Thank you once again for your kind words in the previous chapter. I am grateful for your feedback and any and all suggestions. This chapter is much longer than previous ones, I figured I haven't been updating with any regularity lately, so I wanted to give you a better chapter. Hopefully you like this one. Want more, remember, feedback inspires my muse...
Chapter Eighteen
Francis, Marco and Emanuel all sat around Sonny's desk, looking pensive and slightly fearful. Not exactly sure why they had been summoned, only knowing they didn't have a choice in the matter.
"I suppose you three are wondering why I called this meeting?" Sonny asked, gauging each mans posture, trying to see flaws that could possibly be problematic.
"We are curious of course, but we did figure you would want to see us eventually. How is Elizabeth and did they find her ex yet?" Marco asked, knowing he was probably overstepping his boundaries, but found himself unable to not ask the question. He liked Elizabeth, she had a certain something about her, that made him and the two men sitting beside him, want to protect her.
"Elizabeth is doing better, she has a long road ahead of her, but we are sure she will recover, with Jason by her side, everything should turn out okay. As for Lucky, we have yet been unable to find him. But never mind that right now, Jason and I have discussed this at length and we agree you three would be an asset to our company. Emanuel, with your background in the Army, we want you working on finding Lucky, you will be working along with Stan, he's our computer expert." Sonny looked at the oldest of the three, wondering if he would have a problem with his assignment.
"Marco, Francis, you are going to be put on guard duty. You will be guarding Elizabeth when she is alone and both her and Jason when they are together. You will be on shift work, Johnny and Max will also be watching them. You are already emotionally attached to her, but I expect that you remain alert at all times, don't get overly friendly, if you choose to begin a friendship with her, when you are not working, so be it, but if your friendship causes Jason even a moment's pause, you will be reassigned." Sonny once again paused, seeing if one or all would have a problem with their duties.
"I expect the utmost respect, do not double-cross me, or the people I call friends, nor my family. You are being given a chance, call the first three months a trial period, if after that time, you are still with us, then a raise will be given, there is a chance for bettering ones self, but you must prove yourself on a daily basis. No drinking while on the job or before. You are going to be given random drug tests, I do not permit my men to do any narcotics, they cloud the mind and slow reaction time. Don't bring your girlfriends to work, no personal calls while working either, a leniency will be given for emergencies, but don't make a habit of it. Things you hear while working for me are to remain confidential, it would not be in your best interest to spill any details to other people, especially the police. You are to sign an agreement, pretty much pertaining to everything I have just said. I want you to take it home and read it, cover to cover. If you have any problems, with any of this, then I would like you to tell me, because I cannot have a man who is not willing to do the job my way. Understand?" Sonny said, concluding his speech.
Marco looked at his two friends, pretty sure he knew how they felt, he bit the bullet and spoke. "I think you are being more than fair, what you are requesting is understandable, if after we read our contracts, we do want to be a part of your business, should we contact you?"
"Tomorrow at ten, I want all three of you back here, whether the answer is yes or no. Milo will show you out, but please understand, punctuality is a must, don't be late." Sonny replied, waving his hand, dismissing the three men without another word.
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Lucky tidied the hotel room up, well as much as he could, giving the fact there wasn't much to work with, but he did do his best.
He was stuck in the hotel room all day, he could not risk leaving and have someone stumble upon the package that lay in the tub. And while he didn't want to take the time to dispose of it, he knew he didn't have a choice, not if he wanted to remain incognito.
So he remained in the stuffy, rundown hotel room, awaiting the cover of darkness. But being stuck in one place had him thinking thoughts that were best not thought.
Elizabeth, she wouldn't stay off his mind, the little twit just caused his rage to transform, causing it to become something even more lethal and all encompassing, it was a rage he couldn't contain or defuse, the only thing that would assuage this rage, was to get his hands on her and show her, no one leaves Lucky Spencer.
Unable to sit still any longer, Lucky began to pace the small confines of his room, staying a good distance from the bathroom. While he knew it was too soon for decomposition to be happening, he could smell the stomach turning smell of her body and whether it was imagined or not, in his minds eye, he saw her decomposing at an alarming rate, tainting the air he was forced to breath.
