A/N – Thanks for the comments! Hubby is healing. Won't be back to work until the 20th. Not sleeping well, but slowly getting better. Thank you for asking.

Chapter 20

Jason jerked awake and panic fills his body as he realizes that Elizabeth isn't in the bed. He jumps up and then spots her outside on a chaise staring at the water. Quickly, he used the bathroom and then joined her.

"You okay?"

She turned her head until her gaze landed on him. He looks tired but good. "Yes. Monica took the catheter out, and Francis brought me out here."

There is a stand next to her with the saline hanging from it and a device on her finger for her blood pressure.

"Do you hurt?"

"I'm a little sore. It's beautiful here."

She is wrapped in a blanket.

He moved to the railing and scanned the area.

"I need you to tell me what happened when you found me."

Her detached tone made him catch his breath. He slowly turned and looked down for a minute as he gathered his thoughts. "I remembered about the statue and the house and decided to check it out. Once I put it together, I asked Emily if you had ever discussed it with her and she recalled having a conversation at Kelly's. We figured that Faith didn't go far and may use a place that has some meaning for us."

She nodded as she gripped the blanket.

"We located the control room first and saw you laying on the floor in the monitors, and then we found the basement. When I first spotted you, I thought you were gone." He looked away as tears clouded her eyes.

"Go on."

"I made sure you were breathing and then wrapped you in the blanket and took you to General Hospital. Ric showed up and we told him that he couldn't see you. He tried to say you are his wife, but the divorce is final."

"Do you think he had anything to do with it?" She can't help but

feel relieved that she is no longer connected to Ric in any way.

"No. It was Faith."

She nodded. Considering that he still bears part of the blame, that is no comfort to her.

"Did you ever see her?"

"No."

"I heard Tom's voice."

She recoiled. "It was awful." There aren't words to describe what damage that did.

"I'm sorry. She tried to get him out of jail."

She began to panic, and he ran to her and held her.

"Audrey and Ric stopped them."

She is shocked. "My grandmother went to a parole board hearing?"

He retreated and was just about to answer when Audrey stepped forward.

"You're damn right I did. There was no way I'd let that bastard get out and hurt you."

"He still did." Words can have a lot of power.

Audrey nodded. "It must have been horrible having to listen to him."

"It was."

"You let me worry about him," Jason said.

"I don't want you to get in trouble."

"I won't. Do you trust me?"

She didn't even hesitate. "Yes."

"I didn't think you were safe there. Faith is still on the loose and Ric was determined to get to you, so I decided to kidnap you."

She chuckled as she wiped away her tears. It's such a Jason thing to do. "Go on…"

"Edward called a friend and arranged for us to be here."

Her brow rose. "You asked Edward for help?"

"I would have asked the devil, so why not him?"

She slightly smiled. "Thank you. Did he blackmail you?"

"No. Lila would have kicked his ass."

"Good."

"You bought me things to paint with." She had spotted them earlier.

"I thought it might help."

"Thanks."

"Do you want to go back inside?"

"No. I just want to sit here and look at the ocean."

Audrey left.

"Okay. I won't be far."

She reached up and palmed his cheek gazing deeply into his eyes. "Thank you."

"I think you know I'd do anything for you."

"I know. I can't imagine my life without you."

"It would suck."

She smiled and this time it truly reached her eyes. "I want to warn you that I'll probably be a hot mess for a few weeks." She needs time to process everything and get her footing.

"I'm not going anywhere. Do what you need to do." He can't fix this, but he sure can do whatever she needs.

"Thank you for being willing to give me some space."

"Oh, trust me, I won't be out of earshot. I need to be by your side. I hope you'll let me."

"I need you too." He exudes strength and protection, and she needs that right now. While she doesn't feel completely broken, having Tom taunt her like that was beyond disturbing like she had been violated again.

He kissed her hand. He pointed across the way where Francis and Cody are standing. "I'll be right over there."

"Okay." She likes that at least he'll be where she can see him. It's such a relief to not be in Port Charles. While she knows she'll have to go back there eventually, it's like a weight had been lifted and she can breathe again.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Monica put the book down she was reading. "Did she eat?"

