Chapter Two
Jason sat astride his motorbike, contemplating his next moves. He desperately wanted to go home, but he understood he couldn't go home yet. Things were still way to complicated with Elizabeth.
He understood on some level that she wanted to be with him, but her abiding loyalty to Lucky was slowly killing her, even if she didn't know it. The fire that he so loved about her was going to burn out if she wasn't careful and that almost above all else caused him to hate Lucky a little more.
He had known Lucky when he was younger, had even given the boy a job, that person was so different than the man that egged him on and then instigated a fight. But Lucky didn't play fair, he went home to Elizabeth tell her that it was Jason who had started the fight, that poor Lucky was only defending himself.
Of course she knew he was lying, Jason could tell by her eyes, they were the eyes of a small animal warily sizing up its much larger opponent. That alone had caused his fists to ball into tightly clenched fists. Later that night when he was going to bed, he looked absently at the palm of his hand, with close inspection he could see the small half moon shapes imbedded in his skin. His fist had been clenched so hard that his own nails had bitten into the work worn hands.
So as he sat in the silent darkness that was the hours before dawn, he thought long and hard on what his next move would be. Logically he knew he couldn't stay away forever, but a part of him wanted nothing more.
His unexplainable attraction and feelings for Elizabeth kept clouding his judgment and in his profession, that wasn't good. The smallest mistake could cost him his life and those he loved.
Hitching in a deep breath, the almost inaudible sign was hard to hear, not like he really cared if he did or not. He had to focus, get his head back on straight, it didn't matter what his feelings for Elizabeth were, they could never be together. It was those thoughts that carried with him as he kicked the kickstand our from under the bike, started the engine and set a course in mind.
He was going to travel wherever he wanted, he didn't really know where he would end up, didn't really care, if he were to be honest, because in his heart of hearts, he knew he could never run far enough or fast enough to outrun his still growing feelings for the small yet dominating woman that had so completely stolen his heart.
With the wind blowing in his face and the crisp bite of the weather, Jason banished all thinking till a later date, right now he wanted to live in the now, otherwise he might as well put a bullet between his eyes, he was no good to anyone like this.
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Elizabeth sat quietly on the couch, this time fingering a different bruise. She didn't understand what was wrong with her, she knew how enraged Lucky was going to be, should he find out that she had gone to the loft, and he had been.
The only dominating thought that swirled through the deep recess of her mind, was a very simple one, 'why didn't she grow a spine and take her life back.' She couldn't imagine another twenty years, never mind sixty, but with the possessive nature of Lucky and his treats that were not even in the same ballpark as being idle, left her with a simple realization. She didn't have a choice, Lucky had threatened those she loved and no matter what he!! she went through at his hands, she would not give him any ammunition to retaliate against Audrey or Jason.
Except she knew that wasn't true, because she would take a beating everyday for the rest of her life if it meant she got to keep her loft.
A small moan of pain escaped her lips as she tried to move into a more comfortable position, vowing that she had no intention of doing that again, she waited for the darkness that flitted around her field of vision to abate and when it did, but ever so slowly, she allowed her mind to take her to a different place and time, one that had her riding on the back of Jason's motorbike. Once again thoughts of him and his ability to cut through the clutter of her mind, astounded her.
Nevertheless, she had no intentions of looking a gift horse in the mouth, if memories of Jason could alleviate some of the pain, then so be it, she only wished that instead of insubstantial memories to dream on, she wished that Jason was there.
But she had to wonder, would he see through her false smiles and pathetically insincere laugh. Would he see the bruises for what they really were, or would he be as blind as everyone else. She didn't want to think about that though, those feelings and thoughts only led to heartache, she had to trust in Jason's ability to see the real her, even when the rest of the world was looking through her instead of within.
They had a connection, one you couldn't easily dismiss, not that she would have wanted to had she been able to. It didn't matter now, Jason was gone and possibly never coming back, her salvation would have to lay within herself, because the alternative was something she couldn't even fathom.
