Sorry it's been so long since my last update. Work, school, laziness, really, just pick one. Anyway, enjoy (and then review!).

Chapter Four

At first he thought she hadn't heard him, because she just looked at him for the longest time, as if trying to calculate a million different variables in the shortest amount of time. "Elizabeth? Do you know who did this?" He asked again.

She shook her head. "No, I didn't see whoever it was." She hesitated, as if she were going to add something, but then made a brief, negative shake of the head, and remained silent. He felt frustration building up inside him. Damn it, if she knew something, why wouldn't she let him help her? He pulled back mentally, shocked at the depth of his anger.

Taking a deep breath, he tried again. "Liz, I really need to know if you have any idea who could be behind this. Let me help you."

She smiled slightly. What would he do if she told him? Even though she had planned to earlier, Carly's reactions made her rethink the wisdom behind telling Jason. After all, Carly had a point. Courtney was his wife. The woman he loved. Why would he take her word for it that she was secretly plotting against them all? Liz didn't even like Courtney and she had a hard time believing it. On the other hand, she thought, looking at Jason's hansom face, after everything they had been through together, could she really bring herself to hold back? "You wouldn't believe me if I told you, Jason.

"Try me." He responded quickly.

She shook her head, "No, really Jason, it's better that I don't say anything. We were friends once. I know you. For better or for worse, and you don't need me to tell you my stupid theories." She tried to make it sound as if she would only be speculating anyway. As if she had nothing concrete to base anything on. Not that she planned to be a sitting duck. As soon as Jason left, she was calling Luke. She could get her out of town and away from that blond psycho. Naturally, Jason refused to be persuaded.

"I know you too, Elizabeth, and I know when you're trying to placate me. You know something. Which you think I should know. So tell me. Now." He leaned in, invading her personal space.

"Fine!" She snapped. "But don't say I didn't try to warn you. I heard Courtney on the docks, saying something about getting evidence against you and Sonny. She saw me and tried to get to me, but I ran away. I went to tell you, ended up telling Carly instead, and an hour later I get stabbed in the back. So really my Ôtheory' is that your wife tried to kill me. There, are you happy?" She regretted the words the instant they left her mouth, especially when she looked up and saw the stunned look on Jason's face. He fell back in his chair, breathing heavily. "I'm sorry." She added softly.

He shook his head violently. "You must be mistaken. You misheard what she was saying, and the rest is in your head. I know my wife, and she's not capable of doing something like that!" Liz looked at him sadly, saying nothing. "I mean it. I don't want you saying anything about this to the police. It's pure speculation based on something I'm sure you're wrong about anyway." Jason couldn't even contemplate the consequences of Elizabeth being right. Not even so much because of what it meant on terms of him, but even more because of Sonny and Carly. A betrayal like this would hurt them both so much, especially Sonny. The more he sat and thought about it though, the more things started to make a horrible sort of sense. She had been so different ever since Carly had been in a coma, secretive, and erratic. She had been so angry with him, and then suddenly, everything was fine. She was always slipping off without saying where she was going. He hadn't said anything, since frankly, he had been glad for the space, but he had noticed.

And even more damning was the stuff she had suddenly stopped saying. Two months ago, she was always talking about the future, questioning his job, questioning the boy's safety, and Sonny abilities to take care of them. Hell, she had even taken them away, bringing them back only when she had no legitimate excuse to do otherwise. Now, apparently, none of that mattered. He came out of his mental rundown, and looked at Liz, who was watching him patiently. He felt abruptly guilty as he took in her appearance, which was grey with strain. He cursed himself. The woman had been stabbed in the back, been through major surgery, and was now waiting to see if he would believe her after he had awaken he to demand answers. As if to make him feel worse, he eyes began to close, only to open again as she tried desperately to stay awake, for him.

As if sensing he was ready, she asked gently, "Do you believe me?"

He took a deep breath, and then exhaled in a rush. Unable to comprehend how complicated it was about to get, he nodded. "Yes. I wish I didn't, but I do."

It was her turn to take a breath, though hers was one of relief. "What do you want to do?" She was so tired, but she had to stay awake. If Jason didn't plan to protect her, she needed to call Luke, or Nikolas, or Lucky, because God knew she was to weak to look after her self right now. As if he knew she meant Ôright now' rather than in general, Jason was quick to reassure her.

"I don't know what we'll do in the long run. There are to many things I don't know. But for now, I'll stay here. You can go to sleep. Don't worry, I'll watch out for you."

"Thank you." Almost before she finished uttering the words, Elizabeth was asleep. Jason turned out the bedside lamp and settled back in his chair, and at the door, looking into the room, stood Courtney, looking on with thwarted rage.

To Be Continued

So? What do ya think? No really, tell me! I mean it, click "review" right now and let me knowÉ.

= )