Jason pulled into the courthouse parking lot and cut the engine. Elizabeth
scanned the few cars in the lot but Ric wasn't there yet.
"You're becoming pretty friendly with Morales," Jason said looking over at her.
"Is that a problem?" Elizabeth asked.
"No, he's a friend," Jason said.
"So why did you bring it up?" Elizabeth asked.
Jason didn't respond for a few seconds but finally said, "I worry about you getting too involved with anyone associated with the business."
"Anyone except you and Sonny," Elizabeth said.
Jason kept his gaze steady on hers and Elizabeth remembered all the times Jason walked away from people he loved to keep them safe from the business.
"Don't even think about it, Jason," Elizabeth warned.
"I don't want anyone else I love to be hurt by what I do," Jason said.
"First of all, Morales and I have never spoken about anything remotely connected to business," Elizabeth said. "Second, under no circumstances am I going to allow you to push me away to keep me safe again. We've tried that and I don't think I need to point out that it was a colossal failure."
Jason continued to study her for a few moments before he slowly nodded. Elizabeth reached over and laid her hand on his cheek and then jumped when Ric tapped on her window. Elizabeth started to open the door but Jason grabbed her arm and shook his head. He got out and walked behind the truck to Ric's car. Ric looked at Elizabeth for a minute before following Jason who was already getting Adella out of her car seat.
"I'm not entirely comfortable with you picking up my daughter from our visits," Ric said.
"Then stop taking her for visits," Jason said.
"I'm only thinking of Adella's safety," Ric said.
"No, I'm thinking of Elizabeth and Adella's safety. You're thinking of you ego," Jason said.
Without waiting for a response, Jason turned and headed for the truck. He secured Adella in the car seat and then got in.
"Do you really think he has something to do with all this?" Elizabeth asked while they were waiting for Ric to drive away.
"I don't know," Jason said. "Until I know one way or another, I'm going to take every precaution."
"Jason," Elizabeth said.
"No," Jason said. "You said you wouldn't allow me to walk away to protect you. Well, I won't allow you to be hurt because you helped me."
At that moment the world seemed to explode around them. Gun fire came from every direction and the sound of shattering glass was deafening. Jason shielded Adella with his body and shoved Elizabeth to the floor of the truck. He looked up in time to see Ric driving off. Elizabeth reached up and unhooked Adella from the car seat that was supposed to keep her safe but was currently putting her in harm's way. Jason started the engine and as soon as Elizabeth had Adella down with her, shifted into gear and took off.
Once he was sure they weren't being followed, Jason slowed and glanced down at Elizabeth and Adella. Adella was clutched tightly to her mother's chest and was crying. Elizabeth's head was leaning against the door and her eyes were closed. She was pale, too pale for it to be from shock or fear.
Jason made a sharp right and sped to the hospital. He screeched to a halt in front of the ER entrance and raced to the passenger side door. Carefully opening the door, Jason caught Elizabeth and Adella as Elizabeth fell out of the truck unconscious and confirmed Jason's fears.
Carrying them both into the hospital, Jason yelled for help. A nurse rushed over with a gurney and Jason laid Elizabeth down. Monica hurried over as Jason picked up Adella.
"Help her. Please," Jason said pleading with his mother.
"I will, son. Take the baby up to pediatrics and have her checked over," Monica instructed.
Jason nodded but waited until Monica had wheeled Elizabeth away before heading for the elevator.
An hour later Jason paced a private waiting room with Adella asleep against his chest. Sonny and Carly sat watching their best friend and clutching each other's hands. Justus knelt in the corner praying on everyone's behalf. When Monica walked in, Jason stopped pacing and the other three stood up.
"Elizabeth is still in surgery. Bobbie's in there with her," Monica said. Reaching over, Monica laid her hand on her youngest son's arm. "It's very serious. I'm sorry but we won't know anything definite until the surgery is complete. I'm going to call Audrey and your sister."
"Could you call Lucky, too?" Sonny asked "Nikolas will be with Emily so you won't need to call him."
"Yes, I'll call Lucky," Monica said turning to leave.
Jason reached out and put his hand on her arm in a perfect mirror to her earlier gesture.
"Thank you. I...thank you...mom," Jason choked out.
Stunned silence descended on the room.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," Monica said knowing not to push even thought she wanted to throw her arms around him.
