Show: General Hospital

Title: Las Vidas de los Corinthos' II: Chapter 19

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

A/N: I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter, especially Francis's reaction. Now it's time for the

fallout...

*~*~*~*~*~*

With flushed cheeks and averted eyes, Elizabeth blatantly avoided Francis's eyes as she stepped

out of her apartment alone an hour after Jason had left for Port Charles. Her obvious ignorance

afforded the missed opportunity of her long time guard's knowing look as he put two and two

together as to whom she'd been in such a hurry to meet the day before. Inwardly Francis smiled,

he could've sworn he'd seen a little skip in Jason's step as the Corinthos Enforcer made his way

downstairs to his car.

Francis watched his charge's demeanor - she seemed happy, more relaxed and, after all the

pain she'd endured over the past few months, Lord knows she deserved a little happiness.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Elizabeth didn't know quite what to expect when she stepped back into the real world. With

Francis, she'd been a little embarrassed, because she knew that her guard would eventually be

able to ascertain where she'd been the day before and *whom* she'd been with.

As well as her guard could keep confidence, she knew it would only be a matter of time before

the other guards learnt of Jason's breakup with Courtney and, as mouths tend to do in the

comfortable presence of others, they would start to flap. and eventually reach her parent's ears.

*That* was a situation that she didn't want to think about.

Now, she was going to see Daniel. A situation in which she needed to maintain a calm and

rational outlook. But she couldn't seem to hold on to that rationality - she could only hold the

image of the pain swirling in his dark eyes as his mind processed what she tried to tell him. She

didn't think that she was ready to face, but she needed to. She had plans to make - plans that

needed to be put into motion as soon as possible.

During the car ride to his offices downtown, Liz went over in her head all the things she wanted to

say to him. But the moment his secretary allowed her inside and she took one look into his great

dark eyes, she found herself instantly tongue-tied.

Daniel watched her entire his office, hesitating on the threshold as if she was entering the lair of

some dangerous animal. He tried to feel some anger for her as a person even as he tried to

maintain his detached professionalism towards her as an artist. But it all failed. It all failed as he

took in her silky sky-blue tank top that caused her almond-shaped cobalt orbs to pop out and the

slinky chiffon skirt that flirted with the tops of her knees. She was so small and delicate -

everything her art was not - and he cursed himself for finding her so beautiful after she'd

practically dropped him like a hot potato.

Elizabeth quietly closed the door behind her, her hand still grasping the brass knob as she

surveyed Daniel lounging in his comfortable black chair behind his art-nouveau steel and glass

desk, a silver pen twirling from his slender fingers. Liz took a deep breath and started towards

him, her flip-flops barely making noise as she crossed the black and white tiled floor.

She looked fragile and gazed at him in trepidation. He couldn't stand to see her nervous so, he

took pity on her. "Are you expecting me to turn into some kind of monster?" he asked softly,

raising the pen to his lips.

Liz stopped short. "Would you?" she answered in reply.

For long moments Daniel said nothing. Finally he said, "No. I'm a professional."

Elizabeth grit her teeth but held her tongue and nodded. "Of course."

A ray of sunlight raced through the wall of glass to his back, striking the floor to her left, causing a

backdrop of light against her side, highlighting the fine strands of auburn in her hair and turning

her pale skin golden. He tried not to think about how smooth her skin felt beneath his fingertips,

how she tasted sweet like vanilla, how it was as soft as a dew laden rose petal. He focused on

the matter at hand.

"Are you gonna stand all day?" he asked, indicating the seat before him. Elizabeth shook her

head. She'd been in his office countless times before in the past few weeks and he'd never

offered her that seat. She'd instead been escorted to the comfortable couches that lay

haphazardly in one corner of his office with his blood red walls filled with the amazing works of

the artists he represented. Trying to make herself feel more comfortable, she crossed to the

couches and sat down.

"Is this the way it's gonna be?" she asked.

He could hear the apology in her voice and maybe that hurt worst of all. He through down the pen

but tried to maintain his dignity and not allow his ego to make him do or say something stupid or

insulting - he didn't have any wish to hurt her and besides, Elizabeth could give as well as she

got. "What way would that be, Elizabeth?"

