Chapter Fifty Five
It was weird to be home. Elizabeth felt like she'd been in a dream for the past four months. With all the excitement of seeing Jason again and then the kidnapping, Elizabeth didn't quite know how she'd settle back into the swing of things. After picking up their luggage, Elizabeth waited for Sonny's men to spot them.
"Elizabeth!" a familiar voice called.
Elizabeth peered ahead and saw Lucky running towards them. "Lucky?" she gasped.
Elizabeth looked over at Jaime whose eyes were wide in confusion. "Don't look at me. He's the one calling your name." Jaime shrugged.
With much energy, Elizabeth plastered a smile on her face. "Lucky!" laughed Elizabeth half-heartedly. "What are you doing here?"
Lucky didn't answer as he closed his arms around her and squeezed her tightly. "I'm so glad you're safe!" he whispered, kissing her passionately on the lips.
The kiss caught Elizabeth by surprise. As she pushed him arms' length away, Elizabeth frowned. "What was that?"
Lucky looked at her confused. "I'm just welcoming you back. I thought you might not come back."
Elizabeth was confused and as she looked over at Jaime, her eyes widened and she had realized that Nikolas had told Lucky about the kidnapping and Jason. "Look Lucky," Elizabeth began, but was interrupted by Nikolas and Gia calling to them.
Nikolas and Gia jogged across the airport to join the small reunion. Both Gia and Nik looked relieved when Jaime poked her head up from her carry-on bag. "Hey guys!"
Nik and Gia looked at each other before breaking out laughing. "Is that all you can say? 'Hey guys'?"
Nikolas hugged Jaime and then Elizabeth. "I'm so glad you're safe."
With all this attention on the two arrivals, the tall dark-haired man standing just outside the fray was almost missed. "Excuse me?" the man interrupted.
Elizabeth smiled. "Uh yes. Can we help you?"
The man smiled. "I'm looking for Jaime and Elizabeth. You seemed to match their description," he explained.
Elizabeth looked over at Jaime and shrugged. "That's us!"
Suddenly Nikolas stepped in front of Elizabeth and inches away from the stranger's face. "And your point? Why don't you go sell it somewhere else."
"Nikolas!" Elizabeth said through gritted teeth. "Don't be so rude." Elizabeth smiled in apology. She recognized him. Johnny! "I'm sorry, Johnny isn't it?"
The man smiled. "Yes."
Elizabeth held her index finger up, signalling for him to wait. "I'll just be a second. I think Jaime's ready to put her bags in the car though."
Jaime frowned. "Hey! Wait a minute!" Elizabeth mouthed to Johnny to show her to the car. And as requested Johnny in a grand sweeping motion with his hand pointed to the exit, prompting Jaime to reluctantly acquiesce.
"Wait a minute," Lucky exclaimed. "We came to give you a ride home!"
Elizabeth sighed. "Look guys." Elizabeth studied each of her long time friends. "Jaime and I arranged for a ride already. And it would be rude to refuse now that they sent someone."
Lying seemed to come easily right then. Elizabeth just didn't feel like receiving the Grand Inquisition from Lucky or Nikolas. Nikolas shook his head. "I can give him a tip and it'll be fine!" Nikolas shrugged reaching into this pocket for his wallet.
Elizabeth grabbed Nikola's arm. "No!" She smiled politely. "Really, it's fine. I'm beat and so is Jaime. We wouldn't be much company." Elizabeth picked up her backpack and her suitcase. "I'm going with Johnny and I'll see you tomorrow. 'Kay?"
From the looks on each of her friend's faces, they were not happy about this turn in events. Elizabeth felt a twinge of guilt as she walked with her friends out the door. "I'll see you guys later?" offered Elizabeth as she opened the black limousine door."
Nikolas frowned. "Is he one of Sonny's henchmen?" accused Nikolas. "I thought he looked familiar!"
Elizabeth swallowed. "He's just giving us a ride home."
Lucky shook his head. "You'd rather go home with a stranger that kills people for a living, rather than your friends? I think that is saying a lot!" spat Lucky.
Suddenly Elizabeth stepped towards Lucky. "You know nothing about my friends!" exclaimed Elizabeth. She paused a moment and shook her head. "My life doesn't revolve around you guys. You aren't my only friends. And I don't go telling you who you can and can't be friends with do I?"
Gia separated Lucky and Elizabeth as the tension began to rise. "That's not what they're doing Elizabeth," defended Gia. "They're just worried about you. Especially about what happened in Italy, don't you think you've had enough danger?"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Let me just clarify where we stand okay guys. Jaime wasn't hurt, we found her safe and sound. I was never in any real danger because Jason was there to protect me. You guys don't want to understand this, but I can be friends' with Jason Morgan and you. I want to be, but you guys aren't making this easy. Please, just let this go. I love you guys and I don't want it to be a tug-o-war. Because none of us are going to win that way."
