Chapter 15: Safety
~ Safe House~
Emily and Nikolas walked in and stared at the place. It was a beautiful cabin. Emily dropped her bag on the couch and walked to the kitchen. Nikolas stood back and took in the place. The living room had only a couch, a small coffee table and a recliner. A counter top divided the living room and the kitchen. A small wood table and three chairs were sitting by a corner and a small radio was sitting on top of the refrigerator. Nikolas let out a sigh that didn't go unnoticed by Emily, who was watching him over the corner of her eyes.
Francis stood in the porch trying to reach Jason.
~ Docks~
Elizabeth had her head buried in Jason's neck. Her breathing still caught on her throat. Jason's hands were moving up on down her back on a soothing motion. She knew this couldn't be right, but no matter how much her head was screaming for her to step back, away from him, her body didn't seem to respond to the command. It felt so good being on his arms again.
He had forgotten how good it felt to have her body mold to his like this. He knew this couldn't be right. His head was warning him, reminding him of the pain he had endure, most of it was caused by her, the woman he was holding firmly on his arms. But he ignored everything, he couldn't help but feel her heart beating over his chest, her warm breath warming his skin, they fit so perfectly together. Now he knew. The thoughts that kept sneaking up on him weren't simple remembrance of what could've been, but acknowledgment of what he never knew he needed.
The cell phone started ringing. Neither broke the contact immediately, after a couple of rings Elizabeth stepped back.
"You better get that." She turned her back to him and started to wipe away her tears.
Jason answered the phone. "Morgan. Are they ok? Yes. Tell them I found her. Max will take us there later. Yes. Thanks again, Francis."
"That was Francis. I asked him to take Nikolas and Emily to a safe house."
"Do you think they are in such great danger?" She turned to him fear shining trough her dark blue eyes.
"I'm not sure. But you might need to stay away for a while."
"You have to take care of them. I'm going to Boston. I have to find Luke and Lucky."
"You are not going anywhere."
"Excuse me?" Elizabeth expression goes from fear to irritation in a second.
~ Safe house~
Francis walked back inside of the cabin.
"I just got of the phone with Jason."
"Did he found her?" Emily walked right next to Nikolas.
"Yes. He said he'll bring her by, later."
"Later? Why?"
"Come on Nikolas. You know they have a lot to talk about. Elizabeth has been acting weird, she needs someone to talk to."
"But why Jason?"
"Because she loves him." The married couple looked back to the guard in question. "I said it out loud didn't I?"
Emily nodded and Nikolas just looked like a skunk had come trough the door.
"I'm gonna go water the plants or something." Francis tried to walk away but Emily almost ran and stepped in front of the door.
"No you don't. I think we have a couple of things to talk about."
"God help me."
~ Docks~
"What do you mean am not going? You don't get to decide what I do or don't do."
"I'm not trying to tell you what to do."
"Well it sure sounded like it." Her sadness forgotten and rage taking its place.
"Elizabeth this is not the time to go running around. Helena has men following you. What do you think, they'll let you get out of town without trying to do something?"
"You mean kill me?"
"At least try."
"You want to know something. I've been shot at more times that I care to remember. Hell, I can't remember how many times I had to yelled 'Duck!'. And you know what? I am still alive because Lucky, Luke and Nikolas have been able to get me out before anything happened. I'm not going to stand around and watch as Helena makes a move to hurt the people I love." Her voice cracks. "I-I can't."
"Its ok Elizabeth."
"No is not ok. Em is pregnant. And Nikolas went to New Orleans, because he was worried about me. If it wasn't for me Helena wouldn't have found out about him. And now Luke and Lucky are missing and I can't do this alone. Jason, I can't. This is my fault. I just wanted to help and..." She broke down and started to cry again.
"Come here." He held her in his arms again. "This is not you're fault Elizabeth. And you're not alone anymore. I'm here now."
~ Safe house~
Emily had sat down on the couch with Francis and Nikolas had taken a sit on the recliner.
"So, Francis. I guess you have some insight on my best friend that I don't."
"This is gonna be interesting." Nikolas muttered from his place.
"Look Miss..." Nikolas cleared his troat. "Sorry old habit. Mrs. Cassadine, I don't know anything."
"You seemed really opinionated a minute ago."
"Another old habit. I seemed to have developed this sickness overnight."
Emily's forehead wrinkled in confusion. "Sickness?"
"Yeah. I seemed to have became a blabbermouth."
Emily was smiling now. "That's not such a bad thing."
"Oh, but it is. When you work as a guard you have to keep to yourself. Sometimes be invisible and others a wall. Walls are not suppose to talk."
"But you do. And you say really interesting things."
"If Jason ever heard me saying this, he might forget he's not an enforcer anymore and use the 35 to finish me up." Nikolas and Emily were looking at him again. "See what I mean. God, what's wrong with me? I need to get a life." He put his hands over his face and his elbows were on his knees.
