Disclaimer: I own them all. There I admit it. Sue for the lint in my pockets I dare you.

Babble: Thanks for all of those who actually take the time and let me know what you think of my work. This part is up, in thanks, to one persistent replier.

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One of Those Days

Part VII

~Snake Pit~

"That shouldn't have happened. It was a mistake. One I won't make again."

The pain his words caused ripped through Elizabeth with all the power and force of a tornado and left her insides ripped up just like a storm would. Bowing her head in an effort to hide it she merely nodded. Her eye fell on her exposed stomach, and automatically pulled her sweater down. Pooling her resources she began to get to her feet. Each movement was slow, precise, and incredibly painful.

Jason tried to harden his heart to the hurt he'd obviously caused her. His eyes left her to sweep the clearing again in an effort to give her the privacy she obviously wanted. Yet they were drawn back to her, when she sighed. The sigh almost broke him and he bit back the instinctive need to apologize.

Pausing with her hands on her knees and her head down she took another breath to stave off the dizziness she was feeling and tried to get a handle on her emotions. The need to hide her hurt from him was prevalent in her mind, yet totally unnecessary. Jason always saw through her no matter what she did. He even saw the things she didn't want to admit were there at all, and yet she still had to try.

"Elizabeth?" Jason asked when she stopped moving.

Call it numbness, self-protection, or latent survival instincts, what to call it she didn't know, but she did know that it would hurt her to look at him in that moment so she stalled. Bending down she untied her bootlace and began to tighten the laces. "I understand Jason. What happened was just a reaction to all the stress it didn't mean a thing."

The words were light and forgiving. They might have even been believable if her voice hadn't sounded so hollow and empty.

Jason heard an angry hiss coming from the pit behind him and at that moment he wished he were back inside of it, with the snake. Facing an angry rattlesnake sounded much better then facing a hurt Elizabeth. Especially when it was a hurt that he had intentionally caused her.

"Can we go?" Elizabeth risked a glance in his direction. "I'm tired of rattles." Actually she wanted to get as far from this place and its tumultuous memories as she could. A mixture of highs and lows were in this little clearing and it was time to leave them behind.

"Yes." Jason agreed immediately and began to lead the way out. His cautious eyes scanned the ground and he quickly spotted the rope that had help spring his flight into the snake pit. If he'd had any doubt that they weren't alone on this island it was gone now. Pushing the incident with Elizabeth to the back of his mind he began to concentrate on the most serious problem they faced. Getting off this island.

Elizabeth was caught off-guard by a thorny branch that hit her in the wake of Jason's passing. The sting of the impact brought her out of her emotional upheaval long enough to level a look of warning at his back. Moving quickly she sidestepped another branch and the look quickly morphed into a glare. By the time they were free of the thorny brambles and back on the path, the hurt was long gone and irritation and anger had taken its place. With a roll of her eyes she stepped around him when he stopped on the path. "Are you coming?"

"In a minute," Jason replied and pointed to the tree. "Where's the other parachute?"

"There isn't one," Elizabeth answered absently.

"What do you mean there isn't another parachute?"

"It means what it sounds like. We both rode that one out of the plane," she looked pointedly at the path. "Can we go now?"

Jason crossed his arms over his chest and refused to budge. He wasn't going anyplace until he got some answers. "How could we both fit in one parachute?"

"We couldn't," irritation had her snapping the words out. "I hooked you into the chute, rolled us out of the plane and held on."

"Was there another parachute on the plane?" Jason asked quietly.

"Yes." Too late she realized the trap she'd unwittingly walked into. Nervously she backed off a step. "Can we go? I'm really thirsty."

"Why didn't you wear a parachute?"

The words were some of the quietest he'd ever spoken to her, yet they had her backing up another step. Scanning the expression on his face she knew he wasn't going to move until he got the full story. With a put-upon sigh she decided to give him the abbreviated version.

"You were unconscious, so obviously there was no way you could open a parachute. I knew there was no way I could hold on to you the whole way down, so I went with the obvious answer. I strapped you in the chute and held on," turning on her heel she began to move away. "And it worked we're both here on the ground, safe and sound."

"Except your sweater shrunk," Jason called after her.

Elizabeth's step faltered mid-stride. "W-what?"

