A/N – Thanks for the comments! * stonecold46 – Mommy dearest already said she didn't sleep with Stefan. I don't think Andrea really had the hots for him. She was upset and he was there. It wasn't planned. It's always icky when soap characters do siblings or family members. Another reason I hated Liz/Nik/Lucky. Sorry you don't dig Epiphany/Patrick. I can't please everyone, but it will mostly focus on their friendship. Thanks! *
Chapter 12
Sarah quickly went down the hallway and pushed on the door until it opened. "Jason?"
He was surprised to see her. "Hi."
"Looks like you got yourself in a pickle." A bottle of pills lay on the floor with its contents scattered.
"I could use a little help."
"Then I'm your girl."
She quickly picked them up. "Anything else?"
"Unless you have some sort of contraption that can help me get rid of the itch on my thigh."
She grinned. "Hold that thought."
He curiously watched her leave the room and a minute later, she returned with a back scratcher.
"This should do." She moved the leg of his shorts up and slipped it inside. "How's that?"
A lazy smile appeared on his face. "Really good."
"You can't go past your knee."
"Okay. Thank you."
"Are you still interested in my sister?"
"I'm not going to go there."
"Why?"
"She's been through enough. If Johnny makes her happy, then I'm not going to stand in the way."
She couldn't help but be impressed that Jason was a standup guy. "Rumor has it that you already have a replacement."
He frowned. "Who?"
"Kelly West."
His head tilted. "I don't kiss and tell."
"So there has been kissing?"
Jason's eyes flickered with amusement. "Maybe."
"Did you remember how?"
"It came back to me."
She laughed. "I like you, Jason."
"Is that a good or bad thing?"
"I don't know. I'll think about it."
He chuckled as he watched her leave.
Sarah returned to Elizabeth.
"What happened?"
"He dropped his pills. So, did you hear about him and Kelly?"
"Yeah."
Sarah frowned. "When?"
"I saw her kiss him after the ball."
"Wow. That must have been a shock."
Liz shrugged. "He gets to do what he wants." She really didn't get a say on who Jason kissed.
"I guess. You two are like the walking wounded in more ways than just the physical."
"True. He has all the family drama and I hid the fact that I had a child."
Sarah cringed. "Maybe it's a good thing you found each other. You can help each other heal."
"Maybe."
Sarah glanced at the television that was muted. "Holy shit."
Liz followed her gaze as her sister turned it up.
"That's right, Elizabeth Webber, the darling of Port Charles announced that she had gotten knocked up when she was seventeen. Sadly, the baby died, but we're shocked that she had been keeping this kind of secret for so long. The self-professed wild child finally outed herself at the charity ball. What will this mean for her relationship with the hunk otherwise known as Johnny O'Brien?" A picture of him covered the screen. "Isn't he delicious? We don't know, but rumor has it there may be trouble in paradise, considering that Elizabeth moved the gorgeous Jason Morgan, who just happens to be a Quartermaine, into her home." His picture bumped Johnny's off the screen. "Will she be able to resist the temptation?" Maxie grinned. "You know, if there is a story there, I will find it. And if any of you happen to know who Elizabeth's high school stud was, please send me an email."
Liz angrily turned it off. "I hate that bitch."
Sarah pursed her lips. "We have got to find a way to get her back for this."
"Yeah well, if you figure it out, let me know." Maxie was the town gossip. Liz had no idea how she got all the information she did, but it had gotten to the point where people were offering money to people if they confessed who the moles were.
There was a knock on the door.
Sarah moved to get it.
"Carly?"
"I'm here to see Jason, if that's alright."
She was shocked they were that friends. "You didn't sleep with him right?"
Carly rolled her eyes. "Uh—no. I just met him after the accident."
"Sorry."
She brushed past Sarah. "Elizabeth."
"Hi Carly. He's down the hallway, second door on the right."
"Thanks."
She disappeared.
"I did not see that coming," Sarah said.
"I guess Jason left a lasting impression."
"He's a good guy."
"I know."
"Alright, I guess I better go food shopping. The stuff in my fridge is growing legs."
"Ewwww."
"I know. I might have to call hazmat."
Liz grinned. "I'm going to call in my order and have them deliver. I'm not sure what to get Jason. He doesn't remember what he likes."
"Ask Kelly."
Liz scrunched her nose, making her sister laugh.
"Later."
"Bye."
IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI
Johnny stopped in Kelly's for some coffee and saw Katherine and Kylie. "Hey."
Katherine smiled. "Hello Johnny."
