Jason and Elizabeth sat on the metal bleachers continuing to talk and by the time all was said and done she actually felt better – almost like a hundred pound weight had been lifted from her shoulders. And even after revealing some of the darkest secrets from her life, there Jason sat listening and offering support. He never ceased to amaze her.

"Feeling better?" he asked when he saw the slightest smile cross her lips.

"Yes, yes I am. Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me. I just did what you would have done for me. I listened."

"Maybe, but thanks just the same." Elizabeth squeezed his hand with her own.

"Any time," Jason said returning her smile. "I better get back to work. I need to give those adjustments we made a test run."

Elizabeth looked out over the horizon as the large fiery red ball began to sink in the sky. "Yeah I guess you're right. It's almost dusk. I could have Benny turn on the lights if you want."

"That won't be necessary. I just need to make a couple passes around the track to make sure that vacuum line for the brakes is fixed."

"Okay."

"You want to watch?" Jason asked hopefully.

"Do you even have to ask?" she laughed.

As Jason readied himself Elizabeth moved lower in the stands so she would have a bird's eye view of the track. The thunderous roar of the engine bounced off the empty practice track and instantly Elizabeth felt a chill run down her spine. As if Jason sensed her excitement he revved the engine several more times filling the track over and over with sounds that Elizabeth couldn't seem to get enough of. He started at the pole just as if it was a real race and now she wished that she had suggested that she stand above him dropping the green flag signaling him to start. She remembered doing that as a teenager for her father. It was a definite thrill.

Jason took off like he had been shot out of a cannon and Elizabeth sat watching him take the banked turns with the greatest of ease. Even though the track was empty except for his car it was easy for her to see what a meticulous driver Jason was. He weaved around the track as if he were picking off other drivers left and right in his pursuit of the checkered flag. Elizabeth hung on the edge of her seat as Jason went high on the far end of the track and from where she sat it looked like he was inches from scraping the wall. She held her breath as he crossed from the high side to almost the infield with the greatest of ease. He was magnificent. He had skills she had never before seen in a NASCAR driver. Jason had moves that not even her father had in his hay day. She had to stop and wonder if that didn't just tick Pat Ryan off a little bit. Even to this day he considered himself a force to be reckoned with on the track and Elizabeth had no doubt that Jason could certainly give the 'Great' Pat Ryan a run for his money.

She sat there watching Jason as his car continued to circle the track. Her head was filled with so many jumbled thoughts but what stood out the most was what a good man Jason Morgan was. His abilities as a driver and the success that driving garnered could have easily turned him into an arrogant prima donna but he was just the opposite. He was the most generous driver she had ever met next to Leo. Jason was ready to lend a hand to his team mates without question. He never once acted as though his helping another would some how hurt his own chances. That attitude still amazed Elizabeth since growing up she had seen many drivers with self centered prospective.

Jason's blue car whizzed by once more and Elizabeth felt her hairs stand on end. Suddenly she felt a heat building from within as she concentrated on Jason's well thought out maneuvers as he navigated the empty track. She could hear the beating of her heart resounding in her ears as she allowed herself to think about Jason as more than just a celebrated driver but rather as a man – a man that had a hold on her heart. She realized that she couldn't deny it or rationalize away her feelings for Jason anymore. The fact that she had poured her heart out to him on so many different levels proved in spades just how much she was in love with him. Even during the time when she fully expected to become Billy Weston's wife, she hadn't dared speak of her childhood and adolescent years with her father. That part of her life she kept to herself knowing full well that Billy was so deep into her father's clutches that it wouldn't have mattered. He certainly wouldn't have taken her side not if it meant angering her father. Yet with Jason she didn't even hesitate. Jason Morgan was different. Jason didn't give a rat's ass what Pat Ryan did or didn't think. He wasn't there to make a name for himself. He wasn't there for any other reason than that he loved to race and that Jake had asked him to be there.