Before drifting off into a troubled sleep, she called to Jason with everything residing within her. Hoping beyond hope that the connection had not been severed when she had chosen Lucky over him. She tried to tamper down a thought, but it was persistent in its honesty, 'how could you chose him over Jason, there is no comparison between the two, they were as different as night was from day.' With that thought trying to dig its claws in, she submitted to the awaiting darkness and for a short time, she couldn't feel anything but happiness.
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Jason was pulled from sleep roughly, as if gargantuan hands had grasped his shoulders and pulled. It was the only way to describe the sensation. Because one minute he had been asleep and then next, fully awake.
He scanned the room, the predawn light offering very little help, but he knew there was no one in the room. It had been the dream that had so fully awoken him, but what had he been dreaming, that was the question and for the life of him, he couldn't recall.
He rarely remembered his dreams, even though everyone told him that he did in fact dream on a nightly base. The dreams he remembered were very far and few between. Perhaps he didn't dream though or at least not often, maybe something was fried in his brain after the accident. Who knew really, until they had a more concrete way to determine what the mind was dreaming while asleep, he was left with the more mundane thoughts of everyday life.
Disgusted with his inability to go back to sleep, Jason pulled his weary form from the lumpy mattress and retreated to the bathroom. A shower was exactly what he needed, perhaps it would even be enough to release the tension that the dream had orchestrated in him, and just maybe he could go back to sleep, if he was lucky.
The hotel wasn't a five star establishment, but the shower head, well that was almost heavenly. It had three different settings and could needle into those tense muscles easily.
Jason stepped into the steady stream of hot water, allowing it to sluice over his tired form. He scrubbed his body clean and then did the same to his hair, when he was done with the morning ritual, he didn't bother getting out, he just stood beneath the pounding spray, allowing his mind to drift.
Trying an old trick someone had once told him about. Think about nothing, clear your mind completely and then just see where it takes you. So that is exactly what he did, and after twenty minutes and the water tepid, Jason pulled himself from the shower and quickly wrapped a towel around his lower body. The technique this time, like most, didn't work, unless his mind was determined to have him think even longer and harder on Elizabeth Webber.
Scrubbing a hand down his face, Jason realized he needed to go back, but first things first, he needed a shave, he was decidedly feeling like Grizzly Adams, except he was nowhere near that hairy, at least not yet.
He grabbed the few objects that he had brought in and quickly stored them in his duffle, with thoughts of going home running through his mind, he was suddenly thunderstruck. He had left because in one way Elizabeth had irrevocably ripped his still beating heart from his chest, but since when did Jason Morgan back down from anything, if he wanted something, he fought for it, what he couldn't understand was why he didn't bother to fight for her, he had just gave in.
Scratching his head absently, he finally made a decision, he was going to take him life into his own hands, he was going back to Port Charles, to take his life back and the women he loved. That thought gave him pause for a moment.
Did he truly love Elizabeth or was this some Neanderthal way of not wanting her with any other man. Once again he had to stop and think, he couldn't go home to Elizabeth and try to win her over, not if he wasn't sure of his feelings. With a grunt of disdain, Jason kicked the bike into gear and sped off down the highway.
No, he wasn't going home yet. How could he, not when he didn't have a clue if what he felt for her was love or a sense of possession. He couldn't and wouldn't do that to her, she deserved the world, on that he was positive. It was time to do some soul-searching and if it lead back to Port Charles and Elizabeth at some point, so be it, at least then he would know he was going back for the right reason.
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The swelling seemed to refuse to go down, but the swelling she could explain away, 'corner of the counter, cleaning, stood up too quickly, hit her cheek.' But the bruise could not be so easily explained, it looked like she had been hit, it was dark blue-black with purple tinges, and the size of the bruise would prove that she was lying, of course no one would believe that it had been Lucky, it seemed Port Charles had a new golden boy.
