A/N – Thanks for the comments! I hope everyone is staying safe! I've been working from home since last Thursday per my employer. It's going to be an interesting couple of weeks. Anyway, I've been trying to be a little humorous so it's not all dire and depressing.

Chapter 9

The next morning, Georgie and company arrived on a private island in Ontario Canada. No one else would be on it, so they don't have to worry about being sighted. Itineraries were hidden and the helicopter would stay with them. The house is stocked with everything they need.

"It's beautiful," Georgie said as she gazed at the water.

"Your father has great connections."

Georgie nodded. "He hasn't always come through for me, so I'm glad he did this time."

A WSB agent had accompanied them and would also be staying. "Follow me," Chuck said.

They went inside and Georgie changed the babies and then with Milo's assistance they went downstairs and put them in highchairs so they could feed them. Logan went with Chuck to do a sweep.

"Liz must be going out of her mind."

"She's tough. Jason chose well."

"I like her a lot. The boys are going to miss her." They had been a little fussy and she's worried it will get worse.

"Hopefully, we won't have to be gone that long."

"Yeah. Mac wasn't too happy, but when he found out my dad was involved, he reluctantly agreed."

"Do they get along?"

"For the most part, yes." Mac doesn't like that her parents had chosen their jobs over their kids, but always tried to dial it back when they were around.

Once the boys were fed and cleaned up, they played with them for a while and then put them down for naps.

"What's Jason really like?"

"He is a lot how you see him, but he lets his guard down around us. Believe it or not, he has a sarcastic sense of humor. His delivery isn't always great, but it's funny just because it's coming from him."

"I get that."

"He's loyal and has a big heart. When Johnny's mom passed away in Ireland, Jason took care of everything and flew us out there to support him. It was a beautiful memorial and Johnny and his father were very moved by his generosity. He takes care of the people around him. Who knows, maybe it was because he hoped someone would take care of him when he needs it—like now."

She nodded. "I treat people how I want them to treat me."

"I like you, Georgie." He waited to see how she would respond and when a bright smile graced her face, he gave her one right back. Hopefully, he could use the trip to bond with her further. She's beautiful, funny, and compassionate; all traits he wants in a wife.

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Eva left the bathroom and then stretched.

"How are you feeling?" Liz asked.

"Okay. I have a slight headache, but other than that, I'm just a little tired."

"Maybe you should get back into bed."

Eva shook her head. "We have too much work to do."

"And if you run yourself ragged, you could be out for days."

"I woke up this morning with a thought and I've been mulling it over."

"Go on…"

"I think Jason can hear everything."

Robin turned away from the brainwave machine to focus on them. "Why?"

"It just makes sense. Are you seeing it from the readings?" Eva asked.

Robin made a face. "It's kind of leading me in that direction. A pattern has been hard to come by though."

"If you stop and think like James, then you'd consider what the ultimate torture would be. Jason having to hear everything around him would be horrible. Maybe the reason he showed up at the hospital was to get to you, so Jason could hear it, but wouldn't be able to do anything about it."

"Well damn…" Liz muttered.

"So, new focus—the drug Zolpidem."

Robin frowned. "I read something about that. Even though it's used to treat insomnia patients, in some coma patients, it had the opposite effect and it woke them up."

"Exactly… Imagine if they found a way to give him just enough drugs to keep him present, but not wake him up all the way."

Liz let out a deep sigh. "He was missing for several days before Sonny found him. The only way to administer that would be via an implant like Nexplanon or Probuphine." She tapped her lip as she thought for a moment. "If we remove it, he'll still be paralyzed and would lose whatever consciousness he has now, but—"

"—if we give him a higher dosage, he could possibly wake up and communicate in some way," Eva said. There's no way to know if the paralytic is more targeted or if it will affect all of his muscles.

"This is incredible. We need to do a scan," Robin said.

"How are we going to smuggle him downstairs?"

Monica had been listening from the doorway. "With the vent, it would be hard to do."

The other women turned to face her.

"I heard what you said. I think for this a CT scan would do and I can get a portable one up here."

"Let's do it," Liz said.

Monica disappeared into the hallway as the three women huddled together and made some plans.

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Once Jason's body was scanned they went into another room to view the results.

