A/N – Thanks for the comments! Remember, I already alluded to the fact that Lucky was supposed to kill his first victim and then Tammy showed up dead the next morning (draw the lines).

Chapter 19

Alan entered the sitting room with Monica. "You rang?"

"Please, sit," Lila said. Edward is already seated.

They could tell by her expression that it must be serious.

"This is the last time that I'm having this conversation with you and it's not a request. You are going to make peace with your son before it's too late."

Monica started to object, but Lila held her hand up, so she backed down.

"Hear me out, Jason has given up. He didn't do what he was accused of, but he is so distraught that he thinks he deserves the punishment. From what I heard, he believes that we are better off without him and that he isn't worth missing. Our darling boy has hit rock bottom and was attacked and beaten and almost raped." Her eyes filled with tears. "They are going to kill him in there if we don't get him out."

"Lila, he refused your help," Edward said.

"He doesn't think he's worthy because Epiphany was hurt. They love each other and I think that was the last straw for him. Jason has been reeling since he woke up. It has been one thing after the other and after losing Michael the way he did, it didn't take much to send him over the edge. Carly and Sonny betrayed him and he was shot because of it. He would have died if Epiphany hadn't of saved him. She helped him see how much damage Carly and Sonny have done. He's so lost right now. He needs to know that you still love him.

Alan sighed and averted his gaze. His relationship with Jason is non-existent. There were a lot of hurtful words said and more pain than anyone should have to bare.

"His life is full of violence. How am I supposed to be okay with that when I'm against everything that he stands for?" Alan said as Monica gripped his hand.

"You don't have to like everything he does. I'm asking you to put aside your hatred and find that place in your heart that still loves and wants to protect your son. He needs you even though he doesn't realize it. In fact, he needs all of us. Right now, he's in a place where he might be able to see things clearly. That is what happens when you hit rock bottom. I want all of you to go to him and tell him that he's worth fighting for. You need to make him believe it."

Elizabeth stepped into the room. "He thinks we'd all be better off if he didn't survive the accident. He actually believes that he doesn't deserve happiness. I don't know about you, but I think that is utter b.s."

Epiphany almost snickered behind her. "She's right."

They are surprised when she moves into view.

"I got to know Jason while he was recovering and he is so worth fighting for. The man is kind, compassionate, and loyal. When he loves, he loves hard because that's all he knows. Carly and Sonny blew his heart apart and Robin as well. He closed himself off because that was the only way he knew how to cope. Sometimes, things are very black and white to him, but I was helping him see the gray areas. All you know is the raw nerve who was so full of anger it seeped out of his pores, but if you try to get to know him now, I think you'd be surprised at just how many layers he has. He doesn't process things like you or me, but he's capable of loving and learning and wants to be a better man."

Monica blew out a harsh breath. "You're right. I don't know the person you're talking about it because he never shows us that, but that's partly our fault."

"Oh, don't get me wrong. He is partly responsible for everything he did and said, but for the most part, you know that was the brain damage talking. He was so scared and couldn't handle anyone pushing him even when they were doing it for the right reasons."

Edward glanced at his wife. "What you are asking us to do could backfire."

"And? It's the chance you take and he is family regardless of his job choice. I'm tired of all the fighting. I've already spoken to Tracy privately and she won't be a problem."

Alan's head tilted. "Did you threaten her?"

Lila smiled. "I did what I had to do."

Epiphany moved to her side. "So, if you're willing, we can go this afternoon. The warden agreed to a meeting in his office."

"Do I even want to know how you managed that one?" Monica asked.

Piph chuckled. "It's better you didn't."

Alan cleared his throat. "Make the call…" It's time to get his son back.

"I'm in," Monica said.

Edward sighed. "Fine, I guess I am too." He still has his reservations, but he knows that if Jason dies in jail, his family may never recover.

Epiphany smiled at Elizabeth and then pulled out her phone praying that this will work.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Three hours later, Jason is taken to the warden's office and pushed inside. When his head lifted and he saw his family staring at him, he was too stunned to turn and run.

"Come here, dear, I need to hug you," Lila said. His face is still bruised and it makes her tear up when she thinks about how much pain he has endured.