"You were at the hospital," Kylie said.
"I was. How are you feeling?"
"Much better."
"Good."
A girl took his order and Katherine motioned for him to sit.
"How is Elizabeth?" she asked.
"She's hanging in there."
"She was very brave."
Johnny nodded.
"How's Jason?" Kylie asked.
"Resting."
"I want to draw some more on his cast. That was fun."
Johnny smiled.
"Were you on the way to work?"
"Yes."
"What do you do?"
He told her about the company and Katherine was impressed.
He was handed his coffee. "Listen, give me your phone. If you or Kylie ever needed anything, you give me a ring." They were new in town and he knew how that felt.
She smiled. "I could always use a friend."
"I'm your guy."
Kylie was drawing in her notebook as she hummed a song.
Johnny programmed his number in and then said goodbye.
IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI
Carly waltzed into the room surprising Jason. "Hey. You miss me?"
"Yes."
"Good, because I came bearing gifts." She had spoken to his co-workers to get an idea of what Jason liked.
She moved to the other side of the bed and climbed on and then handed him the bag.
He opened it and pulled some magazines out with some books.
"Francis said you liked travel books, so I got you a couple. You also own a motorcycle."
"Really?"
She nodded.
He rifled through them. "Thank you Carly."
"You're welcome."
He took the last item out. "Cheese curls?"
"Those are for me," she said taking it from him.
An amused Jason watched her open the bag and then groan when she bit into one.
"Heavenly."
She licked her fingers and then held the bag out.
Jason tentatively took one and then popped it into his mouth. "Good."
"Anything tastes good to you right now because hospital food sucks. This and chocolate are my two favorite things."
"Good to know."
"So you're not going to tell me about Kelly?"
He shook his head. "There's nothing to tell."
"Well, were you dating her before?"
"Um, sort of."
Carly grinned. "You were sex buddies."
"Maybe."
"And now?"
"I don't know. It's not like I remember anything."
"Are you open to it?"
Jason shrugged. "I just want to get better. I can't ask someone to stop living their life waiting around for me. It wasn't serious anyway."
"I can see where you are coming from, but it's nice to have someone you can rely on and have sex with."
"And do you have a person like that?"
"Yeah, but it's complicated."
"Why?"
"Well, he's part of the reason you're hurt right now."
Jason was shocked.
"I've been dating Sonny Corinthos for a few months now."
"I see. Is that why you're talking to me? Did he ask you to—"
"Jason! No! I wouldn't take advantage of you like that. He doesn't even know that I know you."
"I didn't mean—I'm sorry."
She took a deep breath. "I understand. I would have had the same reaction. I like you. I can be a bit crazy at times and you calm me."
"So you're using me?"
"Definitely." She was glad to see the twinkle in his eyes again.
"You could always count in your head. That's what Dante told me to do when I get frustrated."
"True. I don't normally think before I act. That's the problem."
"Good to know." He liked Carly. "So, does Sonny treat you well?"
"Yes. He attentive. I don't usually do well in relationships. I like to self-sabotage them. I think he's going to fire Ric for what he did at the hospital."
"I'd like to kick his ass."
"Get in line. He doesn't have much of a fan club."
"I need to get my memory back so I can help put him away."
"I think he'll go down regardless. From what I understand, Diane is representing you and she's really good."
"So, tell me about yourself."
She closed the bag. "Well, my mother works at the hospital. She gave me up for adoption when she was younger and I had an okay life, I guess. I just never felt like I fit in anywhere and when I found out about her, I kind of went off the rails and came to town to hurt her because she didn't want me. I did some horrible things, like seducing my step-father."
Jason's brow rose.
"I told you I could be crazy. Anyway, at first I hated her and then over time, we reconciled."
"That sounds rough."
"Oh it was. I have quite the reputation."
"And well earned…"
She playfully glared. "Hey! You are supposed to be my friend."
"And how many friends do you have exactly?"
She muttered something and he grinned.
"I couldn't quite hear that."
"You're it. I don't get along with most women and, well, it's pretty much impossible to be just friends with the opposite sex unless they are just completely unattractive or you know for a fact that they'd rather die than be with you."
"I'm friends with Elizabeth."
Carly gave him a skeptical look. "If there is a millimeter of a chance something could go down, then you can never be just friends."
Jason smirked. "So, would you rather die than be with me?"
She grinned. "Oh, I would be on you in a flash, but you need me and are hooked on the princess, so I won't go there."
He sighed. "You are something else."
"And?"
"What?"
"Would you rather die than be with me?" she asked.
