The Rave: Realizations Chapter 2: Face painted on my heart, a general hospital fanfic

Babble: Ahhh you decided to risk Part II, how nice of you.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**~

The Rave: Realizations

Part II

~Cedar Court Motel~

Francis was getting tired of waiting for Zander to wake up. He was also getting tired of Mike explaining every few seconds that he was only following orders. If Jason didn't kill Mike, he would, and he would do so very gladly.

"So he shows up with this girl, I didn't know what I was supposed to do. My orders were to watch him and see if any of Sorel's people show up to meet with him." Mike went on desperately. "He shows up with her and she's going on and on about a bike ride, and someone named Jason. I didn't know she meant that Jason. I just thought it was some girl he picked up." He looked at Francis for agreement, but Francis was looking at Zander who was still on the ground.

"I called and told him he was here with a girl, and I told him when I saw him drag her into the motel." Mike frowned. "I did that right away, so why is he still so mad?"

Francis looked over at him, "You let him take a woman in that room when she was trying to fight him off. You sat in your car and listened while she screamed. You looked at that closed motel room door, and you did nothing to help her." He moved so he was standing in front of Mike. "Are you really trying to say you did nothing wrong?"

"I was told to observe Zander Smith without him knowing it. I was ordered not to let him know I was here. How could I do that, if I broke up what was going on?"

"How could you live with yourself if you didn't?" Francis turned away from him when he heard movement behind him. "He's waking up, show time. And Mike if you fuck this up, you won't have to worry about Jason killing you tomorrow, I'll kill you tonight."

Zander groaned and coughed, spitting some blood on the gravel. His ribs were throbbing. He had played football for 8 years and he had never hurt this bad. Pushing to his hands and knees he sat back on his haunches. He could only open his right eye, and even then what he saw out of it seemed to be hazy. When he found that guy he was going to kill him.

He coughed again sending his insides into spasms of pain. Grabbing his right side with one hand he used the other hand to lever himself off the ground. He concentrated hard and held the dizziness at bay when he got to his feet. He was also going to get that bitch. She said her name was Elizabeth, Elizabeth something, he would find her, she would lead him to that guy and then he would…

"Look it's a dead man walking."

Zander turned his head quickly, "Fuck." The curse was loud even to his ears, because of the pain his movement caused.

Francis slapped Mike on the back and laughed hard. He had taken off his jacket and his dress shirt and put them in the car. So he just had on his undershirt and the dark pants.

Mike was dressed similar and they had moved to sit in front of one of the rooms. "How's it going buddy?"

Zander glared at them and began to work his way to the room. "Just shut the hell up."

Francis got to his feet and intercepted Zander, he made himself weave on his feet to give the illusion of drunkenness, although the way Zander was weaving on his own, he was beginning to think it wasn't necessary. "Man you have got to have the biggest balls of anyone I've ever seen." He reached down and took Zander's hand to shake it. He pumped it up and down enthusiastically and squeezed it hard, feeling satisfied when he heard the crunch of the other man's fingers and heard the groan of pain.

"What the fuck is your problem?" Zander jerked his hand back, and almost fell to the ground.

"I just wanted to shake your hand. I never thought I'd see the day when someone would challenge Jason Morgan like that."

Jason Morgan the name cut through the anger Zander was feeling. He knew that name, "That was the guy's name?"

"Yes." Mike walked up and slapped Zander hard on the back, aggravating the man's sore ribs. "And that was his girlfriend you were with."

"Do you know Jason?" How many times had he heard that question from her? Jesus how was he supposed to know that the Jason she meant was the Jason who worked with Sonny Corinthos. Now he had another reason to kill Jason and the girl, Sorel was not going to be pleased about tonight.

"He wasn't so tough." Zander said finally, forcing himself to stand up straight, while he looked at the drunken men in front of him. "I guess you can't believe everything you hear."

Francis laughed and couldn't help but move so he could elbow Zander in the ribs. Satisfied when the man doubled over in pain he spoke again. "I guess that's why you've been unconscious for the last twenty minutes."

"Yeah it's a good thing he didn't want to kill you in front of his girlfriend, and us. But I have a feeling he'll be back soon." Mike leaned closer. "I'd hate to be you when he does, Zander."

Zander was still bent over at the knees, so he missed it when Francis smacked Mike on the back of the head and sent the man to the ground.

