Chapter Sixty Eight
"Are you all right?" Jason asked as she walked into the studio. Her eyes were downcast and her muscles tense. He hated to see her so torn. "Do you want me to leave?"
Elizabeth looked up at Jason. He was always so sensitive to what she needed. His thoughts were only for her feelings - even when it hurt him. She smiled softly. "No," Elizabeth whispered. "It's over and done with anyway."
"I'm sorry you had to ask Nicholas to leave," Jason apologized. "I just…"
Elizabeth shook her head. "No, I understand. It's just sometimes they don't." She paused, biting her lip while her thoughts swirled silently within her. Looking up at Jason again, Elizabeth shrugged. "Or they don't want to."
Jason nodded. He understood what she was trying to say. Nicholas, Lucky and the rest of Port Charles, who continued the onslaught of warnings, were capable of understanding why Elizabeth would befriend him, but they chose not to. Taking a controlled breath, Jason glanced around at the studio, which had been a temporary port of rest for him.
It hadn't changed much. Elizabeth had a few new works on her easel. Pieces of Italian artwork and trinkets now decorated the plain plastered walls, giving it a kind of minimalist flare. It was as if it wasn't quite lived in, or that someone just didn't have the patience to care that there was a certain place for each piece and article in the room.
"So Jason," Elizabeth said softly, studying him as he observed each niche and corner of her studio. "What is Nam doing? I mean how can he just let Rosco go?"
Jason turned to face Elizabeth, who looked aggravated at the deal Nam had made. "Well it's mostly because of Jaime."
She frowned. "Why does she keep doing this?" Elizabeth cried out in frustration. "He could come after her again. Hasn't she learned anything?"
Elizabeth couldn't see what good Jaime saw in keeping Rosco out of jail. From what had happened in the past few days, Rosco had proved untrustworthy. He had followed her to Port Charles for heaven's sake!
Jason watched Elizabeth's smooth face silently run a through a gambit of emotions. He loved watching her feel things so suddenly and ferociously, and then as quick as a wink, become calm again – regaining control of herself. "It's more like if Rosco didn't make this deal with Nam, he would have most likely…well, none of us would have seen him again – permanently."
Elizabeth took a moment to process the idea. She knew that Nam could be ruthless; she remembered the fear that filled her as she watched the plane in Italy explode. Her lips formed the word 'oh' without speaking the word out loud.
"Nam and Jaime have been…estranged for a long time. Rosco reminded him of this," Jason explained. "And Nam knew this action would forever sever his relationship with Jaime. So he let him go with the warning that if he was ever seen by any of his men, he would be fair game."
The idea somehow made sense to Elizabeth. It surprised her how calm she could be when Jason had just told her that Nam had the ability to kill Rosco. A lot had changed in her. She seemed to have found some kind of center over the past few years. She was sure of herself and that gave her the ability to trust others to know what they were doing. It was nice to have that kind of freedom, instead of worrying all the time.
"I guess," she finally replied to Jason's answer to her unspoken question.
Elizabeth looked up at Jason and smiled. She wanted to change the subject. The shooting and Rosco were so disheartening and depressing that she couldn't wallow in it one more second. "So you're staying at Jakes' again?"
Jason nodded. "It suits my needs, and I didn't want to inconvenience you."
Elizabeth shrugged. "No inconvenience," she quipped. "It would be nice to have a roommate again."
His eyes met hers and searched for her meaning. "It's not exactly the best idea, when we both know how I feel about you." Her eyes didn't dart away from his when he said the words. It was an unusual reaction. She had always been uncomfortable talking about his feelings about her.
His reply made her breath catch in her throat. Part of her screamed at her to change the subject, but she had done that one too many times. Her eyes remained locked with his. Elizabeth cared about him, and she would no longer deny that.
When Jason had been willing to finally voice his feelings for her almost a year ago, Elizabeth walked away. She wasn't willing to do that again. For once she was ready to move forward, rather than live in the past. As she slowly moved closer to Jason, Elizabeth hoped that he could see that. "Maybe you could tell me again," she whispered softly.
Jason felt his heart skip a beat. This was exactly what he didn't want to happen. Staring into her eyes, he could get lost forever. He had known that for the past couple of years, but he couldn't do that again. Jason couldn't allow himself to need her like he had in the past. Elizabeth was like the wind - changing direction, changing course at the drop of a hat.
She had closed the distance between them and was only a few inches away from him. Jason instinctively reached out and touched her face, his thumb caressing the silky arch of her cheekbone. Her eyes peered into his, as if urging him to search her soul. Jason closed his eyes and tried to swallow the lump that had developed in this throat. "I…"
Elizabeth longed for him to tell her that he needed her. She didn't know how many times in Italy, when they had been alone, for Jason to tell her the words he had said to her in that park that fateful night. Her heart was racing, expecting the same words, the same feelings to fill her ears and heart, as they did that night. Except this time, Elizabeth would reiterate those feelings.
Jason sighed, pulling away from this woman who drew him to her with such intensity. "I'm sorry," he whispered."
