Chapter One

She sat, staring at the monitors in front of with a glazed look in her eyes. She was lonely. So lonely. She couldn't remember how long she'd been there anymore. Certainly it had to be close to a month. A month. One month closer to her due date. Only three months left now, until Ric got wanted he wanted: her baby.

'Come find me, Jase,' Carly Corinthos prayed silently. 'Come rescue me and take me home.' In her heart, Carly knew that Jason would be her savior. She frowned as she thought of her husband. The baby's father. Her hand roved her stomach protectively as she frowned at the thought of Sonny. How could he shack up with Faith so quickly? In her heart, she knew there was

more behind it. But it was Jason she saw breaking into the house almost every day. It was Jason who was so determined to find her, not Sonny. And he was so close ....

Carly cursed as she remembered how close he'd been when she'd managed to move the camera. If only Elizabeth hadn't come home then. If only .... She sighed. She could go on and on with the 'if onlys' she'd thought of ever since Ric kidnapped her the night of Jason & Courtney's wedding. Carly wondered if they'd gotten married, and smiled at the thought of her sister- in-law. It was thought of Courtney that kept Carly's feelings for Jason where they were.

Carly sighed and leaned back on the bed, against the wall. She raked her fingers through her hair, aching for a hot bath. The only thing that kept her going, that gave her the strength to continue this, was the thought of her child growing inside her. The child she loved with her whole heart and was determined to protect with every shred of her being. "Don't worry, baby," Carly spoke softly. "Mommy will figure a way out of this. And Uncle Jason will get us out of here. I'm sure of it."

"I wouldn't be," said a voice from behind her. Carly was so involved in her thoughts she hadn't heard the door slide open from behind her. She whirled slowly, studying the man in front of her, her face expressionless.

Lorenzo Alcazar stepped towards her, his eyes light and gentle. "Ric Lansing is many things," he said. "Most especially determined. But if your husband plays his cards right, I might have you out of here anyway."

A small shred of hope leapt into Carly's eyes. "You've been talking to Sonny, I take it." It was a statement, not a question.

"I've seen him a few times," Lorenzo nodded. "I will let you know when I have something concrete. My advice: don't mention to Lansing that I talked to Sonny. Or there's no way the deal will go through."

Carly nodded, turning herself around so that she could face him but rest comfortably against the wall. "You've got a deal, Alcazar."

Lorenzo smiled and opened the door again. "Glad to hear it. I'll be in touch." He stepped out and shut the door, smoothly walking to the door and leaving.

Carly watched him on the monitors, her eyes narrowed. "I don't care who gets me out of here," she muttered. "As long as someone does."

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

"Jason?" Courtney Matthews sighed as she waved a hand in front of her fiance's face for the third time in two minutes. "Earth to JASON!" she cried finally.

"What?" Jason suddenly snapped out of his daze, noticing Courtney standing in front of him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, if you count the fact that I've been home for two days and we haven't had longer than a thirty second conversation," Courtney sighed. She plopped down on the couch beside him, relieved he was actually talking to her. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Of course not," Jason replied. He frowned at her. "Why would you think that?"

"While I was gone, did you call me once?" Courtney asked.

"No, but the guards would have called me if there was anything wrong," Jason answered.

Courtney rolled her eyes, but continued. "Since I've been back, have you touched me in any way? Given me a hug even?"

Jason thought that over and realized he hadn't. "No," he admitted. "I'm sorry, Courtney," he sighed. "I'm just -- "

"Trying to find Carly," Courtney cut him off. "I know, Jase." Courtney fought back the feelings of jealousy she knew she shouldn't have where Carly was concerned. Jason & Carly were just friends, and always had been. Heck, Carly had even planned her whole wedding to Jason! 'The wedding that never happened,' Courtney reminded herself. "Shouldn't Sonny be as focused on finding his wife as you?"

Jason frowned more. That was a sore topic with him. "Sonny working with the Feds is his way of finding Carly," Jason said slowly.

"You still think Ric has her, don't you?" Courtney asked, not really needing an answer.

Jason met her eyes and nodded. "I can't help it. It's a feeing I have, deep in my gut. He's got her, Courtney. And I have to get her back. I promised Michael I would."

At the mention of Carly's son, Courtney smiled. "I know Michael believes in you."

"Don't you?" Jason asked her.

