A/N – Thanks for the comments! And the drama begins… I probably should have warned you (hiding now).

Chapter 9

Piph pushed the button. "You better hope that your hips can at least tell a little white lie or you're going down."

"This isn't fair. You were born with hips that don't lie."

Piph chuckled and began to move. "I can't help it that you lost the DNA lottery."

"I can't even argue with that although, I was kind of hoping that one day, I'd catch my mom on Jerry Springer because she had a love child when she was a stripper back in the day."

That bought Piph to a screeching halt, but Liz kept moving and then did a crazy dance when she won the round.

Jason cracked up and then clapped. "Well played…"

Liz grinned and then winked at him.

"You make no good sense."

They battled it out for another half hour until Piph won.

"You got lucky," Liz said collapsing onto the couch.

"There was nothing lucky about that. I have skillz."

"I love you, Epiphany."

"Right back at you, Elizabeth."

"I feel so left out," Jason said.

Piph grinned. "Is he pouting?"

"I thought I saw one," Liz added, knowing they are driving him crazy.

Jason rolled his eyes and then they kissed him on the cheek at the same time.

"There—you big baby," Piph said.

"That's more like it," Jason said.

"Now, what did the doctor say?"

"I'm fine. I don't have a fever and I've been taking it easy."

Piph glanced at Liz.

"He's been pretty good. I did catch him dancing in his underwear the other day on the nanny cam you set up."

Jason's jaw dropped. "You are both insane. I would never dance in my underwear. I prefer to dance naked."

They stared at him.

"Are you really making jokes?" Piph asked before feeling his forehead.

Liz chuckled. "Maybe the fever had a lasting effect on him."

"I should spank both of you."

"Pretty please…" Piph quipped. "And don't think your fine ass is leaving here tomorrow either. Since I gave up a vacation day, you two are going to wait on me hand and foot."

Liz looked at Jason. "Make a run for it."

Jason got up and headed toward his room.

"Don't make me chase after you," Piph said.

They disappeared into his room and she couldn't help but smile. Operation Liz and Jason is working out quite nicely.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

After spending one more day with Piph, Jason packed up his things.

Liz stood in the doorway. "I'm going to miss you."

He turned to face her. "You don't have to be a stranger."

"Does that mean your room at Jake's is open to visitors?"

He averted his gaze. "I would love that, but maybe you should stay away until I get things with Sonny worked out. I don't want you hurt in the crossfire."

"Fine, but I'm not going to ignore you if I see you. I'm sorry, but I refuse to do it. I'm not ashamed to know you and I don't even care if it's pretending, it just wouldn't feel right."

He moved closer. "Okay."

She reached up and touched his face. "Promise me that you'll be careful."

"I promise."

She hugged him, and he closed his eyes as he relished her energy.

"I'm glad to call you a friend," she said before stepping backward.

"We're more than friends, Elizabeth."

A soft smile graced her beautiful face and he suddenly felt sad that he wouldn't get to see it every night.

She went further into the room and Epiphany stepped in front of Jason, not even hiding the tears in her eyes.

He tugged her against him. "Don't cry, Piph. I won't be far."

"God help me, I'm going to miss you. I love you, Jason Morgan. Don't you forget that."

He slightly pulled back. "I—I love you too."

"Now was that too difficult to say?"

"No." He kissed her forehead. "I know it's hard, but be good."

She smiled and then wiped her tears away. "You better call if you need me."

"I will. I'll try to come to see you this weekend."

"If little Napolean gives you shit, I'll cut his d—"

"Piph! Such language…" he said grinning. "Besides, you'll need magnifying glasses to find it and I don't want you to strain your eyes."

She laughed. "I love it when you make jokes. We could just go on the road and leave all this behind us."

"People would talk…"

She shrugged. "Like I'm going to complain about people gossiping about me and a hot, dangerous guy…"

He hugged her again. "I'm going to really miss you."

"I tried to tell you that."

He squeezed her one more time and then grabbed his bag. "I'll see you later."

"Later…"

Once he was gone, Elizabeth moved next to her and held her as they cried.

"Who knew that I'd get this emotional over a mobster."

"I think he has ruined you."

Piph smiled fondly. "Only in the best ways…"

They went into the living room.

"So, you like him don't you?"

Liz rolled her eyes. "You know I do. It was probably your nefarious plan all along."

"Would you hate me if it was?"

Liz grew quiet. "No. I think it's time that I let someone else in. Lucky is gone and it's not healthy to stay in a bad place. Jason is complicated and very protective. I'm hoping he'll agree to see where this could go, but I'm not sure he will."

"Then he'd be a fool."

She let out a breath, hopefully, that won't be the case.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

The next day, Jason strode into the warehouse amid a lot of stares.

Johnny glanced at him, concern etched into his eyes and then watched as Jason knocked on Sonny's door and then disappeared inside.

