A/N – Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad the story has you intrigued. Along the way, you'll get more background on Johnny and Francis. I'm still picturing the model Jason Morgan for Johnny and a beefier Raoul Bova from Under the Tuscan Sun for Francis. His father will be introduced later which will be played by John Aprea who used to be on Another World and was in the Godfather. It's so hard picking actors to play people. Francis is probably late 30's and Johnny is mid 30's. Johnny's significant other who've I used before from DOOL is 27.

Chapter 4

Liz grabs her phone and dials.

"Hello?" Johnny asked.

"It's Elizabeth Webber. Jason is burning up and he already took some antibiotics this morning. His wound was bleeding earlier. I'm not sure what to do."

He can hear the fear in her voice. "I'll get someone to come over there. I just have to call in a favor. If someone comes to the door ask for the password. It's nowhere." He loves it when Sonny demands to know where Jason is going and his friend says nowhere. It drove Sonny nuts.

"Got it… Please hurry."

She tosses the phone on the bed and then gets a washcloth and wipes him down. "You need to fight this." When he still doesn't respond, she fights the urge to cry.

There are several knocks on the door and she rushes towards it. "Password?"

"Nowhere…"

She opens the door and an older gentleman walks in with a doctor's bag.

"Follow me."

They go into the bedroom and he immediately starts checking Jason out and is perplexed.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't think it's his stomach. Does he have another wound?"

"Not that I know of…"

The doctor pushes up Jason's sweats and sure enough, there is a flesh wound. "I think another bullet grazed him that Epiphany didn't see and Jason probably never mentioned it."

"Is it too late?"

"It has already started to heal, but I'm giving him a shot in the area and I'll leave you some stronger antibiotics. He needs to take two a day for three days."

"I'll make sure that he does."

"When he wakes up, makes sure you make him drink some water."

"I will."

"I'm leaving my card. If the fever isn't down by tomorrow afternoon, give me a call. And of course, if it gets to about one hundred and four, he'll need to go to the hospital."

"Okay."

She walks him out and then goes back into the room and doesn't wake up again until a nightmare caused her to scream herself awake. The din of her pants fill the room and then she feels his hand touch her arm.

"Elizabeth?"

She moves closer.

"You're safe."

Scrambling off the bed, she retrieves a wet washcloth and returns, moving it over his forehead as he moans.

"Feels good…"

"You don't seem any worse. You had a wound on your leg too and it's infected which is why you're burning up."

His eyes barely opened and then he spoke. "Beautiful..."

She blushed bright red. "You are delirious."

"Doesn't matter… You're still beautiful."

"Thank you." Her voice is barely above a whisper.

"I want to kiss you."

She sucks in a breath. "Jason…"

"Don't you want to kiss me?"

"You're out of it right now and don't know what you're saying."

"I know I'm serious. Why won't you believe me?"

He literally pouts, making her grin.

"Okay, I believe you."

"One kiss…"

Deciding to tease him a little, she moves closer. "What if I can't stop at just one?"

He considers that for a long moment. "Then you can have two."

"Just two?"

"I'm not easy."

She laughs, making him frown. "I'm sorry that I laughed at you, but you are so cute right now."

That makes his face contort even more and she covers her mouth with her hand to hide her smile.

"Waiting…"

"This is so wrong, but clearly you are not going to stop until you get one. Close your eyes."

His lashes press against his face as he puckers his lips.

Her grin widens and then she presses her lips against his twice. "Better?"

"Uh huh…"

"Good, now go to sleep."

She watches him for quite a while and then resumes her spot on the bed. It fascinates her that everything seems so easy with him. When she thinks over the time period since the rape, she would have never done what she just did. What does it mean and why does she feel so connected to someone that she barely knows? She doubts he'll remember it, but she won't be able to forget it.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

The next morning, she checked his temperature and it was down a little. Her phone rang and she left the room to answer it.

"Hello?"

"How is the patient?"

"Hot…"

Epiphany's brow furrowed. "In a good way or a bad way?"

"Unfortunately, it's a bad way. Johnny sent for a doctor. He had a cut on his leg which got infected."

Piph made a strangled noise. "Dammit." Jason had insisted on washing up himself when he started to feel better and she was stupid and had let him.

"His fever is down a little this morning though."

"That's good. You're doing great, Elizabeth. If I need to come back, you call me okay?"

"I will."

"I'll check on you guys tonight."

Liz went back into the room and stood in the doorway. She is genuinely concerned about Jason because they have connected in a way that she hadn't expected. It would be great if their friendship continues because right now, she could use someone she could count on. The kiss request had taken her totally off guard, but at the same time, it was nice. His eyes suddenly snapped open.