"Mike never could hold his liquor." Francis said his eyes glinting in warning, when Mike looked up at him in confusion.

"So buddy, it's nice to meet you." Francis told Zander before bending down and pulling Mike to his feet. "Jesus this will be a great story to tell the boys at the club." He shoved Mike towards a beat-up Chevy van they were using for surveillance. "I'll make sure I tell them what you looked like, so when you're dead, we can remember you right."

Zander looked up at that. "I can handle Morgan any day, he just caught me off guard."

Francis nodded then moved by him towards the van, and deliberately stumbled so he hit Zander and sent him to the ground. "Sorry buddy."

Zander didn't bother trying to get to his feet, instead he crawled the last few feet into Room 24.

"Why the hell did you hit me?" Mike asked when Francis reached the van.

Francis heard the door slam behind him and grabbed Mike by his shirt and slammed him back against the van. "We we're supposed to be two drunks who watched a fight, so how the hell did we know his name?"

Mike paled he had fucked up again. "I'm so…"

"Save it and get into the van." Francis snapped.

Mike paused before opening the door to the van he looked up into the night sky, he had to wonder if it would be the last one he ever saw. He glanced at Francis who was sitting behind the steering wheel. He saw the anger in his face, and realized there was a good chance it was.

~Bridge~

"Wow, look at those stars." Elizabeth cried, trying to get off the bike, and look at the stars. The two actions proved to be too much for her, and Jason steadied her before she fell.

"Are you okay?" He asked getting off of the bike, and keeping his hand on her arm.

"Yep." She was struggling with the chinstrap on the helmet. "Why is this thing trying to strangle me?"

He brushed her hands away and unhooked it. "Better?"

She ripped it off her head and shoved the helmet into his gut catching him off guard and causing a grunt of surprise. "Okay? I'm wonderful." She moved away from him towards the bridge. "Where are we?"

"On a deserted road, this old bridge is pretty much the last of it." He set the helmet on the taillight and hurried after her, when he saw her jump up, so she was laying over the wide cement that formed the barrier. He slipped his hand, under the material of her tight black pants and pulled slightly, so the majority of her body was on his side of the barrier.

"It's so dark down there?" Elizabeth tried to move farther up to peer over the side again. "Hello." She yelled, she inched farther up, only to stop when the hand holding onto her pulled her back again. "No echo."

"No, I think you need a cavern for that." Jason said keeping his hand where it was and trying to ignore the feel of her skin. She was wearing some sort of crop top that didn't hit her waist, but the way she was lying made it rise up even more.

"Bummer." She brought her legs up and shifted so she was lying on the cement barrier, keeping her head turned away from him.

He moved with her and shifted his hand so it rested on her right side, so she couldn't roll off the barrier. "Do you know what he gave you?" He had kept riding hoping the night air would clear her head somewhat. At least that was what he told himself, in truth though he liked feeling her behind him. He had missed riding with her these last several months.

"No, but I'm flying." She turned to look at him, and she sat up in surprise, so she was straddling the barrier. "Jason when did you get here?"

Jason couldn't help but smile at her obvious delight, again he moved with her, this time taking her hand. "We went for a ride remember?"

She frowned and then looked past him towards his bike. "Did you know your bike is here?" She looked back at him. "I met this guy, who said he had your bike, but you have your bike, so he was wrong." She shivered. "I don't like that guy he lies."

"How did you meet him?" Jason still couldn't believe that she had ended up at the motel with Zander.

"It's Mike, Mr. Morgan. You said to call when he got back to his room."

Jason glanced at his watch. "Hold up Francis." He said before speaking in the phone. "Is he alone?"

"No he has some girl with him, it looks like he met someone at one of the raves." Mike told him, watching the scene that was unfolding before him. Their voices drifted towards him.

"Does it look like she wants to be there?" Jason asked.

"Yeah their just talking." He paused to listen. "Apparently he's taking the girl on a bike ride, but he wants to go into his room first." He saw the girl back away from Zander and move back to the gravel, she turned her head, and he saw her in the light. She looked familiar to him.

"Do you recognize her from the photos we gave you?" Jason asked moving towards his bike. He gestured to Francis to go ahead to the car.

"Not from the photo's but she does look familiar." He watched them head for the room again. "They're going inside now, do you want me to do anything?"