Sonny stared him down. "Where have you been?"

"I was recovering from a bullet wound." Jason glared at him defiantly.

"The way you handled that was unacceptable."

"So was you fucking Carly, but that actually could benefit me."

Sonny rubbed the back of his neck. "That was what I was trying to do."

Jason laughed, taking Sonny off guard.

"Knock it off," he said gruffly.

"Now, you think you can tell me when to laugh or not?"

"You don't laugh—ever, and don't you disrespect me."

Jason stood. "You have the nerve to even bring up the word? What you did was unforgivable. I hope your wife makes you happy. She's your problem now. I quit."

A shocked Sonny stood. "You can't quit. You are in too deep, so you're not going anywhere unless it's in a fucking body bag."

Jason almost growled. "Well, when you find someone man enough to do it, send them my way." He stormed out and Sonny threw his stapler.

"Cocky, mother fucker," he said snidely. If Jason wants to play with the big boys, then so be it. He got up and shut the door and dialed the phone. "Make it happen tomorrow. He needs to learn that there is a reason I am the boss. If he doesn't get back in line after this, then we move to plan B."

"Done…"

Sonny ended the call and sunk into his chair. "You asked for it, " he muttered. No one disrespects him like Jason just did without paying a steep price.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Johnny chased after Jason, finally catching up with him on the docks. "What the hell? Are you crazy?"

"No. I'm just done taking his shit."

"You just baited him, and he's totally batshit crazy right now. He's just going to push back."

"Then I'll be waiting. I can't let him get away with treating me like shit, Johnny. Please don't tell me that you are siding with him. I thought I knew where you stood."

Johnny grabbed Jason's arm. "This isn't about siding with that prick. This is about making sure he doesn't kill your ass. Sonny never gets his hands dirty and I know he has someone he's working with on the side. He's bypassing me, and you could be in real trouble here."

"Don't blame me because you're blowing your cover." He ripped his arm away.

"And I'm not the one starting a war over a fucking whore like Carly Benson."

Jason shook his head. "Do you really think that I'm doing this because of her?"

"What other reason could you have?"

"It's about fucking loyalty, Johnny. It's about the fact that he demands loyalty and honor from everyone around him but gives none back in return. He betrayed me. It didn't matter that it was Carly. When he did that, it made everything a lie. I gave up so much to work for him and that is really on me, but I thought I was fighting for something—that we had principles."

"He's a fucking mobster, Jason. You can't be that dense. He's not worth dying over and he will probably win. Don't you get it? He wants you to crawl back and beg his forgiveness and promise to be a good boy."

"I'll die before I do that."

"Then I hope you have a will because that crazy asshole will make it happen because he will twist everything and make it look like you were the one being disloyal."

Fury permeated Jason's body. "Fuck Sonny Corinthos and Carly. I'm done."

Johnny pinched the bride of his nose as Jason stalked away. Every instinct told him this is going to end very badly. Sonny and Jason are on a collision course and he hopes that Jason survives it.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

The next day, a man approached the nurse's desk. "Delivery for Epiphany Johnson..."

She smiles. "That's me." She eyed the huge bouquet of flowers. "Wow!"

Kelly smirked. "Damn, girl. Are you holding out on us?"

"No." She gripped the card as everyone watched her read it and then laughed. You couldn't wipe the grin off her face if you tried.

"Well? Who are they from?"

She started to answer and then slightly turned, still gripping the note when she caught a movement in her peripheral vision.

Jason smiled when he saw so much joy in her eyes and then realized what he had done, and his face turned back to stone. No one can know that they are friends, but he had to see her face when she got the flowers. He wanted to thank her for everything she had done for him and thought this was a good start, but he isn't close to being finished.

Throwing caution to the window she starts to walk towards him and his eyes filled with alarm. He met her halfway.

"What are you doing?"

"Can I help you, Mr. Morgan," she said loudly.

He stared at her, realizing that she is covering.

"They are the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen. Thank you."

He lowers his gaze as a reddish glow graces his face. "You deserve it."

"Look at me…"

Slowly he tips his head up. "This is dangerous."

"I don't care. We're in the middle of the hospital. It's fine."

His body rocked left and then right.

She held up her hand like she was chiding him. "I will call you later."

"Okay."

His eyes soften for a brief second and then someone burst out of the stairwell, holding a gun.

Shots are fired as the man shouts, "Be careful who you are friends with!"

There is instant bedlam as everyone dives for cover.

Jason pulls out his gun, but the guy had already run off. "I'm going to follow him."

Epiphany doesn't move and she's facing away from him.

"Epiphany? Did you hear me?"

He sees the side of her uniform turn bright red and he catches her right as she starts to fall and gently lowers her to the floor. "I need some help!"

She stares at him for a long moment. "This is not your fault."

A look of absolute pain twists his face. "They shot you because of me."

