A/N: I realize that this update has been a long time coming, and I apologize. For those of you that are still interested, I will be completing all of my current incomplete stories. I am currently in school but I will attempt to make all updates as quick as possible. Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated. Thanks!
Elizabeth suddenly remembered the baseball bat in her closet. Perhaps if she feigned interest in what Ric had to say, then maybe he would not question her moving towards the closet. Without many options, she decided to give it a shot.
"Fine," She paused, her voice shaky, "I'll listen—but only if you lower your voice."
Ric took a few steps closer to her and she took a few steps closer to the closet door.
"It was Sonny," He began, and she fought the urge to roll her eyes, "Sonny pushed you down the stairs. Sonny is the reason we lost our baby. I could have handled it better—but I didn't. I acted without thinking it through. Could you forgive me?"
Despite the fact that she was trying not to agitate him, or make him suspicious of her, she could not help but protest his revelations, "I know you, Rick. You don't do anything before you think it through. You were upset, you hate Sonny—and you thought you had a legitimate reason to go after him. But Sonny didn't push me—"
Agitated, he took another step closer to her, causing her to back up further, "You don't remember, Elizabeth. It's the only logical explanation."
"It may be logical, Ric, but if you knew Sonny at all then you'd know that he could never do such a thing—"She spit back.
Raising his voice, Ric yells back, "Am I hearing you right? Are you defending him?"
She finally backed up completely to the wall, her back pressed against the door.
"No, I'm not. I'm telling you what I know. I know this because I know Sonny—I know what he is capable of." She retorts.
"He is a mobster. He kills people. He orders his lackeys to beat people within an inch of their lives . . ." He begins.
"Ric . . ." She begins, trying to assure him as her hand found the doorknob of her closet.
Irritated, he interrupts her, "You can't honestly be defending him . . . you walked away from Jason because of that life. But you defend Sonny?"
Without thinking, Elizabeth fires back, "You know nothing about my relationship with Jason. You have no right to make comparisons about what you know nothing about."
Disgusted, and slightly jealous, Ric fires back, "You still defend him, and Sonny, but you won't hear me out?"
Elizabeth forgets entirely about the bat and allows her hand to leave the doorknob, "I'm listening, Ric, but all you are saying is the same thing over and over. You blame Sonny for whatever is wrong and you try to remedy the situation by getting revenge. I'm tired of it, and frankly, I'm outraged that you would use our daughter's death as an excuse to go after Sonny."
Before Ric can reply, Jason bursts through the door.
Ric looks at Jason in disgust, "If it isn't Saint Jason, here to rescue Elizabeth from her husband . . ."
Jason ignores Ric's quip and focuses his attention on Elizabeth, "Are you okay?"
She nods.
Ric laughs slightly to himself, and turns to Elizabeth, "Please, do tell, how you've suddenly allowed him back in your life when you refuse to give me a second chance?"
"He's changed, Ric, which is something I don't think you're capable of." She pauses, "Please, leave."
Ric, knowing that Jason would gladly beat him within an inch of his life, starts towards the door. He turns back to Elizabeth and Jason and offers sarcastically, "I'll let you two get back to rebuilding that relationship of yours."
Jason approaches her but she interrupts before he can say anything, "Thank you for coming, Jason, but you can leave now."
"Are you sure?" He asks, concerned.
"I've been doing fin on my own. With the exception of that night at Kelly's, I've done this alone just fine." She paused, choosing to leave out the escapades from the night before, "So thank you for that, but you should go. I know better than to lean on you, Jason."
Before he can think he replies, "If you were doing so well, Elizabeth, why'd you down a whole bottle of champagne last night?"
Elizabeth looks at him startled, "Have you been surveilling me?"
He does not answer but she can read his answer in his eyes. She is offended, "Leave."
He wanted to explain, to tell her that Sonny had ordered him to. He did not want her to look at him the way she was looking at him now, like he disgusted her. But maybe, he thought, this would make it easier for them both—if they hated each other. Maybe then they could get past the lingering feelings that both were trying so hard to pretend were no longer with them, but failing miserably.