With that, Elizabeth slid into the black leather seat of Sonny's limo and closed the door and almost regretted the long awaited return home.
~~~
"Jason did you find him?" Sonny asked over the phone.
There was silence. "No, uh, not yet," Jason replied. He rubbed his face. It had been three days since their closest lead to Rosco. Then the trail went cold. It was like he disappeared off the face of the earth. "I can't say that I'll be even close. I've questioned most of the people who can be traced back to Rosco and every single one of them turned up nothing. Apparently Rosco took his right-hand man and dropped everyone else. At least that's the way he's made it look. Lee has gotten to a number of them and most of those are in hiding now."
Sonny shook his head. "Jason, if there's nothing to lead you to Rosco and the trail's gone cold, then I think we might need to drop it."
Sonny knew Jason wouldn't be happy with that, but he needed him in Port Charles. Since Jason's necessary departure, Sonny's business was getting a little untidy. Jason's skills were needed for the coffee business and it also benefited Sonny to have his right-hand man in town to go over other things, business and personal.
"Sonny," Jason hesitated. "I think it's best that I stay out of Port Charles right now."
Sonny rubbed his rough chin; he hadn't had time that morning to shave. "It's not a request Jason. I need you here," declared Sonny into the mouthpiece.
Jason closed his eyes and sighed. He knew Sonny wouldn't ask, if he wasn't needed. "You're right. There's nothing else I can do here. I'll catch the next flight to Port Charles."
Sonny smiled. "See, I knew you'd see it my way," he chuckled.
"Yeah, right. Did the girls get home safely?" Jason's thoughts turned to the Elizabeth and Jaime whom he'd just bid farewell to.
Sonny paused. "Which one do you want to know about?" laughed Sonny. "How come you didn't come home with them anyway? If you're so worried?"
Jason was speechless. He didn't know what to say. Part of him wanted with everything he had to go with them, but he felt he had a duty to make sure Rosco was out of the picture and also, give Elizabeth some space. She didn't need to start a new relationship when she'd just gotten out of such a serious one, just a month ago. "Business here and well, she needs her space," Jason finally admitted.
Sonny nodded, though Jason couldn't see him do it. "Well, I think you need to get your butt in gear and fly your way back here."
Jason agreed. "I'll see you in a couple of days. I just have to tie up some loose ends here."
Sonny finished his conversation with Jason when someone knocked at the door. "Who is it?" Johnny peered in and revealed a petite Asian woman. "Jaime Nam?" Johnny announced. Sonny nodded and motioned his surprise guest in.
"What can I do for you Ms. Nam?" Sonny asked.
The girl seemed timid, but confident at the same time. "Please, call me Jaime. After all, you did help to find me," Jaime offered.
Sonny nodded. "Okay Jaime, what can I do for you?"
The daughter of the re-known Lee Nam seemed to collect her thoughts before opening her mouth. "I just wanted to," she paused, "to thank you for sending help when Jason was looking for me. You really didn't have to."
Sonny smiled and laughed. "Now how could I let one of my friends' friend go missing? It's just not right."
Jaime nodded. "Well thank you anyway." The woman walked towards the door, but before she reached for the doorknob, Jaime turned around opened her mouth to say something. But before she could utter another word, Jaime was bowled over by Alexis, who'd entered without knocking.
His attorney smiled sheepishly and grabbed Jaime's shoulders to steady the girl. "Sorry!" Alexis gasped. "Seriously, I didn't mean to do that."
Jaime nodded. "I'd better go now. Thank you again."
Sonny shook his head and chuckled. He started to walk Ms. Nam to the elevator, while motioning Alexis to sit down on the couch. "I'll be with you in a minute," said Sonny to Alexis.
The fidgety attorney sat down rigidly. "I'll be here," chirped Alexis.
Sonny shook Jaime's hand and smiled. "It's a pleasure and honor to meet Lee's daughter," offered Sonny.
Jaime frowned. "I don't know how honorable it is, but it was a pleasure to meet you. You're everything I've heard said about you."
Sonny smirked. "Is that a good thing?"
Jaime bit her lip. "I don't know. I haven't decided," she laughed as she walked into the elevator. "Tell your friend there, that I'd be uneasy around you to. So I don't hold it against her."
Sonny nodded and watched the elevator doors close. Definitely her father's daughter, thought Sonny.