A/N: Thanks everyone for the sweet words! So glad to be back in Liason fanfic world! I'm also super happy you all welcomed the story back so positively, I'll try not to disappoint with the few chapters left. Let's see what Ric is up to now…
- Chapter 35 -
"Em, you have a minute?" Cody quietly called out from a corner at the hospital not to gather too much attention from the nurses, patients and doctors passing by through the hall.
Emily swiftly turned around and walked to stand next to her secret lover. "Sure, I'll meet you in my office, just give me five minutes." The young doctor said then continued walking hurrying her steps.
Exactly five minutes later she was opening her office door and found Cody waiting, as anticipated. "Hey, I wasn't expecting to see you, is everything ok?" She asked, slight worry in her eyes.
"Everything is fine." The guard quickly reassured her then greeted her properly with a sweet kiss. "We found Devlin in New York yesterday." He then said.
"What happened? Did Jason…" Emily hastily raised, her eyes opened wide.
"The doctor is fine…" Cody interrupted her before she was able to ask her question. "I mean, he's probably a little bruised up by now, but he's alive."
The young woman let out a deep breath, hand to her chest. She wouldn't have been able to live with the fact that she helped Cody and her brother kill a man. "Ok."
"Not saying that Jason wasn't tempted to put a bullet between his eyes but, in the end he was just Ric's puppet and he shouldn't be a problem for anyone anymore or else we'll find him again."
"That's a relief." Emily replied, convinced that her brother and Cody had been threatening enough for Devlin never to harm a soul again. "I'm still completely shocked that someone who has taken an oath to help people could have done something like this."
"Well some people are just selfish and will do anything to help themselves first, even if it entails hurting others in the process." Cody declared then continued. "But the doctor is out of the picture, now it's Ric's turn and this one is going to be another story… he's a sick bastard."
"Did you make any progress finding him?" Emily wondered.
Cody nodded. "We might have a lead. Spinelli was able to trace one of his calls somewhere close to DC."
"What is he doing there?" Emily asked astonished.
"That's a good question. Either he is trying to hide from us or he is stupid enough to prepare another convoluted plan and something tells me he might be up to no good again." The bald man feared.
"I hate this." Emily blurred out. "I hate that Elizabeth is still terrified that he might reappear and try something crazy again."
"I do too." Cody added. "But don't worry we will find him before he can even think of doing anything stupid, you can be sure Jason won't let him get away with this."
"Talking about Jason..." Emily started but was quickly interrupted by her man.
"Emily, we've talked about this, now is absolutely not the time to tell him anything." Cody walked away wanting to avoid the same discussion they had had many times before. He sat on her office chair, arms crossed.
"I know, and I don't mean right now, right now. But… when it all settles with Ric and he is in a better state of mind I really do think we should tell him." Emily frankly expressed, coming to sit by a corner of her desk. "I truly believe he will understand and be on our side once he sees just how much we love each other."
"I've said it again and again… he won't take this lightly."
"Yes, ok, maybe it will be a shock for him at first, but once he gets passed the initial reaction he will get it." Emily insisted. "My brother is a romantic at heart, even if he doesn't appear like one but you should see the way he looks at Elizabeth… he is a man in love and that's why he will get it."
Cody remained quiet in order to swallow the doctor's words. He couldn't think of anything to say to disagree with her and deep inside knew she was right. They couldn't go on hiding forever if this relationship was really going to have a serious chance, a future.
Emily broke the silence, placing one of her small hands on Cody's strong arm. "When Ric is dealt with and Elizabeth is safe we will talk to him, both of us together and explain how we just fell for each other."
Cody uncrossed his arms then admitted. "You are right, of course you're right... why do you always have to be right?" He complained.
"That's because you fell in love with a smart woman as I always have to remind you." Emily shrugged with a triumphant smile harbored on her lips.
Jason and Elizabeth had stayed in bed all morning, his body enveloping hers, forming a protective barrier she so desperately needed in this turbulent time. They had been awake for a long time, maybe hours, simply enjoying the other's proximity while they wished they would never have to leave each other's arms.
"What time do you think it is?" Elizabeth suddenly asked.
"I don't know, and I don't really want to know." Jason told her then grazed her bare shoulder with his lips causing her to let out a soft chuckle.
"I don't either. I think I could stay right here with you for days, not go anywhere." The young woman declared. "But I'm sure you have work to do and…"
"It can wait." He said before she was able to finish causing a ravishing smile to takeover Elizabeth's face. She didn't want him to give up on everything he had to do for her but felt so gratified by the sheer fact that he would.
She kissed his flexed arm gently, showing him just how much she appreciated him. "You're so sweet."
