Second Chances: Battle Lines
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Max sat at a small round table keeping one eye on Elizabeth and one on the door of Kelly's diner. After their little exchange with Lansing at the hospital he decided to keep his guard up. He knew that Elizabeth was thrilled that Ric had signed the divorce papers and handed them over so willingly, but Max wasn't as convinced by his show of good faith. Too many things just didn't add up. Ric's sudden change in demeanor didn't make any sense.
The bell above the door jingled and in walked Faith Roscoe who headed directly to where Elizabeth was standing at the counter.
"Thanks so much for covering for me while I was recuperating from the accident," Elizabeth said to Penny. "I'm ready to get back to work though."
"Jason not keeping you busy enough at home sweetie?" Faith cooed.
Elizabeth turned and stared directly into the eyes of the woman who had more than once tried to kill her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Meyer!" Jason's voice boomed as he thundered into the man's office throwing the brown paper sack onto his desk.
"Nice to see you too Jason, but bringing lunch wasn't necessary." Without saying a word Jason lifted the bag from where it had landed and haphazardly pulled at the opening exposing its contents. "What the hell is that?" The man behind the desk wrinkled his nose at the sight of the stiff rodent.
"You tell me," Jason said as he dumped the dead mouse in the middle of the desk.
Gingerly Meyer picked up the animal by its rigid tail and gave it another hard look. "Where did you find it and what does it have to do with me? I'm no exterminator."
"I want to know what killed it."
"What?" The other man stared at Jason with utter confusion on his face. "Back up. I think you lost me here."
Jason raked his hands through his spiked blonde hair and let out a ragged breath. This day was ending up nothing like he had planned. Immediately thoughts of Elizabeth filled his head and the only thing he wanted to do was get back to her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"What do you want Faith?" Elizabeth asked pointedly.
"Coffee would be nice." She smiled sweetly as she turned over the cup that sat before her placing it in its saucer.
"Elizabeth," Max approached the two women. "Are you ready?"
"Oh," Faith sneered as she looked at the burly bodyguard who had come to Elizabeth's rescue. "And here I thought that Morgan wasn't letting you out of his sight. You must be losing your touch." She brought the steaming coffee to her lips as she watched the young brunette's eyes cloud with anger.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meyer sat silently waiting for Jason to tell him what the dead mouse on his desk was all about.
"Here." Jason fished the note from his pocket and placed it alongside the mouse.
"What's this?" Meyer picked it up and read the sprawling script. 'Next time it could be you!' He almost laughed at what he read and how the threat - if it could even be called that was delivered. "You have got to be kidding right?"
"Do I look like I am kidding?" Jason's voice grew irritated. "Did you come up with anything on that sample I gave you? Was it drugs or poison?"
"I just got the results back. I was about to call you and Sonny.."
"No need to call I'm here." Sonny approached the pair. "So what did you find out?" The mob boss asked.
"What do you want me to do with this?" Meyer pushed the dead rodent to the corner of his desk.
"I want you to find out what killed it," Jason said matter of fact.
"Excuse me? It's a dead mouse for god sakes. You can't be taking this seriously can you?" The man behind the desk stared at the enforcer as though he had lost his mind.
"It's a dead mouse but it's definitely a message," Jason retorted hating being questioned by those who were paid to listen and obey. He gave a sideways glance at Sonny and wondered if that's how he was feeling about him lately.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"If you have something to say Faith just say it. I don't have time for this," Elizabeth spouted.
"My, my haven't we grown a back bone?" Faith taunted. "So it seems Morgan has been teaching you a few things," she sneered.
"Elizabeth, let's go," Max prompted.
"What do you want Faith?" Elizabeth's voice grew louder.
"Really I just wanted to check on you. I heard about your accident. Someone should have warned you how dangerous motorcycles can be."
Elizabeth stared at her from the other side of the countered and resisted the urge to reach across and wipe the smug smile that the blonde wore from her lips. She knew that Faith was goading her but she couldn't help herself from falling into the trap.
