A/N – Thanks for the comments! Sorry, I was at a seminar today and couldn't upload. This isn't the last drama in this story. There's only 1 huge twist after this J

Chapter 38

Helena rolled her eyes. "You are so dramatic, Lucky. Elizabeth is fine. In fact, she's downstairs getting examined.

"What did you do to her?"

"I put a small amount of sedative in the water to keep them drowsy and compliant."

Taggert took a deep breath and moved into the doorway. "Freeze!"

Helmet pointed his gun in that direction. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"And why not?"

"There is a sharpshooter in the building across from us. If you shoot, you're dead."

Taggert's attention briefly went to the other building. "I'm not lowering this gun".

"Will everyone shut up!" Lucky said as his chest heaved.

"I have had enough of your insolence. You will obey me or face the consequences."

Lucky's hand went to her neck, and he turned her so she was in between him and Helmut.

"Let go," Helmut said.

"I hate her! She has to die before she makes me hurt someone else."

Liz's voice rang out. "Lucky don't. Please."

He slightly released his grip as he glanced at her. "I can't do this anymore. It hurts."

"I'm so sorry. We'll get you help. Killing Helena is not worth it."

Luke moved behind him. "Keep him talking."

"Don't let her win."

His attention went back to Helena who is trying to laugh, making him move his thumbs to let her breath.

"Luke, Lucky is the one that hurt you. In fact, he hurt Bobbie and Carly and killed Tammy. Elizabeth, he's also the one who kidnapped you. He's dangerous."

Lucky squeezed again. "You're lying. I won't hurt you."

Helmut reached into his pocket.

"Don't move," Taggert growled.

"It's just a recorder."

Everyone waited with bated breath as he moved and then pressed play. Snippets of Lucky agreeing to hurt people bombards their ears and him kidnapping Elizabeth.

A tear ran down Luke's face.

"Cowboy, you hurt me?"

"She made me. I swear I didn't want to. She's in my head and I can't make her stop."

Helena slaps at his hands.

"Lucky, if you don't stop, I'll shoot you," Helmut said.

"Maybe it's best if I die."

Since Taggert is focused on Lucky and Helena, Helmut fires, hitting him in the leg.

When Taggert fell, Jason grabbed Elizabeth and forced her to the ground and shielded her.

Lucky let's out a battle call and lifts Helena off her feet and they struggle for control as he puts her on the edge of the safety wall. Her eyes bug out as she realizes his intention.

Helmut growls and then starts to pull the trigger again, but Luke dives at him and they fall to the ground, struggling for the gun.

Lucky releases Helena and then hops onto the ledge, dangling his legs over it and then grabs her again. "It's time to die."

"Lucky!" Liz screams.

"Just remember, I have always loved you and he can't love you like I do. We have a permanent lock." He eyed Helena furiously. "You screwed up my life. I'm so damaged that there is no turning back. Fuck the queen." He pushes her away and her feet dangle in the air as she tries to grasp his hands. He hadn't anticipated the effect of her panicked movements, so her momentum begins to pull him off the ledge.

A gunshot goes off as Luke and Helmut struggle which strikes Luke, but Mac had appeared and took Helmut out before he could do any more damage.

"Lucky!" Liz screamed as he lets go of Helena who screams and then lets himself go over the edge.

Helena plummets to the ground, shocked that a Spencer is responsible for her demise.

Fortunately, Lucky had caught himself on the edge of a window which is out of reach from above.

Everyone ran towards them.

Mac spotted Lucky. "Hold on." He turned. "I need a rope or something. Quick!"

Tears prick Lucky's eyes.

Luke, who is suffering from a stomach wound, gets an officer to help him. He leaned over as pain wracked his body.

"You have to hold on, Cowboy. We can't lose you again."

Lucky grunted. "It's better this way. Now, I can't hurt anyone."

"She's dead. You'll be fine."

"I'll never be okay again. I'm too damaged."

Liz cries. "Please don't do this. I barely made it through last time."

"You'll be fine. I love you so much."

"I love you too. We'll get you help."

"I can't hold on."

His right hand slips and everyone gasps as he dangles from one hand.

Jason knows what's coming and puts his arms around Elizabeth to brace her.

"Tell mom and Lulu I love them."

"No!" Luke yelled.

Mac throws a rope over the side. "Just grab it and we'll pull you up."

Lucky sobs. "I don't have the strength. Goodbye. I'm sorry."

His eyes widen as he lets go and Luke yells as Liz passes out.

Jason lifts her and carries her across the roof so Epiphany can tend to her.

Luke is inconsolable as Lucky hits the pavement below and a cop helps get him on a gurney and they take him away to prepare for surgery.

