Jeepers, three months and not one update. I'm awful I know, just please
hold your stones. I'll see what I can do to make it up to you.(don't hate
me, but hoenstly, I thoguht I was just going to give up on this fic, but
then certain individuals *cough* convinced me to pick it back up.
Now understand, it's been three months. I'm totally sure where I'm gonna go with this story anymore. But, we'll just see where my twisted reality and keyboard take us.
So back by popular demand..*drum roll* A Road Not Yet Taken..
***
Warmth swept through her body. Every muscle scream out in protest. These past few days were starting to take their toll on her. Against their futile efforts, Elizabeth cracked her eyes against the sunlight.
This avdenture of their's had been a nightmare. Jason had been leading them in circles, and with every wrong turn, one more scowl creased his forehead. With every ditch and break, his eyes seemed to grow more weary. The worst part of it was that he refused to let Elizabeth help him.
Ever since he'd walked away from her after their kiss, it was like with each step he took, he retreated more into himself. He was keeping everything inside of himself, and it was eating him away. It was killing Elizabeth watch him subject himself to his torture, but he refused to have it any other way.
The only comfort she found was late in the night. When he'd wait until he thought she was asleep, she'd wait for his breathing to even out. Then she'd crawl over to him. She would just watch him. Watch the steady rhythm of the rising and falling of his chest. She would memorize the stroke of his jaw, the lashes that guarded his eyes, the curve of his lips. Even in his sleep, he seemed plagued with worries, responsibilities, burdens. She'd cry internally, wanting to kiss away each indication of concern.
She knew better. She would lay next to him, until she felt herself cry out to sleep. But before she would, she would always bend down to his lips, as if to seal the dreams their hearts longed for, but were convinced would never be.
But that was at night.
She sat up slowly, leaving her thoughts to rest. It was a day like any other. Breath takingly beautiful, and full of high hopes and shattered dreams.
They had to find Carly soon, if not for her family's sake, for Jason's.
Brushing the leaves from her hair, she realized something was off. Very off.
"Jason!"
Waiting a moment, but hearing no response, she ran towards the water. "Jason!"
Birds only met her reply.
Panic started to build up inside of her. He never left far from camp, not without waking her up.
His name echoed through the canopy that flew above her. With each unanswered cry, the deeper she went into its forsaken abyss.
Fear drew her further into its tangled web. What if he was hurt? What if he was lost? What if someone had found their camp, and had taken him? That could not have happened. She wouldn't let it.
"Jason, answer me!"
"Liz?" she heard from above her, but she saw nothing.
"I'm over here! Are you okay?" Jason cried down below him.
Liz finally spotted him, and busted up laughing. He looked like a monkey. He was high up in a tree, with oranges stuffed in his shirt. She shuffled around the tree to get a better angle, "Liz, look out!" His warning was in vain, and before Liz could even register what was happening, she found herself in the bottom of a ditch.
Jason was out of the tree in an instance, "Liz, can you hear me? Are you okay?"
Liz did a quick assessment. Besides her pride, she seemed to be all right.
"Yeah Jason I'm fine! Just get me out of here."
"I'll see what I can do."
What was she doing all the way out here? When he'd woken up, he had found her fast asleep on his chest. He hadn't had the heart to wake her. It was only an hour later, he had figured she would have still be asleep.
Jason racked his brain. Obviously, being the Boy Scout that he was, he didn't have any rope on hand, and as if the heavens were laughing, they happened to be in the one part of the jungle that seemed to have absolutely no vines. Figures.
"Liz, I can't find anything to pull you up. You're going to have to try to climb out."
Liz cried out in frustration, "Jase! You make it sound as if that's not what I've been doing for the past twenty minutes."
A smile broke through his features. For the first time since their little adventure had begun, he was glad Liz wasn't up here beside him.
He laid on his stomach close to the edge. He could see her brown hair flying as she kept sliding down the wall of the slick cavern. He took into account that there were very few places for her to hang unto when she tried to climb up. This would surely prove to be interesting.
"Okay Liz, I'm going to try and reach down as far as I can. I'm holding unto a rock to keep from coming in, so don't worry about pulling me down."
"Alright, how do you propose we do this?"
He took a quick moment to think about the best way to go about getting them out of this predicament. All his options looked about the same, awful.
"Liz, listen to me very carefully. Do you see that small ledge on your right?" he waited for her to nod her head in response, "Okay, use that to stand on."
"Great! Okay, now hold onto that rock that's just right above your head, yeah that's it. We're okay Liz."
"Jason! Oh Jason this hurts!"
"You're okay Liz. You're almost to my hand. Just reach up above you!"
He stretched as far as his body would allow him, but he could see that her strength was waning thin. "Come on."
Some gravel shifted beneath her, and she was loosing her grip, "Jason!"