"They aren't nearly as dangerous as knowing you is."
"And don't you forget that!" Faith hissed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Dead mouse? Message? What the hell's going on now?" Sonny asked exasperated.
"I found this in my office at the warehouse when I came back from dropping the sample from the shipment." Sonny looked at the note and the prone mouse on Meyer's desk. "I want to know what killed the mouse. So maybe we can trace it back to whoever sent it." The ringing of Jason's cell phone stopped him before he could continue. "Morgan," he said as he brought it to his ear. "Did you see who made the delivery? Was it Gavin from Kelly's?"
Sonny and Meyer watched and listened as Jason finished his conversation. "What was that all about?" Sonny asked.
"I wanted to know if anyone saw who dropped off my lunch." Jason stressed the word.
"And?" Sonny prodded.
"It wasn't anyone from Kelly's. The guys said it was some blonde."
"Faith?" Sonny cocked his brow as he thought how brazen Roscoe's widow was becoming.
"No one could say for sure."
"Here, take care of this." Sonny flipped the dead mouse in Meyer's direction. "What did you come with up from the shipment?"
Meyer placed the rodent back in the paper bag and offered a folder to his boss and the enforcer. "Would you believe it's common cake flour?"
"What?" Jason and Sonny said in unison.
"You heard me it's not drugs, not poison, simple flour."
"Shit! We burned the shipment for nothing." Jason slammed his hand down on the desk.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Max knew a threat when he heard one and he wasn't about to let Ms. Roscoe get the upper hand. He moved next to her linking his arm through hers placing a vice like grip on her forearm. "You wanted your coffee to go isn't that right Ms. Roscoe?" he asked.
"Take your hands off of me!" she snarled throwing her arm up in the air. That quick action caused Faith's red pendant to come into view suddenly.
"Where did you get that?" Elizabeth couldn't take her eyes off of the necklace.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sonny waited for Meyer to leave the room before he turned to Jason. "Do you believe me now that Faith is responsible? Only she would do things this crazy - no stupid," Sonny corrected.
Jason dropped noisily down in a chair in the corner of the room unsure what he was supposed to be thinking anymore. This was like no assault they had encountered before. It was as if there was no rhyme or reason to it. And as much as he hated to admit it, it reeked of Faith Roscoe.
"Well?" Sonny nudged him for a response.
"Have your guys come up with anything from tailing her?" Jason wasn't ready to concede his position on Ric Lansing just yet.
"Typical Faith stuff. You know how she loves to grand stand, make threats. Nothing out of the ordinary."
"So then you are just assuming that she's tied to this?" Jason wondered why Sonny hadn't mentioned her association with Ric. He knew that she was all but living with him. So why hadn't his boss known that? And if he did know why was he holding back?
"She's trying to keep us off balance. And if you ask me it's working." Sonny let out a frustrated sigh. He hated the tension between the two of them. "She's loving every minute of us being at odds." His own thoughts come forth. "It's her way in. Divide and conquer."
Jason leaned forward in the chair and let his elbows rest heavy on his knees. Sonny was truthful in his words. Several men in the organization had mentioned hearing rumblings from those outside of the Corinthos camp talking about the widening gap between the boss and his right hand. Jason hated it but he couldn't bring himself to just allow his own gut instincts about Ric to be overridden.
"We need to be together on this Jason."
If he hadn't known better Jason could have sworn that there was a pleading in Sonny's tone. "I have always backed you up. I wish I could say the same for you." Before Sonny could respond Jason's phone rang. "Yeah?"
"I think you need to get to Kelly's right now."
"What happened Max? Is Elizabeth okay?" Sonny watched as alarm filled Jason's features.
"I'm not sure man. Faith was here and Elizabeth's going on about some piece of red glass - she's crying man."
"I'll be right there!" Jason interrupted him. "I got to go," he turned to Sonny before sprinting toward the door.
"Is Elizabeth okay?" Sonny called after him.