"I… I am sweet?" Jason asked almost surprised. "I'm not used to being called sweet."
Elizabeth giggled as she turned to face him and kiss his lips gently. They played of each other's mouths, first slowly and sensually but then the kiss deepened, reflecting the passion they didn't have to suppress anymore, until Elizabeth playfully nibbled Jason's lower lips. He smiled against her mouth, enjoying the sensation.
After they broke the kiss due to a craving for air, they lay in bed quietly for a short while, bodies pressed against each other and hands caressing their warm skins.
"By the way you never told me what you told Kate about your old job." Jason broke the silence, remembering about Ms. Howard's visit the day before.
Elizabeth let out a sigh. "Nothing yet because I still don't know. One side of me really loved that job, the artists and my clients, you know I miss being in all this action." She remembered her eyes sparkling. "But at the same time I don't think I can just start working with Kate again and my old colleagues just as if nothing happened."
"I understand." Jason simply offered. "You don't have to decide now."
"True, I will think about it." Elizabeth said before adding. "As much as I hate having to leave this bed I am meeting your sister for lunch so I should probably get in the shower soon."
"Urgh." Jason grumbled, unable to hide his discontentment. "Fine, I have to head out too soon anyway." Jason also said but not before climbing on top of the young brunette and kissing her cherry lips once more. Once he let her mouth free, Elizabeth took the opportunity to slip out a few words of her own. "I love you too Jason."
Courtney got out of the elevator hoping to make a beeline through the Metro Court lobby in order to reach the massive revolving doors unnoticed. The last thing she wanted was for someone she knew to catch her with scruffy hair and faded makeup. She hurried her step but was stopped by a familiar voice.
"Courtney? Is that you?" Carly screeched from ten feet away.
"Great!" Courtney inaudibly muttered then attempted to fix her hair slightly before turning to face Carly. "Carly! Of course you are here, you own this hotel…"
"Well yeah… but what are you doing here?" Carly suspiciously asked then stared the other woman down before adding. "And wearing the same clothes you were wearing yesterday?"
"You got me…" Courtney shamefully said, throwing both arms in the air. The exact conversation she had been trying to avoid was happening.
"You slept here?" Carly exclaimed loudly enough for the entire lobby to hear.
"You don't have to announce it to everyone… but yes I did spend the night here." Courtney admitted with a coy smile. "This is a hotel isn't it?"
"With who? Do tell!" Carly insisted on knowing all the details.
Courtney's half smile turned into a full beam as she whispered in Carly's ear. "With Jax."
"Oh!" Carly opened her eyes wide. "That was… fast! Didn't you just meet yesterday?"
"What can I say, I go for what I want and well Jax is an incredible man."
"So you and him..." Carly began to say.
"We just really hit it off, that body, and that accent… wow…"
"I know, I work with the man…" Carly pensively let out knowing exactly what Courtney had been attracted to in him.
"And these eyes…" Courtney added as if she was reliving part of the night she had spent in the presidential suite of the hotel. "I cannot get enough."
"Well I'm glad to hear you had a good time but, does that mean you and Jason is just… not going to happen?" Carly couldn't help but ask as she was unable to forget about her master plan of hooking up her two best friends.
"Carly seriously, be realistic!" Courtney asserted. "I never stood a chance with Jason, as much as it hurts to admit he simply just wasn't that into me."
Carly shook here head. "BS, its all about Elizabeth being in the picture…"
"Yes, you got that right, and it's fine, I've made my peace with it... you should try it." Courtney recommended.
Carly shook her head again then let out a defeated sigh. "You might be right, but I'm just not convinced she is right for him. He seems to like her so much that he would do anything for her. The last time I've seen him this vulnerable was with Robin and that ended badly."
"Carly, it's not your place to try and protect his heart. He's a grown man, and a strong one with that so you have to let him do whatever he wants and right now he wants Elizabeth and she seems like a nice girl so just let it go."
"But, but I know him…"
"Ok Carly… whatever." Courtney gave up then peeked at her watch. "Oh wow, I didn't realize it was that late already. I really have to run."
"Fine, dinner tonight so you can tell me all about you and Jax?" Carly offered.
"No can't do, I'm meeting him again for dinner!" She happily let the other woman know. "But let's catch up later!"
Cody stood in front of an old Corinthos-Morgan owned warehouse by the docks, checking his watch and trying to remember if his meeting with Jason was at 1pm or 2pm. "I should have written this down… I never write anything down." The man continued mumbling to himself until he saw his boss walking decisively towards him.
"So it was one o'clock!" Cody let out, frustrated of having had to wait more than half an hour in the deserted area.
