The Ripple Effect
Chapter 8
~Studio~
"Why me?" Elizabeth muttered when another empty hanger crashed to the floor. She stepped over it and kept pawing through her clothes, searching for a miracle, a clean shirt that she could wear to both jobs. She was beginning to think that was impossible.
She pulled out a hot pink shirtwaist dress and frowned at it. "What was I thinking when I bought this?" She dropped the dress on the floor then reached back into the mess that was her closet. She closed her eyes and yanked hard, managing to unearth two shirts a purple and a green one. Both of which, if paired with her black pants would be dressy enough for L&B and comfortable enough for Kelly's. Today might be a good day after all.
She heard a knock coming from the other room, stumbled out of the closet and surveyed the damage. "Maybe I should do my laundry," she muttered turning to head for the door only to stop and detour by the bed to pick up her robe when she realized she wasn't dressed. Without bothering to check the window to see who it was she unlocked the door and opened it. Any thoughts of doing laundry vanished from her head, "Jason."
"You shouldn't open the door without knowing who it is," Jason frowned at her. "You didn't even check the window. Elizabeth you need to be more careful," he stopped the lecture when she shut the door in his face.
"Who is it?" she called through the door.
He couldn't help but smile. "Very funny Elizabeth."
She pulled on the shade sending it up so she could look at him. "Your name is Elizabeth too? What a coincidence so's mine."
"Are you going to let me in?"
She shifted from the window and pulled the door open. "Do come in," she grinned at him in relief. She had expected to feel nervous around him, and was glad that she didn't, that she was able to tease him like usual.
Jason moved inside and set a bag he was carrying on the table with a thunk. "Were you robbed?" he turned to look at her before jerking his head at the mess on the other side of the room.
"No. That's just my normal Thursday morning, what the hell am I going to wear panic," she admitted with a laugh.
His eyes moved over her. "Interesting choice."
She swallowed hard at his look, did she really think she wasn't nervous? He had only looked at her and she was having trouble breathing again. Her hormones were awake with a vengeance. "I hadn't decided yet," she managed finally. Even the air seemed to react to his presence, it seemed more charged then usual.
He saw her blush and realized his look was making her uncomfortable, he hoped that was a good sign. Sometime during the course of the night, he had changed his mind in how to deal with Elizabeth. He had been planning to give her some time before he sought her out, but when he woke up this morning he realized he didn't want to wait. He needed to know where things stood between them.
"So what did you bring me?" Elizabeth asked when he continued to look at her. Feeling flustered she walked around him, making sure there was plenty of room between them and pointed to the bag on the table.
He put his hands in his back pockets so he didn't give into the temptation of touching her to find out if her skin was as soft as the colorful robe she was wearing. "That's the reason I came by. I need a favor."
"Of course," she agreed immediately.
"Don't you want to hear it first?" he asked testing her reaction by stepping closer, she tensed but didn't pull away.
"I trust you," she looked up at him.
He looked down into her upturned face, their height difference readily apparent this morning. He hadn't realized how small she really was. She normally wore boots or shoes around him that made her appear taller than she really was. He felt like a big ox standing next to her, but the trust he saw in her eyes comforted him. "Good. I was afraid you might not after last night."
"Why? What happened last night wasn't your fault," she answered honestly. "Lucky had no right to go after you like that. I'm sorry he did."
"You don't have to apologize to me for what Lucky did," he took a chance and touched her hand.
"I feel like I should though," she looked down at his hand. "Lucky was your friend and I feel responsible for him going after you the way he did."
"Lucky's changed, you can't control what he does."
"I know he's changed, I'm just trying to figure out why he's changed in the direction he has."
"Did you think about what he said last night," he paused until she looked up at him. "About wanting you back?"
"Yeah," feeling chilled she stepped away and rubbed her hands over her arms. "I didn't like the way he said it, like he was," she trailed off.
"Staking ownership," he finished for her.
"Yes," she nodded and turned to face him again. "My Lucky would never talk like that, so it's hard for me to understand why this Lucky is doing what he does."
