A/N - Thanks for all of the reviews! Glad you guys like the Helena punishment!
Chapter 35 – Blown Away
Francis walked towards the couch.
"Hey Francis."
"She looked happy."
Jason grinned. "You want a beer?"
He nodded.
Jason got up and got them both one and then sat back down.
"What's going on?"
Jason stared at him a minute. Part of him wanted to talk to someone about his difficulties, but he felt so uncomfortable.
"Jason, just say it. You can tell me anything."
He gave Francis a look and he laughed. "It can't be that bad."
"It's about sex. Do you think you can handle that?"
Jason wasn't even sure he could handle it.
Francis shifted for a second. "I think so."
Jason sighed. "I'm having some mental problems in that department."
"Understandably so."
"It's just, I spent 5 months wishing away my physical reactions. I hated finishing. I had no control." He said looking down at the floor.
"And now?"
"I want her. That's not the problem."
"Then what is?"
"I'm scared. I don't want to recoil or have to stop." He said standing up. "I want it to be perfect for her."
Francis sighed. "Jason, I think you're putting way too much pressure on yourself."
"I know but I don't know how to get out of my head. It's like I can't stop it."
Francis thought for a minute. "When you kiss her are you thinking about anything else?"
"No."
"Because you're letting yourself feel."
"Kissing is safe."
"I think you need to stop imagining the worst case scenario and allow yourself to just be in the moment."
Jason nodded.
"And maybe you need to take control."
"That's probably a good idea."
Francis made a funny face. This was the most uncomfortable conversation he had ever had. "Have you tried—you know—relieving the stress."
Jason groaned. "No."
Francis chuckled. "Maybe you should. It might help you feel more comfortable with that feeling again."
Jason actually turned a little red and Francis grinned.
"Jason, there's nothing to be ashamed of. When you two do get back on the bike, we'll just put a sign on the door so no one bothers you for a week."
Jason shook his head. "Francis?"
"Yeah?"
"If you tell anyone about this conversation, I'll have to kill you."
Francis grinned. "Welcome back my friend. Welcome back."
Jason chuckled as he watched Francis leave.
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Cody, Johnny, and several mercs who were experts with dealing with bombs took a boat out to Windemere. It was cold as the wind whipped across the murky water. They docked and lugged several duffel bags full of C-4 and started to get to work. They got busy securing the bombs to the foundation of Windemere as well as the tunnels below and several outer structures. It took several hours but very early in the morning, they finished and headed home. The bombs would go off at 5:00 a.m. Spinelli had laid a cyber trail so that C-4 would be traced back to Sam so that it would appear that Helena and Sam were at war; making their disappearance seem more plausible.
Johnny was exhausted, but he had one more stop to make before he could go get some shut eye. He pulled up to the abandoned building and went inside. Flicking on the lights, he smiled at Helena who was chained to the wall—flat on her back. There was water slowly dripping onto her forehead. He turned on the radio and pushed play; really loud thrash metal music filtered through the room. Turning around, he went back out to his SUV and laid down on the back seat and tried to get comfortable. In two hours, all hell would break loose on Spoon Island and he wanted to be awake for the show.
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Jason rolled out of bed and turned off his watch alarm. He went downstairs and went out on the balcony. To the right, he could see the water and he stared intently until the loud sounds of bombs exploding permeated through the air and plumes of fire could be seen off in the distance. He smiled. Windemere was gone and the gauntlet had been thrown. No one knew when Stavros would attack, but Jason knew that he'd find out what happened and would be livid. It was a risk poking the bear, but he was hoping that between the demise of Spoon Island and the "death" of Helena, that it would throw Stavros off and he'd make mistakes. Jason had been studying the man so that he understood his thought process and would try to use that to anticipate his next move. It was a long shot, but he felt like they had so little to go on that he needed to do something.
He jumped when he felt Liz hug him from behind.
"That's rare for you not to hear me."
"I usually feel that you're there. But, I was a little preoccupied."
She stepped around him and her eyes grew big. "Wow."
He wrapped his arms around her. "It's cold out here."
She nodded and allowed him to lead her inside.
"I'm sorry if I woke you up."
She smiled. "It's okay."
"Come on." He said leading her upstairs. They got back into bed and she snuggled against his chest."
"Jason."
"Yeah."
"I know that you are more yourself now, but can you still let Johnny handle the major stuff?" She said softly.
"Are you worried about me?"
"Yes. I can't help it."
Jason was silent for a minute. The truth was that he was tired. His recovery was a relentless stream of emotional upheavals and it had taken a toll on him. This last stint with Helena especially. But, he had to protect Liz. He didn't feel like he had a choice. If he stepped back and then something happened, he would never forgive himself."
"I promise to be careful. If I can't handle something, I'll step back."
