...Unconditional...
With Francis and the Giambetti duo focused on the next step, finding the person responsible for taking Elizabeth from her family, Johnny finds that he isn't as eager to jump down that rabbit hole as they are. From the look of this situation, going head long into the search is bound to take them weeks, if not months, and he just can't see himself going radio silent for that long.
They'll have to call Sonny eventually and he just can't see himself telling his boss everything while leaving Elizabeth in the dark. He gets it, the danger level is slowly rising, but it just doesn't sit well with him. If they are going to tell anyone about what they've found, Elizabeth has to be at the top of that list, it's only right. It's her life and her truth. Continuing now just doesn't make sense to him.
"John?" Francis voices when he rises to his feet and starts to head out the door. "You good?"
"I need some air," Johnny says simply, continuing his venture out of the house. "Don't stop on my account."
"Give me a minute," Francis says to Melody, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "I'll be right back."
"That's fine," Melody shakes her head. "I'll get dinner started."
Making his way out of the house, Francis finds Johnny sitting on the trunk of their car, staring down at his cellphone. Francis knows that he has his reservations and, for the most part, he agrees with his way of thinking. As much as he wants to go home and tell Elizabeth everything they've found, there's too many unknown factors that makes that impossible at this point.
"We knew this would be a hard road when we started this," Francis reminds him, hopping up onto the trunk to sit with him. "Bringing her into this now would only put her in more danger."
"I hear you," Johnny says plainly. "But you're not hearing me."
"You're wrong, John, I hear you and I understand where you're coming from," Francis says seriously. "Ideally, I'd love to tell Elizabeth everything and reunite her with Melody. I want nothing more than that, but there's still so much we don't know. We swore that we wouldn't return to her with half truths and that's all we have right now, John. Half the truth."
"We have enough," Johnny counters. "We have her family."
"Yes, we have that, but do we know why she was taken?" Francis points out. "Do we know that bringing the Giambettis into her life now won't be putting her life at risk? The answer's no. We don't know what we're risking if we go home now. As hard as it is to stay away, it's something we have to do for Elizabeth's sake, her safety above all else. Can we at least agree on that?"
"We can agree on that, but I've got one question for you, Francis," Johnny says seriously. "What are we risking by not going back? She's nearly landed herself in jail twice. Those people are not easing up in the slightest. What happens when she needs us and we're not there because we're out searching for answers she never asked for? We've been gone long enough as it is."
"You don't think I've thought of that?" Francis shakes his head. "I know it's not the same as being there, but Jason can protect her for as long as we need. We just have to see this through to the end, John, we have to."
"Fine, but keep one thing in mind, old timer," Johnny counters, shoving his phone back into his pocket. "Anything happens to her while we're gone, I'm out. Nothing you say or do will stop me, you understand?"
"Understood."
Sure, Jason can handle himself just fine and maybe he might be able to keep Elizabeth safe atop the rest of his duties, but Johnny just didn't like leaving the safety of his family in the hands of someone else. Accepting that he couldn't go back just yet, Johnny walks back into the house with Francis. Hoping and praying that the old timer is right and this is the path they needed to take.
"I don't know what game you think you're playing, child, but it ends here," Audrey states as she walks into his office, slamming her resignation papers down on his table. "First my house and now my job. This is the last thing you are going to take from me, you understand me?!"
"Or what?" Steven counters, rising to his feet. "I'm not a frightened child that will cower before you. I'm just getting started."
"Mark my words," Audrey states furiously. "This is the last thing I'm allowing you to take from me."
"Mark all the words you want," Steven calls out, making her freeze in the doorway. "But I'm not going to stop. You think it was bad to move out of the family home...just wait until I force you out of the house you now call home."
"Just how do you think you'll pull that off?" Audrey dares to ask, turning to glare at him. "That is my house. You have no claim to it."
"Not me," Steven agrees. "But you mark my words, Audrey, I'll have you out of there before the week's out."
"You truly are that devilish woman's spawn."
"Her gene's make it easy, but it was your family that turned me into this," Steven counters. "You reap what you sow, old woman, and, mark my words, you haven't seen anything yet."
