Part 29

-Alan Quartermain's Office-

Jason listened as Kevin explained his thoughts to Audry. The poor woman was at a loss. She alternated from looking at the doctor to her hands and then to Jason's face. She was trying so very hard to understand it all.

"I still can't get over the idea that she's been alive this whole time."

Kevin nodded.

She clutched her hands to her chest. "Cameron wouldn't stop telling me she was alive and I... I didn't believe him... he was so sure.. and I just told him again and again that his mother was in heaven... I was," she snatched up a tissue from the box and blotted her eyes, "I was so wrong."

Jason turned slightly in his chair. "Don't blame yourself... we all believed it."

She looked at him, her eyes searching for something. "But you listened to him... you found her... with Ric." Her knuckles turned white as she shook her head. "I thought she'd gotten that one out of her life."

"After Kelly told me about Elizabeth's condition, it was just a matter of letting Spinelli loose." Jason looked right into Audry's eyes. "Talking to Cam... helped me to see things clearly... for the first time... in a long time."

Audry listened to his words, her mind warring with her heart. "And Elizabeth? Where does she fit into things... into your life? What will you do when criminals come after you... after them?"

Jason looked at her and for the first time Audry saw real naked emotion in Jason Morgan's face... in his eyes. She saw worry... and she saw pain. "I'll find a way to protect them... that I can promise you."

Standing up from her chair, Audry looked from Kevin to Jason as she moved toward the door. "You can't promise me anything of the sort, Jason. You can't protect them from everything... but you'd better try, Jason... or you'll answer to me."

- General Hospital NICU-

Monica and Alan peered into the isolette as Dr. Kade finished his examination. He smiled at them. "Eager?"

Alan squeezed Monica's hand. "Very." He watched as the baby's hands reached up and made little fists. "You're sure the baby's fine?"

Dr. Kade leaned against the counter and looked down at the baby with a smile. "Amazingly so. Kelly performed the C-section beautifully, brought the baby out before it was under too much stress. If you ask me, this child will be just fine." He looked at the two doctor's hovering over the child. "Strong DNA... strong will... strong baby."

- Corinthos Coffee Office -

Jason arrived and met the guard at the door, recognizing him as a one of Maximus' men. Before he said a word the guard stepped aside. "He expected you."

They had been watching the hospital, Jason knew it had to be expected. Maximus was no fool and it would have been what he himself would have done.

Inside, Maximus stood and nodded when Jason entered the room. "Have a seat."

The seat across from the desk was a comfortable one. Jason set himself down in it. "Ric Lansing is dead. The man that started the disaster at the Metro Court is dead."

Maximus, leaned on his desk, his eyes watching Jason carefully. "And your woman?"

Jason sucked in a breath and let it out in a few harsh puffs. "She's alive." Another breath. "Our baby is alive."

"Boy or Girl?"

Jason paused. "I'm waiting to find out when Elizabeth is awake. We'll do it together." He looked straight at Maximus. "I'm here to find out... where we go from here."

The question didn't surprise the older man. He didn't react any more than to sit back in his chair and nod. "That's the question, isn't it?"

- General Hospital ICU -

Emily sat down in the chair beside the bed and tilted her head to look at Elizabeth. Her face was calm, almost like a mask, rather than a real face. She couldn't help but wonder when Elizabeth woke up, and she would, how everything was going to change. She'd been calling Lucky for hours but the phone had only gone to voice mail.

She knew... everyone knew... that Jason was the father of Elizabeth's baby. A secret didn't stay a secret very long and it didn't help that Jason had made it all public knowledge when he revealed that he was the father. Dr. Lee took care of the rest when she said that the paternity test said as much when people started to argue.

Emily reached out and touched Elizabeth's hand, squeezing it gently. "Oh, Lizzie... what's going to happen when you wake up... will you remember me?" Emily shut her eyes against the tears and sighed.

"Of course I'll remember you, Em... you're my best friend."

Emily looked up and blinked over and over at the woman in the bed. "Elizabeth? You're awake!"

- General Hospital NICU-

Monica smiled as the baby wrapped its hand around her finger. "Hello there, little boy."

"He's a handsome boy isn't he, Dr. Quartermain?" Epiphany smiled at the baby from the other side of the isolette. "Elizabeth sure has adorable babies."

"And we," Monica looked at Alan, "have adorable grandchildren."

-Corinthos Coffee Warehouse-

Jason looked at Maximus, his eyes narrowed. "How am I supposed to believe that you won't back out... that you won't change your mind?"

"It's a good question to ask." Maximus replied. "You're a careful man, Jason Morgan. That's what I've always liked about you. You didn't run wild or crazy like Sonny did."

"Did?" Jason sat up a little and felt the air around him. He felt no danger, but his thoughts had been occupied. "Where is he?" Jason realized that he hadn't heard from Sonny since the Metro Court.

