware of their presence.

Cody enjoyed the sight of the car erratically pulling away from the curb. "Are you sure he's not the one with brain damage? Sitting right out in the open and thinking he could just waltz up to Elizabeth. He must have a death wish."

"A wish that is going to be granted within a day or two."

"You want him picked up?" Cody asked, willing Francis to say yes. The escalating level of boldness concerned the guard. At home or in a confined area, there was no way that Lucky would get close to Elizabeth. But the former military man feared that a public venue could allow him to get a shot off like he'd done today at the office.

"Yes. Take Max with you and then take him to the abandoned warehouse that was Alcazar's."

"And Sam? Do you want her as well?"

Battling back his own feelings, Francis shook his head. "Not yet. Morgan is going to take care of the problem he created all by himself. We only step in if he doesn't or she gets close to Lizbits."

Cody arched a brow. "And if Morgan doesn't do it?"

Francis inhaled deeply. "He will because if he doesn't I am going to murder him instead. But in all honesty, Jason will do what needs to be done. He knows he owes it to Liz to eradicate all the past mistakes. I'd almost bet that after her next verbal attack the order will be given."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Finding her Baylor's bedroom with her eyes half closed as she rocked the slumbering child, Johnny squatted down in front her. When her eyes fully opened he felt his body reacting to the softness of the liquid brown pools. The way she never allowed whatever was going on to intrude on the time she spent with Baylor was one of things that he admired most about her. While she was right in a way, that the naïve young girl he remembered from before didn't exist with most people, it was those softer qualities that she displayed with her daughter that made her a wonderful mother. She had been fuming when he finally tracked her down at the Quartermaine's after Lulu's stunt, but as soon as they collect Baylor her anger had been pushed back and she slid into mommy mode.

"Let me put her down," he whispered before sliding his arms around the small child and lifting her.

Georgie allowed him to guide her to their bedroom after making sure that Baylor stayed asleep.

He wanted to bring up the scene from the garden but didn't want her to think that he and O'Brien had been eavesdropping on the conversation that had quickly spiraled out of control when Lulu pushed all the right buttons. Instead he skimmed his fingertips over the faint bruise forming on her cheek. "You really shouldn't have allowed her hand to even connect."

"I wanted to be able to do what I did without the tramp being able to press charges for assault," she confessed. "This way Mac won't have to charge me."

"You thought that out before she even slapped you?" he asked in awe at her quick processing.

"Johnny, I've waited years to take a shot at Lulu. I know you two had a relationship before, but she's made my life miserable every chance she got."

"Trust me, once I saw the real her I kicked myself for ever getting involved with her." Slowly edging her backwards, Johnny kept his eyes on hers as she watched him warily. As her back connected with the wall he dipped his head and brushed his lips to hers before straightening back up. "I haven't forgot what we were discussing when we got the call about Jason. I need to you to promise me that you aren't going to take off when things get rough, Georgie."

"Johnny."

"Georgie," he simply stated while his hands splayed her waist.

Fire leapt into her eyes but she nodded.

"Uh uh. Not good enough. Say it."

"Johnny, don't start getting all controlling. It won't fly with me."

"Good because I'm not trying to control you. What I am doing is trying to make you see that we can face whatever happens together, Georgie. I'm not trying to fight with you or piss you off. You know what I want, and I thought you wanted the same."

Letting out a shuddering breath, Georgie wound her arms around his neck and pulled him back down to her. "I do, Johnny, or I would have never slept with you. I meant it when I said I love you."

He could hear the emotions in words, the conviction as well as the fear. Nothing he could say would convince her that not everything good had to end in tragedy so instead of attempting the impossible, Johnny accepted that only time would change her views.

"I won't take off as long as you are here," she added after a pause.

Not missing the out she gave herself in that promise he figured it was the best he'd get from her. Encouraging her to lean on him, Johnny ran a hand up and down her back when she complied. Wanting nothing more than to lock the world out and spend the night focused on her, he pulled back after a couple minutes because the urge to exactly that was tempting. "Are you up for tonight? Or would you rather stay here?"

"I need to hear what they have to say."

"Barrett is gonna play on your love for Maxie," he warned, already having heard some of the convoluted thought process of the man. "He's way more manipulative than I would've guessed, Georgie."

Moving around him, she dejectedly sat on the bed. "How are we going to make this okay for Maxie, Johnny? She's pregnant and can't deal with stress well."

