Shot in an Alley: Fight for Your Life

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Thank you to all of the reviewers!

--------- Corinthos Penthouse

Ric was in the penthouse.

The power was out, Sonny was gone, the guards might be dead, the phones were dead and Ric was in the penthouse.

Elizabeth felt true fear of the man she had married for the first time. She had never been afraid of him - now she was terrified. She could feel Jason breathing next to her. He seemed to be lost in thought. The phone line had been cut so there was no way to get help. He could only hope that Sonny would get back soon. Jason wanted to get the guns the guards must have but he knew that would be too risky. It was too dark. If he accidentally shot Carly, Elizabeth or Michael he would never be able to survive knowing he had hurt them.

Jason knew that Sonny kept a first aid kit and flashlight in the kitchen. It might not be bright enough to light the room, but it was better than staying in this darkness. They had no idea where Ric was. If he headed up the stairs Ric would know that someone was up there. He couldn't risk that. It was best if he assumed that it was only Jason and Elizabeth in the apartment and that Carly and Michael weren't upstairs.

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Ric could vaguely see the two by the door. Elizabeth was hanging on to Jason. That bastard had stolen his wife. Jason would be the first to die. They would all die, except Sonny and Elizabeth.

Ric silently made his way to the door. He was in the hallway leading to the kitchen now. He was getting closer to them. Once he got Elizabeth away from Morgan he would be able to shoot him. He wouldn't fail this time - Jason Morgan would die with this gunshot.

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Carly held Michael's sleeping form closer to her. Jason and Elizabeth would have come back up sooner. Something was wrong.

She could go down and see, but for some reason Carly's heart was telling her to stay here. If they didn't get back soon though she would have to do something, but for now she was staying with Michael.

If he woke up alone he might go see what was going on and Carly couldn't let that happen. Even if everything was okay in the penthouse other than the lights he could fall and hit his head.

No, she had to stay there.

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Jason and Elizabeth slowly made their way to the kitchen. Jason's instincts were screaming at him to get out of there, but they needed light. He had to do this.

Jason was suddenly shoved backwards. He hit the ground hard and let out a grunt of pain. He wouldn't let Ric know how much that had hurt him.

He was sure that the fall hadn't opened the wound but it had still hurt. He felt Elizabeth next to him and he tried to force his breathing to slow down and the dizzy feeling to go away.

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Elizabeth slowly stood up after realizing that while she couldn't help Jason with the pain, she could stall Ric.

"Ric?"

No one answered her, instead a pair of rough hands grabbed at her. "Ric!"

She could feel Jason get up slowly. Again she tried to get her husband to answer. "Ric, damn you. Say something!"

"Elizabeth, get away from him." Came Ric's harsh voice.

Jason could barely see the sight in front of him. Ric was pulling at Elizabeth. "Don't touch her!"

He charged Ric and shoved him down to the ground. Jason had no boots on so kicking him wouldn't do much good, but as Ric was getting up Jason was able to stun him by kneeing him in the stomach.

Turning to Elizabeth he yelled, "Get out of here!"

Elizabeth couldn't just leave him here. Ric had gotten up now. He threw a blind punch in Jason's direction. When he found only air he tried again. This time his fist found its target. Jason's stomach erupted in pain. He collapsed to the floor, but before Ric could do anything else Elizabeth grabbed a chair from the table and hit it against Ric's back.

Ric fell to the ground but soon got up. Jason still lay on the floor breathing shallowly. He lunged towards the fallen man. Unwilling to allow further harm to come to Jason, Elizabeth stopped him. Ric tried to stop the chair but ended up pushing Elizabeth back. Her head connected with the table and she fell unconscious.

Jason saw Elizabeth go down from his spot on the floor. The pain racing through his veins was replaced with rage. Ignoring his body's protests Jason got to his feet. Ric didn't seem to notice as he kept his eyes on Elizabeth. Jason's fist connecting with his face was effective enough to tear his eyes from her.

Ric attempted a punch of his own but Jason grabbed his hand in time and countered with his own hit. Ric tried a different approach. He threw his fist and at the same time he kicked out. His shin hit Jason's legs and caused him to fall.

Jason was trying to keep his eyes open as he felt himself fade, but he was the only one stopping Ric from getting to Elizabeth, Carly and Michael. He had to get up.

Ric saw Jason getting off the ground again. He could see how slow Jason's movements were getting. The younger man wouldn't last more than ten more minutes.

They both knew that.

--------- Courtney's loft

Sonny could feel that something was wrong. His family was in danger.

He quickly whipped his cell phone out of the pocket of his jacket and dialed the guard's number. After three unanswered rings he swore to himself. There was something wrong. Sonny tried the home phone number next.

"The number you are trying to reach is no longer in use. Please make sure you are correctly dialing the number."

Sonny turned to his own guards. "Get the car. Something's wrong."

--------- Corinthos Penthouse

Jason got to his feet again. Ric now had the advantage. Under normal circumstances Jason would win any fight that the two could ever have, but now, there was no way that Jason would win this.

"Tired yet Morgan?" Ric's taunting voice came to him.

Jason said nothing as he dodged another punch.

"Elizabeth loves me. Once I explain to her everything she won't even give a damn about you."

"Then why did she tell me she loves me?" Jason threw back. If he could start a verbal fight with Ric he may be able to stall longer. If Sonny didn't return home soon…

"She's confused."

Jason spared a glance at Elizabeth. Through the dark he could barely see the rise and fall of her chest. She was alive, that was all he needed. "She said that she had loved me for years. Was she confused for the last four years too?"

Jason could hear the tremor of desperation in Ric's voice. "She loves me."

"No Ric. She loves me."

--------- Sonny's Limo

The car couldn't go fast enough for him. He could feel it in his heart. There was something going on at the penthouse.

If Ric was there and did something to anyone of them Sonny didn't know what he would do.

Actually he did. He would kill Ric with his own bare hands.

--------- Corinthos Penthouse

Ric couldn't handle hearing Jason talk about his Elizabeth anymore. He swung his fist out and connected with Jason's heaving chest.

Jason couldn't get up this time. He could barely breathe anymore. He was spent. He had tried his hardest but it wasn't enough. He hadn't held on long enough. Sonny wasn't going to be in time. Sonny might not even be on his way.

Jason had failed them.

That was Jason's final thought as he finally let go. He didn't hear the men rushing up the back stairs that were in the kitchen. He didn't hear Sonny call out his name.

He didn't see Ric's startled face.

He just saw the darkness.