The more the images assaulted him, the queasier his stomach became, until he was forced to crumple to his knees in front of the wastepaper basket beside the bed. There was no way he would go near the bathroom, at least not till he didn't have a choice. He emptied the contents of his stomach into the small garbage can, thankful he hadn't eaten anything in twenty-four hours or more, otherwise, he could very well find himself with a larger and just as unpleasant task of cleaning up. The body would be bad enough, but cleaning up the contents of his stomach caused said object to clench in disgust and void what was left. His body shook with the effort, tears spilled from his eyes, his body was revolting against the task he must do, but at the moment, he was so weak, there was no chance he could do anything, he couldn't even find the strength to raise off the stained, crusty carpet.
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Jason waited patiently, or as patiently as he possibly could. He was not a man known for sitting around. He supposed with Elizabeth living with him now, he would have to get used to waiting on someone. Thank God he had two full bathroom's, otherwise, he might have had to buy a place just for that reason. He remembered what it was like with women in the house, you rarely got bathroom time, especially if you were of the male species.
"Elizabeth, are you ready yet?" Jason hollered up the stairs, knowing he should give her time, but also knowing they needed to get this over with. He had a feeling today was going to be very long. All he wanted was to be there for her, offering her a comforting shoulder, should she need it.
"One minute, I will be right down." Elizabeth shouted. She had been unable to decide what to wear, uncountable minutes were wasted standing in front of the closet, where Jason had hung her clothes. The only thing running through her mind, was the fact that he clothes were either too short or too tight, the old her would have worn them, because she had felt comfortable in her own skin, but this new Elizabeth, didn't feel comfortable in anything that exposed her form, the larger the clothes and the baggier, the better, in her opinion.
Finally giving up looking at her clothes, she turned once again to Jason's, to show her appreciation for his allowing her to wear his clothes, she was going to have to do laundry or something special.
She pulled on one of his shirts, she had never seen him wear this particular one though, it was button up, a dark midnight blue. She could just imagine what he looked like in it, and wondered idly, why she had never seen it on him, she would have to inquire and see if she couldn't convince him to wear it. She didn't have much of a choice when it came to pants, but thankfully she found a pair of sweatpants, stashed in one corner. Noticing that Jason had probably outgrown them, Elizabeth slipped them up her bony frame.
If she wasn't careful, Jason would start to force her to eat, she had lost a good five pounds or more, since he came back. Her high anxiety and constant terror did nothing for her appetite, but it sure was murdering her figure, she looked like skin upon bone, stretched in anger no less. She was hard edges and her small breasts before had almost disappeared, she felt positively boyish in appearance. She believed if she cut her hair, she could possibly pass as one. That thought sent a chill down her spine.
Looking at herself in the full length mirror on the closet door, Elizabeth sized herself up. She didn't like the sight that she saw, but really couldn't do anymore, with a sigh that built deep within, she shrugged her shoulders and began the walk to join Jason.
"Okay girl, you can do this, just think, get over all the hard stuff and then you get to go shopping with Jason." Even the idea of shopping did little to buoy her spirit. It was Jason who was giving her strength, and before they even left the penthouse, she knew she would be leaning on him. It was one thing to have Jason and Sonny and a whole bunch of college kids know about her beating, actually it was embarrassing to say the least, but humiliating as well. Now she was going to tell her grandmother and her employer, the stress of the day finally caught up with her and as she ascended the last stair, she burst into tears.
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"Elizabeth, are you alright?" Jason enquired, knowing if he pushed to hard, she would just run back upstairs and once again put things off. Even though he didn't relish the idea of being in the same room as Audrey Hardy, he would do that and so much more for Elizabeth, she was the very essence of his heart.
Not wanting to see pity in his eyes, but unable to keep her eyes down cast, she slowly lifted her face to his. The heartbreaking devotion and sadness shone in his eyes, thankfully though, there was no pity, love and acceptance in spades though.
"I'm okay, just had a bad moment, it's passed. Shall we go?" Elizabeth questioned, hoping beyond hope that he would say something had come up, but also wishing to get the whole thing dealt with and put behind her.
"Let's go then." Jason said, as he slipped his arm around her small waist. Upon seeing her grateful smile, he tightened his hold, but not so much that he would aggravate any of her injuries.
