A/N – Thanks for leaving comments. A lot of soapiness coming up.
Chapter 30
Elizabeth wiped at her eyes. Diane is hilarious, and she's feeling the chemistry between her and Francis.
Audrey folded. "I just wanted you to know that I just saved your honor by not making you take off your pants."
Francis shook his head. "I'm scared to ask what I owe you for that."
Monica giggled.
Audrey's eyes twinkled. "I'll make you sweat for a while.
When Liz yawned, Francis shoved his shirt on and held out his hand. "I'll come back for my shoes and socks in a minute.
She chuckled, and then let him lead her to her bedroom.
"Are you going to be okay?"
She nodded. "He gave me his shirt to sleep in. I think that will help."
He smiled. "Should I have asked him for one too?"
She lightly punched him on the arm. "I don't think he would have said yes. Maybe Cody could help you out."
Audrey entered the room. "Monica went to bed, but Diane said she was wide awake."
Francis grinned. "Is that so?" The women are so obvious. He's not sure how he feels about Diane, but she is good company.
"Yup. Maybe you should go refill her wine."
"Doctor's orders?"
"Exactly…"
Liz chuckled. "Have fun."
He muttered something they couldn't hear as he moved toward the door.
"Oh, Francis?"
"I'm scared to turn around."
Liz cracked up.
"Nice abs…"
He groaned as he left.
Audrey smiled. "Well, that was fun."
"I'm beginning to think you just like to torture people."
"You think?"
"I know."
Liz grabbed Jason's shirt and went into the bathroom. "Be right back."
Audrey quickly changed and when she came back from using the bathroom, Elizabeth was already asleep.
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Jason stared at the ceiling. Justus had stayed for an hour. When he had pulled out a book on how to make people do whatever you want, Jason knew he was just as insane as the rest of the family. He wonders how Elizabeth is doing.
Their informant moved in front of his cell.
"You okay?"
"Should you be here?"
"Taggert sent me."
"Oh."
"Everything is going as planned, so sit tight and get some sleep because Ric will probably be on point in the morning."
Jason shut his eyes.
"Sonny said everything is good," he said before walking away. "By the way, Ric was on Courtland Street tonight. I made sure to get some good pictures."
Jason smirked. "Good job." That might come in handy at the end of this.
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Elizabeth climbed into bed.
"Are you okay, dear?"
"Yes, Gram. I'll warn you though. I may have a nightmare."
"I understand. Did they stop toward the end of our trip?"
"Yes."
"We will deal with it."
"Thank you."
"I love you, Elizabeth. I don't think you know how much."
"That means everything to me."
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Carly breezed into Kelly's for some coffee. She had argued with Sonny again this morning, and she can't stand that the asshole is lying to her. It makes her seethe. Ric glanced at her.
"Bad day already?"
She rolled her eyes. "You know why."
"My day is wonderful."
She eyed him warily. "Why?"
"Your best friend forever is lying in a jail cell as we speak."
"You're an idiot"
"Why? He's a killer, Carly. It would be smart to stay clear of him."
"Yeah, well, Jason has always had my back"
"Does he now?"
She glared at him. "You're an asshole"
Ric chuckled. "Don't be mad at me because he abandoned you for Elizabeth."
Carly is surprised she hasn't cracked a tooth. "She always needs rescuing. She's weak."
"You're so wrong. She is one of the strongest women I have ever met."
A noise left Carly's mouth. "That twit is a blight on Jason's life, and she is not even worth it. Elizabeth is nothing but a whiny, wishy-washy bitch. She didn't want you but took you back anyway because she was embarrassed that she had gotten knocked up. You can't even admit that she used you because you were so desperate to get Princess Purity back, that you didn't care that you weren't the one she wanted. After jerking Jason around, you weren't even a challenge to that manipulative con."
Ric glared. "You done?"
"I'm just getting started."
He leaned forward. "If you ever want my help again, you'll shut that trashy mouth of yours right now."
Her glare practically burned him.
Her chair was abruptly pushed back. "I still hate you." That was more for show, but she means it.
Ric grinned. "Ditto."
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The next morning, Audrey went to the kitchen where Diane and Monica are looking at the pastries that were delivered and sipping on coffee.
"Good morning. Is she still sleeping?" Diane asked.
"Good morning. Yes. She woke up two or three times, but I was able to calm her quickly."
