Chapter Five

This chapter is mostly Liason, with an appearance by Sonny, a little of Nikolas and Nadine and the clinic, and a smidgen of Spinelli and the Scorpios for contrast.

This chapter is un-beta-ed, so I apologize for any mistakes/typos.

--

Jason was tired; dragging tired, and just wanted a few moments of peace and quiet. He'd managed to have minimal contact with Sonny for the past few days, but he'd still been the one to referee whatever issues had arose, deal with the normal, day-to-day craziness, the worker disputes, the paperwork, the schedules, and even more. Turning the key in the lock, he wondered when the last time he'd seen Sonny at the warehouse was. It had been a long time since his partner had managed to show up, managed to let go of being Mr. Kate Howard long enough for something as insignificant as work.

"Surprise."

The exhaustion drained from his system as he glimpsed his wife coming into the room, slipping from the kitchen and straight into his arms. A soft huff of breath slipped from him as he pulled her flush against him, "Hey."

She clung to him, squeezing her arms around him, rubbing her face against his chest and inhaling deeply. Long, delicious moments passed before they came apart, their breathing ragged. Smoothing a bit of lipstick from his mouth with her thumb, Elizabeth smiled, "I let myself in. Spinelli was here earlier, but he kind of bolted when he found out I wanted to talk to you."

Jason chuckled, combing his fingers through her hair, relishing the feel of the silky strands between his fingers, "He's a little nervous."

"He wants you to be happy," Elizabeth framed her husband's face between her hands, stroking along his cheekbones with her thumbs, "Are you happy Jason?"

"I miss you" He replied huskily, covering her hands with his own, "I miss you and Cameron and Jake. I can't be happy when I'm not with you."

"I miss you too," She breathed headily, "All the time. Cameron asks when he's going to see you again, and I find myself counting the seconds until we do."

He inclined his head until their foreheads met; her hand still on his face, his hands still clasped around hers.

"I've all ready missed so much of their lives," He stated, guilt lacing his voice, "Both of them, they're growing up so fast, and I have missed so many moments and milestones with them."

"They know you love them, that you want to be there even when you're not," She rushed to reassure him, nuzzling her nose against his.

"It's not enough that I want to," Jason's grey gaze bore into hers, "I should be. I should be there, with them, through everything. I should be there for them," He paused, breaking the stare and tipping his head back to press a soft kiss on the tip of her nose.

She couldn't believe it. She could believe it, but she had held that hope at bay. They'd worked so long and hard at this; spent many long, lonely, and emotionally exhausting hours trying to do what was right. What was right for their boys, what was right for their family. But what if what was right had been what they'd both been longing for all this time? "Jason, are you-"

This time, the kiss connected their mouths, cutting off her question and she clung to him, both feeling as if something had changed, and what they had long dreamt of was on the precise of becoming a reality, "I love you and the boys. And I know that we were taking this excruciating slow because another upheaval was the last thing that Cam needed, after Lucky disappeared and Emily," The scarring hole his sister's death had left still, and would always, give him pause, "But I-I need my sons. Everyday. Not just a few hours here and there. Everyday. And I need their mother too," A tearful smile came over his face, and her eyes were misted with tears as he stressed again, "Everyday. You and Cameron and Jake; you're my family. And there's no way I'm going to hide it anymore," His fingers dove into the front of her v-neckline, drawing up the wedding band on the chain nestled between her breasts. Their eyes were glued to each other's as he gently unclasped the chain, and unthreaded the ring from it. Tears spilled onto both of their smiling faces as he lifted her hand between them, and resolutely placed the ring, the very symbol of all he'd promised her, on her finger. It gleamed there, for anyone to see. Where, he would admit, it should have been all along, "Everyday."

Her eyes never left his as the tears streamed down her face, as she too, drew the chain from around his neck. Bringing the ring from the chain, she slipped it onto his finger, before drawing his hand to her face, and leaning her cheek against his palm, "Everyday," She echoed softly.

Licking his suddenly very dry lips, Jason brushed away her tears with his fingertips, only breaking their gaze at the last second to smother the hand that now bore his ring in soft, delicate, barely-there kisses. She watched him, fascinated, as his mouth travelled from her wrist; over her forearm, to the sensitive skin inside her elbow, until she could no longer bear it, pleading with a word, "Jason."

His face once again came up to meet hers, and their breaths mingled as one. His voice rasped, "Everyday," A final time before their mouths fused together with a passionate hunger neither could have ever predicted.