He is shoved to the side and he watches helplessly as nurses apply pressure to her wound as he gasps for air. Standing on shaky legs, feeling like the walls are closing in on him, he shoves the gun in the back of his pants and observes as she's lifted onto a gurney.

Piph's head lops to the side and she realizes it's him. "I love you. Tell Stan…"

"I will." A tear rolls down his cheek as she is rushed off and he reaches down and picks up the card from the flowers which have droplets of blood on it. Using his sleeve, he wipes it off, his lip quivering when it smears.

The cops arrive and immediately descend on him. "What the hell did you do this time, anger boy?" Detective Taggert asked.

Jason grips the card and doesn't answer because he's staring at a sea of red on the floor. His right hand is covered in her blood and Taggert loses his patience.

"Answer me!"

A nurse approaches them. "I saw everything and he didn't do it."

Taggert rips his eyes away from Morgan and focuses in on her. "Brian, take her statement."

"Yes, sir."

"You can either answer my questions here or go down to the station."

Kelly's eyes narrow and she steps between the men. "You are not taking him anywhere until I exam him. He was shot at and needs to be cleaned up."

Taggert rolls his eyes. "Fine, but he cannot leave the room you're in. I'll put an officer at the door."

Kelly looks up at Jason who seems like he's in shock. "Come on." She tugs and he wills his legs to move as they headed to a bay.

When they finally reach it, he lets her take off his jacket. "Was anyone else hurt?"

"No." Her eyes widen when she sees the wound on his arm. "Did you know you were hit?"

He shakes his head. The only place he's feeling pain is in his heart.

"How long have you been friends with Epiphany?"

Jason's eyes land on her. "A while…"

"It just grazed you. I'm going to let the officer know you were shot and that I'll be right back. While I'm gone, I'll check on Epiphany and then I'll bandage you." She handed him some gauze. "Hold this over the wound in case your arch nemesis comes in." This wasn't the first time that Jason had been shot and she is positive it won't be his last.

He nodded and she disappeared outside.

Emily rushed inside. "Jason! Are you alright?"

He shook his head, refusing to answer and she moved to his side and touched his face. His welfare didn't matter. The only thing on his mind is Epiphany.

"Talk to me."

When his eyes filled with tears, she is shocked. Leyla had told her about Epiphany, but she's not sure why Jason is so upset because they don't know each other.

"She was shot because of me."

Her head tilts. "What do you mean?"

"We were friends." If she makes it through this, that is going to change.

For a long moment, neither spoke. "Why do you think it was because of you?"

"The gunman said it was."

Kelly moved into the room. "Hey, Emily."

"Hi. Any update?"

"They are about to take her into surgery. She didn't regain consciousness."

A woman's voice pierces the silence, as a code blue is announced and Emily gasps and runs out.

Kelly finished bandaging his arm and notices that Jason is losing it. "You need to take deep breaths."

He can't because he thinks he killed her. Before she could stop him, he runs out the door, the cop in pursuit and jumps onto an elevator. When the doors close, he punches the wall and then leans his head against it. When they slide open, he takes off and hops on his bike to nowhere, thinking she is gone.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Sonny focuses on Ronnie. "Is it done?"

"Yeah. She's in surgery."

He frowns. "What happened?"

"She turned and it hit her in the side. Jason was right there and he's a mess."

While it wasn't the plan, it will still work. "Good. Hopefully, he'll get the message this time."

"What now?"

"I'll leave him a message. Continue to keep an eye on things."

"I will."

Sonny dialed his phone. "Jason, we need to talk. If I don't hear from you in a few days, we're going to have a problem."

After hanging up the phone, he poured himself a drink. This better work or Jason is going to be in a world of trouble because plan B is far more daunting.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

The wind whips through his hair taking his breath away as he barely slowed to fly around a curve which he knows is a reckless move. When tears pricked his eyes, the moment her face popped into his head, he knows he needs to stop but can't bring himself to do it. Stan is never going to forgive him, nor will he ever forgive himself. A car comes from out of nowhere and he swerves to avoid it, barely getting his bike under control. Pulling over, he turns it off and shuts his eyes.

His phone rings and he looks down and sees Emily's number and despite his dark mood, he answers it. "What?"

She swallows hard. "She made it through surgery."

"What did you say?"

"She's alive and stable, Jason. I thought you'd want to know."

His face scrunches as he fights a sob.

"They briefly lost her on the table and she's in a coma, but the prognosis of her coming out of it is good." She could have withheld the truth, but she knows he'd never forgive her if she didn't.

He slams his fist against his thigh as anguish overwhelms him. "I have to go."

"Jason!" When she realizes that he hung up, she sighs and tosses her phone into her purse hoping that he doesn't do anything to hurt himself.

A/N – Jason is going to hit rock bottom soon and it won't be pretty, so prepare yourself.