A/N – Thanks for the comments! I think Patient 6 shows up chapter 11

Chapter 8

Johnny opened the door and Maximus moved inside with some flowers.

"Ms. Johnson, welcome to Palermo." He is aware that she had gone on a date with his son. While he was surprised when he researched her, Johnny had assured him that Epiphany is a strong and wonderful woman.

She smiled and took the flowers he held out and then got a shock when Maximus kissed her on the cheek and then spoke some Italian.

"Okay, I need to learn that."

Francis shook his head, as did the boys.

"What did he say?"

Aidan grabbed a water bottle and sat on the couch. "He said, he can't wait to cook you a meal."

Her head cocked to the side. "You cook?"

"Oh, he's fantastic," Liz said.

"Then it's a date."

"She plays poker," Johnny said.

Maximus smirked. "Well, I guess you will have to join us on Saturday night. We'll have a big party at the house, and everyone can sleepover, so I can make breakfast in the morning."

The boys cheered.

"Alright, but I get her Friday night."

"I have a date," Maximus said making Liz's eyes bug out.

"Get out! Who?"

Francis snickered.

"Corelli, watch it."

"You're stalling," Liz said.

"It's a blind date."

Johnny shuddered, making everyone laugh.

"You'll be fine. If you don't like her, Johnny can take her out to the—wait—do you have pinelands here?"

Francis laughed. "You need to stop watching Sopranos re-runs."

"Keep it up, and you're gonna end up like Paulie." He is a character on the show and is a bit odd.

"Bite your tongue."

"Mom, we're going outside," Cam said.

"Alright."

The boys left and the adults sat around and chatted until Maximus had to take a phone call and left.

"It's just you and me. How are you?" Piph asked.

"I'm okay. We're in a groove now, so it's a lot easier."

"You certainly look better."

Liz slightly smiled. "It's so good to see you. How are things at the hospital?"

"It's the same. Sometimes, the players change, but you know how it is. There is always something to keep you busy."

"True."

"Do you miss it?"

"Yes and no. I love my art and just being a mom. Maximus taught me how to cook like a professional. I'm a teacher's aide for the art class at Aiden's school and I'm even learning Italian."

Piph smiled. "I'm glad. No love life?"

Liz shook her head. "I think that's the last thing I need."

"You can't run from it forever."

"After the boys are out of school, maybe I will, but for now, I think it's best to concentrate on my family."

"What about therapy?"

"I go every few weeks. We have a lot of ground to cover, but I'm learning to love and forgive myself."

"You got lost for many years, it will take a while to figure out a balance, but I'm proud of you for trying."

"Thanks, Piph."

"He's still a hot mess."

Liz sighed. "I didn't want that for him."

"Doesn't it feel a little good that you weren't that easy to forget?"

"I guess. I'm surprised that he hasn't turned to Sam."

"She's making it hard. The woman hasn't made it a secret that she wants him."

"I'm sure he'll go there. He always has. Does he remember everything yet?"

Piph shook her head. "No, but I think it's because he doesn't want to. He's been getting these headaches."

Liz frowned. "Did Patrick examine him before he left?"

"No, because Jason has refused to go there."

"I wish he'd take care of himself."

"Maybe the headaches are his body's way of making him acknowledge everything. Do you still love him?"

Liz shook her head. "No. I mean, it was a mess and I did all the wrong things."

"But you can't ignore your love for Jason."

"We never had good timing. Maybe he never belonged to me."

"Or maybe, you just were too big of a chicken shit to go there because Lucky was easy, just like Sam was easy for him."

Liz rolled her eyes. "Jeez, Piph, just go for the jugular."

Piph chuckled. "Alright, I'll fill you in on the Patrick gossip instead. He got in an epic fight with the board of directors."

"Now you're talking."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason crashed to his knees as he held his head. Voices chatter around him, but he can't understand anything because a barrage of pictures assaults him and he doesn't know what to do. After falling backward, until he hits the ground with a thud, his body physically recoils as memories pour into his head. As everyone scrambles around him, his eyes flutter shut and a pain that feels like being struck by lightning pierces his skull and he succumbs to the darkness.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Piph calls as Maximus stares her down.

He isn't sure if she's bluffing or not. Her stare is almost as blank as Jason's. Refusing to believe that she has anything of value in her hand, he goes all in much to her delight.