Audrey sighed. "A little bit. She said she wasn't hungry but knows she needs to eat for the baby."

"I think it might take a few days for her appetite to reappear."

"I agree. I will have to get down and dirty and make her favorites."

Monica chuckled. "Good plan."

Francis entered the kitchen. "How's it going?" He grabbed the coffee pot and poured himself a cup.

"She is stable. I don't think everything has hit her yet."

He nodded and then took a sip.

The women eyed each other, and he knew they were up to something.

"Francis, we need your help."

"What's going on?"

"When the time is right, we'll let you know, we need you to nudge Jason in the right direction." They had been discussing it earlier.

His brow rose as his curiosity got the best of him. "Okay…"

"Well, we think that for Elizabeth's safety, they should be an actual couple before they leave here."

He fought a grin. "Really?"

"Yes. Don't you think it makes sense?"

"Well, why I would like to see them get to that point sooner than later, Jason is stubborn and so is she. I don't think he'll make the first move. Let's see how things play out."

"We can do that—I guess."

He grinned at the sound of Audrey's disappointment.

She got up and poured another cup for Cody and handed it to him. "Make sure that Mr. Paul gets that."

"I will. Thanks."

"While he has a point, I still don't like it," she said after he left. Jason is too quiet and respectful.

"I think being here will do them wonders. We may not even have to work hard. Do you see the way he looks at her?"

"I agree. They just need some nudging."

"I can't believe you are so on board for this."

"I want her to be happy and I think he can do that for her. Besides, the man deserves some happiness too." The more she sees how much he dotes on Elizabeth, the more she likes him.

Monica nodded. "I agree."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Taggert looked up when someone entered his office. "What did you find?"

"It was owned by a corporation."

Taggert frowned and studied the document he had been handed.

"After doing some digging, we figured out that Sonny Corinthos is the owner."

"Jackpot…"

"There were no fingerprints lifted, but the caliber of bullet is the one that Jason Morgan usually uses."

You couldn't wipe the grin off Taggert's face.

"We need to see if we can make some connection between Elizabeth's kidnapping and Faith Roscoe."

Ric entered the office. "I think I can help with that."

Taggert's gaze shot to him. "How?"

"This was in my mailbox this morning." He handed him a recorder that Taggert played. It was a long conversation, but when it finished, he clapped his hands together. "Bingo…" This is going to be the biggest case of his life. "Brian, see if you can't find Jason Morgan. If you can't, put a warrant out for his arrest."

"You got it."

Ric could barely hide his smile. Finally, the mighty will fall and then he'll have his brother and Elizabeth right where he wants them.

Taggert had noticed his demeanor and it was messing with his head. Everything is very neat and tidy, and Ric does have an ax to grind, but he'll worry about that later. The opportunity to finally put Jason Morgan in jail is making him salivate.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason sat next to Liz on the balcony.

"I can still feel the cold of that floor. It's like I still can't get warm enough."

It had gotten up to seventy-four and she still was almost shivering.

"When you're ready to talk about it. I'm here unless you want to speak to someone else."

She nodded. "Soon…" She is trying to get her thoughts straight. "Will you continue to stay in my room?" She had fretted the entire day about being alone in the dark.

"Yes."

"Thank you."

When she slightly jumped and then placed her hand on her belly, a small smile edged onto his face.

"She's moving a lot today."

"That's good."

"If I had lost her—" Tears welled in her eyes. It has been hard to control her emotions and she's just too tired to keep them in check.

"You didn't and protected her the best you could."

"When I figured out that I was bleeding, I was so scared."

"Kelly stopped the labor."

"Part of me is afraid to let everything pour out of me because I don't want to hurt her."

"Keeping it in might hurt her more. Monica and Audrey are here. They will help you."

"I can't believe that you brought them with you."

"They kind of insisted."

She smiled. "That sounds like them."

"Lila sends her best."

"Can you imagine if she was here too? You'd be in trouble."

He nodded. "Your grandmother and Monica are a handful as it is."

"I think Gram likes you now."

He slightly blushed and looked at the water.

"You grow on people, like a fungus."

His head jerked. "Now that sounds like something my sister would say."