Her Lucky to this Lucky, he wondered if that meant she was seeing them as two different people with her Lucky being gone. "About what set him of…"
"God will you look at the time," she interrupted him. "I'm going to be late for work again." She hurried to the other side of the room, and began to sort through her clothes on the bed.
Avoidance again, Jason sighed heavily.
"Purple or green?"
Her question caused him to focus on her. "What?"
"Purple," she held a shirt to her chest, "or green?" she held the other one up.
He shrugged, "Their both nice."
"God you're so helpful," she frowned at him, dropped the green shirt and headed into the bathroom to get dressed. She left the door open slightly. "What was the favor?"
"It's something I've wanted to do since last winter," he wandered around the studio side of her place. He frowned at a canvas on the easel, seeing the bright colors there but not much else. He moved on to look out the window. "It's more like something I want to do for you."
"Just a minute, I can't hear you," she made a face at her reflection in the mirror. Why had she run away like a chicken when he started to bring up the kiss? Was it because she was afraid he would say it was a mistake and it would never happen again? Or because she was afraid he would say that he wanted it to happen again? She groaned loudly, when did life get so confusing?
"You okay?"
"Yeah, just fighting with my hair," she called back, "and myself," she murmured to her reflection.
Jason looked at some books she had stacked on the windowsill, one in particular caught his eye, The Mysteries of Egypt. He took it down and opened the front cover. Property of the Port Charles Public Library, was stamped on it. He flipped to the back of the book to read the date due stamp and saw that it was overdue by about 8 months. He smiled slightly and tried to figure out what that meant. Why had she kept the book, she had gotten for him, when he had been recuperating here?
"Now what did you bring me?" Elizabeth asked coming back in the room and heading for the bag. She opened it, curiosity bright in her eyes, "Locks?"
He couldn't help but laugh at the confusion on her face when she pulled a slide bolt lock out of the bag. "Yes locks."
"Gee Jason you shouldn't have," she rolled her eyes. "I mean that."
"You need them," Jason replied easily.
"I have locks already," she pointed to the door. "See?"
"I know but these are better," he held up his hand to stop her reply. "Just hear me out, please."
Elizabeth sighed and moved over to the couch, knowing she could never refuse him, when he said please. "You have three minutes before I have to leave for work."
Jason followed her to the couch, he knew he would have to choose his words carefully, if he wanted her to listen. "I know how much you love living here. But you know this building isn't very secure. You have a single bolt lock and a large window in the door. Elizabeth the lock is child's play, and even if it wasn't, with that window it doesn't matter. A person could break the window, and reach in, unlock the door, and be inside in less than a minute."
"Don't sugarcoat things for me Jason I can handle the truth," Elizabeth replied trying to downplay the uneasiness she felt when she found out how easy it was to break in here.
"I'm really not trying to frighten you," he told her softly when he saw the fear in her eyes. "I just wanted you to know."
She reached over and took the slide bolt from his hand. "And this is supposed to help?"
"Yeah. If you want to keep the door, I want you to let me replace the handle lock, and put this lock," he pointed to the slide bolt. "Low enough on the door that if someone did break the window they couldn't reach it. I also want to put one of these on your bathroom door."
"Why?"
"So if someone does break in and you're here, you have a safer place to hide."
"Jason are you in trouble?" she touched his hand in concern. "Is that what this is all about?"
"No I'm fine," his hand covered hers. "You matter to me Elizabeth. I just want to make this place safer for you, or as safe as you let me."
She could only see concern in his eyes, turning them serious. "You said if I keep the door. Why wouldn't I keep the door," she pointed to the bag. "Do you have a new door in that bag too?"
"No but I do have one."
"Jason," she grinned in surprise. "When did you have time to get me a door?"
"I found one after I saw you that first night and found out you moved back here.
She looked down at the lock in her one hand, then at the hand that was still holding Jason's. She hadn't even realized that she was still holding his hand. It had felt so natural, that she wasn't aware of it, she frowned at their hands for a second, then left her hand there. "If I let you what would you do to this place, to make it safer for me?"
