A/N – Thanks for the comments!

Chapter 16

The next evening, Eva was stable, and they had already removed the blankets. Her eyes blinked open and she screamed when she spotted Johnny.

Piph rushed into the room. "It's okay."

Eva is shaking.

"Talk to me. Are you cold?"

Johnny had stepped back.

Her lip quivered. "Do you see him?"

"Yes."

Eva burst into tears. "No, he's dead."

Piph lovingly gripped her head. "Look at me."

Eva's gaze fixed on her.

"I'm not lying. That man saved you. He loves you and he is not dead. Do you understand?"

She shook her head. "So messed up…"

"I know, but you're going to be okay."

She quieted as her eyes locked on Johnny again. Panic is bubbling and when he softly said, "I love you so much," she broke again and Piph had to sedate her.

"You're going to have to be patient. She's traumatized."

"I'll do anything you ask but leave her."

"She needs to learn to trust her mind. Right now, nothing makes sense."

"Babies…dead. Cam, Jake—oh, God," Eva muttered.

"Evangeline, they are alive."

She shook her head. "No! Everyone is dead and so am I in here," she said placing her hand on her heart.

Piph almost lost it and is thankful that the sedative starts kicking in. "If she's more coherent tomorrow, I'm going to ask a therapist to come here."

"Okay." He doesn't know what to do.

Liz entered the room. She had witnessed it all. "Johnny…"

He turned and she hugged him tightly.

"She's so far gone."

"I know, but she'll find her way back. We'll help her."

"This is too hard."

"I know, but she needs you, Johnny."

Piph moved forward. "I'm glad you're back. Jason has been so grumpy."

Liz smiled. "The boys are back, so he's happy."

Piph grinned. "Are they with him?"

Liz nodded. "I'm going to go home with them tonight."

"Jason will have to stay here for another week at least."

"I know. It's going to be hard being away from him, but I need to be with the boys too."

Johnny sat on the chair near the bed and held Eva's hand.

"There's a bag upstairs with some clothes in it."

He nodded.

"Go take a shower and change, that's an order," Piph said.

Johnny kissed his girl's hand. "Don't leave her."

"I won't."

Liz accompanied him and when they walked into the room, the boys clapped and Johnny slightly smiled.

"Hey, Rugrats."

"What are you calling my kids?" Jason asked.

Johnny smirked. "You heard me. Have they pooped yet?"

"I'm saving it for you."

Johnny grimaced and then picked up Cam who patted his face and then gave him raspberries.

"Thanks for making me smile, Cam."

He babbled away as Johnny gently rocked him.

"I'd ask you how you're holding up, but I already know the answer."

Johnny sighed. "It's rough, but I won't give up." He handed the baby to Liz. "I'm going to go take a shower." He went to grab the bag.

"Johnny…"

He picked it up and then turned towards Jason.

"Don't try to do this alone, okay? I know I'm pretty useless right now, but my ears work."

He nodded. "Suppose I need a hug?"

Liz grinned as Jason groaned. "Then you have me and the babies. They give the best hugs," she said.

Johnny winked at her and then glanced at a scowling Jason. "I knew our girl would come through for me."

"Oh, it's our girl now?"

Johnny slightly smiled as he moved into the hallway.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Later that day, the physical therapist, Dan worked out Jason's legs.

"You're going to feel stiff and achy for a while. It helps that you were in great shape, but those meds took a toll on your body."

"Tell me about it…" Jason said.

The younger man grabbed Jason's hand. "Squeeze."

It is still hard to lift his arms up for more than a couple of seconds, but his grip is getting better.

"Good."

"You think I'll have to stay here for more than a week?"

"I can make house calls. Monica already asked." He smirked which made Jason smile.

"They tell me I'm a horrible patient."

Epiphany entered the room. "Oh, you are, but I love you anyway."

"Thanks, Piph."

She shook her head. "Why do you and Johnny insist on calling me that?"

"We're lazy."

She chuckled. "How is he doing?"

"He's doing better than expected, but he has a long way to go," Dan said.

"You underestimate how much I hate hospitals or being stuck in bed for these kinds of reasons."

Piph shook her head. "I have no doubt that Elizabeth will keep you straight. She doesn't play."

"Did someone say my name?"

She moved inside with the boys.

"They are so darn cute." Piph held Jake. "I just can't get over how much you look like your father."

Jake laid his head on Piph's shoulder and she hummed while she rocked him.

When Cam mimicked his brother, Elizabeth rocked while Piph softly sang and soon they were asleep.

"You are a godsend."

Piph smiled. "I don't get much of a chance to do this anymore."

"Well, you can visit any time. How is Eva?"

Liz laid Cam on Jason.