The dissension to the parkade was an arduous journey, seemingly taking hours instead of the scant minutes that really passed. Her body was running on pure octane, while her mind was moving a hundred miles a minute. Unable to suppress either emotion, Elizabeth allowed them free reign, at least for the time being, once they reached their first destination, she would have to get her emotions under some control, otherwise Audrey would detect that something was off and while she didn't know why that was a bad thing, Elizabeth knew she had to tell her grandmother in her own way. She liked Lucky and thought him a good boy, amazing how wrong she was, but she was more likely to believe something bad about Elizabeth than about Lucky.
Elizabeth turned abruptly, out of Jason's arms. When Jason tried to wrap his arm around her and get her moving, he found that she was standing quite still, no muscle moving. His immediate thought was that she changed her mind, but there was a look in her eyes, one he had seen before. Her fire was back and in spades, but what did the little minx want, that was the question.
"Is something wrong?" Jason enquired, offering her his hand.
"Nope, I want you to make me a promise." Elizabeth said, gracing him with one of her sweetest smiles, but it was a sharks smile, because he could see she wanted something and the sad fact was, she knew he could deny her nothing.
"And what my dear would that be?" Jason asked, believing he already knew, but wanting to hear her say it.
"I want… You have to promise to take me on a long, long bike ride tonight, perhaps not even come back, just ride till we can't ride anymore and then come back. I want to feel the wind in my hair and I want to think without thinking." Elizabeth said, her smile turning wistful as she remembered rides from their past.
"Oh I see, you only love me for my bike!" Jason exclaimed. He was happy that the fire hadn't been beaten out of her, and it was even nicer to see it spark up now, when she had hit rock bottom.
"I love you for many reasons, the bike, it's a perk." Elizabeth said with a smile, stepping closer, ready to work her magic should he protest.
"If we get going now and do everything we set out to do, I will drive till you tell me to stop, go wherever you want to go, okay?" Jason asked, hoping she would agree.
"Mr. you have yourself a deal, can I drive at some point?" Elizabeth asked, that fire momentarily flaring higher, sparking behind her cobalt blue eyes.
"I'll think about it, let's go, okay?" Jason asked, wanting to get this part of the day over with, especially considering the night he just now decided to bestow upon Elizabeth. It will be a perfect ending to a very long day. At least he hoped it would be.
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Sonny once again sat behind his desk, wondering exactly what he was planning on doing with Carly. She had hated Elizabeth from the moment she had laid eyes upon the young woman. And while at first he could see a reason behind her harshness, he no longer could. Carly had chosen to be with him, so did it really matter who Jason fell for. It really shouldn't matter, it finally hit him, if things were going to show any signs of normalcy, considering Elizabeth was now living with his best friend, it was up to Sonny to take things into his hands and make right.
No one could make Carly's hatred of Liz go away, but he could do something about making it less obvious. With his mind made up, he quickly grabbed his coat and left the warehouse. He didn't even have to think twice about what he planned on doing, either way this went was going to leave hard feelings, but after everything Jason had done for him, Sonny was determined to give the man something back.
The drive was short, but allowed Sonny to arrange his thoughts. Whatever happened after this discussion, good or bad, was meant to be. Sonny felt that truth deep in his bones and while he didn't want his marriage to Carly to fall apart because of the conversation that was coming, he knew that Carly, once and for all, had to choose.
He entered the penthouse, saw Leticia was playing with Michael, knowing the conversation he planned on having was not child friendly, he said, "Leticia, would you mind taking Michael to the park for a little while, I need to talk to Carly, in private."
"Not a problem Mr. Corinthos." Leticia answered, picking Michael up, she grabbed his coat and hers and left the penthouse. She had been present for a few of Sonny and Carly's fights, getting to leave before one started was best, so she jumped at the opportunity to leave.
Sonny was grateful when the door closed, he had a moment where he contemplated walking out that same door, but knew he could no longer go about hiding his own worries, so the time had come to air all the dirty laundry that currently resided in their lives.
"Carly, can you come down here for a moment? Sonny asked, knowing she would probably fight him tooth and nail, but it didn't matter. Now that he had resigned himself to this talk, he wasn't going to take the cowards way out and run.
"Sonny, what do you want, don't you think you said enough earlier?" Carly shouted, her voice carrying throughout the room easily. It's shrill sound, surely loud enough and piercing enough to break crystal.
"Would you stop this, just come down, we need to talk. If you prefer I can come up there!" Sonny said, his voice carrying his impatience.