"Liz! Listen to me, I've got you, you're almost out. Now reach!"
She reached with every fiber in her being, and he did the same. "Gotcha!" Jason grabbed unto Liz's hand as if it were a lifeline.
Jason broke her fall when his finally jerk prove to throw them both on the ground. She was on top of him, one hand on either side of his head. Finally their laughing came to a cease when the realized the new predicament they had found themselves in.
Neither one made an attempt to move.
Jason broke his own rules when he looked up at her. She was beautiful. Even now, with dirt all over her face, sun kissed cheeks, little droplets of sweat pooling around her forehead, and her long chestnut hair flowing all around him. Not only was her sweet intoxicatingly inviting, but it held memories that just assaulted him in ways he wasn't prepared for.
As if a metaphor for everything in their relationship, he pushed her away. They both retreated to their separate corners, keeping their eyes locked on each other.
"Are you okay?" she asked in his silence. His confusion was evident.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that question?"
"Yeah, but you seem more upset than I do."
Taking the hint, he stood up and waited for her to follow. Like every other day, they walked in silence.
"Jason stop."
"What Liz?"
"What's wrong with you?"
As if a silent plea of frustration, he ran his fingers through his matted hair. She had to be kidding. After all that, she wanted to have it out too. No way.
"Nothing Liz"
She stared at, as if he wasn't finished, but when he let his statement hang in the air for a moment she continued.
"Don't think I'm stupid Jason Morgan. We've been out here for days not getting anywhere. We've admitted that we care about each other. And you just saved my life back there. I thi-"
Jason cut her off, "You're right, I did just save you back there. Now can we just drop it." He started to turn away from her, but she would not have it. Grabbing his forearm, she forced him to face her.
By the look on her face he knew she was not one to be messed with. She chose every word carefully, making sure that she was coming across crystal clear. "You are not walking away from me. Don't even think about it, because if you walk, I'll run. Not away from you, but after you."
She paused to see if any of this was getting through to him. When he did not push her away she took that as a signal to keep pushing, "Ever since I met you, you've taken everything onto your shoulders. You keep everything to yourself. But there was a time when you shared your burdens with me. Then we walked away. Actually that's not fair, I walked away. But once that happened, you went back to where you started. Talk to me. Don't keep it anymore Jase. I won't let you."
His heart broke at her attempt to reach for him, but he was too far gone. He knew that, why didn't she?
"It's not up to you,"
Her heart sliced at his words. She reached up and cupped his cheek, "I know you. I know how you think, how you love, how you look at the world. I know your soul. I know your soul, because it's like my own. But it's not only like my own, it is my own. Anyone can give their heart away, but Jason, you stole my soul," she looked into his piercing gaze with each word. She wanted him to hear her, "And the thing is, even if I wanted it, you can't give it back.'
'Please Jason, if you keep anything with you after tonight, keep this; you are my best friend. You are my world. I can't escape you, and I don't want too. I know what life is like without you, and I never want to go there again. Understand this, I'm not walking away. I'm playing for keeps. You taught me that there are somethings in this life you have to fight for. Well guess what Jase, I'm fighting for us, for you."
Looking at him for one last moment, he didn't move. He couldn't. Tears threatened to flood his face. It was as if every word she spoke, she had stolen from his heart. Why did it have to be like this?
Elizabeth looked once more into the eyes of her lover, but the man that she knew was drowning in his own ocean, and he didn't know how to stop it. But that was okay, she would be his lifeline.
With her other hand she pulled his lips down to her, as if to seal her promise with a kiss. It was sweet and patient. She didn't linger, and let the cool night air soothe their burning emotions.
He watched her as she made her way back to the camp. The moonlit sky was already here.
Minutes had passed before he felt himself breathing again. He hadn't even realized he'd stopped. Tears flowed freely down his face, mixing with the sweat and dirt from the turmoil of the day.
How many times would they have to walk away from each other? How long would they have to fight?
The heat from her kiss was still emblazed in his mind, and her touch was still burning on his skin.
He loved her. He'd always loved her, but he sank to his knees in a heat of anger and despair. He couldn't have her. They couldn't keep doing this to themselves. He knew what had to do. The realization hit him hard.
He had to finally let her go.
***
"Yes Senor, our guest is resting quite comfortably. Mrs. Corinthos has been very cooperative since you told her of her options." A guard spoke into the receiver. He looked into a window that Carly saw as a mirror. She was sleeping on her cot stroking her baby.
"What about Mr. Morgan and Ms. Webber?"
"Yes Senor, I'll have men right one it." He ended his conversation with a click.
Looking into the window he felt nothing, "Don't worry Mrs. Corinthos, your friends will be here soon."
