A/N – Thanks for the comments! I know it's a hard read, but there is always a method to my madness and it will get better. Jason after the accident (on the show) was depressing and cringeworthy, but it was so good, so hang in there. After next week, it gets better.

I'm giving you this extra chapter to fit that schedule.

Chapter 14

When the news reporter announced the verdict, Lila was inconsolable and so was Emily and Elizabeth.

Hugh met Sonny at a safe house.

"It's done."

Sonny smiled and shook his head. "You did well. I was surprised that you fought the sentence."

"It was the only way to make sure my actions don't come under question. Whether Jason wants to fight or not, his family could step forward and do it on his behalf. I had to make it look like I was at least trying to defend him."

"That's fine. It's probably easier to overturn later down the line." The plan is to dangle protection in Jason's face. At first, it will seem like he has it, but then Sonny is going to take it away. Maybe after his ex-enforcer gets a beatdown, he'll beg for mercy. "The funds have been transferred. Enjoy…"

Hugh smirked. "It was nice doing business with you."

"Likewise…"

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

An exhausted Elizabeth went to her studio carrying some dinner from Kelly's. Epiphany still hasn't shown any signs of awakening and she can't even imagine how scared Jason must be.

Lucky's eyes locked on her and he can tell something is wrong. "What happened?"

"I really don't want to go into it."

"Elizabeth, your eyes are red and you look like you're about to collapse."

"It was a long day."

He sighed. "You don't trust me, do you?"

"It's not that, but I know you won't approve so I don't want to go there."

"If you trusted me, then you wouldn't be afraid to say what is bothering you."

She growled. "Jesus Christ, Lucky. I don't need this right now, okay?" Tears threatened to spill and she turned so she could try to control her emotions which is a losing battle.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make things worse for you."

"You didn't. I'm just hurting. A friend was in trouble and now—I just feel a little lost."

He moved closer. "Come here…"

She turned and allowed him to hold her. It was probably the most complex hug she had ever experienced. There are so many emotions swirling inside of her.

"Is there any way that I can help?"

"I don't know yet, but thanks for asking."

"You seem so different."

She stares into his eyes. "I am. Losing you threw my whole life off course and I was just finally getting it together. You seem different too."

Lucky's eyes welled with tears. "I—I'm still a little confused and feel so detached. For the last month or so, I've been wandering around watching everyone."

"Lucky!"

"I know. I should have come forward, but I couldn't make sense of things."

"What do you mean?"

"Elizabeth, I'm not sure what Helena did to me. I could be dangerous."

She reaches up and touches his face. "I know you wouldn't hurt me."

"Suppose I do? I don't think I could forgive myself. After I woke up, I focused on you as much as I could. It was the only way I stayed sane."

A lump grows in her throat. "You should talk to somebody?"

He laughed nervously. "I don't even know what I would say. My love for you kept my head above water, but even that seems a little off. I'm just trying to make sense of things and get my life back which hopefully includes you."

"I don't think it would be fair for me to promise you anything."

"Is there someone else?"

Liz averts her eyes. "Yes."

"You moved on?" He feels anger building and it's taking everything in him to squelch it.

"Lucky…" She can see the fury building and it scares her a little.

"How? I mean—I know you thought I was dead, but I guess I never thought you'd get over me so quickly."

She spun on her heel. "I didn't. As I said, a lot has changed for me in the last month. I think we just need some time to process all of this."

He stares at his shoes. "Maybe I should go."

"Where would you go? You can stay here as long as you like."

"I don't know if that's a good idea. I'm in love with you, Elizabeth and I have a sick feeling that you don't feel that way about me anymore." Tears blind his vision as he throws open the door and then hurries down the stairs as she calls out to him. This is not going as he planned. She was supposed to run back into his arms and they would pick up where they had left off. He ran as hard as he could down the road and then crossed over and ran on the docks until his lungs burned and he had to stop. A loud noise pierces the silence in his brain and he grips his ears and falls to his knees. Whoever took Elizabeth away from him will pay.

As he laid on the docks a broken man, a sentence repeated over and over in his brain. "Obey your Queen."

His thoughts were no longer his own as he blinked a few times and then sat up. It is time to take out his first victim or the Queen will not be happy and upsetting her is the last thing he wants to do.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

The door of Jason's cell door closes and he turns to study his new surroundings.

"You get the top bunk," a man said before putting down a book and perusing his new roommate. "Under all those bruises, you're a pretty boy, aren't you?"

Jason glares at him.

"That's some attitude you've got there, Jason Morgan."

Jason's face is stone.

"My name is Carter. You stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours."

After a long moment of silence, Jason hoists himself up on the bunk and then stares at the ceiling. His last thought before he finally drifted off was Epiphany.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Two Days Later

Liz stopped reading and glanced at Epiphany and then gasped. "Piph!"