In a huff of annoyance, Carly sauntered down the stairs, her high heeled shoes clicking on the wooden stairs. As she breezed into the living room, a look of frustration, tinted with what looked to be fear. "Fine Sonny, I'm here, what did you want to talk about?" Carly couldn't help her huff of impatience or the impetuous rolling of her eyes, it was classic Carly after all.
"We need to talk about us. I love you, God only knows why, but I do. But there are a few things we need to straighten out." Sonny said, stepping closer to his wife, hoping she would take his offered hand.
"What's this all about Sonny, please don't tell me you all of a sudden had an epiphany?" Carly said, her voice was hoity, but the look in her eyes expressed her true feelings.
"You could say I did, but that is beside the point. Once and for all, you are going to put your dislike, your loathing for Elizabeth aside. Jason and her have found something wonderful, they don't need your pettiness getting in the way of their happiness." Sonny said, figuring there was no better way to say what he wanted to say, so he just jumped head first.
A shrill scream reverberated through the high-ceilinged room, Carly had lost all semblance of control.
"You don't know what you are talking about, Jason doesn't love her, he couldn't fall for some twit like her. She is below him, doesn't deserve him. When he finds the right woman, I will know, because we will be friends." Carly spat out, hating the anger that blossomed in Sonny eyes as she spoke, but unable to stop what she was saying.
"That's just it Carly, whoever Jason decides to be with, it has nothing to do with you. You may very well be his friend, but if you keep up this vendetta against Elizabeth, you may very well lose the one person who can stand you without question. Like I said, I love you, but you have to make a choice." Sonny replied, trying to keep his temper in check and the contempt from his eyes.
How he and Carly had gotten together was no secret, but they had both hurt Jason deeply, it had taken a long time for him to trust either of them again. But he refused to play second fiddle.
"What are you saying, I have to choose, choose what?" Carly asked, her voice full of indignation.
"You have to decide if you love me and if that love is true and strong, then you need to let Jason go. I don't care that you are friends, but if you are mad at Elizabeth because you are holding out hope that one day he sees you as more than a friend, then I think we need to call it quits now. You stop belittling Elizabeth and I do mean completely or you and I might as well go our separate ways." Sonny said, hating the finality of his statement, but knowing he had to give Carly an ultimatum, there was no other choice. If he didn't stop thing stupidity, it would only continue and grow more volatile the longer it lasted.
"You're kidding right, you are honestly taking side with that little tramp. She must think she is something, she not only has Jason jumping to her defense, but now she has you too. Jason is my friend, I am looking out for his best interests, and she isn't it. I don't care what you think, I am not going to sit idly by and allow that little home wrecker to destroy the best man I know." Carly said, her emotions getting the better of her.
Then suddenly her words hit her, the implications behind them. She turned quickly to Sonny, an apology waiting to slip from her lips. However, she realized to late what her words implied, Sonny was moving further away from her, her final visual of Sonny was his black coat billowing out behind him as he slammed the door closed as he left.
Carly crumpled into a heap on the floor, her legs were no longer capable of holding her up, she didn't try to stop her downward motion, she just allowed gravity to have its way with her. The tears she had held back, now began to flow, coating her cheeks, a waterfall of emotions.
Not exactly sure who she was yelling at, she nonetheless screamed two small simple words, "I'm sorry!"
Her words echoed back to her, but the silence consumed them soon enough, leaving her in the silence of her own making, and once again she was all alone, and little Miss Perfect, had everything.
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Jason and Elizabeth stood on the front stoop of Audrey's house, neither quite ready to take the next step. Jason would have knocked for her, but this was something she had to do, all he could do was be there for her, for moral support.
Several minutes passed, Jason was about to say something when her small hand tentatively reached up and pushed the doorbell. Taking an unneeded breath, Jason suddenly found himself holding said breath, his stomach was filled with butterflies, not for himself, but for the revelations that Elizabeth was going to share, once again Lucky was winning, he was making her relive that torture over and over again. It suddenly hit Jason, there was a good possibility that she would relive that torture for the rest of her life. Suddenly a blind rage settled upon him, he vowed the moment that little jerk showed his face, he would take care of Lucky Spencer.
Moments passed, how many neither could say, they were both thinking different thoughts, both just as gruesome. They were both shocked when the door was pulled open hastily and an angry Audrey stood before them, her loathing of the man at her granddaughters side was evident. Jason stood tall and didn't move a single muscle, he waited for Elizabeth to make the first move, it was driving him insane, the inability of taking control.
