A/N – Thanks for the comments! Sorry for the lateness. I'm on the road.

Chapter 11

Johnny's jaw briefly clenched.

"Who—What piece of shit attacked you?"

"I wasn't attacked."

His head tilted to the side. "Your shirt is ripped."

Her lip quivers. "It just got a little rough."

"Is that why you bawled your eyes out? Who was it!" His voice booms through the room, making her jump.

He holds out his hand, trying to reign himself in. "I'm sorry. Will you please come with me?"

"No. Jason needs you. I'm so scared. We said horrible things to each other and then he took off and he's drunk and hurting so badly."

Johnny's eyes widen. "Jason did this to you?"

"It's not what you think."

He pinches the bridge of his nose, muttering about fucking killing his friend and then he feels her touch and their gaze connects and it practically makes his heartbreak as she shakes and starts to cry.

"Something bad is going to happen. I don't know how I know, but you have to find him. I'll stay here—"

"No! I'm taking you to a safe place. Do you trust me?"

She nods. "I'll go if you promise to try and find him."

Johnny makes a call. "Francis."

"What's up?"

"I need a favor. Can you send some men out to look for Jason Morgan?"

"Will it cause a war?"

"No. Tell them to be discrete. I'm at Jake's and he was drunk. I spotted his bike about a block away, so I don't think he could have gotten far."

"Done."

He put his phone in his pocket. "You ready?"

She nodded and he put his arm around her protectively and led her to the car.

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Nicole opens the door at Crimson Pointe. "Johnny? She's asleep."

"I need your help."

He pulls Elizabeth against his side, taking Nicole by surprise.

"Come in."

She backs up and Johnny moves inside.

"She needs a shirt and maybe some girl talk. Nicole, this is Elizabeth."

Nicole slightly smiles. "It's nice to meet you."

"I can't stay, but I'll be back. Liz, Nicole is Alaina's mom."

Liz nods. "Hi." She studies the pretty blonde woman with gorgeous blue eyes for a moment.

"I'll take care of her," Nicole said, sensing that something bad happened based on the dried tears Elizabeth is sporting.

"Thanks."

Johnny leaves and Nicole moves towards the stairs.

"Follow me…"

They go upstairs and all the way down the hallway.

"The baby is asleep in her playpen. I haven't finished setting up her room."

They quietly move inside to find her completely zonked out.

"She's beautiful," Liz said softly. The baby looks so peaceful, her mouth slightly ajar and her legs curled under her.

"She is my heart." Nicole moves away and fetches a shirt and hands it over. "The bathroom is right there."

Elizabeth scurries inside and quickly takes her ripped shirt off and replaces it and then washes her face before returning.

Nicole looks up and motions for her to follow as she grabs a baby monitor and they head downstairs to the study.

"Do you want something to drink?"

"Maybe some water?"

There's a small fridge near the desk, so Nicole grabs a water bottle and hands it to her.

"Elizabeth, is everything okay?"

Liz grips the bottle for dear life. "No."

"You don't have to talk if you don't want to, but I've been attacked, so I'll understand."

Liz wipes a tear away. "I wasn't attacked. A friend—well we're more than friends, anyway, we got carried away, that's all. He's in a lot of pain and he was more passionate than usual."

"Did he hurt you?"

"Yes, but not in the way you think. I don't tell many people this, but I was raped when I was sixteen."

Nicole's eyes clouded with tears. "I'm so sorry."

"I—I healed and was able to move on, but men don't usually get that passionate with me. Well, there has only been one other one and he died in a fire."

"Wow. You've been through a lot."

"Jason, he's my more than a friend, he thinks it's his fault that our friend got hurt and he got drunk and tried to push everyone away." She paused to take a deep breath. "At first he kind of taunted me to get me to leave, but I wouldn't back down and then he kissed me and I—it was absolutely incredible. It started to get out of control and then he ripped my shirt and asked me…" Her voice trailed off as she blushed.

"I'm not going to judge you or tell anyone else. You can trust me."

Liz averted her eyes. "He asked me if I wanted to—you know—have him take me against the wall."

Nicole fought a smirk. "He sounds hot."

Their gaze connected again. "You have no idea."

"Then what happened?"

"He stopped and was so upset and thought that he treated me no better than my rapist, but I wasn't thinking about that. For the first time, I was just in the moment and it was raw and felt insanely good. Even though I know he's a complete train wreck, I wanted him. Does that make me a slut?" Her face is beet red.

