Second Chances: The Hard Truth
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"All of this is just some knee jerk reaction to Emily's death. You know it, I know it and Jason will figure it out soon enough! You'll never be enough for him!"
Jason entered his penthouse just in time to hear the last of Carly's spiteful words. "That's enough, Carly!" He walked past his one time lover and friend and instantly took Elizabeth in his arms. Immediately the tears she had been holding back came forth.
Even though Carly wanted to look away from the loving pair her eyes were riveted on them. She swallowed hard around the apple-sized lump in her throat. "Jase.." she began.
"Save it! I've had just about enough of the Corinthos' for one day!" Jason's fury was written all of his face. "Are you okay?" His voice softened when he spoke to Elizabeth.
"I'm fine," she returned. Her voice shook more than she had wanted it to.
Carly rolled her eyes at the scene before her. She couldn't help but be a bit jealous of what she saw though. Elizabeth's back rested against Jason's chest while he had his arms tightly wrapped around her slim waist. She knew that she shouldn't feel those pangs of possessiveness but when it came to Jason she couldn't help herself.
"I think it's time for you to go," Jason said as he pointed to the door.
"Not until we get some things straighten out," Carly countered as she stepped closer to the pair.
"What - you want to tell me that nothing was going on between the two of you when I walked in?" Jason looked at Elizabeth as well when he said that. He had known weeks ago that the two of them had had a run in and had let it drop then but he wasn't about to now.
"I want - need you to understand what was going on," Carly said.
"Oh I understand. I understand that you think you can walk into my place anytime the mood strikes you, Carly! But your explanation should be good for a laugh at least." Jason felt Elizabeth lean her head against his chest and he wondered if she was feeling all right. "You okay?" he asked again.
"I'm fine. Not a thing to worry about." Gently she reached up and stroked his cheek with the palm of her hand.
Carly felt her skin crawl.
"So you had something to say?" Jason turned his attention back to the fuming blonde standing in front of him.
"Why does everyone feel the need to protect her?" Carly asked truly needing an answer to that question. Sonny had taken up for Elizabeth not more than a few days ago, Max was like her own personal body guard and well Jason - Carly could tell by the way he looked at her he was head over heels in love with the little waif. Not that she hadn't seen that all along though. Even back in the days when he was recovering in her studio she saw the hinting of love between them. "What's so damn special about her?"
"You have a point, Carly?" Jason remarked ignoring the questions.
"I want an answer Jason. Why her? Why are you so attracted to the little girl scouts?" Carly included Robin in her remarks without actually using her name.
Jason shook his head and just stared at her. He couldn't believe they were going over this again.
"What?" Carly asked seeing his expression.
"Why are you doing this Carly? Why are you bringing up stuff that's been dead and buried?" Jason inquired. He again felt Elizabeth's body waver beneath his hands. "Why don't you sit down?" he said directing her to the couch in front of them.
"Stop worrying about me. I'm fine."
"It's my job to worry about you." He smiled as he positioned her on the supple leather cushion.
Elizabeth couldn't help but offer Carly an I told you so smile.
"Oh please!" Carly spouted as she felt sickened at the sight of Jason cooing over some woman - no girl.
"If we're done here.."
"Hardly," Carly cut him off.
"Then what do you want?" Jason had grown exasperated first by Sonny and now Carly.
"I want you to tell me the truth."
"I don't lie Carly."
"Do you love her?" Carly shocked herself by asking such a point blank question.
"Yes."
Jason's single line answer was like a dagger through Carly's heart. "After everything you love her," she emphasized.
"Yes."
"How can you love someone that loved Ric Lansing? How can you love someone that was too blind to see she was being played for a damn fool? How can you love someone that slept with a man who for months let me think he raped me?"
Elizabeth felt her body stiffen at Carly's remarks. She straightened her self on the couch and waited for Jason's retort.
"You can actually love her?" Carly spoke before he had a chance to answer.
"Yes." Jason was unwavering in his reply.
Carly wouldn't allow the grief she suddenly felt overtake her. She wouldn't give Elizabeth the satisfaction of seeing how hurt she was. She hadn't expected Jason to finally be so strong in his conviction of loving Elizabeth Webber.
