A/N – Thanks for the comments!
Chapter 8
Sonny kissed his girl one more time for good measure. "You have class today?" Diane teaches law at the university.
"Nope. I have tomorrow off too. Is there any chance you can join me for a while?" Their schedules are hectic, but they always try to make time for each other.
"I think we can make that happen."
Her eyes danced with mischief. "I will definitely make it worth your while."
He held her head as he kissed her senseless. "I love you, baby."
"I love you too. The day you rescued me from that accident just happens to be one of the best days of my life."
"You were in traction for two weeks."
"That was beside the point because you stayed with me for days and of course, I had to reward you for your service."
He chuckled. "And that was some reward." After spending time with her after the accident, he had already fallen in love with her mind, but Diane in bed is always an incredible adventure.
They kissed once more.
"Get a room," Nathan said as he moved past them.
"Don't I wish," Sonny muttered.
"What time are you off?"
"In a few hours…"
"Meet me at the penthouse. I'll be naked and ready."
His eyes slightly narrowed with lust. "I can't wait."
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Jason walked Liz back to her car. "You've been holding out on me, Webber."
"How so?"
"Those brownies are really good. Is that your recipe?"
"Of course, I don't need Grams for everything. I perfected that over a couple of years and there are a few secret ingredients that you won't be able to kiss out of me."
"What if I use my hose?"
She laughed. "Not even your big hose can pump it out of me, but you can try."
Epiphany cleared her throat. "Seriously, Elizabeth, that was so cheesy."
Liz turned beet red as Jason snickered. "This is all your fault for being so hot."
Piph clucked her tongue. "I won't tell anyone, but it will cost Jason."
He frowned. "Why do I have to pay?"
"Because, that is what you do for your girl. Now, are you game?"
"That depends."
Liz crossed her arms over her chest. "Alright, what is it?"
Piph smirked. "I had to wash my face this morning, so I need a replacement."
Jason grinned. "Piph, if you wanted a kiss all you had to do is ask."
"I am representing Jason so that I get a commission when he pimps himself out," Diane said as she breezed by.
"You're going to charge me?" Epiphany asked.
"Not in the way you think. If he kisses you, then you can't yell at him the next time he's in the hospital."
Piph's eyes narrowed. "You're killing me. This is why people hate lawyers."
Diane laughed as she opened her car door. "Is it a deal?"
"Fine..."
Jason rubbed his hands together. "Let's do this."
"Unbelievable," Liz muttered.
Piph tapped her cheek. "Right there…"
He leaned towards her and kissed it. "Better?"
"Only if it's on the lips—"
Liz grabbed Jason's hand and tugged. "You're done, Romeo."
"She's always stealing my fun," Epiphany said trying not to laugh.
"I'm going to go make out with my man at the car. Take your time."
"There are kids around. Keep it PG, Webber," Piph said.
Liz's face scrunched as Jason laughed.
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That evening, Jason had dinner with the Quartermaines and it was a fiasco as usual. Dillon showed up with a girl in tow who, according to Tracy, was mentally defective and Edward almost had a heart attack when she said she was pregnant to shut them up which wasn't true. Yup, Sage Alcazar had made a distinct impression on the family and Jason was probably the only one who had enjoyed the show.
When he finally made it home, he had trouble falling asleep without Elizabeth nearby.
"Hello?"
He sighed as she spoke. "Hey."
She grinned as she snuggled against her pillow. "I want you to know that Gram seemed depressed that you are gone."
"Really?"
"Uh-huh. Your name was dropped several times."
He smiled. "You would have enjoyed dinner with my family. It was a total train wreck and thankfully, it had nothing to do with me."
She chuckled. "What now?"
"Let's just say Dillon's new girlfriend did not make a good first impression."
"Awww, poor girl..."
"She held her own and even lied and said she was pregnant to get them to shut up."
"Get out!"
"I don't think I've ever seen Tracy's mouth drop open that far and thankfully my parents are doctor's because my grandfather's heart, which is already about twenty sizes smaller than normal, almost stopped beating."
"Oh my God! Is he okay?"
"Yeah. It's all about the drama at the mansion."
"I am sorry I missed that. Johnny and Sarah need to step it up a notch."
"I don't think most families can out do mine in the drama department. How is Johnny?"
"He's okay. Eating is a bit of a challenge and he was a little quieter than normal."
Jason moved to his side. "Well, hopefully, he'll get good news in the morning."
"Are you working tomorrow?"
