A/N – Thanks for the comments! Hope everyone in the US has a great 4th.
Chapter 24
Taggert sighed as he reviewed the reports. Even more, evidence had come to light and he's starting to get a bad feeling because it's way too easy. Ric has been grinning like a fool and he wonders how far the DA is willing to go to get back at Jason for stealing his wife.
"What's up?" Brian asked as he plopped onto a chair.
Taggert pushed the piece of paper over and waited.
Brian smirked. "An eyewitness? Seriously?"
Taggert nodded.
"Who?"
"I don't know. It could be Ric. He's been way too happy for a man who lost the woman he loves."
"He has been walking around like he owns the place."
"I swear, if he's orchestrating this, I'm going to take him down myself." He has been waiting a long time to finally get a chance to put Sonny and Jason behind bars where they belong. The fact that they've never been caught but there is a trail of dead bodies drives him crazy.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'll gather everything together and arrest Jason when he returns regardless."
Brian's face contorted. "Even if he's innocent?"
"Even more, because if he does have a great alibi, I can use him to lure whoever is setting him up in."
"And you think that Jason would go along with that?"
"Probably not, but it won't stop me from asking." If Ric is making a fool out of him, he's going to rot in jail. "Do me a favor?"
"See if you can lift Ric's prints just in case."
"Oh, I know he can. I'll steal his coffee cup."
"Good man…"
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Jason handed Elizabeth a drink. "You okay?"
"I feel better than I did."
"I'm not the best at handling things when things don't go my way, or I'm pissed."
She almost smiled. "You think?" She has strong recollections of his temper.
He grinned. "I usually get into a fight or tear something down."
"Does it help?"
"Yes and no. My hands would probably say no, but sometimes it helps if I can't take it out on who I want to."
"I think if I started, I'd never stop."
"You want to go kick some waves?"
She finally laughed. "You are just hilarious now."
"Now? I always was."
She snickered. "Thanks for making me laugh."
He shrugged and when his phone rang, he answered it.
"What the fuck, man!"
Elizabeth could hear Sonny. "Speaker…" she whispered.
He did what she asked. "Don't blame me. I tried to warn you."
"It couldn't have been that bad," Liz said.
Sam wiped away a tear. "It was priceless."
"Worse than Jason?"
"Yes."
"Oh, I have to hear about it now."
"I'd tell you, but my mouth is about to be full."
"Evil…"
"Is she still alive?" Jason asked.
"I'm thinking of putting a hit out on her," Sonny said smoothing his hair down. "She touched my hair, Jason."
Jason's eyes widened as his jaw dropped. If there is a God, Max took a picture.
Liz slapped her hand over her mouth as she tried to hold in her laughter.
"What—what did you do?"
"I smacked her hand and then she smacked my butt."
Sam and Liz busted out laughing.
"It's not funny! If it was a woman getting grouped, the guy would have been arrested."
"Maybe so, but it's still funny because it's you," Sam said before wiping her mouth.
"She kissed me," he said before wiping his mouth.
Liz snorted.
"I pushed her back and told her to keep her lips to herself."
"Really?"
"Yes! I was pissed. When she said, what about my hands," Sonny said as he shivered, "I left."
"Wait. You left my pizza?" Sam asked.
"Hell yeah! She accosted me."
"Then how am I eating it?" She gasped. "You sacrificed Max?"
"Your damn right I did."
Liz is laughing so hard that the baby kicked.
"Did she touch him?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because he flashed her his gun."
The girls were begging him to stop.
"No more pizza!" Sonny yelled before hanging up the phone.
Jason chuckled at the state Elizabeth is in just as Monica and Audrey rushed into the room.
They came to a stop and stared as Elizabeth broke out in another fit of giggles.
"Help! My stomach hurts," she said as she collapsed against the cushions.
"What is going on here? I know Jason isn't that funny," Audrey said making Liz crack up more.
"I have to pee. Help me up."
Jason tugged her to her feet, and she rushed to the bathroom.
"I thought she was upset," Monica said.
"She was but Sonny made her laugh."
Monica shot him a look. "Sonny Corinthos?"
"Yup."
"Spill…" Audrey said.
Jason told them the whole story and they couldn't stop laughing.
Francis stood in the doorway. "What the hell is wrong with everyone in here?"
"Call Max," he'll tell you," Jason said.