Taking a step closer he pulled the memory from the fog in his mind. "So then we fell out of the plane, and you were unconscious, so I fell away from you and hit the water. And this was new, not it's small all because you wouldn't wake up."

He quoted her words verbatim and watched the guilty way she gnawed at her lip, looking everywhere but at him. "Is that what happened?"

"Maybe," she felt his eyes on her. "Yes, that's what happened. After I pulled the cord we started to spin and I lost my grip on you and fell," she saw the way his eyes hardened at that and hurried on. "But as you can see I'm fine."

"What the hell were you thinking?" Jason demanded. "Forget that you obviously weren't thinking."

"Newsflash Jason," incensed Elizabeth interrupted him. "You weren't really there. You have no idea what was going on up there. The pilot was dead and we were going to crash. We had to get off the plane, or we would die. I did the only thing I could to get us both out of there, and you know what? It worked. You have no right to get mad at me for saving your life."

"Did it ever occur to you to wear a parachute as well so if you did lose your grip, or after pulling my cord, you could let go and pull your own?" Jason shot back.

"I…" Elizabeth sputtered. "I…" infuriated because his plan made so much more sense, and would have saved her those hair-raising minutes she stomped her foot in frustration. "I asked you on the plane if you had a better idea, and you were strangely silent. So you have no right to second guess the decisions I made," she moved closer and faced him down. "That's right Jason I made a decision and according to you it was another wrong one, but hey it worked."

Both of them flashed back to the snake pit and neither wanted to deal with the consequences of what had happened there.

"I'm leaving." Elizabeth turned on her heel and headed for the clearing. "You can stay here and bitch about the fact that I risked my life to save you and it worked. Or you can let it go and realize that as bad as my methods may have been they saved your ass and come with me. At this point I don't really care what you do." With that she moved off leaving a still fuming Jason in her wake.

~Devil's Thumb~

"Hawk if your finished hitting on the female population of the village I would like to get on the boat and get off this island," she interrupted him midline.

Hawk smiled ruefully at the Senorita he was speaking to and rolled his eyes in the direction of the frowning blonde. "Now Jessica honey if you would calm down you may realize I'm getting some useful information here."

"The only information you've gotten from the Chiquita over there is the fact that her bust size is bigger then her IQ," Jessica said crossly. "And as fascinating as her Betty Boop imitation is, we do have other places to be."

Hank rolled his eyes at the woman he had been speaking to and jerked a thumb in Jessica's direction before making another sign with his hand. The brunette nodded in understanding.

"Did you just call me crazy?" Jessica demanded from right behind him.

"Boss you really need to get the lingo down. I didn't call you crazy, I said you were loco," Hawk corrected her with a lazy grin.

Narrowing her eyes Jessica inched closer.

"Easy now, I got us information. Apparently a few natives saw a parachute land on one of the islands."

Jessica tapped her foot and waited, but Hawk rambled by her, heading for the dock. Irritated she spun around and trailed him. "Did Betty over there know which island? Or were you too sidetracked to ask?"

"You know you have such a fascination with my love life that I am beginning to think you're jealous," Hawk drawled coming to halt to study his steaming boss.

"I am fascinated," Jessica never missed a beat. "I'm doing a thesis on the mating habits of the male of the species and how it is only one stepped removed from the primate family."

Hawk's easy grin faded at her words and it was his turn to catch up to her.

"You've already provided me with eight pages, two more and your section will be complete," climbing on the powerful speedboat she could all but feel his glare on her back, and smothered a grin. "But for now I'd really like to know which island were heading too."

The bad thing about working with his boss was even after all of these years he never knew when she was lying and when she wasn't. He was beginning to doubt he ever would. "The one at the far end. The one the islanders call Devil's Ghost."

Jessica shook her head. "Where do they come up with these names?"

"They call it the Devil's Ghost for a good reason," Hawk's expression brightened and he rubbed his hands together. "Apparently no one who ever goes to the island is ever seen again," he leaned closer. "But when the wind is blowing right, you can hear the sounds of screams and moans coming from there."

Taking in his amused expression and the gleam dancing in his green eyes she sighed and moved past him. "Hawk some day you're going to have to grow up."

