Elizabeth rolled over to stop the blaring sound of the alarm clock from resonating throughout the room. That simple motion filled her body with pain. With great care, Elizabeth reached out and shut the alarm off. She took a deep breath and did her best to deal with the ache that consumed her body and the pounding in her head. Elizabeth messaged her temples in the hope of staving off her ever-present headache. The action was a mute point at best since even the slightest touch of her fingers caused more agony. "Ugh." Elizabeth let out a heavy sigh as she lifted her body into a sitting position. Instantly a wave of nausea overtook her. "I can't be sick today," she said to herself. She looked around the room. She was both relieved and frightened at the fact that Anthony was nowhere to be found. The last thing she needed at the moment was another run in with her husband, but the prospect of who Anthony was gunning for terrified her even more.

"Mrs. Malucci?" Helena's voice followed a soft knock on the door to Elizabeth's room.

"Come in," Elizabeth instructed as she placed her feet on the soft carpeted floor.

"You have a phone call."

"Thank you," Elizabeth said as she steadied herself.

"Here let me help you," Helena offered. The memory of the awful way Anthony Malucci treated his wife the night before was still fresh in her mind.

"No, I better do this own my own." Helena watched as Elizabeth slowly made her way to where the phone sat.

"If you need anything, please ring for me."

"I'll be fine," Elizabeth smiled weakly. She waited until Helena closed the door behind her before picking up the receiver from its cradle. "Hello."

"Elizabeth." The voice of Jeff Webber caused a frown on her face. She wanted the person on the other end of the line to be Jason. She longed to hear his voice, but more importantly she needed to know that he was alive and well.

"Yes," she returned curtly. Having a conversation with her father was the last thing Elizabeth wanted or needed right now.

"I was hoping to meet with you today."

"For what?"

"I want to be sure that you understand how important tonight's benefit is for me."

"That won't be necessary!"

"I think that it is. Lately you have been a bit of a wild card, and well, I can't afford to have anything go wrong tonight." Elizabeth rolled her eyes as she listened. "How about lunch at the country club?"

"I don't think so. I have far too much to do before the benefit. I certainly don't have the time or inclination to have you parading me around for your potential constituents."

"See, this is exactly what I am talking about, Elizabeth. This attitude doesn't do anyone any good... ..."

"Don't you mean it doesn't do you any good?" She cut him off.

"I have explained how important this event is to me... ..."

"So?"

"I expect to see you at the country club by noon," Jeff pressed.

"If I'm not there?" she countered.

"Do you really think that's wise?" Jeff questioned.

Elizabeth let out a heavy breath and dropped her body into the chair adjacent to the desk. The banter between the two of them was getting the better of her. "Fine, I will be there." She finally gave in. She knew that Jeff wasn't about to let go of this and it was far simpler to go along rather than buck the system especially since she wasn't feeling up to par.

"Good." Jeff was pleased with himself. "I will see you at noon then."

"Whatever," Elizabeth said as she hung up the phone before he had a chance to say anymore.

Elizabeth stared at her reflection in the foyer mirror. She did her best to cover the bandage on her forehead with her hair but it still managed to find a way to peak its way through. She looked down at her watch. It was already passed eleven. Getting ready had taken nearly two hours. Between the waves of nausea and the throbbing behind her eyes, Elizabeth wasn't sure if she was ever going to get done.

"Don't you look nice." Anthony's voice startled her.

"What?"

"I said, don't you look nice."

Elizabeth was surprised by the comment. It hadn't a trace of sarcasm. It actually sounded as though her husband truly meant the words. "Thank you," she said more than a little confused.

"Where are you off to?" he asked.

Elizabeth eyed him curiously. She had to stop herself from saying aloud... ...'Who are you and what have you done with my husband.'

"Elizabeth?"

"Huh?"

"Are you feeling all right?" Anthony reached out and stroked her cheek. That action was something that he hadn't done in years.

"I'm fine," she said as she pulled back.

"You look a little pale."

"What's going on here?" she finally asked. "What are you up to?"

"Up to?" he echoed.

"Yes. What are you up to Anthony?"

"Why can't I just be concerned about my wife?"

"Concerned?"

"Of course I am concerned about you. You were in a car accident."

