The Wayward Son and The Docile Daughter
Author's Note: A little revisionist history, reimagining the start of Liason, all the way back to when Jason came out of the coma that changed the man he was forever.
Stepping off the elevator on the sixth floor of General Hospital, Elizabeth Webber makes her way to the suite that belongs to Jason Quartermaine, each step echoing through the empty hall. It was strange to be in this area of the hospital, never once needing to venture to the long-term care unit, unsure of just what she is meant to do there.
When the Quartermaines approached her parents, requesting to have a sitdown with her present, Elizabeth was confused, to say the least, but she couldn't deny them. The dutiful daughter that she is, Elizabeth sat by as they explained their reasons for wanting to speak with them, not at all prepared for the words that left their lips. What could she really do for their son? Sure, she's interned for Dr. Collins for the last few summers, but she's no psychiatrist. It just didn't make any sense.
You will do as they ask, her father had instructed her once they were alone, his voice stern and definite, leaving no room for argument. The Quartermaines, in exchange for her efforts, are willing to write a glowing letter of recommendation to help pad her college applications. To have a prestigious family back her, paired with her already stocked portfolio, Elizabeth will have no trouble getting into Harvard to pursue her psychiatric degree.
Getting to the room, Elizabeth stands outside, watching the exchange within. The man looked a lot like Jason Quartermaine, but something in his eyes told her that the man lying there in that bed was no longer Jason Quartermaine. Not really. Her heart hurts for the woman sitting by his side, his fiancee, Keesha Ward. The look in her eyes spoke volumes and it was clear that she wasn't ready to accept the man lying before her any more than the Quartermaines are.
"You must be Elizabeth Webber," Keesha says as she swipes away at her tears, shutting the door behind her as she walks over to where Elizabeth's standing. "I'm Keesha Ward."
"I know who you are, Ms. Ward," Elizabeth replies, shaking her hand regardless. "I sympathize with what you're going through."
"Thank you," Keesha smiles sadly. "Look, I'm sorry you were dragged into all this, I honestly have no clue what you could do to help."
"Me either, but I'd be remiss if I didn't at least try," Elizabeth replies gently, knowing she couldn't very well tell this woman what she thinks of all this. "Will you be staying?"
"No, I've had about as much as I can handle for today," Keesha shakes her head. "I'll leave you to it."
Turning to look through the window, Keesha stares in at her fiance, feeling defeated in her attempt to reach him. She heard Monica and Alan out, listened to all their reasonings, but she just doesn't see how this stranger could get through to Jason where no one that loves him can.
They've done everything possible, they've consulted the doctors and they've got the best psychiatrist treating him yet no one can break through his hardened exterior. So, how, with all the professionals incapable of helping him, is this girl fresh out of high school going to be able to help him?
Elizabeth stood outside the room for a long moment to regain her composure, shaken by the look that graces Keesha's face, truly feeling for her situation. To lose someone you love to a tragic accident is one thing, it shatters you to your core, but for them to survive and still lose them, she honestly doesn't know how she could cope with that.
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth knocks on the door before walking inside, closing the door behind her and leaning against it for a moment. It would be a minute or so but, eventually, Jason's eyes meet hers and they hold each other's gaze for a long moment in silence before Elizabeth breaks it.
"I'm Elizabeth," she voices before pushing away from the door and walking over to stand by his bedside. "You can call me Liz if you'd like. Whatever you're comfortable with."
"I know why you're here," Jason says plainly before turning his gaze to the ceiling. "You're wasting your time."
"That's perfectly fine, I have a lot of time to waste," Elizabeth counters simply, smiling softly when he turns to look at her. "My parents have instructed me to entertain your parents in hopes of gaining a letter of recommendation from them, doesn't mean you have to entertain me. I'll just sit there, out of your way, and it'll be like I'm not even here."
Jason stares at her for a long moment, truly not understanding the woman before him, but that's really nothing new. Everything and everyone seems to baffle him, but none more than her. With a single nod, Elizabeth turns away from him, moving the chair to the corner of the room before taking a seat in silence.
Crisscrossing her legs, Elizabeth pulls out her sketchbook and pencil set from her bag, deciding to use her time to touch up some of her sketches. Jason can't help but stare at her as she sketches, not used to having a visitor that isn't jumping down his throat to remember, to be someone he isn't. He was about to turn away when Elizabeth started to hum softly, the look on her face captivating him to no end, making him wonder just who this girl really is.
"Good afternoon, Jason," Bobbie Spencer voices when she walks into the room, more than a little surprised to find Elizabeth sitting in the corner. "Elizabeth?"
"Hey, Bobbie," Elizabeth smiles softly. "Don't mind me. I'm not even here."
"Um, okay," Bobbie says hesitantly before turning away from her to return her focus to Jason. "How are you feeling today?"
"Same as yesterday," he says simply.
