Jason and Leo clinked their amber bottles together and took a congratulatory swig respectively. The bar pulsed with energy as it quickly filled with both racers and spectators from that afternoon's qualifying race. The blaring music from the jukebox in the corner attempted to drown out the even louder laughter of the many patrons but failed miserably. The two bartenders were in for a long night. It was always like this after a qualifier even more so after a feature.

"You know one of these days I just might shock you and beat you across the finish line," Leo said with a lopsided grin as he referred to the nice game of chicken he and Jason had played out on the track that afternoon. In the end though Jason's prowess as a driver had garnered him a first place giving him pole position once again, yet Leo's own showing had allowed him to start the upcoming feature only two places behind his friend taking the third starting position.

"Maybe so," Jason agreed tipping his bottle once more in Leo's direction all the while keeping his eyes solidly pinned on Elizabeth's petite frame standing at the bar with Melanie King. Neither had ventured to speak to the other since the day at the airport and it wasn't for lack of trying on his part yet it seemed as though she had gone into hiding and that worried him on many levels. Jason wasn't sure what panicked him more how strong his feelings for her were or the fact that he feared losing her from his life. That morning while he and Tom readied his car for the race all he could think about was if she would show or not. He had gotten accustomed to her presence there – come to rely on it actually. That was another thing that panicked him just a little. He had never relied on anyone other than Jake to get him through a race and now it seemed as though he needed her there more than he liked to admit. Even though she barely looked in his direction, when she showed up in the pits with Melanie he was relieved.

Leo's eyes followed his friend's gaze and knew who he was starring at even before he hit the target of Jason's stare. In the beginning Jason had been more overt with his questions concerning Elizabeth but lately he had become very obvious even though he seemed completely unaware of it. "Hey!" Leo yelled over the crowd as the two girls turned away from the bar drinks in hand. "come sit with us!" The young red head locked eyes with Leo and gave him a knowing wink. They were about to set their plans in motion.

"Come on, Liz," she said tugging at her friend's arm in the direction of the booth Leo and Jason occupied. Elizabeth eyed her wearily suddenly thinking about the list Melanie had come upon her writing days ago. A blush fell across her porcelain skin still embarrassed by the thought. "Come on," she pulled at her again finally getting Elizabeth's unwilling feet unstuck from the floor. "Great race today guys!" Melanie said sliding into the seat next to Leo. Briefly their arms touched and she tried desperately to squash the exhilarating senses that raced through her body. 'This is for Liz, I'm just doing this for Liz,' she repeated silently in her head.

"Thanks," they both said in unison.

"Aren't you going to sit?" Leo asked as Elizabeth stood at the edge of the table looking as though the vinyl clad seat was about to reach up and bite her.

"Yes," Elizabeth said in a snotty tone as she stuck out her tongue.

Leo laughed sensing that he was putting her in an awkward position but not caring in the least. It was so clear that these two had feelings for one another they just needed to get out of their own way and admit it finally.

Jason slid over making room for Elizabeth beside him. Instantly his muscles tensed as the heat from her body next to his assaulted him. It took all Elizabeth's resolve to stare straight ahead when all she wanted to do was look at Jason. She knew if she did that then all would be lost. She had been very successful in keeping herself busy over the last few days taking on more workload at the hospital in another social worker's absence, attending to some much needed organizing of things in her room at home anything that would keep her from thinking about Jason Morgan. Yet through it all that's all she could think about – him – the young man with chiseled features, golden hair and stunning blue eyes. The man who kissed her with such passion that it left her nearly breathless. Elizabeth wiped away the beads of sweat that had formed on her glass and fidgeted nervously accidentally kicking Jason's foot under the table. "Sorry," she mumbled barely turning her head.

"It's fine," Jason said wishing the chaos in the bar would fall away leaving them alone to finally talk. He wasn't sure what had gotten into him lately. Ordinarily he would have brushed off the feelings he was having – hell normally he wouldn't be having such feelings at all but when it came to Elizabeth Ryan Jason found himself in foreign territory unsure of just what to do.

Leo and Melanie turned and looked at one another both rolling their eyes at their friends. It certainly seemed as though they had their work cut out for them – even more so than they expected. "Liz," Melanie began trying to get her best friend's attention. "Liz," she said once more.

"Huh?" she mumbled as she averted her gaze from the door to Melanie's face.

"You think you can get off work for the upcoming race. I know your department is a little short handed these days," the red head said hoping to let Jason in on Elizabeth's vanishing act.

"I don't know," she said starring intently into the contents of her glass as she ran her finger along the edge of it.

Jason's heart sank at that remark. "What do you mean you don't know?" Leo chimed in. "This is the first time I've ever had a third place start in a feature and you're going to miss it!" He clutched at his heart as though she had just stabbed a dagger through it.

"I've got a lot of work to do," Elizabeth said though she couldn't meet Leo's gaze. Over the years he had acquired a knack for knowing when she was fibbing.

"Come on Liz," Melanie said in a doubting tone. "For god sakes you are the assistant department head. You mean to tell me that you can't delegate some of your work load for a day?" The young red head gave her friend a skeptical look.