"No. He's not supposed to know we're here." Jason said. "Just keep an eye out and let Francis know if anything else happens." He said in dismissal.

"Whoa." Mike said suddenly. "He just grabbed the girl and carried her into the room, she was kicking him." He shook his head. "She screamed the name Jason, isn't that weird." His cell phone began to beep signifying a weak battery.

"Mike intervene." Jason ordered.

"What I didn't hear you." Mike said. "I recognize her now, she's that waitress at Kelly's, the nice one, I think her name is Elizabe…"

"Mike get her away from him now." Jason yelled into the phone, and ran for his bike. He didn't hear anything on the other end, and shoved the phone in his pocket, while he straddled the bike.

"What's wrong?" Francis called from the car.

"Smith has Elizabeth." Jason yelled before roaring off into the night.

The ride to the motel had been hellish, he kept seeing Elizabeth in his head the whole time. Images from that first night at Jake's to the last day he saw her on the docks ran through his head. He hadn't spoken to her since he'd been back. Secrecy was what he had needed, but he had seen her, in fact he made sure he did. He had seen how sad and uncomfortable she was, and had wanted to talk to her, but until things were settled with Sonny he knew he couldn't. Hearing Mike say she was with Zander made him afraid he had waited too long. When he'd reached the motel and he heard her scream, he felt fear for the first time in years.

"I met him at the rave." Elizabeth said moving again so she was facing him, her back to the gorge.

Again Jason countered her movements, moving so he was standing in front of her. "Why did you go to the motel with him."

"To go for a ride on his bike. I wanted to ride with you but you weren't here, so I thought I would ride with him." She smiled again. "But you're here, or are you here?" She frowned again, her hand tightened on his. "You've come here before but your not really here, why is that?"

Jason looked at her in confusion.

"But Zander said you were here, so maybe you are this time." She brought his hand up so it rested on her leg. "He said he knew you, and that we we're going to use your bike, to ride." She began to trace patterns on his hand. "But I wanted to ride with you." She looked up at him. "He said you were with your girlfriend." She frowned at the bruises on his hand, and brought it up to her mouth to kiss his knuckles, "all better."

"Elizabeth he doesn't know me, he was lying about it all." If it was possible he felt even more anger towards Zander Smith. It looked like he had used her memories of him to get her to go with him.

"All of it." She sighed heavily. "So you aren't here."

Jason reached up with his free hand and tilted her head up so she looked at him. "I'm right here Elizabeth." He could see the confusion and hope in her dark eyes.

Cocking her head she leaned into his hand and smiled softly. "I suppose it doesn't matter, I get to talk to you again."

He swallowed in oath. "That's what I want you to do, Elizabeth, talk to me." Her hand continued to trace his, and watched her eyes change again, a light came into them that he hadn't seen from her before.

"I think I like this dream, I swear I can feel your hand on my face." She reached out and touched his. "I can feel your skin too." She ran her hand down his jaw. "I loved the feel of your skin, it was so much rougher than mine, especially in the morning, or late at night, when it was rougher because of your stubble, like it is now." She leaned closer to him and he let his hand drop, when she pressed her cheek against his, to feel the stubble. "This is the part where you tell me I smell like snow."

"You told me snow doesn't smell." He said roughly.

She turned her face into his neck, her hands went to his hips, drawing him nearer. "You smell like the wind, all wild and free."

He jerked in surprise when he felt her lips on his throat. "Elizabeth."

"What?" She tilted her head back to look at him.

He looked down into her face, the need to kiss her was strong in him, and it had been there for months, ever since he had left Port Charles. And now here she was, giving him every indication that she wanted him to kiss her. He looked in her eyes, and saw the reason why he couldn't, they were unfocused. She didn't know what she was doing, and until she did, he wasn't going to take advantage of her. "I need you to talk to me."

"I always talk to you Jason," she pulled back in surprise. "You know that, it's just normally you aren't quite as solid when I do." She laughed and leaned back.

Jason's hold tightened on her, and drew her back upright when she leaned back to far.

"I think I like this solid version of you so much better." She told him. "It's nice touching you again. Only this time I want to touch more than your hand." She looked up at him, "do you mind?"

"No." The answer slipped out before he could stop it.

"Good, because if I keep a hold of you, maybe this time you won't disappear." She shifted again, opening her stance so he was standing between her legs.