Article of clothing were scattered along the staircase as they staggered to their room, their dueling mouths and tongues never parting any longer than it took to rid one party or the other of an offensive, binding piece of clothing. Together they collapsed in a tangled sprawl of arms and legs. Pushing him onto his back, Elizabeth threw a leg over each of his hips, effectively straddling her husband as she teased her way up his torso, using her mouth along his stomach and chest, smiling against his skin as the breath shuddered in and out of his large body. She drew a bit of skin under his jaw into her mouth, lightly marking it with her teeth, as if branding him as her own. He stiffened, his hands coming up from their own roaming to wind in her hair.

"Everyday," She hissed before sealing her mouth to his and letting his skillful touch promise her the forever they both craved.

--

"Hey you."

Nadine found her corner suddenly quite crowded as Nikolas Cassadine stepped up behind her.

"Hello Nikolas," She smiled brightly as he swept her hair from her shoulder, tickling the side of her neck, so he could read whatever she was scribbling down.

"What are you working on so diligently over here?"

"Just keeping up with inventory, order forms," Nadine shuffled her papers into a pile before attaching them to her clipboard, "Making sure out supplies are all fully stocked."

"That's very conscientious of you," Nikolas teased, fitting his arms together as he crossed them, creating a rather imposing looking statue.

Except Nadine saw past it, giggling as she playfully slapped him in the arm with her clipboard as she slipped past him into the filled waiting-area of the clinic, "Mr. Henderson? You can come on into Exam Room Three, and the doctor will be in to see you in just a few minutes."

An elderly man and his wife stood and the two carefully made their way to the smiling Nadine, "Thank you dear. You've been so helpful."

"It's my pleasure Mr. Henderson," Nadine extended an arm to direct the approaching couple, "If you'll just follow me, I'll show you the way back."

"I'd follow you anywhere darlin'," Mr. Henderson shuffled forward, his cane aiding his procession. Before he disappeared around the corner, he threw a conspiratory wink in Nikolas' direction before grinning and calling after Nadine, "I'd follow you anywhere darlin'."

Nikolas chuckled to himself before looking up to see the old man's wife smiling at him with a knowing look on her regal, wrinkled face.

"Your young lady," Mrs. Henderson began, "She's really something."

"Yes, she is," Nikolas agreed, not denying the your, and not realizing that he'd just confirmed his proprietary notions about Nadine in the old woman's mind.

"She helped us with these forms, explained my Peter's operation. You see, he's got to have gall stones removed, and that nurse, your young lady," The your brought a twinkle to Mrs. Henderson's eye as she spoke, "She explained it all so much better than that doctor of his, who, between you and me?" The elderly lady motioned for Nikolas to lean closer, and when he did, she spoke in a stage whisper, "That doctor spends far too much time in his own all-important company, and not enough time with people like your pretty girl. If you ask me, every man needs a pretty girl like her. Helps keep their heads on straight. But that girl, she cleared up any of my Peter's worries some quick. You better hang onto her with both hands son. That girl is a keeper," Mrs. Henderson waved a pointer finger at him as she made her speech, gripping the counter as she made her way across the floor. Noticing her unsteadiness, Nikolas offered the woman his arm, and she blushed like a schoolgirl as she threaded her arm through his.

Nadine appeared as they made their way to the exam room, and a soft smile fell over her face as she caught sight of them.

As they arrived at the exam room door, Mrs. Henderson retrieved her arm and patted Nikolas' affectionately, "You remember what I said son. You take good care of her. You hear?"

"Of course," Nikolas acquiesced with a dip of his head and the blush returned to Mrs. Henderson's cheeks.

"Nikolas?" Nadine began, as with a hand at the small of her back, he led her away and back to the clinic's main room.

"Yes?" He replied thoughtfully.

"What was Mrs. Henderson talking about?" She asked as they reached the counter.

"Oh, um," He let his hand linger at her back a few moments longer than necessary. Pulling away, he expertly evaded,

"She was just giving her approval of the clinic, how it's being run. The attentiveness of our staff, that's all."

"Oh," Nadine nodded, retrieving her clipboard, "Rave reviews are always good."

"They are," He agreed as she started to walk away, "Nadine."

"Yeah?" She turned back to face him, and almost caught the uncertainty that flashed over his features.

"How would you like to come out to Wyndemere tonight? Go for a ride; and you know," He suggested, leaning both forearms on the counter, "You never did make good on your offer to make me dinner."

"You're right," She acknowledged, pursing her lips to cover a grin, "Okay, I'd love a ride, and if you think that your royally spoiled taste buds can handle my commoner's cooking, then I'll be there."

"Then it's a date," Nikolas chuckled at her teasing.

"Yeah, it is," Nadine affirmed, then gathered a pile of charts and set to work, smiling to herself.

Nikolas smirked to himself, hearing Mrs. Henderson's wise words repeating in his head.

You better hang onto her with both hands son. That girl is a keeper.

