Hey girls! (I guess we are all girls 'cause I haven't heard otherwise, if there's any boys reading this sorry) Anyway, just wanted to give a shout out to Priscilla, hope you're doing better. Luv2rite and Chawchic, your reviews are really sweet. Thanks for your continued support. Here's the next chapter. Hope you like it...

Chapter 22: Things Change

-Jason's Garage-

She woke up late that night and the sight of her beautiful cerulean eyes was like a drop of water when he was dying of thirst. He had been so scared of losing her again that he wasn't sure if he had imagined her eyes opening and her broken voice calling his name. But it wasn't a vision, it was real. She was going to be fine soon. He knew she was, because he was going to make sure of it.

After she fell asleep again, he walked down to the makeshift waiting room his friends had made of his garage. He found Calvin sitting on the floor, his back against the wall and he wasn't surprised to find he was asleep. Jason looked at the young man and cursed himself. He shouldn't have blame Calvin for what happened to Elizabeth, but his own fears where eating at him and he needed a scapegoat. He had to apologize later.

A couple of feet away from Calvin there was a sight that a year ago could have make his stomach turn and his blood boil in his veins. But now, the sight made his lips turn up into a smile. His sister was curled up on a couch, her husband's arms wrapped tightly around her belly, a small and almost imperceptible little bulge where his niece or nephew was starting to grow. Francis was sitting on a plastic chair across from him. His head was resting on the wall and his arms were around his middle. Jason shook his head. And that was the man who was supposed to be in charge and looking out for the others.

The slow click of stiletto shoes on the cement floor made him turn around. Carly was making her way out of the back with a cup of coffee in her hands.

"Here."

Shaking his head he declined. "It's okay I can take my own."

"I was just on my way to take this to you. Black, no sugar. Just how you like it." She finished with a sad smile on her face.

"Thank you." Jason took the cup from her and took a long drink. He sat on the wooden bench and she followed suit.

"So...how is she doing?"

"Better. The fever is down and she woke up for a little while."

"That's good. Did she say anything?"

"She said my name and she said her side hurt as if she had been shot."

Carly took his hand on hers. "Well, duh! I always thought she wasn't the brightest crayon on the box."

Her attempt at a joke backfired and as soon as she saw Jason's face turn dark, she spoke. "It was a joke, Jason. I know she's out of it. But it's a good thing she was awake though."

"Her eyes where dark and she seemed so lost. She was really tired, so I asked her to go back to sleep. Before I could finish my thought she was out again."

"It's understandable darling. She's going to be sleeping a lot."

"I know. I remember when I was shot. All I seemed to do was sleep. She was always taking care of me, waking me up for my meds and to feed me gallons of soup."

Carly's heart broke at the longing look on his eyes. She remembered that time of their life too. She hated Elizabeth for being able to take care of Jason, while he pushed her away. She had being jealous of the young woman. But it wasn't just because Jason trusted Elizabeth with his life. Looking back in hindsight she could see clearly that she had seen Jason fall for the petite brunette that winter. She just could accept it back then anymore than she could three years later, when Elizabeth moved to the penthouse.

"Now it's your turn to take care of her."

Jason drank the remaining of his coffee and stood up. "I better go back upstairs." He handed the empty cup to Carly and started walking back to the stairs but turned back.

"Thank you for being here. I really appreciate it."

"You need me, Jase. I wouldn't be anywhere else."

He nodded and walked up the stairs without another glance.

-Brownstone-

It was late afternoon when Francis walked Carly to the door. They were both tired and in pain from sleeping sitting up on a wood bench all night. But they were more at ease now that Elizabeth had woken up in one piece.

She had woken up around one in the afternoon saying she was thirsty. Everybody was so ecstatic that she had woken up that they all ran upstairs and surrounded her bed with questions and sweet talk. She was sitting up by three large pillows and had about five different water bottles to choose from. Jason had broken the small gathering and had short but throw them out of his place. Max had taken Calvin, Nikolas and Emily home and Francis offered to take Carly to the Brownstone.

If someone would have told her three months ago that she was going to be so happy to hear little Ms. Muffin Face's voice, she would have laughed. There was a time in her life when if she didn't have to hear the mealy-mouth girl speak again it would've been too soon. But things changed. She knew that better than anybody.

"Hey, are you there?"

The strong and masculine voice broke her thoughts and brought her back to reality.

"Sorry. What did you say?"

"Where were you?"

"I was just thinking about how much things change. I mean I just spend over 15 hours mulling over Princess Purity, the little girl I used to hate more than anyone."