"Hey," she said moving forward. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I haven't slept in two weeks…"

"The fever has zapped your strength. Can you drink some Gatorade for me?"

"Okay."

He pushed himself up a little and then carefully made his way to the bathroom, washing up a little before he came out.

After changing the sheets, Liz slipped next to him and helped him back to the bed.

"I'd kill for a shower."

"You're probably going to have to wait a few more days for that." It wouldn't be safe for him to get in there alone.

She handed him the bottle and then grabbed something from a bag. "I can put some dry shampoo in your hair." After emptying some out, she worked it through his hair.

"That smells nice."

"Let's take your temperature."

After a few minutes, she checked the results. "You're at one hundred. That's better than you were."

"Did I do anything stupid?"

"Nope," she said hoping he wouldn't remember any time soon.

When she slightly blushed, he wondered if she was telling the truth. "Good."

"Are you known for doing crazy things when you have a fever?"

He slightly smiled. "Not that I know of…"

"I have to go into work this afternoon. Maybe Johnny should check on you."

"He's out of town."

"Oh, then will you keep the phone next to you? If you have to get up, I want you to text me before and after."

"Okay. I'll be fine. You don't have to watch me sleep."

"I don't mind, but Tammy needs me to help with the dinner shift because someone called out sick. Are you hungry?"

"Not really, but I know I should eat something."

"Soup?"

He pretended to gag as she rolled her eyes.

She shook her head and went into the kitchen to dig something up.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Carly strode into the diner and Liz held up her hand.

"Before you even ask, no, Jason hasn't been here."

"You don't have to be rude."

"Neither do you, but you still are."

Carly's mouth dropped open. "I don't think Bobbie would appreciate you having an attitude with the customers."

"I don't and you are not a customer because you didn't buy anything."

"Listen, little girl, I don't need your shit. My best friend is out there and he could be hurt."

"Maybe he's fine and just doesn't want to be around you. What did you do to push him away?"

Carly's glare could have rivaled Jason at the moment. "Stupid twit, I should make it my life's mission to get you tossed out of here and out of this town."

Liz smiled. "But then you wouldn't have time to stalk Jason."

Carly's hand swung out to strike her, but Johnny grabbed it.

"What is your problem?" she asked as she ripped her arm out of his grip.

"Do you really think it's wise to hit her in public? She could press charges."

Carly rolled her eyes and then stared Liz down. "This isn't over, Princess Purity."

Liz let out a fake yawn and then went behind the counter.

Carly stormed outside and Johnny sat on a stool.

"Do you really think it's smart to poke her?"

Liz shrugged. "I owed her that, but usually I try to stay clear of her."

"Trust me, it's better that way."

She leaned forward. "He's doing a little better."

"Good."

"You're supposed to be out of town."

"I was, but I got in early this morning."

She poured him some coffee.

"Got your messages, does he need doc?"

"No, I think he's doing better."

"Good."

Nikolas watched their interchange and wondered what it was about. Had Liz gone to Emily's brother for help?

"What's got your panties in a bunch?" Emily asked as she sat next to him.

"Nothing…"

She followed his gaze. Liz had just laughed at something Johnny said. "It's not what you think. He's always nice to her and tips well. He's a funny guy and makes her laugh. We've talked about him before." They both think that Johnny is cute, but he is a little more on the wild side then they are comfortable with.

"You don't think that he's interested in her?"

"I don't think so, but I don't know him very well."

"It's best that she stays away from your brother. His choice of work could get her in trouble."

"Jason wouldn't let that happen, but I agree that his life is pretty dangerous right now." While she loves her brother immensely, there isn't a day that goes by where she doesn't wonder if he's still alive. In the last message she had gotten, he said he was going off the grid and wouldn't be able to call her for a few months. While she couldn't pinpoint the center of her anxiety, there was something in his voice that alarmed her. He sounded almost defeated.

"Have you talked to her today?"

"No. Why?"

"Just wondering if she's still seeing my brother…"

Emily is at a loss what to do. It just seemed like everything she said pissed Elizabeth off and that is the last thing she wants to do. Lucky dying had ended up tearing them apart rather than bringing them closer.

"Get her to come to the rave. It will be good for her to get out and lose herself for a while."

"I'll ask again. I miss her."

"Me too…"

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Sonny throws his stapler across the room as Johnny watches. "We need Jason!"

"No one has seen or heard from him. It's like he has just disappeared."