--

She awoke slowly, stretching languidly for as she reached for her husband. Instead she found an empty, rapidly cooling space on the mattress where he'd been. She pressed her face into his pillow, deeply inhaling the scent she'd always associated with him. Old leather, the tang of a woodsy soap, and a musk that was entirely him. She loved that smell.

Reluctantly she slipped from the bed, and drawing on her robe, went in search of him.

She didn't have to look far, as she found him seated on the couch, his back to her. His forearms were balanced on his thighs as he scrubbed his face with his hands.

"Jason? Honey what is it?"

He looked up, his eyes brightening as he saw her. He extended an arm to her, and it took her no time to cross to him. She curled into his side, and in a somber motion that worried her a bit, he drew his free hand over his jaw.

" 'Lizabeth, there was trouble at the warehouse this afternoon."

"Oh," Elizabeth pulled her head from where it rested against him, "Do you have to go?"

"No," Jason tugged her tight against him again, "It's all been handled."

"But you're worried," She observed, reaching up to smooth a fingertip over the frown lines on his face, "Can you talk about it?"

He swallowed hard. He'd just heard from Max, whom he'd sent to do rounds of the warehouse after Sonny had refused to see reason. It had turned out that his hunch had not been unfounded.

Max had discovered Doctor Ian Devlin hidden behind piles of bags. Devlin's intent had been clear, but no one had been injured. Sonny, Michael, Kate and the warehouse workers all remained blissfully unawares.

It had been far too close. If Max and Milo hadn't made their sweep; Devlin wouldn't have been found, and all hell would have broken loose.

Sonny was slipping, dangerously so. He'd taken Michael, unguarded, to that warehouse, with the appropriate precautions. The consequences of Sonny's negligent decisions could have been deadly. Something had to be done, Sonny wasn't thinking. Michael had been in that warehouse.

His face turned introspective, and Elizabeth felt a frightening churning in her gut. What if he was deciding to keep their relationship, their family a secret? Or worse, what if he had decided to cut ties with her and their sons for their safety?

"Jason?"

"Hmmm?" He replied absently, his mind stuck on scenarios and what would have to be done with Ian Devlin, and other such matters permeated by business.

"You're not thinking of backing out are you?" Elizabeth bit her lip to keep herself from speaking, but instead her nervous rambling broke through like a raging river through a shoddy dam, "Because I won't let you, you know. I won't let you push me and the boys away because you want to protect us from your business. We're your family Jason; you're my husband, and you're Cameron and Jake's father. So if you think you're going to push us away because you don't think you're worthy of having a family that loves you, you're crazy. And you're even crazier if you think that I'll give you a divorce, because there is no way in hell that I will!" Her chest heaved as she breathed raggedly at the finale of her frightened speech.

"Whoa, whoa, Elizabeth slow down," Jason reached out, and took his wife's small hands in his, squeezing gently, "Who said anything about a divorce?"

"I-I-I," Elizabeth stuttered, staring down at their joined hands and running her thumb over the wedding band he now wore prominently on his left hand ring finger, "I don't know, I just was afraid that you were going to start pulling away because it was too dangerous. I don't want to lose you Jason. I won't."

"Hey," Pulling one of his hands back, he took her chin in his palm and tenderly turned her face to meet his, "Look at me 'Lizabeth," He waited until she did before he would continue, "Now listen carefully to me. You're my wife, I'm proud of that. And yeah, I may not be the best at sharing how I'm feeling but you have to know Elizabeth, that you're never getting rid of me. Do you hear me? I meant what I said a couple of hours ago, I'm not going to back out. I love you too much to walk away from this. I'm not going anywhere."

When his spiel was finished, there were tears leaking from her eyes. At the sight of them Jason felt something within him melt, and he brushed at the falling tears with his thumbs, "Aw, 'Lizabeth, honey don't cry."

"I'm not," She insisted weakly, smiling as his thumb brushed the outline of her lips, "I'm happy. Really, I'm happy."

He looked a bit skeptical, but knew that crying and happy occasionally co-mingled when it came to women. Instead of speaking, he leaned forward and kissed her sweetly. Their breath mingled together, and Elizabeth's hands rose from her lap to burrow through his hair as she drew him deeper into the kiss. Arms around her waist, he lifted her from where she sat on the couch to securely place her in his lap. Jason kept one arm tight around his wife's waist, bringing the other hand up to first caress her shoulder, feeling her skin burn under his palm. He then lifted the strands of russet curls spilling over her arm, tucking them behind her ear and then leaving his hand to linger against her soft, porcelain skin; stroking her cheek, then slipping into her hair and massaging her scalp. He leaned her back over the couch; covering her petite body with his much larger one as he loosened the belt of her robe with one hand, keeping himself from crushing her with the other.

--

"You have no right to be here, contaminating my sister's room! Get the hell out!"

