Chapter 21
Christmas, Esme, and Jerry
Christmas is a couple of weeks away, and Elizabeth says, "Jason, I know you don't like to shop, but if you provide me with a list, I can take care of everything for you. I'll even shop for Sonny, Carly, Sam, and all the kids. You will only need to shop for me."
Jason replies, "I do have a list, but there are some things I can order online. I have some appointments for today. I'll bring home some take-out. The rest I'll leave in your capable hands."
Jason meets with Sonny. They discuss Jerry. Jason tells Sonny about Esme seeming to be sorry about her actions. Sonny hopes Esme can still be saved. Sonny says, "Esme is my niece and your daughter. I order you to eliminate Jerry. Everyone involved needs to pay."
Jason replies, "I believe everyone involved except for Jerry is dead. Jerry is punishing you and me. If I can get Esme away from Jerry, she has a chance at redemption. I don't take orders from you anymore. I will protect my family at any cost. I recommend you get extra protection for you and Carly."
Sonny says, "I am not satisfied. I liked it better when you were with Sam. She knew the rules."
Jason replies, "she knew the rules. She didn't like them. She is not in my life. Elizabeth is. Your rules are no longer my rules. Find someone else who will follow you blindly if you don't like them. I will run the books and manage your men."
Cameron helps Elizabeth with her with some of the items on her list. He assists her with picking out a tree. By the time Jason returns home, Elizabeth, Cameron, and his brothers have decorated the tree. Half of the presents are wrapped and under the tree.
Cameron has been zooming with Beth and has introduced her to Jake and Aiden. Elizabeth sat in on some of those video chats. Elizabeth has spoken with Marie, and Elizabeth is excited to meet her daughter and the woman who raised her.
Jason returns home with take-out from the Savoy; he brings his gun to the safe and locks it. Meanwhile, Jake sets the table. During dinner, they make small talk, and Jason compliments the tree. Aiden clears the table, and Cam helps load the dishes into the dishwasher.
Cam, Jake, and Aiden watch a movie in the rec room.
Jason and on the couch watching the news, and Elizabeth asks about Jason's day.
Jason replies, I completed some shopping, and I saw Sonny."
Elizabeth asks, "do I want to know, or are you able to tell me"?
Jason replies, "I reminded him Esme and Jerry Jacks are still out there. Sonny worries about Esme. I think he wishes he knew about her. He wants her protected. Jerry is another matter. I explained you and the kids are first in my life, but I make my own decisions."
Jason and Elizabeth let the boys know they are heading to bed. They double-check the locks before they head upstairs.
Port Charles received eight inches of snow. The nearby hills had a base of 10 inches prior. After breakfast, Elizabeth calls Anna, updates her, and warns her about Jerry, especially with Robin coming out for Christmas.
Joss invites Cameron and his brothers to go sledding. Spencer and Trina will be there. Sonny promises there will be enough guards. The boys bundle up and wait for Sonny's men to pick them up.
Esme concludes that her best option is to find Jason and ask for help. She trudges through the snow, clutching her letter. She reaches Jason and Elizabeth's house. Roman and Jason are shoveling the walk, and Elizabeth brings out coffee. Esme stumbles towards Jason and tries to say she is sorry. Jerry has been watching Esme and tracking her. He doesn't trust her and knows you must do something yourself if you want it done right.
Jason sees a glint in the distance and instinctively pushes Elizabeth out of the way. He reaches for Esme to pull her down, but Esme blocks him and stands in front of Jason. Jerry shoots Esme from a long-range rifle. Before Esme can explain further, she utters "Jerry" and dies in Jason's arms.
Roman aims at Jerry and wings him. Jerry grabs his rifle and rushes off.
Elizabeth hugs Jason from behind, her head on his shoulder. Tears well in his eyes, and he says, "despite everything, I feel a huge loss. Esme was my daughter, and I never got to know her. Jerry took that from me."
Elizabeth tells Jason, "I'm sorry, but I'm going to need to call Dante. Is there anyone else you want me to call for you? Do you want Sonny to hear it from you first?"
Jason replies," I'll call Sonny. You could call Cameron and have him keep his brothers away. For now, I only want you."
Elizabeth calls Cameron and tells him to stay with Sonny's men for a few more hours and that she will explain later.
Before Dante arrives, Elizabeth removes the blood-stained letter clutched in Esme's hands. Jason wants to read it before they decide to turn it over to the police. Dante arrives and asks what happened. Elizabeth explains it was Jerry who killed her. Dante wants to take a statement, but Jason says, "my lawyer, Roman, and I will be in your office tomorrow." The coroner takes Esme's body away.
Elizabeth walks a silent but complying Jason inside. She helps him out of his clothes and into the shower. She scrubs and washes the blood from him. Jason cries and doesn't understand why. Elizabeth dries him off, and Jason leads her to bed. They make love and fall asleep holding each other.
By the time Cameron and the boys arrive home, Elizabeth and Jason have dressed, and Elizabeth reheated the leftovers. They tell them what happened. Jake runs to his father and holds him. He tells him, I'm sorry about Esme. She was my sister. I wished I knew her, and she didn't have to die."
Jason holds Jake and replies, "me too, buddy."
Elizabeth and Jason read Esme's letter. Esme apologizes and verifies everything she did to Elizabeth, Cameron, and Joss. Esme implicates Helena and Jerry for everything else. They make a copy of the letter and call Diane. Jason asks her to meet him at the precinct in the morning.
Roman, Jason, and Elizabeth meet with Diane before making a statement to Dante. Diane recommends they give Dante Esme's letter.
