Disclaimer: I don't own anything…

A/N: Okay, apology time. I am so sorry for the lack of updates on this story as of late. I've been working a lot and when I do find time to write, I work on She Will Be Loved and Leather and Lace. It's my fault for having so many opened stories… And while I know that these are hardly acceptable excuses, I hope they suffice. Now on with the story.

Last Train Home Ch. 17:

"What is it, Elizabeth?" Ric greeted her with a smile that set some of her fears at ease. Despite their break up, they managed to stay on somewhat friendly terms. Sam watched the interaction carefully; making mental notes of Liz's disheveled appearance as well as the overwhelming look of guilt that engulfed her doe eyes.

"I have some information on the Courtney Matthews case." The brunette informed him softly and was met with a cocked eyebrow.

"What kind of information?" He prodded, completely forgetting about his girlfriend that remained perched on the corner of his mahogany desk. However, Liz had not forgotten about Sam.

"Can we do this in private, please?"

"Of course," Ric agreed as he placed a guiding hand on his ex wife's lower back. "Interrogation room seven is open and we can speak in there."

Sam waited until the two had disappeared down the hall before reaching in the top left hand draw of Ric's desk and grabbing hold of the set of keys he kept there. After securing the cool metal in her grasp, she stalked down the hall towards interrogation room seven. The door was just closing when she reached her destination and she took the time to search out the correct key. Once it was found she unlocked the adjoining room and prepared herself for the show that was about to take place in front of her. She always did enjoy a good backstabbing, but somehow it wasn't as satisfying when she was the one being doubled crossed.


Carly, Sonny, and Jason were all congregated in the waiting room. Each persons mind clouded with joy of Courtney's awakening as well as a sense of dread about what the test results would bring. Monica approached the trio somewhat hesitantly. She was nervous about intruding on the silence that engulfed them, but knew that they would appreciate an update on Courtney condition.

"Excuse me," she instantaneously felt three sets of very concerned eyes focused on her. "We finished up the most urgent tests on Courtney. I'm happy to report that there doesn't seem to be any long-term damage to her brain or respiratory system. She may struggle with shortness of breath as well as migraines until she fully recovers, but nothing too serious."

"How long will it take her to recover?" Carly asked with an arch of her perfectly manicured eyebrow.

"It's hard to say," Monica answered as honestly as possible. "We still have some concerns about her heart."

"What kind of "concerns"?

"Courtney's heart is beating at an abnormally fast speed. There are number of reasons why, considering the trauma her body has been put through in the last few days. It something that I would like to monitor, which is why I cannot foresee her being released for at least another five days."

"May we see her?"

"Actually…" Monica made direct eye contact with Jason, who had stayed silent during her prognosis. "She's been asking for you." The young man nodded in return as he tried to force down the nauseous that made a home in his stomach. He wasn't quite sure why he wasn't ready to see her, but just found himself unable to move towards her room.

"Carly why don't you go instead?" He offered to his female best friend.

"She wants you not me, Jase."

"I know that, but…" He struggled to find an excuse, but his mind seemed frozen under the couple's scrutinizing stare. "I just can't go in there right now, ok?"

"Umm…sure," Carly was slightly taken aback by the overwhelming force in his voice. If she looked hard enough, she was sure she could see the normally tough shell of Jason Morgan cracking due to stress or pain. Or maybe both…


Elizabeth let a deep breath escape her lips right before she reached for the Styrofoam cup of water that Ric had placed in front of her moments before. Maybe coming here was a bad idea. Was she really going to be able to explain series of events that led to the shooting and possible death of Courtney Matthews? Could she really do it without breaking into hysterics?

"Liz?" Ric's soft voice broke into her thoughts.

"I'm sorry," she murmured.

"Don't be sorry. I was just asking what exactly brought you here?" He reached over and placed a reassuring hand over his ex wife's shaking one. "Take a deep breath. I'm sure it's not as bad as you think it is. Let me help you…"

"Ric, do you think I'm a bad person?" She wondered quietly. The question elicited a look of confusion on the D.A.'s face.

"Of course not." He replied, but saw doubt clouding the young woman's eyes. "Elizabeth Webber, you are the sweetest, most genuine woman I've ever known."

"You're going to have to take that back in a few moments," Liz grumbled.

"What's going on?"

"I know who shot Courtney Matthews."

"Who?"

"Me," she squeaked out before resting her head down on her hands unable to look at Ric, whose mouth was gaping.

"That can't be true."

"But it is Ric. I shot her." She nearly choked on the words as the tumbled out of her lips.

"Why?"

"I was kind of tricked into doing it. I thought that the bullets were going to be blanks and I just wanted so badly to hurt Jason like he hurt me." She answered honestly as the tears raced down her cheeks.