~Clearing~

Elizabeth was still riding the edge of her temper when she stormed into the clearing. She never fought with Jason. Even when she had been jerking him around, they really hadn't fought. But now it seemed like that was all they could do, and she didn't like it. Knowing that the friction was coming because of her didn't make her feel any better either. What she needed to do was to just take a breath and not let his coldness get to her. He had every right to be upset with her, and he had every right to take a jab at her if he wanted too. It was just she wasn't used to him doing that.

Tensing in spite of herself when she heard him enter the clearing, she began to move towards the small stream. "I drank some of this last night, but I didn't want to drink too much. Do you think it's okay to drink?"

"I found a waterfall a little ways off, it feeds the stream here. The water will probably be cleaner there, and it's also the direction we need to head. Do you want to go there?" Jason asked.

Turning around to face him he could see the surprise on her face. "What?"

"Nothing," she began to move past him. "I was just surprised you asked my opinion."

"Elizabeth we're in this together," Jason touched her arm when she moved by him, when she froze he dropped his hand. "Thank you for saving my life, both on the plane and back there with the snake. I don't like that you put yourself in danger to help me, but I can't change that you did."

"Fair enough," Elizabeth smiled slightly in his direction and took the first easy breath in awhile. Bending over she went to pick up his jacket and battled another blast of dizziness. Blinking hard she tried to force it away and hoped with everything in her that this wasn't another side effect from the drug she had taken.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," straightening she tied his coat around her waist. She wasn't about to tell him about the dizziness. If she did she would have to mention the drug she took, why she took it and Jason would go all-cold on her again. He said he didn't want to know about her life in Port Charles, and the least she owed him was to abide by his wishes. She wouldn't bring up Port Charles and all the trouble there, she could at least give him that. "Which way?"

~Port Charles~

Sonny Corinthos was pacing, and that in itself was unusual. His normal pattern of behavior when he was really worried about something was to stay in one place. He could stand or sit in one spot for hours, his mind stuck on what was bothering him. At times he couldn't move if his life depended on it. But apparently this wasn't one of those times.

Since learning of the possibility of Jason being dead. He quite literally hadn't been able to stand still. Maybe if he kept moving the words wouldn't be able to catch up to him and it wouldn't be real. He tried to concentrate on Elizabeth. As much as he liked her, and had wanted to help her, he found he could function better if he focused on her possibly being dead then Jason.

That made him a bastard.

But at least he was still moving. He hadn't gotten sucked into the darkness that was always waiting there for him in his mind. All he had to do was keep moving and he would figure a way out of this situation for everyone involved.

Johnny pressed his body harder against the wall and warily eyed his boss. Sonny wasn't behaving like Sonny, and that was beginning to worry him. He watched as Sonny ran a hand through his hair, muttered something then paced back to the window. Yes he was definitely worried. Sonny didn't even seem to realize that he had gotten a coffee stain on his jacket. That sort of thing was something his meticulous boss always noted.

Keeping one eye on his boss, and one eye on the clock he cursed Benny for taking so long to come up with some news on who wanted Jason badly enough to charter a plane and kidnap him. Sonny's path of pacing was getting shorter and shorter and he knew his volatile boss was coming close to exploding. He only hoped that Benny would get here before that happened, so he could take the full-force of it. In answer to his prayer a knock sounded from the door next to him.

Moving quickly Johnny opened the door slightly, and all but jerked the silver-haired accountant inside the room.

"Where the hell have you been Benny?" Sonny demanded as soon as he entered the room. "I said I wanted the information on Jason immediately. That was hours ago. What the hell have you been doing?"

"I'm sorry it took a little time, I wanted to make sure I had everything before I updated you," Benny began in his customary drawl.

"Now Benny."

Eye's widening under the threat of the glare he was receiving Benny hurriedly complied. "About 5 months ago a request was circulated. Someone wanted Jason Morgan, not dead, but in their custody by a specific date. I didn't pick up on it then, because it wasn't a hit." Pausing Benny braced himself for the wrath of his boss.

"Go on," Sonny ordered quietly coming to a halt behind the desk.

"About a week after the initial request was made it was withdrawn. Most assumed that whoever requested the jack had changed their minds. As we know now, it was pulled because someone accepted the jack."

"Who did it?"

"Unique Unlimited," Benny said with a sigh.

Johnny nodded in understanding, now it was beginning to make sense.