He moved towards her without hesitation and gets on his knees and hugs her, relishing her warmth and the smell of her perfume. "What are you doing here?"

"It's time for an intervention."

Her eyes twinkled mischievously as he stood.

"What does that mean?"

"Have a seat," she said pointing to a chair.

He sat and then his eyes scanned the room. "Where's Emily and Tracy."

"Tracy is aware of the meeting and opted not to attend because she can't always shut her big trap," Monica said.

His head tilted.

"She is onboard with supporting you though. Emily doesn't know and is already on your side, so we didn't need her here," Lila added.

"I see."

"I really don't think you do. I've heard some rather disturbing things about you giving up and I just can't tolerate that. Quartermaines don't give up."

"I'm not—"

Lila scoffed. "You are a Quartermaine by blood whether you like it or not. I have no problem with you calling yourself Morgan, but this intolerance of all things Quartermaine ends today."

Her voice is stern and completely shocks him.

"I guess she told you," Edward said.

"Can it," Monica said. "She's right. Running from who you were is not solving anything and whether you like it or not, from what I hear, you and Jason Quartermaine aren't the complete antitheses of each other. He had a big heart and was loyal too. I'm not expecting you to be him, but you act like he is dirt under your shoe."

Jason stands. "That is because you wanted me to be him."

"It's not his fault. There was nothing wrong with who you were before."

"But now?"

She sighed. "I don't know if you really understand how hard it was to look at you and not see him even though your personality had changed. It was like losing him every day because the more you pushed, the more upset we got. I'll admit that we went too far, but Jason, I can't help but look at you and love you because you are still a part of me. I know I didn't birth you, but you were mine in my heart. I want to get to know who you are today."

He doesn't believe them. "I'll tell you who I am. I'm a killer and there is no way in hell that you'll be okay with that!"

Alan almost growled. "Do not take that tone with your mother. She's pouring her heart out to you and I know you don't remember loving her, but if Stan were speaking to Epiphany like that, would you stand for it?"

He shook his head.

"I don't like that you are a killer because whether you want to admit it or not, you might like it to some degree, but it's eating away at your soul. I hate Sonny Corinthos."

"Join the club…"

Alan paused, not used to his son hating the man that had put the final nail in Jason Quartermaine's coffin. "I hate that he didn't give you more time to heal and to find your way before immersing you into that world, but I helped push you there too. I felt so helpless and everything was so out of control. Every day when I turned on the news or picked up the paper, my heart leaped in my chest because I was scared to see your face and find out you were dead." He bit back his tears. "If Emily or Elizabeth told you that she was going to go work on Courtland street, would you be okay with that?"

"Hell no!"

"Exactly."

"But, if I couldn't stop them I'd look after them or make sure that someone else did. Hell, I might even kidnap them."

"Because you love them and want the best for them. I refused to look out for you because I just couldn't watch you die again. It broke my heart."

Alan softly cried while a morose Jason put his head in his hands.

"Why are you doing this?"

Edward wiped a tear away. "In the end, you are family and if you die, we'll break. It's already so fractured I don't know if we can find all the pieces, but you make our puzzle complete. You don't have to be him for us to love you. Don't you get that?"

Jason shook his head. He doesn't get it because he just can't picture them ever accepting him as he is now.

"Jason, we're not going away. We're sorry we gave up, but you need us."

Jason's head jerked up and he locked gazes with his grandfather. "I don't need you and if you value your life, you'll realize that you are better off without me and if I had died that day, none of you would be so miserable. It wouldn't hurt so badly every time you look at me."

A sob wrenched from Lila's mouth. "Don't you dare ever say that again in my presence. We would have still broke, Jason, but if you think that we'd rather you be dead than Jason Morgan than you have lost your mind. You need to understand that you are worth fighting for and so is love. Our family will probably disagree with each other most of the time, but in the end, we're loyal and will fight for each other. We want to have your back. Please let us show you that you matter. Let us get to know who you are now and at least give it a chance."

Jason wiped a tear away. "I'm scared."

"Of what?" Alan asked.

"That in the end, you won't like me and you'll walk away like everyone else does. I'm never enough. Don't you get that? I'm damaged."

