A/N – Thanks for the comments! Blank Canvas came in first and Menagerie second. Thanks for voting!
Chapter 28
After much consideration and some feedback from the guys, Liz decided to go with Blank Canvas. She spent the next few weeks meeting with the lawyer and she is tired.
Jason smiled when he walked into the penthouse. Elizabeth is sprawled on the couch knocked out. She had been running herself ragged. It's hard to believe that it has been two months since she started school. Carefully, he laid her on the bed and put the covers over her before going to take a shower. They are closing in on Sorel after getting some great tips. Carly had been out and about, but luckily, he hadn't crossed her path yet.
Once he was snuggled against her, he finally felt like he could let the stress of the day go and he quickly fell asleep.
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Georgie giggled as Johnny spun her around.
"I love you, Georgie Jones."
"I love you too."
Mac cleared his throat. While he couldn't deny that Georgie is happy, he just wishes it was with someone who didn't live a dangerous occupation. Johnny had grown on him though. His wicked sense of humor and glint in his eye reminds him of Robert and Frisco.
"Hey," Georgie said before hugging him.
"I was wondering if you could come to dinner tomorrow night. Robin will be in town."
"I think that's doable."
"We're going to eat at 6:00."
"That will work."
Mac nodded and then headed out of the park.
"You think he'll ask me over one day?"
She chuckled. "Maybe we could smuggle him into your place or something. I actually think he likes you. After all, he hasn't thrown you in jail lately."
Johnny grinned. "We'll figure it out. Robin hasn't been back for quite a while."
"I know. This is unexpected."
"Are you going to stay there?"
"Maybe. I'll text you at some point and let you know." She had been spending a lot of time at Johnny's place.
He languidly kissed her. She is the perfect girl for him, and he won't take that for granted. Amazingly, they are all in a happy relationship except for Enzo and Sonny. Micah had started seeing a student at PCU that had given him her number while he was watching Liz. Enzo had taken a few days of vacation and went home to spend time with his father. Jason had insisted on it. The guard had still checked in every day to make sure Elizabeth is okay. He's a stand-up guy and will have a good future in the organization. It doesn't hurt that he's a great sharpshooter too. The penthouse's construction is almost done, which will free up some of Francis's time. Tammy makes sure he eats. Francis tends to be quieter, so Tammy really draws him out of his shell.
Everything is almost too perfect which always gives him pause.
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Carly finished up her call. She just needs a few more things in order and a few more men to get the team assembled. It's amazing what people will do for money. AJ has been on his best behavior, but she'll find a chink in his armor. While she tried strategic times to be on the docks, Jason has been elusive. For now, she'll bide her time because next month, everything will fall into place. Patience isn't normally her virtue, but good things come to those who wait. Smiling, she grabbed her keys to go pick up Michael. Jason underestimates the lengths she will go to get him back, and he'll pay for that mistake.
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Robin entered the house and grinned as Maxie rushed toward her. "Hey!"
"I missed you."
"I'm sure you'll have lots of gossip."
"I do. Georgie and Mac ran to the store. They should be back soon."
"How is he doing?"
"He works too much but other than that, he's fine."
"And Georgie?"
Maxie grinned. "She is in love."
Robin's eyes bulged. "Dillon still?" While she doesn't dislike Dillon, he seems like he is too immature for Georgie.
"Nope, and you're not going to believe it."
"Tell me!" God, she has missed so much.
Maxie laughed. "That's what you get for leaving. It's Johnny O'Brien."
"Get out!"
"I know…"
"Mac must have had a heart attack." She would have never have guessed that Georgie would go from Dillon to a bad boy.
"Yeah, at first, he dragged him to the station a few times, but that was because Dillon had lost his mind, cheated with Lulu, and then started to stalk Georgie."
Robin plopped onto the couch. "Wow."
"Yeah. He left town. I think Johnny threatened him."
"What about Lulu?"
"She was awful to Georgie and ended up getting pregnant. When Dillon didn't want to have a relationship with her, she ended up having a breakdown."
Robin's jaw dropped. "Holy shit."
"She had an abortion. Jason found her. It was bad."
Robin is stunned. Lulu used to be so sweet. "Um, do you ever run into Jason?" She misses him and wishes they could heal the rift between them.
"Not often, but he's happy."
"He found someone?"
"Yes? Do you remember Elizabeth Webber?"
She wracked her brain for a minute. "Vaguely. She was younger than us. How old is she?"
"She's nineteen."
Robin is surprised that Jason would go there, but after the accident, he had regressed to a degree.
"They are in love."
Robin nodded.
"Were you hoping he was still single?"