"You said so yourself we are short handed," Elizabeth stressed suddenly feeling more than a little anxious as both Leo and Melanie continued to apply pressure about her attendance at the upcoming feature.

Jason sat beside Elizabeth listening while the three of them bantered back and forth about her coming or not coming to the race. Suddenly he wished he had never broached the subject of their kiss with her. He wished he had never mentioned the word or wanted to discuss what was happening between them. All he wanted was their easy going friendship back. He wanted them to be laughing and celebrating both Leo's and his victories but instead there they all sat squabbling.

"I said I didn't know. Can't we just leave it at that?" Elizabeth's tone grew harsh and both Leo and Melanie knew they were pushing too hard but the thought of Elizabeth's PRO/CON list about Jason fueled Melanie forward.

"You're coming to the race!" Melanie stated matter of fact.

Elizabeth let out an angered sigh. "I said I don't know!" And before Melanie could open her mouth to say another word Elizabeth hastily got up from her seat and in the process of doing so spilled the remaining contents of her drink onto her lap. "DAMN!" she shouted as the cold liquid quickly soaked through the tight denim fabric hugging her thighs. The empty glass skidded across the scarred table top as it left Elizabeth's fingers before she rushed away from the table.

"I'll go," Jason said just as Melanie was about to chase after her friend. Before she could protest Jason's long legs had carried him half way to where Elizabeth was standing at the bar.

"Well, not exactly how I planned to get them talking," Melanie shrugged, "but at least he went after her." Leo just rolled his blue eyes and took another swig of his beer thinking that maybe his plan to get Elizabeth and Jason together would be a bust.

"Elizabeth," Jason said reaching for her arm. When she turned to look at him he could see the tears threatening to fall from her thick lashes. Immediately all he wanted to do was wrap her in his arms but he stopped himself knowing that that action would only complicate matters all the more. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." She wiggled out of his grasp. The last thing she needed was to have her judgment clouded by what Jason Morgan's touch did to her senses.

"You sure?" he asked not truly believing her. "I could take you home if you want to change."

"I have my own car," she announced.

"Does that mean you're leaving?" he questioned tentatively.

There was a part of her that wanted to do just that – hightail it out of that bar and hole herself up in her room until she could make what she was feeling go away or until he was no longer part of her father's racing team, whichever was to come first. But the pull that Jason Morgan seemed to have on her rivaled the moon's effect on the tides. It was like no matter how far away she thought she could get it was never far enough because she found herself right back in the same place – wishing she was in his arms. Looking into his steely eyes she couldn't make her body move an inch. "No," she finally said.

Jason released the breath he had been holding awaiting her answer to his question. "You want me to get something to help you dry off with?"

"I'll be fine."

The pair stood in an uncomfortable silence surrounded by the deafening bedlam that filled the bar around them. Both wanting to say something but neither was able to find the words. "You want another drink?" Jason finally spoke. She nodded. Her hand shook slightly as she reached for the slender glass he offered her. "Do you think we could talk?" he asked pensively.

Elizabeth felt her body tense. There were those words again so similar to the question he had asked her at the airport. She wasn't ready to talk to him – not about what she knew he wanted to discuss. She wasn't ready to jump headlong into another relationship – a relationship with another one of her father's golden boys yet she found herself saying yes just the same.

"How about we go outside where it's not so crazy?" he asked thinking that shouting at the top of his lungs wasn't exactly what he had in mind when it came to discussing this all. She agreed and hesitantly took Jason's hand when he offered it as they snaked their way through the crowd to the bar's exit.

As Tom exited the men's room he caught the slightest glimpse of Jason and Elizabeth's departure from the bar. The fact that they were holding hands wasn't lost on him either. He felt his muscles go rigid as a mixture of anger and jealousy towards his friend he had never known before coursed through his body. "Jack Daniels, straight up," Tom said to the bartender as his stare bore holes in the door Elizabeth and Jason had just walked through.

"Look, look!" Melanie said with excitement in her voice.

"What?" Leo questioned having been pulled from his own troubled thoughts.

"Look over there! Jason and Liz – they're heading for the door, together," she stressed. "and they're holding hands!" she squealed. "Apparently I knew what I was doing after all!" she gloated.

"I guess so. How about another drink for the victor and maybe a dance?" Leo added as the music from the jukebox slowed.

"Okay," she said with a half smile more than a little pleased with what she thought she had accomplished.

A chill hung in the night air and Elizabeth wasn't sure if that was the reason she was shivering or if it was the fact that Jason was standing so close to her still holding her hand. When she attempted to unclasp her fingers from his he only tightened his grip. His action stymied her normally by now both would have dropped the others hand with great abandon. "You cold?" he asked feeling her shaking slightly.

"I'm fine," she answered. "You said you wanted to talk. So let's talk." There was an edge to her voice she wished it hadn't had but the logical part of her brain had finally taken the reigns again and she was beginning to think more clearly – or at least not so much with her heart.

"I'm sorry about the other day at the airport. I didn't mean to upset you."