"No. It makes you a passionate woman. Do you understand why he was upset?"

"Yes and no. I know that he wouldn't want to treat me like that for our first time, but I'm not a piece of freaking glass. Normally, he doesn't treat me that way, but I needed someone to want me that badly."

Nicole reached over her squeezed her hand. "Elizabeth, it's okay to want him. He was drunk and very upset and he could have ignored all of that and had sex with you and then walked away, but he still cared about you enough to stop. If you didn't mean anything to him, he wouldn't have."

"I know. Maybe I'm just pissed that he stopped. I'm just—this isn't even like me. I shy away from men and stay to myself. I barely know Jason, and yet I trust him so much. It's like I met him and my world went from black and white to color. That was cheesy, wasn't it?" She bites her lip as she watches Nicole smile. "And right now, he could be hurt and even in more pain and there is nothing that I can do about it. I'm just so scared."

"Johnny will do whatever he can to find him."

Liz nodded and then wiped at her face. "Speaking of Johnny, how are you two doing?"

"You know about me?"

"I didn't know your name, but I found Johnny on the docks and he was distraught and I took him back to my place and he confided in me. Please don't be mad at him."

Nicole blew out a harsh breath. "I'm not mad."

"I shared my experience with him and tried to talk him down. Did it work?"

"It's touch and go, but we're working on it."

"Do you want him?"

Nicole made a strangled sound. "Yes."

Liz smirked. "Is that the first time you've admitted that recently?"

"Yeah. I hate to wish for it when there's a good chance he won't go there any time soon." She hasn't thought about being with anyone physically and then the moment she saw him, all the feelings came flooding back and it has her turned a bit upside down.

"Johnny cares a lot about you. I'm glad that you're here. I feel a little better."

"I'm glad that I'm helping. I don't know a lot of people, maybe we can be friends?"

Liz smiled. "Deal."

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Cruz shakes his head when he realizes the perp is Jason. "Unbelievable…"

Taggert takes in the scene. It's too good to be true. "Take a picture of everything."

"Morgan looks like he gave as good as he got," Cruz said noting the condition of his face.

"It almost looks like it was set up."

"Yeah, but do you care?"

"Hell no. This is like a wet dream. We've finally got anger boy dead to rights. Make sure you test him for powder residue too. I don't want any mistakes."

Two detectives spread out, putting markers down next to shell casings.

"Hey, this guy was hiding around the corner. He said he saw everything and ran."

Taggert moved to the side with the man who is shaking. "Who are you?"

"My name is Clyde Bowens. I was at Jake's earlier until Coleman cleared everyone out because Jason Morgan was arguing with some girl."

"Who?"

"I don't know. She was cute, brunette, and petite."

"How long ago was that?"

The man pretended to think. "I don't know, maybe an hour or more. I wasn't paying attention to the clock."

"Go on. What happened after that?"

"I took a walk on the docks and then decided to go back to Jake's to see if I could get another beer. It had been a long day. I work in one of the warehouses on fifty-sixth street."

"What did you see?"

"I saw Morgan in a brawl. He beat the shit out of some guy and then I turned around and started to walk the other way, but I stopped because someone cried out for help and when I turned around, Morgan was standing over him with a gun and fired. I was shocked and jumped back, so he didn't see me and then he kind of wobbled and then fell to the ground."

Marcus almost smiled. "Are you willing to testify in court?"

The man rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't know…"

"Don't worry, we'll protect you."

Clyde frowned. "What does that entail?"

"You'll be put in a witness protection program. No one can get to you."

"And after I testify?"

"You can either stay or be relocated permanently."

The man sighed. "Do I get paid?"

Marcus rolled his eyes. "All of your expenses will be taken care of until after the trial and then we'll pay for the relocation if necessary."

"Alright, I guess."

Taggert motioned for an officer to take him to a safe place and then turned back to Cruz. "He's going to do life for this."

"You'll be a hero."

Marcus smiled. "I feel like celebrating, but I'll hold off because nothing can go wrong."

"We better check on Morgan and make sure that he is still breathing."

Marcus moved to Jason's side and when he touched the younger man's pulse point, Jason jerked and his eyes snapped open.

"Hello, Jason. Cuff him! You have the right to remain silent…"

As Taggert droned on, Jason just stared into the distance, not giving a shit about anything.