*** Long enough? Hope so. It was a beast to type out. I think I've lost my talent. Who knows? Hopefully some of you will still read this. Although I probably lost most of my readers during my hiatus. But please.pretty please REVIEW!!!! Just to let me know if this chapter sucked or not. It has been awhile.:)
Now understand, it's been three months. I'm totally sure where I'm gonna go with this story anymore. But, we'll just see where my twisted reality and keyboard take us.
So back by popular demand..*drum roll* A Road Not Yet Taken..
***
Warmth swept through her body. Every muscle scream out in protest. These past few days were starting to take their toll on her. Against their futile efforts, Elizabeth cracked her eyes against the sunlight.
This avdenture of their's had been a nightmare. Jason had been leading them in circles, and with every wrong turn, one more scowl creased his forehead. With every ditch and break, his eyes seemed to grow more weary. The worst part of it was that he refused to let Elizabeth help him.
Ever since he'd walked away from her after their kiss, it was like with each step he took, he retreated more into himself. He was keeping everything inside of himself, and it was eating him away. It was killing Elizabeth watch him subject himself to his torture, but he refused to have it any other way.
The only comfort she found was late in the night. When he'd wait until he thought she was asleep, she'd wait for his breathing to even out. Then she'd crawl over to him. She would just watch him. Watch the steady rhythm of the rising and falling of his chest. She would memorize the stroke of his jaw, the lashes that guarded his eyes, the curve of his lips. Even in his sleep, he seemed plagued with worries, responsibilities, burdens. She'd cry internally, wanting to kiss away each indication of concern.
She knew better. She would lay next to him, until she felt herself cry out to sleep. But before she would, she would always bend down to his lips, as if to seal the dreams their hearts longed for, but were convinced would never be.
But that was at night.
She sat up slowly, leaving her thoughts to rest. It was a day like any other. Breath takingly beautiful, and full of high hopes and shattered dreams.
They had to find Carly soon, if not for her family's sake, for Jason's.
Brushing the leaves from her hair, she realized something was off. Very off.
"Jason!"
Waiting a moment, but hearing no response, she ran towards the water. "Jason!"
Birds only met her reply.
Panic started to build up inside of her. He never left far from camp, not without waking her up.
His name echoed through the canopy that flew above her. With each unanswered cry, the deeper she went into its forsaken abyss.
Fear drew her further into its tangled web. What if he was hurt? What if he was lost? What if someone had found their camp, and had taken him? That could not have happened. She wouldn't let it.
"Jason, answer me!"
"Liz?" she heard from above her, but she saw nothing.
"I'm over here! Are you okay?" Jason cried down below him.
Liz finally spotted him, and busted up laughing. He looked like a monkey. He was high up in a tree, with oranges stuffed in his shirt. She shuffled around the tree to get a better angle, "Liz, look out!" His warning was in vain, and before Liz could even register what was happening, she found herself in the bottom of a ditch.
Jason was out of the tree in an instance, "Liz, can you hear me? Are you okay?"
Liz did a quick assessment. Besides her pride, she seemed to be all right.
"Yeah Jason I'm fine! Just get me out of here."
"I'll see what I can do."
What was she doing all the way out here? When he'd woken up, he had found her fast asleep on his chest. He hadn't had the heart to wake her. It was only an hour later, he had figured she would have still be asleep.
Jason racked his brain. Obviously, being the Boy Scout that he was, he didn't have any rope on hand, and as if the heavens were laughing, they happened to be in the one part of the jungle that seemed to have absolutely no vines. Figures.
"Liz, I can't find anything to pull you up. You're going to have to try to climb out."
Liz cried out in frustration, "Jase! You make it sound as if that's not what I've been doing for the past twenty minutes."
A smile broke through his features. For the first time since their little adventure had begun, he was glad Liz wasn't up here beside him.
He laid on his stomach close to the edge. He could see her brown hair flying as she kept sliding down the wall of the slick cavern. He took into account that there were very few places for her to hang unto when she tried to climb up. This would surely prove to be interesting.
"Okay Liz, I'm going to try and reach down as far as I can. I'm holding unto a rock to keep from coming in, so don't worry about pulling me down."
"Alright, how do you propose we do this?"
He took a quick moment to think about the best way to go about getting them out of this predicament. All his options looked about the same, awful.
"Liz, listen to me very carefully. Do you see that small ledge on your right?" he waited for her to nod her head in response, "Okay, use that to stand on."
"Great! Okay, now hold onto that rock that's just right above your head, yeah that's it. We're okay Liz."
"Jason! Oh Jason this hurts!"
"You're okay Liz. You're almost to my hand. Just reach up above you!"
He stretched as far as his body would allow him, but he could see that her strength was waning thin. "Come on."
Some gravel shifted beneath her, and she was loosing her grip, "Jason!"
"Liz! Listen to me, I've got you, you're almost out. Now reach!"
She reached with every fiber in her being, and he did the same. "Gotcha!" Jason grabbed unto Liz's hand as if it were a lifeline.
