"Chicago?" Sonny asked with raised eyebrows.
"Chicago," Elizabeth confirmed with a nod of her head.
Sonny let out a low whistle and had to look away from the young woman that lie before him. If this question was coming from any other female he would've had to laugh in her face and tell her to seek help elsewhere but Elizabeth had just been through a traumatic experience, had been going through a traumatic experience for the past three years of her life and obviously it was starting to effect her rational thinking.
"Elizabeth, learning to run an organization is…"
"I wouldn't be learning it all from the beginning," Elizabeth said, "I know enough information to keep things going. Are there some things I'm going to have to learn? Sure, but you have to admit that in this business you are always being thrown curveballs."
"Yes," Sonny said hesitantly, "But…"
"And most of the men are aware of who I am, they respect me because I'm Luis Alcazar's wife," Elizabeth said, "They're loyal to Luis and they'll follow what I have to say."
Sonny couldn't help the small smile that tugged on his lips, "Elizabeth…"
"A female has never run the Chicago organization," she said, "I don't know if a female has ever run any organization but I'm ready to be the first Sonny," she held up her hand when he opened his mouth, "I know that you're thinking they aren't going to listen to me, I know that your aware that I was given respect because Luis was alive and by my side and would've killed anyone that dare look at me crossly, I know that the Mafia is like the old western ranches where no cowboy was working for a female foreman. That's why I've asked for your help, if you could back me then the boys would know I mean business."
Sonny was quite for a long moment before he reached over and took Elizabeth's hand, "You are a very strong woman, maybe the strongest woman that I have ever met, but I'm afraid that I can't let you do this, Elizabeth. I don't know if I'd ever be able to let anyone do this."
"I know what this world is like," she said quietly, "I know from first hand experience what the bottom of the barrel feels like, Sonny, nothing about this world would ever surprise me."
Sonny smirked, "There are things about this world that still shock the hell out of me Elizabeth and would you like to hear a perfect example? You. I never thought a man would drag a young girl from her family and force her into a life of degradation, force her to marry him, force her to be pawned off like she was a piece of jewelry instead of a human being. But men like that exist, Elizabeth, just because you killed off one doesn't mean there aren't others."
"I've handled Luis Alcazar for three years Sonny, I'm aware of how things work," she said, "All the more reason…"
"All the more reason to step back," he said as he released her hand and settled back in his wheelchair, "To appreciate the second chance that you have in life, Elizabeth. All the more reason to enjoy the breath of fresh air that you get to breathe."
"Is that what you're going to do?" she asked, "Are you going to get out of this world because you've been given a second lease on life? No, you are going to stay here and you are going to fight and that is what I'm going to do as well, I'm going to fight for what's been handed down to me. Am I taking on too much? Hell yeah, as you and Jason so kindly keep putting out, I'm not even of age to vote and I'm about to take on the underworld but it is my underworld and I'm going to make sure that things are taken care of, with or without your help."
"How the hell did you and Jason ever last as long as you did?" he asked with a small chuckle.
"That's not something that you have to worry about," Elizabeth said as she crossed her arms across her chest, "Jason and I are friends, barely that."
"Elizabeth…"
"Chicago, Sonny," she said, her blue eyes blazing, "Where are we on the topic of running my businesses?"
"I don't want you going to Chicago," Sonny said, "You nearly died and it is too soon for you to be getting up out of this bed running around shouting orders at everyone. Maybe, in a few weeks, we'll talk about things again."
"Two weeks," Elizabeth said, "In two weeks I'm getting out of here, thirteen days actually and I'm going to Chicago. I'll take Sly."
"Sly can't go with you," Sonny said, "We're going to do out best here by trying to protect him. I've offered him a position with me."
"That was very generous of you," she said, "Keep your enemies closer."
"I don't consider Sly an enemy," Sonny said and shrugged, "I know that he was sitting on the fence for a while there but I think he knew all along that he would one day have to make a decision and I think he knew what that decision was. I think he tried to fight it because he was supposed to be loyal to Alcazar."
"Who the hell would be loyal to his pimped out wife," she whispered as she felt the tears gather in her eyes once again, "If you can't spare any guards I'll try to call a few old ones that protect only me. I appreciate you at least hearing me out, Sonny."
"They're going to be watching us for a while," Sonny said, "Chicago. We're going to put out the word that Alcazar was killed because he tried to stake a claim in our territory. I need to step up the guard patrol, especially with my family."
