"ELIZABETH...ELIZABETH!!!" Jason's voice was filled with hysteria, almost doom. "ELIZABETH!?! DAMN IT!!" Jason yelled as he slammed the phone down hard against his desk as the line went dead in his ear. His mouth was suddenly dry as chaotic thoughts took over his brain. What on earth had Elizabeth meant when she said that she could take care of herself and that she already had? What had she done – Jason thought to himself. Why wouldn't she let him help her? The question skirted through his mind – what had she done? He asked himself again not really wanting an answer to the question.

"Where the hell are you Elizabeth?" he questioned the four paneled walls of his office. Jason took a ragged breath as he ran his hands over his face in a vain attempt to force his brain to think clearly. Yet thinking clearly where Elizabeth Malucci was concerned had never been his strong suit. Jason picked up his cell phone again for the fruitless effort of trying to contact Elizabeth. Up until now all of his labor on that front had been mute. Every phone number that he had for her had stopped working weeks ago. His only hope was to call the Malucci mansion. Jason toyed with the phone in his hand pensive about making that call. He have been walking a fine line for so long now between his own desires, his loyalty to his family and Elizabeth's safety that Jason wasn't sure what he was even doing anymore, except maybe failing on all accounts.

Again he looked at the phone resting in his hands. He knew that he wasn't left with a choice. He had to contact Elizabeth by whatever means necessary. Just as he was about to begin dialing, the number listed on his display screen caught his attention. It was the phone number to his penthouse at the Drake Hotel. Elizabeth was at his penthouse. The reality that she was safe sent a wave of relief cascading over Jason's body. It was like he was finally able to let out the breath he had been holding for too long. Jason tried to drown out the nagging voice that picked at the back of him mind. He couldn't squash the vivid memory of the despair he had heard in Elizabeth's voice or how she had spoken in the past tense for so much of the conversation. All at once the hairs on the back of his neck stood erect. He didn't want to entertain the ideas that besieged his brain. Quickly he felt the blood drain from his face as he recalled her words.

"I want you to know Jason that I am so grateful for you. I will always remember you...Remember the little bit of joy I shared with you...I'm sorry – so sorry... ..."

Jason pushed back the tears that threatened to consume him. What he was thinking couldn't be true. Elizabeth was too strong of a person to do what he was attempting not to let his mind think about. She was strong, tenacious and gave as good as she got – Jason thought as his memory of their first meeting leapt to his mind. Elizabeth would never let the world, much less Anthony, beat her down. However the last few times that Jason had seen her she looked as though the world had finally gotten the better of her. The disbelief, utter pain, Jason saw in her eyes – written over every expression on her face when she assumed that he no longer loved her was like a dagger through his heart. He had never gotten the chance to explain himself, had never gotten to tell Elizabeth that his "date" had been all his mother's doing. Anthony's threats and well placed hovering made sure that there was no time for Jason to make his move, at least not without inciting a riot. Hearing Elizabeth's voice now, Jason wished he had ignored his father's request about no scenes at Emily's wedding and had just taken Anthony out then and there.

Suddenly Jason had another thought. A thought that he wasn't sure was better yet it was more bearable than the idea that Elizabeth would have ever done something to hurt herself. What if her being forced to live life under Anthony's thumb had caused her to snap. What if she had tried to rid the world of Anthony herself? Once more Jason felt his mouth go dry. If Elizabeth had killed or even wounded Anthony, he knew she would be in grave danger. That had to explain why she was at his penthouse. He knew she assumed that it was safe there, but Jason couldn't help but wonder just how safe it really was. Anthony had been tailing Elizabeth for months now. Jason couldn't be certain of what Anthony had and hadn't known about their affair or which of his men he had informed. He pushed his chair back hard and reached for the gun that was hidden in the center drawer of his desk at all times. Easily he slipped it into his waistband and pulled on his jacket. He wasn't about to take anymore chances with Elizabeth's life. Enough was enough. This war had been a long time in coming and there was no stopping it now.

"Jason... ..." his secretary said as he rushed passed her. "Jason, your father needs you in his off... ..."

"Tell him I am busy," Jason ordered as he frantically pushed the button for the elevator. Time was of the essence and he knew it.

"I was supposed to bring... ..."

"I don't care what you were supposed to do!" Jason barked. "I'm busy." He darted into the awaiting elevator as his secretary watched the doors close.

Jason rushed from the elevator lengthening his stride to a full tilt run. The distance between where the bank of elevators was and where his Porsche was parked seemed like miles rather than a few mere feet. Jason fumbled with his keys for a second cursing the delicate alarm system that he had had installed. Finally the door sprang open and he turned the key in the ignition as the engine let out a throaty roar echoing off the cement walls of the parking garage. With a shrill screech of the tires Jason shifted from reverse to second gear as he sped out of his parking space.