"If that's what you want." He said, his voice barely above a whisper.
She said nothing but he did not need to hear anything more. He turned and walked out of her studio, shutting the door behind him.
------
On her way back to the penthouse, Courtney considers Elizabeth's words. Elizabeth had sounded genuine. Perhaps her slip of the tongue had been a mistake, despite Carly's insistence that it was not. Part of her wished that Carly was right so that she could have someone to blame for her current relationship problems with Jason. But she had known Elizabeth prior to their arguments regarding Jason and she knew that Elizabeth was a sincere person. And despite her hesitation to befriend her, due to Carly's advice, she hoped that her and Elizabeth could somehow mend their friendship.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Faith Roscoe's voice, "This whole thing turned out better than I could have hoped. Ric took the bait and went after Sonny just as expected—although, I never would have anticipated him kidnapping Carly." She paused, "Little Miss Muppet was predictable as always and ran to defend Jason and Sonny. Soon Ric will take care of them, the misses will be disgusted, and her rejection will lead him right into my arms . . ."
Courtney peered around the corner and saw that Faith was bragging to one of her henchman. Courtney wanted to make her presence known, tell Faith what she thought of her, but she knew it would be a dangerous choice to make. Faith had no clue that she was there and it would be best if she never found out. She concealed herself in the shadows once more and listened to Faith as she continued to brag.
". . . and if he is ever to find out about my role in her little fall, he'll be overjoyed that I saved him for having to settle down with her for the rest of his days."
Shocked and disgusted, Courtney slinked away unnoticed. As soon as she was far enough away she considered what she had heard. Faith had been responsible for Elizabeth's miscarriage. Her first instinct was to run back to Elizabeth's studio and tell her everything. If Elizabeth had been in her place she would have wanted her to do the same. But Courtney could not bring herself to walk in that direction.
Perhaps she could tell Sonny or Jason. They could "take care" of Faith and Elizabeth would never have to know.
But a better thought came to mind and before Courtney completely thought it through, she was on her way.
------
Ric was on his way home when his path intersected with Courtney's.
"Just the woman I was looking for . . ." He spit out sarcastically.
She looked at him quizzically as he continued, ". . . Jason Morgan's little girlfriend . . .Sonny's little sister. How does it feel to know your second best in the eyes of the man you love? I guess it would be similar to how I feel, although, with Elizabeth hanging out with all of her exes, like Lucky and Jason, I might be third in her list of priorities."
She said nothing and Ric felt he need to elaborate, "Did you know that your boyfriend is over at Elizabeth's studio right now? Their rebuilding their relationship. Isn't that sweet? The tortured soul mates are finding their way back to each other after months of fighting to get away from one another . . . it's so touching . . ."
Courtney made the mistake of listening and than began to question her plan. What if Elizabeth had lied and used the information Courtney had told her as a method to get to Jason. What if Carly was right? But after a moment, she chided herself for her concern over something so selfish.
"Ric," She paused, considering how to approach the sensitive topic, "There is something you need to know . . ."
"What could you possibly know that I would be remotely interested in?" He spit back.
She paused, "I know that that you blame Sonny—and I don't really know why I am even bothering to tell you this. But I thought that you should know that Sonny did not push Elizabeth . . . Faith Roscoe did."
He looked at her for a moment trying to decipher whether or not she was being honest. After a moments hesitation, he began to listen.
"I overheard her talking to someone. She said she pushed Elizabeth so that you would retaliate against Sonny and Elizabeth would go running to his defense. You would get upset and hurt Sonny, causing Elizabeth to push you away, and you would find comfort in her arms."
"When did you hear this?" He asked, slightly suspicious.
"Tonight."
"Have you told Elizabeth?" He asked, curious.
"No," She paused, "You are the first person that I have told."
She watched him analyze her words and the emotions that played out on his face. After a long moment of silence he concluded, "Don't tell her. I'll handle this."
Before another word could be spoken between them, Ric took off, leaving Courtney alone on pier contemplating what she had just started and whether or not to tell Elizabeth.
