A/N – Thanks for the comments! So much Carly love – NOT. It's gonna be a while on that front. I may need to join a writer's protection plan lol.

Chapter 32

Carly sat across from Jason as tears rolled down her face. He wasn't supposed to get hurt and now, he's not waking up and she can't stop crying. A tube is helping him breathe and another to give him nutrients, all because of that twit Elizabeth. The doctor thinks they can remove the tube when he's starting to improve. Keeping him on it too long can result in an infection, which is something they need to avoid. Somehow, she needs to go back to her normal life, so she can steal Michael back and then bring him to his true father. Hopefully, either Jason won't remember Elizabeth, or he'll accept the lies Carly will tell to get him to move on. She won't accept anything else and will do what she has to, even if that means holding him against his will. This is all Elizabeth's fault. Carly had been at the hospital to see her mother and noticed Liz's chart sitting on the counter. Taking advantage of a diversion when someone came into the room bleeding and fell to the floor, she stole it and went into a vacant room and read it. When she saw that her enemy is pregnant, she almost lost her mind and knew her plan needed to be put in place immediately.

She had already pooled together the money from the divorce settlement as well as items she had stolen from the attic at the mansion and fenced them in case she needed to run from AJ and has a cool million in her possession. Sometimes, it pays to have conniving Spencer genes. Luke is right about stealing art. People are willing to pay anything for it. With the wheels turning, she found a doctor from a clinic to do her bidding. Blackmail is a wonderful thing. Once that was done, a visit to a seedy bar had gained her two new besties who recruited two more from out of the area, and she bartered a fair amount to hire them for an evening. Money is everything, and it's amazing what people will do for it. Her tracks are covered. Now, she just hopes he wakes up because if he doesn't, she's not sure what she'll do.

Shaking the thought away, she kisses his hand and tells him about his great love—her and hopes that somehow her words are seeping into his brain.

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Elizabeth sat up groggily and then her stomach lurched, so she ran to the bathroom and puked. Groaning, she got up and flushed the toilet, and then brushed her teeth.

"You okay?" Johnny asked.

Liz jumped a mile and then spit out the toothpaste with her hand over her heart. "Are you crazy?"

"Sorry," he said sheepishly. Sometimes, he forgets that he can move so quietly which can unnerve people.

She rinsed her mouth and then wiped it dry. "What do you want?"

She has circles under her eyes, and they are red. Her annoyance doesn't faze him because he doesn't take it personally.

"I made you some breakfast. There's a tray on the bed. Please eat. The baby—"

"Yeah, I know."

He pushed off the door jam. "Georgie and I are in the living room if you need anything."

"I'll probably just sleep." If she's unconscious, she hopefully won't be dwelling on Jason, although he finds a way to creep into her dreams.

"Okay, I'll bring you meals. I left you water too."

"Thanks."

He left, so she moved into the bedroom and grabbed the water, and chugged some. Touching her belly, her eyes pricked with tears and she ate the toast and jelly he had left and then scarfed down the bacon and some of the eggs. When she was finished, she moved the tray into the hallway and shut the door, and then climbed back into bed.

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Emily sighed. "It has been a week, Johnny. We can't let this go on." When her parents told her what happened, she was distraught and stayed in bed for a day, but Edward of all people coaxed her out of her room and doted on her. He doesn't know what to do with his emotions, so he focused on Lila or Emily.

"I know."

"My family wants to do a memorial. They think that if someone did take Jason, it will make their guard lower if they assume we all think he's dead."

"I'm not sure Elizabeth will survive that. She's eating because she has to, but barely. Also, there may be legal consequences as well as insurance."

Emily hadn't considered all of that. "We'll talk it over as a family. Lila wants her to come to the mansion. Liz will get out of bed if Lila asks. She needs some fresh air. If she holes up, her mental state will get worse." She had a long talk with her grandmother who spelled everything out.

"I think once she starts showing, it will be more real to her."

"I hope you're right. I'm going to go talk to her."

They are at Kelly's.

"Come on, we'll go together. I'll send Alexis over to talk to the family when you're ready. Elizabeth and I may have to give statements to the police if we move forward with the memorial."

Emily cringed, it's another angle she had totally overlooked.

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Elizabeth heard the door open, but she doesn't feel like turning over.

"Liz, it's Emily."

Liz remained still.

"I know you're awake."

Liz groaned and rolled over. "What?"

Emily's eyes narrowed at her harsh tone. "Go take a shower, now."

"You can't come into this room and bully me."