Monica sighed. "It will get better. She just needs some time to adjust."
"Any word regarding Jason?"
Diane nodded. "Yes. He's fine. Well, as far as we know. He never complains or says much, but he's always thinking and listening."
"I noticed that." Audrey has observed him as much as she could. He is an interesting study.
"Some things about Jason are more complicated, but he is a creature of habit in more ways than one."
"He likes the stability. So much of his life is reacting to things on the fly, but what appears simple sometimes is strategy." Monica has gotten to know her son a lot more. "He schools his expression and emotions with most people because it gives him an edge and they can't figure out what he is thinking, but when he trusts you, he opens up and relaxes. It's so easy to judge him on what you see, but he's so much more than that."
Audrey nodded. "Elizabeth has always seen that other side. It's like he can't hide from her."
Monica smiled. "So, Diane, did you see any sides of Francis?"
Diane almost spits out her coffee. "Monica!"
Audrey laughed.
"Not yet, but I plan on it."
"If I were a little younger…" Audrey said.
"Back off Gram, he's mine."
Monica cracked up.
Francis joined them. "Good morning, ladies."
They all chimed in at once. "Good morning, Francis."
He chuckled as Audrey got him some coffee. "Where is my favorite charge?"
"Right here," Elizabeth said dragging herself into the room.
"How are you feeling, darling?" Gram asked.
"I'm hungry."
Monica slid over the pastries and a plate.
Elizabeth's eyes grew big. "That looks delicious." She put it one on her plate and then eyed Francis. "Did someone slip Jason some food?"
He grinned. "Yes. He had scrambled eyes, potatoes, and sausage courtesy of Sonny."
Liz smiled. "Good. Now, I can enjoy my breakfast."
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Jason sighed as he is moved into the interrogation room.
To his surprise, Justus joined him again.
"Good morning, Jason."
"Hi."
"I had breakfast with your family. They are all very concerned about you."
"I'm sure."
"Lila, in particular, is worried that you will be malnourished."
Jason smirked. "I had a good breakfast."
"She doesn't believe that Sonny can cook."
Jason almost laughed. "I can assure you that he can. Tell her not to worry and maybe I'll have him cook for her one day."
"I'm sure she would like that. Ric is already in the office. Johnny gave me a note for you."
Jason took the paper from his hand.
"Dearest Emily, when you came into my room wearing that negligee last night,"
Jason's glare is so fierce, that it made Justus uncomfortable. "I'm going to kill him." He continued.
"Psych, you are so easy. Don't hurt Justus. Lila will kill you. Hang tight. Taggert got a lead regarding the witness courtesy of Stan. The man had a substantial amount of money deposited into his account. It will be harder to dispute the tape of Faith saying that she was afraid of you, but in the end, we think that all the other evidence will get you off the hook. Diane will show up tomorrow morning and get you out of there one way or another. Elizabeth is fine, and Emily is more than fine. Who knows, someday, you may be my brother-in-law. Later, loser."
Jason gagged making Justus frown.
"What did he say?"
"Read the last sentence."
Justus did and chuckled. "So, Emily is dating one of your guards? Interesting… Does the family know?"
Jason rolled his eyes. "What don't they know?"
"Not much gets by them. If Ric comes in, I will tell him that we have nothing to say to him. I don't know how long they'll let you hang out here. Taggert will try to distract him a little longer."
"I'd rather Taggert work on getting evidence against Ric."
"Never thought you'd work with him, did you?"h
"Hell no."
Justus grinned. "Oh, how the tide has turned."
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Ric made a few calls. "Did you find her?"
"No, she's out of sight and not on the island. We checked. Some couple is there. The guy had a heart attack or something and is recovering."
"That must be the guy Jason saved." It kills him that Jason saved the man and got good press from it. It distracts people from the fact that he is a killer.
"I heard they are coming back tomorrow."
"Anything else?"
"No, and you already have everything there is to know about Sam McCall. Why did you want that information anyway?"
"Carly…"
"You might live to regret that alliance."
"Tell me about it."
"Does she have any weaknesses?"
"Not really, except for the kid she is carrying and her brother who has mental issues."
"Alright. What about Emily?" He needs to keep Jason distracted in case he gets out.
"She's staying with one of Jason's guards. They kissed."
"Wow, she went to the bottom of the barrel."
"Helena Cassadine is not happy with her."