"No. I get one more day off and then I'm going back whether they like it or not. I'll be on a twenty-four."
"Then we'll have to get together after you get some rest."
"That's fine. What time is your shift tomorrow?"
"Seven to three…"
"Dinner?"
"That sounds good. You want to eat here or go out?"
He thought for a moment. "How about you come here?"
She smiled. "You mean I get to see your place?"
"Yes. I'll make something."
"I can pick up food if you want."
"No, it's okay. I'll cook."
Her eyes fluttered shut. "Sounds good..."
"See you later, Elizabeth."
"See you later."
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The next morning, Johnny held his breath as Noah removed the bandages. Audrey is sitting off to the side.
"Okay. The lights are off, so it's not so bright in here. Slowly, open your eyes for me."
Johnny peeked and when he could see a little, he opened them all the way. "Things are a little blurry, but I can see."
"Good. Your scans are looking great. The medication is working and the swelling is going down."
"Do I have to keep them covered?"
"Well, if you don't, it might make you nauseous, so I'll leave that up to you."
"So, you think after a few more days I'll be good to go?"
"I think it's safe to say that."
Johnny grinned. "Thanks, doc…"
"No driving of course and just rest your eyes as much as possible."
"Maybe you should keep the bandages on except for when you eat," Audrey suggested.
"That's probably a good idea."
Johnny sighed. "I'll do it for today and then see how I feel tomorrow."
"Alright, then I'll see you in two days."
"If everything is good, can I go back to work?"
"I'm not sure. We'll have to see how you're doing with the swelling. Just because your eye sight is good, doesn't mean you're ready for that. If it keeps up this pace, it's still going to take another week for it to go away completely. That doesn't mean you can't work, but you'll have to be careful. What you do is dangerous and you have to be in top form so you don't make mistakes."
"Okay." It wasn't what he wanted to hear, but he'll do what is necessary to heal."
A nurse put the bandages back on and helped him stand. "You good?"
"Yes."
Audrey moved closer. "Where do you want to go?" She really didn't want him to leave her house yet, but would understand if he wanted to go back to his place.
"Honestly, part of me misses my bed, but it's nice having company when I can't see anything."
"I like having you around, not only so I can keep an eye on you, but it's nice to have the company too." She is on a leave of absence from the hospital because she had gotten a little burnt out, but is due to go back to organizing all the volunteers in a week.
"Are you sure? I don't want to be a burden."
"You're not."
"Okay." His family is far away and being around her, reminded him of his grandmother and it's comforting. It's not something he'd normally dwell on, but he knows he got lucky because the injury could have been permanent.
They made their way to the car and Audrey drove them home.
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Jason put his bag on his bed and then moved into the garage where Francis is working on the truck. While he wasn't due to start until the next day, he just wanted to ease his way back into the grove. "Hey."
"Welcome back," he said before wiping his hands. "You meet the new guys yet?"
"No. Are they a train wreck?"
Francis made a face. "Ronnie is a little obnoxious and Spinelli—I'm not sure how to describe him, but he really knows his stuff about the truck. He had me tweak a few things and she's purring like a kitten."
They hear a gasp and turn towards the noise.
"He thinks you're a legend," Francis said.
"Great…"
"It's you. I—uh—you are stone cold in the face of tremendous heat and your reputation for rescuing all those is in distress is inspirational. I can only hope that someday, I can aspire to a tenth of your greatness."
Jason looked a bit perplexed. "Okay."
Spinelli grinned. "Awesome."
Francis chuckled. "Spinelli, I need your help with something."
"Anything you wish."
They left and Jason moved towards the truck and briefly touched it.
"You okay?" Sonny asked.
"Yeah."
"Good."
"Where did you find the kid?"
Sonny grinned. "He's not that bad. Not only does he know his stuff, but for some reason even though he seems hyper, the fire makes him focus."
"If you say so…"
"Ronnie, on the other hand, I already know you won't like, but we don't have another choice right now."
"I'll deal. It's just really good to be back."
Sonny patted him on the back. "Come on, I'll introduce you to them."
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Claudia snagged one of Julian's fries.
"Hey! Keep your hands to yourself."
She smirked. "So, notice how quiet it has been since Station five has been down?"
"I have. Makes you wonder if our theory has some merit."
"When are they back?"
"I think Jason is back tomorrow, but Milo is going to be gone for at least another week and Johnny for a few more days. Rumor has it that they have two guys coming in tomorrow to fill in."
"Did you run a check on them?"
