A/N - Thanks for the comments! Leasmom, I pm'd you. Carly has plenty of money.

Sorry for the lateness We went away for my birthday weekend and just got back. Alright, it's gonna be a while before this Jason/Carly situation is rectified, so hang in there.

Chapter 31

Georgie's trance finally breaks. "You're pregnant?"

Liz's lip quivered. "Yes. Jason didn't know. I was going to tell him tonight. That is why we were on the docks. I wanted to tell him at our favorite bench. It was my fault. If—"

"No! It wasn't. Whoever did this is at fault, not you!"

Liz closed her eyes. She had gotten him killed. What will she tell the baby? How will she live with herself? She could have just told him from the safety of their home.

Johnny answered his phone. "Yeah."

"Johnny, there is no body."

He leaped to his feet. "What?"

"There's blood everywhere, but no body."

"Shit!"

"What do you want me to do?"

"Call Stan and find him, dammit! Elizabeth is a wreck. Find him!"

What is he supposed to tell her? One of three things happened, either it's a rival that wants to show off the fact that they had killed Jason Morgan, the enforcer is alive, and they will use him as leverage, or his body is in the water because someone pushed him in."

"Is there blood near the edge of the docks?"

"It looks like some of it ran off the edge. It's a thick stream and there are some weird markings though. Are you thinking they threw him over?"

"If they did, we probably won't find him. Will Milo get in?"

Max put him on speaker and typed a message to his brother. "I'm asking him to go get his gear."

"They could have taken him."

"True."

Max took a couple of pictures of the dock. "Should I call a crew?"

"Did an ambulance show up?"

"Not that I saw, and I don't hear anything."

"I called one."

"Maybe they came before we got here and left."

This whole thing is bizarre.

"I'll call Sonny once I get Elizabeth into bed. We're at my place. It was closest."

She came out of the bathroom in a robe, her skin pale and eyes rimmed in red.

"I want to go to the penthouse. I need to be around him."

Johnny nodded. "There's some sweatpants and a t-shirt in the dresser."

"I'll get them," Georgie said.

"Max, we're coming to the penthouse. Can you have Sonny meet us?"

"Okay."

Johnny ended the call. No words were spoken, but he can tell Liz is barely holding on. Her coloring is off and she's having a problem staving off her tears—and the shaking...

Georgie gently pulled her back into the room and closed the door and helped her get dressed.

Once they were done, they moved into the room again.

Her red-painted toes sunk into the carpet, and she found herself hating the color once again. "I don't have any shoes." They were ruined.

"Then I'll carry you."

One tear rolled down her face.

"Thank you."

He easily lifted her and then Georgie grabbed her purse and they headed to her car.

Johnny sat Liz in the back with Georgie, and then they headed to the Towers.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Sonny stood as Francis opened the door.

Liz's head is buried against Johnny who nods and then heads upstairs, lying her on the bed before stepping out.

Georgie covered her up. "What do you need?"

"Jason…"

You could hear a pin drop until Elizabeth spoke again.

"Is one of his t-shirts on the chair over there?"

"Yes."

"I want to wear it."

Johnny exits as Georgie retrieves it and heads downstairs.

"Max briefed me. Is he really gone?" Sonny asked.

Johnny sighed heavily. "He was dead. I couldn't find a pulse. Liz ran to get help and I chased her. I had to, considering we have no idea who shot him."

Sonny rubbed the back of his neck. He just can't process that Jason could be gone. "I understand. Jesus, who would take his body?"

"They either came back and threw him in the water or took him."

"What if he wasn't dead?"

"That's a stretch."

Sonny isn't ready to give up hope. "We'll search until we drop."

"I agree. Elizabeth is going to need answers."

"How is she?"

"She was covered in his blood, begging him to fight. He came too long enough to talk to her. Sonny, if I tell you this…"

"Tell me. Whatever it is, we'll deal with it. I owe him." He couldn't take back what he had done with Carly but helping Elizabeth he can do.

"She's pregnant. She was going to tell him tonight."

Sonny is speechless at first and the lump grew in his throat that he had been trying to shove down. "She'll need to see a doctor."

"I agree. She told Georgie to make her eat and drink because she won't want to."

Sonny's eyes briefly closed. He understands her grief after watching Lily getting blown up. "She can't be left alone."

"Georgie is here. I'm sure after they find out about Jason, Emily will be here too."

"Maybe we should keep it quiet until we know for sure."

Johnny thinks he's just putting off the inevitable. "Elizabeth is going to need Emily. You may have to tell her."