Watching her storm out of his office, Steven couldn't help but laugh, knowing that he is already rattling her cage. He had to hand it to the old lady, however, escaping with nothing more than a forced resignation. It's more than the woman deserved. Knowing her, she most likely played the card of being Steve's widow. Even in death, his grandfather is saving her from her sins, but there are some things that she can't be saved from.
This wasn't at all how she thought this day would go when she woke up this morning yet there was no denying it. This day has become the absolute worst. Working her way through her shift, Elizabeth finds her way to the Elm Street Pier once the day is over, sitting alone on the bench just staring out at the water. This really would be a great time to have her brothers with her. They'd be able to help her figure out her next move and stop her from feeling so lost.
As much as she wants to call Emily about it, she knows her friend is dealing with some family stuff and she didn't want to weigh her down with this. AJ Quartermaine has decided to marry a woman he's known for literally less than a week and the Quartermaines are in overdrive trying to figure out how to change his mind. Emily has been playing mediator since she came back and the last thing she needed was for her to drop this in her lap.
"Hey," his voice puts a soft smile on her lips as she lifts her gaze to meet his. "It's getting late."
"I hadn't really noticed," Elizabeth admits, moving over so he could sit next to her. "Got a lot on my mind, I guess."
"Wanna talk about it?" he offers, seeing that she was truly struggling with something.
"Just when I think I finally achieved something for myself, that family finds a way to ruin it," Elizabeth sighs. "I was chosen to create the main attraction for PCU's gallery and Audrey has somehow found a way to take it away from me. This was my chance to show the world what I could do and now...I don't know what comes next."
"I don't know much about art," Jason says carefully. "But no one can take anything from you unless you let them. If you want to show your art to the world, do it. This gallery is just one way, right? If it doesn't work, find another."
"Yeah, I get what you mean," Elizabeth shakes her head. "But it's hard to do that coming from a small town like this. The gallery would have made it a little easier, you know?"
"Anything worth having is worth fighting for," Jason says simply. "Is your dream worth fighting for?"
"It is," Elizabeth smiles brightly. "Thanks, Jason."
"Just voicing what you already know," Jason shakes his head. "How about a ride?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
Holding out his hand to her, they hold hands as they walk to his bike, straddling it together and taking off into the night. She knows he's right. The gallery was just one step in the path to her future and she'll continue to fight for it even if she can't have the gallery to help her along.
He doesn't know a lot about what she's talking about, but he knows when something's worth fighting for and he knows she has what it takes to fight for it. As they ride through the night, he's thankful when she starts to relax behind him, signalling the point in the ride that she has let go of what's bothering her to just give in to the ride.
Getting lost in the moment is one of the many reasons that he loves to ride. Knowing that taking her on a ride could give her that sense of peace for however long it lasts, Jason's glad he can give that to her, as fleeting a feeling as it may be. Pulling into the driveway of her house hours later, Jason shuts off the bike before walking her to the door.
"Thanks for the ride," Elizabeth says as they stand in front of each other. "I really needed that tonight."
"You know you can call me if you need to, right? I'm here for you," Jason voices as he carefully slides his hands into hers when he sees hesitation in her eyes. "What is it?"
"Nothing," she whispers, allowing herself to just relish in the moment for as long as it lasts, her gaze dropping to their hands. "I just..."
"You can tell me anything," Jason says, lifting their hands together to use one finger under her chin to bring her gaze back to his. "You don't have to hide with me."
"I'm starting to have feelings for you," Elizabeth voices honestly, her whole body flush with tingling sensations as she lays her heart out on the line. "I don't want to make things awkward between us because you've been a great friend to me and I know you just came out of a serious relationship..."
Using their connection to pull her closer, Jason claims her lips to silence anything else that was bound to fall from them, needing her to see that he was in it with her. Sure, she's right and he did just get out of a serious relationship, but that didn't change what he felt for her. As with all things in life, Jason believes that everything happens for a reason and maybe this is that reason.
Being with Robin had been everything to him, but maybe this was life's way of saying that it could be better. That maybe this is the girl that could give him forever and accept him in the life that he's chosen. In the moments that he's with her, he finds himself in that moment, just existing with her.
