Chapter 6
"Jason?" Elizabeth called out when she entered the studio. "Jason?" She looked around. There was no reply. She turned on the light. The studio was empty. He was gone. For a second, she panicked. He changed his mind. Should she call Sonny? No, that's a bad idea, she thought. If Jason left then Sonny would know about it. Jason wouldn't do anything without letting Sonny know. Plus, neither Sonny or Jason needed her messing up their plans. She just wished Jason had told her he wasn't going to stay. She opened the closest door. Relief washed through her. His bag was still lying on the bottom of the closest. She looked at the clock. It was six o'clock in the morning. Where could he be? What was he doing?
What was she doing here? She removed her coat and threw it on the couch. She'd gotten up and left Kelly's before Lucky had awakened. She needed to be away from him, to have some time to herself. That's what she'd thought when she left, but she ended up here, where Jason was staying. If she was honest, she wanted to see him. She didn't have to pretend with him. She could be herself and not have to worry about what she says being used against her.
She was glad Jason was back. If she was honest, she needed him. His strength. She always felt better when she was with Jason. Even being at the studio was comforting. Deep in her mind, she still thought of the studio as theirs. She couldn't help it. He had been such an important part of her life when she had gotten it. She couldn't think of the studio without thinking about Jason.
That was why when Lucky had first returned she'd felt uneasy when he'd been in the room. It was like she was betraying Jason, which was ridiculous. She couldn't betray Jason with Lucky. If anything, Jason's time here was a betrayal to Lucky, a little voice in her head said. No, it wasn't. She couldn't think like that. She didn't betray Lucky with anyone. Jason was her friend. He helped her through the most difficult times of her life. That's not betrayal. Are you sure Lucky would agree? Yes! Of course he would. Like he understood about Sonny?
She didn't have a come back for that. After his reaction yesterday, he probably wouldn't understand. Lucky had acted kind of jealous of Sonny. She didn't know what he would do if he knew about Jason. Was that why she's never really told him about her time with Jason over that Christmas? He knew Jason was her friend, but he didn't know everything about heir time together. And he especially didn't know how she felt about Jason. Was she afraid of what Lucky would do? Was that why she'd never talked about him? Yes. Was she afraid of Lucky's jealousy or the fact that he might have the right to be jealous?
She couldn't think about that. She couldn't let that thought enter her mind. Jason was her friend nothing more. Maybe something could have happened between them before, but not that Lucky was back in her life. She loved Lucky. She needed to keep her mind on something else. She stared at the blank canvas. She felt an urge she hadn't felt in a long time. She needed to paint. She grabbed her brushes and paint and sat down in front of the easel. Unlike the previous times she tried, this time she painted a stroke along the canvas. Then another one. Then another. And another. She didn't know what she was painting, but it didn't matter. She was painting after weeks and weeks of nothing. Her shoulders seemed lighter. The light in the studio seemed brighter. The world was righting itself again. Her world.
That's how Jason found her four hours later. He had gone out early to follow one of the warehouse's employees after his shift. Jason had looked into his bank records and he had surprisingly more than the Sonny was paying him to load coffee. Jason wanted to know where the money was coming from so he followed him to a seedy bar 20 miles outside Port Charles that opened all night. There he met with Roscoe, Sorel's wannabe second in command. Jason couldn't hear their conversation, but he saw money pass hands and new he was right about the loader. Sorel was going to try something before the trial. He knew it. He just needed to find out what it was and how many were involved.
She hadn't noticed when he entered the studio. She was so caught up in her painting. He looked at the canvas. He couldn't figure out what she was painting, but as he moved closer he could see the smile on her face. She doesn't smile enough, he thought.
"Elizabeth," he said quietly. He didn't want to scare her.
She jumped out of her chair. "Oh my God! Jason how long have you been here?"
"I just got here." He looked at the canvas again. "You're painting."
She turned back to the easel. "Yeah, uh, yeah." She looked unsure like she didn't want him to see her new painting. But happy, too. "When I got here this morning you weren't here, so I don't know. I just had this urge to paint. I haven't felt like that in a long time. It's so great. I sat down in front of the easel. I really didn't know what I was doing. I felt possessed. Like I didn't have control over my arm. I just kept painting and painting. I couldn't stop."