"Okay. We'll call her tomorrow. Can Georgie stay tonight?"

"I'm pretty sure she won't leave her."

"Good. Keep me updated."

"I will."

Sonny paused as he opened the door. "Do you think we should move her downstairs to the safe house?" They have no idea who or what they are dealing with.

"I think she needs to be in that room right now. If I get word that anything is suspect, I'll take her down there."

"Okay."

Johnny made his way to the bedroom, hoping that Liz is asleep. When he got there, he found the women cuddled together. Georgie is awake, but Liz had fallen into a troubled sleep. He sat on the lounge chair and shut his eyes, and all he could see is Jason. He'll need a few hours of rest so he can function. Tomorrow will be a long day.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Johnny observed as Elizabeth pushed around the food on her plate. Tears are falling down her face and she probably doesn't realize it. A part of him felt like he had failed her and Jason because he hadn't been there to protect them. Enzo is taking it especially hard.

Georgie had gone to get a shower and promised to return with some clothes.

Letting her fork drop, she stared into Johnny's eyes and after a long moment, she finally spoke. "Where is he?"

"Elizabeth…"

"I want to see him."

He got up, cursing under his breath.

Liz started to cry. "I need to see him. I need to say goodbye."

"I can't."

Her fist hit the table, jarring everything on it and making him turn around. Fury, like he had never seen before, awaited him.

"Now!" When he didn't answer, she started throwing whatever she could get her hands on. Ducking, he finally grabbed her and held her tightly, whispering whatever he could think of to calm her.

"Please…the baby."

A sob left her lips and he had to catch her before she went down. Picking her up, he sat on the couch with her and rocked her like a baby trying to soothe her.

"Elizabeth, look at me?"

Her lids lifted as tears poured down her face. The effort it is taking to look at him is overwhelming. Her world had been full of vibrant colors and now, everything is dark like an abyss swallowing her up.

"You barely ate. You have to stay healthy. Ja—"

"Don't say it. Please, don't say it. What aren't you telling me?"

There is a knock on the door, and he sighed, knowing this is going to be just as painful as he moved her next to him.

Enzo opened the door and Monica pushed Lila inside. The guard had been off the night that Jason was shot, and he was so upset that he had let his boss talk him into going to see his mom.

The moment Lila saw Liz's face, she knew something was very wrong. "Oh, my dear, what is it?"

"Did you bring your medical bag like I asked?" Johnny said.

Monica nodded, not sure what she needed it for.

"Yes. What is going on?"

He knelt in front of Lila. "I need to tell you something and it's upsetting."

Lila can see how gravely he is staring at her and her heart skipped a beat. "Please, tell me he's safe."

He paused as his attention went to a pale Monica. "Will you please sit on the couch."

She nervously did so. The only sounds were Liz trying to choke back sobs as she buried her head in her hands.

"Jason was shot in the chest last night."

"Oh my… Is he here?"

Monica began to cry.

"I'm sorry, but he didn't make it."

Monica struggled to hold on as tears pricked Lila's eyes.

"Oh no, what happened?"

Liz attempted to explain. "We were on the docks. I asked him to meet me there and I was about to tell him some good news and he pushed me down. There was so much blood." She is staring at her hands as if she can see the blood that had stained them. "I couldn't get it off and—I ran. I couldn't—Johnny said he wasn't breathing and I just—I had to get help."

Monica sobs louder. She has lost him again. It's too much.

"Call Alan. He was running late due to a surgery," Lila managed to get out before she dissolved into tears.

Johnny flipped through his contacts and made the call.

"Hello?"

"Dr. Quartermaine, this is Johnny O'Brien. I need you to come to the penthouse. Lila and Monica are here."

His heart dropped. "I will be right there."

Johnny gave him the information and then grabbed a box of tissues and gave some to all the women. Monica finally started to settle as numbness took over.

"What were you going to tell him that was so important?" Monica spat, her words almost accusatory.

Liz's eyes grew wide as her lip quivered. "I'm—I'm pregnant."

Monica gasped and the full realization that Jason would never be a father crushed her soul. He was always so good with Michael. Things had been bad between them, but they still love their son. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. Kelly tested me."

Lila tries to get herself together. "This baby is family which makes you family too. We'll do whatever we can to help you."

"I don't know what I need." Her voice grew small. "I need Jason and I can't have him, so I just don't know."

Monica realizes how fragile Elizabeth is and moves closer. "Come here. I'm sorry if I sounded mean. I just love him so much and now I've lost him again."