Emily let out a laugh at Francis solemn expression as he sat back up.
~ Docks~
As she made her way back she knew this was a longshot. What were the odds of her been in the same place an hour later? But she had to find her. She had to tell her everything. Why did she walked away? She just had to turn around and tell her. But the fact that Elizabeth didn't know just froze her. How come she didn't know? Even if she was out of town the news of Courtney Morgan's death had made every newspaper and newscast of the country. Hell, she had to be keeping in touch with someone. Emily, Nikolas, Audrey... but still she didn't know. Will this piece of info make a difference? A difference on what? Oh man. She definitely needed a drink, maybe a beer. Things were starting to become a huge knot.
She heard the hush voice and stopped on her tracks and looked up. After blinking a couple of times she resumed her breathing. It was Jason holding a very distressed Elizabeth. He was murmuring something in her ear. Carly couldn't help but stared at the couple in front of her. They seemed to mold each other perfectly. The petit woman fit beautifully under Jason's chin. He seemed so comfortable with his arms around her.
Jason stroke her curls. "Everything is going to be ok."
Just then Elizabeth's head lifted from it's place and she moved a step back. "I'm sorry."
"Elizabeth."
"Yeah, I know. I don't have to be sorry."
"Right." He brought his hand up and tuck one unruly curl behind her ear. She leaned her head to his hand and closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the feeling of his hands in her face. "Let's go. They are waiting for us."
"Ok."
He bent down and picked up her bag. Then he turned and held his hand out to her. She looked at him and then at his stretched out hand. For a moment she was transported years back.
Carly was watching intently, feeling like she was intruding even if neither of them had noticed her. Then she saw as Elizabeth's lips upturned and she reached for Jason's hand. Soon she saw the two of them disappear. Perfect fit. Two of a kind. Realization. Oh hell! Forget the beer, this called for tequila. She needed Jose Cuervo, to help her figure this one out.
~ Jake's~
A few hours later Carly was sitting on a small table in the corner, her head resting on the wall. After she saw Jason leave with Elizabeth she headed straight to the bar. She had walked in with a thousand questions running around her head, but now she didn't have one. How could she? The jackhammer installed in her brain wouldn't allow a single thought to form coherently.
Francis walked to the table with a large mug full of coffee and laid it down in front of the woman. The blond sat straight, bloodshot eyes darting a dirty look towards the guard as she took the cup and tried to sip the black liquid.
"Urrg! This taste awful. What's in this?"
" Strong black coffee, no sugar. I'm sure you wouldn't handle the 'Elixir'."
"Elixir? I'm not in the mood to ask."
"Are you in the mood to answer?"
"No."
"Ok. You better drink up. I'm going to take you to the Brownstone."
After a minute she looked back at him. "She doesn't know about Courtney."
If he was surprised by her statement he didn't showed it. "She left before it happened."
"Is someone going to tell her?"
"I thought you weren't in the mood to ask?"
"Now I am. Humor me."
"I'm not. You?"
"I was going to and found her in Jason's arms."
"Ergo, the date with Jose."
"Jose who?"
"Cuervo."
She dropped her head and drank the last of the coffee. "There's something going on, isn't it?"
"Like what?"
"Like, something really big." She said dropping the mug in front of her.
"Yeah I guess it is."
"You're not gonna tell me are you?"
"Nope."
"I'm proud of you, Franny. You're well on your way towards recovery."
"Thanks Mrs. C. Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah. The walls are starting to come into focus again."
~ Boston~
Somewhere in a dark ally, Luke opened his eyes. He didn't remember where he was or what he was doing laying on the street. The last thing he could remember was covering for Nikolas and Elizabeth on the airport. He blinked again. Lucky. He turned on his side and found his son a couple of feet away. He was laying on his stomach. Before trying to stand up, Luke felt his legs and torso for bullet wounds. He didn't found any. He tried to get up. The first attempt was futile, but the second came easier. He stood up and walked toward his son. He shook him but there wasn't a response. Luke turned him on his back and felt for a pulse. His breathing was weak. There was something wrong with Lucky. He needed to find a doctor soon.
~ *~ *~ *~
Luke was mumbling while he carried his son down the ally. "You've gotten heavy Cowboy. Princess must've been feeding you good. Nikolas and Liz must be worried about us. After we get you to a doctor we have to call them. You know, let them know we are fine. 'Cause we are, aren't we? We'll find a doctor, and get something to eat and be on our way. You just hang on a bit."
Someone was lurking on the shadows watching closely as the older man picked his soon from the floor and tried to make his way out of the ally. Luke stumbled a bit until he was out on the street, and after a moment started to talk to the young man. The person moved from his position and went after them.