"You can't tell me that this has nothing to do with Emily dying. Before all of that the two of you were barely speaking to one another." Carly was grasping at straws. She didn't want to see what was right before her eyes. "You're just clinging to her because Emily is gone."
"Believe what you have to Carly. I love her." Jason rested his hand gently on Elizabeth's shoulder. "She's here because that's where we both want her to be."
"I told you he was through pushing me away," Elizabeth said softly. "So you can stop trying to scare me away!"
"Listen you little twit," Carly raged. "I didn't call your damn cell phone!"
Jason looked between the two women trying to gauge what they were talking about.
"The hell you didn't. You think I am stupid don't you? You think that I wouldn't remember what you said on the phone when you said it again to my face?" Elizabeth spat standing up.
"What's going on?" Jason asked but neither of them answered him.
"I don't know what the hell you are talking about little girl!"
Elizabeth clenched her fists at her side and let out a muffled growl. She absolutely hated the condescending way Carly spoke to her. "I'm nobody's little girl. And deny it all you want but I know it was you who called me."
Carly instinctively came forward claws drawn ready for a fight but Jason stepped between the pair. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"You ask her," Elizabeth said. "Ask her what she said to me - standing right there."
"Carly?"
"I told you I don't know what she's talking about!"
"Tell him Carly!" Elizabeth's voice grew louder.
"Elizabeth, calm down okay?" Jason watched as her face began to grow pale. "Sit down okay?" He gestured toward the couch.
"NO! Not until she tells you what she said."
Carly just shrugged her shoulders offering no response.
"She asked me if I liked playing house. It was her Jason. She's the one that called me on my cell this morning. She's trying to scare me and trying to get you to protect me by pushing me away. It was her." Elizabeth was adamant in her conviction.
"Carly?" Jason turned back and looked the blonde square in the eyes.
"What? I said I never called her. Because I didn't! Jase, I didn't call anyone today. I was with my mother all morning and afternoon. I have the bags across the hall to show for it." Jason gave her a disbelieving look. "Call Bobbie! She'll tell you. I never even so much as turned my phone on today. I NEVER called Elizabeth!" Carly's shrill voice echoed off the walls.
"Yes you did!" Elizabeth forced, moving closer to the screaming blonde. She wasn't about to let Carly weasel her way out of this this time.
"You better watch it little girl." It was Carly's turn to watch her words elicit fury from the other woman.
"Back off!" Jason said in the voice he normally reserved for those in his "business" world. "You didn't call her?" he asked Carly point blank.
"No," Carly's voice softened a bit. "I swear on Michael's life, Jason. I didn't call her."
For one reason or another Jason was satisfied by her response. Maybe it was the invoking of Michael's name that had won him over, but really in his heart Jason knew that Carly wasn't the culprit. She was too in your face when it came to Elizabeth to stoop to making anonymous phone calls.
"You believe me - don't you?" Carly's eyes pleaded with him.
"Yeah I do."
"What?" Elizabeth couldn't hide her surprise.
"Won't you please sit down?" Jason turned to see his girlfriend looking as white as a ghost.
"You believe her? Why?"
"Because she wasn't the one who made the call," Jason stated.
Carly gave Elizabeth a satisfied smile. "Told you Miss Muffin."
"Shut up Carly." Jason shot an icy glare in her direction.
Elizabeth blinked her eyes several times to stave off the tears burning her azure orbs. She had needed to believe that it was Carly who had called her. If it had been her then there would be nothing for Jason and her to worry about. A wave of fear engulfed her. All that had been happening over the last several weeks came rushing back. The phone calls, the divorce papers, Ric lurking around every corner - all of it was too much for her to handle.
"Elizabeth..." Jason's voice was urgent as he saw her reach for his desk to steady herself. "You need to go NOW Carly. Baby, you dizzy?" Elizabeth nodded her head.
"Jase.." Carly began to protest.
"Just go!"
Carly lingered for just a moment longer and watched as Jason helped Elizabeth to the couch and delicately rubbed her back the way he used to do for her when she was pregnant with Michael and was nauseous. Suddenly she felt as though she were intruding on a private moment and slipped out the door without another word. The heavy wooden door closed behind her and she pressed her back firmly against it as a single tear slid down her cheek. Jason indeed did love Elizabeth and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"All of this is just some knee jerk reaction to Emily's death. You know it, I know it and Jason will figure it out soon enough! You'll never be enough for him!"
