A/N – Thanks for the comments! re: Sonny. Of course he lives, it's the beginning of the story and it's the same as the old one. Lol I only really changed the middle. Actually, major changes start this chapter.
Chapter 4
Jason's eyed the door when he caught a movement. Monica's hand is clasped over her mouth as she tries to calm her emotions.
"Mom? Is it Milo?"
She shakes her head. "No. I'm sorry. Most of the time I'm not too bad at handling your job, but this time was different. You hit your head."
"Noah said that I'm okay. I just need someone to watch me tonight."
"Did you feel the tremor earlier?"
"Yeah, they are getting more frequent." Sonny had discussed some emergency planning in case they get larger earthquakes in the future. Luckily, they are pretty, small shakers for now.
"So, they are letting you go home?"
Noah looked up from the computer. "You should already know the answer to that. Unless he's unconscious, getting him to stay in the hospital is near impossible."
"True."
Elizabeth moved into the room. "Hey." She's relieved to gaze into his baby blues.
Jason smiled. "Hey."
"Elizabeth, Jason needs someone to look after him tonight and we're on call. Do you think you can?"
"Mom!"
Liz snickered. She's as bad as Audrey. "It's okay. I'm off in a half hour."
"Are you sure?"
"Yup. I'll even make you some soup for dinner."
His face scrunched up making Noah and Monica chuckle.
"What do you have against soup?"
"I don't know—it's soupy?"
She shook her head.
"Noah, do I have any food restrictions?"
"No."
"See? We'll call in an order to Kelly's before we leave."
"Fine… What number?"
"Seven."
"I'll call." She left the room and Jason's eyes narrowed at his mother's smile.
"You can at least try to hide what you're doing, although Audrey didn't."
She pulled a chair next to the bed. "I just want you to be happy, that's all."
"I know, but don't get your hopes up. Usually, my schedule and moods are a deal breaker." It is sometimes hard to not get emotionally involved and he'd never get used to losing people. Jason tended to close himself off because of the accident and eventually, that catches up with you. "Do you know how Milo is?"
"He has a bruised back and suffered smoke inhalation, but he'll be okay."
"Good. What about Johnny?"
Monica rolled her eyes. "If he hurts Sarah, he'll have a lot of people putting hits out on him."
Jason grinned. "She's with him?"
"Yes, and she is taking care of him tonight. It's not that I don't like Johnny, but Sarah is wound tighter than a rubber band ball. If he's not careful, she'll get really attached to him fast." She'll understand what making out with a hot guy can do to a woman and Johnny has charm in spades.
"Francis clued him in. I don't think he'll be too bad. Honestly, I'm not sure where his head is at. If he asked her out than he wouldn't do that just to get in her pants. He must like her. I know you think we're all dogs…"
"No, I don't. I just think that you don't always think things through. You know what I mean. You've had a couple of stalkers that you wish you hadn't gone there with."
"True." It is weird discussing this with her. "Where's dad?"
"He'll be out of surgery in a few minutes. He's aware that you were brought in and that you are going to be fine." They haven't always been in a good place, but Jason eventually thawed and they had stopped pushing and they are fine now.
She stood and then kissed him on the forehead. "I'm glad you're okay."
"Me too… I love you."
She softly smiled. "I love you more."
After smoothing down his hair, she left needing a moment to go cry it out so she could let it go. Jason didn't get hurt often. In fact, it had been quite a while since the guys were in that kind of danger, but lately, horrible fires had taken a toll on several fire departments and she wonders if this is going to get worse before it gets better.
IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI
Epiphany strode into the room. "Alright, I'm ready for you at my house. My bed is comfortable, so I think you will like it."
Jason's head tilted as confusion filled his eyes.
Liz and Robin tried not to laugh.
"Liz has better things to do then feed you soup and shake you awake every couple of hours, but I had nothing planned except for some Real Housewife re-runs. You are going to love it."
"Piph are you messing with me again?"
"Jason, if I was messing with you, I think you'd know."
Liz and Robin had to walk away for a second.
"I'm staying at your house?"
"Yes. You did ask me to have your baby. Don't you remember?"
He decided to turn the tables. "In that case, I'll be happy to sleep in your bed."
Liz and Robin's jaw almost dropped to the floor.
Epiphany cocked her head. "You're willing to sleep in my bed without me tying you to it and threatening you with a chain saw?"
He smiled. "I think we'd make beautiful babies, Piph."
"I knew you wanted me. I'm going to go steal a wheelchair so we can bust you from this joint and get started."
Liz moved into the room with her arms crossed. "Oh, no you don't."
Piph tried not to smirk. "That's right, I stole your man. You should have kept a closer eye on him."
Their pagers buzzed as a couple of people ran down the hallway.