"What's that?" Robin asked pointing at his arm.

Liz smiled. "It's an implant."

"Bad news, there's one on the other side in his leg," Eva said.

"So, we don't know which is which, but we do know that is how they are keeping him paralyzed," Liz said.

"Do you think they anticipated us finding this out?" Robin asked.

"I don't know. I hate this. It's like they are messing with our heads."

Eva sighed. "Right now, all of his medications are equally balanced to put him in this state. The question is what happens if we increase one?"

"I wish we could just take them out," Robin said.

"I think we'd need more information before we attempt that. Suppose there is an implant we're missing, and the removal of the others triggers it. It could kill him," Liz said. The situation is just too precarious.

"We can stagger the dosage, increasing it a little at the time and hope his body adjusts."

Liz nodded. "That way, if it's causing him distress, it would be more manageable."

Monica cleared her throat. "Part of me wants to say no, that I'm scared to take the chance, but I can't help but think how adversely the drugs are already hurting him." This is a huge chance, but can they afford to wait any longer?

Carly rushed inside. "Stan found them."

"What?" Liz said.

"They've located Alexis, but James is not with her."

"Well, we kind of figured that."

"Sonny has some men who are going in as we speak."

"Then what?" Eva asked.

Carly moved closer. "Kristina will go to Sonny and Alexis will be held."

"I want to talk to her."

Carly rolled her eyes. "Fine, Muffin. I'll pass the message along. What are those?"

Liz followed her gaze. "They implanted him. That is how they are administering the meds."

"Then take them out."

"We can't because it's too dangerous."

"We're pretty sure that there is something else inside of him that could trigger a lethal dose if the others are removed," Robin said.

Carly sighed. "Well, Alexis will be here by tomorrow. I doubt she knows any of the details though."

"You're probably right, but I still want to kick her ass," Liz said.

"I'll be right behind you."

"What are you going to do about the dose?" Monica said.

"We'll wait until tomorrow and see what Alexis knows first," Liz said.

"Why don't you go home and rest," Monica said, hoping Liz would get her message that she needs to spend some time with the boys.

"Go ahead, I will stay here and keep working," Eva said.

"Me too," Robin said.

"Thanks."

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Liz sighed as she moved around the house.

"You look tired," Johnny said.

"That's because I am," she said before picking up some of the boys' toys they had left.

"I heard you want to confront Alexis tomorrow."

"Yes, I do."

Johnny took his hands out of pockets and motioned for her to sit. "I'm not sure if that's a good idea."

"I don't care."

He fought a smirk at her fierceness. "You can't play all your cards."

"It doesn't matter what she knows because she's not going anywhere."

"True…"

"Carly wants to come along."

He groaned.

"I know, but I don't have the patience or time to listen to her whine about it. Just let her go and hopefully, she can use that big mouth into baiting Alexis and helping me get her to spill."

"Fine…"

"If she doesn't give us any good information, we'll proceed with our plan to inject Jason to try to counteract the paralytic."

He stood. "Be ready at 10:00. She'll be ready for you then."

"Okay."

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Eva flopped onto her back. "The things you do to my body…"

Johnny grinned. "I missed you."

"I got the message."

He turned onto his side. "You need to get more rest."

"They need me."

"Do you know how much I love the fact that you would do so much for my best friend?"

"He's important to us and there is no way I'll let James win."

He tugged her closer. "I love you, Evangeline Williamson, someday O'Brien."

She smiled. "I like the sound of that."

"Do you?" He is so happy.

"Yes, but I do want to have kids eventually."

"It's those dastardly twins, isn't it?"

She laughed. "I think they woke up something inside of me that I didn't even know existed."

"Wait until you have to change a diaper."

"That's what his mother is for. Seriously though, do you want them?"

"I want you to be happy."

She rolled her eyes. "It's not just about me though. I need to know that you want it and you'll participate."

He kissed her forehead. "Yes, I do want everything with you." He already has the ring. Jason had tagged along about a month before.

"Good."

"When this is over, I'm taking you away for the weekend."

A soft smile edged onto her face. "I would love to go away with you."

"You better do some extra Kegels, because I intend to be inside you for most of it."

"That sounds even better."

His eyes fluttered shut as he visualized the scene and he started coming back to life.