Jason entered his penthouse just in time to hear the last of Carly's spiteful words. "That's enough, Carly!" He walked past his one time lover and friend and instantly took Elizabeth in his arms. Immediately the tears she had been holding back came forth.
Even though Carly wanted to look away from the loving pair her eyes were riveted on them. She swallowed hard around the apple-sized lump in her throat. "Jase.." she began.
"Save it! I've had just about enough of the Corinthos' for one day!" Jason's fury was written all of his face. "Are you okay?" His voice softened when he spoke to Elizabeth.
"I'm fine," she returned. Her voice shook more than she had wanted it to.
Carly rolled her eyes at the scene before her. She couldn't help but be a bit jealous of what she saw though. Elizabeth's back rested against Jason's chest while he had his arms tightly wrapped around her slim waist. She knew that she shouldn't feel those pangs of possessiveness but when it came to Jason she couldn't help herself.
"I think it's time for you to go," Jason said as he pointed to the door.
"Not until we get some things straighten out," Carly countered as she stepped closer to the pair.
"What - you want to tell me that nothing was going on between the two of you when I walked in?" Jason looked at Elizabeth as well when he said that. He had known weeks ago that the two of them had had a run in and had let it drop then but he wasn't about to now.
"I want - need you to understand what was going on," Carly said.
"Oh I understand. I understand that you think you can walk into my place anytime the mood strikes you, Carly! But your explanation should be good for a laugh at least." Jason felt Elizabeth lean her head against his chest and he wondered if she was feeling all right. "You okay?" he asked again.
"I'm fine. Not a thing to worry about." Gently she reached up and stroked his cheek with the palm of her hand.
Carly felt her skin crawl.
"So you had something to say?" Jason turned his attention back to the fuming blonde standing in front of him.
"Why does everyone feel the need to protect her?" Carly asked truly needing an answer to that question. Sonny had taken up for Elizabeth not more than a few days ago, Max was like her own personal body guard and well Jason - Carly could tell by the way he looked at her he was head over heels in love with the little waif. Not that she hadn't seen that all along though. Even back in the days when he was recovering in her studio she saw the hinting of love between them. "What's so damn special about her?"
"You have a point, Carly?" Jason remarked ignoring the questions.
"I want an answer Jason. Why her? Why are you so attracted to the little girl scouts?" Carly included Robin in her remarks without actually using her name.
Jason shook his head and just stared at her. He couldn't believe they were going over this again.
"What?" Carly asked seeing his expression.
"Why are you doing this Carly? Why are you bringing up stuff that's been dead and buried?" Jason inquired. He again felt Elizabeth's body waver beneath his hands. "Why don't you sit down?" he said directing her to the couch in front of them.
"Stop worrying about me. I'm fine."
"It's my job to worry about you." He smiled as he positioned her on the supple leather cushion.
Elizabeth couldn't help but offer Carly an I told you so smile.
"Oh please!" Carly spouted as she felt sickened at the sight of Jason cooing over some woman - no girl.
"If we're done here.."
"Hardly," Carly cut him off.
"Then what do you want?" Jason had grown exasperated first by Sonny and now Carly.
"I want you to tell me the truth."
"I don't lie Carly."
"Do you love her?" Carly shocked herself by asking such a point blank question.
"Yes."
Jason's single line answer was like a dagger through Carly's heart. "After everything you love her," she emphasized.
"Yes."
"How can you love someone that loved Ric Lansing? How can you love someone that was too blind to see she was being played for a damn fool? How can you love someone that slept with a man who for months let me think he raped me?"
Elizabeth felt her body stiffen at Carly's remarks. She straightened her self on the couch and waited for Jason's retort.
"You can actually love her?" Carly spoke before he had a chance to answer.
"Yes." Jason was unwavering in his reply.
Carly wouldn't allow the grief she suddenly felt overtake her. She wouldn't give Elizabeth the satisfaction of seeing how hurt she was. She hadn't expected Jason to finally be so strong in his conviction of loving Elizabeth Webber.