With one last glance at her son, Monica turned and left the room to call her daughter and tell her that Elizabeth might not make it.
"You're becoming pretty friendly with Morales," Jason said looking over at her.
"Is that a problem?" Elizabeth asked.
"No, he's a friend," Jason said.
"So why did you bring it up?" Elizabeth asked.
Jason didn't respond for a few seconds but finally said, "I worry about you getting too involved with anyone associated with the business."
"Anyone except you and Sonny," Elizabeth said.
Jason kept his gaze steady on hers and Elizabeth remembered all the times Jason walked away from people he loved to keep them safe from the business.
"Don't even think about it, Jason," Elizabeth warned.
"I don't want anyone else I love to be hurt by what I do," Jason said.
"First of all, Morales and I have never spoken about anything remotely connected to business," Elizabeth said. "Second, under no circumstances am I going to allow you to push me away to keep me safe again. We've tried that and I don't think I need to point out that it was a colossal failure."
Jason continued to study her for a few moments before he slowly nodded. Elizabeth reached over and laid her hand on his cheek and then jumped when Ric tapped on her window. Elizabeth started to open the door but Jason grabbed her arm and shook his head. He got out and walked behind the truck to Ric's car. Ric looked at Elizabeth for a minute before following Jason who was already getting Adella out of her car seat.
"I'm not entirely comfortable with you picking up my daughter from our visits," Ric said.
"Then stop taking her for visits," Jason said.
"I'm only thinking of Adella's safety," Ric said.
"No, I'm thinking of Elizabeth and Adella's safety. You're thinking of you ego," Jason said.
Without waiting for a response, Jason turned and headed for the truck. He secured Adella in the car seat and then got in.
"Do you really think he has something to do with all this?" Elizabeth asked while they were waiting for Ric to drive away.
"I don't know," Jason said. "Until I know one way or another, I'm going to take every precaution."
"Jason," Elizabeth said.
"No," Jason said. "You said you wouldn't allow me to walk away to protect you. Well, I won't allow you to be hurt because you helped me."
At that moment the world seemed to explode around them. Gun fire came from every direction and the sound of shattering glass was deafening. Jason shielded Adella with his body and shoved Elizabeth to the floor of the truck. He looked up in time to see Ric driving off. Elizabeth reached up and unhooked Adella from the car seat that was supposed to keep her safe but was currently putting her in harm's way. Jason started the engine and as soon as Elizabeth had Adella down with her, shifted into gear and took off.
Once he was sure they weren't being followed, Jason slowed and glanced down at Elizabeth and Adella. Adella was clutched tightly to her mother's chest and was crying. Elizabeth's head was leaning against the door and her eyes were closed. She was pale, too pale for it to be from shock or fear.
Jason made a sharp right and sped to the hospital. He screeched to a halt in front of the ER entrance and raced to the passenger side door. Carefully opening the door, Jason caught Elizabeth and Adella as Elizabeth fell out of the truck unconscious and confirmed Jason's fears.
Carrying them both into the hospital, Jason yelled for help. A nurse rushed over with a gurney and Jason laid Elizabeth down. Monica hurried over as Jason picked up Adella.
"Help her. Please," Jason said pleading with his mother.
"I will, son. Take the baby up to pediatrics and have her checked over," Monica instructed.
Jason nodded but waited until Monica had wheeled Elizabeth away before heading for the elevator.
An hour later Jason paced a private waiting room with Adella asleep against his chest. Sonny and Carly sat watching their best friend and clutching each other's hands. Justus knelt in the corner praying on everyone's behalf. When Monica walked in, Jason stopped pacing and the other three stood up.
"Elizabeth is still in surgery. Bobbie's in there with her," Monica said. Reaching over, Monica laid her hand on her youngest son's arm. "It's very serious. I'm sorry but we won't know anything definite until the surgery is complete. I'm going to call Audrey and your sister."
"Could you call Lucky, too?" Sonny asked "Nikolas will be with Emily so you won't need to call him."
"Yes, I'll call Lucky," Monica said turning to leave.
Jason reached out and put his hand on her arm in a perfect mirror to her earlier gesture.
"Thank you. I...thank you...mom," Jason choked out.
Stunned silence descended on the room.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," Monica said knowing not to push even thought she wanted to throw her arms around him.
With one last glance at her son, Monica turned and left the room to call her daughter and tell her that Elizabeth might not make it.