"Well short of you moving out, which you wouldn't do, I'd install an alarm system," he saw her eyes widen at that. "Which you wouldn't like either. So I'd settle for replacing the door with a fire door, with no window, better locks, and spy hole so you could check who was there." He decided to stop there rather then mention what he would do to the windows. As prickly as her pride was he knew she wouldn't go for that.
Elizabeth sighed and got off the couch, glancing at the door, and then at the lock on her hand. A door with no window in it would have come in handy when Jason had stayed here last winter. Or at least if they had remembered to pull the shade more often. "But you would be satisfied if I told you to just put on the new slide bolt?"
Jason bowed his head and sighed heavily. "I guess I'd have to be."
She smiled at the resignation she heard in his voice, then quickly turned it into a frown when he looked up at her. "Can you meet me at the corner of 12th and Waters at 1:30 today?"
"Yes," if he was surprised at the change of subject he didn't show it.
"Just like that? No questions?"
"I trust you," he repeated her own words to her.
"Okay meet me there at 1:30," she picked up her bag and headed for the door. "And don't forget to bring the keys to my new door."
"Why did you change your mind?" he got to his feet and trailed her to the door.
"Why?" she repeated turning back to look at him. "You explained why you wanted to do this when I asked you to. You were willing to let me make up my own mind and not tell me what I had to do. You were willing to do what I wanted to do even though you didn't want to. In other words you gave me a choice and respected me enough to make the right decision," she smiled at him. "Of course you always do. 1:30 don't be late," she ordered and then was gone.
Jason leaned against the door after she closed it and shook his head slightly, somehow she always managed to surprise him. She might not have been willing to discuss the kiss, but he had found out the most important thing. They were still more than friends and he wouldn't have that any other way.
~Docks~
"Ah Lucky it's always a delight running into you," Helena Cassadine called stopping Lucky in his tracks.
Lucky sighed and turned around to face her. "What do you want from me now Helena?"
"Now that isn't very nice Lucky. Really your mother has taught you the most deplorable manners."
Lucky opened his mouth automatically to defend Laura, and instead said. "I'm sorry Helena, I've had a bad night. I shouldn't take it out on you."
Helena smiled at the boy's subservience. She hadn't even had to use the control phrase this time, that told her that Lucky was indeed upset, and her control over him was solid. "Please sit and tell me what has you so bothered. Perhaps I can help."
"I saw something last night that worried me, something concerning Elizabeth and Jason," he explained sitting on the bench beside her.
"Jason Morgan?" Helena questioned she wasn't aware that he was back in town.
"Yes him," his voice was full of disgust. "He's confusing her, and she's going to get hurt because of him."
"What is he doing?"
"He wants her for himself, so last night he kissed her," anger was apparent in his voice. "I caught them and confronted her, and she had the nerve to send me away."
Helena didn't like the sound of this. She didn't see Elizabeth's appeal, but her grandson wanted her. One of the benefits of her control over Lucky, was being in the position to get her for Nikolas. Elizabeth had made the foolish mistake of choosing Jason over Nikolas once before, she wouldn't allow her to hurt Nikolas again.
"Even when I told her that she belonged with me, she told me to leave," Lucky continued on clenching his fists in anger.
"Don't you mean she belongs with Nikolas?" Helena corrected him sharply. Lucky turned to look at her and she was surprised at the venom she saw in his eyes. She could feel the anger coming off of him and realized that she needed to reassert her control. "Elizabeth belongs with Nikolas."
"No she's mine," Lucky snapped surging to his feet.
"Lucky protect your queen," Helena called after him, and like she threw a switch inside of him the anger faded from his stance. His red face drained into an impassive mask, the venom vanished from his eyes, turning them vacant, and when he smiled passively at her she knew he was hers. "Whom should Elizabeth be with?"
"Nikolas," Lucky answered automatically, even as a small part of his mind rebelled against that thought.
