Part 3
Elizabeth checked herself into SB earlier than the date on GH
Jason: Early 2022
Jason's leg was shattered, and he needed a few pins inserted to repair the leg. He also had a fractured collarbone. They were able to repair, set, and cast his bones while he was still in his coma.
Nikolas has flown to the Arizona clinic several times since Jason's transfer. After being in a medically induced coma for four months, the doctors slowly wean him off the medication and play a waiting game for him to wake up. They perform an MRI and hope when he regains consciousness, he won't need additional surgery. When Jason awakes nine days later, he is very disoriented and has to be restrained. The doctors call Nikolas, and he gets on his jet heading to the clinic. Meanwhile, the doctors explain to Jason what has happened, and Nikolas Cassidine will be there in a few hours to explain everything. They will remove his restraints soon. A nurse arrives and feeds him some ice chips and Jason hopes he can get some information before Nikolas arrives. "What is the date?"
The nurse replies, "March 21, 2022."
Jason tries to ask more questions, but he's told Nikolas Cassidine will have more answers for him. Nikolas arrives about two hours later and by then the doctors say they will remove the restraints as long as he promises not to get out of bed until they can run a thorough examination and determine if he needs surgery or if he can start rehab. Jason agrees if he can get answers. His restraints are removed, and the doctor performs a neuro check and asks basic questions to determine if his memory is intact. Jason passes the basic tests, and the doctor leaves the room.
Nikolas asks, "do you remember what happened?"
Jason replies, "yes", and he recounts everything from before the collapse of the tunnels to Nikolas finding him. "Thank you for saving me. Did you keep your promise? Does anyone know I'm alive? Did everyone else make it out alive?"
Nikolas answers, "Yes, everyone made home safely. I haven't told anyone, but now that you are awake, do you want to call anyone? Can you tell me why you didn't want people to know you are alive?"
Jason shakes his head no, "I'm not ready for anyone to know yet. One of the reasons is I was afraid Sonny would be vulnerable if people knew I was alive, and not able to fulfill my duties working for him. I also remember after everyone left, I heard Peter's voice. He said …"
Nikolas interrupts, "you don't need to worry about Peter. He's dead. Anna killed him."
Jason impatiently says, "there's more to what Peter has done. I heard him say before Helena was killed…poisoned by you, she had another operative in place in Port Charles. I don't know when this person arrived, how long they have been in Port Charles, or even if they are still there. Helena was working with Peter to control Drew. I need to get back to Port Charles!"
Nikolas interjects, "Drew is fine and there is nothing you can do right now. You do not have the strength to take on anyone. I'm aware you don't like hospitals, but this is more than that. This is also a rehab facility. Once the doctor clears you, they will start with physical therapy to build your strength. They removed your cast last month, but your muscles have atrophied since you have been in a coma. I know I'm not a doctor, but both your leg and collarbone are still healing. You can barely stand and even if you could shoot, you would be in a lot of pain. Give your body more time to heal. You will need rehab and there is a gym, where you can exercise to rebuild your muscles. I'm sure you are hungry, and you will have anything you want to eat."
Jason protests and tries to get out of bed, before passing out again. Nikolas calls the doctors, and they rush to check his vitals and administer more fluids. He is in and out of consciousness for three days. He calls Port Charles and checks in with a few business associates, Ava, Elizabeth, and Spencer. He places a call to Anna knowing he is breaking his promise to Jason, but if there is an unknown person in Port Charles with an agenda, someone should know. He knows he can trust her to not tell anyone Jason is alive. He asks her to fly to Arizona and not tell anyone about her trip.
Jason awakens the following morning and Anna has been there for about an hour. Initially, he is furious with Nikolas, but Anna reassures him, no one else knows; however, he needs to tell her what he said to Nikolas. Nikolas excuses himself so Anna and Jason can speak privately. Jason updates her on everything he remembers. He says, considering the involved parties of Peter and Helena, I think Drew, myself, you, Maxie, and Nikolas would be most at risk. What about Robin? She did revive Drew based on Cassidine orders and Peter was involved with keeping me captive. Do you think she is in danger?"
Anna replies, "when Victor "encouraged" Robin to leave with him in 2014 it was for Helena and his other relatives and your brother. When Helena died in 2015, her ties to Victor disappeared. It was Jerry Jacks who was the one who determined he had no use for Robin with Helena dead. I believe Peter was more involved with your conditioning as Drew had the chip with your memories."
"But what about Jerry?" Jason asks. "He's had this weird obsession with Robin. I heard he escaped from Steinmeier in 2019. He's worked with Helena in the past; do you think he could have been working with Peter?"