Elizabeth nodded, "That's understandable. The two people I trust most you are going to need with you, Johnny and Francis." She sighed and looked away, "Two weeks might be enough time to let the city cool down but what if it's too much Sonny? What if someone tries to take over what's rightfully mine? This isn't just about the organization; this is about the businesses, my inheritance, Luis' estate. I had to fuck the bastard for the past three and a half years; those millions are coming to me."
"I agree," Sonny said, "And I won't begrudge you that but I am not allowing you to go to Chicago alone. You're taking someone with you, just to check out his estate dealings, after that's settled we'll move on from there."
Elizabeth nodded eagerly. She would agree to anything as long as it got her onto a plane to the windy city. Once she got there she'd take things into her own hands. After all, Sonny wasn't going to be the one traveling with her.
"Fine, whatever you say Sonny. I'll go with whoever you want me to."
"Good," Sonny said, "I'll talk to Jason."
"Hey there," Lily smiled quietly as she stepped in front of Jason as he was about to turn down the hallway that led to Elizabeth's hospital room.
"Hey," he said as he nodded with his head, "I'm heading back to see Elizabeth."
"Sit with me?" she asked motioning to a chair behind them. She smiled sadly when she watched his eyes traveling back towards Elizabeth's room, "I know that you want to see her Jason but there are other people that need to see her as well."
Jason looked back down at Lily, none too please, and she had to reach up and pry the chocolate milk from his hand as he kept a firm grip on his hot coffee. He took a sip and muttered a curse when he burned his lips.
"Sonny wanted to see how she was," Lily said taking his hand and pull him down in a chair, "And of course Sly."
"If that bastard so much as…"
"He cares for her Jason," Lily said quietly as she placed the chocolate milk on the floor beside her, "He's done some really stupid things but we all have in our lifetime and now he's going to prove to us what kind of man he is. Sonny thinks that he's going to be good for the organization."
"Sonny told me that he doesn't discuss business with his wife."
"Sonny can sell that to whomever he wants but you and I know better," she smiled softly as she reached over and squeezed his hand gently, "You're exhausted Jason. I know that this is the last thing that you want to hear but I really think that you need to go home and get some sleep. You look like you're about ready to collapse."
He looked at her with a raised eyebrow, "I'm in a hospital, sitting across from a nurse, if something happens to me, I'm in the best place."
"You were so moody without her."
"What?" he asked as he took another sip of his coffee.
"Before Elizabeth walked into your life, after she walked out, you were just miserable. I mean, before she was around you were okay, you were happy but you really didn't laugh a lot, at least your eyes didn't, now when you crack a joke your really cracking a joke."
"I don't think that I'm the one who needs sleep," he muttered.
"See?' she smiled as she rested her hand on his arm, "I'm glad that we're going to keep her around. I think that she is someone you need in your life. She needs you too but you aren't going to be of any help to her if you are dead on your feet."
"I'm not going home, Lily, so you can stop trying to persuade me too," Jason said.
"Did you ever think maybe she needs a break from you?" Lily asked.
Jason looked at her as he let out a slow breath and he could tell from the expression on Lily's face that she had realized what she had said too. She probably didn't mean to punch him in the gut like that, but she did nonetheless.
"Jason…" she said quietly.
"No, you're right," Jason said as he stood up and walked across the room, throwing his half empty coffee cup away, "I don't know why the hell I'm hanging around here. When she found out about the baby she did nothing but scream at me, then she pulled away, not just physically but her eyes, it's like there's nothing there Lily, it's like…it's like I'm looking in a damn mirror."
"Oh God, Jas," Lily whispered as she stood up and walked towards him.
"And you know what?" he said as he jammed his fingers through his spikes, "I'm trying to be there for her because it was our child she lost, it was my bullet that she took and I'm trying to be strong and I'm trying to tell her that I'm not going anywhere, trying to be her support all the while saying that I can't be what she wants me to be, I can't go back to bed partner that she knew. It's just…" he turned around and slammed his fist into the wall, "Why the fuck did this have to happen to us?"
"Everything happens for a reason," Lily said as her arms came around his waist, "I know that is the last thing that you want to hear Jason but you have to know that God didn't take this baby from you to hurt you, He must have realized that…"
"I know that," he said as he looked at her, anguish in his eyes, "And I told her that and I don't think that was what she wanted to hear but what else was there to say? I couldn't lie to her."
"It's not what you do," she said quietly as she stuffed her hands in her pockets, "Maybe I'll lie to her Jason. I'll tell her whatever she needs to hear so that she can lean on you."