"Shit. It's Johnny," Piph said.
They run out, leaving Robin and Jason aghast.
"What the hell? I thought he was alright."
She quickly moved to his side. "You need to calm down because if your blood pressure keeps going up, they'll keep you another night."
"Can you find out what happened please?"
"I'll try."
IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI
Sarah is at a loss for words as she stands off to the side. One minute, Johnny was fine and the next, he was freaking out.
Noah is leaning over him. "Can you see the light?"
"No."
"Where are my scans?"
"They are bringing them up right now," Epiphany said as she monitored Johnny's blood pressure.
"Are you feeling any pain?"
"A slight headache," Johnny said calmly.
Epiphany slipped her hand over his and he grabbed it. "You're doing fine."
"Does this mean you're leaving Jason for me?"
She smiled. "Hell no, but I could be convinced to let you share me."
"Piph…"
She knows he's trying to take his mind off what's going on.
"Scans," a nurse said, placing them in Noah's hands.
"I'll be right back," he said.
"Sarah?"
"I'm right here." She moves closer. "I'm going to touch your leg."
He swallows hard. "I don't think I'm coming to your place tonight."
"Then, I'll stay here."
"You need to eat."
"I will later. Are you hungry?"
"Not anymore…"
She looks at Epiphany who nods and makes a fist and she knows she needs to stay strong. "Okay."
"I know this is more than you bargained for."
"It's probably not permanent. You hit your head."
"I swore they weren't going to find anything in there. You just cost me fifty bucks," Epiphany said.
He smiled. "Who won?"
"Sonny."
He chuckled and then got very quiet.
"Whatever you're thinking, stop it."
"I'm scared." It wasn't something Johnny O'Brien usually admitted.
In the other room, Noah studied the scans with Leo.
"It looks like cranial pressure on that nerve," Noah said as he pointed.
"He did say the beam partially hit him."
"Let's go talk to him."
They moved back into Johnny's room.
"I'm back."
"Is it bad?"
"No. Tell me what happened when the beam fell."
"I slammed onto the ground."
"Did your head hit something hard?"
"Yes. I'm not sure what I collided with, but I saw spots and then I just reacted. I couldn't lay there when Milo needed me, so I dragged it off him and threw him over my shoulder."
Sarah closed her eyes and prayed. She hadn't thought about how bad it could get for them when things went wrong and just listening to how dangerous it had gotten, left her in awe that Johnny had been able to stay focused and get out of there. Despite the injury, she is so proud of him. They could have lost both men.
"The swelling isn't really bad, but it's enough to put pressure on your optic nerve, so we're going to give you some medicine and hopefully, you'll get your sight back in the next twenty-four hours."
He blew out a harsh breath. "I can work with that."
"I want to cover your eyes and you need to rest. If you don't think you can sleep, we'll give you a sedative. Your body does the best healing when you're asleep."
"I've been up for a day and a half. I'll sleep."
"Do you usually have bad nightmares when something bad happens?"
"Sometimes…"
He turned to the nurse. "I want him on a mild sedative just to help him because the medicine can cause insomnia. Call me if there are any problems. I'll do the injection to help with the swelling in about fifteen minutes." He patted Johnny's arm. "I'll be right back."
"Okay, doc."
Noah left and Epiphany glanced at Elizabeth who is monitoring a different machine. It's scanning Johnny's brainwaves and so far, the readings are steady.
"You better text Jason," Epiphany said.
"Okay." She set up the machine to sound an alarm if anything majorly changed and then stepped out of the room and texted Robin.
In Jason's room, Robin grabbed her phone.
"He has temporary blindness due to swelling, but Noah is optimistic and said he thinks his sight will be back after a day of treatment."
"Jesus… Why is it never his mouth?"
Robin busted out laughing. "You're bad."
"It's the truth. It's always in perfect condition no matter what trouble he gets into."
The nurse entered the room carrying some scrubs. "Sonny took your work stuff, so you'll have to wear these."
"Thanks."
They helped him out of bed and he got dressed. By the time Elizabeth returned, he was in the bathroom.
Edward cleared his throat as he entered the room. "Hello. Did Jason leave?"
"No, he's in the bathroom."
"Oh. Do you work here?"
"I do, but I'm off duty."
"I see. And who might you be then?"
"I'm Elizabeth Webber." She stood and shook his hand.
Edward smiled. "Audrey's Elizabeth?"
"Yes, sir."
He made a sound as he grabbed his chin. "You can call me Edward. I'm Jason's grandfather. How is he doing?"
"They are letting him go home—well actually, he's going to stay with me and my Grams."
Edward sat in the chair Liz had vacated. "Good. I wasn't happy when he decided to be a firefighter, but I know that he loves it and, well, he tends to like dangerous things."