"Yea, sorry." Jason apologized for making Cody wait but didn't feel sorry for the lazy morning in bed he had spent with Elizabeth, neither did he for the long bath they had shared before he left the house.
"No worries boss, I was keeping company to the stray cats around… I don't think they see much activity these days you know." Cody jokingly said.
Jason went straight to business as not to waste any more time. "So, when Spinelli told us Ric was in Washington the first thing that came to my mind was that he went to visit his father, Trevor Lansing. It's the only reason I can think of that would take him there."
"Senator Lansing? That doesn't sound so good. Why would he need daddy dearest's help for?"
"I haven't figured this out just yet, but we will." Jason said.
"Ok, how? I mean, Spinelli is great but he can't read minds yet…. And we have to give it to him, Ric is one creative twisted bastard!"
"I know, and that's why we will need to keep our eyes wide opened." Jason responded. "As impossible as it may sound we need to think like him. He is trying to pull off something he can't do on his own."
"Right…" Cody let out, thinking that the fool probably couldn't even wipe his ass on his own.
Jason continued thinking out loud. "Trevor Lansing is a very well connected man so most likely Ric was trying to get in contact with someone… maybe even one of our enemies for all I know."
"You think so? You think he would pull someone like… the Zacharras into this?" Cody probed concerned.
"I don't know, I really hope he's not that stupid but Ric has done worse things before to get what he wants."
Cody shook his head revolted. "True… I'll call the guys and tell everyone to be on high alert and report anything remotely out of the ordinary."
"Good, also he might be back in Port Charles by now, so now is the best time to find him." Jason said.
"Sure, I'll join the team searching for him, I'll let you know as soon as we have something." The guard said before adding. "Anything else you or Elizabeth need just let me know man, I will be glad to help."
"Thanks Cody, I know I can always count on you." Jason said patting the man on the back.
"Please always remember that I have your back, ok?" Cody said hoping Jason would feel the same way after he learned about his relationship with Emily.
"Of course, I know that. That's why I trust you and I know you will always be honest with me." Jason said but instead of reassuring the other man he caused cold sweat to drip down the man's back. "Are you ok?" Jason asked the pale looking man in front of him.
"I'm great, we should go… enough of this bromance." Cody talked under his breath while he started walking.
As they approached the vehicles, Jason noticed a man wearing a navy suit walking away on a sidewalk, head down and hands in his pockets. He would not have thought anything of it under other circumstances but the place they had chosen for their meeting was usually deserted and the man didn't look like he slept on these streets at night with the way he was dressed.
"What's up over there?" Cody asked his suspicious looking boss.
"Nothing, I thought I saw a man walking towards there." Jason replied then placed his hand on his car's door handle. "Anyway, we should get going." He added then readied to open the door until a faint ticking noise stopped him in his tracks.
"RUN!" Jason yelled as loud as he could. Next thing he knew, an explosion sent both cars flying into the air…
"Thanks again for offering to go shopping with me… It's really time I get some changes of clothes." Elizabeth told Emily who had come to pick her up at Harborview.
"Of course! I love shopping, I could do this all day, too bad I'm wearing scrubs most of the time."
Elizabeth smiled at her new friend. "Good, because I felt bad I was taking your lunch break from you."
"Don't worry! And if we don't take too long we'll have time to grab a bite somewhere before I have to get back to work, how does that sound?"
"Sounds perfect. Let's not waste any time then." Elizabeth said ushering Jason's sister out of the penthouse, followed by Tony, their guard for the day.
The two young women and their escort rode the elevator down to the visitor parking area where Emily had left her car. Elizabeth followed the doctor who didn't seem to remember where she had parked. "I was sure I left my car here… this lot is so huge I can never remember where I park."
"I can drive if you prefer, Ms. Quartermaine" Tony offered.
"No that's fine." Emily told him. "And by the way call me Emily please."
"Sure Ms. Emily." The guard corrected himself.
Emily continued walking ahead rapidly in search of her car, followed closely by Elizabeth. "This is crazy! I was sure I parked right here." She said defeated. "Oh well, Tony I guess you are up or it could take me half an hour to find my car and we unfortunately don't have the luxury of time at the moment."
The lack of response from the guard caused both brunettes to swiftly turn on their heels towards where the guard was… or should have been. They were alone.
"Tony?" Emily called out surprised he could have disappeared so fast.
"Where did he go?" Elizabeth wondered in concern, and before she knew it an arm pulled her from behind with a gloved hand covering her mouth tight. All she could see were masked men, dressed in dark, inflicting the same fate to Emily. Powerless, Elizabeth couldn't shout and couldn't move as tears dropped down her eyes before she and her friend were yanked inside a dark SUV.