"Good, that's good," Bobbie smiles softly. "Well, there's not too many tests today, should only take about half an hour. Would you like an orderly to help you into the chair?"
"No," Jason says plainly. "I can do it."
"Figured you'd say that," Bobbie says before pushing the wheelchair over to him, adjusting the wires and iv lines so he doesn't have too much trouble getting into the chair. "Let's go, shall we?"
"Wait," Jason says as Bobbie starts to wheel him out. "Elizabeth?"
"Yeah?" Elizabeth voices, lifting her gaze from her sketch to meet his gaze.
"Will you be here?" Jason questions.
"Yeah," Elizabeth assures, smiling softly. "I'll be here until the end of visitation."
"Okay," Jason replies, looking up at Bobbie. "We can go now."
Wheeling him out of the room, Bobbie had to admit that she was surprised by the exchange, dropping him off at the lab before making her way back to his suite. Talking to Elizabeth about what had her there, Bobbie was doubly surprised to find that Monica and Alan had gone to her parents to get her to spend time with their son. The Quartermaines and the Webbers haven't exactly had the best relations, so, for them to ask for Elizabeth's help is a definite show of their desperation.
Retaking her seat at the corner of the room, Elizabeth returns her focus to her sketch, finding she appreciates the calm that's found within that room. If she were at home, her parents would be on her almost every second of the day, pushing her to do more to pad her college applications.
At any given moment, there are at least twenty pamphlets on her desk at home, her parents' way of guiding her to the right charities to volunteer for. The fact that she's able to just sit and sketch without one of her parents hovering over her, pointing out how much time she's wasting by doodling in her sketchbook, Elizabeth finds she doesn't mind being there all that much.
When Jason gets back from his testing, things return to before he was taken for his testing, Elizabeth seeing that the testing has drained him out some. In the little time that she's spent with him, Elizabeth just can't connect the person his parents had described to the man lying in that hospital bed.
It could be because she's not personally connected to him, she has no stake in his condition, so, there's no pressure on him where she's concerned, but a part of her tells her that they'd have a better chance at reaching him if they just accept the man lying before them and no pressure him into being someone he's not. As visitor hours come to an end, Elizabeth packs up, doing her best not to make too much noise with Jason fast asleep.
"Elizabeth?" Jason's voice takes her by surprise as she's about to pull open the door, prompting her to turn around and meet his gaze. "Leaving?"
"Yeah, visitor hours are up," Elizabeth explains, walking over to stand at the foot of his bed. "I'll be back tomorrow though."
"Because of the Quartermaines?"
"Because of my parents," Elizabeth says honestly. "I hope that's okay. It'll be a lot like today, I'll keep out of the way, you'll hardly know I'm here."
"Do you always do what your parents want?"
"Most of the time, yeah," Elizabeth admits. "It's just easier that way."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if I argued against being here, I'd never hear the end of it, my parents are just that stubborn," Elizabeth explains. "Accepting what they wanted, I was able to sketch without having them hovering over me, something I haven't had in a really long time. It's really just a sense of picking your battles."
"I don't get it," Jason says after trying to think it through. "Why not just do what you want?"
"Okay, let me see if I can explain this another way," Elizabeth says, taking a moment to find the right words. "When dealing with most people, it's a give and take kind of relationship, in order to get what you want, you have to be willing to give something up in exchange."
"Still don't get it."
"What is something you want from your parents?" Elizabeth questions, deciding that a personal situation might get him to understand it more. "Something they refuse to give you."
"Space," Jason says honestly. "Freedom."
"And what do they want that you won't give them?"
"Their son."
"That's a can't not a won't," Elizabeth points out, smiling softly. "Have they asked you to do something for them?"
"They want to put me in a rehab facility," Jason concedes. "After I refused to stay in their home."
"Okay, between the two, which do you think would give you more space and freedom?" Elizabeth questions. "A rehab facility where your every move is kept to a schedule or at the Quartermaine estate where all you have to deal with is your family? Family can be a lot to deal with and they can tend to be overbearing, but they're not able to keep you locked up in the house the way the rehab could. Giving them what they want, whether they know it or not, will in turn give you what you want. You get what I'm saying?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, well, I better get going before security comes looking for me," Elizabeth says as she glances at her watch. "If you'd prefer it, I can sit out in the hall tomorrow, I wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable."
"No, it's okay," Jason declines, meeting her gaze when she looks at him. "You can come in."
"Okay," Elizabeth smiles softly. "See you tomorrow then."
Jason watches her as she walks out of the room, stopping at the window to slightly wave goodbye before she walks out of sight. Of all the people that have come in and out of that room at the request of the Quartermaines, he finds that she's the only one that he doesn't mind. She talks openly and honestly, giving it to him as it is, and that's something that he can appreciate and respect.
Author's Note: Let me know what you think of this one. One-shot or more? We shall see. Sound off in the review box below and let me know what you think or want for this one. As always, take care of yourselves and a million virtual hugs to you all.