"Does he get that from you?" Liz asked.
Edward grinned. "I do like to take chances on the stock market, but these days, that's as far as I get."
She smiled.
Lila entered the room. "There you are. Have you been flirting with the nurses again?"
"This is a special nurse."
She smiled and held out her hand. "I'm Lila Quartermaine and you look familiar."
"Elizabeth Webber. My Grams says you are as thick as thieves."
Lila chuckled and gave Liz a hug. "I know that I'm late, but welcome to Port Charles, Elizabeth."
"Thank you."
"How is my grandson?"
"He's doing well. I was just about to take him home."
"Are you and Jason dating?" Lila is never one to mince words.
Liz blushed, making Edward chuckle.
"Ah, young love."
This is a very interesting development and Lila couldn't help but press forward. "How long?"
"We were supposed to go on our first date tonight." She really wishes Jason would come back.
"I see."
Kelly walked in as she gazed at a chart. "I heard the hunk stayed at your house last night."
Liz gasped and Kelly's eyes shot up, not realizing they had company. "Sorry."
Lila bit her tongue as she watched Elizabeth turn the shade of a tomato.
"It wasn't like that. He was just being nice and watching over me. A bunch of us went out last night."
"You don't have to explain. If you make Jason happy, then who am I to argue?" Lila said.
Liz snuck a dirty look to Kelly from behind their backs. "I have to go grab a wheel chair, but I'll be back."
"It was nice meeting you," Edward said as Liz fled the room.
Lila smirked. "Perhaps you would like to tell me what is going on between Liz and Jason."
Kelly grinned. "I was hoping it was scandalous, but it looks like they are taking it slowly."
"That's good actually. What else?"
"I know they like each other. Jason barely took his eyes off her last night."
"Well that is good news indeed."
"I have to go, but for love, I'm willing to be your spy."
Lila chuckled. "Deal."
Jason stepped out of the bathroom and his gaze landed on Edward and then Lila. "Did you scare her off?"
Lila giggled. "Well, I did make her blush, but she'll be right back. She went to get a wheel chair."
Jason grimaced.
"It's hospital policy, so you'll have to deal with it," she said before kissing him on the cheek. "We're glad you are okay."
"You are okay—right?" Edward asked.
"Yes. I have a concussion, so they just want me to rest. Johnny and Milo got the worst of it."
Sonny walked in with Max and Francis.
"Hello, Lila," Sonny said flashing his dimples.
She grinned. "How is my handsome friend?"
Edward growled, making Jason laugh.
"I'm good. I'm sorry that I missed our tea date."
"You will just have to make it up to me."
Max had to turn away because of Edward's expressions. Lila would drop some sweets off occasionally at the station and Sonny always flirted with her and the older woman gave it right back.
"In a heartbeat…"
"If you are done being shameless with my wife, we have to go."
Lila clucked her tongue. "Edward…"
"What?"
She sighed and then gave Sonny and Max a hug. "You stay safe."
"We will."
Jason embraced her. "I'll visit soon."
"I'll hold you to that and bring Elizabeth, she is delightful."
They left and Jason wondered what had gone down while he was out of the room.
"So, you and Elizabeth, huh?" Francis asked.
"She's nice."
"And pretty…" Max added.
Sonny could tell that Jason is going to lose patience fast. "Do you need anything?"
"No."
"Take the next couple of days off and let me know how you feel."
There are five firefighters per shift, so someone is always covering the station. They need a minimum of four people, so the department will send some temporary help and usually, they are on twenty-four hours and off forty-eight. Francis is their driver engineer and knows everything there is to know about their vehicles and maintaining them. Sonny is their Lieutenant. For the most part, Francis, Max, Milo, Johnny, and Jason worked as a unit. The other team consisted of Nathan, Ric, Brian, Logan, and Cooper. There is also a C team as well. Pretty much everyone got along except Jason and Ric who is Sonny's half-brother. They hadn't grown up together, but got along okay. Ric liked to rub in the fact that he is with Robin and always ended up taking it too far. The man hated that Jason and Sonny are so close. Both teams trained together and knew each other's styles and habits so they can work together seamlessly if needed. Despite personal differences, they all have a job to do.
Jason smirked. "Uh, I would have already had today and tomorrow off."
Sonny grinned. "That's just a technicality."
Noah entered the room. "Alright, you're ready to go. Let me know if you get any headaches."
"I will."
The guys said goodbye and Jason sat in the wheel chair.
"So, want to tell me what happened with my grandparents?"
Liz let out a strangled noise. "Let's just say that they are probably going to go shopping with my Grams to pick out our china pattern."
Jason shook his head. "Family…"
"You can't kill them and you can't live with them either."
"But you can avoid them."
"Touche…"