Epiphany is staring at her, so Liz pushes the call button and lets the nurse know that she is awake.

Rather quickly, a team of doctors and nurses converge on the room and Liz waits in the hallway.

She texted Emily to let her know and then started to pace as she waited impatiently.

Finally, Noah Drake appeared and pulled her aside.

"They are going to take the vent out and then we'll let her get herself together and see what she remembers."

"She's stable though?"

"Yes."

Forty-five minutes later, she is finally allowed in the room.

Epiphany's eyes are closed, so Liz quietly sits in the chair and then holds her hand.

"Feel like crap," Piph said.

"I know, but I'm so happy you're awake."

"Scared ya?"

"Yes."

"Jason…"

Liz sighed. "He took it hard."

"Have to get through to him."

"You just try to get better, because that is going to require the two of us."

"You should have offered to break his bed."

"Honestly, we came close."

Her eyes slightly opened. "Are you teasing me?"

"No. I'll tell you everything later, okay?"

"I've been sleeping for days."

"I don't care. You'll never stay awake for all of it right now and you know you won't want to miss a thing."

"Okay."

"You rest and I'll read."

And that is what they did for the next few hours until Noah came back to check on her.

"How are you feeling?"

Piph glared at him. "I was fine until you woke me up."

He smiled. "It's good to have you back."

"Thanks."

"Your surgery went well and you're healing. The bullet missed all of your vital organs."

"Getting shot sucks."

"Well, don't let it happen again."

"This is going to mess up my dancing game. Maybe Liz will have a chance now."

Liz rolled her eyes.

"I doubt it."

Monica entered the room. "I heard you woke up."

Piph grunted. "Are my nurses running amuck?"

Monica smiled. "They are on their best behavior."

"That means they are up to something."

Noah left to check on another patient.

"I promise I'll keep an eye on them for you."

"Thanks."

"We'll see if you can get some broth down later."

"Oh joy…"

Monica shook her head and went into the hallway.

"It's later," Piph said eyeing Elizabeth.

"You really want to know now?"

"I'm not going anywhere, Webber, so you might as well spill."

"Well, things pretty much fell apart after you were shot. Jason went off the deep end. I couldn't find him at first and then went to Jake's and he was pretty drunk. We got into a huge argument and then I took him to his room upstairs and he was mad that I wouldn't leave him alone."

"He's hurting."

"I know. I tried so hard to help him, but he's so angry and confused. Epiphany, he's basically given up. It got a little heated."

Her eyes narrowed. "I'm scared to ask."

"He basically wanted to know why I wouldn't go because he's so damaged and maybe I was only staying because I heard the only thing he is good at sex and killing and I wanted to experiment."

"I'm going to kick his ass."

"He kissed me so hard that I was in a complete daze. No one has ever been so passionate about me and it quickly spiraled out of control."

Piph is alarmed. "Did he hurt you, Elizabeth?"

"It was rough, but I liked it. For the first time, I didn't feel like a man was guarded with me because he wasn't treating me like I was made of glass. Then he stopped and freaked out because he thought I was going to let him take me against the wall." She cringed at the memory and Piph swore under her breath. "There was a lot of yelling after that and I threw a lamp at him."

"I hope you didn't miss." She'd get up and kick his ass if she could.

"I did." Her eyes pricked with tears. "He was so broken and he thought he was no better than the man that raped me."

Piph closed her eyes for a few seconds. "That boy carries more pain than humanly possible."

"I yelled at him to leave like everyone else does and he did and then I regretted it and ran after him, but he was gone. Johnny showed up and he thought Jason had attacked me because my shirt was torn, but I explained that we had just got carried away and I begged him to go look for Jason, but it was too late."

"What do you mean?"

"Epiphany, Jason was in some kind of fight and they arrested him for murder."

"What!"

Her heart rate kicked up.

"Epiphany you have to calm down, please."

"What else!"

"He pleaded guilty because he thought he deserved it, even though he didn't remember anything. There is a witness and Johnny things Sonny set up the whole thing to make Jason beg for his help so he could control him."

Piph is livid. Leyla rushes into the room, but Piph holds up her head. "Let her finish and then you can sedate me." Her attention goes back to Elizabeth."

"Oh Piph, they sentenced him to twenty-five years."

Epiphany gasps for air and Leyla quickly gives her the medicine to calm her down and puts an oxygen mask on her as Liz struggles to get a handle on her emotions.

Once Epiphany's heart rate is back to normal, she moved closer and Piph moved the mask to the side.

"We're going to get him out of here. They will kill him in there. He's hurting so badly that he just can't see the truth anymore."

"I know, but we have to get you better first."

"Then I'll do everything they say. In the meantime, call Stan. Tell him what happened and get him to work on it."

"I will."