"That's right, and what will you do to see that happens?"
"I'll convince her that she should be with Nikolas, because Nikolas loves her, and they would be perfect together." Lucky's replies were monotone.
"Yes they would," she stood from the bench and straightened her jacket. "As for Mr. Morgan, we don't want him to interfere."
"No," he snapped a little of the anger worked its way back up to the surface.
Helena was pleased to see that. Anger was such an effective weapon, when it was harnessed correctly. Lucky had done a good job of holding back his anger, even when he was under her control. It seemed that Jason Morgan was the catalyst she needed to unleash Lucky's anger. That would be good to know in the future. "So you will have to keep a close eye on Mr. Morgan won't you? Especially when he is with Elizabeth."
"I will," he vowed. "I will make sure Elizabeth sees Jason for the hood he really is."
"Good after all being around Jason could be unhealthy for her," she explained. "We wouldn't want Elizabeth to get hurt."
"Are you threatening Elizabeth now Grandmother?" Nikolas asked hurrying down the stairs to stand between her and Lucky. "Why are you talking about Elizabeth?"
"Why Nikolas how lovely it is to see you," she beamed at him. "But I am afraid that you misunderstood me as usual."
Nikolas ignored her and turned to face his brother. "Why are you even talking to her? And about Elizabeth of all people."
"Relax," Lucky smiled vaguely. "You really need to cut Helena a break, she has been nothing but good to me, and she only wants what is best for you."
Nikolas shook his head tiredly before turning to face her. "I am getting tired of telling you this Grandmother, but I will try again. You say you will do anything for me, correct?"
"Of course my darling."
"Fine then stay away from the people I care about, specifically Lucky, Elizabeth, Emily and my sister. I mean what I say Helena, do not go near them."
Helena practically glowed in pride, the warning in his voice pleased her so. "Nikolas I only have your best interests at heart. I hate the fact that Stefan continues to poison your mind against me," she sighed. "I will relish the day when you finally realize how much I love you and would in fact do anything for you. As such I will abide by your wishes and leave."
Nikolas stepped back and avoided her hug.
"Lucky," she paused in front of him. "It was a pleasure as always," her eyes pierced his in warning. "You will remember what we discussed, won't you?"
"Of course Helena," Lucky smiled agreeably at her. Once again losing his identity at the sight of her eyes, and the sound of her controlling voice.
Nikolas watched her warily until she and Andreas disappeared from view, then he focused on his brother. "Lucky why do you keep talking to Helena?" He touched his arm when he didn't respond, "Lucky?"
Lucky jerked his eyes from the spot Helena disappeared and focused on Nikolas. The fog seemed to be lifting from his brain, making it easier to concentrate. "I told you I don't have a problem with Helena. If you gave her a chance, you wouldn't either."
Nikolas rubbed at the back of his neck and tried to squash the impulse to shake some sense into his brother. "You know that's not true. Lucky she tried to kill our Grandmother, our mother, you know she can't be trusted."
Lucky recognized the truth in what Nikolas was saying but he still couldn't bring himself to agree. "I thought we agreed not to discuss Helena since it was apparent we weren't going to agree."
"We did agree to that," Nikolas admitted. "But that changes when I hear you discussing Elizabeth with her. Now what did Helena mean about Elizabeth being hurt?'
Anger cleared more of the fogginess from his brain. "I told her about Elizabeth spending time with Jason. She agreed with us, that nothing good would come out of that. That the more time she spends with him, the more of a chance she will be hurt because of it."
Nikolas agreed with the sentiment, but he still wasn't comfortable with Lucky talking to Helena about Elizabeth. Elizabeth had told him that Helena had confronted her, a few times before about him. She hadn't told him what Helena had said to her, but he had been able to see the fear in her eyes. He did not want Helena anywhere near Elizabeth. "Lucky I don't know why you want to spend time with Helena, but I don't want you to discuss Elizabeth with her."