"She's sleeping a lot. I think tomorrow will be the first day that she'll be more coherent."

"I'm worried."

"Everyone is and Johnny—he's hurting so badly. I just keep praying for them."

Alan rushed into the room. "Elizabeth and Piph, can you go to Eva's room?"

Piph handed him Jake and they ran out.

"What happened?"

Alan sat. "She's awake and confused. She was talking about the babies being dead."

"Dad, take Jake down there. She needs to see him."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

When Liz and Piph entered the room, Johnny was standing off to the side with tears in his eyes as a nurse gave Eva more sedative.

"She thinks the babies are dead," Johnny said.

Liz ran to the other side of the bed and grabbed her hand. "Eva, they are fine."

Eva's eyes blinked open. "They're gone. I saw them. It was horrible."

A tear streamed down Liz's face. Just the look in Eva's eyes is pure torture.

"They are here. I was just holding them."

"No…"

Alan walked in. "Evangeline."

Her head slowly moved and she locked eyes on Jake as her bottom lip quivered and tried to make sense of it.

Alan moved closer and then Liz reached for him and laid him in between, her and Eva and Jake sighed and then cuddled against Eva who gasped then slowly touched him.

"Do you see, he's alive and healthy. He missed you," Liz said.

"I'm scared," Eva said wearily. "Nothing makes sense."

"Everything they told you was a lie. Johnny and the babies are here and they love you."

Eva is struggling to believe her.

"I wouldn't lie to you, Eva. Now, who has the hottest boyfriend?"

Eva sniffled. "Me."

Johnny grinned while Liz scoffed.

"You always sucked at this game."

"Tired."

"You need your rest. We're going to help you. I love you, Eva. You are one of my besties now."

"Love you…" Her eyes shut as she started to relax.

"Johnny loves you too."

"Johnny…" she sighed.

He moved closer. "I'm right here, baby." He took a chance and leaned over and kissed her forehead and almost lost it when she slightly smiled.

Liz smiled through her tears. She stayed until Jake started to awake and then moved into the hallway where Johnny joined her. "She's going to get better. Sometimes, she just needs reassurance."

Johnny nodded. "It's hard."

She hugged him. "I can't even imagine, but she's a fighter and so are you."

"I just love her so much. I wish I could have traded places with her."

"You're such a good man. I mean you're not the hottest, no matter what she says," Johnny grinned, "but I'll give you the second hottest. I try to be fair. Just don't tell Francis."

"It's our secret."

"Good. If you need anything, please come to us.

"I will."

He rubbed Jake's head and then watched a guard approach them to lead them back to Jason.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Jason eyed Elizabeth as she entered the room. "How is she?"

"It was rough, but she knows the babies aren't dead now." She changed Jake and then they switched so she could change Cam.

"It really pisses me off that they told her that."

"I know. Did you hear the questions I was asking her when she had the concussion?"

Jason smirked. "Sometimes…"

"Well, I just asked her who had the hottest boyfriend and she said she did. Can you believe that?"

Jason chuckled.

"All my hard work is down the drain. She's starting to accept that Johnny is real too."

"That's good and—"

He's cut off because the phone rings.

"Hello?" Liz asked.

"Oh, dear God, I'm in trouble."

Liz frowned. "Johnny, what's wrong?" She had just left him.

"I went to the bathroom and when I came back, her mother is here."

Liz grinned. "Oh, I need to meet her for sure."

"She's going to kick my ass for not protecting her."

"Johnny, Evangeline is in love with you. Her mother won't kill you."

Jason snickered almost making Liz lose it.

"Oh shit, she saw me. Got to go."

Liz busted out laughing. "I can't believe he's so scared of her mom."

"That's because Lisa Williamson doesn't play. She loves her daughter and while she does like Johnny, her daughter got hurt on our watch, so I get it. She'll probably read me the riot act too."

"I'll protect you."

"I know, but I kind of deserve it."

"Jason, you were unconscious." She rolled her eyes. "Should I go to him?"

"No. He needs to put on his big boy pants. Besides, I think she'll be upset, but one look at him and she'll see how pathetic he is right now."

"I hope so."

"Come here."

She moved towards him and gave him a kiss while Cam grabbed his hair making them laugh.

Carly moved inside. "Hey."

Jason smiled. "Hey."

She eyed the boys and grinned. "Looks like you got your hands full."

"I wouldn't trade it for the world," Liz said.

She put a bag on a chair. "Sonny filled me in. I thought that maybe Eva would be comfortable in some pajamas, so I bought her some."

"Thank you, Carly. I'm sure she'll like it. She's not doing too well, but we're helping her the best we can."