Billy stood in the shadows watching Jason as he circled the track. The fact that his rival was an outstanding driver wasn't lost on him in fact it only served to enrage Billy all the more. The longer he stood there the angrier he got. The way Jason effortless maneuvered his speeding car had Billy seeing red not to mention how close the pair of them was to one another in the standings. The very thought of Jason passing him by was eating Billy alive inside.

He reached for the railing grasping it so tightly his knuckles turned white. Just when Billy didn't think he get any angrier the sight of Elizabeth leaning against the railing watching Jason drive did just that. There she stood watching Jason the way she used to do with him. That very thought caused Billy's jaw to clench. It almost seemed like Jason slipped into Billy's place on so many levels and he just couldn't have that. He couldn't allow Morgan to claim the things that rightfully belonged to him especially things like his top of the heap standing in Ryan Racing or his place in Elizabeth Ryan's heart. Even from across the track Billy could see how engrossed she was in Jason. He couldn't allow that to happen. He couldn't just roll over and play dead when it came to any of it.

Billy trained his intent stare on the opposite side of the track as Jason slowed his car to a stop in front of the bleachers where Elizabeth was standing and watched as she bounded down the stairs and onto the middle of the track. Jason climbed out of the car leaning on roof giving Elizabeth a huge smile. "Don't get too cozy, Morgan. She's not going to be yours for long," Billy said under his breath before turning to leave.

Elizabeth slid across the metal stands and made her way down the stairs as Jason brought his thundering stock car to a stop. Cutting the engine the practice track fell silent as he climbed out of the window and easily leaned against the roof watching as Elizabeth quickly approached him. He couldn't contain the smile that played at the corner of his lips. Jason finally felt that he and she had turned a corner – a corner that there was no going back from and that excited him.

"Well?" she asked. "How's the brakes?" Elizabeth ran her hand over the hood of car and let the heat from the motor below radiate through her fingers.

"Good, they're good," Jason answered suddenly a little distracted by how seductive Elizabeth looked circling his car. Her hand trailed over its curves and as it seemed as though she was almost caressing it.

"You certainly put them to the test out there," she said absently still admiring the massive machine parked between them.

"You think?" he asked cocking his brow.

"I know," she stressed. "You were out there running some imaginary race and doing a damn good job of it," Elizabeth laughed.

"Why thank you," he said giving her a mock bow at her applause. "So you think I took the checkered flag?" he questioned.

"Most definitely," she assured him. "Don't you always?"

Jason felt his cheeks warm with the blush that her praise of his abilities elicited. "Not always," he said modestly.

"You don't give yourself enough credit," she said as she continued to admire his car suddenly she felt like she had never been this close to a stock car before even though in reality she had spent her whole life around them. She couldn't explain the rush that she was feeling all of a sudden.

Jason ignored her comment and concentrated on watching Elizabeth. They was her eyes twinkled and how her voice trailed off every now and again while she was talking about his run through gave him an idea. "You want to drive?" he asked.

That question took Elizabeth completely by surprise. In fact it stunned her really. Not ever in her entire life of growing up in the circuit had anyone – not her father, Billy or even Leo for that matter had ever offered up their precious car for her to sit in let alone drive. "Are you serious?" she finally asked.

"Yeah, do you want to drive or not?"

"Yes – oh yeah!" Elizabeth squealed suddenly unable to control herself. Quickly she made her way to the driver's side of the car and was doing her best to climb through the open window.

Jason found himself chuckling at her enthusiasm. "Hold on a minute," he said. "You're going to need this." He offered up his helmet for her.

"Oh yeah," she blushed suddenly embarrassed by how giddy she knew she was acting but Elizabeth couldn't help herself. It had been a long time dream of hers to circle the track in a speeding NASCAR and she wasn't about to give Jason any time to change his mind about his offer.

"I'm sure I don't need to tell you to watch the gauges, and not to red line the tach right?" he asked leaning his head through the opening. "You in there secure?" Jason checked the connections on the five point harness. Elizabeth felt a shiver run through her as Jason's warm hand brushed against her bare arm.