He headed into the kitchen and by the time Liz got back, Francis was in stitches too.
Liz eyed Monica and Audrey. "Why are you back so soon?"
"We were worried," Monica said.
"Sorry…"
Audrey sighed. "We'll go back tomorrow."
"Jason and I are headed to the beach."
"Not without sunblock, you aren't," Monica said before heading to the bathroom to retrieve it.
"I'll bring you some lunch in a bit," Audrey said.
"Thank you."
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Emily came to a sudden stop, making Johnny almost fall to avoid smacking into her.
"What the hell?"
His head lifted and he swallowed hard. Nikolas is kissing some random girl and as his attention switched to Emily, he could practically see smoke coming out of her ears.
"I'll kill him," she growled.
"He's not worth it."
"I still want to rip his lips off."
Johnny smirked. "While I'd pay to see that fight, and bet that you'd win, there are other ways to make him pay."
Her head turned. "How?"
"I can get Milo to kiss you."
Milo snickered from his place next to a tree.
"What? You're not man enough to do it yourself?"
He tapped his lips as his eyes twinkled. "You couldn't handle these."
"I'll show you what I can handle."
Shocking him, she grabbed his jacket and tugged him forward just as Nikolas stopped snogging and looked up.
Milo cursed under his breath at the murderous look Nikolas is giving johnny as Emily yanked him into a torrid kiss.
Johnny, never one to ignore a challenge, changed the tide and grabbed her hair and took over, plundering her mouth passionately as Emily's toes curled.
"Get your fucking hands off her," Nikolas growled.
That just made Emily even madder, so she pressed her body against Johnny, and he growled, before lifting her so she could wrap her legs around him.
"Stop acting like a common whore."
Emily's head reared back. "Did he just call me a whore?"
"Yes, he did," Milo said.
"I'll fucking murder him where he stands," she said trying to get down.
Johnny knew it had gone too far, so he turned and headed to the car.
"Put me down! Let me at that asshole."
"No."
Nikolas suddenly smirked and Emily almost bucked off Johnny, but she doesn't have enough strength to complete the task.
"You are a no-class, arrogant, piece of shit, Nikolas Cassadine."
He almost smiled. She looks absolutely gorgeous. God, he misses her.
Milo can't figure the Prince out, but falls in line and then passes them to open the car door.
When Johnny pressed her against the SUV, Milo wisely went around to the driver's side.
"Take a deep breath."
"I don't want to."
When her eyes well with tears, he kisses her forehead.
"Forget about him."
"I'm trying."
"Look at me."
She focuses on his gorgeous eyes.
"Was that all for show?"
She shook her head.
"Good."
She slipped into the car and is shocked when Johnny shut the door and Milo locked the car.
"What's going on?"
"He's taking care of business."
Her eyes widened. "He won't kill him in public, will he?"
Milo smiled. "He wants to, but no."
Emily slides closer to the window. "Put it down a little, they are too dark."
He does so and she watches as Nikolas steps up to Johnny who promptly decks him and then Nikolas comes at him, which Johnny sidesteps. Suddenly, men with guns drawn surround Johnny.
"Milo!"
He jumps out of the car but stays in front of her door.
"What? You can't fight your own battles?" Johnny asked.
"You're nothing but a thug. I don't know what you did to get her, but she'll never be completely yours because she'll never get over me."
"Sounds like you want her back."
"Hardly."
"Then stop trying to hurt her or I will hurt you, and you'll never see it coming."
Johnny confidently heads back to the car and gets in.
"Don't ever do that again," Emily said punching his arm.
"Ow."
"He could have killed you."
"I think you got that in reverse."
"Johnny, Helena won't hesitate. Please—don't. I can't lose you too."
He put his arm around her as she cried.
Milo sighed. He already asked his dad to investigate the Helena situation. Maximus is always up for a challenge.
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Elizabeth squished her toes in the sand. "It was nice to laugh that hard again."
"Do I have to thank Sonny?"
Liz grinned. "You know you want to rub it in. Did Max reply?"
"Not yet." He asked for a picture of Sonny's messed-up hair. "Francis said I should leave soon I was thinking maybe five days."
"Why?"
"They keep fabricating more and more evidence and Diane is scared something will stick."
Liz sighed.
"You can stay here with Audrey and Francis while I sort it out."