"I think you are too much for me to handle. I'm starting to wonder if I'll survive this friendship."
She rolled her eyes. "You can't get rid of me now. You're stuck. Besides, you need someone to have your back and that is something I'm very good at."
"Alright, but if I catch you looking at me funny or you try to cross the line, the deals off."
She held out her hand. "I can't promise that I'll never look at you funny, but I won't cross the line."
He shook it. "I'm glad we got that straightened out."
"Me too."
IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI
Carly breezed past Elizabeth who was typing on her computer. "Alright muffin, he's all yours. I just helped him get up and use the bathroom and now he's all tucked in."
"Thanks."
"By the way, I know we don't really speak, but I thought you were brave doing what you did and I'm sorry for your loss."
Elizabeth was totally taken aback. "Thank you."
"Take care of him for me."
She left and Elizabeth put her computer down and walked to Jason's room. "Everything okay?"
"Yes. Carly brought me something to read."
"I should have thought of that."
"It's okay."
"I called Francis to find out what you liked to eat so I could order some groceries."
"I forgot to tell you that Cook is preparing dinner for us tonight. I think Alice is bringing it over. Francis is coming too."
"Oh, good, then I don't have to cook."
"Do you know how?"
"I'm okay at the basics." She pulled up a chair. "Cheese curls?"
"They are Carly's."
Liz's eyes narrowed. "Let me see those."
Jason handed her the bag.
Liz popped one into her mouth. "I haven't had these in ages."
"Is it okay if Carly comes to visit?"
"Of course. You can have people over. I think it's good that you are making friends." She wasn't really sure what to think of Carly, but it was Jason's choice who he hung out with.
"What about Kelly?"
Liz finished chewing. "That's fine."
"Thanks."
"Do you like her?"
"She seems nice."
He watched as she got up and put the bag on the nightstand and then moved to the window.
"She's fun. I've hung out with her a few times."
"You seem uncomfortable saying that."
"I've spent a lot of time not being fun. Maybe I miss the wild side of me a little bit and envy her."
"I'd like to see that."
Her head jerked towards him. "You think you'd like me more?"
"I don't know. I think that I'm okay with however you choose to be."
"Good answer."
He smiled. "I didn't say it to impress you. It's just how I feel."
"I've put my whole life into working and pushed everything else aside."
"So tell me, just how crazy did you get? Was it Carly crazy?"
She laughed. "Oh, she told you about her past?"
"Yes."
She sat on the edge of the bed. "I hung out with the sketchy crowd, which means it was bad girls that pretended to be good girls so they could get away with everything."
"Go on."
"We cut classes and smoked a little."
"Anything criminal?"
"I shop lifted once on a dare and if you tell another soul…" She totally regretted it.
"Your secret is safe with me. Any arrests?"
"No. We usually ran before it got that far. My boyfriend at the time, who believe or not was named John, was always pushing things to the edge. It was because his family was so screwed up. The Zaccharas were well to do and of course, my parents didn't mind for that reason. They had no idea what went on behind closed doors. Anyway, one night our petting got a little out of control and we were both a little tipsy. We made love and didn't use protection. It was stupid. I realized I was pregnant a few months later."
"Did you tell him?"
"Not at first. I was so scared. My mother noticed the change in my body and that I was getting sick and all hell broke loose. She called the Zaccharas to our house and confronted me and John. I admitted it and my mother and his father thought it best to send me away and their spouses went along with it."
He held out his hand and she crawled towards him and gripped it.
"I was devastated. We were forbidden to continue seeing each other and I was shipped away. I never saw him again. They were notified that the baby died and by the time I got back, they had moved."
Johnny stood frozen in the hallway. He had knocked and then let himself in. Clearly, Liz hadn't heard him. He was a little hurt that she felt more comfortable confiding in Jason.
"I can't imagine what you must have gone through."
"They let me see a counselor. My mother had a hard time dealing with it all for reason she has never shared. We just agreed to not discuss it. I get that dwelling on it was destroying me, it's just not something you just get over so, it was hard."
"Why do you think your mom had the reaction she did?"
"Well, her parents were very hard on her and I think it closed her off to an extent. I've never met them. All I know is that they had a huge falling out. She's a little wound tight and she didn't appreciate Lizzie at all."
"Is that what your friends used to call you?"
"Yes. I don't prefer it, but they just insisted on using it. Sometimes, Steven still teases me."
Johnny backed up and went into the living room and then said her name loudly.
"I'll be right back," Liz said before crawling off the bed.