Elizabeth lowered her head and licked her lips. Rejection stung. She closed her eyes and tried to stifle those emotions, those feelings, which she had been so ready to express. Swallowing hard, Elizabeth plastered a smile on her lips and shook her head. "N-no," she said trying to be casual, though the catch in her throat gave her away.
Jason was about to explain when his cell phone rang. He pulled out the small compact phone out of his back pocket and flipped it open. "Yeah, Morgan here."
Elizabeth watched intently as Jason had a curt conversation on the phone with an unknown source. He turned to her and looked apologetic. He had to go. Elizabeth sighed.
"I'm sorry, but Sonny needs me," Jason explained quickly, knowing the words didn't resolve the awkwardness of the previous moment.
Elizabeth nodded and walked him to the door. "It's fine," she lied. Can't you just stay this one time? she thought to herself. Can't Sonny deal with this without you?
"I'll talk to you later," Jason paused, his eyes flickered revealing his desire to stay.
Elizabeth bit the inside of her cheek and nodded, folding her arms across her chest. "Yeah," she replied uncomfortably, trying to hide the disappointment in her eyes.
As he left, Elizabeth rested her head on the door. Why did things always seem to get in the way?
At this rate they would never get together.
~~~
"W-what are you doing here?" Jaime's voice cracked in anxiety and shock, unsettled by the surprise appearance of her former kidnapper.
Rosco peered out from under the small crack left by the blind hanging over the window of the door. "I've tried to see you a couple of times, but your father wasn't too keen on the idea," he said sarcastically, while scoping out the hallway access.
Jaime didn't know whether to scream or to remain quiet. As her mouth couldn't form any words, she chose to remain silent. She began chewing on her bottom lip out of nervousness. It was a habit she had formed during her childhood. As Jaime grew older, she realized what she was doing, but ever so often she would do it unconsciously. Finally she managed to find her voice again. "No, really. What are you doing here?" This time a little more perturbed than anything.
Rosco turned to see Jaime resting uncomfortably in her hospital bed, her brow creased, as she seemed irritated at this interruption in her recovery process. His lips instinctively curled into a slight smirk. Even after getting shot she's got that spark in her eyes.
"You miss me?" he asked, putting on a façade of arrogance.
Jaime rolled her eyes. "Do you know my Dad has a guard standing watch outside my door?"
Rosco nodded. "I waited till he and your father were occupied."
She shook her head. "That's not the point. My Dad will kill you when he finds you in here."
Such an ingrate.
After all she had done for him, running interference so he could get away, and then getting shot…now he has the audacity to stand in her hospital room where he was sure to be caught? Jaime slid down against her nurse-fluffed pillow and frowned.
"You know you look good even when you pout?" Rosco commented wryly.
Jaime involuntarily blushed. She swallowed, trying to relieve the sudden dryness of her throat. "Apparently you still don't take warnings very well." Her eyes flashed brazenly at her persistent guest.
Rosco tugged lightly on the putrid green blind and walked over to her bedside. He shrugged as he sat down on the nearby chair. "Never was a good listener. Ask my kindergarten teacher," he said dryly.
The ease of each of their returns of witty sarcastic remarks unsettled him. She looked so small in lying in that hospital bed. His eyes locked intently on her. This seemed to make her shift in her bed.
Jaime licked her lips and pulled herself into a more upright position on her bed. "What?" she asked, running her hand over her disheveled hair.
He smiled and shrugged. "Nothing."
She narrowed her eyes and pointed at him with her good arm. "Then stop staring at me."
"Why?"
Jaime rolled her eyes at the turn focus. "How about you let me ask the questions?" she glared.
Rosco leaned back in the chair and waved his hands outward. "Go ahead."
He sat there with an ease, which irritated her, as if he hadn't a care in the world. How could he not be worried about her father?
Jaime cleared her throat and tilted her head to the side. "Why are you here?"
Rosco's face seemed to change from a carefree nature to a slightly more solemn expression. "I'm here to say goodbye."
"Goodbye?" Jaime repeated. "Why?"
Rosco leaned forward, clasping his hands together as he rested his elbows on his knees. "I made a deal with your father. I leave and never bother you again and I get to live."
Jaime swallowed, part of her somewhat relieved that her father had decided against hunting him down. "Why would he make a deal like that?"
He paused at her question. This is more than you deserve Nam. Rosco cleared his voice. "Because he loves you."
The answer was not quite what Jaime expected. "What do you mean?" she shook her head in confusion.
Rosco sighed. "I just reminded him how much you would hate him if he killed me."
"Really?" she said skeptically. "And that's all?"
"Well you would have been devastated by my death, and we also know how much you hate the 'mob' business."
Jaime opened her mouth and then closed it – nothing said. Her mind was confused - she both resented and agreed with his statement – but was unsure which one she should address first.
Rosco grinned like a Cheshire cat. "I knew you did kid," he chuckled.
Jaime rolled her eyes and groaned. "Oh give me a break."
Low male voices approached from the hallway, getting louder with every step.
Rosco snapped his gaze towards the door. He couldn't be seen here. The mutter of conversation was being held just outside the door. He got up, his muscles tense and alert, ready for a quick retreat.