"I need you to answer some questions for me." He tried to pull back, but she kept her hands on his hips holding him in place.

"Okay."

"Where did you meet Zander?"

"The rave." She began to rub her hand up his arm. "I love your leather jacket, but it's nice to see your arms again." She looked at him, "you're tan, where have you been?"

"Lot's of places. Why did you go to a rave Elizabeth?"

"Had to." Her finger traced his bicep, and she felt the muscle that was there. "You've been working out again."

"I was always in shape." He said quickly.

"I know I tried to take your book from you remember?" Her eyes sparked in humor. "How many books do you have to lift to get a muscle like this?" She asked squeezing it.

Reluctant amusement lightened his features. "A lot. Now tell me about the rave."

"Ugh." She frowned and brought her hand up to his shoulder. "I don't like them, I've only been to two, and bad things happened at both of them. You're tense, Jason you need to relax." She sat upright and began to knead his shoulder with her hands.

Jason tried to ignore the faint trace of her perfume that drifted to him. He was doing his best, to ignore the press of her knees against his thighs. Now he was trying to keep his eyes on her face, instead of lowering them because the v-neck of her tight t-shirt was tantalizingly close right now, while she worked on his shoulders.

"You need to relax." She repeated.

He didn't think that would be possible. "What bad things happened at the rave?"

"Well," she moved her hand to the base of his neck. "The first time Emily disappeared, and this time I disappeared. I wonder if it's a conspiracy. Where's Mulder when you need him?" She asked him seriously.

"Who is Mulder?"

She laughed, "I forgot you don't do TV."

"Elizabeth please concentrate." Pulling her hands from his neck he set them on her lap. "What happened at the rave?"

Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. "Jason you already know this, I told you before."

Jason rubbed a hand over his cheek and shook his head. "No you didn't."

"Yes I did. I always tell you things, I just don't remember telling you things when you're so tall." She looked up at him. "What's it like to be tall?"

"Probably the same as being short." He was getting used to how she was thinking at the moment. For every question he asked her, he had to answer one of hers. "Normally we talked when I was sitting down."

"That's right." She grinned her hands moving again this time they worked their way up his chest. "You're so smart, it's too bad you're not here, if you were, you could get us out of the trouble we're in."

He stopped trying to catch her hands when he heard her words. "The trouble from the rave?"

"Yes it's all Juan's fault too, he's why I had to go tonight if you think about it." Her finger traced his nipple through his shirt, causing it to harden. "How many sit-ups do you do a day?"

"200, how did Juan make you go to the rave? Why were you there?" He knew he should stop her, but she seemed so much more agreeable when she was touching him and he liked the feel of her hands on him.

"I was looking for a murderer." Her hands moved on to touch his jaw. "I normally don't like stubble, but yours is sexy, did you know that?"

"What murderer?" For once he didn't hear everything she said.

"I don't know, isn't that stupid, going to a rave to find a murderer and not knowing who he is? But that's Lucky for you, I don't think he came back all the way." She traced his bottom lip with her index finger. "I have tried to draw your mouth so many times, but I have never gotten it right. I think it's because your lip is fuller than I remember. It's soft too, soft and firm. How can it be both?"

It was getting very hard to concentrate on what he needed to find out from her. "Why were you looking for him?"

"Dead Ted." She said then jerked back and covered her mouth. "That didn't sound good, he's dead and I'm making him a joke."

Ted he wondered if she meant Ted Wilson, the cop that had disappeared. What kind of trouble had Elizabeth and Emily found themselves in now? "It's okay."

"Okay." She shifted so she was leaning partially on his chest. "How did you get this?" She asked her finger going to a small indentation on his forehead.

"I don't remember. Who is Ted?"

"A cop. I bet it hurt." She pulled his head down and kissed the spot on his forehead. "All better now."

Damn it was Ted Wilson. His hands had drifted down to hold her waist, to keep her steady, while she explored his face.

"Periwinkle, sky, cer…ceril…." She frowned, "what color are your eyes? I've tried to find the right shade of paint but I can't."

"They're blue." He said simply.

She punched him on the arm. "No they're not, I'm the artist and I say they aren't."

"Do you know where Ted is?"

"Uh-huh, but I'm not supposed to tell." She frowned, "besides I already told you."

"No you told the less solid version of me remember?"