"You didn't."

Jason stared at her with skepticism in his clear blue eyes. He knew very well he had upset her and the fact that she ran from him that afternoon and then had been ducking him for days now had been proof of it. "I feel bad about how we left things that day. Whether I upset you or not I feel a distance between us and well," he hesitated. "I don't really like it."

"Everything's fine Jason. I have just been busy."

"So you said repeatedly," he stated referring to the conversation he had witnessed inside between her and Melanie. "But I can't help thinking it's more than that."

"Jason, really there's nothing wrong. I just have a lot on my mind…"

"That a lot on your mind – am I a part of that?" he interrupted her. "Cause I know I can't seem to get you out of my head."

The directness of his statement once again took her by surprise. She couldn't wrap her head around how different he was. She had grown so used to the games men played and to have Jason's actions, his candor, changing the rules it had her more than a little confused. "I don't think this is a good idea," she said as he reached for her other hand.

"Why? Why isn't this a good idea?"

"It just isn't."

"Why?" The last thing he wanted to do was push her but he couldn't stop himself. He wanted to explore what was happening between the two of them and he could see it in Elizabeth's eyes she wanted that too even if she was too frightened to admit it.

"Jason, please, please just leave it alone. It's just better if we stay friends."

He had once thought that if all he could have with her was a friendship that would have been good enough but now as he stood their his large hands enveloping her tiny ones Jason knew that he couldn't just be friends with her. There was a yearning deep within him that wouldn't allow him only that. "What if I want more?"

Elizabeth swallowed hard around the lump in her throat that suddenly rendered her speechless. She found herself wanting to bolt as she had the other day. She didn't want to open her heart to this man even if in many ways she already had done just that. "And if I can't give you more?" The logical part of her brain countered.

"I think you can but for one reason or another you're afraid. You don't have to be afraid with me Elizabeth," he said softly stroking her cheek. His touch made her dizzy and she leaned into his hand wishing she could just forget the past and melt into his arms. "Do you know how special you are? I've never met another person like you. I've never let anyone into my life the way I have you. I can't imagine my life without you in it and if all you can offer me is friendship then I suppose that will have to be enough," he relented before dropping his hands. That was the hardest thing he had ever done before. He wasn't one to lie and while what he told her wasn't a complete lie it wasn't the entire truth either. Truth be told he loved her and he knew that if he said those words aloud to her he would have lost her forever.

Suddenly Elizabeth panicked thinking for sure that he would press her more yet he didn't. There he stood holding his heart in his hands for her to accept or not. She didn't know what to say or even how to react. Again Jason Morgan had proved himself to be unlike any other man she had ever known.

"You're freezing," he stressed taking notice of the way her body was shaking. "We better get back inside," he said moving towards the entrance of the bar.

Elizabeth watched him moving away from her and a tightness fell over her chest. She heard the rhythmic pounding of her pulse reverberating in her ears as words she had no control over fell from her lips. "Jason, wait!" she called to him. He turned around to see her large sapphire eyes starring at him with a great intensity. "What if I want more too – more than just friendship?" Once the words had left her tongue there was no taking them back even though there was a part of her that just for a split second wished she could.

For an instant Jason stood nearly dumbfounded. He hadn't expected to hear even that small omission from Elizabeth. In all reality he had fully expected her run tearing away from him as she had days before yet there she stood. There was an overwhelming urge surging inside him to reach out and blanket her tiny body with his substantially larger one yet he hung back knowing that Elizabeth had only made the most minuscule step in his direction. Jason knew he couldn't push, at least not more than he already had that evening. "I'd say that's a start," he offered with a slight smile. "Now let's get back inside before you freeze to death out here." Elizabeth nodded and scurried under Jason's arm as he held the door for her.

"They're back," Melanie said as she eyed Jason and Elizabeth over Leo's shoulder as they made their way toward the bar.

"Any noticeable bruises, blood stains?" he quipped still wondering if maybe the two of them should just leave well enough alone when it came to Liz and Jason.

"None that I can see. They're actually smiling, Liz is even laughing."

"What?" Leo's obvious surprise came through in his voice.

"Look for yourself. She's laughing and he's smiling."

"I'll be damned."

"You sound shocked. This was your plan… …"

"Yeah," he interrupted her, "but I never said it would work," Leo said with a half grin.

For a moment starring at Leo's bright smile Melanie lost her train of thought. As they danced she had enjoyed the way his arms felt wrapped around her waist far more than she wished she had. They swayed to the music talking now and again but mostly she took pleasure in the comfortable silence between them. She had wanted Leo's plan to work. She wanted Elizabeth and Jason together but she admittedly found herself disappointed that it had happened so fast. She hated herself for wanting it but she was looking forward to spending more time with Leo Jorgenson under the guise of matchmaking for their friends. "Huh?" she said shaking her head from her self induced fog.

"Liz and Jason are motioning us over to the dart board. You up for another guys vs. the girls rematch?"

"What do you think?" she joked.

"I say bring it on!" Leo laughed as he laced his fingers through hers as they made their way to the other said of the bar.