"This... coldness," she said in description for lack of a better word.

"I think I'm entitled to a little coldness, don't you think?" he shot back.

Liz swallowed the quickfire retort that rose to her lips. She knew he was right. "I'm sorry," she

apologised.

"You've said that already, but I don't need your apologies."

"What then?"

"Tell me why you're here then leave me in peace."

That statement caught her off guard. "I'm thinking of moving back home, to Port Charles," she

admitted.

Daniel processed the statement with dread. "Of course," he replied, standing to stare out at

downtown New York City bustling below him.

"Is that going to be a problem?"

Seriously, he contemplated the question. As a man, he knew one deciding factor of her desire to

return home was Jason Morgan and the realization made him jealous. On the other hand, the

return home might be an amazing inspiration and, as her promoter, he was supposed to be

interested in her art above all else. He couldn't say no because of geography - Port Charles was

in the same state, about three hundred miles and four hours away by car and an hour away by

plane. The only thing that would make sense for him agreeing there was a problem was his

jealousy and, in order to see she was more than just The Next Best Thing but The Best Thing, he

needed to be fair. "No, it won't be a problem."

"Good." Liz just wanted to get of there fast. She didn't think she could stand this much longer.

"I broke all the rules with you," he suddenly spoke up.

Liz was taken aback. She really didn't need a reminder of all the rules they'd both broken in the

almost two weeks they'd been sleeping with each other.

"I was infatuated with you. From the first time I laid eyes on you at the Gallery. You fascinated me

and you fascinated me even more as I got to know you. I don't know why, but I let you get under

my skin - I never do that. It's not my business to really care about you as a person; all I'm

supposed to care about is your art. But it's never been like that with you -"

"Stop," she whispered.

He did.

There was so much that she wanted to say, so much that probably was in her eyes, but somehow

she couldn't find the courage to speak them.

"When do you leave for Port Charles?"

"Tonight."

Daniel nodded and turned away from her. "I expect weekly updates from you. Mr. Johansen

wants two new ones to start of his collection." Those words were her cold dismissal.

She couldn't even feel the jubilation of learning that not one but two of her works were being sold

to a most generous client. All she was filled with was a feeling of despair and the distinct feeling

that she had just lost a friend.

**She didn't even say goodbye** he thought as he heard the click of the door closing shut behind

her. Daniel took a deep soul cleansing breath and turned back to his desk. He could still smell the

crisp fresh scent of her perfume in the air; hear the remnants of her voice. He knew he would still

have to see her, but she had wormed her way into his heart in such a short space of time that he

knew his heart, which had seen so little love or affection in his short lifetime, would break at the

mere thought of seeing her but not being able to *see* her.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Jason Morgan was nervous.

That just didn't happen.

The unflappable bodyguard couldn't shake the feeling that all the guards knew what he'd been up

to yesterday - shaking up with his partner's daughter. *after* dumping said partner's little sister

of course.

He pushed open the door to Sonny's office expecting an immediate explosion of Latin temper, but

instead found Alexis, clad in a black pinstriped suit, perched on the end of the desk with a sheaf

of papers in hand and the glasses perched on the tip of her nose.

She looked up at the sound of the intrusion and Jason actually held his breath, wondering

childishly if Alexis had some kind of radar (mother's intuition or something of the like) where her

daughter was concerned. But all she did was smile.

"Sonny was looking for you," she informed him.

"Really?" he asked, stepping into the office and closing the door behind him.

"Yeah. Where were you? He was trying to get you all day yesterday. If he wasn't so used to your

disappearing acts he would've been a little worried."

"I was chasing a lead," he said.

Alexis looked of him with interest. "About the murders?"

"Yes," he lied. **More like chasing the imaginary line from your daughter's stomach to her -**

"Find anything?" Alexis asked, interrupting his thoughts.

"No."