"Elizabeth – Elizabeth." He loved seeing that smile on her face. He was beginning to think that he would never see it again.
"I'm sorry. I'm babbling, aren't I? Jason, I'm just so happy," she couldn't contain her joy. She reached out and hugged him. She turned back to the painting. "What do you think? You know what, don't answer that. It's crap, but I don't care. I painted something. It's amazing."
He couldn't help but return her smile. Her excitement was catching. Almost. As much as he hated to do it, she needed to leave. Sonny would be knocking on the door any minute. "I know you're happy and I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important…"
Her smile vanished. "What is it? Something terrible is about to happen, isn't it?"
"No, I just need you to leave." When it looked like she was about to question him, he intercepted her. "It's nothing. I promise. Sonny is just meeting me here. I didn't think you would be here."
"You wouldn't lie to me, would you? Someone's not going to break down this door are they?" She was worried. She didn't want anything to happen to Jason. She would never tell him, but she was afraid for him. His life was so dangerous. She thought back to when she found him bleeding in the snow. If she had took a different route or stopped to talk to someone, he would be dead. "Jason, I found you bleeding in the snow, practically dead. I don't want to do that again."
He could see how afraid she was. He never wanted her to feel that way. "Elizabeth, don't think about that now. This isn't like before. No one knows I'm here remember. Just Sonny, who will be here any minute."
"I know. I'm just concerned for you. Sonny was gunned down in front of the police department. Emily could've been killed." She stopped and tried to calm down. "I'm not helping, am I?"
He smiled. She was going to be okay. "You can help me by leaving. Not forever, just for a few hours, okay?"
She was still worried but she knew he didn't want her to get involved. "Okay, I'm going. But you'll be careful, won't you? Whatever it is you're going to do." She went to grab her coat.
"You know I am. Always."
She looked back at him again and smiled, "You really matter to me. You know that, right?" She knew he was always careful, but sometimes it wasn't always enough. She grabbed her purse and opened the door. "Oh, Sonny!" He was standing in the hall hand raised to knock on her door. She stopped him before he could say anything. "Come on in. Don't worry, I'm leaving. I wouldn't want you guys to wait another minute to start your meeting. Sonny, I'm glad you're okay. You scared me." She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. "By the way, if Emily asked, you gave her five hundred dollars, okay?" She left without waiting for his reply.
Sonny smiled and entered the studio. "What's up with her? She looks happy."
"She gets that way when she paints. It takes some time to get use to," he laughed at Sonny bemused expression.
"Five hundred dollars?" He asked as he removed his coat and gloves.
Running his hand through his hair, he sighed. "I gave her some money for Emily. She moved out the Quartermaine mansion and into Kelly's."
"Oh." He looked around the studio but at nothing in particular. "What do you have for me?"
"I followed Martinez after his shift to an all night bar 20 miles out of town. He met with Roscoe. I didn't hear their conversation but money was exchanged."
Sonny slammed his hand down on the table. "Dammit! Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Is he the only one?" Sonny couldn't believe this was happening. Just when he thought he was rid of Sorel. He should have killed him when he had the chance. Instead, he went the police route. In four weeks, Sorel would be behind bars. Why is he still being a thorn in his side?
"I don't know. I think there is more. Martinez doesn't have what it takes to do much. They probably want him to sabotage the warehouse. That would cause a problem for us but not really do a lot of damage. I think Sorel is looking for something bigger. He needs to show he's still strong even in jail. I'm still checking out the workers. I know I'll find something."
Sonny was quiet for a moment, thinking. He didn't like it. "I'll increase security around Carly and Michael. As soon as you find out everything, I want to make a move on Sorel. If he's going to continue giving me problems behind bars, I'd rather we just get rid of him. But not until we know who all the traitors are."
Jason stood to his full height with a straight back and a stone face. "I'll take care of it." It gave Sonny a chill. He could see why his enemies feared Jason. He would be too if he was on the other side of that face.
"Good." Sonny looked around the studio again. "Meanwhile, you're stuck in this place."
"I've stayed in worse places," he replied a little defensive. He didn't like Sonny looking his nose down at Elizabeth's studio.
Sonny raised his hands in defeat. "All right, don't get upset," he laughed. "You okay with money, food?"
