A/N : Thank you for your reviews, you guys are great. I wanted to clarify a doubt Priscilla ( Liasonfan) mention in one of her reviews about the time frame. This started in November 2003 and it picked up in Summer 2004. Liz says it's been a year since they've seen each other because they hadn't seen each other since before he got married to Courtney. And if my math is correct she walked out on him around September 2002, if this is set in Summer 2004 that means almost three years, right? Oh! I don't even understand what am trying to say. Let's put it this way it's been a while since they've been in each others presence. Hope I didn't give you a headache... it's late and am sleepy. So if you have any other doubts I'll try to explain them later on. Enjoy the chapter. Read and review and I'll post soon.

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~ Room 2~

" You're different. " What in hell overtook him to say that out loud? It just rolled off his mouth. "Am sorry. I didn't mean to... " He didn't know what to say so he shut up.

" It's ok. I am different. It's just that so many things have happened. It's been a while since I've been around, since we've talked. You've changed too. " She saw the coldness coming back, the pain drowning his eyes, the sorrow filling his body. Damn, she had to say that. Now he was back there, wherever there was. Lost inside himself. " You don't have to pretend with me either. I know something is wrong with you, if you don't want to tell me what, you don't have to. But I just wanted you to know that I know and am not going to give up on you. "

" Yeah, well life happens and that has nothing to do with you. " He finished his coffee and put the cup on the table. " I guess I should get going. I was just waiting for you to wake up. " He walked to the door, but she stopped him. " Oh, no you won't. " She grabbed his elbow. " You're staying. Am not done with you. Not by a long shot."

" What? " He was confused.

" It's just that I can't let you walk away, when I know you're not ok. "

" Elizabeth, am a big boy you don't have to worry about me. I can take care of myself. "

" It doesn't look like it. " She was getting anxious now. They looked at each other and she just kept going. " Look at you. Your pale, you've lost weight and I found you drunk down stairs. And don't make me start on the hair. When was the last time you shaved or got a hair cut? This image doesn't really suits you. " They both knew she was rambling, but what else could she do to keep him there?

He moved his hands over his face and then looked at her. " Elizabeth, I don't want to talk about it. "

" Ok, we don't have to talk. We can just stay here and do something else. " She looked around trying to find something but failed in her attempt. He looked at her and could feel her desperation.

" I'll stay. " She looked back in surprise. " I'll stay for a while. "

She smiled genuinely at him. " Thanks. "

~ * ~ * ~ Two hours later ~* ~ * ~

Elizabeth took a shower and changed in a pair of blue jeans and a black tank top. Her hair was made in soft curls and fell down her back. Her black combat boots were near the bed, she sat in the side and started to put on her socks. Jason was looking out the window when he heard her coming out the bathroom. He stared at her for a while before speaking.

" I like your hair. " His voice came in a murmur.

" Thank you. Am still trying to deal with it. I hadn't kept it this long in a while. "

" I know. "

" So, do you have plans for dinner today? " She kept working on tying up her boots. " Why? Are you asking me to have dinner with you? "

" Are you accepting? " She countered.

" I don't think that's a good idea. "

" Look, I decide what's good for me. I have to go do something, but I may be able to come back here tonight. What do you say? " She stood up and walked to where her jacket was. Then she realized she had left her gun laying there. She put on her jacket and turned to look at him. He looked at her and she could tell he had seen it. She realized she hadn't said anything relevant as for why she was back and staying at Jake's instead of her studio or at her Gram's house.

" I haven't exactly been forthcoming about why am here or where I was during the past months. " She started nervously.

" You don't have to give me any explanations. I haven't ask, and am not going to. " He just stood there.

" I- I want to tell you. ' Cause I want you to trust me again, as I trust you. " She waited for him to say something, but he didn't. He moved to the armchair and sat silently waiting for her to continue. She walked to the bed and sat in the side proximate to him. " I left with Lucky. One day he came to Kelly's and told me Luke had found that Laura... "

When she was finished she waited again for him to say something. But he didn't. " So, that's it. Lucky is in a motel outside of town waiting for me to call him with something on this Susan Donovan. Aren't you going to say something? Like, how dangerous it is and how I shouldn't get mixed up with Lucky's troubles? "

" Would you stop what you're doing if I tell you to? "

" No. "

" It's not my place to tell you what you can or can't do. " " Hallelujah! Do you know how long I've waited to hear you say that? Better late than never, I guess. I should get going. " She stood up and he followed suit. She went to the bureau and retrieved her gun from where she had left it. She put the gun in the small of her back and grabbed her small backpack. She opened the door and felt him standing behind her.

"You can stay here if you like, you don't have to leave. "

" Am coming with you. "

" What? Why? "

" Because it's too dangerous and I'm not going to let you wonder over Courtland St. alone. "

" But you said... "

" I know what I said. That doesn't mean am going to let you go play spy alone. Let's go. " She let out an exasperated sigh as they walked out.