"She can't lean on me," he said as his eyes moved down towards the hall again, "Elizabeth wants things to be just me and her, like the way they were before and it would be so damn easy to do that Lily, it would be so easy to slip into the club office and take her on that creaky wooden desk. It'd be easy to hide away in my room for days or shoot pool and drink a few beers, be so fucking easy to pretend that the piece of paper she gave me a few months ago was legitimate and that she really is eighteen," he looked down at her as a tear fell from his eye and he quickly brushed it away, "But she's not and the more I'm with her the more I find myself fighting to keep my hands off of her and I don't know how much longer I can do that."
Lily placed her hand on his back, "I know that you care about Elizabeth and I know that you would not want to do anything to put yourself, or her, or the organization at risk," she let out a small sigh, "I'm sure that Sonny can find someone that he can introduce you…"
Jason laughed, a harsh bitter laugh filled with a cold dose of reality.
"This is an itch a whore can't scratch," Jason said, "I'm in love with her Lily, how the fuck do I get over that?"
"Whoa!" Sly jumped back on the other side of the hospital door and let it slam shut in his face. He then heard the resounding thud of a plastic ice pitcher hit the floor. "I was told that it was safe to come in!"
"That's because Sonny refused to put up the 'Enter at your own risk' sign," Elizabeth huffed on the other end, "Might as well come in, everyone else does."
Sly poked his blond head in the door and gave her a small smile. She was finally sitting up in bed, her dark blue eyes flashing and staring out the small window that showed the sky line of Port Charles, small but still effective to glare at. He quietly slipped into the room and let the door close behind him, taking a few steps towards the bed.
"How are you feeling?"
"Let's cut to the chase," Elizabeth said, "Although I haven't talked to Lily I'm assuming that she's going to align with Sonny on this one and tell me that I need to give you another chance. I know how Jason feels but he hates just about everyone so I can't take him into consideration. I would ask my nurse Bobbie but you're related to her and that means more than the large tab I've run up at her place. Should we just shake hands or does this require a hug?"
"Hmm, ouch," Sly chuckled as he jammed his hands into his jeans, "I deserve that Lizzie, that and a whole lot more. I…"
"Were stuck on some fucking fence," she laughed, "Don't repeat that analogy, I nearly choked on it when Sonny told me."
"Analogy?" he asked with raised eyebrows, "I had one conversation with Sonny Corinthos and that involved me thinking about a position here and whether or not I was the one that brought Alcazar to his knees."
"Alcazar now?" she asked with raised eyebrows, "No more Luis?"
"Lizzie what do you want from me?" Sly asked, "Do you think this is how I wanted things to end? Do you think that I've been sitting in the fucking waiting room for the past two days, in bloody clothes, praying to whoever the hell runs this world, begging for your life simply because I had nothing better to do? I care about you, Lizzie, whether you want to believe that or not."
"I can't believe it!" she shouted as she slammed her fists against the mattresses, "My father swore that he cared about me, Luis' swore that he cared, Jason Morgan swore that he cared and fucking God swore that he cared and you know what? I'm a fucking widow with a millions of dollars in my pocket, one man holding me close and pushing me away at the same time and a big ass hole in my stomach that is not the result of a bullet wound. So you tell me Sly, why the hell am I supposed to believe you of all people?"
"Because I was there Lizzie," Sly said, "Yeah I stood on the damn sidelines and you know what I saw? I saw this shy little girl turn into this amazing young woman. Oh fuck yeah you were messed up and fuck yeah I helped with it but my God, look what you turned out to be, look what you survived. You have got to be the strongest person that I know and I know that you are going to make it through this. Fuck Morgan, fuck Corinthos, fuck God if you have to, you follow your instincts baby because they're what got you through this alive," he ran his fingers through his hair and looked away from her, "Corinthos offered me a job, I guess as some back up to Morgan, and I told him I'd be around as long as you wanted me. You want me gone I'm gone, you want me in Chicago with you, I'm there as well."
"How did you know about Chicago?" she asked.
"Lizzie Webber does not back down from a fight," he said with a grin, "And Chicago is going to be looking for a fight."
"Sonny agreed to let me go there," she said, "With Jason."
"And you don't want to?"
"Why the hell do I want to be in the company of a man who can't even stand to look at me?"
Sly laughed softly, "Lizzie, I don't think any man has a problem with looking at you."
"He does," she whispered as she looked down at her hands, "He can't stand to look at the woman…the girl who lost his baby."
"What?" Sly asked and then lurched forward, "Elizabeth, what did you say?"
"I lost a baby," she whispered as she looked up at Sly, "A baby that was barely developing, a baby that was created in the heat of the moment, in an embrace that was filled with hatred and passion and love. I just…" she tried to pull away from him as he gathered her in his arms and the tears started again, "I just lost the only part of Jason Morgan that I had left."