A/N – Thanks for the reviews! Ugh my gbaby accidentally bent my usb so I basically have lost everything I did since Monday and I wrote a lot….SUCKS! I lost my entire new chapter for my other Jason fic I hadn't posted yet and for the next liaison fic and I had written some really good stuff. We're going to take it to see if someone can fix it or at least get the files off of it tomorrow. I had even written a chapter for a new idea for Liason and I honestly can't even remember it right now and had also re-written/corrected two other fics to update. Oh well…. Hopefully, I can get them back. If not…I guess I start over. Thankfully, everything else backed up to Onedrive. Grrrr I think this chapter is okay and what I intended…

Hope you are having a happy 4th!

Chapter 6

Sarah moved into Johnny's room. "Johnny?"

"I'm awake. What took you so long?"

"I came back, but you had company, so I went to check on Grams."

"Oh. Claudia—we fooled around for a while, but I'm not going back to that."

"Are you sure?"

He held up his hand and she grabbed a hold of it. "Yes. It's hard to explain how firefighters think. There's so much stress, adrenaline, and pressure that eventually, you let off steam and sometimes in the wrong way."

"To try to forget?"

"Something like that, but at the end of the day, when you go home and there's no one there, it shuts you off even more. We see death a lot and basically just have to suck it up and keep going. I know you understand that as a doctor."

"I do."

"I'm at the point in my life where trysts are just not cutting it. For some reason, we clicked and it wasn't just about sex either. You're funny and soulful. I had a great time with you."

"What if it was just the alcohol?"

"Do you really think that is all it was?"

"I want to believe it wasn't. I can already tell that I could really like you and that scares me, but at the same time, you represent freedom in a way," she said.

He squeezed her hand to reassure her. "How so?"

"I've been running and hiding and for one night, you made me feel so free that I wasn't thinking about anything, but what you were doing and I don't want to get hurt."

"Can you sit next to me?"

She got up and he pulled her down closer and held her. Adjusting their position, he moved over and she slipped onto her side.

"The fact that you are here right now and want to take care of me speaks volumes about the type of person you are and I would never purposely try to hurt or take advantage of you. You're my freedom too at least I'm hoping you will be." Their immediate connection had surprised him, but at the same time, it gave him some hope that he didn't have to be lonely anymore. While he had enjoyed his bachelor life for several years, more recently, he had started feeling empty.

"I have another confession."

"Okay."

"I can't cook to save my life."

He laughed. "Well then, you're in luck because I can."

She lifted her head and then touched his face, making him slightly flinch since he wasn't expecting it. "I want to kiss you."

"I don't know… What are your intentions beyond that?"

She grinned. "To make your toes curl."

"Really? That's a good thing? Cause it kind of sounds like rigamortis."

"Crazy. May I?"

"Anytime you want. Are you blushing, Sarah?"

"Yeah." Not wasting another second, her lips pressed against his and when her tongue tentatively touched him, he slightly moaned before opening his mouth and accepting it. The kiss is slow and sensuous and Johnny is lost in her for a long moment before she pulls back, her face flushed.

"I can already tell you're going to drive me crazy."

A slow grin emerged on her face.

"Did your toes curl?

He chuckled. "Sarah, my toes were the last thing that I was thinking of."

"So, one more thing since we're going for full disclosure."

"I've been tested recently and I'm good, by the way."

"That's good to know. Um, I hope you're not mad, but Audrey offered my brother's old bedroom for you to recover in."

Johnny laughed. "Jason is going to shit a brick. I'm there."

Sarah shook her head. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Kiss me over and over."

"I can do that."

"Then I think you should get started." Kissing her is his new favorite hobby.

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Elizabeth stretched as she opened her eyes. "You're awake."

He smirked. "Yeah. I like watching you sleep."

Her brow rose. "I wasn't doing anything crazy?"

"Nope."

"I heard that you and Johnny have a reputation for pranks."

Jason grinned. "Yeah, but I wouldn't prank you unless you did it to me first."

"Good to know."

Audrey moved into the room. "Oh, good, you're up. Come eat."

Liz jumped up and then pulled Jason to his feet. "It smells so good."

"I need to go shopping, but I rustled up some meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes, and string beans."

Jason's mouth is watering. "I might have to fake sickness so this sleeping over thing continues."

Audrey chuckled. "You are welcome here anytime."

He laughed when Liz's eyes narrowed. Come to think of it, he had laughed more since meeting her than he had in a long time and it felt good.

They sat and food was dished out and then they dug in.

"This is outstanding," he said.

"Thank you."

