Disclaimer:  I do not own any of the characters in this story, the writers of GH do. However, I do own this story and would appreciate it if you didn't steal it.

Chapter 5

      About twenty minutes after Jason left and after Elizabeth's crying had stopped, Johnny decided it would probably be a wise decision to check on her. He knew even if they wouldn't admit it, that they were meant for each other and that they'd allowed a really bad misunderstanding to tear them apart.

      He knocked worriedly and when he didn't receive and answer her slowly turned the knob and let himself into the small room. He allowed his eyes to roam around a little bit before finally setting them on the worried figure sitting on the stool in front of the window.

      "Elizabeth, are you alright?"

      She sighed and nodded her head. "I'm alright Johnny, but if it's alright with you, I'd really like to be alone right now."

      "I understand, but if I were you I would spend too much time alone worrying about Jason. He's good at what he does and there's no way he's going to allow someone to keep him from you."

      She turned her head and looked at Johnny. "I hope you're right Johnny. I hate the thought of losing him right when I have a chance to make things right with us again. If something happens to him I'll have to deal with that for the rest of my life. Not only is it my fault that he's gone, it's also my fault that he thinks I'm an awful person. I can't even tell him the truth in the right way."

      "I don't think he'd like hearing you talk this way. Jason knows who you are and I really doubt he thinks you're an awful person. He just doesn't always know how to express himself. You know he loves you and that he is on his way to forgetting what happened between you."

      Elizabeth groaned and stood up crossing her arms across her chest in the process. "That's my point Johnny. Jason wouldn't have to be on his way to forgiving me if I hadn't made the mistake in the first place. I should have just trusted Jason to handle his own business. I mean he's been doing it for longer, what made me think I could make a difference."

      "You thought you were helping the man you loved. It's not your fault that Taggart is a bastard from hell. Yes, you made a mistake, but your mistake wasn't betraying Jason, it was allowing Taggart to manipulate your feelings."

      Elizabeth laughed and shook her head. "How do you know all of this?"

      Johnny shrugged his shoulders. "I have an outside view of the whole thing. Both you and Jason are just thinking with your hearts."

      "Do you really think Jason wants to be with me?"

      "Judging by the fact that he watched you every time you think he's not watching and the fact that he's kept up with your welfare over the past few months, even after the disagreement. He's always had your best interests at heart."

      "I hope you're right Johnny." Elizabeth said, turning back towards the window. "I hope you're right."

~*~*~*~*~

      Jason arrived at Sonny's penthouse earlier than he thought he would and was pleased to find Carly in the living room playing with Michael. "Hey Jason." She said, with a smile when she saw her long time friend enter the room.

      "Hi Uncle Jason! Do you want to read with me and mommy?"

     Jason smiled at the small boy and shook his head. "I can't right now, but maybe later?"

      "Sonny's in the kitchen." She said, nodding

      Jason walked into the kitchen and found a very frustrated Sonny Corinthos. He was standing over the stovetop stir something intently. It looked as if things weren't going as planned for his latest concoction.

      "Dammit!"

      Jason grinned at his friend. "Did I come at a bad time? You know I can give you two a few more minutes."

      Sonny's anger diminished at the sound of Jason's amused voice. "Hey Jason. I didn't expect you so soon. I'm trying…and I use that term loosely, I'm trying to cook dinner. It's not working that well." He took one of the pans and sat it on a potholder so that it could cool. "How's Elizabeth?"

      Jason frowned and leaned heavily on the counter. "She's upset. She didn't want me to come tonight because she's afraid something is going to happen to me. I think it's more than that though. With everything that's happened and everything that she's had to deal with, I think it's finally just getting to be too much for her."

      Sonny turned off the burners and wiped his hands on a towel before turning to his friend. "She brought it on herself and now we have to clean up a mess that she is partially responsible for."

      "She couldn't help it if she was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Jason argued.

      "Yes, but it isn't the first time something like this has happened. She's unreliable Jason and people like her get people like us killed. She can't be trusted."

       Jason's teeth grinded together as he fought the urge to defend her even though he knew that Sonny might be right; try as he might there was just no way he could let Sonny talk about Elizabeth like that.

      "You know Sonny, I know what you're saying and I get your point, but you don't know Elizabeth the way I do. You don't-you don't love her like I do. I know what she's capable of and what she's not and I'm telling you this right now, there is more to the story than meets the eye. She didn't betray me that night and from now on I don't want to here you or Carly saying anything negative about her. Is that clear?"

      Sonny's eyes widened at Jason's sudden burst of emotion and while he really felt he should be angry at the outburst, he couldn't help but be relieved to see the old Jason back again.

      "It's clear Jason."

      Jason rubbed his hand over his face and allowed everything that he'd just said to sink in. He'd just yelled at sonny and told him that Elizabeth didn't betray him. It was weird how easily those words had come out of his mouth. It surprised him at how right they sounded and how much more relaxed he felt.

      "Jason, you ok man?" Sonny asked worriedly.