"You think Helena will hurt her?" Lucky laughed at that. "She won't. She knows you love her, Helena would never hurt her because of that."
Nikolas frowned at the words, he didn't like the way Lucky had phrased that. That the only reason Helena wouldn't hurt Elizabeth was because of his feelings for her. It made him wonder what Helena would do to her if he weren't in love with Elizabeth.
"Lucky, Nikolas," Emily hurried down the steps to join them. "What's wrong?" she asked Nikolas when she saw his face.
Nikolas shook off his uneasiness and turned to her. "I just had a run-in with Helena."
"Helena?" her eyes whipped to Lucky and she saw the vacant smile on his face. "Are you okay?"
"Of course, Helena's not a monster," he dismissed the concern in her eyes. "I need to get to work. I'll talk to you two later."
"Lucky," she caught his arm stopping him. She knew Nikolas was listening so she tried to phrase her question carefully. "Are you sure nothing happened?"
Lucky patted her hand. "I'm fine, Nikolas is fine, everyone is fine," he hurried up the stairs and disappeared from view.
Emily sighed and turned around to face Nikolas, who had his arms crossed over his chest and was studying her intently. "What?" she asked nervously when the scrutiny continued.
"Why are you so worried about Lucky?"
She looked away and looped her fingers in the back of her pants trying to look unconcerned. "Because of Helena. Why else?"
He knew by her posture that she was evading the question. He could read her pretty well, and his senses were screaming that she was lying to him. "It's more that that Emily."
"I don't know what you mean," she started by him and couldn't help the exclamation of pain that slipped out when he reached out and stopped her by catching her arm.
"Did I hurt you?" Nikolas immediately dropped his hand.
"No it's nothing," she tried to step away but he caught her hand holding her in place. "Nikolas don't."
He ignored her and pushed the sleeve of her shirt up exposing a ring of bruises above her wrist. He looked up into her face in shock, and then back down at the other arm, pushing the sleeve up to expose a matching ring of bruises. "Who hurt you?"
"Nikolas its no big deal," she hedged looking away when he looked up again.
"Emily tell me who hurt you," he turned her head forcing her to look at him. "Tell me."
It was hard to ignore the command in his voice, and the plea in his dark eyes. "Lucky," she whispered. "It was Lucky."
~Kelly's~
Elizabeth looked up when she heard the door open and a smile lit her features. "Luke you're back," she cried in delight hurrying around the counter to hug him.
"Darlin if I'm going to get a welcome like this every time I come back in town, I'm going to go out of town more often," Luke grinned and gave her a big hug.
"You're out of town too often as it is," Elizabeth drew back and smiled at him. It had taken some time, but she was closer to Luke than anyone else in the Spencer family. But it was so much more than that. She had never been close to her own father, after a rocky beginning, Luke had become a surrogate father to her.
"Ah I love to be missed," he winked at her. "Especially by pretty young things."
She laughed like she knew he wanted her to do. "Do you have a minute? I need to talk to you."
"I have all the time in the world for you."
"Okay sit and I'll tell Tammy I'm taking my break," she hurried back into the kitchen.
Luke took a seat and watched her through the window. He knew her well enough to know that there was some problem causing the worry he saw in her dark eyes. He sighed heavily, he had a feeling his son was involved. Laura accused him of being obsessed with the Cassadines and while he readily admitted he was, he had another obsession too. That obsession was his family, and Elizabeth was a member of his family and she always would be. Even if his son wanted to throw her away, Luke never would. It surprised him a bit, how loyal he was to her. She was the only non-Spencer that he had ever let in that far.
"Here's some coffee."
Elizabeth set a cup in front of him, drawing his attention away from his thoughts. He watched her settle in front of him. "How have you been?"
"Okay I guess," she sipped at her soda. "It's been difficult."
"Because of Lucky?" he leaned back against his chair. "Does he still have that wild hair about you and the Cassadine being the second coming of Liz and Dick?"
"Liz and Dick?"
"Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton," he saw her blank look and shook his head. "Don't those schools teach you anything anymore?"
