A few days later Jason found himself at Kelly's watching Elizabeth work. He was standing outside looking in. She glanced up and when she saw him her whole face lit up. She said something to a girl behind the counter and walked towards the door. It was as if that day in hell had been nothing but a nightmare. Jason shook his head, he never quite got over just how strong Elizabeth really was.

"Hi Jason." She said coming out of the restaurant. She came in close and gave him a hug. He held her to him, her familiar scent surrounding him. She pulled back after a little while and he felt a sudden stab of loss. She grabbed his hand in hers pulling him over to one of the outside tables.

"How are you?" She asked sitting down.

Jason sat down across from her and shrugged.

"I'll live." Her lips twitched at the familiar answer. "How are you doing?" He asked her, concern apparent in his voice and on his face.

"I'm okay. Better, now that you're here." She said giving him a bright smile.

"Elizabeth, we need to talk." Jason said seriously.

The smile on Elizabeth's face faltered a little. "Don't Jason. I know what you're going to say so don't."

Elizabeth reached across the table to take his hands, linking their fingers. Jason looked down at their joined hands and was amazed once again at just how well they fit together. "We'll make it work." She promised. He raised his head to look into her eyes. There was so much pain in Jason's eyes that it hurt Elizabeth to look at him.

"Elizabeth .. " Jason began.

"Don't Jason. I'm begging you. I can't lose you. Especially not now." She said, the smile was gone from her face now and her eyes glistened with tears.

"It's not safe for you to be with me. You're a target because of me. And I can't go on pretending that everything's okay. I can't protect you." Jason said pulling his hands out of hers gently. "You have to stay away from me." He said standing.

Elizabeth got to her feet, the tears spilling down her cheeks as she heard Jason say those all too familiar words.

Jason watched as the tears rolled down her cheeks, his hand automatically moved to wipe it away but he stopped mid way letting it drop back to his side.

"Jason, please don't walk away. Don't give up on us." She pleaded with him, angrily wiping her tears away.

"Elizabeth, I can't protect you all the time. You're going to be hurt because of me. You could die because of me. Don't you understand that?" Jason said harshly, his anger and pain hitting him hard.

"I understand the risks. I've always understood. But my faith in you is unshakable. I know that you'll always do everything in your power to make sure that I'm safe. And that's enough for me." Elizabeth walked closer to him. "No one is ever completely safe Jason. I will never be completely safe, even if I'd never met you. But I know that I'm a hell of a lot safer, and happier, when I'm with you."

Jason couldn't stop his actions this time. His hands came up to frame her face and leaned his forehead against hers.

"Stay." Elizabeth whispered.

"I can't ." Jason said, his voice cracking. "I love you Elizabeth." He leaned in and kissed her lips softly, not lingering too long. He knew that if he held her for just one second longer, if he kissed her like he wanted to, that he would never be able to walk away. And he had to, it was the only way he knew to keep her safe. He pulled away from her, desperately trying to ignore the pain that flooded her eyes. He turned and walked away, his face as hard as stone.

Elizabeth stood still, watching him walk away. Tears once again forming in her eyes. Her throat felt tight, and she struggled to breathe.

"I love you too." She whispered through her tears.

The End