"Which you were responsible for!" Elizabeth barked.

"That has yet to be proven." Anthony tried to hide his gleeful smile. The thought of what was scheduled to take place in just over an hour had Anthony as giddy as a schoolgirl. The pictures his mind painted of what was about to happen were intoxicating, so much so, that Anthony couldn't contain his good mood.

"I have all the proof I need."

"Where did you say you were going?" he asked ignoring Elizabeth's pointed remark. In a few hours it wouldn't matter what his wife did or didn't know for he would be in the position to get all that rightfully belonged to him for sometime now.

"I am meeting my father for lunch at the country club."

"I will have the limo brought around for you. I don't think it's a good idea that you be driving with your concussion." Anthony kissed her cheek as he breezed out the door.

Elizabeth was completely taken aback by his behavior. Where had the man that basically threw her into the house last night gone? Where was the husband who could have cared less about her well being?

Jason knocked softly on Emily's door. "Come in." He heard her say.

"How's the arm this morning?" he questioned.

"It's still pretty sore," she offered. "The worst part of it all was trying to get comfortable last night. So, not only am I in pain but I am a little buggy from lack of sleep," Emily yawned.

"Are you sure that you are up to hosting this party tonight?" Jason questioned as he wondered how Elizabeth was fairing under the injuries she sustained yesterday.

"I have to be," Emily said. "Papa's counting on a good showing between the Morgan and Malucci families. We certainly need it as of late," Emily scoffed in an off-handed manner.

"I am sure that your health is far more important to Papa," Jason countered.

"Well... ..." Emily sighed as she tried unsuccessfully to drape her blazer over her shoulder.

"Here let me help you with that." Jason crossed the room to assist her. "Emily, if you decided to bow out of tonight's events I can't imagine that anyone would object... ..."

"Enough!" Emily cut him off. "I made a promise and I intend on keeping it. Jason?" she questioned as he brother suddenly had a far off look in his eye. "Jason?" Emily snapped her fingers before his face.

"Huh?"

"Where were you just now?" she asked.

"What?" he returned forcing his mind to focus on Emily rather than the thoughts of Elizabeth that filled every cavity of his head. He had stopped himself on several occasions from picking up the phone to call her. Jason knew that his placing a call to the Malucci mansion was far too dangerous yet not being able to know how Elizabeth was feeling was eating away at him.

"Are you all right?" Emily asked again.

"You haven't heard from Elizabeth have you?" Jason hesitated as he spoke.

"No."

"Oh." Jason did little to hide the frown that easily found its way to his face. He had hoped that Elizabeth had tried to contact Emily that morning under the guise of the benefit. Jason would have at least known that she was alive. "I need a favor," he began.

"A favor?"

"Yes."

"What kind of favor?" Emily asked even though she had a good idea what Jason wanted her to do.

"I want you to call the Malucci house and check on Elizabeth."

"Are you sure that's such a good idea Jason?" Emily spoke softly. She couldn't help recall the ominous feeling that had taken up residence in her since yesterday afternoon. While Emily knew that Jason loved Elizabeth and she did him, that didn't negate some rather obvious facts. Facts such as Anthony's hatred of Jason and his willingness to irradicate Jason, not to mention, the entire Morgan Clan from the face of the earth. Emily certainly didn't want to be a catalyst for the next wave of attack.

"What's wrong with the idea?" Jason returned. "It would make sense that you would call to check on her. You two are friends are you not?"

"Yes,"

"Then what's the problem?"

"Jason, you know the problem. Its name happens to be Anthony. Don't you think that maybe it would be better to leave well enough alone, at least for a little while?"

"Emily, I have done countless favors for you. I think that you could find it in your heart to do this one thing for me," Jason gasped as he made a mental list of all he had done for Emily in the past several months.

"Jason... ..."

"What?" he countered harshly. "Please don't tell me you are against us again?" He hated to admit it, but he had gotten accustomed to Emily being his strongest supporter when it came to his relationship with Elizabeth."

"No...yes..."

"Which is it?" he questioned angrily.

"I'll make the call," Emily relented. She knew that she owed Jason that much but still wasn't able to stop the morbid thoughts that circled her brain.

Jason stood anxiously in the background as Emily placed her call to Elizabeth. His panic level rose as the call ended almost as soon as it started. "What's wrong?!" Jason's voice rose and octave.

"Elizabeth wasn't home."

"What do you mean she wasn't home?" Jason's voice continued to climb. "Where the hell is she?"

"I didn't ask... ..."

"Why the hell not?" Jason shot back.

"Haven't you ever heard the saying discretion is the better part of valor?"

"Yes."

"Well, somehow I didn't think that my pressing some servant about Elizabeth's whereabouts was the smartest thing I could have done, especially not given my last name. Get a grip Jason."

"GET A GRIP!?!?" he echoed. The idea of that was laughable to him. Emily hadn't seen the way Anthony had been acting the previous afternoon nor had she heard his disguised threats against Elizabeth's safety. Getting a grip wasn't something Jason was about to do.

"Jason, calm down," Emily said as she reached for him arm. "I am sure that Elizabeth is fine. I know she wanted to take care of a few things before the benefit tonight. That must be where she is."

"Damn it Emily she has a concussion! The last thing Elizabeth should be doing is running around town!!"

"Jason...." Emily called to his retreating form. "Jason, where are you going?"

"To call Elizabeth myself!"

Emily let out a heavy sigh. She knew that there was no stopping Jason no matter what she said.

Elizabeth steeled herself at the doorway of one of the many dining rooms of the country club. She still hadn't been able to shake that odd feeling that Anthony had left her with. Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of her father at the far end of the lavishly decorated room. "Hello father," Elizabeth said as she dropped her handbag on the corner of the table.

"Good after... ...Elizabeth!!" he gasped when he finally raised his eyes from the menu. "What on earth happened to you?"

"You mean this?" Elizabeth touched the bandage on her forehead. "this is courtesy of my dear husband."

"What?" Jeff swallowed hard around the lump in his throat.

"You heard me. Anthony decided that it would be fun to set up a little accident for Emily Morgan. The problem was he didn't count on me being in the car with her, then again maybe he did," she quipped.

"What? You aren't making much sense dear," Jeff stated.

"Yes I am!" Elizabeth growled. "You just aren't listening."

"Why would Anthony want to hurt Emily Morgan?"

"Like you don't know the answer to that." Elizabeth stared her father down as she motioned to a passing waiter for a glass of white wine.

Jeff did know the answer. Anthony was more than vocal when it came to his disdain for Don Morgan and his son Jason. Jeff sat across the table from his only daughter and felt his stomach turn end over end. What had he done to her? What kind of man marries his daughter off to a monster? Jeff could delude himself all he wanted into thinking that he hadn't known what Anthony had been like from the very beginning, but when it was all said and done he couldn't escape the knowledge that he had vanquished to the outer recesses of his mind. Jeff knew the moment he had approached Anthony for help he had made a pact with the devil and those sorts of pacts were never broken. "Why didn't someone notify me? You are still my daughter. I should have been called!" Jeff stressed.

"Why?" Elizabeth almost laughed. "It was bad enough I already had one farce with Anthony hovering over me. I didn't need or want to be another cog in the Webber political machine," Elizabeth huffed. "Hello?!?!" she nearly barked into the receiver of her ringing cell phone.

"Elizabeth?" Jason was instantly troubled by her heated tone when she answered the phone.

Jason's voice was music to her ears. "Jason," she gushed completely forgetting the fact that her father was still seated next to her.

Jeff raised his brow at the name he heard but did his best to hide his curiosity. "Jason huh?" Jeff thought to himself as the wheels in his head began to turn rapidly. "Jason...Jason." The name bounded around Jeff's brain. "Jason Morgan!" A light bulb finally clicked on. "What's he doing calling my daughter?" Jeff questioned silently.

"Elizabeth, what's the matter baby?" Jason questioned.

"Nothing now," she replied relieved to know that since the time she had last seen him no harm had come to him.

Jeff took great care in noticing his daughter's sudden change in demeanor.

"What are you doing? More importantly why aren't you at home resting?"

Elizabeth turned her head suddenly remembering she was far from being alone. "Excuse me a minute," she said to Jason. "This is a private conversation. I would appreciate it if you would treat it as such. I think you owe me at least that much," she stressed.

"Fine," Jeff agreed as his own agenda began taking shape.

