-Last Episode -

AJ worries over the problem of how to keep Elizabeth and be a father

Step 49

-Elizabeth's Bedroom-

Elizabeth stared up at the ceiling and felt like an absolute liar. Oh, she was sick, alright. Sick enough that getting up and around was a horrible thing, but telling AJ that she was too sick for visitors... that was just a lie... and out and out lie.

She just needed some time to think.

Turning on her side she saw the bouquet of flowers that AJ had delivered to the house that morning and she sighed. Okay, she really didn't need to think anymore than she already had been... she needed time to get over the gnawing fear that was eating her sanity alive.

She was day dreaming all the time in school... and they weren't happy dreams. Every picture that flashed in her head was full of AJ and Carly. Balling her fist up she pummeled her pillow and muffled a scream with her face pressed deeply into the fluff.

When she was done she flopped over on her back and groaned. Instead of releasing all the frustration inside of her heart it only made her feel more and more like a little girl... selfish and demanding.

Turning on her other side she saw herself reflected in the mirror and her teeth bit into her lower lip at the image she saw. The red rimmed eyes and rosey nose... the marked frown line between her brows... it was all a disappointment.

So it was best that she hide away until she could get over her little snit. She didn't need to add to AJ's worries... by acting every inch the teenager that had no business being with a man.

- General Hospital-

AJ burst into the ER with Emily hard on his heels. Skidding to a stop at the desk he swallowed the fear that stuck in his throat. "Carly Roberts... where is she?"

The nurse flipped through her clipboard and nodded. "Bay 3."

Emily grabbed AJ's arm and together they moved down the hall toward the examination area.

AJ was the first to reach the curtain and he dropped his sister's arm as he stepped inside. "Carly?"

Carly turned toward him with lines of tears on her cheeks. "I'm so scared, AJ." She drew in a shaking breath. "So scared for our baby." She slid her hands over the swell of her body and squeaked out a sob.

Crossing to her bedside, AJ reached out his hand and touched the swell. "What's... what's wrong, Carly? I got the message from my secretary and came right down."

The curtain drew aside and Emily peered in.

Carly ignored the younger girl and focused her attention on AJ, covering his hand with her own. "I've been so sore lately," she moaned... I could barely eat anything... and sleeping," she groaned, "I've had no rest... I don't know what's wrong..."

AJ tried not to flinch away from her touch, slowly removing his hand. "Has a doctor been in to see you yet?"

She nodded, shielding her face from Emily's prying eyes. She pointed to the bandage on her arm. "They've drawn blood." Above it was a bloodpressure cuff. "They have monitors on me... and they're waiting for the test results to come back."

"And the baby?" AJ looked down at the swell of her belly with real fear in his voice. "Have they called in your OB?"

She managed a smile. "You're so kind to worry about us." She sighed and settled back against the cushions.

Monica entered with Dr. Meadows on her heels, the two women crossed to the side of the bed. Monica took AJ's hand and gave him a reassuring smile. He didn't smile back.

Dr. Meadows opened her chart and looked at Carly. "We need to conduct a few more tests, but," she cleared her throat, "but there seems to be a problem."

-Hardy House-

Elizabeth shut the front door, locked it, and set the keys in her purse. When she turned around she started. Standing there, a few feet away, was Jason Morgan.

"Jason... I-"

"I didn't mean to scare you... I was just about to knock on your door when you opened it." He looked pretty uncomfortable and for Jason Morgan, that was saying something. "Are you going somewhere?"

Elizabeth flexed her hands on the strap of her purse, trying to swallow down the lump in her throat. "I was going to stop by Mercy and see my- and see someone."

Jason looked at the empty drive way. "How are you getting there?"

She chuckled. "I don't drive... so I was just going to catch the bus."

Looking down at the street he pointed to a dark SUV with black windows. "I have the afternoon off and one of the company's cars. I can drive you."

She laughed, a solemn little cough of sound. "Would you think I'm really silly if I told you I'm so glad I don't have to wait for the bus?"

He shrugged. "I guess not."

-General Hospital Emergency-

"A problem?" AJ turned to his mother. "What's the problem?"

"The tests that we'd like to run should bring us closer to a diagnosis... but right now-"

"Yes," Dr. Meadows chimed in, "right now, we need to keep Miss Roberts calm... anything we can do to relieve stress from her..." she looked at AJ with a significant look, "and the baby."

Carly looked up at him and reached her hand out.

AJ moved closer, dropping Monica's hand from his as he took Carly's hand and gave her a squeeze.

She pulled him closer. "What if... what if something's wrong?"