Sonny caught the nod from the corner of his eye and turned on the bodyguard. "You've heard of them?"

"Oh yeah, their the best in the business. Personal security, designing systems, jacks, kidnapping retrieval, explosives, hell you name it and you can't find a better company," Johnny answered.

"I know," Benny nodded in agreement. "If we'd been using them this whole time we wouldn't be completing construction on our 4th warehouse."

"So their good at hits too?" Sonny tried to lead the conversation back to the important part.

"No they don't do hits," Johnny moved farther in the room. "Defensive driving, arms training, explosives, chemical weapons overview, the best you can find outside the military but they don't do contract hits."

"Yeah they'll train someone how to kill but won't actually take the job themselves."

"If you two are finished with your mutual admiration club I would like to get back to finding out who wanted Jason," Sonny snapped.

Chastened Benny nodded and looked at his notebook again. "The contract was not to kill Jason, only to have him in custody by a specific date."

"What date?"

"October 15."

"That's in three days," a thought occurred to him and he leveled a glare at his squirming accountant. "About this Unique International…"

"Unique Unlimited," Johnny corrected automatically, earning a glare from his boss in the process.

"If this Unique," Sonny snarled the word. "Is so superior why the hell haven't I heard of them before?"

"Because of your bias," Johnny answered simply.

"My what?" Sonny rested his hands on the desk in confusion.

"It's true," Benny picked up the slack. "We'd love to use Unique but you would never allow it. So we go with other firms, and with 3 warehouse bombings you can see the results we get from them. It's too bad about your bias."

"I know Unique even guarantees their work. After that first fire, if it would have even happened, they would have been all over the place," Johnny chimed in. "Most of the guys take all their defensive training there. And Francis, man he practically lives for what he calls their toy section, you know the explosives, the guns…"

Benny and Johnny both jolted when a glass went careening past Johnny's ear and smashed against the wall behind him.

"What fucking bias?" Sonny yelled all but shaking with rage.

"Unique is a company owned and operated by a woman. Most of their employees are women. Considering how you feel about women in," Benny swallowed hard when Sonny's eyes got even colder, "your business, we never mentioned it."

"Right you're okay with Ms. Davis representing you as your attorney, but you won't deal with women in any other way in business," Johnny finished lamely.

Sonny turned away from them trying to battle back the worst of the temper. He couldn't scream at them no matter how much he wanted too because what they said was right. He would have never hired Unique for anything.

After a minute of silence Benny nervously cleared his throat. "Sonny?"

"Do we know who wanted Jason?" Sonny kept his back to them.

"No, it was done very quietly. Until Jason was nabbed, we didn't even know about it."

"How about where Jason was supposed to be delivered?"

"The plane was going to Boston, that much we know," Johnny said. "Unless they filed a bogus flight plan."

"We need to find out who wants Jason, to do that we need to get to this company who snagged him," Sonny turned around. "Then they need to be punished. I want to know everything on this company. Where are they located?"

"New York City." Benny answered.

"Then that's where we'll go," Sonny's face-hardened into a mask. "Find me a hammer to break them Benny."

~Waterfall~

Elizabeth could hear the water long before she actually saw it, and the urge to dive into the water was very strong. She'd had a shower less then a day ago, and also crashed in a large body of water several hours ago, yet she still felt dirty.

It was probably because of the weather. It was only mid-morning according to Jason, and it was October, but it was also very hot and humid. She wasn't used to the tropical weather, and the dizziness was coming more often, with every step she took. She probably just needed food, at least that's what she was telling herself. She was very good at telling herself things, she was just tired of listening.

"Elizabeth are you okay" Jason touched her arm in concern.

Blinking she tilted her head to look up at him. "What?"

"I said are you okay?" Seeing her flushed face he pressed a hand to her forehead. "Do you feel okay?"

"I'm fine."

Jason lowered his hand and studied her doubtfully.

"I'm a little hungry that's all," Elizabeth shifted on her feet. "I haven't eaten anything today."

"I'll find us some food. Right now just get a drink," he gestured to the clearing behind him and the waterfall.

Elizabeth nodded and moved towards the waterfall.

"It's probably best to drink the water as it falls," Jason told her.

"How do you know that?"