"Who set it up?" Ric's voice was dangerously low and Liz turned her gaze towards the cool metal table. "Who else was in on it, Liz?"

"Samantha McCall."


Sam could feel disgust beginning to fester in the pit of her stomach. Leave it to Lizzy Webber to turn Ric into putty that she could mold in her hands. Suddenly, Carly's reason for disliking the young woman became clear as she watched the sugary sweet scene unfold in front of her. Sweetest woman I've ever met my ass, the petite brunette thought to herself.

Ric was suppose to love her not his ex wife, but she had the sneaking suspicion that her boyfriend would throw her off a cliff if it met he could save his Elizabeth. She noticed the tenderness in his eyes earlier in the precinct but did her best to ignore it. After all, he was with her now and that should count for something. But obviously it doesn't. At least not when Miss Webber was involved.

"You've left me no other option, Ric." Sam whispered to the empty room in a vow to handle everything herself.


Carly entered the dim room with a smile plastered on her ruby red lips. She noticed that Courtney still seemed weak, but luckily that awful tube was out of her mouth. That's got to be a good sign, she thought to herself before approaching her best friend.

"Hey sweetheart," Her voice rang through the otherwise quiet room like a bell. "So, you'll never believe what I heard through the grapevine."

"What's that, Carly?"

"That some crazy broad got married to the same man for the fourth time." Courtney raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Oh wait! It gets even better…there was a shooting at the reception. Leave it tothe matron of honor to go get herself shot and ruin everything."

"Yeah, what a bitch," the blonde agreed light-heartedly which brought a smile to the other woman's face.

"How ya feeling?"

"Oh --you know- like I ran into a bullet." Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"Well you kind of did… What were you thinking?"

"That's the funny thing. I wasn't thinking. I just kind of acted on pure adrenaline." Courtney answered honestly. "I can't explain it. I just had to protect him."

"Because you still love him…"

"Maybe I do." Courtney admitted quietly. The soft omission was not lost on either woman as Carly watched her ailing friend intently. She always knew that the feelings were there, but it was strange to hear Courtney finally own up to them.

"You know, I've never seen such a look of absolute terror on Jason's face when we first got to the hospital. It's was like someone had shot his dog or something…" The brunette informed the other woman.

"Are you calling me a dog?"

"No of course not. It's just that he's always been the calm one. The person I could count on to hold me together and this time he couldn't do it." Carly replied. "For once in his life, Jason Morgan wasn't the "strong one" and to tell you the truth I was kind of frightened. I don't know what we would have done if we lost you."

"Yeah well I'm still here. It's going to take a little bit more than a bullet to kill me." She tried her best to soothe her best friend's sudden mood swing. Only Carly could go from hot to cold in a matter of moments.

"I love you. Not in a strange Anne Heche way, but very platonic sisterly love." Back to hot again, Courtney thought with a laugh.

"Good, because I definitely don't look like Ellen DeGenres." She bantered back. The room settled into a comfortable silence as Carly took a seat and began reading through the various magazines that Emily had dropped off while she was getting her tests done. The blonde's eyes searched out the window trying in vain to catch sight of her ex husband, but came up empty. She couldn't help but wonder where he was and if he was thinking of her too.


Sonny looked at his best friend with a weary smile. The two had been sitting in the waiting area while Carly visited with Courtney. There were so many things that the older man wanted to ask his younger best friend, but didn't know where to begin.

"Have you heard anything about Elizabeth?"

"Nope." He replied. "I'm assuming that she's at the police station telling Ric everything."

"What makes you so sure of that?"

"Because Elizabeth Webber is a lot of things, but she's no hardened criminal. She probably thinks that if she turns herself in that the system will go easy on her and hold Sam mostly responsible." Jason reasoned.

"Do you think that's what's going to happen?"

"You know Sam as well as I do. You think that she's really going to let someone rat her out without taking some measure of recourse?" Sonnynodded his head in agreement. "And who do you think she's going to come to for help in her quest for retribution?"

"You've been planning this since Elizabeth confessed to you," Sonny realized as a sly smile crept across the other man's face. "What if she doesn't go to you for help?"
"She will." He answered with a sense of confidence.

"What are you going to do?"

"Sit back and walk the show, my friend." He smiled as his phone began to ring in his pocket. He recognized the number and offered Sonny a wink. "Sam McCall is going to realize that you can't con a con man."


A/N:Mwahaha, I love writing devious Jason. I hope that the chapter was worth the wait. I do plan on finishing this story at some point, but I keep finding ways to extend the plot. I guess I'm not ready for the series to end. Anyways, drop me a line and let me know what you think.