The traffic on the streets of downtown Chicago that afternoon was moderate however the steady driving rain clogged the streets just the same. The slow moving mass of vehicles slowed down Jason's attempt to get to Elizabeth. He darted between car after car only to get stopped at the nearest intersection. He slammed his fists against the steering wheel as he was forced to halt for the next red light. "COME ON... ...COME ON!!" he shouted frantically to the array of vehicles obstructing his path. Jason glanced at the clock radio. It had been less than fifteen minutes since Elizabeth's phone call but Jason couldn't shake the feeling that that had been fifteen minutes too long. The gnawing in the pit of his stomach wasn't going away nor were his fears that Elizabeth was in danger.

"DAMN IT!!" Jason yelled as a yellow taxi jumped in front of him to pick up an awaiting passenger at the curb. Jason reached for his cell phone and quickly dialed his penthouse. The persistent ringing in his ears only served to heighten his anxiety. "Come on Elizabeth – pick up! Pick up the god damn phone Elizabeth!!" He slammed his fist against the dash. Frustrated by the traffic before him, Jason cut down a side street in an attempt to make up for lost time. He wound his way through the alleys as he tried to center his thoughts on that Elizabeth had to be okay. "She just has to," he whispered to himself. Again he picked up his phone and called the penthouse only to find Elizabeth still not answering the phone. A cold chill ran down Jason's spine forcing goose bumps to rise on his flesh. "Johnny," Jason barked into the cell phone's receiver.

"Yeah boss?" the man answered.

"Take Max and get to my penthouse – NOW!!"

"What's wrong boss?" Johnny asked sensing the heightened fear in Jason's voice.

"DON'T FUCKING ASK QUESTIONS!! JUST FOLLOW MY FUCKING ORDERS!! GET TO MY PENTHOUSE NOW!!"

"Right away boss." Johnny decided that it was better not to argue. He had a feeling he would pay a high price if he didn't just listen.

Knowing that Johnny and Max were on their way did little to allay Jason's fears. The more the recollection of Elizabeth's words played out in his head the more frenzied Jason became. At last the Drake Hotel loomed in the distance. Jason buried his foot into the accelerator as his Porsche screamed toward its destination. Jason didn't bother with any of his usual formalities or secrets about his being there. He threw on the parking brake and bolted from the car without so much as a word to Ronald who stood watching him curiously.

For the second time that afternoon Jason found himself cursing his cautious nature. The precautions taken to keep the masses away from him were now impeding his getting to Elizabeth. Jason burst through the door his voice bellowing her name. "ELIZABETH....ELIZABETH...ELIZABETH!!!" The penthouse was quiet. "ELIZABETH...baby it's Jason. You don't have to be afraid. You can stop hiding." His voice trembled as he held the tears at bay. "ELIZABETH!!" he nearly screamed. Jason's eyes were drawn to the leather sofa in front of him. His gaze fell on the empty champagne bottle resting on its side. Absently, he went forward and took it in his grasp. Maybe she was just passed out, that's why she wasn't answering him. He prayed that was the reason for her silence. "That has to be it!" he said demanding his brain to relinquish all other thoughts yet as his eyes caught sight of the empty pill bottle nestled with the folds of the sofa – Jason knew his fears were founded.

He fell to his knees as he took the bottle in his hands. Jason strained to read the label but the words made little sense to him, as the tears he had pent up finally were unleashed. He swallowed hard as the lump in his throat choked him. "Elizabeth, what have you done?" he finally cried.

A force beyond his control propelled Jason through the remaining rooms of the penthouse. He stopped cold as the sight of Elizabeth's lifeless body lying across his bed rendered him helpless. His eyes widened as his greatest fear had been realized. In anger Jason sent the empty champagne bottle still hanging in his hand careening across the room. The bottle shattered into a million pieces when it hit the wall the same way Jason's heart just had. "Elizabeth... ...Elizabeth..." Jason choked on her name as he gently took her hand in his. "Baby, come one...you have to open your eyes, baby." Silently the tears pooled behind his light eyes. The purple bruises on Elizabeth's face fueled Jason's rage. Anthony Malucci had raised his hand against the woman who caused Jason's heart to beat. That was a mistake that he would pay and pay dearly for. Softly Jason cradled Elizabeth's limp body in his arms. He pressed his lips to her forehead as his body began rocking back and forth his sobs filling the deathly quiet room. How had things gotten this out of control Jason thought to himself as the vivid images of all that he and Elizabeth shared leapt forward. Through his tears the memories of her skin against his own, her whispering her love for him in his ears, the way only she could make him feel so alive, so complete engulfed him in another wave of salty tears. "Why? Why baby – why would you do something like this?" Jason shook her as if he expected the action to elicit a response from Elizabeth's lips. "I love you. I would have found a way for us," he stammered.

"Boss?" Johnny's questioning voice startled Jason. Jason's grief stricken face looked up at the Morgan soldier standing before him. His mind couldn't form the words he needed to speak. He was still lost somewhere in the recesses of his mind where he had control over his surroundings. "Boss?" Johnny repeated.

"You and Max stand guard at the front entrance. NO ONE I MEAN NO ONE gets inside this penthouse!" Jason voice was a violent whisper.

"What the hell's going on here?" Johnny made the mistake of asking.

Before he knew what hit him, Jason had Johnny pinned against the door. "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME!?!?" Jason raged.

"Nothing boss – nothing." Johnny backed away as soon as Jason loosened his grip.

Jason's gaze fell back to Elizabeth's form spread across the king-sized bed. Again he wasn't able to stop the flow of tears that ran from his eyes. "This can't be happening – this can't be happening – this can't be happening," he repeated over and over again to himself. Elizabeth couldn't have tried to take her own life. She just couldn't have Jason thought again. Using his hand, Jason pressed his fingers hard against his eyes in a vain attempt to put a stop to his tears. This wasn't the time to let his emotions reign free. Jason was sure that he needed to be clear headed and rational. He knew that he had to take charge of the situation before it was too late. There was only one person who could help Jason now. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and placed a call.

"Jason," the voice of Dr. Harold Johnjulio caused Jason's thoughts to jump ahead to the present. The events of the previous year seemed like a whirlwind of emotions but its climax had devastated both he and Elizabeth. "Jason," the doctor repeated. "I have Mrs. Malucci..."

"Elizabeth," Jason corrected him.

"I have her stable. Well, as stable as I can given the circumstances," Dr. Johnjulio heaved a heavy sigh. "The private ambulance should be here momentarily. The paramedics have been apprised of the delicate nature of the situation. They have assured me they have the proper equipment to better aid in saving Mrs. Malu – Elizabeth's," Dr. Johnjulio corrected himself before Jason was able to, "life."

"I would expect nothing less!" Jason said coldly.

"There is still no guarantees in the outcome of all of this. You do understand that, don't you?" Harold Johnjulio asked as his hand came to where Jason's was clamped against his neck. The old man had a feeling that if Elizabeth Malucci wasn't to survive this ordeal it just might be his last house call for the Morgan family, if not his last house call ever.

"Go wait in the alley for the paramedics," Jason ordered Max.

"Yes sir." Max didn't waste anytime in complying with the directive. He had seen the angry display between Johnny and the boss earlier. He had no intentions of being on the receiving end of such anger.

"Oh I have my guarantee!" Jason turned back to the elderly gentleman and continued his conversation without skipping a beat. "You're my guarantee doctor!" On that cryptic note Jason turned and went back to Elizabeth's side.

Dr. Harold Johnjulio stood at a safe distance while he observed Jason Morgan. There was no denying the love the young man held for Anthony Malucci's wife. It came across in every action, every touch, and every soft 'I love you' that Dr. Johnjulio was able to hear. This was unlike any situation the good doctor had ever been witness to in his tenure as personal physician to the Morgan family. He had found himself in the middle of many turf wars between rival families but somehow this was quite different. Harold knew this was love and war. Just then the doors to the secret elevator slid open. The paramedics rolled the stretcher into the penthouse as Dr. Johnjulio motioned them toward the master bedroom. "Jason." Once more the older man's voice startled him. "The ambulance is here. We need to move her now." Jason nodded yet he never dropped her hand. It was so cold, deathly cold. He was barely able to see the rise and fall of her chest any longer. It was though he know she was slipping away right before his eyes but there wasn't a damn thing he could do to stop it. His chest tightened around his heart as he clenched his teeth to hold back a strangled cry. This can't be the end. It just can't be. The hushed voice inside his mind repeated. "Jason," Dr. Johnjulio rested his hand tentatively on the young man's shoulder. "Time is of the greatest essence." Jason leaned in and kissed Elizabeth gently on the lips praying that it wasn't for the last time.

Jason was affixed to the spot on the floor with eyes trained on Elizabeth as she was wheeled into the awaiting elevator. He spoke silent prayers for the woman he loved, for the woman forced to live a hellish existence, for a woman who deserved so much more than life had dealt her. "WHAT!?!?" Jason bellowed into his ringing phone. "What?!?!" he questioned again with much more disbelief in his tone. "I'm on my way."

Jason had finally caught a break. All of his hunting down of Anthony's elusive partner in crime had paid off. Reggie, if that was even his real name, was the answer to Jason's prayer. The prayer that Anthony Malucci would pay for his crimes not only against the Morgan family but for every ounce of pain he had caused Elizabeth.

"Judgment day!" Jason hissed as he exited the penthouse.