~ Safe House~
Emily and Nikolas walked in and stared at the place. It was a beautiful cabin. Emily dropped her bag on the couch and walked to the kitchen. Nikolas stood back and took in the place. The living room had only a couch, a small coffee table and a recliner. A counter top divided the living room and the kitchen. A small wood table and three chairs were sitting by a corner and a small radio was sitting on top of the refrigerator. Nikolas let out a sigh that didn't go unnoticed by Emily, who was watching him over the corner of her eyes.
Francis stood in the porch trying to reach Jason.
~ Docks~
Elizabeth had her head buried in Jason's neck. Her breathing still caught on her throat. Jason's hands were moving up on down her back on a soothing motion. She knew this couldn't be right, but no matter how much her head was screaming for her to step back, away from him, her body didn't seem to respond to the command. It felt so good being on his arms again.
He had forgotten how good it felt to have her body mold to his like this. He knew this couldn't be right. His head was warning him, reminding him of the pain he had endure, most of it was caused by her, the woman he was holding firmly on his arms. But he ignored everything, he couldn't help but feel her heart beating over his chest, her warm breath warming his skin, they fit so perfectly together. Now he knew. The thoughts that kept sneaking up on him weren't simple remembrance of what could've been, but acknowledgment of what he never knew he needed.
The cell phone started ringing. Neither broke the contact immediately, after a couple of rings Elizabeth stepped back.
"You better get that." She turned her back to him and started to wipe away her tears.
Jason answered the phone. "Morgan. Are they ok? Yes. Tell them I found her. Max will take us there later. Yes. Thanks again, Francis."
"That was Francis. I asked him to take Nikolas and Emily to a safe house."
"Do you think they are in such great danger?" She turned to him fear shining trough her dark blue eyes.
"I'm not sure. But you might need to stay away for a while."
"You have to take care of them. I'm going to Boston. I have to find Luke and Lucky."
"You are not going anywhere."
"Excuse me?" Elizabeth expression goes from fear to irritation in a second.
~ Safe house~
Francis walked back inside of the cabin.
"I just got of the phone with Jason."
"Did he found her?" Emily walked right next to Nikolas.
"Yes. He said he'll bring her by, later."
"Later? Why?"
"Come on Nikolas. You know they have a lot to talk about. Elizabeth has been acting weird, she needs someone to talk to."
"But why Jason?"
"Because she loves him." The married couple looked back to the guard in question. "I said it out loud didn't I?"
Emily nodded and Nikolas just looked like a skunk had come trough the door.
"I'm gonna go water the plants or something." Francis tried to walk away but Emily almost ran and stepped in front of the door.
"No you don't. I think we have a couple of things to talk about."
"God help me."
~ Docks~
"What do you mean am not going? You don't get to decide what I do or don't do."
"I'm not trying to tell you what to do."
"Well it sure sounded like it." Her sadness forgotten and rage taking its place.
"Elizabeth this is not the time to go running around. Helena has men following you. What do you think, they'll let you get out of town without trying to do something?"
"You mean kill me?"
"At least try."
"You want to know something. I've been shot at more times that I care to remember. Hell, I can't remember how many times I had to yelled 'Duck!'. And you know what? I am still alive because Lucky, Luke and Nikolas have been able to get me out before anything happened. I'm not going to stand around and watch as Helena makes a move to hurt the people I love." Her voice cracks. "I-I can't."
"Its ok Elizabeth."
"No is not ok. Em is pregnant. And Nikolas went to New Orleans, because he was worried about me. If it wasn't for me Helena wouldn't have found out about him. And now Luke and Lucky are missing and I can't do this alone. Jason, I can't. This is my fault. I just wanted to help and..." She broke down and started to cry again.
"Come here." He held her in his arms again. "This is not you're fault Elizabeth. And you're not alone anymore. I'm here now."
~ Safe house~
Emily had sat down on the couch with Francis and Nikolas had taken a sit on the recliner.
"So, Francis. I guess you have some insight on my best friend that I don't."
"This is gonna be interesting." Nikolas muttered from his place.
"Look Miss..." Nikolas cleared his troat. "Sorry old habit. Mrs. Cassadine, I don't know anything."
"You seemed really opinionated a minute ago."
"Another old habit. I seemed to have developed this sickness overnight."
Emily's forehead wrinkled in confusion. "Sickness?"
"Yeah. I seemed to have became a blabbermouth."
Emily was smiling now. "That's not such a bad thing."
"Oh, but it is. When you work as a guard you have to keep to yourself. Sometimes be invisible and others a wall. Walls are not suppose to talk."
"But you do. And you say really interesting things."
"If Jason ever heard me saying this, he might forget he's not an enforcer anymore and use the 35 to finish me up." Nikolas and Emily were looking at him again. "See what I mean. God, what's wrong with me? I need to get a life." He put his hands over his face and his elbows were on his knees.