"General Hospital has the best staff in the East, Carly... if there's something wrong... they'll know what to do."

"But," Carly sucked in a trembling breath, "but what if... what if... we lose the baby?"

Dr. Meadows stepped closer, her smile reassuring. "Let's not worry about that right now, Miss Roberts. Once the new set of test results comes in... we'll have a better idea of what we're dealing with."

-Mercy Hospital-

Jason followed Elizabeth into the hospital. She turned to look at him over her shoulder. "You don't have to."

"I don't have to... what?"

Stepping to the side to avoid the rush of a nurse through the hall, Elizabeth shook her head. "Babysit me."

"Baby-" Jason shook his head, "I'm not here to... I just wanted to see if you needed anything."

She blinked at him... confused. Then, a smile curved her lips. "Oh... okay, sorry. I was letting my inner-Lizzie loose on the world. My bad."

"Inner-Lizzie..." he shook his head, "should I be worried?"

She cuffed him on the shoulder. "Only if you try to get in my way."

Jason held up his hands in surrender. "I'll try to step back in time."

Elizabeth continued down the hallway, checking in with the receptionist before she took the seat next to Jason in the waiting room. She looked at him with a curious consideration in her eyes. "How are you?"

"Me?" Jason shifted in his chair, tugging his jacket closer. "I'm fine."

She looked at him, narrowing her eyes. "Try again. This time... at least try to make me believe you."

Jason sat forward in his chair, covering his face with his hands for a moment. "People don't usually..."

"Get you?" Elizabeth leaned back in her chair, folding her arms over her chest. "Emily does it." She gave Jason a smile when he looked up at her. "What? It's actually easy if I really look at you... you're like AJ, but you're a little more..." she passed her hand over her face like a wall, "closed off."

"Closed off, huh?" He nodded. "It's not so much that AJ was with Carly... I never... cared for her like that... but it's a matter of..." he looked at Elizabeth, "trust." He sighed. "AJ's my brother... half-brother... and the fact that he was drinking-"

"That worries me too." Elizabeth's lips pursed together. "And that he doesn't remember anything that happened beyond sitting at the bar and then waking up with Carly."

Jason shrugged. "I don't remember him before my accident." He waved off Elizabeth's gasp of concern as she apologized for forgetting about it. "You should talk to Emily about it... or Monica. They remember what he was like back when he was drinking everyday... all day."

"And between the two of you?" Elizabeth looked at Jason intently. "How are things between you and AJ. Are you talking to him?"

Jason scrubbed his hand over his face. "He's a little busy."

Elizabeth was about to put a name to it, but the receptionist called out to her and she stood. "You don't need to wait, Jason, I can-"

"I have the afternoon off, Elizabeth... I'll wait for you."

She nodded and gave him a tight-lipped smile. "All right. Thanks."

-General Hospital Emergency-

AJ stepped back into the room. To make a call on his phone he had to go outside to the Ambulance dock. Elizabeth hadn't answered her home phone. She said she was sick and still he worried. Was she not answering because she didn't feel well... or was she not answering because she didn't want to talk to him... and he didn't blame her... Life with him was just a mess.

He looked across the room at Carly, asleep on the bed. In this light... asleep.. she didn't resemble the raving bitch he'd come to hate... she looked smaller... almost frail. Knowing there was another side to her... it made it harder to resent her for driving this wedge between him and his future.

-Dr. Abernathy's Waiting Room-

When Elizabeth emerged from the doctor's office, Jason stood up and met her halfway across the room. He took one look at the balled up tissue in her hands and the red rimmed eyes that blinked back at him and he wrapped her in his arms. "Let's get out of here, okay?"

She nodded and let him drape an arm over her shoulders and walk her out to the car.

When they were safely inside the car, he started up the engine to warm up the cab and then he sat back in his seat and waited for her sobs to become snuffles of sound. "You don't have to tell me what's going on, Elizabeth... but if you want to..."

Elizabeth shook her head. "Not... not right now, Jason... but thank you." She looked up at him, her smile contrasting with the anguish in her eyes. "I don't think I can handle you knowing the horrible person that I am inside... I can't... I just can't." She began to cry in earnest and Jason felt his throat constrict.

"Should I take you home?"

She couldn't think of facing Audrey.

"How about the mansion... Emmy would like to see you... or..."

She couldn't face the rest of the Quartermaines... not now.

"Can we just drive... please... can't we just... drive."

"Okay." Jason set the gear in D and let go of the brake... heading off to nowhere.

-Next Episode-

Elizabeth & AJ struggle with their thoughts... and feelings...