Courtney stood up, averting her eyes. "It's not that I don't believe in you, Jason," she said. "It's that I don't believe Ric has Carly. I agree with Sonny. It's just too much of a co-incidence."

"You believe the bull that Ric was spewing into the bug I planted," Jason said sadly. He stared at Courtney, disappointment shining in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Jason," Courtney apologized quietly. "I believe that it's more likely that Alcazar has Carly than Ric."

Jason sighed and stood up from the couch. "When I find Carly at Ric's, you are all going to wish you'd listened to me from the start. Especially if Ric costs Carly her baby. Or worse, her life." With a stony look in his eyes, Jason picked up his wallet and walked out.

Courtney sat back down slowly, sighing. Ever since Carly had disappeared, her relationship with Jason had been slowly weakening. He was obsessed with finding her, as if Carly were his wife and not Sonny's. Courtney had a bad feeling about it, and she knew before this was all over, people were going to be hurt.

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

"Elizabeth?" Ric Lansing called as he walked into his house. He looked around, needing to make sure his wife wasn't home. He checked his watch; she'd probably be home soon at any rate. "ELIZABETH!" he called louder, heading towards the kitchen. Ric still had to make Carly's dinner and sneak it into the room to her before Elizabeth got home. He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. This was really getting tiring. All this running around, trying to keep Carly well nourished, keep Alcazar away from her, keep Sonny & Jason away from him, and keep feeding Elizabeth crushed up birth control pills in her drinks.

Ric stepped towards a framed picture of the both of them on a nearby shelf and lovingly ran his finger over it. "I will do whatever I have to do to make you happy, Elizabeth," he whispered. "Even take my brother's child and give it to you. He deserves it after pushing you down the stairs and taking our child." Ric's eyes hardened as he remembered the devastation Elizabeth's miscarriage had caused her. The miscarriage caused by Sonny. He frowned and set the picture down, more determined than ever to ensure Elizabeth's total happiness by giving her a baby.

Ric stepped into the kitchen and set about making some soup and a sandwich. When it was ready, he grabbed an apple and a bottle of juice and a bottle of water and set it all together in a basket. He carried it towards the panic room and was about to open the door when ...

"Ric? What are you doing?"

Ric turned his head and quickly forced a smile on his face. "Elizabeth! I was just about to bring this to you! I figured you were up in your studio," he lied convincingly, quickly stepping towards his wife. Elizabeth's hair was tousled and there was a small smudge of paint on her nose. Ric's heart softened all over again when he looked at her. She made his heart pound when he looked at her. Elizabeth was so good ... Ric wanted to give her the world. And he would. "I knew you'd forget to eat, so I made you something to eat," he explained, lifting the basket in his hand.

Elizabeth stepped towards him and took the basket. Opening it, she looked at him quizzically. "Only enough for one?"

"I figured you'd eat while you worked," Ric told her. He put an arm around her waist and steered her towards the couch. "But if you're done working, we can put that back and I can make dinner for two."

Elizabeth smiled. "You're so good to me, Ric," she said softly. She set the basket down on the coffee table and leaned into his arms. She rubbed her temple gently, feeling a gnawing pain there.

Ric wrapped his arms around her, feeling the tension ease from his body as Elizabeth's love for him filled him. "You make me want to give you the world," he told her honestly. "You make me a better man, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth tilted her head back and met his eyes. "You are the best man in the world for me."

Ric smiled and pulled her to him. "Why don't I take you out for dinner instead?" he suggested.

Elizabeth's eyes lit up. "Perfect! Just let me go shower and change." She slipped out of Ric's arms and headed up the stairs.

Ric watched her go. He sat on the couch until he heard the shower start and got up. He carried the basket into Carly in the panic room.

Carly applauded when he walked in, her eyes filled with sarcasm and hatred. "Nice performance, Ric. You've perfected the Perfect Husband act."

Ric put the basket down and sighed. "Don't start, Carly," he pleaded. He looked at her. "Just eat and leave it alone. I don't have the energy for this tonight."

"I am so sorry to burden you, Ric," Carly said sweetly. "Since I chose to be locked in here and all. Kept away from my family and my friends." Her eyes were shooting sparks of anger at him.

Ric just shook his head at her. He turned and left, letting the door close softly behind him as he did. He slid onto the couch, feeling drained of all energy. This had to end soon, before it all exploded.