Sonny's glare is on point. "That is just unacceptable." In the last three years, Jason had really stepped up and is already feared for his methodical torture and gun skills. The fact that he never shows fears and would hunt and kill anyone that came up against them is well known and the business is thriving because of it. "Word is getting out that he's gone. I've tried to make it known that he isn't far away, but that will only work for so long. He needs to be seen and soon."

"I'll do my best to find him."

"You better or I'll replace you with someone else."

Johnny stares him down. "Remember who helped teach Jason. I have to go."

Sonny curses under his breath and then groans when Carly enters the room. "What do you want?"

"Nice greeting… Have you found him yet?"

"No."

She shut and locked the door as his eyes tracked her. With Jason gone, she needs to keep Sonny happy so that he doesn't kick her out because she has no one to turn too after pissing off most of the town.

When she turns his chair and straddles his lap, some of his tension eases. "What are you doing, Carly?"

"You'll see."

Roughly, she kisses him and he quickly rises to the occasion, her touch making him groan. When she pushes off him and drops to her knees, he closes his eyes and leans back, letting out a gasp when he feels her tongue swipe across his head. Gripping her hair, he uses it to make her take more of him in and then she eagerly sucks him as he ruts in her mouth until he erupts.

"Better?"

He smirks. "Yeah" She can be a pain in the ass, but she is a tigress in bed and he loves it. Opening his drawer, he pulls out a credit card. "Go buy yourself something nice."

She grins. "Thanks. We'll finish this later."

He zips up his pants and watches her leave before making a call. Something is off with Johnny and he swears that the man is lying. "Ronnie?"

"Hey, boss."

"I need you to come home."

"I should be done in a week. Is that okay?"

Sonny thought for a moment, not wanting to risk losing the merchandise Ronnie is negotiating. "That's fine."

"See you in a week."

He tossed his phone aside. Jason will have to be put in his place and Ronnie will have no problem doing so. The beauty of it all is that no one even knows about Ronnie but him.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Francis walked into the old barn in smiled. "Hey."

Johnny grinned. "What's up?"

They shook hands. They shook hands. Most people didn't know that the men had gone to school together in Ireland. Francis's father, Frank, had sent him away to stay with his sister when Francis was fifteen because of the violence, trying to protect his legacy. Unfortunately, Francis's half-sister Nicole was not given the same treatment and life hadn't been kind to her. A few years back, he had rescued her and sent her away and they became very close which complicated his relationship with his father who didn't have a good relationship with his daughter because she had ended up being become rebellious when her mother left them without looking back when Nicole was in first grade because of the violence.

"Nicole arrived today and she's staying at Crimson Point."

"Really?" Francis hadn't mentioned her a lot in the last year or so although he thought of her often.

"My father isn't happy about it, but I'm really not giving him a choice. She needs me for moral support."

"I get it. Has she been sober?"

"Yes. She has a little girl."

Johnny's brows go up. "Wow!" He hadn't seen her for quite a while.

"How old is she?"

"About fifteen months…" He waited for that to sink in. Johnny and Nicole had a torrid weekend the last time they connected. Considering the chemistry between the two, Francis hadn't been surprised that they had been carrying on for quite some time. When his father found out, he convinced Johnny to join the organization and go to Port Charles to work undercover for Sonny, so they would find a way to take the territory. Johnny hadn't even told Jason about his connection to Francis. It was too dangerous.

Johnny frowned. "She wasn't pregnant when I saw her."

"Do you know what happened to her?"

"No. When I agreed to leave, she stopped talking to me." He regretted how they had left things and then his life became so hectic that he never reached out. Their relationship was always tumultuous, but when it was good, it was really good.

"Sit down."

Francis had set out two folding chairs. Today he is without guards because no one can know about his association with Johnny who is like a brother to him.

"Johnny, about two months after you left, Nicole was attacked."

His body tensed. "What?"

"She was raped by men from two of our rivals. They left her for dead and later, she found out that she was pregnant."

Johnny slammed his eyes shut and then his body shook with anger. "Where are they?"

"Dead—I handled it myself." It had been gruesome and Francis had sent a firm message to anyone that would consider attacking his family again.

"How bad was it?"

"It was brutal. They dumped her body in the middle of a road and a truck driver found her and called 911. She had some internal bleeding which they managed to stop. Afterward, she was a mess and I sent her away. That is when they discovered she was pregnant, but mentally, she wasn't all there."

Johnny stood and walked away from him, upset that she had suffered and he wasn't there to help her. "What aren't you telling me?"