"I miss her."

"I didn't want her to cancel her medical appointments, or she would have come too."

"I understand." It's nice to have so many people care. It's something she doesn't take for granted.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Emily stopped in her tracks.

"Well, well… Look who it is."

Just the drawl of her voice made Emily feel sick to her stomach. Cooper moved closer.

"What do you want?"

"Absolutely nothing from you. Nikolas is doing so much better without you. It's amazing what a change of scenery will do."

Johnny rushed toward the docks when Cooper alerted him.

"I could use one now," Emily muttered.

Before Helena could open her mouth, Johnny stepped in between the two.

"What do you want?"

Helena's gaze brushed up and down his body making him feel dirty. "Well, Emily, I didn't think you had it in you. Do your parents know about your friend? It didn't take long for you to move on." She snubbed her nose at him.

"I suggest you move along."

"It's a public place. I will move when I feel like it. Mr.?"

"None ya."

Emily snickered.

Her attention went to Emily. "You are so beneath Nikolas. I can assure you, cancer may have failed to take you out, but I'll have no problem disposing of you properly if you don't keep your distance."

Johnny growled and stepped forward and there were several guns raised.

"You have no idea who you are messing with, but I can assure you that you are no match for me. I have a meeting and you both are a waste of air, although, I suppose you probably have something useful," she said as her eyes landed on his mid-section.

"I would rather die."

"That could be arranged." She waved her hand and was surrounded as she made her way to her limo.

"Bitch," Johnny muttered.

"I think she wants you, O'Brien."

Cooper gagged.

"Are you trying to make me puke up my delicious lunch?"

Emily smiled. "Maybe…"

"Evil…"

She held onto his arm. "Let's get out of here. She gives me the creeps, or maybe it's her henchmen."

He chuckled. "You think she sleeps with them?'

She slugged him in the arm. "Thanks for the visual."

"Any time…"

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Carly's eyes narrowed as she watched Sonny sneak a kiss with Sam before they parted. "Bitch," she muttered. That's why he doesn't want to get back together. He's still screwing that skank.

Jax moved forward. "What are you looking at?"

She spun around. "Um, nothing."

He looked around her. "Oh… Are they still together?"

"Why do you care?"

He shrugged. "It still rubs me the wrong way that he's the father."

She frowned. "No, he's not. It's someone else's. She played both of you."

Jax chuckled. "Is that what Sonny told you?"

She nodded.

"Wow. Maybe I'm glad I came to my meeting in person." It's a chance to stick it to Sonny. "Sorry, but he is the father. I was there when the test was read."

She almost bit a hole in her lip.

"Well, I have to go. I'm needed in the City."

All she could do is stare as he walked away, and then angry tears stung her eyes. He lied and is making a fool out of her. Stomping her foot, she dialed her phone. It's time to get revenge and she knows the perfect person for it.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Elizabeth watched Jason move toward the stairs. "Meeting over?"

He nodded. "I was wondering if maybe you'd take a boat ride with me tomorrow.

"Really?"

"We can't go fast so don't even ask."

She pouted.

"You still want to go?"

"I think it would be nice, but I'm still a little shaky."

"It's okay. I'll carry you on board."

"Then yes…"

The sun is starting to go down.

Liz sniffed the air. "I think my Gram is trying to lure me inside to eat.

"It does smell very good. Are you hungry?"

She shook her head. "No, but I know I need to eat for the baby."

"Can I tell you a secret?"

She slightly smiled. "What?"

"She made chocolate cake."

Liz's eyes widened. "I can't let the baby down then."

Cody joined them and helped get her cords situated before Jason lifted her.

"You're going to turn our child into an addict."

"Is being addicted to chocolate that bad?"

He thought for a minute. "Maybe I can use it to bribe both of you."

She clucked her tongue. "You have to play fair."

"Do I?" Their gaze met as all eyes landed on them.

She felt her cheeks slightly burn. "If you know what's good for you because I have had years of scheming with your sister. Face it, you're no match."

He smiled. "Is that right?"

"Yup."

Audrey grinned as she locked gazes with Monica, both thinking this is going to be easier than they thought.