"I still think about him. He'll always have a big place in my heart."
"Do you regret telling the truth about Michael?"
"Yes and no. I still think AJ had a right to know, but I lost Jason in the process. I guess if it was meant to be or nothing would have torn us apart. We just wanted different things."
The door flung open and she jumped up and embraced Georgie and Mac.
"Hope you're hungry," Mac said. It's so good to see her.
"I'm starving."
"Then follow us."
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Elizabeth sunk into the bathtub.
A few minutes later, Jason handed her a glass of wine. "You need to relax."
"This is doing the trick. Now I know what the term bone-tired means. I don't think I've stopped for the last few days except to crash for a few hours." She eyed him wearily. "I miss you."
He slightly smiled. "Maybe we can go away for a few days or something."
"That would be outstanding. "
"I'll make it happen."
Her eyes fluttered shut and he waited for her in the other room. When he heard her get up, he hurried back and helped her dry off.
"You spoil me."
"Always…"
He carried her to bed and made love to her, relishing their closeness. He can't remember a time where he was this happy.
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Once construction was finished, Jason showed Elizabeth how to use everything, starting with the elevator upstairs.
"You just step inside, and it will illuminate. Once you push the close button, it will shut quickly and automatically go back up once you are down below."
"Okay."
They got inside and went down and when it opened up, Francis was there waiting.
"Hey!"
He smiled. "Hello. Let me show you around."
They went to the kitchen first. "Everything is fully stocked. I even got you hot chocolate."
"Awesome!"
"I pay attention." He moved to the main bedroom. "You can sleep in here." There are a king-sized bed and some dressers. "There are clothes that will fit you and Jason in the drawers." They moved to the second bedroom. "This is where some of us may sleep. It has monitors." There are a set of bunk beds. He switched the monitors on and you can see the lobby, the hallway of the penthouse and the apartment, the stairway, the alley, front of the building, and the parking garage. "The closet has weapons and ammunition. The apartment is fire and bulletproof, but it's best to get you out in case of collapse. In the elevator, if you press the red button, it will go to the roof. I added that feature just in case."
"How do we get out if we can't go back upstairs or don't go to the roof?"
He motioned for her to follow. "This keypad will make part of the wall slide open. You'll have to memorize the password."
"Okay."
"We'll talk about what that will be. We will all have different ones. Once you are in the elevator, it will take you to parking level one and you will be escorted off the premises. If it's not safe for you to leave the apartment, then you will get a message on your phone and intercom. We can talk to you via our watches."
"Wow, you went all out."
He smiled. "Nothing but the best." Once this is on lockdown, even I can't enter unless you buzz me in. If I'm compromised, you cannot open that door, understand?"
She doesn't like that scenario, but she nodded.
"Okay, let's go upstairs and we'll use the trap door near the kitchen."
They headed up and then went downstairs.
"The trap door is in the pantry." He opened it up. "All you have to do is kneel and touch the floor with your palm flat on this tile to open it." He pointed and touched it. The tile slid open and a light flickered on. "Lock the outer door to buy you time. I would suggest you do that upstairs as well. You can either use the ladder or the pole. When you clear the opening, just smack the red button on the wall and the tile will quickly close. If you miss it, within a few seconds, it will close as well."
"What if Jason tells me to go ahead?"
"He just has to touch a space next to the door and it will unlock and let him in."
They had thought of everything.
When Francis pointed, Liz shook her head. "You go first."
He smiled and sat on his butt and then grabbed the pole and wrapped his legs around it. "If you choose this way, there is a button on the wall that is lower, and you can secure yourself and hit it on the way down."
"Okay."
He disappeared and she grinned.
"You're not going to use the ladder, are you?" Jason asked.
She grabbed the pole and laughed as she slid down and then hit the button before lessening her grip so she'd slide down easier.
Jason waited in the living room for her and Francis to return.
"We're on our way back," Liz said from the elevator intercom.
Jason chuckled. She is having way too much fun with this, but he's glad she's comfortable. Francis had made sure that only certain people can get to the penthouse. You must use your handprint to enter the elevator and use a code to get there, otherwise, it will stop on the tenth floor where a guard will be stationed. The stairwell had been secured so anyone on the tenth floor or below must put in a code to access the upper levels as well. The intercom and communication system are state of the art. Only certain guards can access the areas as well. Jason isn't playing with his girl's safety.
Francis and Liz joined him.
"Alright, I went over the elevator codes with her and she chose a password."
"Sounds good," Jason said.
"I have a date, so I'll talk to you later."
"Enjoy…"
Jason embraced his girl. "How do you feel about all of this?"