His eyes filled with amusement. "Of course, I have. Ronnie Dimestico is your typical cocky asshole, but he's never been in trouble and doesn't take crazy risks. Damian Spinelli is a rookie. The word is that his grandmother pulled a few strings to get him into the program and he barely made it through the academy. He's awkward, but works hard. So far, they both look clean."
"That's an interesting combo."
"It's only temporary."
"Let's hope so." She has no idea if Johnny is okay or not, but he's not far from her mind.
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Ronnie eyed Jason for a moment before approaching him. The man has a reputation that he wants to beat and the best way to do that is to learn everything he can while he is here. "Hi, Jason."
They shake hands.
"Hey."
Before they could resume their conversation, the alarm went off and they ran towards the truck.
"You're not on duty, Jason," Sonny said as he hauled himself inside.
"I'm just going along for the ride."
"Uh—huh."
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Johnny could tell Sarah had moved into the room, so he peeked from under the bandage in time to see her smile.
"I missed those eyes. How do you feel?"
"Okay. I've rested them most of the day and you were the first thing I wanted to see."
"I'm going to kiss you." She gently held his face and laid one on him.
"What was that for?"
"For being good, I know it probably hurt."
He chuckled. "Do you really think your grandmother would let me be bad?"
"Hmmm. She does have her mischievous moments."
"Did Elizabeth come home?"
"Yes, but she has a date with Jason at his place."
Sarah smirked and then sat next to him. "Gram is at the Quartermaines visiting Lila. Do you want to make out?"
He grinned and pulled her onto his lap and they kissed torridly until she finally pulled back to catch her breath.
"I'm surprised you didn't melt my clothes off."
He laughed. "I tried."
"Well, you get an "A" for effort." His mouth is absolutely addicting.
"You are so beautiful, Sarah." Every time they kiss, he gets lost in her and has to remind himself to pull back.
Her head tipped down to capture his lips again. "I think I'm really getting the hang of this."
He let out a harsh breath. "I would say so."
She laid her head on his shoulder as he gripped her tightly. He continues to awaken so many emotions inside of her, sometimes making her feel like she is going to combust. She realizes that Johnny is just what she had been waiting for and she'll do anything to keep him.
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Jason rushed into his cottage and put some water on the stove and then took a quick shower. He hadn't meant to stay at the station so long, but the call had taken more time than anticipated. It was weird standing on the sidelines and not be able to get his hands dirty. Spinelli had surprised him and was actually focused and did a good job. Ronnie, while cocky, did well too. The call makes him want to get back to work and do what he was trained for.
After about a half hour, his mouth was watering as he finished up the sauce. Liz had sent a text that she'd be leaving in fifteen, so he had some time to relax. He took a few sips of a cold beer and settled onto the couch. He wouldn't put the pasta on until she arrived.
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Elizabeth quickly finished showering and got changed.
"What lit a fire under you? A few minutes ago, I was tempted to take your pulse," Epiphany said.
Liz laughed. "I have a hot date."
Her boss put her hands on her hips. "With my man?"
"Yup. He's cooking."
"Can that man get anymore hotter?"
"I'll let you know how it goes."
Epiphany squeezed Liz's shoulders. "We are living through you. Make us proud."
Liz laughed. "I will. Got to go!" She hurried to her car with a huge smile on her face.
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Jason opened his door with a smile. "Hey."
"Hi," she said moving forward. "I bought some dessert."
"Follow me."
He led her to the kitchen.
"This place is cute and comfy and also smells really good." There isn't a lot of furniture, but it is so him; understated, dependable, and manly—from the leather couch to the pool table instead of a dining room table.
"Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes. Make yourself comfortable."
There is a table that seats two to the right of the entrance, so she places the Tupperware full of brownies on the counter and then plants herself on a chair.
Once he puts the pasta in, he approaches her.
"I didn't get to give you a proper welcome."
She stands and he kisses her reverently before retreating. There is a jolt that makes the house shake and their gaze locks.
"That seems to be happening more frequently," Jason said.
"Yeah. Apparently, they are doing more fracking in the area."
"I thought the governor was trying to shut that down."
"It's on the ballot and I think the ban will pass." She sits again.
"Well, hopefully nothing major happens." It isn't lost on him that other states who have allowed fracking experience a lot of earthquakes as a result. The town is not prepared for a large event and that has always worried him. It's easy for officials to bury their head in the sand when they think there is no immediate threat.
"Can I help with anything?"
"No. It's almost ready." He didn't want her doing a thing, but relaxing and enjoying their time together.