"Damn," she muttered when she felt him harden against her leg.

"I can't help it. You're so hot, baby."

She giggled. "Fine, but you're going to explain to Elizabeth and Robin why I have a problem walking tomorrow."

"Deal…"

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Nadine hurried into a small café in the next town.

"You're late."

"Sorry, I couldn't get away." She ordered some coffee and then gave him her attention. Their alliance is an unlikely one, but when he offered to pay off her student loans, she agreed and now it's time to start paying up. She's taking a big chance since she's going against the mob, but she plans on slipping out of town before anyone knows the difference.

"What is going on?"

"They have Alexis."

He already knows that.

"Go on."

"I think they are going to try and inject him with something."

"That will be a mistake."

There is a monitoring device that they probably haven't discovered. If the medication becomes too imbalanced, he'll have a seizure.

"Carly has been nosing around. I think she's the reason they found Alexis." She hates the loud-mouthed blonde. "Evangeline is still helping out."

"Is that all?"

"Alan knows what is going on now. I found him in the room talking to Jason a few nights before."

"That is good to know." It just gives him more people to terrorize.

"I'm not scheduled to be on until tomorrow afternoon."

"I'll be in touch." He stood and threw some money on the table as she watched.

Once he was gone, she breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully, they'll only have to speak on the phone in the future. The man gives her the creeps.

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Elizabeth went to the hospital early to check on Jason. When Eva finally lumbered in, Liz snickered.

"Don't laugh… I think he broke me."

"At least somebody is getting something."

Jason seconds that. He's nervous about Liz going to see Alexis. She had told him all about it.

"How is he doing?"

"He's stable."

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes. I'm glad you'll be here with him while I'm gone. At least I know you won't climb into bed with him."

Johnny rolled his eyes. "She already did that to protect him."

Jason wishes he could smile at Johnny's crazy tone. Anything that annoys him is a good thing.

Eva shook her head. "I wasn't trying to get in his pants."

"You better not have been."

Liz grinned as they silently communicated. "Could you let her rest for a few hours before making her walk funny again?"

Now, Jason wants to gag.

"Why? Walking is so overrated…right, Jason?"

"Johnny! You can't tease him when he's unconscious."

"Yes, I can because he can't chase me or pull a trigger."

"You are a mess. You know, it's a good chance he is listening right now."

"Then you'll have to give him a memory erasing drug so he won't hurt me."

Liz smirked. "And why should I help you?"

"Because I cleaned up the boys and changed a poopy diaper."

"You want credit for one diaper?"

"Maybe I should re-think this whole future kids things," Eva said.

His eyes narrowed. "Maybe, it's too late."

"If you knock me up before you put a ring on, there is no one who can protect you from my mother, not even Jason."

Johnny grinned. "Your mom loves me."

"Keep playing, I have her on speed dial."

"Baby…"

Liz chuckled. "We better go before you dig a deeper hole, Rico Suave."

He grabbed his chest. "You wound me."

"Keep an eye on him," Eva said.

"I will," Liz said.

They left and Eva sat next to Jason.

"I miss you. Aside from me, you're the only one that keeps Johnny in line and let's face it, I need help."

Jason wishes he could see her.

"He misses you too. I swear I heard him crying after we talked about you the other night. I mean, I'm that good, but this time, I think it was you."

Oh, how he'd love to grin.

"Hang in there. I know Elizabeth told you what we're going to do and she probably put a positive spin on it. I'm hopeful, but if you start having a seizure, we'll be here to help you. Trust us." She held his hand. "She works too hard, but then you probably already know that. I don't think I'd stop if it were Johnny, so I get it. Maybe I worry too much, but I can tell that she loves you beyond reason and I'm so happy for you. I wish you lived closer because I like Elizabeth. We could get in a lot of trouble together."

Jason wouldn't mind them being close. As much as Johnny teases him, he couldn't imagine going through life without him. Not only does he trust him, but he's like a brother to him.

"Well, I better get back to work. I don't think Alexis will be helpful, so I need to prepare. Robin will be here soon, try not to be so easy because I don't want to go to jail for assault."

He's gonna have to get her back for that one.

A/N – Did you like the Nadine spin? Surprise…surprise…