"I don't really," Jason admitted. "I don't know where the water is coming from, but it's probably clearer then what's pooling here."

Focusing on the small lake that had formed at the bottom of the waterfall, she almost groaned in want. The water looked so inviting she'd like nothing better then to dive in and get clean. "At least there's enough water to clean up."

"Why don't you take a bath?"

Elizabeth all but goggled at him at that remark.

"I-I mean, there's no soap but you can get cleaned up, take off your clothes and rinse them off, while I get some food," Jason took a step back from her.

"Are you sure it's okay? What about snakes?" Her last encounter was a little too vivid in her mind.

"Stay near the falls where there is some current." When she still hesitated he frowned at her. "What?"

"I don't have anything else to put on while the clothes are drying, so I think I'll just dab," she untied his jacket from her waist and crouched beside the water.

"I have a better idea," Jason moved past her, pulled his shirt off and plunged it into the water. "I'll rinse this now, and spread it out in the grass to dry. With the heat it shouldn't take too long. You can put it on while you wait for your clothes to dry."

Elizabeth didn't hear a word he said. Her eyes had locked on the muscles in his back as he rinsed the shirt and wouldn't budge. There was a drone in her ears that no doubt meant he was talking, but she didn't care. When he wrung out the shirt he shifted, and she saw a different set of muscles get defined when he exposed his chest. She'd had models in her art studies class, but she had to admit that this was the first time she'd ever seen a perfect chest. Even the faded scars on it, suited him, somehow making it that more appealing.

Jason spread the shirt out on the grass and turned back to Elizabeth, who hadn't moved in the last few minutes. "Are you sure you're okay?"

She managed a nod but knew better than to try to speak.

"Take your time, I won't go far. If something happens just yell," misinterpreting her hesitancy he picked up his jacket and went on. "I'll whistle or call out to let you know when I'm coming so you'll have privacy."

"Okay." Elizabeth kept her eyes on him until he disappeared from view then sank wearily to her knees. Keeping her distance from him was going to be harder then she thought.

~Devil's Thumb~

"The Devil's Ghost. That's not good is it?" Manny asked.

"No," Francis agreed.

"Dominguez still runs the island doesn't he?"

"Yes and he doesn't like visitors." Francis began to move towards the dock and the waiting speedboat. "We're still behind the blonde and her friend too. I don't like that."

"Do you think the rumors are true?"

"What rumors?" Francis gaze slipped past Manny when a flicker caught his attention. For a minute he thought he saw someone he recognized, but the crowd shifted and he was gone.

"About the Devil's Ghost?"

"It's not haunted it that's what you mean. The reason people don't return from there, is because Dominguez's crew kills them."

"Not that, I meant about the animals. Do you really think there are some there?" Manny pressed. He had a fascination for animals.

"Manny sometimes I worry about you and I don't have time for that now. Right now we need to focus on finding Jason before Dominguez or the blonde does, or if we can't we better pray no one on that island recognizes him." Francis untied the boat and pushed it away from the dock.

"Won't they just kill him on sight?"

"Not if they know who he is, if they recognize him," Francis sighed. "Well let's just say he might wish he was dead."

"You're sure he was the one that survived? That is was him in that parachute?" Manny asked.

"I know he's alive and the only thing that will convince me otherwise is if I see his body," Francis answered honestly.

"Well if it was him in the parachute, what does that mean for Elizabeth?"

He couldn't afford to think about Elizabeth right now, if he did it might mess him up. Instead he put on his sunglasses and started the boat.

~Waterfall~

Elizabeth ran her fingers through her wet hair trying to get the tangles out as best she could. Strange as it had felt to strip naked and wash in a waterfall, she really did feel better, not to mention cleaner. Checking her pants, and finding them still damp she settled back down in the grass to let them dry.

Jason's shirt came to her mid-thigh, leaving plenty of white leg exposed to the bright sun. Her eyes couldn't seem to move from the fascinating bruises she had on her legs. Bruises that looked like the fingers of a hand.

In that instant the memory came back to her. Shooting the man with the scar, then fighting with him. Him holding on to her trying to pull himself back in the plane. Then the sound of the impact her foot had made when she'd kicked him in the head so he would let go of her. She hadn't meant to kill him, she hadn't wanted too, but he was still dead. And she was now a murderer.