The silence in the room is palpable and then Monica stands on shaky legs and approaches him. "You are not damaged, you are just lost, hurt, and confused. I will never walk away from you again. Give me a chance to prove myself. I'm sorry I failed you, but from here on out, they'll have to pry me away from you kicking and screaming because I love you. I may have tried to turn it off because of the hurt, but look into my eyes, Jason. Do you see it?"

She slowly lifted his chin and even though his eyes are clouded with tears he can still see the depth of emotion in her eyes.

"I don't understand it."

"You will when you have a kid someday. Even if you don't get it now, you just have to be willing to receive it. I need you to fight. You are one of the strongest people I know. Fight for yourself, Jason, and we'll be right beside you." She pulled him to his feet.

"Well?" Alan asked as he moved closer.

Edward followed suit. "Everything she said, I one hundred percent co-sign."

Tears are streaming down Jason's face. He never thought they'd go out on a limb for him like this. For so long, he just wrote off the family and thought they despised him, but now he realizes there is so much more to what happened.

"Love is a risk, Jason. Are you willing to try?" Lila asked.

He is scared to utter the words, so, he just nods.

Monica burst into tears and tugged him into an embrace and Alan and Edward made it a group hug as Lila moved closer and gripped Jason's head.

"You are loved, Jason Morgan, and now you're going to fight."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

The next day, Diane waited in a private room to speak to Jason. She's not sure how is he going to react and that is putting on her on edge. Failure is not an option. When the door opened up, she jumped and then their eyes locked.

"Hello, Jason. My name is Diane Miller and I will be getting you out of here."

Jason took a seat across from her, not saying a word, but Diane can tell that he's trying to figure out what to say, so she remained quiet until he finally spoke.

"Who hired you?"

"Well, I guess you can say it was Epiphany Johnson."

His eyes narrowed. "And?"

"I work for Francis Corelli."

"Why would he be involved? Did Johnny say something?" He wonders what Francis is expecting in exchange for all this.

"No, he didn't, but let's just say that she was pretty convincing."

Jason let it go.

"I need to know that you are not going to send me away. Will you work with me?"

He sighed. Clearly, no one is going to let this go and Manny and his family had gotten through to him. "Yes."

"Good. That makes me very happy. Now, what do you remember about that night?"

"I was upset after fighting with Elizabeth and walked into an alley and some guys started attacking me and I let them."

"Why?"

"Because I deserved it."

Diane jotted down some notes. "Go on…"

"That's all I remember until I was arrested."

"I was sent a copy of the autopsy and then consulted an expert. According to the angle of the bullet, there is no way you could have been standing over the victim as the witness suggested. I already have an affidavit and will present those findings to the judge if we make it to trial. I'm not going to lie, you pleading guilty limited our options, but if we can prove that your lawyer was not representing your best interests and the prosecution failed to provide evidence that the witness had properly identified you considering he could not do so via photograph because your face was extremely battered when he saw you, I might be able to get your guilty plea withdrawn. Most likely, you will then have to go to trial. It's obvious that Hugh was aware of this and negated to inform of you of it when it was the main reason that you pled guilty. Even if he denies knowing, all of it is in the court records which will reflect his incompetency." An error is their best hope at this point due to the guilty plea. "Your grandmother is helping too."

"You went to Lila?"

Diane smirked. "No. She came to me and offered her assistance because she knows people."

For the first time, Diane saw a slight smile.

"She told me to tell you that if you ever do something this bone-headed again, she'll kick your ass." Lila wasn't happy with the limited options.

His brows rose. "She said that."

"Verbatim…"

Jason shook his head.

"I just need you to sign these papers so we can move forward."

"How long?"

"I'll file them this afternoon and then, your grandmother will work her magic and hopefully, we can get a hearing in the next few weeks. Once I leave here, I'm going to get an affidavit from Clair Walsh regarding whether or not she had a conversation with Hugh regarding the witness. Hopefully, the judge can make a decision quickly and then we can schedule a hearing. I don't think Claire will back down. If the judge agrees, then we have to wait to see if the commonwealth will appeal the judge's decision, but if they do overrule it then we'll have to submit a collateral appeal. Fortunately for you, I don't think that will happen because I'm that good. You leave all the legal stuff to me. All I need you to do is stay out of trouble especially after the beating you just took."

"I'll try."