"I'm good," she said with a quiver in her voice. She was unsure if that shakiness was caused by Jason's touch or by the fact that she was about to take his car screaming around the track.

"See you at the finish line," he said with a smile tacking the window netting in place and backing away from the car.

Elizabeth lowered the face shield on Jason's helmet and griped the steering wheel tightly as she let out a deep breath. In an instant she would flip the toggle switch and the car she sat in would rumble to life – she was beyond exhilarated and scared to death at the same time. Growing up she had always professed to knowing she could handle a race car as it went screaming around the track it was that I have the world by the ass attitude most teens possessed but now that she was actually about to see if she really could do it she was shaking in her boots but that fear didn't stop her. Without warning her fingers easily pulled up on the toggle and the engine thumped and the rpms on the tach climbed as she pressed the gas pedal quickly beneath her foot. Jason slapped the quarter panel several times and before Elizabeth knew what was happening she was off and running.

Jason backed up against the rails and watched Elizabeth hesitantly start out onto to the track. However it didn't take long for her to catch her own grove and she was flying around the half mile practice track. He felt a smile pull at the edge of his mouth as Elizabeth fishtailed for just a second but quickly righted her error. "She's good," he said softly. Each time she raced by him, Jason was able to hear the engine rev as Elizabeth dumped the gears gaining even more speed.

It was strange for him to be sitting on this side of the track. It wasn't very often that Jason had the chance to witness his own car speeding around the half mile asphalt. It was even more difficult to believe that the driver behind the wheel was the novice that he knew Elizabeth to be. He imagined Jake saying that Elizabeth had as much of Pat's racing blood coursing through her as he had had Erik's. After all Jason had heard about Elizabeth's stormy relationship with her father, he actually felt sorry for Pat Ryan that he was too thick headed to see what a great daughter he had on so many levels.

Just as the thought passed through his mind Elizabeth slowed her pace some and came to a stop about two car lengths from where Jason was standing. His gate was quick as he closed the gap between himself and the car just as Elizabeth began unbuckling the safety harness. "So what'd you think?" he asked with a grin as he gently placed his arms under hers in an effort to extract her from the confines of his car.

"Oh my god!" she exclaimed feeling a bit unsteady as Jason lowered her feet to the ground. "That was AMAZING!" she gushed using Jason's arms to support herself.

"You okay?" he asked sensing her wobbly stance. He recalled his first ever time around the track and how when he climbed out of his father's car he ended up face down on the pavement.

"I'M GREAT!" Elizabeth shouted. "I want to go again." Already she was reaching her leg up into the car once more.

"Whoa, whoa," Jason laughed grabbing her easily around her tiny waist. "There'll be other times, I promise," he reassured her pleading cobalt eyes. Suddenly he felt captivated by those large blue saucers and the closeness of their bodies. Where their bare skin touched Jason all of a sudden felt as if he was on fire. "You're pretty good," he said looking for any distraction from the feelings that we bubbling up inside of him.

"Just good?" Elizabeth turned and looked at him almost incredously.

"Okay well maybe a little better than good," he laughed.

"Just a better than good?" Now Elizabeth fained a wounded expression.

Jason couldn't help but laugh out loud now. Her theatrics he found more than a little amusing. "Exactly what do you want me to say?"

"That I'm as good if not a better driver than you," she grinned sheepishly.

Jason felt his eyes grow wide. "Oh really? That's what you want me to say?"

"Yep," Elizabeth continued grinning.

"Okay, well how about this?"

"Yes," she prodded.

"You're at least a better driver than Weston."

Elizabeth nodded and chuckled as the thought of beating Billy out on the track in Jason's car no less traipsed through her head. "Thank you," she said taking a mock bow. The instant that she moved Jason missed her warmth.

"You're very welcome."

Without warning the sky filled with black clouds and began dumping buckets of rain. Elizabeth squealed as instantly the cold rain soaked her clothes. "Come on!" Jason yelled as he rounded to the other side of his car and began pushing the massive machine toward the garage. Elizabeth joined in momentarily but neither of them escaped the force of the pounding rain.