Alexis sighed. "I wish we knew who was doing this. These were innocent men. well as innocent

as men could be, working for Sonny. They didn't deserve to die like that." She sighed and took off

her glasses, rubbing the fatigue from his eyes. "You know, he tries to act like it doesn't bother him

where it really counts. But I *know* it does."

Jason knew it too. "Where is he now?" he inquired of his bestfriend's fianc‚e.

"On the docks... walking... staring."

Jason nodded and turned to find his friend.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Sonny heard someone approaching, but since Johnny hadn't made any moves, he knew the

approaching person wasn't hostile and he turned to see Jason heading towards him. "Hey," he

called with a smile as the blue-eyed dirty-blonde made his way over to him.

"Hey," Jason replied.

"Where've been?"

"Searchin'."

"Find anything?"

"No."

Sonny nodded in frustration. "Alexis is breathing down the PCPD's neck but Taggert's being

uncharacteristically silent."

"He doesn't have any clues either," supplied his friend.

"Probably not," frowned Sonny, "and that ain't good. I can't afford another war, Jason. I want this

thing nipped in the bud. I don't wanna get some call in the middle of the night or interrupting my

dinner telling me another one of my employees - one with no stake in the 'business' - has been

murdered."

Jason could hear the conviction in his friend's voice. "I'm on it, Sonny."

Sonny sighed and clapped his friend on the shoulder. "I know you are."

The look in his dark brown eyes brought Jason to the realization that, if he found whoever was

responsible for these killings, he wouldn't only be bringing justice to those who had been taken

and their families, but he would save his friend from the demons that lurked in his soul and

threatened to destroy it all.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Night fell on Port Charles quickly and Jason was in a bit of a dilemma - he had no place to stay.

Going back to the Loft was out of the question obviously, but heading back to Harborview and his

old penthouse apartment was also out of the question, unless he wanted to answer countless

questions as to why he needed to stay there in the first place, of course. The only solution was to

spend the night at Jakes or even in a swanky room at the Port Charles Hotel.

Just as he set foot in the direction of the docks to kill two (well, three) birds with one stone, he felt

the vibration of his ringing cellphone from his pocket. "Morgan," he replied in the cold detached

voice he reserved for when he was working.

"Hey."

Elizabeth's soft voice washed over his senses and he couldn't help but feel a smile tugging at the

corners of his mouth. "Hey yourself. Where are you?" he asked softly.

"Actually, I'm behind you," replied Elizabeth with a giggle.

Jason whirled around to see Liz poking her head around the corner, her grin lighting up her eyes.

He snapped the phone closed as she did the same and made her way towards him.

It had been little under twelve hours since he'd last seen her, laying naked between the sheets of

her bed as her greedy eyes watched him get dressed, but he was starved for the scent and feel

and taste of her. He could see the trusty form of Francis waiting politely to the side fifteen feet

away, but he didn't care. He took her hand and pulled her to him, and covered her mouth with

him, still awed by the barrage of emotions that overtook him as he tasted the warm wet recesses

of her mouth.

"Hmmm," Elizabeth sighed in contentment as she pulled away and stroked the back of his neck.

"This is unexpected."

"Unwanted?" she asked playfully, pressing her lower body against his.

Jason actually chuckled. "No, definitely not. though, we have a bit of a problem."

Liz frowned. "What?"

"Lack of privacy, away from prying eyes?"

He knew Francis heard that last part and the guard had the grace to blush, after all, he did feel a

bit of a voyeur, but there was not much he could do.

Liz rolled her eyes. "Well, I guess we can count our lucky stars that you can be my personal

bodyguard tonight and be thankful that I have a key to my studio.."

*~*~*~*~*~*

Jason was transported into another time as he slid the heavy steel door to her studio shut. They

had ditched Francis on the way - Elizabeth stating that, since she was with Jason, she didn't

need Francis to follow them and the guard had been more than willing to give them the privacy

Jason had not so subtly requested on Elm Street pier - and now he was alone with the woman he

loved in the room that held so many memories for them both.