"I will drag you in there if I have too or Johnny will carry you."

Liz stood. She is in no mood for Emily's bossiness. "I get to lay in bed. I get to cry and do whatever the hell I want because he is gone! He's gone and now I have to do all of this alone. I'm terrified that he suffered or that whoever killed him will try to kill me and the baby. I don't want to smile. My heart is broken. I don't want to laugh because he can't anymore." Tears are pouring down her face. "I close my eyes and he haunts me and when I open them, I'm left in this sea of emptiness because I will never hold him again. I'll never gaze into the most beautiful blue eyes I've ever seen, and all you can do is tell me to take a fucking shower?"

Emily flinched.

"I don't give a shit what I smell like, Emily. My heart is broken." The ache she feels everywhere is just overwhelming.

Emily sucked in a breath trying to hold it together. Seeing her so broken again is heartbreaking, but Lila told her she needs to get a response from Liz and push her. "My whole family is devasted. He was my brother and I already lost him once before. Still, I drag myself out of bed because Jason wouldn't want me to be miserable and suffering. I hurt too! I see him everywhere. I know you love him, but so do I. You have to stay healthy for this baby, so please, go take a shower, and then, you're staying at the mansion before you ruin poor Johnny's back." Sleeping on that chair every night can't be comfortable.

Elizabeth slid down the wall sobbing.

Emily sat next to her. "I can't image what you saw. I would be going out of my mind too, but you can't punish yourself or let yourself go. That baby is a part of Jason—a part of your love for each other."

"You don't think I know that? I'm just so tired, Emily."

Emily put her arm around her friend. "I know. Let us help you. Lila is so worried; she needs you close by. Please…"

Elizabeth is too tired to fight. "Fine…"

Emily helped her stand and then Elizabeth went into the bathroom and shut the door. Emily joined the others in the living room when she heard the shower turn on.

"Did it work?" Georgie asked.

"Yes." Emily wiped a few tears away. That had been brutal.

"Thank God." She has been so worried.

Emily called ahead. Nikolas and Lois are at Liz's studio with Sonny packing some of Elizabeth's clothes and art supplies. They aren't sure how long Elizabeth will agree to stay, but they want her to be comfortable.

"Did you tell her about the memorial?" Johnny asked.

"No. We'll do that as a family."

"She'll have to have guards, Emily. Enzo and Micah are the main ones, but I will be helping too."

"We know. The property is big. What is your plan?"

Johnny rubbed the back of his neck. "We need a place to meet. I'll talk to Sonny to see how many people he can spare. I'd like at least three rotating on the property."

"Lila said you can use the cottage. It's empty, so you can sleep there if you want. Also, my grandfather can hire extra men."

"The cottage will make things easier."

"I guess I'll go back to Mac's," Georgie said.

Emily smiled. "Either that, or you can stay at the mansion. There are plenty of rooms."

"If Mac gets out of hand again, I'll do it. I gave up my apartment." She had thought she found the perfect one, but it fell through.

Liz is standing in the doorway feeling guilty that she had forgotten all about that. Everyone notices her.

"Hey."

Liz moves toward Georgie. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." They hug.

"Maybe you can visit sometime."

"I promise I will. We can have a sleepover soon if you want." She hates leaving her but knows that Liz is in good hands.

Liz nodded.

Johnny handed her some sneakers and she slipped them on, and then they went to the car.

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Everyone got out and headed inside per Enzo's request. He opened her car door and waited for her to get out.

When tears pricked his eyes as he gazed at her, she touched his face.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there."

Realizing how painful it has been for him, she tugs him against her.

"It happened so fast. There is nothing you could have done." Her voice catches in her throat. "This is so hard." Pulling back, she stared at him. "How did you do it when your father got hurt?"

Enzo cleared his throat, trying to keep his emotions in check. "I kind of kept to myself. I needed time to process, and I always felt guilty because my mom needed me."

"You were young."

He closed his eyes f]]\

or a long moment. "They were the reason I didn't self-destruct. I wanted to take care of them."

Liz touched her belly. "I know I need to take care of myself, but it's so hard when I don't want to live without him."

Enzo hugged her tightly. Johnny had told him about the baby. "Jason wouldn't want you to stop living. He gave you something that reflects the love you have for each other. Let the baby help you, Elizabeth."

She sobbed as her knees started to give out and Enzo picked her up and turned, surprised to see Emily standing there with tears running down her face.

"Follow me…"

He followed Emily into the sitting room where Lila is waiting.