Liz's body seemed to melt when she bit into the potatoes. "This is like heaven in my mouth."

"You're still not getting the recipe."

"Grams!"

"What? I'm not dead yet, so you'll have to wait. I know my cooking gets you guys over here more often, so I'm not get rid of my ace card."

"I don't mind visiting you."

"That is because there is usually a chocolate dessert at the end."

"Gram, I like hanging out with you."

Jason could tell that statement made Audrey happy because her eyes lit up.

"Lila is coming over tomorrow and we'll have surprise guests for dinner."

"That sounds intriguing."

"Do you want to sleep in the den or Liz's old bedroom?"

Jason smiled. "I'll take the bedroom."

"Don't laugh at my girlie stuff," Liz said.

"Now, I can't wait."

After they finished, Liz helped Audrey clean up and they watched television together until Audrey went to warm herself up some milk before going to bed. Liz plopped next to Jason on the couch and got comfortable.

"This is nice," she said softly.

"Yeah. Watch whatever you want."

She flipped through the channels and they watched a show on Ireland.

"That's where Johnny is from."

"Does he ever go back there?"

"Not very often."

He started to get up.

"Where are you going?"

"To get some water."

She clucked her tongue and then jumped up to get it. When she got back, he took a few sips and set it to the side. As she started to step back, she lost her balance and he grabbed her hand and pulled her forward, making her crash onto his lap.

"This is awkward," she muttered, her mouth just a few inches from his.

"It doesn't have to be."

When she licked her lips, his eyes darkened and she involuntarily shivered as his breath skipped across her skin. After a long moment, she whispered his name. "Jason?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you going to kiss me?"

"I was thinking about it. You know, I'm sensing a pattern here."

She giggled. He is so hot and his hesitation is pure torture.

"Do you want me to kiss you, Elizabeth?"

Dear God, the way he says her name makes her want to rip his clothes off.

When she doesn't answer, he turns it up a notch. "Answer me. Do you want to feel my tongue in your mouth?"

Her teeth burrowed into her bottom lip, thinking that if this man got any hotter, he would completely combust.

He hissed as he decided to free it using his tongue to swipe across the small indent she had left and then she gasped, giving him an opening. His hand bunched up in her hair to pull her closer and their tongues mated as they passionately kissed. Her fingers fist his shirt as Jason focuses on kissing her senseless, alternating between sucking on her lips, tongue, and plundering her mouth. When he finally came up for air, Elizabeth is panting. No one had ever kissed her like that. Patrick was good, but nothing like she had just experienced. Her body is vibrating from head to toe. His stare alone, full of lust and longing, is almost enough to send her over the edge.

"You okay?"

She nodded. "That was—"

"—really good."

"You're very good at kissing."

Amusement flickered in his eyes. "I didn't realize how much I missed it and you inspire me."

She pretended to fan herself. "Is it hot in here?"

He finally smiled. "Yes."

"Well thank God I have a fireman close by."

He chuckled as dirty thoughts ran through his mind. "I am here to protect and serve you in any way you like."

Her eyes slightly darkened and a smirk crawled onto her face. "In that case, I think another kiss is in order."

Audrey rolled her eyes. "At least play a little hard to get, Elizabeth."

Her mouth dropped open as she watched her grandmother stroll into the kitchen. "I'll never live this down."

Jason's chest shook and Elizabeth playfully slapped his good shoulder. "It's not funny," she said before burrowing her head against his chest.

Audrey sat a glass of water on the coffee table in front of them. "Here's some water to cool you off. We don't want Jason to have to get out his hose."

Liz jumped to her feet. "Grams!"

Audrey's facial expression was so devious and Liz is so completely appalled, that Jason couldn't help it and laughed out loud.

"What? I don't think my insurance would cover that. Now, I'm going back to bed. Try not to burn down the house." Completely pleased with her success in embarrassing her granddaughter, she climbed the stairs with a smug look on her face, winking at the picture of her husband on the wall as she passed by.

Liz knew she was a deep shade of red. "I can't believe her."

"It was funny, but I don't want you to think that I don't take my job seriously."

"What do you mean?"

"I still need to finish serving you."

She finally smiled as she slowly closed the distance between them. "I do think I need a little mouth to mouth."

He pulled her back onto his lap. "Then, I'm the only man that can help you." His fingers traced the curve of her face as his eyes followed their trail. Elizabeth held her breath as his light caress made her body tingle with anticipation.

"Please..." The words had escaped without her realizing it and she was embarrassed that she had begged to taste him again.

Unfazed, his finger slid down the middle of her lips and stilled as his gaze finally locked with hers.