"That's right." She looked around as if checking to see if they were alone. "He's in the freezer. You know I once thought about trying to sculpt. I wanted to see if I could reproduce your face in clay. But you weren't here, for me to learn your face." She ran a finger down his nose. "But now I think I could, I know your face now, it's a nice face." Her eyes filled with tears, "I miss your face. Do you ever think about us and how we used to be?"

"All the time." He couldn't resist anymore, he brought his hand up and traced her cheek. "I've missed your face too, so much."

"I wish you were here." She said softly. "If I had kissed you that last day would you have stayed?"

"I am here Elizabeth." He ignored her question.

"You kissed my forehead, and I put my hand on your wrist." Her eyes searched his. "I did that to stop myself, because at that moment, for the first time, I wanted to kiss you, to really kiss you. I was afraid of that and instead I ran away."

"You weren't ready." He said simply.

"I'm ready now." She brought her face close to his. "Kiss me now Jason."

He brought his hands up to cradle her face, he let his thumb trace her lips. He traced them until he learned their texture, until he learned them, they way she had learned his a few minutes ago. He moved his hand, bringing her face close and kissing her forehead, in the same fashion he had before he left her the last time.

"Jason that wasn't what I meant." Elizabeth said when he let go.

"We need to go." He tried to step back, but her hands held him in place.

"Kiss me."

"Not like this Elizabeth." He told her softly and watched the tears fall from her eyes. He brushed them away. "Don't cry."

"This is a dream," she whispered. "Every time you go to kiss me in my dreams I wake up, so it must be a dream." Her voice got even softer, "I wish you were here Jason. You said you were just going away, but I wish you would come back."

He took a deep breath, he didn't dream, but he couldn't help but feel glad that she was dreaming about him. He cursed Zander Smith again, if she weren't drugged he would kiss her. "I am back."

Sighing she dropped her hands. "Whatever."

She was shutting down on him and he didn't like it, he couldn't seem to make her believe that he was here. And because he couldn't she was sad, he didn't want to see her sad anymore, he smiled slightly. "Do you want to go for a ride?"

Her eyes widened. "How?"

"On my bike," he stepped back and held out his hand. "Come with me Elizabeth."

She bit her lip and shifted to look past him to the bike. "Will you not disappear if I do?"

"Elizabeth I promise that I will not disappear on you again." He told her and wasn't surprised to find he meant it.

She hesitated then reached for his hand. "You're still solid." She said in surprise and then jumped off the bridge. "Whoa." She put her free hand up to her head. "I don't think the world is supposed to spin so much."

Jason went to steady her, and had to use his other hand, because she refused to let go of his. "Are you ready?"

"I'm always ready when I'm with you Jason." She followed him to the bike and stood there quietly while he put the helmet on her head again. "Even if you're not here Jason, it's so nice to see you again." She said suddenly and moved quickly surprising him again, by pressing her lips to his.

Soft like velvet, was the only feeling he was able to realize, before she stepped back.

"I drive?"

"No." He couldn't help but be amused at her determination when it came to his bike.

"Usfedekalistcism again?" She asked with a pout.

"Yes." He smirked and got on the bike.

"Bummer."

~Cedar Court Motel~

"There's his car, and there is only one room back here that has a light on." Emily said quietly.

Nikolas's hands tightened on the wheel, the sonofabitch had her in a motel. Cursing in Greek, he hit the switch to pop the trunk, and opened his door.

Emily followed him to the trunk her eyes going wide when she saw what he pulled out of it. "A sword? Nikolas why do you have a sword in your car?"

"It's not a sword Emily it's an epee. I use it when I fence." He looked up at her, "remember when we used them?"

"Of course but what do you plan on doing with it?" She demanded watching while he pulled off the protective tip exposing the blade.

"I am going to get her out of there." He told her pulling out a tire iron and handing it to her.

"Are you nuts?" Emily demanded, jerking him around when he headed for the room. "This isn't some movie Nikolas, you can't just go in there like some Zorro wannabe."

"I'm not, this," he looked at the epee, "is just to scare him."

"Well it's scaring me." She hissed.

"Don't worry I'll be fine." He shoved the car keys in her hand. "Stay in the car, if there is a problem get the hell out of here and call the police."

"Nikolas, let's just call them now, come on you saw how big that guy was."