      Jason nodded his head. "Yeah, I'm fine. I can't believe I just said all of that. I'm sorry I yelled at you."

      "But, you're not sorry about what you said?"

      Jason sighed. "No, I'm not. I love her Sonny and I have to believe that what she did that night wasn't to hurt me. Anyway, I can't really think about this right now. I've got things to do."

      "Yes, you do. You know, Jason, Elizabeth's worries might be warranted. This guy is better than I originally thought. The only real mistake he's made is hiring the man Elizabeth saw. Did she ever tell you anything about that?"

      'I told you I wasn't going to push her."

      "Alright, that's fine, but it's really important she tells you everything she can as soon as possible. I can't stress this enough Jason. It's important."

      Jason nodded his head and stuck his hands on his hips. "I know Sonny. But, give me something I can do right now. What's going on?"

      Sonny sighed and reached up into the cupboards to get the plates down. "There's a meeting going down to night between one of our men and a man named Antonio Martinez. He's the man we're after Jason and I need to go down to the docks and give Max a little back up."

      Jason's eyes widened. "You're sending Max?"

      Sonny shrugged. "Well I have my two best men staying with Elizabeth and the only reason you're not the one going is because you're better with a gun than he is. You can get him out and there's no way he would have been able to do the same for you."

      "What time?"

      Sonny looked at the clock up on his wall before replying. "One hour."

      Jason rolled his neck and closed his eyes. "If something goes wrong I want you to get Elizabeth out of here. I don't want her hurt Sonny."

      Sonny nodded his head in agreement. "Nothing's going to happen, but if it does I'll take care of her."

      "I'll contact you after it's finished." Jason gave Sonny and final glance before turning and walking away. Carly and Michael were no longer in the living room so he didn't have to say goodbye to them.

      When he was inside the elevator and the doors had shut behind him he closed his eyes. "Please let this work out."

~*~*~*~*~*~

      Jason took his spot behind a load of crates temporarily located on the east end of the docks. It was the perfect location for him to keep his eyes on Max and be able to step in if the situation arose. Hopefully he wouldn't be needed, but he was here just in case.

      His eyes caught on to some movement coming from the other end of the dock and he notice two men walking towards him. They seemed calm and casual, but Jason knew that look, it meant something else was going on.

      Before long Max appeared carrying a small briefcase. They shook hands and Jason felt a nervousness beginning to grow inside him. Something wasn't right, something was about to happen. He had to get Max's attention and get him out of there.

      He was about to make his move when he felt a piece of cold metal touch the base of his neck. "Hello Mr. Morgan. Mr. Martinez is expecting you. If you'll come with me please."

      Jason stood up stiffly and walked where the man holding the gun lead him. Max got a look of fear in his eyes when he saw Jason coming and he knew that all hell was about to break loose. He gripped his briefcase and waited calmly for his signal.

      "Jason Morgan, I've waited a long time to meet you." Martinez said with a grin.

      "Like wise. What do you want from us Martinez?"

      "Under the circumstances, I really don't think you're in any position to be asking questions. If it's all the same to you I'd like to have that privilege." He motioned to the guard next to him to come forward. "I was kind of hoping you could tell me where your little girlfriend was. We have some unresolved issues that need to be taken care of."

      "Go to hell."

      "I was hoping you'd say that. Do it." He ordered one of his cronies.

      The man at Martinez's side stepped forward and forcefully punched Jason in the stomach causing him to double over and gasp for breath. Jason always hated this part of the job. He didn't mind giving a few punches, but receiving them just wasn't his cup of tea.

      "Anything else you'd like to say Mr. Morgan?"

      Jason stood up straight again and looked at Martinez wish his ice-cold glare. "Go…to…hell…"

      When the man made a move to hit again, Jason turned quickly and grabbed the arm of the man holding the gun. When the gun was in his possession he aimed it and fired sending one crony falling to the ground.

      Things were moving so fast and Max was doing his part in getting them out of there alive. Jason could see Antonio Martinez retreating so he made eye contact with Max and the both decided it was best that the booked it as well. "Run, I'll cover you!" Jason yelled.

      Max reacted quickly there was gunfire coming from behind him and he could hear Jason running behind him. He was almost to the stairs when the gunfire stopped and the only thing he heard was his heavy breathing. He jumped when he felt a heavy handclasp onto his shoulder.

      "Let's get out of here." Jason told him, extremely out of breath and holding his side.

      "Are you alright man?"

      "Yeah, I'll be ok. Let's just get out of here."

      They made their way to the car and Jason collapsed into the passenger seat. When Max took his place at the wheel he glanced over at Jason and saw blood beginning to seep through his fingers. "Oh man you're hit."

      Jason gritted his teeth and nodded. "Yeah, Elizabeth isn't going to be to happy about this.

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

Dun, Dun. Dun…what's going to happen to Jason? Will he make it safely back to the cabin where Elizabeth is waiting patiently for his return? Tune in tomorrow for the answer. *grins evilly*