A/N – Thanks for the comments! Guest – Even if Elizabeth does need "fixing", I always have her fix herself with support around her. Nobody can fix you, but you. Sometimes we break, but I always acknowledge her strength.

Chapter 17

The next day, Tom sat cockily at a table while the rest of the parole committee waited for him and his lawyer to settle. The door opened and Audrey and Ric moved into the room.

She was skeptical when he came to her door. Cody wasn't going to let him in but called Jason who spoke to Ric and then let her know what is going on. Her blood pressure shot through the roof when she found out what happened. Admittingly, she could have done better by Liz when the rape had occurred, so there is no way she will fail her now. There is no way that monster will get anywhere near her granddaughter.

Ric held out a chair for her and she sat, boldly eying Tom as they waited for the commissioner to begin. What they didn't know is that Edward had already spoken to two members of the board and did what he had to do to assure they'd vote no.

"Mr. Baker, you are here for parole consideration. While you did get into trouble initially which extended your stay, in the last few years, your record has been stellar."

"Yes."

They went over what his plans would be once he leaves and how he felt he had been rehabilitated. Finally, it was Audrey's turn to speak.

"Mr. Baker murdered part of my granddaughter's spirit the day he brutally raped her, and he has never paid for it. While I am relieved that he has been off the streets, he doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as her. She was fifteen years old. He raped a child. For the most part, he has gotten into trouble several times while incarcerated. He shouldn't be let out early. I wish that he'll never be released." Stunning everyone, she pulled an envelope from her purse. "This is proof that he has been commiserating with criminals." Stan had accidentally found the audio while hacking into Faith's server and couldn't believe how stupid she was to keep it.

"How?" Tom's lawyer asked.

"I don't know. It was delivered to me."

One of the members that Edward had spoken to suggested they listen to it in private so they left to do so. When they returned, much to Tom's surprise they rejected his bid.

Ric breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Audrey slip into the town car that Jason had provided. She had refused to drive with him which upset him more than he'd like to admit. At least Tom will not be able to do any more harm to Liz. Now, he just needs to find Faith.

His phone rang. "Hello?"

"Hey, handsome."

"Faith, where are you?"

"I have to take an unexpected trip. It won't be too long. What are you doing?"

"I was just at a parole board hearing."

"That sounds boring."

"Yes and no. Elizabeth's rapist was petitioning to get out." Her sharp intake of air told him all he needs to know, and it crushed him. She has betrayed him and now, he'll have to deal with her.

"I see."

"He didn't get out."

Faith swallowed hard. "Listen, I have to go, but I'll call you soon."

The line went dead, so he made a call. It's time to step up the search before it's too late.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Sonny observed as Jason paced. He's worried about him. While people are making sure that he eats and gets a little sleep, the pressure of finding Liz is getting to him. Dark circles are developing under his eyes, and he looks exhausted.

Frances entered the room. "We checked every place on the list."

Jason sighed. "I'm missing something."

Frances shared a glance with Sonny.

Jason hit the wall and then leaned his head against it.

"Were there any secret places?"

"No. We weren't together that long. We went riding and came home."

"Maybe we can talk to Emily."

Jason nodded. "That's fine. Have them meet me at the penthouse. I feel like we're running out of time."

Frances made the call.

Sonny watched as Jason strode out of his office. Something has to give or he's scared that Jason is going to do something that he'll regret. The PCPD is breathing down their necks, so they can't afford to make a mistake.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Elizabeth got up to use the bathroom which consists of a bucket in the corner of the room. When she finished, she started to move back toward the bed and is met with a severe cramp. Her knees struck the floor, tearing a moan from her lips as she collapsed against the cold concrete.

One guard called Faith who is on her way there.

"She's faking."

"She hasn't gotten up. I think I should go in."

"Fine, but keep me on the phone."

He quickly made it into the room. "There is blood on the floor."

"From where?"

"I think it's the baby."

"Shit, shit, shit!"

"What do you want me to do?"

Faith is livid. "Damn her! I want you to leave her there. Clear out the place. We won't be coming back."

The man is shocked but does as he is told.

Faith had the driver go to the next town over. Elizabeth is of no use to her. By the time she can get the doctor there, it will probably be too late. Besides, he's not answering her calls. In a week, the younger woman will be gone, and then she'll figure out a way to call in a tip.