"I think so - I don't know. Max said something about Faith." In all honesty Jason didn't know what was going on, how it involved Faith and Max mentioned Elizabeth's missing red glass from Italy. All he wanted to do at the moment is get to her.
Sonny watched Jason's retreating back and finally let his eyes fall shut. He had wanted to tell him what he knew about Faith's involvement with Ric. He had wanted to attempt to mend fences between them. He was well aware of just how much Jason loved Elizabeth. He had finally been able to get Carly to explain to him what happened that day in Jason's penthouse. That explanation just confirmed what he had already known - that Jason would protect Elizabeth at any cost. He would have done the same if it had been Carly. But had he Sonny questioned his own actions? For all intents and purposes Ric Lansing should be dead for what he had done to Sonny's family, but that was the catch - family. Ric was his family too.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"WHERE DID YOU GET THAT?!?" Elizabeth demanded again as she reached out and touched the red pendant swinging around Faith's neck. Beyond a shadow of a doubt Elizabeth knew that was her red glass no matter what shape it was now in. The red glass that Jason had given her on Valentine's day. The red glass missing from the things from her studio.
"None of your damn business."
"That's mine!" Elizabeth shrieked as she ripped the chain from Faith's neck.
"You little wench!" Faith scrambled to retrieve the pendant dangling from Elizabeth's fingers.
"Where did you get it?" Elizabeth pressed for an answer as she clung tightly to her missing possession.
"Give me that!" Faith yelled as she nearly climbed over the counter snatching her jewelry back. "You're fucking nuts you know that?" Faith said as she straightened her skirt and threw on her long leather coat.
"Max, that's mine. I want it back. Jason gave that to me. I want it back!"
Faith listened to the hysterical ramblings of the petite brunette as she made her way out the door. Once outside she held the lustrous red pendant up to the light. The sun reflected brilliantly through the prisms in the glass. "Made you think of me huh?" Faith hissed as she recalled the not so long ago conversation she had had with Ric.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Max sat at a small round table keeping one eye on Elizabeth and one on the door of Kelly's diner. After their little exchange with Lansing at the hospital he decided to keep his guard up. He knew that Elizabeth was thrilled that Ric had signed the divorce papers and handed them over so willingly, but Max wasn't as convinced by his show of good faith. Too many things just didn't add up. Ric's sudden change in demeanor didn't make any sense.
The bell above the door jingled and in walked Faith Roscoe who headed directly to where Elizabeth was standing at the counter.
"Thanks so much for covering for me while I was recuperating from the accident," Elizabeth said to Penny. "I'm ready to get back to work though."
"Jason not keeping you busy enough at home sweetie?" Faith cooed.
Elizabeth turned and stared directly into the eyes of the woman who had more than once tried to kill her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Meyer!" Jason's voice boomed as he thundered into the man's office throwing the brown paper sack onto his desk.
"Nice to see you too Jason, but bringing lunch wasn't necessary." Without saying a word Jason lifted the bag from where it had landed and haphazardly pulled at the opening exposing its contents. "What the hell is that?" The man behind the desk wrinkled his nose at the sight of the stiff rodent.
"You tell me," Jason said as he dumped the dead mouse in the middle of the desk.
Gingerly Meyer picked up the animal by its rigid tail and gave it another hard look. "Where did you find it and what does it have to do with me? I'm no exterminator."
"I want to know what killed it."
"What?" The other man stared at Jason with utter confusion on his face. "Back up. I think you lost me here."
Jason raked his hands through his spiked blonde hair and let out a ragged breath. This day was ending up nothing like he had planned. Immediately thoughts of Elizabeth filled his head and the only thing he wanted to do was get back to her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"What do you want Faith?" Elizabeth asked pointedly.
"Coffee would be nice." She smiled sweetly as she turned over the cup that sat before her placing it in its saucer.
"Elizabeth," Max approached the two women. "Are you ready?"