Ric smirked. "Good to know." He is sure there is a lot to the story but getting tangled with that lunatic when he's distracted by Jason is probably not a good idea. "Did you get what Carly needs for tomorrow?"
"Yes." Although, he thinks Ric is an idiot for helping the woman with her schemes.
"Keep in touch."
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Liz sat back as she watched the other women work on a large puzzle. It's relaxing and the banter and putting it together is keeping her mind occupied. She glanced at her growing belly. Soon, she is going to be a mom and it seems otherworldly.
Francis handed him his phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey," Sam said. "How is it going?"
Liz smiled. "I'm good. You have a bigger bump yet?"
"Yes, I do. I had to go shopping for pants. It grew so fast."
"I'm banned to the hotel room, but it's not so bad."
"Yeah, I've been laying low. Carly is being a bitch as usual, and Sonny doesn't want me to engage with her. If I weren't pregnant, I would have drowned her in the river by now."
Liz chuckled. "Yup, she tends to make you want to commit murder."
"Emily stopped by yesterday."
"How is she?"
Sam grinned. "She is crazy about Johnny."
Liz squealed drawing the women's attention. "I'll explain later," she whispered. "That is the best news ever."
"I have a feeling she'll seduce him soon. He's being a gentleman."
"Damn, mob men. You wouldn't expect them to be so chivalrous, but they are."
"What about you and Jason?"
"Slow and steady…"
"Do you still want it to be?"
Liz sighed. "Yes and no," she said before getting up to move over to the window. "He's hot and all, but I want us to do it right this time."
"You can do it right and do it."
Liz blushed. "I know."
"Maybe you should just lay one on him the next time you see him and that way there is no confusion."
"He'll think I've gone mad."
"Well, you are probably hormonal."
"True. I'll think about it."
Audrey eyed her granddaughter who is gnawing on her lip. "Who is she talking to?"
Francis sat next to her. "Sam, Sonny's girlfriend."
"Ah… What is she like?"
"Hardened and edgy, but she's not that bad."
"And Elizabeth likes her?"
"They bonded over that nasty pizza, remember?"
Audrey's nose scrunched. "Oh, yes. I do."
Elizabeth's laughter filled the room.
"That's a nice sound," Monica said.
"Let's hope there is more of it."
Surprising Elizabeth, Sonny got on the phone.
"Hello."
"Hi, Sonny."
"I wanted to let you know that I'm slipping Jason meals and I hear that he is grumpy but fine."
Liz smiled. "Thank you for the update. I appreciate it."
"When you get back, I'd like to make you dinner at some point. I'll make anything but that gross pizza."
Sam and Elizabeth cracked up.
"Now, Sonny, you can't deny a pregnant woman."
"Oh, yes, I can. Make Johnny go. She'll love him."
Liz had tears in her eyes. "That's the best idea you've had in ages."
Sonny smiled. "Just let me know what you are in the mood for. I like cooking my sauce the night before."
Liz's mouth is watering. "Alright, I'll be there the day after tomorrow and I'd like Lasagna Bolognese, please."
"Great choice. I won't disappoint."
"Thank you."
"Talk to you in a few days."
Sam took the phone off speaker mode. "I'm back."
"That was a good surprise."
"He's being very attentive. Great choice by the way. He better make a lot."
Sonny chuckled.
"He knows better. The guards will want some too."
"So, tell me about the island."
They chatted for another half-hour before Liz went back to the puzzle.
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Edward smirked as he looked at the picture of Ric when he discovered a very nasty note on his car that said, Ric, the prick.
"You look full of yourself," Lila said.
"I am. Getting back at Ric makes me happy and productive."
Lila giggled.
"I just have to plan my next punishment."
"Go to a local farm and get a dump truck full of manure and dump it on his porch and lawn."
Edward's eyes widened. "Lila Quartermaine, where in the world did you get that idea?"
Lila grinned. "He stinks, so I thought making him smell like filth is perfect."
He got up and kissed her. "You are a genius. I hope I never anger you that much."
"Oh, you have, but I dealt with you in other ways."
"You can be rather feisty when you're mad."
"Always remember that dear. Now, I'm going to go have some tea while you work on the plan."
"I'll join you later."
She moved her wheelchair out of the room, leaving her husband with a big grin on his face. He snapped into action and made some calls. Ric is not going to be happy when he returns home in the evening.