"I don't want to be a murderer."

Feeling the sting of the tears behind her eyes she quickly closed her eyes and tried to think of something else, anything else. If she lost it now it wouldn't do anybody any good. Besides if she lost it now, she would no doubt try to lean on Jason and he didn't want that. There would be plenty of time for her to break, after they got off the island.

A whistling sound came to her ears and she automatically tensed up.

"It's okay Jason," Elizabeth called out getting to her feet and tried to brace herself.

It didn't help.

The sight of him, bare-chested, his face serious as he moved towards her carrying his jacket with fruits and what looked like leaves coming out of it, she still found herself unable to breathe.

"I found some food for us. Some berries and also some roots and figs. It's not a lot but it should take the edge off." Crouching he carefully laid the jacket on the ground before squinting in the sun and looking up at her. "I've already eaten so go ahead and knock yourself out."

"Are you sure their safe to eat?"

"Yeah I recognized them, their indigenous to the area, and harmless," he reached down and pulled out a clump of juicy looking red berries. "Don't just eat these though, eat the roots as well, or you might get sick off the sweetness."

He began to rise and for the first time realized what she was wearing, or should say what she wasn't wearing. His shirt dropped to her mid thigh, exposing surprisingly long looking legs. The shirt itself was still damp in places and slipped from one shoulder exposing the creamy white skin to view. The shirt was large on her, but thanks to the dampness it clung to her breasts, outlining them in the thin blue cotton. Pulling his eyes from her chest he lowered them until they landed on the livid bruises on her legs.

Noting his stillness, Elizabeth followed his gaze, belatedly remembering the bruises that she didn't want to explain, at least not yet. Turning around she moved towards her clothes. "I'll get dressed and give you some privacy."

Recognizing her retreat for what it was, a diversion, he let her go. He'd get to the bottom of what had happened while he was unconscious sooner or later. But for now it was time to get cleaned up. With a final look at the bushes she had disappeared behind he moved towards the waterfall unbuttoning his jeans as he moved. He gave a passing thought to the fact she might be watching him then immediately shook the thought away. Elizabeth wasn't that type. Carly would have stayed out and watched him strip. But Elizabeth wouldn't.

Elizabeth moved a branch a little further out of the way and kept her eye trained on Jason as he began to undress. She was finally going to get an answer to the boxer or brief question and wasn't about to let a little embarrassment drive her away.

~Port Charles~

"Stavros. Where have you been? I have been looking for you forever." Helena cried loudly into the phone when she recognized her son's voice. "Where are you?"

Nikolas paused in the entry of the salon, hearing her words he quickly moved back and to the side to eavesdrop.

"Mother I am a grown man. I hardly need to check in with you," Stavros reminded her icily.

Recognizing the tone of voice Helena knew she was going to have to be very careful if she wanted to regain the upper hand. "Of course my darling. You may do whatever you want."

"I always have."

"I know Stavros. I only meant that your stamina might not be fully back yet. The doctor has told you not to overdue."

"No one tells me what to do mother. Especially not you. Don't forget who your are speaking too."

"Of course My Prince," Helena spoke quickly. "Will you be returning soon? I am most anxious to reunite you with Nikolas."

"I'll be there when I choose, right now," he studied the two men on the speedboat. "I have other matter to attend too. As for Nikolas, do not tell him anything until I return."

"As you wish," Helena agreed. "When will you return?"

"Do not question me anymore Mother. It's very tiring. I will be there when I chose to be, and I will bring a surprise when I do come back," he waited until the speedboat disappeared out of the harbor before heading for his own boat. "Goodbye Mother."

"Wait Stavros, how can I reach you? Stavros?" Helena angrily hung up the phone. "Andreas."

"Yes Madame?" Andreas quickly appeared in the salon.

"The Prince has been detained, so our plans have to be pushed back for a time. Make sure you keep a close eye on Nikolas." Helena poured herself a sherry. "And Andreas, keep looking for Stavros, quietly of course."

"Yes Madame." Andreas bowed and quickly left the room.

"My darling what are you up too? We've come so far for you to mess it up now," Helena murmured.