Jaime sat up, painful as it was, and waved Rosco over to the door. The tall tanned muscular man ducked behind the door just as her father's bodyguard peeked in to check on her. She plastered a smile on her face, using all her will power not to glance behind the door. "Yes," she said breathlessly.
"Just wanting to know if I can get you anything?" The large oversized minion of her father's smiled politely. He looked new. His head was shaved with less than a half an inch of hair, shadowing his round skull and his eyes were small and beady. Jaime looked at the expensive Gucci suit and rolled her eyes. Her father's men were always well dressed.
"No," she sighed. "Unless you can convince my father that I meant it when I told him I didn't want any guards."
The large oaf stared at her blankly. "He's just trying to keep you safe from Rosco, Ms. Nam."
Jaime did her best to look annoyed. "Well tell him I don't need it!" With that she slumped down on her uninjured side, signaling to the guard that the conversation was finished.
Once the door closed, Rosco let out a sigh of relief. "You're pretty good at diversion," he whispered.
"Well, I better be if you're going to get out of here."
"There's always the window," Rosco winked as he gestured to the small double hung window.
Jaime stifled the urge to laugh out loud as she glanced at the window Rosco had just mentioned. The window was wide enough that she could possibly fit through, but not the broad 6'4" muscle man.
"You've got to be kidding right?" she said, lowering her voice so the guard would have no reason to check in on her again.
Rosco frowned. "You don't think I could do it?"
"Maybe if the doctors at General dissected you first," Jaime retorted.
"Well that was my plan, do you have a better one?"
Jaime smirked. "You know, no wonder you never made it in the mob business. If you come up with schemes like that…"
Rosco scowled and pretended to laugh. "Ha. Ha."
"So you're going then?"
The question silenced him. He was going. Rosco looked down at Jaime and nodded morosely. "Yeah," he said clearing his throat. Rosco was trying not to let the unnamed feelings he had welling up inside make a surprise appearance.
Jaime tucked a lock of her long stringy hair behind her ear. She really needed to shower. But turning her attention to Rosco, who seemed uncomfortable with the silence, Jaime smiled. "Well, then," she paused, "good luck." Awkwardly she placed out her good hand to him.
Rosco stared undecided at what he should do, when she reached her hand out to him. He moved towards her and his hand slid comfortably against hers. He squeezed gently and moved towards her. "I'm sorry about all of this," gesturing to her present state.
"It's not really your fault."
He shook his head. "Yeah it was," he said defeated. "I thought I had this ingenious plan…"
Jaime frowned. "What?" What had he said?
Rosco quickly covered. "I mean, coming back to Port Charles and all," he lied. "I shouldn't have let you get to me."
Her heart began to race. "Well, it's over and done with. You can go free and not have to worry about my Dad tracing your every move."
His eyes glittered at the reassurance. "I'm pretty sure your father will be tracing every move I make."
Jaime thought about it for a second and nodded in agreement. "Just to make sure you stick to the deal," she vocalized her thoughts.
"Yeah," he laughed.
Her hand was still in his. As she tried to let go, his grasp only tightened. "You know I didn't come back to stalk you or anything obsessive like that," he remarked, his gaze distant.
Jaime looked up at him. "I know," she paused awkwardly. "You'd better get going. You never know when my Dad might pop in."
Rosco nodded, his gaze still focused on her dark eyes. "Well, it's been an interesting ride." He leaned in close to the bed, her hand still in his. "I really wished we got the chance to finish our conversation on the docks."
He didn't want to say goodbye. The deal he made with Nam had only been to get himself out of hot water, but now he regretted it. Jaime was the only positive thing he could think of that had happened to him in the past two years, since Sorel's demise. Now he had to leave her.
Jaime fidgeted nervously in her hospital bed. There really was nowhere to go. She wasn't healthy enough to even walk around the hospital room. Staring at her hand fixed in his, Jaime wished this conversation hadn't taken this kind of turn again. It made her extremely uncomfortable. "I think it's better we didn't," she stated, slipping her hand out of his.
Rosco knew this fixation with Jaime wasn't healthy. And observing her behavior, he could tell she didn't seem to feel the same way about him – intrigued and attracted. "I guess." Looking toward the door, Rosco cleared his throat and tried to mask the emotions he had held in check for most of his life.
"Well it's time to disappear again," he whispered, smiling wistfully at her.
Jaime nodded and silently gestured for him to hide behind the door again. She wished things had been different with Rosco. He was too different though. His morals and his perspective on life were too dark and she could never have lived with it. She couldn't with her father, how different could it have been with Rosco?
"Guard!" Jaime yelled loudly.
The large Asian man pushed the door opened and stuck his head in. "What's wrong?"
Jaime smiled and waved the man in. "I just wanted to apologize for my attitude before," she lied, as the unnamed guard was drawn into the conversation. As she offered him the chair, which Rosco had just previously been sitting, with a brief glance, signaled Rosco to leave.
Rosco nodded his final goodbye as he watched Jaime engage the stupid lug into an inane dialogue about monkeys. He had to stifle his laughter as he quickly dashed into the hallway and down the corridor to the elevators. She was definitely quite the woman. And he knew he would regret not being able to get to know her better as the doors of the elevator closed in front of him.