Dante says, "the morgue is backlogged, and an autopsy can't be performed until after Christmas, but it's only a formality. Forensics found a shell casing with a nine-point match to Jerry. They found blood matching Jerry's blood type in the snow. Per your statement, your bodyguard wounded Jerry, but we are not charging him. Jason, I urge you not to take matters into your own hands and let the police find Jerry and bring him into custody."
Diane asks, "are we done? If you have further questions for my clients, contact me first."
Jason thanks Diane, and she responds, "I'll send you my bill. Merry Christmas."
Roman drives Jason and Elizabeth to the Floating Rib for drinks. Jason kisses Elizabeth and says, "we should go home. I have calls to make and presents to wrap."
They arrive home, and Jason sends Roman home. Jason asks the other guards to stay. Jason calls Sonny and Monica and tells them what happened. Elizabeth calls Nikolas. Cameron called Joss and Spencer last night.
Jason and Elizabeth explain to Cameron, Jake, and Aiden that Jerry Jacks is dangerous and is still at large.
Elizabeth says, "until the police arrest Jerry the guards must stay. Jason and I don't want Jerry to come after you."
The boys go to bed. Elizabeth draws a bath, and Jason brings a glass of red wine; she sips it while Jason wraps her presents in the other room and places them under the tree.
The Scorpio-Drake family arrives in Port Charles and rents a suite at the Metro Court. Robin calls Elizabeth for brunch at Kelly's. Robin tells Elizabeth, "please give Jason my condolences about his daughter. My parents have extra security for my family since Jerry could still be in Port Charles. Patrick and I thought Lisa Niles was bad, but Jerry is the nightmare that keeps returning." They talk about Jason, and Robin is happy for them. Elizabeth asks Robin about Marie and Beth.
Jason, Elizabeth, and the boys celebrate Christmas at home. Elizabeth cooks French Toast, and Aiden squeezes fresh orange juice. Cameron sets the table, and Jason starts the fire. After breakfast, they open their presents. The boys love all their gifts, and Jason loves the ones they bought without Elizabeth's help.
Jason hands Elizabeth an envelope with plane tickets for everyone to San Francisco to visit Marie and Beth in February.
Jason gives her a velvet box containing the red glass he bought her 20 years ago and a ruby necklace wrapped around it. Elizabeth smiles and cries at the same time.
Jake asks, "is there a story to that?"
Jason replies, "we will tell you about it later."
One of Elizabeth's presents to Jason and Jake is a legal document for them to complete to change Jake's last name from Spencer to Morgan. Cameron became a certified Notary Public as his present to them. Jake is excited to have his father's last name, and it's Jason's turn to cry over the special present.
Elizabeth is in the kitchen loading the dishwasher, and Jason is cleaning up the wrapping paper when the bell rings. Dante apologizes for showing up on Christmas day, but he has news. He asks to speak with Elizabeth and Jason privately. "Jerry was found dead last night. Jason, can you account for your whereabouts the last couple of days?"
Elizabeth rips into Dante, "you couldn't wait until tomorrow?"
Jason says, "I'm not answering any questions without my lawyer, and unless you plan on arresting me, I'd like to get back to my family."
Dante replies, "call Diane and be at the PCPD day after tomorrow at 10:00 am. Jason, your bodyguard, should be there too. Elizabeth, I recommend you be there as well."
Jason angrily says, "You aren't suggesting Elizabeth had something to do with Jerry's death?"
Dante replies, "no, but I'm assuming Diane would want her there if she needs to provide an alibi. By the 27th, the coroner will have established the time of death."
Jason sighs and says, "we will be there, and while you are so focused on Jerry, I want to see the report on my daughter."
Dante replies, "I'll have that ready when you arrive. You are not the only one we are questioning."
Dante leaves, and Jason calls Diane before returning to his family to enjoy the rest of the holiday.
Elizabeth is called to General Hospital to assist in emergency surgery.
Jason drives to Sonny and Carly's to hand them Christmas presents from him and Elizabeth. Jason mentions Dante paid them a visit about Jerry's death. Sonny says, "yes, Dante stopped by earlier too. I say good riddance. You didn't kill him, did you?"
Jason replies, "hypothetically, I was going to ask you the same question. Roman, Elizabeth, and I have an appointment with Dante the day after tomorrow. Diane is representing us."
Sonny says, "Dante said Spencer and Nikolas Cassidine could be suspects too. Alexis is representing them tomorrow." Jason thanks Sonny and Carly and says he will see them soon.
Jason drives home, and the boys are already in bed. After his shower, he is drying himself off with a towel when Elizabeth returns from surgery. She takes a quick shower and joins him in bed. Jason tells her about his visit with Sonny and Carly.
Elizabeth says, "the emergency surgery, it is someone we know. He escaped from Pentonville three days ago, took a bullet to the thigh and shoulder, and suffered hypothermia from being in the snow. He suffered a brain bleed, and I assisted Patrick Drake. You can add Johnny Zacchara to the suspect list. Doesn't he have a grudge against Jerry?"
Jason pulls the covers up and replies, "Johnny, huh? He has almost as many enemies as Jerry. Does Dante know?"
Elizabeth answers, "Jerry's in a coma. Forensics did a GSR test. They should have results in the morning."
Jason curls up behind Elizabeth and says, "enough shop talk for tonight. Did I tell you how much I love having Jake's last name changed to Morgan?"
Elizabeth replies, "almost as much as I love mine."
Jason kisses Elizabeth's neck and says, I love you. Goodnight."
Elizabeth replies, "goodnight; I love you too.
Police, Statements, whodunnit, and NYE:
