Chapter 14

His first thought was to go outside, get some air. But he knew that his needs had to come second. As much as he wanted to walk over to the stairway and step outside for even just a minute, he didn't. Instead, he searched for his sister. Spotting her hunched over at the nurse's desk, Jason walked towards her, hesitant to approach at first. He could tell she was worried by the rigid set of her shoulders. He stood in front of her, the nurse's desk between them, but when she didn't look up he cleared his throat and gently interrupted her thoughts. "Hey."

Emily's head snapped up and Jason could see the dry tears on her cheeks. "Is Elizabeth ok? Did she wake up?"

A slight nod of his head seemed to take some of the tension out of her shoulders. "She's awake and… she," Scratching the back of his head as he looked down. Jason cleared his throat before he went on. He had to swallow once, twice, past the growing knot in his throat. Just thinking about the look on Elizabeth's face when she accepted the truth that her baby was gone caused painful emotion to course through him. It hurt like hell. "She…knows."

Hand over mouth, Emily tried her best to keep her tears at bay. She couldn't believe that her best friend was going through this…again. "I need to see her."

Jason wasn't too familiar of his sister's relationship with Elizabeth. He knew they were friends and by the way Emily was reacting to Elizabeth's accident he concluded that they were good friends. He didn't know if Elizabeth would want company or not, but he didn't feel right voicing that to his sister. Instead, he looked away before mentioning his real reason for approaching her. "I told Elizabeth that I was going to get her doctor. Do you know where I can find her?"

"I'll page Dr. Meadows right now. I know that she had an appointment, so I'll send a nurse in."

Nodding his head, Jason began to turn around and make his way back towards Elizabeth's room when the elevator opened and Lucky came storming towards the nurse's desk.

"What happened? I got your messages. What happened to Elizabeth?"

"Lucky, I have been trying to call you all morning. Where have you been?"

Placing his palms on the cool counter of the nurses' desk, Lucky shook his head. "It doesn't matter; tell me what happened to Elizabeth."

Emily could see the alarm in Lucky's eyes and hear the anxiety in his voice and decided to tell him what happened. "Elizabeth was brought into the ER earlier this morning. She was in a terrible accident Lucky."

The wind was knocked out of Lucky for a moment. He focused in on nothing as he thought about Elizabeth. He moved a step back and it was then that he finally saw Jason. His expression turned from agony to confusion as he stared at the man, wondering what the hell he was doing there. He was just about to ask just that when Emily interrupted him.

"Elizabeth just woke up, but, Lucky, she lost the baby."

Jason was staring at Lucky with masked emotion. He let nothing show on his face as he looked at the man who held Elizabeth's heart. If Jason wasn't looking directly at Lucky when Emily announced that Elizabeth lost the baby, than Jason wouldn't have seen the look that entered Lucky's eyes for a split second upon hearing the news.

Jason's eyes narrowed with suspicion and confusion when he recognized the look that passed through Lucky's face. He looked…relieved.Jason couldn't understand why the other man would feel relieved but he couldn't think more of it, or study the look any longer because just as quickly as it passed over Lucky's face, it was gone. In its place was concern.

"What room is she in?"

"She's in room six-twelve. I was just going to go see her, I'll take you."

Emily walked beside Lucky as they made their way to Elizabeth's room. Jason felt out of place, but followed them anyway. Lucky looked at him again and Jason could tell that Lucky was wondering what Jason was doing there. Jason could tell that the other man didn't like him and could care less. He didn't like the guy either.

Jason was there for Elizabeth and could care less what anyone else thought.

Especially Lucky.

The three of them stopped before Elizabeth's door and when Lucky reached for the handle, Emily placed her hand on his arm, offering comfort and support. "You go in first, we'll wait out here."

Lucky nodded his head, glancing once more at Jason, showing his displeasure. Without another word, Lucky stepped inside Elizabeth's room. Both Emily and Jason stood quietly, neither knowing what to say to the other. Emily, growing uncomfortable through the silence, turned to Jason and was about to break the silence when the door opened again.

Jax stepped outside, tears evident in his eyes and gave Emily a small smile.

"How is she?"

Jax had to clear his throat before he spoke. He had such big plans for the child he and Elizabeth just lost. He wanted nothing more than to be a father, and when he was given the chance, it was taken away from him before he truly got used to the idea. It a couple of months, he should have been holding his new born baby; instead, he was going to now have to plan her funeral. "She's hurting. She didn't really talk that much, but I can tell she is hurting. It's just…" He couldn't go on. He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping to stop the flow of tears that were threatening to spill.

Emily's heart went out to Jax, and although Jason felt bad for the man, his main concern was Elizabeth. He wanted nothing more than to be inside that room with her, be near her.

Emily moved towards Jax, placing her hand on his arm. He opened his eyes, looked down at her and willing went into her arms. The hug was awkward, but still held that comfort that the two of them needed.

Jason looked away, feeling, yet again, like he was interfering. That need to step outside, maybe go for a bike ride and get some fresh air called out to him again. But he pushed it aside, remembering that he promised Elizabeth he wasn't leaving. He knew that she had her friends and her fiancé there for her. But he still couldn't bring himself to leave.

But standing there, waiting for Elizabeth's fiancé to come outside, watching as Jax tried to control his tears in Emily's arms; Jason knew that he had to step away for just a moment. He wasn't going to leave the hospital, not even the floor. He was just going to give everyone their much needed privacy, and gain some of his own.

Just as he was about to walk away unnoticed, a blond woman came rushing down the hall. She looked familiar, but Jason couldn't remember who she was.

"It's true isn't it?"

Jax pulled away from Emily, wishing for nothing more than his soon to be ex-wife to just go away. He couldn't deal with her at the moment. All three of them just stared at Courtney, none of them saying a word as she brushed her hair off of her shoulder.

"I just found out Elizabeth was in an accident. She lost the baby didn't she?"

Her tone sounded way to accusing for Jason's liking. He was about to step in when Jax beat him to it. Obviously coming to the same conclusion. His eyes were narrowed as he confronted his wife. "Elizabeth was in a terrible accident Courtney. And yes," his tone softened as he looked away. "Elizabeth lost the baby. I was just in there with her and she is extremely upset. I think it would be best if you left."

"I'm not going anywhere, Jax. She lost my baby!" Courtney's voice had risen to a high screech as she pointed to herself in the middle of her outburst. "What was she doing out so late anyway? What was she thinking?"

Jason couldn't remember, but he was sure that he had never hit a woman. But standing there, listening and watching as Courtney yelled, placing blame on Elizabeth, he was very tempted to hit her. His hands clenched at his sides, but he held back.

"This is not the time, or the place for this." Grabbing her upper arm, Jax began to steer her down the hallway. Looking towards Emily, Jax's voice and expression softened. "Tell Elizabeth that I'll be back."

"I will." She smiled in return. Once Jax and Courtney were out of view, Emily groaned while she turned her worried eyes towards Jason. "I hope Elizabeth did not hear any of that."

Alarm sparked through Jason. "You think she could have heard her?"

"I don't know. Courtney was yelling loud enough."

Sighing, Jason scrubbed firmly at his face. Elizabeth had been through so much. She just lost her unborn child and her pain was beyond bearable. He knew there was a small part of her that blamed her self. She did apologize to Jax when he first came into her room and he could see something in her eyes when she apologized. Something that told him she felt responsible. He hoped that she didn't hear what Courtney had said. He didn't know if she would be able to handle it.

Just thinking about the blond pissed Jason off. She stormed into the hospital, yelling to anyone that would listen, and could have possibly caused Elizabeth more pain. His anger grew with each passing thought.

He really needed to go outside.

Once Jax left the hospital room, Lucky rushed to Elizabeth's side. He grabbed her hand, placing a kiss on her forehead. But no matter how much he wanted to be there for her, he still couldn't look her in the eyes.

Not after what happened the night before.

She found out about him cheating on her with Sam. She left him, and now she was in the hospital, bruised and in pain, both physical and emotional. She lost her baby. A child that wasn't his, but another mans. All because they fought and she left him.

Because he cheated on her.

"How…how are you feeling?"

"Lucky, please look at me."

It took what seemed an eternity for him to look at her and the longer it took, the more pain Elizabeth suffered. She felt so alone, so empty, and Lucky wouldn't even look at her. Their eyes finally made contact and Elizabeth couldn't help but wonder why there was a speck of guilt lying within his.

"I'm sorry." His voice was thick with emotion, and Elizabeth got the distinct impression that he wasn't talking about her accident or her losing the baby. "Are you in pain? Do you—"

"I'm…I'm ok. I can't really move, but I don't feel too much pain." Clearing her throat, Elizabeth tried to hold back the rush of tears that wanted so badly to fall. "The pain medication is helping." Her voice sounded hoarse. She looked up at Lucky. He sat so close to her, yet she felt like he was miles away. She need so badly for him to comfort her, tell her that everything was going to be ok. She knew it wasn't, but she desperately needed to hear the lie.

She was holding onto his hand with such a slight grip, but Lucky could tell she was using most of her strength. He looked into her pain filled eyes, knowing that because of his affair, he caused her some of the pain. How she was able to look at him puzzled him beyond belief. But no matter how much she hated him for sleeping with Sam, he would be there for her. He had to be, he couldn't lose her.

"Do you know what happened? How you ended up here?" He couldn't look at her as he waited for her to answer him.

"I know that I was in a car accident. But I… I don't remember what happened."

Lucky's gaze shot to hers. "You don't remember?"

Elizabeth concentrated, looking off into space, trying to see if she could remember the fateful accident that caused her to lose her baby. Tears finally sprang free at her frustration and sadness of losing her child. "I don't even remember being in a car."

Hope sprang within Lucky. Trying not to seem eager, he hedged on. "What… what is the last thing you remember?"

Not wanting to think about what happened, or how it happened, Elizabeth was about to tell him that all she needed was for him to be there with her. But seeing the look in his eyes, like what she might tell him would mean everything to him, she sighed and closed her eyes, trying to find the last memory that would surface. Her forehead was creased into a frown as she concentrated.

"I was… I was at home, and Cameron, he," her eyes flew open and for the first time that morning, a small smile appeared. "He was walking to me. Jason was there." Closing her eyes, Elizabeth tried to force her memory to go on, but she couldn't remember anything else. It was a dark fog of nothingness.

Just pain.

"I'm sorry, I don't—"

"Hey, hey," Moving closer to her, Lucky cupped her face in his hands, lightened his grip when he saw her grimace. "It's ok. You don't need to remember. It'll only make it worse." Relief washed over him.

She didn't remember.

He leaned over the side of her bed, kissed her gently before he pulled back. Elizabeth was taken back from his sudden closeness. From the moment he walked into her room she wanted nothing more that for him to comfort her, but he seemed so distant. And then, all of a sudden, he was giving her exactly what she needed.

"I'm just so happy you are ok."

But she wasn't. She needed him to know that. She hurt so deeply inside. She was empty. And even though Lucky was there, she felt alone.

She didn't feel alone when Jason was there.

Elizabeth closed her eyes. Lucky's lips on her forehead caused her to open them again. "Emily is waiting outside. Is it ok if I let her in?"

Not trusting herself to speak, Elizabeth slightly nodded her head. Lucky smiled down at her, squeezed her hand once, before he walked back towards the door. He glanced at her once more before he opened the door and gestured Emily in.

Her best friend walked through the door as Lucky walked outside. He wanted to let Emily spend some time with Elizabeth before he went back in. He also needed to have a talk with Jason.

Jason was leaning against the wall, arms folded over his chest, gaze directed on the closed door of Elizabeth's room. He was blatantly ignoring Lucky, not looking at him, not paying any attention to him when the younger man cleared his throat.

He had no need to have small talk with the other man.

"We need to talk."

Expression never changing, Jason turned only his gaze to stare at Lucky. He never blinked as he looked at the man who was now standing across from him. When Lucky didn't go on, telling Jason why he felt the need to talk, Jason shrugged his shoulders in impatience, waiting for Lucky to speak.

"I want you to stay away from my fiancée."

Jason narrowed his eyes and ticked his head to the left; his only response to Lucky's demand. Jason could tell that Lucky tried to sound demanding, forceful, but his demand was puny at best, and something Jason would never agree to.

Squaring his shoulders, Lucky took a step closer to Jason. "I don't know what you think is going on between you and Elizabeth, but she doesn't need you in her life."

Stepping away from the wall, Jason straightened to his full height, staring down at Lucky. Still not saying a word.

"Why are you here anyway?"

Jason placed his hands on his hips. He dipped his head, looked to the left, and held back the urge to punch Lucky. Looking him straight in the eye, Jason's voice held no emotion. "I'm here for Elizabeth."

Lucky took a step closer. "Like I said, Elizabeth doesn't need you—"

"That's not for you to decide."

Lucky's calm was quickly diminishing. He never liked the friendship between Jason and Elizabeth. Jason always seemed to cause problems between Lucky and Elizabeth, and Lucky was not about to let Jason come between them again. "She's my fiancée, and I know what's best for her. Leave Elizabeth alone. She just lost her baby and she doesn't need you lurking outside her door, causing trouble."

Outside, Jason looked calm, not even fazed by Lucky's demands. But inside, he wanted nothing more than to shut the other man up; preferably with his fists. He held that need down, knowing that nothing good would come out of it. Sure he would feel better, but Elizabeth would be upset.

And all that mattered at the moment was Elizabeth.

A thought occurred to Jason, something that bothered him earlier that morning while he sat by Elizabeth's side, holding her hand, waiting for her to wake up. Once she did open her eyes, he forgot about everything. But standing there, watching as Lucky tried to seem intimidating but only accomplished in fueling his own anger, Jason remembered. And as much as he did not want to talk to the man standing before him, it was his only choice. His eyes squinted as he looked away before turning back to Lucky. "What was Elizabeth doing out so late?"

Jason saw a flicker of alarm cross through Lucky's face. But just like earlier, when Lucky learned of Elizabeth losing the baby and a look of relief passed over his face, the emotion quickly faded. Jason could tell that Lucky was trying to think of something to say. It only caused Jason to become even more curious. It was odd to him that Elizabeth was out so late. Something had to have happened to cause her to go driving in the middle of the night, and by the way Lucky suddenly clamed up, Jason knew the other man knew why. "What did you—?"

"Why don't you just get the hell out of here Morgan?" Lucky's voice was rising, causing a nurse who passed by to give him a curious glance.

Jason's eyes narrowed in suspicion. Something wasn't right and he was going to find out. Before he could ask Lucky anymore questions, questions he knew Lucky wouldn't answer but would help clarify his suspicions, a nurse walked towards Elizabeth's room.

Lucky and Jason followed the nurse inside the room. When the two men stepped through the doorway, Elizabeth's eyes immediately glued in on Jason. Their gazes locked, and Jason saw relief wash over her.

Relief in knowing that he hadn't left the hospital without telling her.

She looked small, fragile, and in pain lying in the hospital bed. Emily was sitting next to her bed, a smile on her face and tears in her eyes. But even as Lucky rushed to the other side of Elizabeth's bed, neither tore their gaze away form each other.

The nurse broke the silence. "How are you feeling Elizabeth?" She asked as she walked over to Elizabeth's IV, pulling out a needle and injecting it into her IV.

Still, Elizabeth didn't break eye contact with Jason. "My body aches and my head is pounding, but other than that, I'm…" clearing her throat, Elizabeth looked away from Jason. She knew if she told her lie while she looked at him, he would see right through it. "I'm ok."

"Good, Dr. Meadows will be in shortly to see you. I just gave you another dose of your pain medication so you are going to be very drowsy for the rest of the day. You'll probably be in and out of sleep all day."

As the nurse spoke, Elizabeth's eyes began to droop.

Lucky watched as Elizabeth's eyes became heavy. But every time her eyes opened slightly, they were focused on Jason. Clenching his jaw, Lucky turned his angry gaze towards Jason, knowing that the older man was looking at Elizabeth. His voice was short when he addressed Jason. "Weren't you just about to leave?"

Elizabeth's gaze flew open, panicked and dazed as she glanced at Lucky and then back at Jason. "You're leaving?" There was a slight tint of alarm in her voice.

Lucky touched her cheek. "He probably has a lot to do today Elizabeth. I'm sure he doesn't want to sit at the hospital while you sleep all day."

Jason's hands formed to fists at his sides as he glared at Lucky.

Elizabeth knew she wouldn't be much company. But she still didn't want Jason to leave. She couldn't explain it, but his presence made her feel better, at ease. Her eyes closed for a moment before she forced them back open. Lucky was right though, Jason had a life, he couldn't spend his entire day at the hospital.

"Oh…ok." Her voice was sleepy as her eyes closed again. She forced them open once again, with as much energy as she had and looked up at Jason. He moved from the foot of her bed to stand by the side of her bed next to Emily. She smiled at him as she reached out and took his hand in hers. "Thank you."

Both of them knew what she was thanking him for. Giving her hand a gentle squeeze, feeling Lucky's glare on them the entire time and not caring, Jason gave her a small smile. He didn't want to leave. As much as being in the hospital made him feel uneasy, he still did not want to leave her side. But he knew that if he stayed, Lucky was going to do or say something stupid that would upset Elizabeth. Jason would be the bigger man and leave, not wanting to cause Elizabeth any more pain. "I'll come back later."

With his reassurance, Elizabeth was able to close her eyes and give into the need to sleep. Jason gave Emily a small smile as he made his way to the door. She smiled in return but it left her face when Lucky angrily called out to Jason's retreating form. "I don't think you should come back."

Jason didn't turn back to acknowledge Lucky. He didn't even hesitate in his stride as he left Elizabeth's hospital room and made his way to the parking lot where his bike was. He didn't give a shit what Lucky thought. He knew Elizabeth wanted him there, and he would be there.

For her.

As he mounted his bike and pulled away from the hospital, Jason felt the fresh air blowing against his face and took in a deep breath. But no matter how much he thought he needed the fresh air when he was in the hospital. It didn't make him feel any better.

He no longer wanted to be outside on his bike. He wanted to be sitting next to Elizabeth's bed, watching her sleep while he held her hand.

He wanted Elizabeth.