When she lays the full house onto the table, his house of cards crumbles, and a slew of curse words tumble out of his mouth and the boys are glad their mother is in the kitchen as they giggle.

"Pay up, Giambetti."

He growls. "You're a card shark."

She chuckled. "Now, don't be a sore loser. The boys are watching."

"I never want them to be complacent about losing."

"They won't be, but they also need to learn to lose graciously."

"I hate when you're right. Get over here."

She stood and they warmly embarrassed.

"I won't have Max take you out back," he whispered.

She laughed. "He isn't big enough to handle this."

"What did I miss?" Liz said before handing the boys two bowls of popcorn.

"She kicked pop's butt," Milo said. He had arrived that morning for a visit and is happy that his father likes Epiphany. While he's not sure if they'll continue dating, he values her as a friend too.

Maximus growled.

Jake smiled. Maximus has been very good to them and Jake hopes he can pay him back someday, hopefully by being his enforcer. For now, he watches and studies; eager to learn as much as he can.

"Nice," Liz said before giving Piph a high-five.

"That will pay for my next vacation."

Maximus shook his head and went to sit with the boys.

"I don't think I've ever seen him look so pitiful."

"He'll get over it."

They made their way to the back porch.

"I figured we could go sightseeing tomorrow."

"I would love that."

"It's a date then."

"I don't kiss on the first date, Webber."

Liz laughed.

"Unless it's old Jason. That man was fine."

Liz's mouth dropped open. "Epiphany! I thought you hated him."

"I hate his job, but I never said I hated his looks. Those abs—I don't understand how you let him out of bed."

Liz shook her head. "You are bad."

"I'd like to be worse. We need to find me a handsome Italian man who isn't afraid of big women."

"I'll get Johnny on it right away?"

Piph laughed. "I'm just kidding. Is he still single?"

Liz rolled her eyes. "Yes, and he has horrible taste in women, not like I have any room to talk when it comes to men."

Piph patted her leg. "You'll get it together soon."

"Sure…"

"Okay, I have to fess up."

Liz's head tilted. "Go on…"

"I did go on a date with a handsome Italian man."

Liz's eyes narrow. "You're holding out on me?"

Piph chuckled. "Milo asked me out."

Liz sucks in a breath and just stares for a long moment. "Milo Giambetti asked you out?"

"Yup. I probably would have never considered it, but he's so sweet that I couldn't turn him down."

"He's a good man."

"He's kind of goofy and makes me laugh, but he can be intense. I don't know. It made me feel good that he crushed on me even before I lost the weight."

"It's great when someone can see through your bs."

Piph grinned. "Yup. I'm not sure where things will go, but I have decided to just let it play out."

"Good for you."

Piph wiggled her brows. "I'm hoping it will be very good."

Liz gasped and turned red as Piph cracked up.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason's eyes blinked open and Monica rushed towards him.

"It's okay. You're stable, but have been out for a few days."

His eyes widened.

"It wasn't a coma. Can you tell me what happened?"

Jason thought back for a moment and then sighed. "I remembered everything."

"Define everything."

"I remember since waking up from my coma after the accident."

Monica blinked back her tears. "Are you okay about it?"

"I haven't had time to process. I just—it's a lot."

"Well, don't push it. You need to rest."

"What about the headaches?"

"Noah thinks it was all due to your memory coming back because your scans are fine."

He breathes a sigh of relief. "When can I get out of here?"

Monica laughs as she brushes a tear away. "That was typical Jason."

He smirks.

"It's late, so I'll have them free you in the morning."

"Thanks."

"Sam is in the hallway."

"Of course, she is, but can you not say anything. I just need some peace. I can't deal with her crying or looking at me the way she does right now."

Monica is surprised by the attitude but checks her reaction. "Okay."

"Isn't it past visiting hours?"

"I bent the rules because she looked so pathetic."

Jason rolled his eyes.

Monica kissed him on the forehead. "Rest, I'll see you in the morning."

"Thanks, mom."

She smiled. "You're welcome."

Once she clears the doorway, he shuts his eyes. Sam will have to wait until he can figure things out. He remembers everything, the good, and the bad and wonders if love is ever enough. It hasn't been the case for him in the past, and what a past it was. It would be easy to turn to her, but they had serious problems in the months before him being shot which he can't ignore that. He's not sure he can ever be happy with her and right now, he isn't in the frame of mind for a relationship. Next, he needs to figure out what to do about Sonny and Carly when they find out that he remembers them.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Elizabeth and Epiphany climbed into the limo Maximus had insisted they use.