"It's a little scary but cool at the same time. I feel safer."
"Good." She had been spending more time at the studio. It had already been outfitted with monitors, a very safe door, an intercom. A security firm will be monitoring those coming in and out of the building or at Elizabeth's door.
"After class, I'm going to go paint."
"Alright, just don't go anywhere without Micah or Enzo."
"I won't." If she tried to ditch her guards or do something stupid, it would just upset her man and he needs to focus.
He gave her a quick peck. "Thank you for taking it seriously."
"I understand how important it is, so I have no problem with it."
"Johnny is going to take me and Georgie shooting next week."
"I want to come."
"Okay. You don't trust him?"
"It's not that, but it will be an excuse to be close to you and I'll never turn that opportunity down."
She grinned. "Is the sight of me holding a gun going to turn you on?"
He chuckled. "Probably… Everything about you turns me on."
She grabbed his face and laid a hot kiss on him. "I have to go. Will you be late tonight?"
"No."
"Later," she said before stealing one more kiss.
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Robin smirked when she walked into Kelly's.
Johnny turned with a coffee in his hand and smiled. "Hello, Robin."
"Hello. So, what's this I hear about you and Mac being besties?"
He chuckled. "You're not jealous, are you?"
"No, there's enough of him to go around. How have you been?"
"I'm gone. I'm crazy about Georgie and work is good."
She likes the look in his eyes. "Be good to her. She's special."
"I will and I know."
"How is Jason?"
Johnny shifted his stance. "He's happy."
She averted her gaze. "That's all I wanted for him."
"And you?"
She smiled. "I'm great. Work takes up most of my existence, but I love it."
His phone rang. "Duty calls…"
She waved goodbye and then decided to get coffee somewhere else.
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Sonny looked up and yelled, "Come in…"
Robin eased her way inside. "Hey."
A grin lit up his face as he stood. "It's good to see you."
They exchanged a hug and he kissed her cheek. "I missed you."
She smiled. "I missed you too. How are you?"
He motioned for her to sit and then sat at his desk.
"I'm good."
"I wasn't sure if it would be awkward coming back."
"Never be afraid to visit me."
"Thanks! I ran into Johnny at Kelly's."
"I guess you were surprised that he's with Georgie."
"Yes, but she seems happy. Mac…"
Sonny chuckled. "Yeah, that has been interesting."
"I hear Jason is happy too."
Sonny nodded. "Did you come back for him?"
"No. I miss him, but we don't want the same things."
The door opened and Jason started to move inside and then froze.
Robin got up. "Hey."
He smiled. "Hello."
"Hug?"
He nodded and then they warmly embraced, something she cherished.
"I just came to drop this off and then I have to go," Jason said.
Sonny grabbed the file he had held out.
"Maybe we could have lunch before I leave."
"How long are you staying?"
"I'll be here a few weeks."
"Okay."
He left and Sonny smiled. "You'll be happy about one thing."
"What?"
"He has ditched Carly."
Her eyes widened. "Get out!"
He chuckled. "It's true. He wants nothing to do with her."
"Wow. We have a lot to catch up on."
"Why don't you come over for dinner?"
"How about tomorrow night? Mac is cooking tonight."
"That's perfect."
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Jason entered the house, a slight headache throbbing in his head.
Liz came from the kitchen. "Hey. What's wrong?"
"Headache…"
She went to retrieve some aspirin and then returned with some water. "Take these."
He downed the pills and water and then relaxed against the cushions.
Liz sat next to him and held his hand. "Work?"
"Yeah. Sorel is a pain in the ass."
She leaned her head on his arm. "Sorry…"
"Oh, before I forget, Robin is in town. I saw her when I went to Sonny's office. She wants to have lunch sometime in the next two weeks."
"You're okay with that?"
"Yes and no, but it's time to let things go. It's done and over with. We can't go back nor would I want to."
"I'd like to meet her."
"You would like her. She's nice."
"How did you go from Robin to Carly?"
He smirked. "I wanted to feel something other than anger. Sex did that for me. I slept with Carly, but I had a relationship with Robin."
"It's interesting how different they are."
"You mean one is psycho and the other isn't?"
She chuckled. "Yes."
"Robin taught me that I could love. Carly—she taught me that not all love is good, but Robin left, and Carly stayed. I think in the back of mind I didn't think I could have a normal relationship because of the business."
"Well, you have one now."
He smiled. "Thank you."
"Thank you for helping me live again."
"I just let you be you."
"Exactly…"
She closed her eyes and they stayed like that until Jason's stomach growled and then they ordered some food.