Nikolas moved quickly down the hall and made his way off the boat being careful that no one saw him. The fear and worry had him by the throat so for the moment the knowledge of what he had heard wasn't there. Helena had sounded like she was talking to Stavros. His dead father Stavros. A man who had died more than 20 years ago. A man he had seen in a glass coffin just yesterday.

Feeling sick to his stomach by the time he reached the docks he leaned wearing against the wall. Could Helena's plan really have worked? Was his father still alive? Where was he if he was? His eyes flew open when he remembered what he had done after he had seen his father the day before. He had checked his messages, Stefan's and then Elizabeth. "Oh god Elizabeth."

Could Stavros have heard her message to him? Was he after her? Nikolas began to walk quickly down the docks. He had to see if Stavros was still in that coffin. Because if he wasn't then there was a good chance he was going after Elizabeth.

~Waterfall~

Doing her best to be good, Elizabeth was sitting in the clearing looking in another direction instead of at the waterfall, as she nibbled on the food he had found. The image of Jason naked under the waterfall was one she was never, ever going to forget, but now she was trying to be good, so after throwing the shirt in his direction she had given him his privacy.

Pulling his jacket closer to her, his knife slipped out of the pocket. Feeling the heat of the sun beating down on her, she picked it up and began to cut the soft material of her sweater, in an attempt to cut off the long sleeves. Even though the sweater was lightweight the last thing she wanted was something on her arms.

"Be careful." Jason spoke from directly behind her and she jumped.

"Ow, Jason don't do that," Elizabeth cried out, not bothering to look up at him she searched for where she had just nicked herself with the knife.

Concerned he crouched down beside her, brushing her hands away he checked the knick himself. It was only a scratch, but the small trickle of blood coming from her shoulder bothered him. Picking up the sleeve she had already cut free he pressed against the blood until the flow stopped.

Noting his frown she tried to lighten the mood. "Will I live Doc?" The teasing expression vanished from her face when he raised his eyes to her. The serious light she saw in those blue eyes of his wiped the smile from her face.

"I don't like the fact you were hurt," Jason whispered.

"I wasn't," Elizabeth reassured him just as quietly.

He glanced at her legs and the bruises now hidden by her pants, then back into her eyes. "Yes you were. And I wasn't able to stop it."

Touching his hand she tried to soothe. "Don't it's over with now."

"What happened?"

Jolted she blinked and pulled back, only then realizing how close their faces were.

Jason seemed to realize their proximity at the same time because he withdrew as well.

"Are you hungry?" Elizabeth asked brightly focusing on the jacket again. "I left you some berries in case you are."

"Elizabeth…"

"I was thinking about that trap you fell in Jason. Someone went to all the trouble to build it, and then hide it, why would they do that? Were they hunting animals or humans?" She got to her feet and kept talking. "Hunting humans just like in that book, and all of those movies on TBS late night. It's always some rich millionaire wanting to hunt people for sport, and eventually he gets taken out by one of his prey," she sucked in a breathe. "I think my favorite one right now is Surviving the Game, but that's because of Ice-T. I like him for some reason, I don't know why he's normally always the bad guy, but there's still something about him. I can't say much for his name though, why do they have to make up names like that?"

She wasn't going to tell him what had happened, the longer he listened to her, the more he realized that whatever had happened was bad. But she wasn't going to tell him. Watching her nervous movements as she began to tuck the food in his jacket pockets, he decided to back off for right now.

"So do you think someone built that trap to trap animals? It was pretty deep, I don't know why they would need such a deep trap unless it was for an animal that can jump. Kind of like a big cat. But cat's aren't indigenous to this area are they?" She had originally begun this conversation to stop him from asking questions, but the more she talked the more nervous she got. Who had built that trap and why?

"Do you ever take a breath when you get going like that?" Jason asked.

"I breath through my nose," she smiled a little ruefully. "I did go off didn't I?"

"Just a little," he got to his feet and brushed the dirt off his pants. "I think it's time to get out of here."

"Sounds good, do you know where we are?"

"I think," he stopped speaking abruptly and looked back into the brush.

"Wha…" she stopped when he held up his hand.

Elizabeth was about to speak again when she heard a rustling sound coming from the brush. Jason shifted so he was shielding Elizabeth, bending down he retrieved the knife, and handed her his jacket.

Her eyes grew wide when she heard the sound of a cough in the distance. It looked like they were about to find out who else was on this island.