He could see himself waking up to her relieved cobalt-blue eyes; her force-feeding him soup; her

explaining The Wind to him; decorating her scraggly little Christmas tree; him kissing her

senseless after returning to Port Charles and learning that Lucky had betrayed her. He glanced at

the cot in the corner and he couldn't help but think of the incredibly erotic dream he'd had about

making love to her by the fireplace.

Everything was as she'd left it before she'd left Port Charles for New York City. There was still the

distinct scent of paint and turpentine in the air the air, pots and cans of paint were stacked

haphazardly about. Paintbrushes were crowded into mugs and her canvases, some blank, some

half finished were propped up on the walls. She didn't apologise for the mess - why should she?

After all, Jason had lived with her amongst the clutter whilst she'd nursed him back to health.

She glanced at the bed and remembered the dream she'd had about Jason. Never in her wildest

dreams would she have imagined he'd had the same dream. Even harder to believe that it would

never have to be just a dream anymore.

Elizabeth turned to him a soft smile on her face as she looked at him. She set down her bag and

picked up the auto-lighter on the table and began circulating the cluttered room, lighting the

candles that lined the floor and were perched on the tables until they were surrounded by soft

candlelight. Jason took that as his cue to switch off the harsh fluorescent lighting overhead.

He headed towards her and Liz allowed him to kiss her, his tongue darting out to tangle with his.

He pulled away and he could feel his desire for her catapulting to the surface - a feeling echoed

by her.

Liz slipped her hands under the soft cotton of his shirt and caressed the silky flesh that covered

the taut muscles of his abdomen that jumped under touch. She grasped the hem and lifted it up

and over his head until his golden chest was bared to her, her index finger trailing down his

stomach as she kissed then licked his nipples, smiling at his groan. Much like the first time, she

urged him to sit on the cot and she lifted a foot in hand and began unlacing and unfastening his

boots, slipping his feet from each of them till they were bare.

She extended her hand to he took it although he rose to his feet on his own volition. She

unfastened his belt as he fastened his lips to her neck, nipping and sucking knowing, yet not

caring, that he would probably leave a mark.

Elizabeth moaned and fumbled with his belt clasp even as he licked her clavicle and then tugged

her earlobe between his teeth. She had wanted it to be slow, had wanted to savor each second

and have him quivering at her mercy, but the conflagration was roaring in her ears and suddenly,

she knew nothing of the word or concept of control, only the need to satiate her desire.

Jason knew her control was gone and he could feel his slipping further and further away and it

finally snapped as Elizabeth succeeded in undoing his belt and pulling down his zipper, reaching

into his underwear and holding him hot and stiff and ready in her hand.

He practically whimpered as she continued to cup him in her palm and he fused his mouth to hers

again even as he jerked his lower body away from her. He dragged her shirt over her head,

baring her chest to his feasting eyes even as she shoved his jeans past his hips to pool at his feet

and reached to pull down his underwear. He moaned in her ear and he slipped her filmy skirt off

and before she could blink, pushed her to the cot and in one fluid moment, ripped her bikinis from

her body.

The sound of the silky fabric ripping gave them no pause and Elizabeth opened herself and he fell

on her and imbedded himself in her. She whimpered his name as her body enveloped his. It was

hard and rough and over much too soon but she was utterly and completely fulfilled as the final

aftershocks of her orgasm rocked through her. Mouth dry as the Gobi desert, Jason rolled off her

to his side and tucked her body to his chest, stroking her sweat slicked body, watching as the

dancing flames of the numerous candles cast whimsical shadows over her flesh.

Feeling the post-coital sleep beckoning her, Liz gave into temptation and closed her eyes,

hooking a leg around his thigh, practically fusing herself to Jason as she filled her senses with his

scent and her scent that clung to his sweaty skin. "I love you." she murmured as she

surrendered.

"I love you, too." He kissed the top of her head and clasped her body to him.

Tomorrow they would have to face the real world.

For now, they could be content.

TBC.

A/N: Perhaps a little fluffy at the end. Longer than usual - it's my New Year's present and a

peace offering since I haven't updated in nearly three weeks. I hope you enjoyed, please R&R,

you know I practically live for those things.

Cara