Anna answers, "Robert has kept an eye on Robin and her family, and he has promised to go after Jerry if he even checks the weather in Berkeley. I doubt Jerry would show his face in Port Charles again. But I wouldn't be surprised if an associate of Peters went after me or Maxie. I don't think Helena has shown any interest in Maxie. It does seem that you or your brother or someone close to one of you has a connection to Helena and Peter. I don't think Nikolas is at risk."
They continue to brainstorm when Nikolas returns. "So have you narrowed down who could be a target or who the mysterious person is?"
Anna replies, "We aren't sure. If we can take what Jason heard at face value there are only a few people who could be connected to one or both, even though both Helena and Peter are dead."
Jason
Drew
Sam
Alexis
Maxie
Myself
Nikolas asks, "What about Elizabeth?"
(Since Elizabeth and Finn never happened, she was not part of the Peter story)
Anna asks, "what about her", but Jason's ears perk up.
Nikolas replies, "my grandmother has had a thing for the Spencers. She brainwashed Lucky into being convinced she should be with me. Jason, do you remember what hell he put Elizabeth through until Elizabeth, Luke, Laura, and myself were able to break him free from that? Then she faked the paternity tests to show I was Aiden's father. She also had Jake kidnapped and later brainwashed him. Jake is connected to you, Jason."
Anna says, "Okay, I'll add Elizabeth Baldwin to the list"
Jason wants to try and leave again, but Nikolas promises him he will keep an eye out for Elizabeth. He knows Sam is with Dante, Carly is with Sonny and Sonny had guards on all his kids. He assigns guards for Alexis and Anna puts guards on Maxie, just in case. It's been a long day for Jason, and he is wiped out. After dinner, he falls asleep and awakens two days later.
Nikolas has set up a link to news reports out of Port Charles and Anna sends him information on status reports on Robin and her family.
It is now April 11, 2022, and Jason is cleared to start his rehab. He spends most of his time in the gym.
Elizabeth:
Esme continually finds ways to taunt Elizabeth when she is alone. She uses the perfect opportunity to take her revenge to the next step. Elizabeth is still not sleeping and briefly tried the new meds Kevin prescribed, but she didn't like how they were making her feel and she discontinued them. She started her therapy with Kevin and discusses her relationships and how they made her feel. It's been over a year since Franco died and a little over six months since they declared Jason was dead. She hasn't heard from Lucky except for the sporadic Skype in over six years. She can't begin to explain the warped relationship she had with Ric.
All of these men meant something to her in different ways. But she is exploring the good, bad, and the ugly. Despite the criticism, Franco was in the good column. Lucky, while he never physically assaulted her (except for the time he accidentally caused two hard falls when she was pregnant with Jake), he was emotionally abusive to her from the time he returned from the dead and the fallout due to Faison and Helena's conditioning. Maybe he never completely broke through that spell and while there were flashes of the Lucky she loved as a teenager, she was tired of making excuses and convincing herself she was helping him. Jason, well she told Kevin she couldn't put into words what she felt about Jason. She had no regrets, but with him dead was it worth rehashing what never could be? Kevin replied only she could answer that question.
Nikolas has been supportive, but there has been nothing romantic between them since Jason/Drew showed up, He was listed in the always friend column with regrets about sleeping together. He's also been married to Ava since 2020. She needs her friend now, but he's been in and out of the country for several months now. It wasn't until recently he learned of her new arrangements in Shadybrook.
She has yet to discuss Esme with Kevin as she still can't place where she's seen her before, nor would she have a valid reason to tell Kevin her feelings without bringing attention to Esme targeting her before she can figure out why.
Elizabeth started sleeping more, but her dreams were still jumbled. Esme was mixing crushed-up pills in Elizabeth's food. One night, while Liz was sleeping, Esme guided Elizabeth out of her room and down the hall, and out an employee exit.
The following morning during a room check, they discovered Elizabeth was missing. While she checked herself in voluntarily, she still would have needed to sign herself out. The staff called Kevin and after an exhaustive search, Kevin called Laura. Several people thought she walked out or that since she was losing time, she wandered off and got lost. Kevin filed a missing person's report and Laura had to break the news to her sons. She told Cameron first so he could help her tell Jake and Aiden. Cameron had to hold back his tears.
Jason:
After six weeks of rehab, the doctors said Jason would be able to leave in about a week. They wanted to run a series of tests and then he would be free to go. They inform Nikolas that Jason should be able to leave soon and Nikolas calls Anna to tell her the news. Nikolas makes plans to fly out the day before Jason's release and will take him wherever he wants to go.
Kevin, Laura, and the boys:
Kevin reviews the visitor logs and other than Laura and himself, Elizabeth's only visitor was one visit from Carly Corothinos. Laura offers to approach Carly herself since they have been friends for several years. Kevin calls Dante.
Cameron breaks the news to Jake and Aiden their mother is missing and comforts them and promises that Kevin and the police will find their mother. He calls Josslyn, Trina, and Spencer. They immediately rush to his side.