"Ugh!" Elizabeth sighed as she wiped her arms allowing the rain water to pool below her finger times. "Where the hell did that come from?" she wondered aloud.

"Beats me," Jason answered her rhetorical question just as a bolt of lighting ripped through the evening sky. Letting go of the rope that allowed the garage door to slam shut, Jason turned to see Elizabeth standing in a large puddle beside his electric blue car. The curves of her body were easily outlined through her thin shirt that hung wet against her. He felt his heart abruptly skip a beat.

"Did the inside get too wet?" Elizabeth asked as Jason walked around to the other side of the car.

"I don't think so." He leaned inside to assess the water damage if any. Elizabeth did the same from the other side and in the instant Jason was caught the faintest glimpse of her rounded curves spilling from the top of her lace bra. He heard his breathing quicken in his ears.

"Thank you for letting me drive," Elizabeth said pulling her head out from the inside of the car.

"So how'd she run?" Jason asked coming around to stand next to her allowing their shoulders to touch.

"She?" Jason blushed as Elizabeth continued. "Like the well oiled machine she is."

"You really did handle yourself well out there. I saw you fishtailing a bit but you corrected it without much trouble."

"Thanks," now it was her turn to go red in the face. "It's amazing out there. Nothing to stop you from going as fast as you want. Seriously, when can I drive again?"

"Looks to me like you got the bug!" he said all knowing resting one finger under her chin so that their eyes could meet.

"And what if I do?" she challenged.

"I'd say we get you a car of your own and see how you do with a little competition."

Elizabeth was stunned silent. Had she just heard him right? Had he just offered to get her a car of her own? She threw her arms around Jason's neck and hugged him until he thought he wasn't going to be able to breathe. Yet the light headed feeling he was experiencing had nothing to do with his lack of oxygen and everything to do with Elizabeth being so very close.

He dropped his nose to nuzzle her neck and inhaled deeply the scent that he had come to know as purely Elizabeth Ryan. He felt her quiver when his soft breath caressed her skin. Jason was aware of his own hairs standing on end as Elizabeth returned his gentle touch with that of her own, her fingers tangled in his wet hair.

For a split second he pulled back and forced their matching blue eyes to meet as if he was asking for permission to kiss her. Elizabeth swallowed hard around the lump in throat and stroked his cheek in response. Without hesitation Jason brought his lips to hers softly at first, feeling his way awkwardly through what felt like to him his very first kiss. It only took but a moment for Elizabeth's body to melt into his and their kiss to deepen to one full of passion and hunger.

Trying to catch her breath Elizabeth pulled back for a brief second her heart racing. Jason immediately pulled her against his chest once again as she wound her hands over the hard plains of his chest feeling each of his rippled muscles through the wet fabric of his tee shirt.

Jason's finger tip traced the line of her collar bone before cupping her chin in his hand and consuming her lips again. Elizabeth sighed softly when Jason's tongue parted her lips and easily slipped between them. Their tongues danced and dodged one another with intensity that neither Elizabeth nor Jason had experienced before. The world around the faded away until no longer were they standing against Jason's stock car in the Ryan garage, for the two of them there was only one another.

Tom shrugged off his wet jacket as he entered through the side man door of the garage. He was wondering if Jason had been able to work out the kinks he was having with his brakes and thought his friend might be in need of his assistance.

Tom stopped dead in his tracks the sight before him burning holes in his eyes. There stood a bare chested Jason Morgan kissing the girl of his dreams. For Tom it was like watching a train wreck. He knew he should turn away but something inside of him wouldn't allow it. He watched Elizabeth raise her arms over her head as Jason started pulling off her shirt. The bile rose in Tom's throat. The thought of what was about to happen next forced Tom from his spot finally. He closed the gap between himself and the door quickly and Jason and Elizabeth had been none the wiser of his presence.