She is relieved to see Elizabeth even though she is quite concerned by her pallor and emotional state.

Enzo sat her on the couch and kissed her forehead. "I'm never far away. Just have them come get me if you need to talk."

She nodded.

"Welcome, Elizabeth. I'm glad that you agreed to stay here."

"I don't want you to worry," she said as she wiped at her face.

"Have a seat." Lila waited while Emily settled on the couch. "You can come and go as you please, but we do ask that you let someone know. With how unsettled it is, we just want to make sure that you're accounted for."

"Okay."

"I hope I didn't overstep, but I prepared Jason's old room for you to stay in. If it's too much—"

"No. I'm fine with that." Anything to feel closer to him… She had packed several of his t-shirts. He always liked when she would wear them.

"Good. You're welcome to anything you like."

Tracy entered the room after ending a business trip early when she found out the news. Lila was always partial to Jason, so she wanted to make sure her mother is doing well. "Mama."

Lila's eyes pricked with tears. "I'm glad that you're here."

Tracy kissed her on the cheek.

"Tracy, Elizabeth will be staying with us indefinitely."

Tracy eyed Liz. "You were with him?"

Liz nodded as she struggled not to cry.

Tracy let out a long sigh. They had always known that there was a chance Jason would die due to his job, but the reality is more painful than she wants to admit.

"Do you blame me?"

Tracy's gaze shot to Lila and then back to Liz. "Jason made his own choices in life, so no, I don't."

Emily rubbed Elizabeth's back.

"Dinner is in two hours. Alexis will be here shortly thereafter."

Liz stood. "Can I go lay down?"

"Sure…"

Emily and Elizabeth headed upstairs.

"She's suffering," Tracy said.

"She needs us. Do you think you can be there for her?"

Tracy hadn't been a Jason fan. The damage the accident and the aftermath did to the family was extremely damaging and painful, but that doesn't mean she'd turn her back on Elizabeth and her child. She's family now. "Yes."

"Thank you."

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Johnny, Sonny, Stan, Francis, and Cody Paul met at Sonny's penthouse while Enzo and Marco guarded the mansion.

"Alexis is going to meet with the Q's later," Johnny said. "They want to have a memorial."

"So, they are going to declare him dead?" Francis asked.

"Not right away. Alexis thinks she can stall that for a while."

Sonny rubbed the back of his neck. "Any retaliation for Sorel?"

Cody spoke up. "No. It's quiet."

"I'll need you on enforcer duties."

"Okay."

None of the men are surprised by that. With Johnny, Marco, and Enzo by Elizabeth's side, which would have been what Jason would have expected, someone had to step up. Cody's military background will come in handy and he's an excellent shot.

"Max will run the warehouse." He and Milo are at the mansion right now with Enzo developing a strategy for protecting Elizabeth and the baby.

"Francis, you will focus on finding Jason. If he's out there, we need to get to him. Considering his condition, he can't be far."

"That's fine. If someone related to Sorel had nothing to do with this, then I'm not sure who it can be unless it's a new family. We need to also consider that the person who shot Jason might not be the person who has the body."

"Everyone needs some kind of closure."

Johnny nodded. "Did Jason have a will?"

"Yes. The business stuff went to me, but I'm not sure about his personal assets." For someone his age, Jason had a nice chunk of cash. The business has been doing well.

"Has anyone heard anything from Carly?" Cody asked. She'll make trouble for Elizabeth and that is unacceptable, so they need to figure out how to track her.

"No," Stan said. It's one of the projects he is working on. The woman had just disappeared without a trace. "Rumor has it that she was seen at the airport, but I can't substantiate that."

"Keep looking," Sonny said solemnly. Hopefully, one of their leads will pan out soon.

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It had been a week since Jason had been taken. Carly is trying to hold it together, but he's still not awake, and the doctor said it isn't due to a coma, but at least his body is healing. She is grateful that it's not as serious as before, but he'll be heavily sedated for a while so he can heal faster. He's breathing on his own and she's hoping he'll wake up soon. She has been trying to construct a story that will make sense to him. Unfortunately, he has always seen straight through her.

After all the practice she's had, lying should be second nature by now. Her spies tell her that AJ was spotted leaving town with Michael. While that pisses her off greatly, she may incorporate it into her story. He can never find out that she is responsible for the shooting or that she tried to hurt Elizabeth, or everything will backfire. Letting him go back to that twit is not an option. He either chooses her and Michael or nobody will have him. This time, she refuses to let him go.