She smiled, boring was never a word anyone could ever associate with Luke Spencer. "Yes he's still convinced that I should be with Nikolas."
Luke shook his head, he couldn't understand what was going on in Lucky's head, and that was unusual. Even when Lucky had been furious with him a few years before, he knew what Lucky was thinking. But now he couldn't seem to get a read on him. If he was having troubles and he only saw Lucky a few times a week, he could imagine how Elizabeth felt when she saw him daily. "I don't know what to tell you about that. I don't know where he got that idea."
"I don't know either, but that isn't the only thing," she hesitated. When Luke had walked in the diner today she knew that she needed to tell him some of what was going on. Next to her Luke knew Lucky better than almost anyone else. "Something happened last night with Lucky that really worries me."
He saw the serious look in her eyes and leaned forward in concern. "What?"
"Lucky saw me with Jason and he got angry. Luke I've never seen him that angry," she paused and tried to find the words to say this without hurting him. "Even as angry as he was with you because of, well you know. He was still in control then. But last night, he was out of control," she rubbed at her elbow. "He even got violent."
"Violent?" he didn't like the sound of that. "What did he do?"
"He attacked Jason," she rubbed her elbow again, "twice."
Luke saw her motion. "Did he hurt you?" he gestured to her arm and she immediately stopped rubbing her elbow. "Elizabeth?"
"He didn't mean to," she hurried to explain. "He pushed past me trying to get to Jason, and I rammed my elbow on the table."
Luke pulled a cigar out of his pocket and began to roll it in his fingers, he really didn't like the sound of that.
"Luke you know Lucky. He doesn't react to things like that."
"Did he even notice what he did to you?"
"No, he didn't even stop," she admitted and he grimaced. "You see what I mean?"
Now he was worried. He had watched Lucky with her, for over a year before the fire. His son would watch everyone and everything around her, obsessed with making sure nothing or nobody touched her or hurt her. For Lucky to hurt her and not even know it made him admit something he hadn't wanted to say aloud since Lucky had come home, that there was something seriously wrong with his son.
"Even though his anger scared me, there was something worse though. His eyes were blank, his face was livid with anger and he was saying all this stuff, but his eyes were vacant," those vacant eyes had haunted her during the night.
"Well darlin we know the cowboy hasn't been the same since he's come back. Maybe something happened to him that he hasn't told us about."
"Maybe, but it would have to be something pretty bad to make him act like that."
"Has he mentioned anything about what Faison might have said or done?"
"No. We don't talk very much, whenever we do see each other he goes on and on about me being with Nikolas. That of course makes me angry, because he is trying to control me, to tell me what to do, so I walk away," her fingers traced patterns in the condensation forming on her glass. "The only one he still seems wiling to talk to is Emily."
Luke brightened at her name. "They were always close."
"I know. Maybe she knows more," she shrugged. "But I don't know if she'll tell us anything. Her first loyalty seems to be with Lucky."
"Does that bother you? The fact that she sees Lucky so much?"
"No I know their friends, I understand that," she replied honestly, she had been upset at first, but now she was actually relieved. "It's just that Emily wants things back the way they were, so bad, that sometimes she's blind to how things are right now."
Luke studied her shrewdly he knew her well enough to pick up on some things that she might now want him to know. "Like the fact that you are letting Lucky go for good?"
Elizabeth stiffened at the question and tried to avoid looking at him. She wouldn't be able to lie to him if she saw his eyes, and she suddenly realized that she would have to lie to him. If she told the truth, she would let him down and hurt him, and she didn't want that. "I didn't say that. You know I owe Lucky too much to ever quit on him."
He saw through the fake smile in a heartbeat and felt a pang of regret over the loss of her for his son. "What about Mr. Talkative then?"
"Who?"
"Jason, he of the Woody Woodpecker haircut. Seeing him with you set Lucky off, somehow I don't think you were just talking. That doesn't seem to be what Jason does best."