~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~

They walked together for hours. At first Elizabeth tried to talked to people in the street, but that wasn't working. Jason was keeping out of it until a drug dealer tried to get fresh with Liz. Then he decided to take her to a bar in a dark ally. It was much smaller than Jake's and a lot scarier. Not even the places she'd been in with Lucky when they went to Mexico compared. Really scary men were sitting in the bar and two couples were making out in the corners. Jason and Elizabeth went directly to the bartender. A short, bald, overweight man looked at them and stood right in front of Jason.

" Morgan? "

" Wally. "

" Whose the little honey? A special friend? Is about time, after... " He was looking at Elizabeth. Jason stopped him before he went on.

" We need information. " Elizabeth watched the exchange in silence, but wonder what was this man going to say before Jason interrupted him. After they walked out of Jake's Jason had put on his 'Borg' face and was in enforcer mode. They hadn't talked for over an hour. Just then she heard him go on. " We are looking for a Susan Donovan. We heard she moved to Courtland St not long ago. "

" Never heard of her. "

Jason took a fifty dollar bill out of his wallet and waved it in front of the man. " Are you sure? "

Wally took the bill and talked again. " I've never heard that name. " He was called to one of the tables so he went over to one of the patrons and served a drink. He came back and looked over to Liz and then to Jason. " I do know that a blond woman has been wondering around. Nobody knows her name, where she came from or why. She just walked around like a ghost. "

" Walked? " Liz interrupted.

" Yeah. A couple of days ago she was taken by two men. "

" What do you mean taken? Elizabeth couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had lost the only clue they had on Luke and Laura.

" I don't know. One of my girls was walking over when she heard screams. She says that two men grabbed the woman and drove away in a black van. "

" I can't believe it. Just my luck! " Elizabeth murmured.

" What was that honey? "

" Am not your honey. " She spat out without really meaning to.

" Anything else? Did she saw a license plate? "

" She's not a detective. She's just a prostitute. Do you think she walks around writing down license plates whenever she sees a hit? " Jason looked at the guy with his icy blue eyes and they man immediately straighten out his answer. " She didn't saw anything more. She said the men were dressed in black suits and that they were hot. "

" That's not enough to track them down. " Jason talked to Elizabeth for the first time.

" I know. "

" Assuming it was her. "

" Let's go back. I need to call Lucky. " They turned around and walked out the place.

~ Jake's~

They came inside and found the place full of costumers. It was late and Elizabeth was hungry and mad. Jason was trying to figure out a way to help her, but didn't really had clue of where he could start. Elizabeth stopped and looked at Jason.

" What about that dinner?

" I'm not that ... " She looked at him as if saying 'don't start ' and he changed his answer. " We can have take out. "

" Ok. What about pizza? " She said with a big smile on her face.

" Pizza it is. "

~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~

Two hours later they were sitting in the floor of the room enjoying their last bite of pizza and their beers.

" I talked to Lucky and he is coming tomorrow. We'll go check out the address to see if we find something that indicates the identity of this woman. "

" You guys have to be careful. Who ever took this woman might still be lurking around. "

" I know. That's why I was thinking you could come with us. You have more experience in this kind of things and we need all the help we could get. "

" I don't know. Lucky might not like me been around. "

" I already talked to him. He's not your biggest fan but, he knows I trust you. "

" Do you really? I mean this is the second time you talk about trust, but if I remember correctly that was the reason for you walking out. You didn't trust me. "

" I- I ... It's been a really long time. I've always wanted to trust you. But it was really difficult after you broke my confidence and heart with a lie. A huge lie. " She sighed heavily. " Now it's not the best time to do this. Just know that I trust you now. "

They were looking into each others eyes and Jason could see the truth in her azure orbs. She trusted him. Why couldn't he do the same? Why couldn't he just tell her everything he was feeling? He needed a friend, someone to console him, a shoulder to cry on. But he couldn't do that to her. Not after all the pain he had cost her. Not after breaking her heart and her confidence.

They were quiet for awhile. The noise downstairs was calming down. It was late.

" Do you want to go downstairs? " She asked him out of the blue.

" What? " He had been deep in his thoughts.

" I was thinking maybe we could go play some pool. "

" Aren't you tire? You slept in the armchair, and we walked a lot this afternoon. "

" Am game if you are. "

" Ok. Let's go. "

They both stood up and picked the empty beer bottles and the napkins. Before walking out she stopped him.

" I have a request. "

" What's that? "

" We are betting something. "

" And what might that be? "

" If I win you get a hair cut and shave that ugly beard. "

He let out a laugh. A real one, spontaneous and refreshing. " Ok. You are on. But what do I get if I win? "

" We can talk about that later. But I'm sure am gonna win. I had the best teacher. " They walked out of the room and downstairs. And for a minute things went back to what they used to be.

* * * I forgot to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! * * *