She squeezed him tighter. "Okay."
It really wasn't the answer she had hoped to hear, but she would try to respect his choices.
"Can I explain?"
She almost smiled at his ability to read her. "Please."
"Bottom line is that I can't let him hurt you. I can't sit back and hope that it's taken care by somebody else either. I love you and I just need to do this."
"I love you too. I'm trying to get used to all of this. But, I think I'll always worry. It doesn't mean I don't believe that you can take care of yourself. I hope you understand that."
"I do."
"You're so comfy." She said yawning.
Jason smiled.
He closed his eyes and focused on her breathing. He couldn't believe that after all this time he had finally met someone like her under the worse circumstances possible. But, he wasn't going to be stupid and lose her. She was his gift; 100% non-returnable.
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Johnny watched the explosion with a smile on his face. Walking back into the building, he turned off the music and went and stood over Helena so she could see him. "Your precious Spoon Island is gone; blown to smithereens. It was a beautiful sight to behold." He said smiling. "Rest up, iceman should be here soon. In a few hours, I'm going to start your makeover. When he sees you, I'm hoping that he'll consider it a warning."
Johnny turned and walked away. He gave the guard some instructions and then he drove back to his apartment at the Towers.
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Stavros looked out the window of the plane. Helena hadn't called which meant that obviously something went wrong. He was worried about his mother. He knew had to protect the queen at all costs. She had been his lifeline bringing him back from death itself.
He looked down at his hands and flexed them still feeling strange and off kilter. She had went to extreme measures to bring him back. Physically, he seemed to be fine, but emotionally he was not completely himself. There was this rage that simmered beneath the surface that Helena hadn't anticipated. At first, it scared him. But now, he realized that he could use it to get revenge on those who had dared to retaliate against them.
He grabbed an envelope off the seat next to him and took the pictures out of the three people that he would enjoy mutilating. "Jason Morgan" He said softly. The man looked menacing in the picture he held, but Stavros knew what Sam had did to him and he would try to use that information to control him. Setting it aside, he studied the next picture. "Lucky Spencer" He smiled. He would especially enjoy his demise. Luke had it coming. When he finished with Lucky, they would need dental records to identify his rotting corpse. His smile widened at the thought. Placing the picture on top of Jason's, he picked up Elizabeth's and the smile disappeared and was replaced with want. She was beautiful. He didn't want to kill her. He wanted to make her his. She would make a perfect wife and mother. Her flawless skin and beautiful blue eyes called to him. But, he knew that he needed to kill her first in order to torment the two men. Stroking her face, he sighed. He'd just have to find another beautiful angel to make his.
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Helena stared up at the ceiling. The concrete was cold and unrelenting on her aching body. The water drip was really starting to get to her and Johnny had horrible taste in music. All she knew was that she had to find a way to let Stavros know she was alive. Ever since Jason had injected her, she tried everything this could to move but nothing worked. She couldn't even cry. Johnny infuriated her with his incessant banter and insults. The only really bad thing in this twisted plot besides her condition was that Johnny's name couldn't be added to the list of people who needed to suffer. The only solace she had was that Stavros would make them all pay and Johnny would probably end up being collateral damage.
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Jason woke up before Liz and went downstairs. Stavros would probably show up some time today. He had eyes watching the various airports in the area. He also had some men at the border. The Towers had become a fortress of guards and surveillance. There was no expense spared in making sure that they were all protected.
There was a light rap on the door and Jason went to answer it. "Irina."
"Hi, may I come in?"
He nodded and watched her walk to the couch.
"Is everything okay?"
"I'm fine. I'm just worried. I brought you a list of properties that we hold in New York that I know of. Not all of them are listed under the Cassadine name." She said placing the paper on the coffee table.
Jason was surprised. It wasn't that he didn't think Irina would be forthcoming he just figured he'd have to ask for information.
"Look, I feel really guilty about all the measures you've taken to protect yourself from my family. I told Johnny and I'm going to tell you. I won't endanger you. If Stavros demands to see me, then I'll go."
"He might kill you."
Her eyes filled with tears. "I guess that would be my fate then. It's not that I have some death wish. But, I've grown pretty fond of all of you and you are taking a huge risk protecting me."
"I won't let you leave Irina. I'm not going to sacrifice you to some crazy person. We'll figure things out along the way. I appreciate you giving me this information."
"I just couldn't sleep last night."
"Windemere is gone."
She nodded. "Good."
"Why don't you come help me make some breakfast."
She smiled. "I can do that."
Jason stood up. "Do you cook?"
"A little—I can butter toast and make eggs."
Jason chuckled. "You know, Johnny has a big appetite."
She grinned. "Well, there's nothing wrong with my dialing finger."
He frowned. "Are you sure you're not related to Carly?"
"Positive." She said following him into the kitchen.