"We support her in any way that we can. That's all we can do."

"Please tell me that you didn't ask Logan to be there?"

"No, but he insisted. I think he needs the closure just like you do, Georgie. But he'll be the one bringing you back home tonight," he added, making it clear that he had no intention of letting him be there for Cooper and Spinelli's final moments. "You leave when I say, okay?"

Accepting his hand, she allowed him to pull her up and nodded. "I will."

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Staring at the wall while flashes of Emily throughout the years ran on a loop in his mind, Jason clenched his hands. In compromise of him staying away, O'Brien had left to meet Johnny at the safe house. Still he yearned to be there but the guys were correct. There was no way that he wouldn't screw up the plan for how to dispose of Barrett and reveal his identity as the TMK. All he wanted to do was inflict the same terror and pain on Cooper as he'd done to Emily.

As if that wasn't enough to disrupt his sleep, Jason now had to worry about Spencer in the midst of a meltdown. Cody reported only an hour before that the man had went underground before him and Marco had been able to locate the sniveling coward. Jason could handle the moron if he was stupid enough to approach his vicinity again, but the troubling factor was Elizabeth and the boys. It didn't take a mind reader to predict how well keeping them housebound would go over, and it wasn't fair that they were basically imprisoned because of Lucky's mental instability. Heightened security for both his family and Johnny's at the same time brought about the problem of trusted men being overworked. Rubbing his temple, he released a ragged breath.

Hearing her light movement down the hallway, Jason felt his pulse spike at the vision she made when she stepped into sight. The tiny camisole and matching lacey boy shorts may not have been intended for use as seductive lingerie but it certainly qualified on her sleepy form.

Elizabeth rubbed her eyes to clear them. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I couldn't sleep so I got up, not wanting to wake you."

"You want to talk about whatever is on your mind?" she offered while starting to sit on the cushion beside him.

Guiding her to his lap instead, Jason nuzzled her neck. "Not really." His hand fisted in her hair as he positioned her head at an angle and trailed moist kisses along her exposed collarbone.

Swinging around so that she straddled his legs, Elizabeth looked at him before swiping her tongue along her bottom lip and was rewarded when he groaned. "I take it you have something else in mind?" she breathed while carefully leaning over to place her lips on his sculpted chest, avoiding his wounded arm. Feeling him hardening beneath her, she rocked forward creating a delicious friction between their aroused bodies that had her insides clenching in anticipation. When his fingers shoved her panties to the side and brushed against her a low sultry moan tumbled forth.

Using his good arm, Jason lifted her up and freed his erection from his jeans and kicked them off before his hips collided with hers as his cock filled her without warning. Growling deep in his throat as her slick warmth surrounded him, his fingers dug into her shapely hip, urging her to meet the pace he set.

Rocking atop him, her breathing shallow and gasping, Elizabeth pushed him closer to the edge while her own body reveled in pleasure as his thrust became furious and deeper. Wave after wave of ecstasy rolled through her frame before she bit down on his shoulder to muffle her scream when he exploded as her muscles tightened and massaged his shaft.

As his heart pounded against his ribs and his breathing calmed, Jason cradled her sated body gently, vowing to never let anyone hurt her again. Without her in his life, his existence had been dark and he had just gone through the necessary motions. Elizabeth lit the shadows he lived in and brought new clarity to his world.

Tenderly kissing her swollen lips, he felt himself twitch still inside her when she gave a sensually wicked grin and shifted her pelvis, starting their rhythm all over again.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Blessedly cool night air hit his sweat soaked skin as he stealthily kept to the shadows. Being vigilant had paid off finally. The old man keeping his doses unchanged had allowed Diego's body to become accustomed to the drug, giving him the perfect chance at freedom. The first lapse of judgment since his hell had started proved to be all he needed. Now he just had to come up with a way of seeing his family without being spotted first. His heart fluttered at the knowledge that he'd soon see his daughter for the first time in person. He only wished he knew what Georgie had been thinking. John Zacchara brought a whole new element of danger to their lives. Once he evaluated the situation completely he'd chose a course of action, but until then he plotted a way to just see them, even if from a distance.

A/N: To everyone reading and reviewing I can't tell you how much I appreciate your support. This story been longer than I originally intended but it took on a life of its own.

The next couple chapters will contain answers to some of the questions I've been receiving. I hope you will enjoy the revelations!