They hold on to each other for dear life as they grieve. Johnny attended to Lila, making sure she was okay as she wept. When someone knocked on the door, he opened it to find Alan. He can already hear the crying, so his shoulders dropped.

"Is he dead?"

"Yes."

His eyes shut as anger and frustration bubbled to the surface. "I knew that asshole would get him killed." He hates Sonny Corinthos with a passion.

Johnny stepped backward so he could move inside.

Alan knelt next to his mother; his voice shaky with emotion. "Are you okay?"

"He's gone. No matter what happened, I love him, and he had such a beautiful soul."

"He loved you too." Alan started to sob. "God, he's gone, and I'll never have a chance to make things right."

Lila rubbed the top of his head as he cried in her lap.

Johnny wishes he could have a drink. His nerves are shot. He glanced at Monica who is holding Elizabeth.

"Did she fall asleep?"

Monica nodded, so Johnny carefully extracted Liz and carried her into the bedroom.

"She's pregnant," Monica said.

Alan's head snapped up. "Jason's?"

"Yes."

His eyes squeezed shut again as he considered the ramifications.

Johnny returned. "She'll be out for a while. I couldn't get her to eat much."

"It will be hard for the next few weeks," Monica said. "We'll plan the funeral and service."

"Okay."

"Maybe we can convince her to come to the mansion," Lila said. Elizabeth is young and from what Lila had heard, Audrey and the young woman are on the outs.

"Not if Carly is there," Johnny said. There is no way that shrew will come anywhere near Elizabeth or that child or he'll bury her himself.

"She went on a trip. Michael is with AJ," Monica said.

"Georgie is going to stay with her. She just went to get some clothes."

"Thank you for taking care of her," Alan said.

Johnny shrugged. "Jason was my friend. It's what he would have wanted. There is something else you need to know."

Alan stood. "What?"

"When I ran after Elizabeth, someone either took the body or dumped it in the harbor."

Monica gasped as Lila began to cry again. Without pausing, Monica ran to the bag and took her blood pressure.

"How could that happen?"

"I don't know. Elizabeth was a wreck, covered in blood, and she was trying to run to get help for him. I had felt his pulse and there was nothing, so I ran after her and then called Max to go get Jason. When he got there, Jason was gone."

"Could he still be alive?" Monica asked.

"It's a longshot, but yes. Milo tried to search in the harbor, but he didn't find a body." The water is pretty calm, so they had been hoping that they'd find something.

"Would it be better if they thought he was dead if he's not?" Alan asked.

Johnny is shocked by his question.

"You forget, we live with the most scheming man in the history of Port Charles," Lila quipped.

"Yeah, it may be. We're not sure who we're dealing with. Whoever did this was smart enough to disable cameras in the area. We won't stop looking. If someone took him, and he's still alive, they'll probably want something in return."

"So, they'll contact you?" Monica asked.

"Yeah, it's a possibility."

"Then we will wait," Lila said. "I won't accept he's gone until I see him or get definitive proof." She had made up her mind. "Until we find him, we concentrate on making sure his child and girlfriend are taken care of.

"He bought a ring." Even though Jason lost patience with him when they were looking for a gift for her. The love and happiness in his friend's eyes still amaze him when he saw the perfect ring. He wasn't planning on giving it to her until Valentine's day the next year, since their relationship is new, but when he had seen it, he couldn't resist. It's just so Elizabeth.

Monica wiped a tear away. "He loved her."

"Very much," Johnny said.

"Thank God, that it's Elizabeth and not Carly," Alan said.

"Agreed."

"Your blood pressure is too high. I want to get you home so you can get into bed and rest," Monica said to Lila.

"That's fine, Dear." Lila focused on Johnny. "Protect her and my great-grandchild. No harm must come of them. This family won't survive another loss."

"I'll do everything that I can."

"When she wakes up, she needs to eat. If she gives you trouble, call me. I'm sure she doesn't want a feeding tube," Monica said.

Johnny smirked. "I'll deal with it. Go take care of Lila."

As Monica pushed her into the hallway, Alan hung back.

"If you need money, tech people, whatever, you call me. If Elizabeth gets worse, then get her to Kelly or call me, and I'll take her. She needs to stay hydrated."

"I understand."

"We might be bossy and ornery, but we take care of family. I know we did a piss-poor job with Jason, but that was extraordinary circumstances. We won't disrespect or turn Elizabeth away. Just know that."

"Okay."

After he left, Johnny sat and rubbed his face. At least if nothing else, Elizabeth has the family backing her. If she isn't doing well and It's more beneficial that she be with them, he'll make it happen—Carly be damned.