"Yeah, Elizabeth is taking good care of me."
He smiled at that comment. "How good?"
"Sonny, it's not like that. She's with Lucky."
"I know but I bet you wish she wasn't," he joked.
"Sonny."
"Okay, okay." He reached for his coat and gloves on the table. "I'll see you later," he said as opened the door. Jason followed to lock the door behind him.
In the hall, Sonny stopped to put on his coat. "Lucky!" He called out a little louder than normal. "It's good to see you again."
Lucky stopped five feet away. He stared at Sonny with suspicion. "Yeah. What are you doing here?"
"I just came to see Elizabeth, but she's not here."
"You need to stay away from her. She doesn't need your kind around her."
"Whoa, hold on a second. Lucky, I'm going to forget you said that because you're Luke's son and even though we aren't partners anymore, we're still friends."
Lucky wasn't paying any attention to Sonny's warning. "You can't scare me. I know you have a thing for Elizabeth. You being here proves that. But she loves me. You'll never have her."
"Lucky, Elizabeth and I are friends. Nothing more."
"That's what you both say but I know there's something going on. You met yesterday and now today you're looking for her. You want her I know it. What isn't my slut of a cousin putting out anymore?"
Sonny was speechless. Lucky Spencer had lost his mind. That was the only explanation he could think of. Why else would he be talking to Sonny like that? His time away must have really been hard.
"Lucky! What are you doing here?" Sonny glanced up to see Elizabeth walking towards them. She was carrying a brown paper bag.
Sonny spoke before Lucky could get the chance. "Elizabeth, I just wanted to see if you would paint a mural in Michael's room. I missed his birthday and I wanted to make up for it."
For a second, it looked like she hadn't heard him. She just kept staring at Lucky surprised to see him standing outside her door. How much of Lucky's crazy ideas had she heard? "Yeah, that would be a great idea. I would love to paint Michael something. Give me a call and we'll set something up, okay?"
Sonny could tell she wanted him to leave. He wasn't sure he wanted to. He didn't feel right leaving her alone with Lucky. Jason was inside the studio, but he knew he couldn't risk Lucky seeing him. He was going to stay until he saw the pleading look in her eyes. She had heard what Lucky had said and it wasn't the first time. "Okay, I'll call you later on in the week." He slowly walked to the stairwell still feeling unsure about leaving her.
Elizabeth counted to ten before she spoke. "Lucky, what were you thinking? You had no right to attack Sonny like that."
"Why not? It's the truth. He'd have you in a second if you let him."
"Calm down. We talked about this yesterday remember? Sonny and I are not having an affair." She was tired of having the same conversation over and over again. Nothing she said seemed enough. Lucky continued to think the worst of her. Guilt swept through her. It's your fault. You keep lying to him. No wonder he's so suspicious. But to think she was sleeping with Sonny? It was ridiculous.
"Yeah, well he would like to. I know that. I can tell. He wants you."
"Lucky, Sonny is happily married to Carly. He doesn't want me. He thinks of me like a sister nothing more. I love you," she stressed.
"You're right. I know it. I'm just being an idiot."
"Why are you here?" She made no move to open her door. She knew Lucky would want to come in and she couldn't let that happen.
"I missed you this morning. I was worried. We were supposed to have breakfast, but you left before I woke up." She could here the underlining question.
"I had this wave of inspiration this morning and came over to paint while it was fresh in my mind." At least that was partly true. She couldn't tell him she didn't want to see him.
"That's great," he pointed to the door. "Can I see? You keep talking about all this painting you've been doing but I haven't seen anything lately. Why don't we spend the night here? You can paint and I'll just sit and watch you? I use to love to watch you paint. When I was held by Helena, it was all I could think. You standing by the easel, brush in hand. You were so beautiful. I would lie awake at night just thinking about what you were painting," he smile oblivious to her lack of movement.
What should she do? She couldn't let him in the studio. Jason was there. But she couldn't think of anything to say to stop him from coming in as well. "You know Lucky, I've painted enough today. I just came back because I needed to drop something off and then I was going to look for you."
"Well, here I am. Now you don't have to look." He faced her. "Come on," he reached inside his pocket and pulled out his keys. Before she could say anything, he had opened the studio door and pulled her inside.