Piph fell asleep and Elizabeth headed out.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Stan hurried into his mom's house. "Elizabeth?"

She left the kitchen to meet him. "Did you see your mom?"

"Yes, but she was asleep. Thanks for letting me know." He had been in an exam earlier, so that is why he hadn't been there.

"She wants you to help me."

"Let me guess—Jason?"

"Yes."

"Johnny thinks Sonny did it, but if he did, he didn't use me to cover it up. I know the name of the witness, but he has disappeared. I'm sure Sonny has him stashed away somewhere or maybe even the cops."

"What about the autopsy?"

"It won't be done for weeks. The only good thing is that Sonny doesn't have the coroner in his pocket. We need an expert to analyze the findings. From what I understand, there is a backlog, so it might be several weeks before they'll release the results."

"Do you think the surveillance was doctored?"

"I do, but it will be hard to prove."

"Let me know if there is something that I can do."

"I will." Stan has to be careful so that Sonny won't be on to him.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Johnny entered Epiphany's room. "You rang."

"Is he protected?"

"Well, for now, Sonny is protecting him, but I don't think that will last long. My guess is that after a week, all bets will be off and Jason will be on his own."

"They'll kill him, Johnny, because Jason will let him. He won't fight because he thinks that he deserves it."

"Unfortunately, there's not much I can do without compromising everything."

"I love him and I can't let him throw away his life like this."

"I tried to make him see, but you know how he is once his mind is made up."

Piph rolled her eyes. "Is he allowed to have visitors?"

"Not yet, but I doubt he'll show up anyway."

"He is so hardheaded."

Johnny smirked. "You know him well."

"I'm so worried about him. Everyone thinks he is so hard, but he's also vulnerable and has been through so much."

"You need to concentrate on getting better."

"Oh, I will and when I'm good to go, nothing is going to stop me from seeing him."

He almost feels sorry for Jason.

"I have to go, but I'll be around. Someone has to keep an eye you and Elizabeth."

She slightly smiled. "Thank you, Johnny."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

The next morning, Elizabeth unlocks the door at Kelly's and moves inside. "Tammy?"

She makes her way to the kitchen and then her heart drops. "Oh my God!"

Grabbing her phone, she calls 911.

"911 what is your emergency?"

"I'm at Kelly's diner on the docks. I just got to work and found the manager in the kitchen. There's a lot of blood and her eyes are open. I'm pretty sure she's dead." Her voice broke as she listened to the instructions and then moved slightly forward and tried to find Tammy's pulse in her wrist.

"I can't feel it. She's cold. Oh my God!" She starts to bawl and the operator tries to talk her down.

Delores throws open the door with her gun drawn. "Elizabeth, move over there, okay?"

Liz nods and moves back, leaving red marks on her jeans when she nervously wiped her hands on them. Delores and Cruz checked out the back and upstairs before returning. They cleared the area and the paramedics arrived and then pronounced her dead.

Mac entered the diner and quickly went to Elizabeth's side. "Are you okay?"

She wiped a tear away. "Who would do this?"

"I don't know, but I'll do my best to find out."

He motioned for Cruz to come closer. "Did she give her statement?"

"Yes."

"Alright, what about the register?"

"There was no money in it. Tammy hadn't opened the safe yet."

"Elizabeth, did Tammy have any enemies that you knew about?"

Liz shook her head. "Everyone loved her. She was single and has family in the area."

Bobbie ran towards them. "Elizabeth, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Oh, Bobbie, they killed Tammy."

Bobbie embraced her as she cried. "Mac, this doesn't make any sense."

"Boss!" Delores yelled.

Mac carefully maneuvered around the body and then went into the back. "What's up?"

She opened the pantry door and his eyes grew wide. It said, "I'm coming for you next."

"The question is who is the, you? Is it Elizabeth or Bobbie?"

"Luke and Bobbie share ownership."

"I wonder if it's Helena again. I'll call my brother and ask him to track her down."

He went back out and pulled Bobbie aside. "There was a note that said they are coming for you next."

Her hand flew to her chest. "Who are they talking about? I have five waitresses that work here."

"We're not sure, but it's a possibility that Helena is back."

Her eyes grew big.

"I know this is asking a lot, but I really think you should shut down for a few days. It's going to be a murder scene for a while anyway."

"Okay. I'll call Luke and let him know. He has been out of town."

"Maybe this was done to draw him back here."

Bobbie is scared. Tammy was the glue holding the place together because Bobbie still works at the hospital. Now, she's going to have to tell Tammy's family and she feels horrible that the younger woman possibly died due to this stupid game Helena and Luke play.

"Take Elizabeth home, okay. We'll be here for several hours."

She nodded and then pulled Liz to her feet.

"Do you want to go to Grams?"

"No, can you take me to Crimson Pointe?"

"Okay…"

"A friend lives there."

"Okay."