"There's some cold water in the fridge," Francis said. Johnny had to run an errand for Maximus, so Francis had to handle tour duty.

"Thanks!"

He rolled up the window between them.

"So, I'm going to trust you with a huge secret. Are you game?" Piph asked.

Liz nodded.

"I guess there is no easy way to say it, so I'll blurt it out. Stan is alive."

"What! But I was at the funeral."

"It was Jason's idea. Things were going downhill fast and I came to him and begged for my son's life. I don't think he really wanted to step in because he gave some lame-ass excuse of it being Stan's choice, so I hit below the belt and brought Jake into it."

"Piph…"

"I know it was low, but he gave up his child to save him. Sometimes, with Jason, you have to be very to the point for him to see the whole picture. It worked. I hated seeing the pain in his eyes, but he agreed to let Stan go, but I found out later there was a price on his head from Jerry Jacks."

Liz sighed. "James Craig did so much damage."

"Jason went behind Sonny's back and had his men fake a shooting in Florida."

"Wow. Where is he?"

Piph slightly smiled. "He's in Atlanta and married. They just had a baby boy named Rory J. Johnson. The J is for Jason, the man who saved him."

Liz wiped a tear away and then threw her arms around Piph. "I'm so happy for you."

"I'm sorry that I couldn't tell you. I probably would have taken it to my grave, but I wanted you to see that you can start over and have a great life. Stan is doing great and his wife is lovely."

"Can I see a picture?"

Piph went into her phone and to a secure email that Spinelli had set up. "Here they are, feel free to sift through them."

Liz's eyes grew wide. "He's so cute and Stan looks so handsome. His wife is pretty."

"She's a teacher."

"Thank you, Piph. I will think of him whenever I have doubts."

"Good."

They went back to the cottage thinking that the visit was going much too fast.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Sam moved into Jason's hospital room. "Hi."

"Hey."

"How are you?"

"I'm doing okay. They are signing my discharge paperwork right now."

She sat next to the bed. "Good. I heard a rumor that you got your memories back."

"I think I have for the most part."

"So, you remember us?"

"Yes."

When he doesn't elaborate, she gets nervous. "And?"

"Nothing has changed."

"How can you say that, Jason? That changes everything."

"I'm still in love with her."

"She is not even here and hasn't been for over a year. Did you forget what she did?"

"No. I don't forget what anyone did."

She rolled her eyes. "So, you're throwing away what we had?"

"Do you want to be second choice?"

"Wow," she said as she rose to her feet. "I'm going to go before I say something I can't take back. I understand that you're frustrated, but you don't get to disrespect me. Call when you want to see your son." She's not giving up, not by a long shot. It's time to re-group and consider playing dirty. No one is going to get between her and Jason, not again.

He sighed as her high-heeled boots clicked on the linoleum. "Sam…"

"No, Jason. For today, we're done."

He hit the bed a few times hating that his cold façade isn't what it used to be. They are forcing him to be an asshole because they won't leave him alone.

"Are you okay?"

He looks up to meet Sonny's gaze.

"Yes."

"Jason, I saw Sam on her way out. She looked furious."

"Yeah, I know."

Sonny sat. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

"What can I do to get us back on track." Jason is known for being stubborn, but this is ridiculous. The five families are wary of the whole situation and feel like the former enforcer is like a powder keg ready to explode.

"We can't. It doesn't matter what I remember. I don't want to be a killer. I just want to find my family."

"You mean your wife and child or the woman who never chose you?"

"Get out."

Sonny smirked. "That look right there is the Jason I know and love. Why are you fighting it?"

"Because I'm not the same person. Despite my memories returning, my personality is different. I don't have that edge that is needed to be an enforcer.

"Maybe it would come back if you'd just give it a chance."

Jason stared him down. "No."

"What about our friendship?"

"Why do you care? You went on without me and did just fine. Do you think that hanging around talking about the good old times when there wasn't a lot, by the way, is going to somehow change me? Brain damage doesn't work that way and you know that."

"I'm not trying to upset you, Jason. I just miss you."

"I need some time, Sonny. Can you give me that?"

Sonny stood. "Yes. I'm sorry if I'm pushing too hard, but I'm willing to fight for you because you're that important to me."

When Jason didn't reply, he left.

"I seriously need to get out of this town." He closed his eyes. "Elizabeth, where are you?"