"I can't wait." He gestured to the room. "Neither can she."

"Be careful." She said finally.

"Get in the car and lock the doors." He told her taking a step away. He looked at the door the guy was awfully big. If he was going to die he wanted a memory to take with him. He turned back and slipped his free hand around her neck and pulled her closer to kiss her. His mouth moved over hers, and he felt her surprised hesitation before she responded, he kissed her for a second longer than stepped away. "I wanted to do that for a long time."

Emily stood there stunned while he walked away. She brought her hand up trying to hold his taste on her lips. It was even better than she had dreamed. "Be careful Nikolas." She whispered slipping inside the jag.

Nikolas took a deep breath and knocked on the door with the base of the sword. What the hell was he doing? He heard noises coming from inside the room but the door remained closed, so he pounded on it again.

"What!" Zander yelled opening the door. Before he could even register what was going on Nikolas had the sword pressed against his throat and was backing him in the room. "Easy man."

"Where is she?" Nikolas demanded.

~Van~

"Who is that?" Mike asked.

"Quiet and let me listen." Francis snapped.

~Room 24~

"Who?" Zander asked, keeping his arms at his side.

"Elizabeth." Nikolas snapped. His eyes searching the room, he saw the rumpled bed and the closed bathroom door. "Elizabeth come out." He yelled to the door.

"There's no one in there." Zander said. "Look I think you got the wrong room."

"No I didn't Zander, I saw you leave the rave with her, now where the hell is she?" Nikolas yelled, bringing the point of the sword up from Zander's Adam's apple and flicking it across his right cheek, opening a razor thin cut.

"Jesus you cut me." Zander yelled. "What the fuck are you doing with a sword?"

"I am going to be carving you with it, if you don't tell me where she is." Nikolas pressed the tip of the sword into Zander's throat, and trickle of blood, slid down his throat.

"She's gone." Zander yelled. This guy was totally nuts.

"Where?"

"She left with her boyfriend." Zander said desperately.

"Don't lie." Nikolas yelled, moving quickly and giving Zander a matching cut on his left cheek.

"It's true." Zander whined. "Look at me man, do you think she did this? Her boyfriend Jason did this."

Nikolas really looked at him then, his shirt was off, and he could see the dark bruises on the man's side near his ribs. They were dark enough that he knew the pain went deep. He had a black eye, and his jaw was swollen on the left side. He was right, there was no way Elizabeth had done this to him. "Jason?" He repeated.

"Yeah she left with him on his bike, about an hour ago. I swear man I don't know where she is."

Jason and a motorcycle, it could only be one person. His fear for Elizabeth disappeared and his anger over what this man had did to Emily took over. He pressed the sword harder against his throat, and forced the man to his knees. "You have a bad habit of slipping girls drugs and leaving with them."

Zander for once kept his mouth shut, he would see this guy again, without the sword, and this would be a totally different situation. But for now he knew enough to know when to keep his mouth shut.

"If I hear about you leaving with a girl again, I will come back, and when I do…" His voice trailed off and he opened a paper-thin ribbon on Zander's neck. He really wanted to kill Zander, and that terrified him.

"This isn't some movie, you can't just cut me open with a sword." Zander's temper got the better of him.

Nikolas took a step closer increasing the sword's pressure on his neck. "My name is Nikolas Cassadine. Do you recognize it?"

Zander's eyes widened he had heard the stories about the Cassadine's he had thought they were only stories, but that was before one of them held a sword to his throat. "Yes."

"Good then you should know that I can and will do anything I want to you, and I will never get caught." With that he backed out of the room never taking his eyes off of Zander. He pulled the door closed and let himself relax.

"Scary."

Nikolas jumped and dropped the sword. "Jesus Emily." He focused on her, standing by the door. "I told you to stay in the car. What if he got by me?"

She held up the tire iron. "Then instead of cuts he would have dents."

He laughed in relief. "Let's go." He took her hand, picked up the sword and they hurried to the car.

Zander watched them get into the jag. The inside light came on in the car, lighting the girl's features. "Emily Quartermaine we meet again."

~Van~

"Jesus those Cassadine's are whacked." Mike said in awe.

"Mike this is going to be the only time I say this. If you say another word, I will kill you." Francis glared at him, before reaching for his cell phone. "Sonny," he said when his call was finally answered. "I just heard something interesting."