------
"Hello?" Faith answered her phone, curious as to who could be calling.
"It's Ric. I need to see you." He said, trying to control himself long enough to convince her to meet him.
She smiled knowingly, "I'm busy . . . can it wait?"
"I'm taking down Sonny, tonight." He began, causing her to smile even more.
"Where are you?" She questioned.
"I'm at my house."
"I'll be right there." She said, extremely excited.
"Bring a gun. Something that isn't registered. I don't want to leave any clues." He said, controlled.
"So very efficient, I love that about you." She said, demurely, "I'll see you soon."
He smiled, mission accomplished. He hung up the phone and waited.
-----
Courtney was sitting on the bench overlooking the water. Her thoughts drawn to Elizabeth and her miscarriage. Because of Ric and the enemies he had made, Elizabeth had lost a child. Unlike her own miscarriage, Elizabeth's was not natural. She herself could not imagine learning that her miscarriage had been part of someone's plan to hurt someone else.
She considered she own miscarriage. What if she had not miscarried but instead been targeted by one of Jason or Sonny's enemies. What if, as a way to get to them, these enemies had destroyed the life of her unborn child?
A sick thought entered her mind—perhaps it was for the best. Perhaps it was nature's way of telling her that if she wanted to be with Jason, the life he lead could have consequences far beyond what she had originally thought.
She needed Jason. And according to Ric, he was with Elizabeth at her studio. She quickly made her way towards the studio.
Jason's cell phone rang, waking him up from his dreamless sleep. He was on the couch, in his living room, where he had been since arriving home.
"Morgan." He answered, sleepishly.
"Jase—Marco told me that you told him to watch Elizabeth. I thought I told you to do it."
He rubbed his eyes, trying to wake himself up, "Ric was over there. The only way I could get him to leave was to make my presence known. She found out we were watching and was not too pleased. She asked me to leave so I did. Marco is still there."
"Where are you?"
"The penthouse."
"Did you come straight home after you left her studio?" Sonny questioned.
"Yes." He answered, curiously, fully awake.
"Someone took care of Faith Roscoe tonight. Someone dumped the body at the bottom of the stairs that Elizabeth fell down."
Jason was speechless as he attempted to figure who could have done it, and why. Suddenly he looked around the penthouse and then walked towards the stairs. He covered up the receiver and yelled up the stairs, "Courtney?"
No one came. He yelled a second time and still no response. He looked around the penthouse to see if there was any sign of her having been back home since he had fallen asleep but there was none. He put the phone back up to his ear again, "Courtney isn't here."
Sonny sighed, "You think she could have done this?"
"I don't know—but I know she isn't here."
"Did she say where she was going to?" Sonny questioned, unbeknown to him that Jason and Courtney were going through a rough time.
"No." Jason said, not feeling like going into a long explanation.
"Try and find out where she is. I've got Benny working on this. Call me if you hear anything."
Jason ended the call and was out the door.
-----
Elizabeth had attempted to fall asleep on the lumpy couch in her studio but had not been successful. Jason's words hung in the air and as much as she tried to escape them, they remained.
"If that's what you want."
It wasn't what she wanted. She wanted back her friendship with Jason. She knew that his life was not for her, but she could not imagine a life without him in it. She tried to tell herself that it would be easier this way—to have him out of her life completely. But with each passing moment, or resurfacing memory, it became harder.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. For a brief moment she wondered if it was Jason. She glanced at herself in the mirror, brushed her fingers through her hair, and opened the door.
"Hey." Courtney offered, solemnly, "Can I--?"
"Sure." Elizabeth said, and moved aside to let the blond inside her studio.
She shut the door behind her and then turned toward her.
"I believe what you said before, that you had not intended to tell Jason. I'm sorry about the way I treated you when you came to tell me." Courtney began.
"I'm sorry that I made things worse—"Elizabeth began.
Courtney interrupted her, "Do you still love him?"
Elizabeth was taken aback by her question. It was personal and it was awkward, to say the least.
"I . . ."