"You can't tell me that this has nothing to do with Emily dying. Before all of that the two of you were barely speaking to one another." Carly was grasping at straws. She didn't want to see what was right before her eyes. "You're just clinging to her because Emily is gone."
"Believe what you have to Carly. I love her." Jason rested his hand gently on Elizabeth's shoulder. "She's here because that's where we both want her to be."
"I told you he was through pushing me away," Elizabeth said softly. "So you can stop trying to scare me away!"
"Listen you little twit," Carly raged. "I didn't call your damn cell phone!"
Jason looked between the two women trying to gauge what they were talking about.
"The hell you didn't. You think I am stupid don't you? You think that I wouldn't remember what you said on the phone when you said it again to my face?" Elizabeth spat standing up.
"What's going on?" Jason asked but neither of them answered him.
"I don't know what the hell you are talking about little girl!"
Elizabeth clenched her fists at her side and let out a muffled growl. She absolutely hated the condescending way Carly spoke to her. "I'm nobody's little girl. And deny it all you want but I know it was you who called me."
Carly instinctively came forward claws drawn ready for a fight but Jason stepped between the pair. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"You ask her," Elizabeth said. "Ask her what she said to me - standing right there."
"Carly?"
"I told you I don't know what she's talking about!"
"Tell him Carly!" Elizabeth's voice grew louder.
"Elizabeth, calm down okay?" Jason watched as her face began to grow pale. "Sit down okay?" He gestured toward the couch.
"NO! Not until she tells you what she said."
Carly just shrugged her shoulders offering no response.
"She asked me if I liked playing house. It was her Jason. She's the one that called me on my cell this morning. She's trying to scare me and trying to get you to protect me by pushing me away. It was her." Elizabeth was adamant in her conviction.
"Carly?" Jason turned back and looked the blonde square in the eyes.
"What? I said I never called her. Because I didn't! Jase, I didn't call anyone today. I was with my mother all morning and afternoon. I have the bags across the hall to show for it." Jason gave her a disbelieving look. "Call Bobbie! She'll tell you. I never even so much as turned my phone on today. I NEVER called Elizabeth!" Carly's shrill voice echoed off the walls.
"Yes you did!" Elizabeth forced, moving closer to the screaming blonde. She wasn't about to let Carly weasel her way out of this this time.
"You better watch it little girl." It was Carly's turn to watch her words elicit fury from the other woman.
"Back off!" Jason said in the voice he normally reserved for those in his "business" world. "You didn't call her?" he asked Carly point blank.
"No," Carly's voice softened a bit. "I swear on Michael's life, Jason. I didn't call her."
For one reason or another Jason was satisfied by her response. Maybe it was the invoking of Michael's name that had won him over, but really in his heart Jason knew that Carly wasn't the culprit. She was too in your face when it came to Elizabeth to stoop to making anonymous phone calls.
"You believe me - don't you?" Carly's eyes pleaded with him.
"Yeah I do."
"What?" Elizabeth couldn't hide her surprise.
"Won't you please sit down?" Jason turned to see his girlfriend looking as white as a ghost.
"You believe her? Why?"
"Because she wasn't the one who made the call," Jason stated.
Carly gave Elizabeth a satisfied smile. "Told you Miss Muffin."
"Shut up Carly." Jason shot an icy glare in her direction.
Elizabeth blinked her eyes several times to stave off the tears burning her azure orbs. She had needed to believe that it was Carly who had called her. If it had been her then there would be nothing for Jason and her to worry about. A wave of fear engulfed her. All that had been happening over the last several weeks came rushing back. The phone calls, the divorce papers, Ric lurking around every corner - all of it was too much for her to handle.
"Elizabeth..." Jason's voice was urgent as he saw her reach for his desk to steady herself. "You need to go NOW Carly. Baby, you dizzy?" Elizabeth nodded her head.
"Jase.." Carly began to protest.
"Just go!"
Carly lingered for just a moment longer and watched as Jason helped Elizabeth to the couch and delicately rubbed her back the way he used to do for her when she was pregnant with Michael and was nauseous. Suddenly she felt as though she were intruding on a private moment and slipped out the door without another word. The heavy wooden door closed behind her and she pressed her back firmly against it as a single tear slid down her cheek. Jason indeed did love Elizabeth and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it.