"Elizabeth, Elizabeth," Jason said impatiently. "Who are you with?"

"My father," she answered.

Jason let out a heavy sigh. He had been overjoyed to hear that she was with anyone other than Anthony. "Where are you?"

"The country club."

"Why?"

"You are certainly full of questions aren't you?" Elizabeth laughed finally feeling at ease for the first time in days.

"Sorry, but really why aren't you at home resting? You have a concussion for god sakes. The last things you should be doing is driving," Jason instructed.

"I'm fine really," she assured him.

Jeff stood in the outer hallway watching Elizabeth carrying on her conversation with Jason Morgan. It was hard to miss the smile that filled her face or the easy way she would laugh now and again. He toyed with his cell phone as he tried to decide if the call he was about to make should be made. Jeff couldn't remember the last time he had seen a genuine smile on Elizabeth's face. It had been years ago, well before her mother had succumbed to her disease. The pangs of guilt began to surface in Jeff once more. Guilt for the life he knew he had robbed Elizabeth of, yet the threat of losing the life he had grown accustomed to always out weighed the guilt. This case in point was to be no different. Jeff dialed Anthony's familiar cell phone number and waited for him to pick up. "We have a problem," Jeff said before Anthony could even say hello.

"What kind of a problem?" Anthony asked. As the hands of the clock ticked closer to what he was not terming as 'Judgement Day', his good mood was growing by leaps and bounds.

"The kind that comes from an enemy camp," Jeff stated trying to keep his comments minimal.

"Which enemy camp might that be?" Anthony was immensely enjoying playing his father in law.

"Elizabeth just got a phone call from, well you will never guess from who... ..."

"Jason Morgan?" Anthony interrupted.

"YES!" Jeff was completely stunned. "You aren't concerned by that?"

"Nope."

"Excuse me?" Jeff's confusion continued to grow.

"I have Morgan covered," Anthony stated with great confidence. "In a few hours he won't be a problem!" he said pointedly.

"He won't be a problem? What do you mean he won't be a problem?" Jeff heard the alarmed inflection in his tone.

"What do you think I mean?" Anthony returned almost smugly.

"What are you doing Anthony?" Jeff asked directly. His mind centered now on the things that Elizabeth had told him earlier about the accident she and Emily Morgan had been in.

"Mind your own business, Jeff!" Anthony ordered as he hung up the phone not giving Jeff a chance to respond.

Jeff leaned his body into the cool surface of the wall. He now was getting a clearer picture of just how warped Anthony Malucci had become. Jeff had always known that fact but until that precise moment it had never been quite so obvious. He began to question his alliance with Anthony and the Malucci family in general. Jeff knew the Morgan family reputation. Surely Don Morgan wouldn't stand for Anthony's antics. It would only be a matter of time before Joseph Morgan had Anthony disposed of. Jeff couldn't help but wonder how long it would take for the Morgans to find their way to him as well. Perhaps it was time to hedge his bet Jeff thought to himself as he watched his daughter's continued conversation.

"Jason," Elizabeth sighed, "I'm feeling fine, really. Rocco is depending on me. I can't back out of the benefit now, besides, it's a good way for us to see one another," she added slyly.

Jason couldn't hide his own smile now. He would indeed enjoy spending the entire evening with her without anyone being able to say a damn thing about it. "I just want you to get enough rest. Even a slight concussion isn't something to be taken lightly."

"I know," she agreed as the remnants of her earlier headache continued to linger.

"Then promise me you will high tail it home and lay down for a few hours before tonight. You are going to need it."

"Only if you make me a promise too," Elizabeth said with a seductive lilt to her voice.

"What would that be?" Jason asked.

"That we slip out of the benefit and have ourselves a proper reunion."

"Proper reunion, huh?" Jason smiled as the images of Elizabeth's naked form paraded before his eyes.

"Uh-huh."

"Well maybe we could do something about that. That is if you are feeling up to it."

"Not to worry," she assured him.

"Mr. Morgan," the voice of Jason's secretary blared through the intercom.

"Yes?" Jason answered. "Elizabeth, honey hang on a moment." He placed Elizabeth on hold to attend to the interruption. "Yes, what it is?"

"Jack is on the line sir. There is a problem with some merchandise at the dock warehouse."