"Come here," Jason said. "They don't bite."

Carly moved closer and is handed, Cam. "Well, hello there."

He bounced in her arms.

"I remember when Michael and Morgan were this little."

"Yeah."

She made a funny face and Cam laughed. "Promise me that I can bring the boys to visit."

Jason glanced at Liz who nodded. "Okay."

"They will love it."

"There is plenty to do and we're right by the water," Liz said.

"I'm sure it's beautiful. Maybe you can come to Australia at some point."

Jason groaned making her and Jake giggle.

Carly watched them for a while and has to admit, Jason is happy and that's what she has always wanted. Muffin isn't going anywhere, so that means Carly will adapt because she can't imagine Jason not being in her life.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Johnny looked down, unable to even face her.

Lisa stopped right in front of him. "What happened, Johnny?"

"We should sit."

Her right brow rose. "Okay."

He gave her the reader's digest about Sonny, Alexis, and Jason being injected.

Lisa gasped. "Is Jason okay?"

"He's recovering, but he can't walk or lift anything."

Lisa shook her head. "Go on…"

"Jason is married and his wife brought their kids and tried to bring him back. She's a medical scientist."

"Cookie spoke of him often, but she never said he has a family."

"I was the only one who knew, and I only found out right before everything went down. He was trying to protect them."

"I see." While she doesn't like their dangerous job, Evangeline was willing to accept it, so she had always supported her daughter no matter what.

"James kidnapped Elizabeth and Evangeline and while Liz wasn't hurt, they—" He pauses and she puts her hand on his back.

"Whatever you are about to tell me isn't your fault, but I need to know what I'm dealing with."

He nodded. "She was thrown into a hole—topless. They messed with her mind making her think bugs or rats were in there with her and told her that Jason's kids and I were dead."

"Did they rape her?"

"No, but they did a lot of mental damage. Right before we got there, they filled the hole up with water and she was submerged. I got to her and finally, she coughed up water, but she ended up passing out because she thought I was dead."

Lisa shut her eyes. "Go on."

"She has scratches and bruises and was severely dehydrated. They weren't feeding her and her body temperature was too low. She's doing a lot better, but she's having problems separating what is real and the lies they told her. Today, Liz brought one of the twins down to her and she accepted that they are real, and she made a step forward. Tomorrow, a therapist will sit with her. She needs help and I feel so useless."

Lisa stood and hugged him. "I'm sorry that you had to see her at her worse. My girl is strong. She'll fight, but she'll need your strength."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Good."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Liz had put the boys in a pack and play and they are knocked out for the night. She crawled next to Jason and absorbed his heat. "Now what?"

"You mean what happens after I get out of here?"

"Yeah."

"I'm done. As soon as I'm well enough, we're out of here."

She closed her eyes. "I want to make sure Evangeline is good too."

"Okay. Do you want to go back to our life?"

"Yes and no. I love Piph and Eva and that the boys got to spend some time with their family."

"You want to stay longer?"

"It's probably not safe. Maybe Eva will want a change of scenery and she can come to stay with us for a while."

"Are you trying to kill Johnny?" Jason chuckled. "Maybe he'll let us steal him away. We'll need a couple of guards. That will never change."

She propped her head upon her elbow. "Italy was nice, but I am willing to live anywhere with you."

"Thank you. I feel the same way."

"Maybe we can buy an island like where they had the boys."

"Milo said it was really nice. We could spend time there and in Italy."

"I don't think it's for sale."

"You never know." Frisco better show up in the morning or he'll have to hunt him down.

"I don't want to leave you."

He hates they have been sleeping in separate places.

"We just have to put up with this for the rest of the week and then we can at least get out of here."

"I know, but it sucks."

"When can we have sex?"

She gasped. "Jason!"

Piph giggled. "He owes me a date on Maury, so your pleasure will have to wait."

Liz buried her head against his chest as Jason's face slightly reddened.

"Don't tell me the big, bad enforcer is scared of Maury."

"Who the hell is Maury?

"You don't want to know," Liz mumbled.

Jason's eyes widened. "Baby, why would Piph say, Jason Morgan, you are the father?"

Liz snorted as she cracked up, trying to use his body to block the sound.

Piph giggled. "You remember that?"

He nodded.

"If I had known you'd remember, I would have said some other things." Her brows wiggled.

Jason shook his head.

"Baby, did you make out with Epiphany while I was slaving away next door?"

"I wasn't even conscious."

"That didn't stop little Jason," Piph quipped as she noted his blood pressure which is lowering.

Jason groaned.

"Relax, you only have to pay child support for eighteen years."

"Unbelievable…"

"Oh, you were."

Liz snorted again and couldn't stop laughing.