"Tell me what you want," she said before he could ask.

His intensity made his eye color change and she was almost mesmerized by it as his mouth moved closer. "Your lips are so plump that I want to suck on them and then…"

She swallowed hard when he didn't continue.

"Why don't I just show you?"

The slight nod of her head was all he needed before he attacked her mouth, sucking and licking her lips before his tongue snaked between them. Her moan filled the room as he greedily made love to her mouth, whipping up the lust in her body. She could feel his growing erection beneath her and she shuddered at the thought of him between her legs. Her senses are on overload. They need to stop because she doesn't have the strength to push away from him and he is injured. Besides, they haven't even gone out on a date yet. Feeling like a total slut for melting from his touch, she starts to retreat.

"I'm sorry. I got carried away." His raspy voice made her quake again.

"I'm not sorry, but I thought we should slow it down before my grandmother accidently sees your hose."

He grinned as her cheeks flushed, loving that she is just as taken with him as he is with her. "You're right. Now could you hand me that water? It's not a cold shower, but it will have to do."

She reached for the glass and handed it to him before slipping onto the cushion next to him.

Jason finished and put the glass down. "That hit the spot."

"I'm still pretty hot over her."

His head jerked as he perused her face. "You're extremely hot."

She bit her lip. "I think we need to go bed." Seeing his brow raise, she starts to ramble. "I mean, not together." His frown made her change course. "It's not that I don't want to sleep with you—wait, did I just say that aloud? Oh—my—God, I did. I'm such a slut. Ugh! I did it again. I—can you get up to your room by yourself?"

He chuckled. "Yes." Slowly he stood and stretched. "And for the record, I want to sleep with you too, but I can wait—hopefully not too long."

She slightly smiled. "So, we're both sluts. I can deal with that."

He took her hand. "I hope you know that I do like you for more than your hot body."

"Ditto!"

"Come on, walk me to the stairs."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

It was almost lunch time the next day by the time Noah got to Johnny's room.

"You ready?"

"Yeah." He had already been scanned, stuck, and poked. His patience is wearing thin.

The window blinds were closed and the light in the room are off. Sarah watched nervously as Noah removed the bandages.

Johnny slowly opened his eyes and blinked.

"Well?"

"I can see you."

"Any pain?"

"A slight headache."

"Is anything blurry?"

"Yeah, a little." His heart is being very fast.

"Alright, I'm going to let you go home, but I want you to keep your eyes covered one more night."

"Okay. And after that?"

"Sarah can bring you back here for another exam and we'll go from there."

"How long do you think I'll be off work?"

"At least for the next three days or so, it really depends on the swelling."

Johnny sighed. "Fine."

Once he was all bandaged up, a nurse led him into the bathroom to wash up and then they waited for the release papers so they could head to the house.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Jason is feeling much better, but Audrey insisted on him staying one more night.

"This is how I make my quiche."

He watched studiously as she mixed and added some secret ingredients.

"You are not allowed to reveal any of the secret ingredients. Those girls tried using a spy cam one time and I mooned them."

Jason busted out laughing. "You did not."

"I did. They never tried again. Some images, you can never get out of your mind."

"What was Elizabeth like when she was younger."

"Dear Lord, she was a handful. We called her Lizzie the terror."

"Really?"

She finished up the breakfast quiche. Jason had raptly watched her to make sure he didn't miss anything. He could make a huge batch at the station and the guys would love it.

"I think they invented time outs for her."

Liz entered the room and froze. "What?"

He grinned. "Hi, Lizzie."

Her mouth dropped open as she sucked in a breath. "Grams!"

Audrey giggled. "Yes, dear?"

"What happens in the Hardy house, stays in the Hardy house."

"I didn't get the memo."

"Do I need to tell him about your vacation two years ago when you got arrested?"

Jason's brows rose.

"There is no shame in my game."

He laughed. "I think I'm moving in here."

"Unbelievable…"

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Sarah held the car door open for Johnny and then they made their way to the steps. "You're going to step up four times."

He felt for the railing and then moved his foot up and slowly edged his way up. "This bites…"

"I know, but in a few days, it will just be a memory."

Audrey opened up the door and when she sees the bandages, she frowns.

"Noah wants him to keep the bandages on for another day, but he was able to see."

She smiles. "That's good news. Come in."

"One step up," Sarah said.

Johnny followed her and then stopped in front of Audrey. "Thank you for having me."

She gave him a hug. "You're always welcome here."

He smiled and then Sarah led the way.

"Take him to the den."

"Okay."