"What kind of merchandise trouble?" Jason asked as a sinking feeling entered his stomach.

"I'm not sure sir. Jack says that he needs you to get down there immediately."

"DANM!!"

"What should I tell him Mr. Morgan?"

"Tell him I will be there when I get there," Jason growled. "Elizabeth, baby, I have to go," he said returning to the line Elizabeth was waiting patiently on.

Instantly Elizabeth was consumed by an eerie chill that ran down her spine. "Why?" she asked cautiously.

"Some warehouse problem. Apparently I am the only one who can take care of it."

"You can't send someone else?" she pressed unable to shake her fears. Anthony's gleeful manner that afternoon played continually through her mind. Something about all of this just seemed off to her.

"According to Jack, my warehouse manager, no. He needs me immediately."

"Please don't go, Jason!" Elizabeth heard her voice quiver as she tried to hold her tears at bay.

"I have to. What's the matter baby?" Jason easily picked up on her apprehensions.

"Just don't go okay?" She suddenly felt the tiniest bit silly in her request but went forward with it anyhow.

"It's business and I have to attend to it," Jason emphasized. Elizabeth was just about to express her concerns regarding Anthony when his words stopped her. "I promise it's just business and that I will see you at the benefit. Now you promise me that you will rest. I really need to go now."

"Be careful Jason, please. I love you," she said unsure if he had even heard those words as the dial tone rang in her ear.

Jeff made his way into the dining room as soon as he saw Elizabeth place her phone on the table. "Is everything all right?" he asked.

"No... yes," she corrected herself. "I'm not feeling well. I think I should go home and rest up for tonight."

"I agree. Do you need me to drive you home?" he inquired in his most fatherly tone.

"No, no the limo is parked out front waiting for me."

"Well then, rest up and I will see you and Anthony tonight," Jeff said.

"Yes," Elizabeth returned absently. Her mind was still full of ominous thoughts about the Morgan warehouse and Anthony's peculiar behavior.

Jason waited as the large metal warehouse door slid open. The entire ride over he couldn't help feeling as though Anthony was up to his old tricks. "What's the trouble Jack?" Jason asked as he approached the small group of men talking amongst themselves.

"New York is missing a truck," Jack answered.

"Missing...missing how?"

"Missing like as in never arrived at its destination," Jack barked. He was past frustrated. For the last two and a half hours he have been on the phone with the New York distributors arguing about the missing shipment.

"New York you said?" Jason questioned. He felt as if he had been pulled back into a bad replay of events from months ago.

"Yes!" Jack sighed.

Jason's blood began a slow steady boil. "Where's Malucci ever going to learn?" Jason whispered under his breath. "So, what are the New York boys saying about all of this?"

"What do you think they are saying? They're pissed!" Jack stated.

"Max!" Jason called. "Get on the radio and start calling in a few favors. I want that truck found NOW!! Who the hell was the driver?! They better hope they were hijacked at gunpoint!!" Jason growled. "WHAT?!?!" he yelled into his cell phone.

"You have five minutes to clear the building before it blows," a muffled voice met Jason's ear.

"What?" Jason held his hand in the air and magically stopped the commotion going on around him.

"Get everyone out of the building! You're wasting time!!" Jason was rendered speechless for a second. "DON'T YOU GET IT MAN?!?! THERE'S A FUCKING BOMB READY TO BLOW IN THAT WAREHOUSE!!!!" There was a sense of urgency to the man's voice that sent Jason in motion.

"JACK!!" Jason began screaming. "get everyone out of here NOW!!"

"What? Why??"

"NOW...NOW...GO...GO!!! MAX CLEAR ALL THE OFFICES...."

"Jason, what's going on?" Max questioned as he watched his boss race around the expansive warehouse pushing everyone out the door.

"THE WAREHOUSE IS GOING TO BLOW... ...NOW FUCKIN' MOVE!!!!" Jason screamed.

Elizabeth picked up the phone and called Jason for the third time that afternoon. The foreboding feeling that she had had all day intensified in the last hours. Each unanswered call she placed to Jason only served to heighten her fears. "Come on Jason, pick up the damn phone," she said into the receiver.

Across town Jason's cell phone lay ringing on the pavement.