"Hi Grams, how are you?" Elizabeth asked meekly.
"Don't you stand there and 'Hi Grams' me, where in the world have you been? Lucky phoned a few days ago, saying you left in a huff and decided you no longer wanted to speak to him. What are you doing with this hooligan?" Audrey asked, her question coming so quickly, Elizabeth was unsure what to say or how to answer them.
"Can we come in?" Elizabeth asked, trying to remain polite, but she was angry at the coldness that flowed off her grandmother, towards Jason.
Audrey stepped back, her eyes darting between the two, but Elizabeth didn't miss the instant dislike or distrust that Audrey's eyes flashed in Jason's direction.
Elizabeth held tightly to Jason's hand, using his as her mooring. Without his firm but gentle hold, she felt like she might just float away on a light breeze, he was her rock, giving her strength.
"Gram, we need to talk." Elizabeth said, suddenly unsure where to start.
"I agree, but don't you think this should be between you and me. At the very least, Lucky should be sitting there holding your hand, not him." Audrey said, indicating Jason with a wave of her hand.
Liz could take it no longer, the hostility that she felt emitting from Audrey was just too much, finally she cleared her voice, gave herself a moment to align her thoughts, then began. "Jason is here with me because he saved my life, but even if he hadn't, I love him."
The distinctive clucking noise coming from her grandmother alerted Elizabeth to her grandmother's displeasure, but she refused to be cowed, Lucky had taken so much from her, she was not going to let Audrey do it too.
"I want you to listen and listen good. Seeing as how you probably won't believe me if I don't show you proof, I will. But you need to stay quiet, I don't want to hear anything from you, not until I am done." Elizabeth said, her voice taking on a little more emotion. Having admitted her love of Jason to someone other than him, felt liberating.
Jason squeezed her hand, wanting to offer her more, but at the moment, that was all he was capable of giving. To heal she had to put that darkness behind her, and to do that, she had to admit what had happened.
Elizabeth turned her back to her grandmother, her breath hitched in her throat and she felt her traitorous tears prickling her eyes, with all the strength in her body, she willed those salty drops not to fall. Taking a deep breath and holding it, Elizabeth slowly began to unbutton Jason's shirt, once she undid enough buttons, she slowly slipped the bulky material from her shoulders.
"Your precious Lucky did this to me, he whipped me like a dog, then ran when people came across his torturous acts. He didn't even stop to see if they had seen me, he ran. Leaving me to live or die, it made no matter to him." Elizabeth said, her bitterness and anger warring with one another.
Audrey audible gasp caused both Jason and Elizabeth to turn in her direction, but neither saw compassion or anger, they saw disbelief. The next words out of Audrey's mouth pulled the tears that had been threatening to fall, to begin there descent.
"Why would you tell such lies. What did you do, have Jason smack you around a little, that way you could prove that Lucky did this. Where did we go wrong with you? After everything that poor boy has been through, now you are going to stand in my living room and lie about him abusing you!" Audrey made a tisking noise in the back of her throat, shaking her head all the while.
Jason jumped from the couch, instantly pulling his shirt back up, covering Elizabeth's batter flesh. "You are some piece of work. Your granddaughter has suffered the worst kind of abuse and you are going to sit there all high and mighty and say that I did this to her, to make Lucky look bad."
Elizabeth's body shook from the gut-wrenching sobs that racked her body. She should have known this was how it was going to turn out, Audrey had always believed everyone else. Elizabeth was the granddaughter she was stuck with, because her parents hadn't wanted her, they had the perfect daughter, Sarah. All this time though, she had thought that her Grams was different, she had been sorely mistaken. Not giving thought to anything but the numbing pain, Elizabeth raced from the house.
"Audrey, you don't realize what you have done, but I am going to tell you. You can save those snotty looks for someone who really gives a dmn, because I don't. Lucky is the animal who beat her, he raped her. It will be months before she is physically healed, but the emotional damage he wrought on her may never heal, and thanks to you, you may have just caused even more damage. You are a cold heartless bih. Don't you try to contact her, she doesn't need cold bitter people like you in her life. I love her and when she is healed, I plan on marrying her, I just hope I can pick up the pieces you so willing caused. You don't deserve someone as generous and beautiful as Elizabeth in you life." Jason said, his voice raising the longer he spoke. Unable to control himself any longer, Jason quickly walked out the front door, not bothering with niceties, he left it open. The old bat could close it herself.