"Oh," Faith sneered as she looked at the burly bodyguard who had come to Elizabeth's rescue. "And here I thought that Morgan wasn't letting you out of his sight. You must be losing your touch." She brought the steaming coffee to her lips as she watched the young brunette's eyes cloud with anger.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meyer sat silently waiting for Jason to tell him what the dead mouse on his desk was all about.
"Here." Jason fished the note from his pocket and placed it alongside the mouse.
"What's this?" Meyer picked it up and read the sprawling script. 'Next time it could be you!' He almost laughed at what he read and how the threat - if it could even be called that was delivered. "You have got to be kidding right?"
"Do I look like I am kidding?" Jason's voice grew irritated. "Did you come up with anything on that sample I gave you? Was it drugs or poison?"
"I just got the results back. I was about to call you and Sonny.."
"No need to call I'm here." Sonny approached the pair. "So what did you find out?" The mob boss asked.
"What do you want me to do with this?" Meyer pushed the dead rodent to the corner of his desk.
"I want you to find out what killed it," Jason said matter of fact.
"Excuse me? It's a dead mouse for god sakes. You can't be taking this seriously can you?" The man behind the desk stared at the enforcer as though he had lost his mind.
"It's a dead mouse but it's definitely a message," Jason retorted hating being questioned by those who were paid to listen and obey. He gave a sideways glance at Sonny and wondered if that's how he was feeling about him lately.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"If you have something to say Faith just say it. I don't have time for this," Elizabeth spouted.
"My, my haven't we grown a back bone?" Faith taunted. "So it seems Morgan has been teaching you a few things," she sneered.
"Elizabeth, let's go," Max prompted.
"What do you want Faith?" Elizabeth's voice grew louder.
"Really I just wanted to check on you. I heard about your accident. Someone should have warned you how dangerous motorcycles can be."
Elizabeth stared at her from the other side of the countered and resisted the urge to reach across and wipe the smug smile that the blonde wore from her lips. She knew that Faith was goading her but she couldn't help herself from falling into the trap.
"They aren't nearly as dangerous as knowing you is."
"And don't you forget that!" Faith hissed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Dead mouse? Message? What the hell's going on now?" Sonny asked exasperated.
"I found this in my office at the warehouse when I came back from dropping the sample from the shipment." Sonny looked at the note and the prone mouse on Meyer's desk. "I want to know what killed the mouse. So maybe we can trace it back to whoever sent it." The ringing of Jason's cell phone stopped him before he could continue. "Morgan," he said as he brought it to his ear. "Did you see who made the delivery? Was it Gavin from Kelly's?"
Sonny and Meyer watched and listened as Jason finished his conversation. "What was that all about?" Sonny asked.
"I wanted to know if anyone saw who dropped off my lunch." Jason stressed the word.
"And?" Sonny prodded.
"It wasn't anyone from Kelly's. The guys said it was some blonde."
"Faith?" Sonny cocked his brow as he thought how brazen Roscoe's widow was becoming.
"No one could say for sure."
"Here, take care of this." Sonny flipped the dead mouse in Meyer's direction. "What did you come with up from the shipment?"
Meyer placed the rodent back in the paper bag and offered a folder to his boss and the enforcer. "Would you believe it's common cake flour?"
"What?" Jason and Sonny said in unison.
"You heard me it's not drugs, not poison, simple flour."
"Shit! We burned the shipment for nothing." Jason slammed his hand down on the desk.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Max knew a threat when he heard one and he wasn't about to let Ms. Roscoe get the upper hand. He moved next to her linking his arm through hers placing a vice like grip on her forearm. "You wanted your coffee to go isn't that right Ms. Roscoe?" he asked.
"Take your hands off of me!" she snarled throwing her arm up in the air. That quick action caused Faith's red pendant to come into view suddenly.
"Where did you get that?" Elizabeth couldn't take her eyes off of the necklace.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sonny waited for Meyer to leave the room before he turned to Jason. "Do you believe me now that Faith is responsible? Only she would do things this crazy - no stupid," Sonny corrected.
