Shot in an Alley: Panic
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Thank you to the reviewers and the readers!
--------- Corinthos Penthouse
Elizabeth ran to Jason. The moment she placed her hands on his forehead she knew what was wrong. He was burning up.
"Sonny, get a thermometer!" she called. She had to know what they were dealing with if she was going to be able to fix it; she prayed it was only a little higher of a fever, but with the way his forehead felt she knew that it wasn't going to be that easy.
Sonny ran to the kitchen where he kept the first aid kit. It was the biggest kind you could buy so it carried everything. He remembered when Carly came home with it, joking that it was the next best thing to turning the unused maid's bedroom off the kitchen into a mini hospital. After all of this was over he was seriously considering doing just that. When he got back to the living room he handed it to Elizabeth and then sat down on the couch next to Jason. He watched Elizabeth place the thermometer in Jason's ear, then pull it back out to read the temperature.
Elizabeth tried to control the tremor in her voice, "102. Again. We shouldn't have moved him, Sonny. He was still too sick. All it took was that short walk and he is right back where he started."
Sonny closed his eyes. Guilt and fear for his friend washed over him. "How did you get it down last night?"
"I got a cold washcloth and ran it over him. I talked a lot too, it seemed to calm him down. After about two hours he just got better. That was it." She replied.
Sonny nodded, "I can do that, you go to Carly."
Elizabeth looked at him as though he were insane. "What are you talking about? I'm not leaving him!" she informed him, outraged that he thought that leaving Jason was even a option.
"I know you want to stay. But we need to get started. Jason is in danger until Ric is caught. He can't protect himself now. We need to end this." Sonny said, trying to drive the point home.
Elizabeth knew he was right. Jason needed her but Sonny was right. She had to go. "Alright"
She leaned to Jason's ear. "I'll be back soon Jason, don't worry. Sonny's here. Fight, Jason, soon it will all be okay." Then she kissed his forehead. She grabbed her things and ran to leave, knowing that if she didn't go then she wouldn't be able to, but at the last second she turned. "Take care of him, he means a lot to me." Then left without another word.
Sonny turned back to Jason. "Cold water huh? Well, coming right up Jase." He went to the kitchen. When he returned he had a bowl of ice water and a dishtowel. He soaked the towel and put it to Jason's face. He ran it over Jason, hoping to help even a little.
"I'm so sorry man. Why didn't I listen to you sooner? Before all of this? Oh, Jase, I'm sorry."
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Jason could hear what Sonny had said. He sounded sad. Also, he was saying "sorry" an awful lot. It was the dream all over again, and suddenly Jason worried what Sonny would do.
Despite all of the pain he was in Jason was feeling urgent to stop Sonny. Last time he had called to him, but now Sonny was nowhere to be seen. He had to try.
"Sonny! No, don't!" he called out.
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Sonny heard Jason cry out, in fear. "Sonny! No, don't!"
That got him freaked. Was he dreaming? His mind instantly shot back to those nightmares Elizabeth had mentioned. What did Jason want Sonny to stop doing? Shit, Jason was thinking Sonny was hurting him! Now that Sonny had gotten that thought in his mind he knew how far apart he and his friend had gone, that was also Sonny's fault.
"Jason! Listen, man, I would never hurt you!" Sonny vowed solemnly. "It's okay, Jason. I'm not going to hurt you. Calm down."
He dunked the cloth in the water again. Instead of running it over Jason's face and around the wound he held it to Jason's forehead. "It's all okay Jason, don't worry."
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Sonny wasn't making any sense. What was he on about? That didn't matter now though. The important thing was that Sonny had heard him. He tried again, using up what was left of his strength.
"No! Don't hurt yourself! Sonny!"
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Sonny was even more confused now. Jason didn't think that Sonny was hurting him. He thought that Sonny was hurting himself.
"Jason, no. I'm not going to hurt anybody. Even myself. Just rest man. You need to get better. We need you, I need you. Relax. Stay with me brother."
He started talking to Jason about everything. Courtney. Elizabeth. Worry for Carly. Worry for Jason himself. Guilt he felt. Everything.
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"Ric, honey, I'm home!" Elizabeth called out, trying not to cry. All she could think about was Jason and that he may be dying, alone and without her. That she may never be able to tell him how she felt.
When she got no response a small smile formed on her lips. Then she spotted the note on the coffee table.
Elizabeth,
I'm sorry. I have a case that came up. I need to go out of town to question a key witness. I won't be back until tomorrow afternoon. I love you.
Ric
Her smile got larger. That was certainly a blessing for them, having Ric away would only make things easier for her.
She took the small remote from her purse and clicked the button.
The wall with her picture slid away. It revealed a pregnant Carly, practically crying from the joy of being found. She opened her mouth to say something but Elizabeth cut her off.
"Hello Carly."