Emily let out a laugh at Francis solemn expression as he sat back up.
~ Docks~
As she made her way back she knew this was a longshot. What were the odds of her been in the same place an hour later? But she had to find her. She had to tell her everything. Why did she walked away? She just had to turn around and tell her. But the fact that Elizabeth didn't know just froze her. How come she didn't know? Even if she was out of town the news of Courtney Morgan's death had made every newspaper and newscast of the country. Hell, she had to be keeping in touch with someone. Emily, Nikolas, Audrey... but still she didn't know. Will this piece of info make a difference? A difference on what? Oh man. She definitely needed a drink, maybe a beer. Things were starting to become a huge knot.
She heard the hush voice and stopped on her tracks and looked up. After blinking a couple of times she resumed her breathing. It was Jason holding a very distressed Elizabeth. He was murmuring something in her ear. Carly couldn't help but stared at the couple in front of her. They seemed to mold each other perfectly. The petit woman fit beautifully under Jason's chin. He seemed so comfortable with his arms around her.
Jason stroke her curls. "Everything is going to be ok."
Just then Elizabeth's head lifted from it's place and she moved a step back. "I'm sorry."
"Elizabeth."
"Yeah, I know. I don't have to be sorry."
"Right." He brought his hand up and tuck one unruly curl behind her ear. She leaned her head to his hand and closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the feeling of his hands in her face. "Let's go. They are waiting for us."
"Ok."
He bent down and picked up her bag. Then he turned and held his hand out to her. She looked at him and then at his stretched out hand. For a moment she was transported years back.
Carly was watching intently, feeling like she was intruding even if neither of them had noticed her. Then she saw as Elizabeth's lips upturned and she reached for Jason's hand. Soon she saw the two of them disappear. Perfect fit. Two of a kind. Realization. Oh hell! Forget the beer, this called for tequila. She needed Jose Cuervo, to help her figure this one out.
~ Jake's~
A few hours later Carly was sitting on a small table in the corner, her head resting on the wall. After she saw Jason leave with Elizabeth she headed straight to the bar. She had walked in with a thousand questions running around her head, but now she didn't have one. How could she? The jackhammer installed in her brain wouldn't allow a single thought to form coherently.
Francis walked to the table with a large mug full of coffee and laid it down in front of the woman. The blond sat straight, bloodshot eyes darting a dirty look towards the guard as she took the cup and tried to sip the black liquid.
"Urrg! This taste awful. What's in this?"
" Strong black coffee, no sugar. I'm sure you wouldn't handle the 'Elixir'."
"Elixir? I'm not in the mood to ask."
"Are you in the mood to answer?"
"No."
"Ok. You better drink up. I'm going to take you to the Brownstone."
After a minute she looked back at him. "She doesn't know about Courtney."
If he was surprised by her statement he didn't showed it. "She left before it happened."
"Is someone going to tell her?"
"I thought you weren't in the mood to ask?"
"Now I am. Humor me."
"I'm not. You?"
"I was going to and found her in Jason's arms."
"Ergo, the date with Jose."
"Jose who?"
"Cuervo."
She dropped her head and drank the last of the coffee. "There's something going on, isn't it?"
"Like what?"
"Like, something really big." She said dropping the mug in front of her.
"Yeah I guess it is."
"You're not gonna tell me are you?"
"Nope."
"I'm proud of you, Franny. You're well on your way towards recovery."
"Thanks Mrs. C. Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah. The walls are starting to come into focus again."
~ Boston~
Somewhere in a dark ally, Luke opened his eyes. He didn't remember where he was or what he was doing laying on the street. The last thing he could remember was covering for Nikolas and Elizabeth on the airport. He blinked again. Lucky. He turned on his side and found his son a couple of feet away. He was laying on his stomach. Before trying to stand up, Luke felt his legs and torso for bullet wounds. He didn't found any. He tried to get up. The first attempt was futile, but the second came easier. He stood up and walked toward his son. He shook him but there wasn't a response. Luke turned him on his back and felt for a pulse. His breathing was weak. There was something wrong with Lucky. He needed to find a doctor soon.
~ *~ *~ *~
Luke was mumbling while he carried his son down the ally. "You've gotten heavy Cowboy. Princess must've been feeding you good. Nikolas and Liz must be worried about us. After we get you to a doctor we have to call them. You know, let them know we are fine. 'Cause we are, aren't we? We'll find a doctor, and get something to eat and be on our way. You just hang on a bit."
Someone was lurking on the shadows watching closely as the older man picked his soon from the floor and tried to make his way out of the ally. Luke stumbled a bit until he was out on the street, and after a moment started to talk to the young man. The person moved from his position and went after them.