Jason broke her fall when his finally jerk prove to throw them both on the ground. She was on top of him, one hand on either side of his head. Finally their laughing came to a cease when the realized the new predicament they had found themselves in.
Neither one made an attempt to move.
Jason broke his own rules when he looked up at her. She was beautiful. Even now, with dirt all over her face, sun kissed cheeks, little droplets of sweat pooling around her forehead, and her long chestnut hair flowing all around him. Not only was her sweet intoxicatingly inviting, but it held memories that just assaulted him in ways he wasn't prepared for.
As if a metaphor for everything in their relationship, he pushed her away. They both retreated to their separate corners, keeping their eyes locked on each other.
"Are you okay?" she asked in his silence. His confusion was evident.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that question?"
"Yeah, but you seem more upset than I do."
Taking the hint, he stood up and waited for her to follow. Like every other day, they walked in silence.
"Jason stop."
"What Liz?"
"What's wrong with you?"
As if a silent plea of frustration, he ran his fingers through his matted hair. She had to be kidding. After all that, she wanted to have it out too. No way.
"Nothing Liz"
She stared at, as if he wasn't finished, but when he let his statement hang in the air for a moment she continued.
"Don't think I'm stupid Jason Morgan. We've been out here for days not getting anywhere. We've admitted that we care about each other. And you just saved my life back there. I thi-"
Jason cut her off, "You're right, I did just save you back there. Now can we just drop it." He started to turn away from her, but she would not have it. Grabbing his forearm, she forced him to face her.
By the look on her face he knew she was not one to be messed with. She chose every word carefully, making sure that she was coming across crystal clear. "You are not walking away from me. Don't even think about it, because if you walk, I'll run. Not away from you, but after you."
She paused to see if any of this was getting through to him. When he did not push her away she took that as a signal to keep pushing, "Ever since I met you, you've taken everything onto your shoulders. You keep everything to yourself. But there was a time when you shared your burdens with me. Then we walked away. Actually that's not fair, I walked away. But once that happened, you went back to where you started. Talk to me. Don't keep it anymore Jase. I won't let you."
His heart broke at her attempt to reach for him, but he was too far gone. He knew that, why didn't she?
"It's not up to you,"
Her heart sliced at his words. She reached up and cupped his cheek, "I know you. I know how you think, how you love, how you look at the world. I know your soul. I know your soul, because it's like my own. But it's not only like my own, it is my own. Anyone can give their heart away, but Jason, you stole my soul," she looked into his piercing gaze with each word. She wanted him to hear her, "And the thing is, even if I wanted it, you can't give it back.'
'Please Jason, if you keep anything with you after tonight, keep this; you are my best friend. You are my world. I can't escape you, and I don't want too. I know what life is like without you, and I never want to go there again. Understand this, I'm not walking away. I'm playing for keeps. You taught me that there are somethings in this life you have to fight for. Well guess what Jase, I'm fighting for us, for you."
Looking at him for one last moment, he didn't move. He couldn't. Tears threatened to flood his face. It was as if every word she spoke, she had stolen from his heart. Why did it have to be like this?
Elizabeth looked once more into the eyes of her lover, but the man that she knew was drowning in his own ocean, and he didn't know how to stop it. But that was okay, she would be his lifeline.
With her other hand she pulled his lips down to her, as if to seal her promise with a kiss. It was sweet and patient. She didn't linger, and let the cool night air soothe their burning emotions.
He watched her as she made her way back to the camp. The moonlit sky was already here.
Minutes had passed before he felt himself breathing again. He hadn't even realized he'd stopped. Tears flowed freely down his face, mixing with the sweat and dirt from the turmoil of the day.
How many times would they have to walk away from each other? How long would they have to fight?
The heat from her kiss was still emblazed in his mind, and her touch was still burning on his skin.
He loved her. He'd always loved her, but he sank to his knees in a heat of anger and despair. He couldn't have her. They couldn't keep doing this to themselves. He knew what had to do. The realization hit him hard.
He had to finally let her go.
***
"Yes Senor, our guest is resting quite comfortably. Mrs. Corinthos has been very cooperative since you told her of her options." A guard spoke into the receiver. He looked into a window that Carly saw as a mirror. She was sleeping on her cot stroking her baby.
"What about Mr. Morgan and Ms. Webber?"
"Yes Senor, I'll have men right one it." He ended his conversation with a click.
Looking into the window he felt nothing, "Don't worry Mrs. Corinthos, your friends will be here soon."
*** Long enough? Hope so. It was a beast to type out. I think I've lost my talent. Who knows? Hopefully some of you will still read this. Although I probably lost most of my readers during my hiatus. But please.pretty please REVIEW!!!! Just to let me know if this chapter sucked or not. It has been awhile.:)