Maximus smiled. "Don't worry, he's not dead. He's... retired. Sold me his business." Maximus stood and moved around his desk. "I have a business proposition of my own to offer you... if you're interested."

Jason looked straight into his eyes. "Talk."

-General Hospital ICU-

Dr. Kelly Lee finished her examination, cautious as the young nurse she knew so well watched her with wary eyes. "Your incision is healing nicely, Elizabeth." She picked up her clipboard and reached out to touch Elizabeth's arm, but paused when her patient drew back. "I know this must all be overwhelming for you... but just know that we're here to help you."

Elizabeth's gaze darted to Emily standing a few feet away and then back to the doctor. "And Dr. Meadows? Will she be coming in soon?"

Stepping forward, Emily smiled down at her friend. "Dr. Meadows hasn't..."

"Dr. Meadows is out sick, Elizabeth." Kelly gave Emily a little look of warning.

"Out sick..." Elizabeth struggled with the thought, her own mind whirling with thoughts that didn't seem her own. "...she's my doctor... isn't she?" She looked at Emily and found a bewildered stare so she turned to Kelly. "Do I know you?"

Kelly smiled softly and nodded. "I work with Dr. Meadows so you've seen me around. I think we said hello in the hallway a time or two."

"Okay." Elizabeth was still at odds somehow. She looked at Emily and blinked a few times... her eyes must be deceiving her. Emily looked... older... more mature. Her troubling thoughts had to be set aside for the moment, she had other concerns. "May I... may I see my baby now?"

-General Hospital NICU-

Kelly walked up to the isolette and gave Alan a smile. "Elizabeth's awake and asking to see her baby."

Excited, Alan smiled at Monica. "Call Jason, let him know that-"

Shaking her head, Kelly gave them both a sad look. "She thinks Dr. Meadows is her doctor."

Alan shared a concerned grimace with Monica. "Dr. Meadows hasn't worked here in years."

Kelly sighed. "Elizabeth still thinks she's in 2003." The sullen mood of the NICU was silent enough to hear the soft whirring of sounds from the machines and the concentrated hiss of a nearby oxygen tank. "She asked for Ric earlier and I still don't know what to tell her." She looked at the baby's chart. "I can take her down to see him for awhile... I can't bring her up here.. there are too many people to keep them away from her..."

Monica gasped in a little breath. "This is so horrible! Has Kevin been in to see her?"

Alan shook his head. "No, not yet."

"I just hope Kevin can get through to her." Monica watched Kelly prepare to wheel it from the room. Alan lifted his phone and began to dial.

-General Hospital ICU Hallway-

Jason nearly slipped as he ran from the elevator toward ICU, but he kept upright long enough to see Emily standing in the middle of the hall a downtrodden look on her face.

"What happened?" Jason set his hands on Emily's shoulders when she didn't answer him. "Alan said Elizabeth was awake... what happened?"

"She's awake. Kelly's bringing the baby down for her." She looked at Jason but didn't really meet his eyes.

"What else? What does she remember?" He hated asking the question, but he had to know.

"She's stuck, Jason... in 2003... we didn't challenge her. Kevin wants us to play along until he gets to talk to her."

The elevator opened and Jason watched Kelly wheel out the isolette. He couldn't help the way his feet moved so he could looked down into the box. The baby looked small and alone against the white sheet. The soft blond cap of hair on the baby's head made his heart thud painfully in his chest.

"Kelly," Jason barely made a sound as she drew closer, "can I-"

"Jason," she shook her head and gave him a sympathetic look. "Not now... talk to Kevin and see."

Emily opened the door for Kelly before she returned to Jason's side. "She should see her baby alone the first time, Jason... it's a... a bonding thing."

Jason couldn't move from the spot, his feet wouldn't move. He could barely breathe as he struggled to wait for his chance to talk to Elizabeth.

"Elizabeth," Jason could hear Kelly Lee's voice through the shut door and beyond it was Elizabeth's own voice tense with emotion, "please... calm down."

"No! No!"

Jason wanted to run into the room, but Emily held onto his arm.

"That's not... that's not," Elizabeth's voice was thin and shaking, "my baby!"

The door opened and Kelly pushed the isolette from the room. Emily moved forward and took control of it and nodded to Kelly.

The OB sighed. "Call Kevin, we need him."

She shut the door behind her and Jason heard Elizabeth sobbing inside the room, but he couldn't help how his feet moved him to Emily's side even as he dialed Kevin's cell number. While the phone rang he looked down into the isolette and saw the baby staring back at him, fists clenched and feet wriggling beneath his blanket. HIS blanket. Jason saw the card in the isolette's wall and even though the color reached his thoughts it was the words BABY BOY MORGAN that threatened to steal his breath away.

"Hello? Jason?" The call had been answered, Kevin was on the line. "Jason? What's wrong?"

As Jason flattened his hand against the clear wall of the isolette he struggled to find the words to say. "She... we need you... now."