The bruises you couldn't see were worse than the one on her face, Lucky had taken many kidney shots, the surrounding area was beyond black and spread a good five inches in diameter, maybe more. All she knew was that it hurt to even put featherlike pressure on the injury.
Her stomach was a little more hardy, but the bruising was still noticeable, it was just a lighter shade of blue with yellow mottled in, giving her a sickly look.
Unable to look at herself in the mirror any longer, she picked up one of her canvases and threw it at the hateful object. The mirror shattered into a hundred pieces, one piece bouncing back at her and drawing a small bloody bead from her cheek. With nimble fingers she plucked the piece of glass from her skin, tossing it absently to the floor.
Unable to care about the mess, Elizabeth went back to the couch, gingerly laying down so as not to inflict anymore damage to her already pain inflicted body. She curled into a fetal position, drawing the blanket that Jason had used many times over her body. Absently smelling the fabric, hoping for some lingering scent, and perhaps it was his mind playing tricks on her or something, but she could swear she could still smell the obvious smell of Jason, leather and soap, it was a scent so uniquely Jason that she could know it anywhere, because even if she could not see, and no matter how battered and bruised her body was, it would hear the call of his.
The tears were unbidden, but she allowed them free reign, she knew a decision had to be made, she just wasn't sure she was strong enough to make it. How did you throw away a love that could possibly rival all loves, new and old, to stay with a man who used you as his personal punching bag.
She was pulled from her thoughts as the door was thrown open and an angry Lucky stalked into the room.
Not exactly sure what she had done to deserve this angry tirade, she tried to shrink further into the couch, however unsuccessfully.
Lucky looked around the room, noticed the broken glass and was once again swept into a rage.
"Did you forget how to clean?" Lucky asked, not caring if he got an answer or not.
"I'm tired Lucky, please!" Elizabeth replied, as if those four words were enough to explain everything.
"Poor little Lizzie, you are a waste of skin!" Lucky Exclaimed, dropping the few supplies he had brought for her on the counter by the little sink.
He looked at her again, this time his look softened, but that scared her even more, when he was angry she knew what to expect, but when he began to look like the boy she had loved, she never knew what he was capable during those moments.
He slammed the door with a flick of his wrist, then began stalking towards her. He saw her draw further into herself, but that only made him laugh, did she truly think she could escape what was to come next.
He had needs, and while Sarah was handy in most aspects, Elizabeth and her naivety and the way her body fought him, well that was lust inducing.
The loose green shirt that she was wearing was easily ripped from her skin, adding more bruises as it went. Lucky took no notice, mind you, he never asked for permission, not like she would have given it to him, but she was helpless under his apposing weight. He roughly removed the rest of her clothes, leering openly at his work, not bothering to waste time, he quickly disrobed and took what he truly thought was his.
Elizabeth cried beneath him, and pounded on his body, begging him to stop and let her up, if he heard, he gave no sign. She was trapped beneath his sweating body until he was done. She tried to escape into her mind, if she stopped fighting him, then perhaps he wouldn't enjoy it so much, but that engrained self-preservation was so finely built within her, she couldn't stop it. She fought him every step of the way, giving him everything he wanted and then some. Just before his release, he clamped down on her shoulder, his teeth breaking the skin, a love bite or so he could claim.
When he finally pulled himself from her body, pleasantly spent, he roughly kissed her lips, no love was felt with that kiss, it was a kiss of possession, of taking what rightly belongs to him.
Satisfied for the time being, he pulled his clothes back on and hastily left the loft. He couldn't handle the small confines of the room, he was moderately claustrophobic, a little side effect to being held captive by Helena. No matter, no one knew what had happened or how he felt, he liked it better that way.
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A.N. If you like this story and want it to continue, then I need to know. Want more, feed my muse. Please. Feedback is greatly appreciated and always wanted, just keep it constructive. Thank you in advance.