Jason quickly jumped in the driver side door, not bothering to place the key in the ignition, Jason pulled Elizabeth's weary form into his arms. His heart breaking as her sobs shook her body.
"Jason, why does everyone hate me, what's wrong with me?" Elizabeth asked, her voice muffled because her face was buried in his shoulder, but also from the force of her crying.
"Baby, please… They don't deserve to have you in their life, don't you worry about Audrey, one day she will come to her senses, I only pray by then you won't need her any longer. Like I told her, when you are ready, I want to marry you. Think I can make an honest woman of you?" Jason said, trying desperately to lighten the mood, praying for a glimpse of her radiant smile.
A small smile formed on her lips, her eyes were large, the words he had spoken, finally penetrating the fog of her grief. "D-did you just say, you want to marry me?" Elizabeth asked, her voice quivered as the words left her swollen lips.
"I did, not right away of course, but when you are ready. I have known for a long time that I want you as my wife. But first, let's concentrate on getting you healed, okay?" Jason answered, hoping he hadn't put too much on her plate.
The radiant smile that he had been trying to reveal finally showed itself, starting off slow, then taking over her entire face, making her glow, almost as if from within.
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Sonny wasn't sure where he was going, but the anger that had enveloped him, had come on so swiftly and with such a fierceness that he was unable to do or say anything else.
The woman that he was in love with, the woman he was married to, had all but chosen Jason over him, her own husband. Sonny was not used to playing second best at anything, trying to do so to your wife's ex-boyfriend was not easy. Especially when the ex was his best friend.
It didn't matter though, even though he was beyond mad at her right now, he knew he would always find his way back to her. Only this time he had to remain strong on his demands. He would not falter, Elizabeth didn't deserve Carly's wrath, it was childish and spiteful, hence why Sonny had brought it up.
He didn't bother taking his car, he knew the mood he was in was not conductive of good driving, he was liable to ram the first person who cut him off. So he vetoed the car and decided a walk would be better, of course that wouldn't be so if he encountered some idiot who was just looking to pick a fight, but then again, it would be a nice way to work off his aggression. It was just a shame that he couldn't find Lucky at that exact moment, that was a boy he knew he was going to enjoy breaking.
Sonny found himself walking through the park, the light had changed since he had last been outside. A storm was brewing, if he was smart he would turn around and remain dry, because he was sure a downpour was sure to come and soon, if the lightening and thunder could be relied upon.
Instead of going back to the penthouse though, he continued his journey, for once enjoying the solitude and the fresh air. It smelled heavily of ozone, but the smell was not repugnant, it brought back some good memories, when he was young and dance with his girl in the rain, but other's were bittersweet, like when he was suppose to marry Brenda, the heaven's had opened floodgates and pelted Port Charles in a deluge, causing drains to backup and city streets to swim underwater.
In all honesty, he welcomed the rain. Perhaps the atmospheric phenomenon would wash away some of his anger and hurt. If nothing else, he could find himself with a very good cold, but a cold was really the least of his worries, considering he would have to deal with Carly once again when he returned home.
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Elizabeth's tears slowly stopped, but the pain that her grandmother's words had caused, still shined brightly in her eyes. Even Jason's announcement couldn't banish the hurt entirely. What he had to say next was not going to help matters, but they needed to get it over and done with.
"Are you ready to go see Bobbie?" Jason asked, wanting nothing more than to take her in his arms and whisk her away to some far off location, where they would be the only two people and he could make her heal in earnest, away from all the hateful people in their lives.
"Will you be mad if I said no?" Elizabeth asked, her voice a mere whisper.
"I won't be mad, but you know this is something we have to do, the sooner we do it, the sooner we can go shopping and for that ride you wanted to take." Jason replied, placing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"Fine, but I don't have to like it. Well except the shopping and riding part." Elizabeth said, gracing him with another small smile. "Let's go, I want to get as far away from her as possible, her animosity is pathetic.
"Okay, let's go. I love you." Jason said, slowly sitting back in his seat.
"I love you too." Elizabeth answered, squeezing his shoulder, trying to express her gratitude, but feeling like she was coming up short.
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