For her to care about him the way she does, to think of his feelings before her own, Jason just doesn't have any words for that. When she looks at him, she doesn't see the job, she looks at him and just sees him. Standing there now, having her want the same things he wants out of their relationship, Jason had to show her where his heart's at without a doubt.
"I want to be with you," Jason whispers as he lays his forehead against hers. "If that's what you want."
"It's what I want," Elizabeth replies wholeheartedly. "I want you, Jason."
"I want you, too," Jason assures. "And I swear, I'll never let you regret it."
"I know," she replies, leaning in for one more kiss before pulling away to meet his eyes. "Would you like to come inside?"
"Yeah."
Walking into the house, they lock the door and set the alarm before sitting down with a cup of hot chocolate and coffee, respectively. As they find themselves in a new stage of their relationship, the two decide that it's time to lay their cards on the table, telling each other about their past and the moments that have turned them into the people that they are. After a true in depth heart to heart, Elizabeth and Jason go to sleep that night with a true understanding of each other, a smile on their faces as the fatigue pulls them under.
"I'll see you for lunch," Jason says to her the next morning outside of the warehouse.
"I'll be here," Elizabeth whispers, smiling softly as his lips claim hers. "See you later."
Straddling the bike, he waits for her to walk inside before riding through town to the one person he knows can help Elizabeth get what she needs. His first instinct was to threaten whoever needed threatening to get Elizabeth her slot back in the gallery, but calmer heads prevailed. If it was taken from her at the hands of Audrey Webber, it can be given back at the hands of someone with a hell of a lot more social standing than that woman.
"Jason, dear, it's so nice of you to come for a visit," Lila smiles softly as he steps into her garden. "The family is quite focused on AJ at the moment, so, we've plenty time to ourselves."
"He's getting married," Jason says as he takes a seat with her for tea. "It's not the end of the world."
"You wouldn't know that from the way they're acting," Lila replies, knowing her family is blowing this far out of proportion, but also knowing that they are what they are. "So, tell me, what brings you by?"
"I have a favor to ask you," Jason admits. "You know Emily's friend, Elizabeth?"
"Yes," Lila smiles softly. "She's a sweet girl."
"She is," Jason agrees. "She's also had her spot in the PCU gallery taken away because of Audrey."
"Say no more, I'll take care of it," Lila pats his hand reassuringly. "That girl has had enough taken from her because of that woman."
Though the words aren't spoken, she could see that Elizabeth has found her way into the heart of another one of her grandchildren, seeing a change in Jason as she had seen in Emily. She has been meaning to invite the young woman over for some tea and, seeing all she's done for her grandchildren, Lila has to make that happen sooner rather than later.
They spend the hour together, just enjoying each other's company, before he leaves and Lila gets on the phone with the dean of Port Charles University. Listening as the dean tries to explain why he had to pull Elizabeth from the gallery, citing her stint with the cops and getting into a fist fight with her own sister, Lila laughs at the excuses.
"The last I checked, the best art comes from struggles," Lila points out simply. "From what you just described, there's bound to be quite the piece that'll stem from that. Don't you think so?"
"O-of course, Mrs. Quartermaine," the dean replies. "That does present quite the inspiring pool to create from."
"My thoughts, exactly," Lila smiles softly. "Now, I trust you'll correct your mistake or I'm afraid I won't be able to support your institution any further. Do we understand each other?"
"Yes, of course, Mrs. Quartermaine," the dean replies quickly. "It'll be corrected immediately."
"Very good," Lila says simply. "Then I will see you at the gallery. You have a wonderful day."
"You as well, ma'am."
Ending the call, the dean immediately places a call to Elizabeth, apologizing for the mix up and ensuring that she's still the artist for the main attraction. Even going as far as to tell her that the university is looking forward to seeing what she creates and that they'll make extra sure that her piece has the best location in the entire gallery. The university can afford to lose Audrey as a supporter, but it could not survive losing Lila Quartermaine as one.
Author's Note: Okay, so, there's that. I hope you all enjoyed this one. I'm actually in the middle of a huge move right now, I'll be flying out in a couple days, so, I'm not sure how often I'm going to update until I get to where I'm going. I'll try to post another chapter tomorrow, but I'll for sure update again when I'm settled in. Just hang in there with me, okay? Thanks for everything and I'll see you all in the next one. Thanks.