She withdrew from him, hurt at the accusation, even though it was true. "I thought you of all people knew the truth. That the only reason he stayed with me last winter was because I was helping him, that he was my friend and nothing more."
"Elizabeth," he read the hurt in her eyes and held out his hand to her. "I know that. Darlin I watched you grieve so hard for my boy, that it broke what little heart I had left," his hand tightened on hers when she took it. "But Lucky is back now, and he's changed. You don't have to grieve anymore."
"I know he's back, and you're right he has changed," her eyes searched his looking for permission to go on.
"It's okay Elizabeth tell me what you think."
"A part of me will always miss Lucky, because even though he is back, he's not. You always said that Lucky had the best heart," she sighed in regret then forced herself to go on. "I don't feel that heart anymore, this Lucky is an angry stranger."
"I know it's hard, but I have to believe that my son is still in there, that he's still fighting to come back. I don't know what Fu Manchu or the Wicked Witch did to mess with his head, but I know that Lucky will figure out a way back. The Spencer's are too stubborn, and strong to be held down for long," he put the unlit cigar in his mouth. "I'm just going to hang on until he does." He was also going to go after the dragon lady to find out what she did to his son. Inactivity was one thing he did not do.
She saw the resolve to help Lucky in his eyes and it helped harden her own resolve. "I won't give up either. I just wanted to let you know what was going on."
"I know you mean well, and there's nothing I would like more than your help," he patted her hand. "But you've put your life on hold long enough. It's time for you to start living again."
"But I need to help Lucky, I owe him so much," she argued. "Besides I helped before, when Lucky was angry with you and Laura."
"I know. I still believe you brought my son back to me. But you shouldn't help Lucky out of obligation, but out of love, or it won't help at all."
Elizabeth flinched and tears formed, she was losing him, she was losing the Spencer's, her family, she didn't want that. "I do love Lucky."
He saw the desperation in her eyes and for once cursed his lack of tact. "That didn't come out right. I know you love Lucky, but I don't think you're in love with my son anymore." Which was a pity because he knew if she were she'd fight for Lucky forever if that's, what it took. But her avoidance of his questions about Jason told him that she was moving on, even if she couldn't admit it to herself.
She didn't know what to say, because she was finally willing to admit to herself that maybe she wasn't in love with Lucky anymore.
"Don't look so sad darlin, we'll get him back," Luke stood. "I need to go check in at the club and find out if Claude booked another Reggae band into the club."
She stood as well and gave him a hug in goodbye. "Yes, you better go fire him again."
"Bye," Luke smiled at her.
"Luke," her voice stopped him at the door. "I'll let you know what's going on with Lucky. I'll keep my eye on him."
"I know," he pushed open the door and left. He wished he could be a better man and tell her again to start living her own life again. But he was a selfish man. He knew Elizabeth was his best chance of getting Lucky back. He moved in the direction of the docks, but he'd still go after the source of the problem, and that meant a visit with the old bat.
~Kelly's Courtyard~
"Jeez rude or anything?" Gia snapped when someone ran into her from behind. The rest of her blistering retort was lost when she turned and saw who had bumped into her. "Zander."
"Gia. I haven't seen you in awhile. Are you avoiding me?" Zander asked.
"I've been busy," she stayed in place and battled down her nervousness and fear.
"Yeah sneaking around with that guy you told me about," he scratched his chin. "What was his name again?"
"Nikolas."
"Right," he edged closer. "You know it was fate running into you like this. I wanted to talk to you about another friend of yours."
"Who?"
"Elizabeth."
"What about her?"
He could see the boredom on her face and hear the disdain in her voice. That was interesting behavior, when Elizabeth was supposed to be her friend. The warning bells were ringing in his ears again. "What do you two like to talk about?"
"Lot's of things," she answered briefly. "Look I have to go."
Zander stepped in front of her, stalling her in her tracks. "You know I hope you remember what you're not supposed to talk about. Not with her or anyone."
"Look I already told you I wouldn't," she tried to step around him, but he blocked her. "I don't know anything."