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Johnny watched them take Jason away from the fourth-floor window of the warehouse adjacent to the alley and then headed to his car. Elizabeth is going to be upset, but there's nothing he can do about it. From what he overheard, they have a witness and the weapon. It seemed way to clean, but he knows that Taggert will make it stick. The best he can do is try to see Jason the next day and hope to god that his friend will let him help.

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Elizabeth's smile disappeared when Johnny entered the living room. "What happened?"

"I'm not sure. Either he flipped out or someone is framing him."

Liz breath hitches in her throat.

"Taggert arrested him for murder. It doesn't look good. I think Jason must have been in some kind of fight because his face was battered. He was unconscious and then just stared as Marcus questioned him."

Liz's eyes pricked with tears. "Then we'll help him."

"He might not let us, Elizabeth."

A tear escaped, traveling down her cheek slowly. "Can we get him a lawyer?"

"I'll talk to him tomorrow, but if he refuses one, there's nothing I can do."

"Did someone see him?"

"Yes."

"How do you know that the guy is telling the truth?"

"I don't. I need to go talk to Sonny. Do you want a ride home?"

She nodded and then turned towards Nicole. "Thank you for everything." They had exchanged numbers. "Call me if you need anything."

Nicole nodded. "The same goes for you. I hope everything works out."

"Thank you."

Johnny glanced at Nicole and then led Elizabeth to the car, opening the back door so she could slide in.

"Do you think he did it?"

"I'm not sure. It's way too neat, so I have my doubts."

"I don't think I can walk away from him."

"Elizabeth, I think it would be better if you stayed away from the PCPD."

Her eyes jerked up. "Johnny…"

"Please….you don't want to be on their radar."

"How am I supposed to help him then?"

"Elizabeth, let me do what I can. Please, I'll research everything I found out."

"You promise that you'll keep me updated?"

"I do."

He stopped the car and got out and then walked her upstairs to her studio. "Are you sure you don't want to go to your grandmother's house?"

"I just need some time to think."

"Okay."

He left her and then she waited several long minutes before venturing back outside. Fifteen minutes later, she found herself walking down the docks and sat on a bench as she prayed for Jason to be okay. When she stood, she moved towards a staircase to cut through an alley and that is when she caught a glimpse of someone and ran like hell in the opposite direction.

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Taggert smirked. "You should have stayed in the hospital, Morgan."

Jason just stared ahead. They had just taken a new mug shot and he was thrown into a cell.

"You want your phone call?" When Jason didn't answer, Marcus shrugged. "It's your funeral. You're going down this time. I finally have you right where I want you."

Jason hoped it was true. Jail is what he deserved for what happened to Epiphany.

Bored, Marcus went back upstairs. "You're going to fry, Jason, and me and the rest of the town will cheer."

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Johnny moved into Sonny's office and found him with a man, throwing back a drink.

"Do you know what happened?"

Sonny shook his head. "Is something wrong?"

Johnny's eyes darted between the newcomer and his boss. "Jason was thrown in jail."

"For what?"

"Murder…"

Sonny frowned. "I didn't tell him to off anyone. Who was it?"

"I don't know. Marcus has a witness and a smoking gun. He's out for blood."

"It's too bad Jason quit earlier then."

Johnny's head tilted. "You're going to leave him there?"

"He completely disrespected me, Johnny. What do you expect?"

Ronnie and Johnny locked gazes.

"And who are you?"

"I'm Ronnie, the new enforcer."

Johnny's jaw clenched before shifting his gaze back to Sonny. "You replaced him already?"

"What the fuck was I supposed to do? Jason has been gone for over a month. I can't leave the business unprotected, so I called in a favor and was given Ronnie's name. Do you have a problem with that?"

Johnny sighed. "No."

"I didn't think so and you're not to help Jason in any way. If he wants our help, he needs to beg for it."

Something clicked in Johnny's head. He is sure that Sonny is the one that framed Jason to get him to comply, he just has no way to prove it.

"Go home and get some rest, Carly needs to go shopping tomorrow and you're taking her."

Johnny almost groaned. "Fine…" Francis needs to move soon because he isn't sure he'll survive Carly duty.

When he was gone, Sonny and Ronnie made a toast.

"To our lucrative association. You did well, my friend," Sonny said with a grin.

Ronnie took the praise and downed the drink. Soon, he'll get Sonny to make him a partner and then, he is set for life.

"So, do you think Stan knew about his mom and Jason?"

"I don't know. It's a possibility, but when he was confronted, he acted like he didn't know."

"Keep an eye on him. If he does anything related to Jason, he's done."

"Okay."