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Emily couldn't recall any secret places she and Elizabeth frequented.

Johnny watched as she stared out the window. "We'll find her."

"I hope so."

"You should rest."

"I'm fine. I just can't help but worry. I feel like that's all I do."

He moved behind her. "Come here,"

She turned and he hugged her.

"I'd do anything to get her back."

"I know."

"I even considered going to the enemy."

Johnny pulled back. "Please don't say, Helena."

"I was thinking along the lines of Nikolas. He does care about Elizabeth, at least he used to, and he has money and resources especially if Faith took her out of the country."

"Please don't."

"I won't. I just—she needs us, and she has always been there when I needed her."

"She's going to need you again when we find her."

Emily nodded.

"Any dropped calls today?"

"Two…"

"I'm going to have you start keeping a log so that we can see if there is a pattern."

She nodded. "I'll write them down. I still have a log on my phone."

He watched her retrieve some paper. Nikolas is going to be a problem and he hopes that Emily will forgive him if he has to manhandle the prince. It looks like it will eventually come to that. He just has to somehow prove that Nikolas is the one who is making the calls so that he can confront him.

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The next morning, Elizabeth's eyes slightly flickered open, somehow, she's on the bed and not sure how she got there, but there is blood on the floor, and it hurts to move. She feels so weak and cold. The only good thing is that they had let her sleep. When she tried to move, a pain seared through her body.

"No, no…" she groaned. "Please baby, it's not time."

Feeling the wetness between her legs, she knows what it is and tries to yell for a guard and wonders if she's having contractions.

Something seems like it moves in the hallway, and she whimpers, hoping it's not Tom. Tears stain her face as she tries to be quiet and take deeper breaths, but she's starting to panic. As a whine leaves her lips from the pain, the light quickly turns to darkness, and she passes out again.

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Jason hit the back wall of the shower as tears gather in his eyes. "Elizabeth…" he whispers as he wracks his brain for clues.

As the water turns cold, he shuts it off and then dries off when a thought hit him and almost knocked him off his feet. Grabbing his phone, he dials Emily.

"Jason?" She eyes the clock and isn't surprised he's up at 7:00 am.

"Emily, have you ever spoken to Liz about Vista Point in public?"

She sat up further. "I'm sure I have. Why?"

"Recently?"

She tried to think. "Um, before she moved in, we were there, and I asked her what you guys used to do and she talked about riding and feeling the wind."

"Anything else?"

"I think she mentioned a statue."

"An angel?"

"Yes. Why does it matter?"

"There's a house there, but it's abandoned." It's practically falling down.

"You think she's there?"

"Maybe… Can you wake up Johnny and tell him to meet me there with a crew. There are caves there too, so tell him to bring equipment. I'll meet him at the parking lot and lead them to the house."

"I'm on it." She got out of bed and ran to the other room and threw open the door and then gasped. Johnny is a sight to behold in his underwear.

He almost groaned due to the lustful look on her face. "Emily?"

"Jason thinks he knows where Liz is. He needs you to meet him at Vista Point with a crew. There are caves there so have them bring equipment."

Johnny is already dialing Francis as he points across the room to some jeans thrown on a chair which Emily runs to get. He barks orders to Francis as Emily gets on her knees and helps him pull the pants on. When she zipped him up, he almost swore under his breath.

She grabbed a t-shirt from the dresser after searching through a few drawers and tossed it at him.

He put the phone on speaker while he pulled it on. "Alright, I just have to throw on my shoes."

The phone went dead as he struggled to shove on his work boots.

"What else do you need?"

He smirked, making her blush. "Do you have Sonny's number?"

"Yes." Francis had given her a contact list just in case."

"Call him and then stay here, okay? Cooper should be in the hallway."

"Alright, I'll make some coffee. Be careful!" she said as he ran out. She dialed Sonny and filled him in.

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Johnny arrived five minutes later than Jason who is pacing as he waits.

"Where is everyone?"

"Francis is down the road. What made you think she'd be near here?"

"I just—it clicked. She and Emily spoke about it at Kelly's, so maybe Faith had someone following them."

Francis pulled up with another SUV following and all the men gathered.

"We're going to head past the bridge. There is an abandoned house. I think Elizabeth is there."

Francis nodded.