"That's never stopped you from running your mouth before."
Gia looked over his shoulder and saw her brother approaching, the color drained from her face and she backed up into the wall. "I have to go."
He saw the worry in her eyes, her sudden frantic movements and looked over his shoulder to see what had spooked her. He saw a tall good-looking bald guy moving closer, and every instinct in him screamed that the man was a cop. "What's the rush? Why don't we go say hello to Elizabeth?"
"He can't see me," she hissed. "Let me go."
"If I let you go, you need to tell me the truth about Elizabeth and what is really going on here."
Gia stopped her physical struggle as an internal battle continued to wage. She needed to get away from Marcus before he saw her, but she couldn't tell Zander that they knew he killed someone. She looked past him again, Marcus was almost here, her self-preservation instinct decided it for her. "Fine let's go."
Zander took her arm and propelled her out of the Courtyard on the Charles Street side the same time Taggert entered the Courtyard from the other side. He frowned in the direction the couple had left, he was struck again by a familiar feeling of recognition.
"Okay you can let go of my arm now, he's not following us," Gia cried after a couple of blocks.
"Fine," Zander let her go. "Start talking."
She swallowed hard and crossed her arms over her chest. "For starters Elizabeth and I aren't really friends. She's just friends with some people I know. We don't get along to well."
That didn't surprise him. Gia was a self-centered bitch, he doubted Elizabeth would stand for that for very long. "Then why were you two so tight at the rave?"
"You know what raves are like it's better to hang with someone, especially if you're a girl."
"Yeah but you don't do that. You always fly solo."
She shivered hating the fact that he seemed to know about her. "It was her first rave. So I hung close."
He could almost believe that, but he still felt that he was missing something. "What about the guys in her life?"
Gia stared at him in disbelief. Here she thought he was questioning her because he was suspicious of them, when in fact he wanted Elizabeth. How did the little twit do it? She wasn't beautiful, she wasn't that smart, yet here was another guy that she had hooked. "Unbelievable. What is her appeal?" She demanded. "She's short, okay looking, and mouthy, what the hell do all of you guys see in her."
"There's a quality about her that you'll never have Gia," he shrugged. "You would never understand."
"Well you'll never get her," anger made her speak rashly. "You'll have to take a number at the end of the line of the fan club of Elizabeth Webber. First there's the blond, brain dead, ex-boyfriend Lucky, then there's the, oh so rich but clueless Nikolas, and finally the dark horse, an intense god named Jason. You're in last place buddy."
He knew about Lucky but who were the others? He frowned when he placed one of the names. "I thought Nikolas was with you."
Her eyes widened and anger vanished, when she suddenly remembered who Zander was, and she now felt fear. "He used to have a thing for her," she tried to brazen it out. "But he's over her now."
"Really?" He moved closer. "Why am I having a hard time believing you? And if your lying about this, it makes me wonder what else you are lying about. Did you lie to me when you said you haven't talked to anybody about the Pinecone Motel?"
"I'm not lying," perspiration was forming on her brow. She caught movement over his shoulder. "Look there's Jason the front runner to win the heart of Elizabeth," she pointed to him, trying to deflect Zander's attention.
Zander gave her a warning glare, and took her arm to hold her in place, and then turned to look. He saw a tall blonde man in jeans, speaking to an even taller blonde in a suit. He watched the man in jeans scramble up in the truck and pick up a door, easing it down to the guy in the suit. "Which one is Jason?"
"The one who wears his jeans so well."
He focused on the man again, then lowered his gaze to look at the lettering on the side of the truck. C&M Coffee. He dropped her arm in surprise and she hurried away but he didn't even hear her go. C&M stood for Corinthos/Morgan. Sonny Corinthos and Jason Morgan, Jason the guy who was with Elizabeth. C&M were Sorel's main competitor. He focused on the men again and saw the jacket fly open on the man in the suit exposing a holstered gun. This wasn't good. Elizabeth Webber had a lot of explaining to do.