Chapter Twenty-Nine
In the last three days, Jason has spoken to Mac and his "friend" about how they should handle the situation. He, of course, didn't go to them. They approached him, having received similar envelopes, sending them to his door.
Elizabeth has agreed to let him handle it, only after he told her everything and left nothing out, but he could see that she was thinking about accepting the deal. He didn't have to worry about bringing Sonny into it because Elizabeth already sees Robin as the innocent one, forcing him to come up with a plan to prevent her giving in.
Introductions weren't necessary because Mac already knows Jason's "friend" and apparently Jason Quartermaine knew him, too. Jagger Cates. The guy looked older than he actually was, only now revealing why he kept referring to Jason as a friend. He had been friends with the Quartermaine version.
"Anna and Robert are out in the field." Jagger explains. "Even if we were able to get word out, it would take them too long to actually get to the mainland."
"But the Webbers aren't on the mainland." Jason points out. "Can't they make it to where Robin is in time?"
"No." Jagger relents, being forced to admit the truth. "Even if we did get word to them...their hands would be tied."
"Their division has certain rules." Mac agrees. "We have to do this ourselves."
"Besides, we wouldn't want to spook them by sending Anna Devane after them." Jagger points out. "Robert...maybe...but Anna is something else."
"Whatever." Jason shakes his head, not really caring anymore. "What are we going to do?"
"What do you suggest we do?" Jagger counters, folding his arms across his chest. "You're known to be the best at this."
"If we do this my way, you wouldn't be able to stomach it." Jason states, wanting to kill each and every last one of them.
"Okay." Jagger smirks, turning to Mac. "You got any ideas?"
Elizabeth paces back and forth, staring down at the box and envelope. Hours she has spent, just pacing back and forth in front of the thing, but all they've done is mock her. They are reminders that she doesn't have her memory. That she was of no use without the knowledge that has been locked away in the back of her mind.
They needed a jump on her parents, that much she was sure of, but how do they do that? How can they outsmart them when the key to it all is locked away in her brain? A thought came to her, a thought that she knew just might work, but a thought that Jason would hate.
Staring at her cellphone, she continues to pace, it was the logical choice. It felt like the right choice. Right to her, anyway, but she doubts he'll share in her understanding. So far they have been playing right into her family's hands, but there is a wild card and the wild card always switches up the game for those who think they are ahead.
The wild card, in her mind, is her grandmother. Clearly they didn't think much of the old lady, detailing just that in the letter. Elizabeth, however, had a gut feeling that the old lady could seriously change up the game and put it in their favor.
Knowing that the only way Jason will agree to it or even consider it is if she had facts. So, sucking up her pride and her ego, Elizabeth grabs her cellphone, storing the items in the desk, before walking out of the penthouse to face her guards.
"I need you to take me to the Quatermaine mansion." Elizabeth informs Johnny, eliciting a weary sigh from him.
"Sure." Johnny concedes, not wanting to get into it with her at all.
Normally she'd find his behavior confusing, but after the last few days, she completely understands it. She knows he wants to abide by Jason's rules, having argued with her about the places she tells him to take her, but eventually he folds and takes her in the end.
She didn't want to explain to him why she suddenly wants to go to the one place she normally wouldn't be caught dead in, anyway. Making their way to the car, she leaves a message for Jason, telling him where she'll be. The drive seemed to take forever, something she credits to Johnny taking his sweet ass time with his driving, but they get there none the less.
"Elizabeth?" Monica Quartermaine stares at her in confusion at the door. "This is highly inappropriate with the hearing going on and..."
"I just need to know about that treatment you keep pushing." Elizabeth cuts her off. "I need to know why you think it will bring back my memory."
"Um...okay." Monica steps aside. "Your grandmother is in the living room."
"I kind of figured as much." Elizabeth says plainly, walking past the older woman. "They come with me."
Though she didn't appreciate it, Monica waits for the guards to file in after Elizabeth, two remaining outside by the front door. Elizabeth wasn't here to play nice or to tell them that she understands their crazy logic. She's here for information and that's it.
"Elizabeth." Audrey rises to her feet and - for the first time since she woke up - Elizabeth feels sorry for the woman. She looked worn out, fatigue filling the woman's features. "This is a surprise."
"You can tell me to leave if you want." Elizabeth points out, not wanting to fight with the other woman. "But I need to know why you think your method could bring back my memory."
"Please, have a seat." Audrey gestures to the chair across from her. Wanting to relish in whatever time that Elizabeth is willing to give her. Having had a lot of time to think since Elizabeth started living with Jason.
Swallowing her instincts to lash out, Elizabeth sits down and accepts the cup of tea that Audrey offers.
"So, you want to know about the procedure?" Audrey questions, stirring her tea. "Why?"
"I can't tell you why." Elizabeth says seriously. "If that prevents you from telling me then..."
"No." Audrey shakes her head, cutting her off with a wave of her hand. "I was just curious as to why you want to hear me out now...but I will tell you, if you want to know."
"I don't want to know." Elizabeth counters. "I need to know."
While Audrey and Monica both tell her about the procedure and why they know she'll be the perfect candidate for it, Jason is finishing up his meeting with Mac and Jagger. They've finally figured out their plan, the rough version of it at least, but it still needed some refining here and there.
They had time, all three men deduced, knowing that they weren't expecting a decision for at least another couple days. Although Mac wanted to just go and get Robin, he knew that they had to plan it right. There was no room for error. None whatsoever.
"Jason, I know you're busy planning your rescue mission, but I want you to know that I'm heading over to the Quartermaine mansion." Elizabeth's voice plays from his voicemail. "I need answers that only Monica and my grandmother can give me. Come find me when you're done...bye."
Racing over there, knowing she'd still be there, Jason finds two guards standing outside. Foregoing knocking, Jason walks right into the house, searching for Elizabeth. Making his way into the living room, Jason finds her shaking Monica's hand before doing the same with Audrey.
"Thank you for telling me." Elizabeth says sincerely. "I truly appreciate it."
"So...will you do the procedure?" Audrey dares to ask.
She feels his presence, turning to hold her hand out to him, smiling slightly when he bounds over to her side.
"Jason and I will talk about it and I'll call you." Elizabeth concedes, relaxing for the first time since she set foot in that house, only because Jason was there now. "We're going home now."
Without another word, Jason and Elizabeth turn around, leaving the house with the guards that brought her there. She could see that he wasn't happy with what she had said, but he needed to listen to her and accept that it was her choice, too. They'll talk about it, she's sure of that, but -for now- she'll just nestle into his embrace as they head home.
She could tell he had a plan and he has now realized that she has one, too. Hopefully, both of them thought at the same time, one of theirs will work.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews.
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- ROCkER -