Helmut is pronounced dead.

"Guess he was bluffing about the other shooter," Taggert said as he grimaced as they lift him onto a gurney.

Liz begins to regain consciousness and then jumps as she grips Jason's arms. "Tell me he's okay."

Jason swallowed hard. "I'm sorry."

She sobbed as he tried to comfort her.

Jason glanced at Epiphany for guidance.

She cleared her throat. "Can you carry her back downstairs or should I get a chair?"

"I can carry her."

Right when he started to lift her, Sonny appeared.

"How the hell are you out of jail?"

Mac stopped what he is doing and moved towards them.

"He was exonerated, but we know it was you who framed him in the first place," Piph said.

"Epiphany…"

"I wasn't talking to you. Who helped you?" Sonny yelled.

Jason stood, leaving Liz in Monica's arms. "First, you don't own me so drop the attitude. I'm out and we're done." He leaned closer. "Second, if you fucking think I will forget what you did, then you're insane."

Sonny pushed him and Mac stepped forward.

"Gentlemen, is there a problem?"

Jason and Sonny continued to glare until Jason broke contact and glanced at Mac. "I'm fine. He's the one with the problem."

"This isn't over, Jason, not by a long shot."

Sonny gave him one more evil look and then left.

Mac sighed and returned to the officer he had been conversing with wondering what the hell had happened between the men.

Jason lifted Elizabeth who is silent and still which makes him feel so helpless.

"Let's get her to the room," Piph said.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Once a despondent Elizabeth settled, Emily ran inside.

"How is she?"

Monica sighed. "She is not responding. I'm not sure what to do. I guess we have to wait until the shock wears off."

Emily's eyes well with tears. "He's dead?"

Monica nodded. "He killed Helena and then he fell himself. It was awful. Luke was shot and is in surgery, but it doesn't look good for him."

Emily hugged her mother as she cried. "Poor Laura, I feel so badly for her and Lulu. They had just gotten him back.

"I know."

Nikolas appeared. "I heard the news. How is Elizabeth?"

"She's not responding. I'm not sure what to do. Where is your mom?"

"She's on the way here."

He took Emily's hand. "Come with me."

They approached the bed and then slightly nodded and Nikolas slipped behind Elizabeth and laid Emily in front of her.

Jason watched as Emily whispered to her.

"I know you are hurting so badly, but you can't stop functioning. You just can't and Lucky won't want that." The news had reported the horrible things that Lucky had done and it was hard for any of them to fathom it.

"He loved you and even though Helena messed with his head, she couldn't control his heart. He loved his family and friends and he considered you both. It's okay to cry or scream, but I refuse to lose you because of this," Nikolas said.

Jason closed his eyes. "You always told me to fight, so I'm asking you to do the same. Don't let Helena win."

A tortured sob ripped from her lips, making Emily pull her closer and cling to her.

"Let it out. I've got you."

Liz couldn't stop picturing Lucky's face while he was hanging there. He was so desperate and defeated and yet, he still wanted her to know his love had never wavered. Did she fail him? God, it's so horrible, and she hates Helena so much.

Epiphany wiped a tear away. "I'm sick of people hurting the people I love. When will it stop?"

Jason put his arm around her. "I don't know, but we have to stick together."

"I'm glad you finally learned that."

"Please don't yell at Sonny again. You'll just piss him off and I want you to be safe and not on his radar."

She grumbled but finally conceded. "Fine, but I know that I could beat the crap out of him on a bad day."

Jason smirked. "I know you can, but he'd play dirty."

Her brows rose. "You don't think I can?"

Elizabeth is so tired.

Emily feels her breathing change. "Sleep, Elizabeth. We won't leave you."

Liz sighed and gave in to her exhaustion.

Leo moved into the room. "I've got the test results back. It was a sedative. By tomorrow, the effects should wear off."

"That's good to know," Piph said.

"Does she have to stay?" Jason asked.

"Her levels were a little higher than yours and given the emotional stress she's under, I want to monitor her overnight."

Nikolas eased himself off the bed. "My mom should be here any minute, so I need to go console her. Maybe you can take my place," he said to Jason who nodded. "I'll check on her later."

Monica touched his back. "I'm sorry for your loss."

Nikolas blew out an uneasy breath. "Me too."

Jason took off his work boots and got on the bed. It was like Liz knew and she snuggled against him. He laced their fingers and gazed at his sister. "You okay?"

"No, but I will be. I think it will be harder this time around knowing how much he was suffering."

"Yeah."

"She'll be okay—eventually. This time around she also has you and Piph."

"She knows she has you too."

"And I won't let her down."