"It's not far," he said as they moved toward the road.

"Tracks look recent," Francis said.

That made Jason move quicker, as he finally gave up and broke into a run. They come to a slight clearing and then spot the statue and move past it.

Jason moved into the house which is structurally unsound with Johnny right behind him.

"Someone has been here."

They search almost every room, careful not to fall through the floorboards, and then are shocked to find the control room, which is small, like an oversized panic room. It's the only thing that doesn't look like it's about to crumble.

"Holy shit," Francis said as Liz comes into view.

"Is that the basement?" Johnny asked.

Jason took off, going to the kitchen area which is in complete disrepair. The roof is partially caved in but there are no doors aside from what was probably a pantry.

"Try outside," Francis said.

They head out and immediately run through weeds to the side of the house and spot the entrance. Jason shoots the lock off and they climb down where there is a door. Surprisingly, it's not locked, so he pushes it open and rushes inside. "Elizabeth!"

He drops to his knees beside the bed and rolls her onto her back and feels for her pulse. "It's barely there. She's so cold."

Tom's voice fills the air, and they all draw their guns.

Realizing that it's a recording, Jason is livid by the disgusting things that are being said. "They will all die by my hands."

Sonny gulped. Before anyone can reply, Elizabeth is in Jason's arms with the blanket wrapped around her.

They hurry back to the SUVs and get in.

Johnny throws one of the men his keys and hops into Jason's car and takes off.

Jason grips her tightly. "Fight Elizabeth, you have to fight. I'm right here. No one is going to hurt you again. I'm so sorry."

The emotion in his voice is killing Johnny.

They somehow made it through the winding roads without Johnny killing them only to pass a police car.

"Fuck," Jason muttered.

Johnny pulled over and jumped out of the car.

"Well, look who it is," Taggert said with a grin.

"We don't have time for this. We need to get to the hospital."

Taggert's eyes narrowed. "Why? You try to kill someone."

"No, dammit! We just found Elizabeth."

Taggert rushed to the car and opened the door and is met with Jason's lethal stare. "Is she alive?"

"She won't be if we don't get there now!"

"Follow me…" While he hates her choices, he doesn't think she deserves to die.

Taggert took off, with Johnny right on his ass and they tore through the town.

Jason has never been so happy to see a hospital in his life. Sonny had already called Monica who had everyone waiting outside.

When the car stopped. Johnny jumped out and tore open the car door so Jason could get out and lay her on the gurney.

Monica took over. She already had Kelly waiting. Jason followed along, explaining everything he found wrong, and then he is stopped from following them into a room.

"Your mother will take good care of her," Epiphany said.

"We have to keep everyone away from her, especially Ric."

"I'll see what I can do."

"We don't know who did this."

Epiphany touched his arm. "Jason, you need to take deep breaths."

Jason's chest is heaving as she leads him to a chair. She is relieved when she sees Emily who rushes to her brother's side.

Piph explains what is going on.

"Is there a room we can go to for some privacy?" Johnny asked.

"Follow me."

They go into a family room, where Jason sits and then puts his head in his hands as he thinks about how she looked and how much she was shivering. "She was so cold, Em."

She rubs his back. "Mom will take care of her. I called Audrey."

"Thank you."

Before Emily could get another sentence out, Audrey entered the room.

"They just told me that they are giving her saline as Kelly is examining her. Monica thinks they will give her something to stop the labor."

"The baby is still alive?"

"She hasn't done an ultrasound yet. They are trying to find out why she's bleeding."

Audrey sat on the other side of Jason. "Thank you for finding her.

"I should have thought of it earlier. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. You found her before it's too late."

He isn't convinced. Elizabeth was barely holding on. Tears pricked his eyes. He shook off the words forming in his mouth as Audrey held his hand.

"Dear God, please be with Elizabeth right now and send her an angel to watch over her. Please don't take her or the baby from us. We pray that you guide the doctors and that she will recover from this. In Jesus's name, amen."

"Amen," Jason and Emily whispered.

Johnny's head jerked when the door opened. It's Cooper.

"Ric just arrived and Taggert wants to talk to you."

"Keep Ric away from me. Cooper, get as close to Elizabeth as you can."

"Milo is there now."

"Good. Bring Taggert here."

Johnny's brow rises.

"I'd rather get it over with."