"Yeah well, believe me. I know exactly what you mean."

"You do? Why is that? What have you done out of the ordinary, Francis? I mean you've always been a good friend to Jason and Sonny. You've done your work better than any other of the guards... including listening to the babbles of a drunk mob moll."

"Don't treat yourself like that. You are not just a mob moll, Carly. You are the most honest, intelligent and caring person I've ever met."

Carly broke down in a fit of laughter that had her bending over. When she could speak she straightens and looks at Francis. "Look Francis, I think you need to go back to your house and sleep it off. If someone hears you saying that about me, they are going to mistake you with a madman and we wouldn't want you to go to Ferncliff, do we?"

"It's true. You hide inside that façade of femme fatal and world's biggest bitch, but it's just that, a mask to hide who you really are. You are the most loyal and selfless person I've met. You give your friendship and only expect to have it reciprocated. You are a fighter and you are honorable."

Carly wasn't laughing now. "I'm also reckless and impulsive and manipulative."

"I'm not saying you're not all of that. But now I know you do all those things to protect yourself and those you love."

Francis took a step closer to Carly and could see her eyes shinning with unshed tears. She was blushing and her hands where shaking. She needed to hear those things. Francis had become her best friend and she couldn't deny that he was some eye candy. But she was a married woman and couldn't feel butterflies in her stomach when he talked to here like that. And she certainly couldn't want to kiss him when he was standing so close to her.

He saw the uncertainty in her eyes and he cursed himself for opening his mouth. But he needed to take a chance. He knew Carly Corinthos for years now and he, like the rest of town thought she was a high maintenance and cold hearted bitch when she first started living with Sonny, but the past few months, he'd come to see a different side of the woman, a side that had managed to make his heart start beating again after years of paralysis.

He stepped closer. He was so close, she had to turn her head a little to look him in the eyes and what she found made her stomach turn into knots. She hadn't felt like that in years and it terrified her that her husband wasn't the one making her feel like that.

Francis turned his head down and she closed her eyes on instinct. She felt his breath as he moved closer to her lips, but the distant sound of the phone broke the moment. His hand was on her waist and her right hand was on his upper arm, when she opened her eyes she found his clear blue eyes burning down on her.

"I- I have to get that."

"Yes you do."

The phone kept ringing, but neither of them moved for a while. Carly had to take a deep breath before taking a step back. She turned and managed to open the door even with her trembling hands. Before going inside, she turned around and smiled sheepishly at the tall guard waiting in the steps.

"Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me, I wanted to..."

"I didn't mean for the ride." She interrupted.

"I know."

The phone started ringing again and she looked inside over her shoulder and then back at him.

"I..."

"...have to get that. I know. Good bye Carly." He turned and walked down the path to his car.

"Francis, wait."

"Yes."

"Can I call you later?"

His lips turned up into a half smile and he took his black sunglasses in his hand. "You can call me anytime." He put his sunglasses on and turned around.

Carly walked inside and closed the door. Leaning over the big wood door she let out a long sigh. "Oh my...I'm in huge trouble."

-Helena's office-

Elias walked in the room and vowed his head to the woman sitting behind the desk.

"What is the news?"

"I'm afraid they are bad news Madam."

"What do you mean bad news?"

"The woman we've been following was not Laura Spencer."

"Who was it then?"

"A woman name Summer Donovan."

"Well, well, well. I guess I found someone useful instead. Keep looking for Laura Spencer. Luke must think that she's under my custody. And as for Ms. Summer Donovan, take care of her. She's a liability and a loose end of my plan."

"We'll do as you wish, Madam Cassadine. Anything more?"

"In the next twenty four hours we need to take the next player."

"No problem."

-Jason's Garage-

He dropped his travel book on Argentina in his lap when he heard the sensed movement on the bed. As soon as his eyes fell on her, her eyes fluttered opened. Jason closed the book, not even bothering to mark the page he was reading. The vast Argentinean countryside forgotten he stood and walked to her bedside.

"How are you feeling?" He asked worriedly.

"Like hell." She said still in a slumber like state.

His brows furrowed at the thought of her in so much pain. She opened her eyes and caught his expression. She used her right arm to reach for his hand. "This wasn't your fault, Jason."

"I never should've left you alone."

"I should never have left alone. I knew the risks and I decided to go out anyway."

"Don't blame yourself."