She shook her head. "I don't want you dealing with that madness without me."
"I know, but Ric might try to make a move if he thinks he has me cornered. I need to keep you safe."
Her eyes welled with tears. "Is Francis willing to sleep with me?"
Jason's expression is part fear and fury.
"Not in that way," she said smacking his arm.
"I knew what you meant. I just didn't like it."
She threw up her hands. "I'm sitting here tearing up because I don't want to be alone. God, I'm pathetic."
"No, you're not. You're a survivor and a fighter."
"I guess I'm going to have to put on my big girl panties."
"But you're small."
She cracked a smile. "So literal…"
He grinned.
"Two days, Jason. I'm coming home two days after you. It's probably for the best because he's going to find out you are here and don't you think it's better that I'm closer to more guards."
Jason sighed. "Fine, but you're staying at my parent's house." Audrey won't like it, but he'll need her to come with him and Monica will have to stay behind because the cops won't believe her because she's his mother.
"That's fine with me. Cook's cookies are delicious."
"Cravings?"
"Yes. Maybe we can have Edward get the pizza next time."
They laughed.
She rested her head on his arm. "Is Emily back at Johnny's?"
"Yes. I guess there was a confrontation with Emily, Nikolas, and Johnny."
"What?"
"Milo called me. They kissed."
"Who?"
"Nikolas was kissing some girl and Emily kissed Johnny."
Her eyes widened. "I see. Why do you look like someone kicked your puppy?"
"No one has the guts to kick my puppy, but I'll play along. I just—I know a lot about them and honestly, I wanted her away from that life."
"Well, it's her choice."
"I know."
"Was it real?"
"Milo said it looked real to him."
Liz smiled and then schooled herself. "Sorry, but I like them and think they'd be great together."
He acted like he was silently mocking her works which garnered a shove.
"I don't want to have to shoot my friend."
Liz chuckled. "If he hurts her, you'll have to wait in line."
The water suddenly moved closer, and she yelped when Jason jumped up and then lifted her to her feet.
"Thanks," she said as the water lapped against her toes. "I like that you always try to be there when I need you."
"I will always do my best," he said as he moved her hair behind her ear.
"Then I will always do my best to be there for you too."
"Thank you."
Audrey scowls and then moves away from the window. "He should have kissed her."
Monica chuckled. "Please… The rate those two are going, there won't be a kiss until the baby is two."
"Bite your tongue… I will have Francis kidnapped and force them to kiss if need be. That is just torture."
Francis almost choked on his water making the women giggle.
"You need to warn me before you say stuff like that."
"There's no fun in that," Audrey said.
Monica fished a twenty out of her purse. "Twenty bucks it doesn't happen until the baby is born."
"Hmm, twenty on one month," Audrey said before retrieving it.
Francis grinned. "I think it will happen within a few days."
"A few days?" Monica said as she took his money.
"Yup. I'm guessing the day she gets back."
"Why?" Audrey asked.
"Because there's just something women like about a good-looking guy in handcuffs."
They rolled their eyes as Cody laughed. "I want in on this."
"What ya got?" Monica asked.
He handed her a twenty. "I'm going to go with two weeks."
"I'll be happy to take your money then," Audrey said. "Their heads didn't even move closer out there. They are idiots."
Liz frowned. "Who?"
Francis and Cody bit their lips so they wouldn't laugh at the looks of horror on Audrey and Monica's faces as Monica shoved the money in her pocket.
When Monica began to stammer, Audrey stepped in.
"The PCPD, of course. Hungry?"
"How could you guess?"
"Jason is missing an arm."
Liz spun to face him. "He is not."
Audrey chuckled. "Wash your hands and I'll fix you a plate."
Liz moved closer and kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks, Gram."
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Ric paced inside his office. Things are almost going too well. He has one more thing in the mix that will sink Jason for good. If he made Elizabeth forgive him the last time, he could do it again. Everything should come to light in the next few days. It had taken some work, but he hired the best man for the job and soon, the PCPD will have a tape of Faith talking about Jason threatening to kill her. It had been hard to piece together different audio, but the guy who managed to pull it off is that good. It's en route, and then, Jason Morgan is going to rot in jail. He just needs to figure out a way to lure him back.
Stopping in his tracks, he grinned. He has the perfect solution.