~Jake's~

"Where did everybody go?" Elizabeth asked turning around in a circle.

"It's after 3:00 the bar is closed." Jason told her.

"I've never been in an empty bar before." She said moving to the pool table and picking up a ball that was on the table.

"I have." Jason leaned against the bar and watched her. "I like it at times like this, it's quiet."

"You know if you like the quiet so much, you probably shouldn't live over a bar." She told him, mimicking his pose by leaning against the pool table.

"I like it here it suits me when I'm in town."

Her face fell, "I wish you were in town."

"I've been in town for two weeks." Jason explained wearily.

"No you're not." She retorted angrily. "I know you Jason, if you had been in town you would have come and seen me. So even though your solid, you're not here."

He moved closer to her, "I wanted to come and talk to you, believe me I did, but I couldn't." He took the ball from her hand and set it on the pool table. "I did, however, see you. I've seen you everyday since I've been back. I watched you throw a sketchbook in the trash one day on the docks in frustration. I watched you fight and fight with Lucky. I saw you talk with Emily and Nikolas." He reached out and touched her cheek. "I watched you lean against the window in your studio and cry. And all I wanted to do was talk to you, to listen to you." His voice dropped, "To hold you, to kiss you. So Elizabeth I have been here."

"I've been waiting for you." She said softly, "I've been dreaming of you since you left. Even when Lucky first came back, you were still in my head, in my heart. I realized the other day that what I had been trying to hold onto with Lucky was the past. And what I had been dreaming about with you could be the future. That is if only you would come back."

"I told you I don't dream." His hand slipped to her hair, and he ran his fingers through it, marveling at the softness he found there. "But if it is a future you want, I'm here."

"If only…" Her eyes were sad and she stepped away from him moving to the jukebox. She dug in her pocket and put a quarter in it. "Dance with me." She said moving back towards him. "If you're really here, dance with me." She repeated.

He put his right hand on her waist and took her right in his, the pulse of the music came through the deserted bar. He didn't recognize the song, but he could feel the sultriness of it.

I thought you'd be out of my mind

And I'd finally found a way to

Learn to live without you

I thought it was just a matter of time

Till I had a hundred reasons

Not to think about you

But it's just not so

And after all this time

I still can't let go

He drew her in closer and swayed with the music, the throb of the music washed over him, when he listened to the words he couldn't help but feel a pull. He let go of her hand and moved his hand down to rest on her waist.

I've still got your face

Painted on my heart

Scrawled upon my soul

Etched upon my memory baby

I've got your kiss

Still burning on my lips

The touch of my fingertips

Is love so deep inside of me

His lips pressed against her hair, and he felt her breath on his throat. With a groan he tightened his hold, inserting a leg between hers. Her arms tightened around his neck and she looked up at him.

I was trying everything that I can

To get my heart to forget you

But it just can't seem to

I guess it's just no use

In every part of me

Is still a part of you

He bent slightly to press his lips against her forehead, before moving them softly over her face. Placing a trail of light kisses by her eyes, then down her cheek to her jaw. She moaned lightly and leaned heavily against him.

"Jason." His name was said on a sigh, and he had never heard that tone of voice from her before. He nipped at her chin, while he brought his hand slowly up her back, to bury itself in her hair.

I've still got your face

Painted on my heart

Painted on my heart

Painted on my heart

"Kiss me." Her words were a plea that he ignored and instead moved to kiss her ear, and the soft spot behind it. The passion of the music continued to grow, while he discovered her taste.

Something in your eyes keeps haunting me

I'm trying to escape you

And I know there ain't no way to

To chase you from my mind

He looked down into her face again. He could see the longing in her eyes, longing that he knew was reflected back in his. He lowered his head again, and she angled her head up searching for his mouth. He wanted to kiss her so badly, but he knew that once would never be enough for him so instead he kissed her eyes closed.

Her arms dropped from his neck, to rest on around his hips, he was still moving slightly with the music. He felt the tension begin to leave her body, and her movements slowed, he was supporting her now. He knew that the drugs were finally going to win.

"I wish you were here Jason." She murmured quietly, before her arms dropped from his side, and he caught her against him when she passed out.

I've still got your face

I've still got your face

painted on my heart

painted on my heart

painted on my heart

Song Credit: Painted on My Heart by The Cult