Jason dropped noisily down in a chair in the corner of the room unsure what he was supposed to be thinking anymore. This was like no assault they had encountered before. It was as if there was no rhyme or reason to it. And as much as he hated to admit it, it reeked of Faith Roscoe.
"Well?" Sonny nudged him for a response.
"Have your guys come up with anything from tailing her?" Jason wasn't ready to concede his position on Ric Lansing just yet.
"Typical Faith stuff. You know how she loves to grand stand, make threats. Nothing out of the ordinary."
"So then you are just assuming that she's tied to this?" Jason wondered why Sonny hadn't mentioned her association with Ric. He knew that she was all but living with him. So why hadn't his boss known that? And if he did know why was he holding back?
"She's trying to keep us off balance. And if you ask me it's working." Sonny let out a frustrated sigh. He hated the tension between the two of them. "She's loving every minute of us being at odds." His own thoughts come forth. "It's her way in. Divide and conquer."
Jason leaned forward in the chair and let his elbows rest heavy on his knees. Sonny was truthful in his words. Several men in the organization had mentioned hearing rumblings from those outside of the Corinthos camp talking about the widening gap between the boss and his right hand. Jason hated it but he couldn't bring himself to just allow his own gut instincts about Ric to be overridden.
"We need to be together on this Jason."
If he hadn't known better Jason could have sworn that there was a pleading in Sonny's tone. "I have always backed you up. I wish I could say the same for you." Before Sonny could respond Jason's phone rang. "Yeah?"
"I think you need to get to Kelly's right now."
"What happened Max? Is Elizabeth okay?" Sonny watched as alarm filled Jason's features.
"I'm not sure man. Faith was here and Elizabeth's going on about some piece of red glass - she's crying man."
"I'll be right there!" Jason interrupted him. "I got to go," he turned to Sonny before sprinting toward the door.
"Is Elizabeth okay?" Sonny called after him.
"I think so - I don't know. Max said something about Faith." In all honesty Jason didn't know what was going on, how it involved Faith and Max mentioned Elizabeth's missing red glass from Italy. All he wanted to do at the moment is get to her.
Sonny watched Jason's retreating back and finally let his eyes fall shut. He had wanted to tell him what he knew about Faith's involvement with Ric. He had wanted to attempt to mend fences between them. He was well aware of just how much Jason loved Elizabeth. He had finally been able to get Carly to explain to him what happened that day in Jason's penthouse. That explanation just confirmed what he had already known - that Jason would protect Elizabeth at any cost. He would have done the same if it had been Carly. But had he Sonny questioned his own actions? For all intents and purposes Ric Lansing should be dead for what he had done to Sonny's family, but that was the catch - family. Ric was his family too.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"WHERE DID YOU GET THAT?!?" Elizabeth demanded again as she reached out and touched the red pendant swinging around Faith's neck. Beyond a shadow of a doubt Elizabeth knew that was her red glass no matter what shape it was now in. The red glass that Jason had given her on Valentine's day. The red glass missing from the things from her studio.
"None of your damn business."
"That's mine!" Elizabeth shrieked as she ripped the chain from Faith's neck.
"You little wench!" Faith scrambled to retrieve the pendant dangling from Elizabeth's fingers.
"Where did you get it?" Elizabeth pressed for an answer as she clung tightly to her missing possession.
"Give me that!" Faith yelled as she nearly climbed over the counter snatching her jewelry back. "You're fucking nuts you know that?" Faith said as she straightened her skirt and threw on her long leather coat.
"Max, that's mine. I want it back. Jason gave that to me. I want it back!"
Faith listened to the hysterical ramblings of the petite brunette as she made her way out the door. Once outside she held the lustrous red pendant up to the light. The sun reflected brilliantly through the prisms in the glass. "Made you think of me huh?" Faith hissed as she recalled the not so long ago conversation she had had with Ric.