"Don't blame yourself either." She winced when a sharp pain hit her left shoulder as she tried to sit up. Jason helped her sit up against the headboard, her back resting on several pillows. "Let's blame Helena instead. Just wait until I have Psycho Granny in front of me again I'm going to iron out all her wrinkles."

Jason had to smile at that. He sat down on the side of her bed and caressed her hair. "I guess you are feeling better."

"When life throws you lemons, you learn to make lemonade."

"Are you hungry?"

"Hum. Not really."

"Well I'm sorry to say that you are going to eat anyway. Doc Wilson gave me strict orders to make sure you drink plenty of fluids, so guess what?"

"Jason..."

"Oh yes, you are having the most delicious bowl of chicken noodle soup you've ever tasted."

She groaned loudly. He was about to stand up, but before leaving her side he caressed her face again. "I'm really happy you are OK. You scared me there for a while."

"Thanks for saving my life Jason."

"No problem. I owed you remember."

They looked at each other for a while, before he stood and walked to his small kitchen and heated a can of soup. Elizabeth lay in bed and watched him move around. Even though she was hurt and knew that things were getting out of their hands with Helena, she couldn't help but feel safe in his care.

-Brownstone-

Carly hang up the phone after her daily two hour conversation with her oldest son. She missed both Michael and Morgan and couldn't help but want to leave and go back to their side. But she couldn't, not now. Sonny was in town and this was her chance to fix what was broken in her marriage without her kids having to witness their endless screaming and fighting. Michael was so big now, he knew things where wrong between his parents and the least she could do was protect him.

She sat back and sighed. Just when her life couldn't get anymore complicated a rugged and handsome guard started to make his way into her life and if she wasn't careful he could find a way inside her heart too. She grabbed a cushion and hugged it to her as she pulled her legs under her. Life had a funny way of working out and things changed faster than she could deal with it.

A knock came in the door and she frowned. It was late and she wasn't expecting company, unless it was news about Jason and Elizabeth... She stood up quickly and made her way to the door. Who ever it was was still knocking persistently.

"Francis? Is that you?"

She swung the door opened and instead of the bright smile of the guard she found a dark frown.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but it's me."

"Sonny, I wasn't expecting you."

"I realize that." He took in her thin brown nightgown and looked away. "I see you're expecting company, so I'll try to make it short."

Carly frowned at his cold tone. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Sonny took a couple of steps inside and she closed the door. She walked around him until she was facing him, but he never looked her in the eyes.

She took in his rigid stance and the faraway look in his eyes. "What do you want Sonny?"

"You didn't make it home last night. I've been calling all day and you never picked up. Your lover must've kept you up all night."

Carly's eyes turned into thin slits as rage filled her body. "How dare you?"

"How dare I? I'm not the one that packed up her suitcase and left her husband and children to go looking for her ex. What happened? Jason didn't want you, so you went looking for a replacement. Are you going down the line this time? First the mob boss, then the enforcer and now a guard? Is that how it works Carly?"

"Sonny, I won't allow you to..."

His voice resounded on the otherwise empty house when he spoke next. "You won't allow me what, CARLY? You won't allow me to tell you the truth to your face?"

"I won't allow you to come into my mother's house and make unfounded accusations."

His laugh was sarcastic and hoarse. "Unfound accusations... that's funny. Because I have men following you and they saw you going into a motorcycle shop. He stayed there until three this afternoon, when you finally came out."

"You knew I was going to see Jason. Francis and I told you as much last night."

"Yes, that was the excuse you gave me to leave with your lover. Or maybe it wasn't an excuse. Maybe you where with Jason too. What? Did you convince him to join you on a ménage a trois? Couldn't put it pass you to be as greedy as to want to screw two men at the same time. Right Carly Babes."

Carly contained her tears and in one swift motion slapped Sonny so hard his head was thrown to the side.

"Who are you? And what have you done with my husband?"

A trickle of blood was oozing from his bottom lip as he looked at her in the eyes for the first time. "This is what you've done to him."

"So now is my fault that you've become a self righteous ass hole? A jerk who only utters poison when he opens his mouth? Is my fault that you've become an alcoholic and a ruthless man?"

Sonny Corinthos was nothing more than a shadow of the man he used to be and nothing mattered anymore. He extended his arms and walked closer to her. "This is what's left...and I came here to let you finish what you started."

"What I started? You are not making any sense Sonny. And you're scaring me. Let me help you. Let's try to make this right." She took a step toward him, but he retreated from her reach.

"We can't make it right. Things change. And sometimes they can never be what they used to."