His eyes fluttered shut. Due to all the excitement, he hadn't realized how tired he was.

Emily placed her hand over theirs and rested her eyes. This is not how they wanted Lucky back and they had never anticipated that his death had come by Helena's hand, but she'll cherish the time she got to spend with him and try to remember him like the Lucky before the fire.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Ronnie answered Sonny's call. "Hello?"

"Jason is out of jail and I think he's with Elizabeth Webber."

"What?"

"And it turns out that Lucky Spencer, under Helena's control, is the one that hurt Carly."

"Aren't they related?"

"Yes. Luke is dead."

Ronnie frowns. "Jesus. Did Lucky do it?"

"No, but he was the one that blew up the Haunted Star."

Ronnie shook his head. "I should be able to fly back in a few days. Negotiations are going well."

"Good." Sonny isn't sure what Ronnie has up his sleeve, but the man said it was good stuff and will help distract Jason so they can move in for the kill.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Elizabeth woke up in the middle of the night and jumped, rousing Jason.

"Are you okay?"

She clung to him, needing him as close as possible. "It just hurts."

"I'm sorry that you had to watch him die after everything he's been through."

"I was hoping that he could get treatment or something and beat this."

"Helena beat him down." Even though he didn't like Lucky, it's obvious that he got the raw end of the deal. Helena, however, got what she deserved.

"I can't believe he is gone."

"Elizabeth, I need to tell you something."

She pulled back to look at him. "What now?"

"Luke, he didn't make it."

Her face twisted. "Oh my God, poor Laura."

"They had to sedate her. I heard the nurses talking."

"I don't know if I could get over losing my son and husband on the same day."

"Nikolas and Gia are with her."

There is a movement in the doorway. "I'm right here."

Liz jerked to a sitting position and slipped out of the bed. "Laura…"

"I feel so numb. You would think I'd be used to it by now, but I'm not."

Liz slowly closed the distance between them. "I'm glad you weren't on the roof. It was bad."

Laura chocked back a sob. "He's gone, Elizabeth, and I don't know what to do. She hurt my baby and tortured him. Part of me is so mad at Luke, but I still think that Helena bears most of the responsibility."

Liz nodded. "Can I hug you?"

Laura opened her arms and Liz embraced her.

"I will miss their crazy schemes and ridiculous banter so much," Laura said.

"Me too. Luke was one of a kind."

"That's for sure. He loved his Cowboy. I got to tell Luke goodbye before they turned off the machines. I just—he had his faults, but he loved me and he had this way about him, you know?"

Liz squeezed her tighter.

Nikolas appeared in the doorway. "I woke up, and you were gone."

Laura retreated as she wiped her face. "I'm sorry. I couldn't sleep and I wandered over here." She had heard Nikolas and Gia discussing Elizabeth earlier.

"It's okay. Elizabeth are you doing better?"

"I'm trying to cope. How about you?"

He sighed heavily. "It's hard to process."

"Promise me you'll talk to someone if it gets to be too much." He has a tendency to shut down.

His eyes softened at her caring words. "I will. Gia won't let me get away with any less."

"She's good for you."

Laura nodded. "I agree."

Jason just observed their interaction until Laura noticed him.

"Oh, Jason, how are you?"

"I'm okay."

"Good. I hope you realize how blessed you are to have her."

"I do."

"Well, it's late, so I will leave, but I'm glad I got to see you."

Liz hugged her again. "If you need anything, you know I'll be there."

"Thank you. You've always felt like a daughter."

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for you if you need me."

"Thanks."

Nikolas grabbed Laura's hand, and they left.

Elizabeth ran into the bathroom and then joined a worried Jason in bed.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. I was just thinking about the funeral. It will be hard knowing he's in a casket and I'll never see him again."

"Can I go with you?"

She nodded. "I don't think Laura will mind."

"I want to be there for you."

"It might take a while for me to feel normal again, but I'm willing to try."

"You're so strong, Elizabeth."

"Sometimes, I don't think so, but when I'm lying in your arms, you give me strength."

"Then, I won't let you go."

She smiled. "That might be awkward if I have to get up."

"Then, I'll carry you."

"You are the best boyfriend ever." Realizing what she said, panic filled her eyes.

He smiled. "I like being your boyfriend."

Her eyes lit up for the first time that night. "We'll go over the rules later."

"There are rules?"

She laughed at his expression. "Yup. I come with a handbook."

He grinned. "Well, I'll look forward to reading it then."

"Sleep," she said as she yawned.

He lay there for a while listening to her breathe. There is plenty of work to do to make sure she is safe and since Helena is dead, Sonny will be the focus.