"Maxie, you have to calm down!"

"Listen sweetie, this is a very impressive tantrum, but I have a lease! It's a legally binding contract!"

The Scorpio family house was in an uproar. Spinelli shrank further onto the sofa, hoping the Fair Maximista, the Burgeoning One, the Commish, and the Jerk-ish Doc wouldn't notice that he was still there and turn their anger on him.

It would appear Cousin Robin, in an effort to prevent the Commish from forcing her hand as to her abode when the wee one came along, had advertised for a boarder to occupy the room formerly belonging to the Wise and Loyal Georgie. One had answered the ad; the new resident with an attitude of entitlement and jerk-ish tendencies. And the Commish, no doubt without proper thought towards the feelings of Maximista, had signed the lease! That flimsy piece of paper legally entitled the Jerk-ish Doc to reside in Gentle Georgie's vacated room!

Maximista was crushed and distraught, but true to form, she played those emotions close to her bruised heart. Instead she burst forth in a fiery passion and anger towards all involved; the Commish, Cousin Robin, and especially towards the Idiot Interloper. Spinelli felt her pain acutely, and hoped that he would never have the chance, or the senselessness to evoke this kind of anger in her.

"You have no right to do this! You," Maxie spun on her heel to face Robin, her unruly emotions making her wobble and made tears prick at her eyes. But she would not, would never, give that self-righteous prick Matt Hunter the satisfaction of knowing he'd made Maxie Jones cry, "You had no right to rent out my sister's room! She was my sister! You had no right!" With that final, fervently delivered sentiment, Maxie fled, heading for the stairs and her own room, where she could finally release her tears in peace.

The living room of the Scorpio household was silent for a moment before Robin broke it with, "That could have gone better."

The insensitive Matt Hunter still clutched his lease, "Okay, whatever that was, it doesn't matter. I have a lease, and I have absolutely no intention of breaking it. This is a nice place, it's close to the hospital, and it's a quiet neighborhood. I like it here, and I'm sorry that she's had such a dramatic reaction to me living here, but I'm not giving it up just because she has a tantrum."

"Are you for real?" Steadily, Spinelli unfolded himself from where he'd curled himself into the corner of the sofa, "Have you no actually feelings outside of those completely out of control feelings of esteem you have for yourself? Have you no heart, that you would completely dismiss the-the reaction and emotions of someone so distraught and," He stood inches from Matt Hunter, gesturing with his two hands shaping a sphere in mid-air, "Distressed? The Fair Maximista lost her sister. The Wise and Loyal Georgie was stolen from us all, by a loathsome, contemptible individual. The young woman who the room you now reside in belonged to was the very light in Maximista's life, and her loss is inconceivable and irreplaceable. For you to simply dismiss the fact that Wise Georgie even existed or that she meant so much, to so many people, is debasing and shameful," Spinelli worked hard to keep his voice from wobbling as he spoke of his dearly departed friend and of the pain Maxie suffered as a result of her loss, "For all of you to think of the place where such a beautiful, incomparable soul flourished as nothing more than an empty room that you could simply unload another occupant on, is despicable."

"You finished?" Doctor Hunter demanded with a bit less of his usual sneer. Mac looked contrite, as if he truly hadn't thought of the new boarder as invading Georgie's space, hadn't thought that Maxie would see it as betrayal and as an effort to cover her sister's existence. Robin brushed at a few tears that leaked from her cheeks. Perhaps it was hormones, perhaps it was missing her cousin, but Spinelli hoped that the reasoning behind Maximista's feelings and outburst had finally sunk in to the Scorpios.

Spinelli followed Maxie's path up the stairs, knowing which room was hers. A tap on the door, and he was granted entrance. No one called after him.

--

"Then what were you thinking about all sullen-like?" Elizabeth questioned, curled into his arms once again on that beautiful afternoon.

"You're still thinking about that? Now?" He teased, before sighing and relenting, "Sonny took Michael to the warehouse today, without guards, and something almost happened that could have been disastrous. I was thinking that this just proves how far gone Sonny is," Jason drew his fingertips up her arm, then back down her soft skin, "I knew he was slipping, and I knew that it was bad. He's making mistakes that could get people killed. If I hadn't of sent Max to check out the warehouse," He paused, willing himself not to think about the 'what ifs' and was for once thankful for his lack of ability to, "And Michael was there damn it. He could have been seriously hurt, or worse."

"Hey, hey," Pushing up on one arm, she leaned over him, locking her blue eyes with his grey ones, "You didn't let that happen. You wouldn't let that happen. Baby," Elizabeth tenderly stroked his face until the grimace lines began to fade, "You're not Sonny, and you're not going to make his mistakes. You're smart, and strong, and I know you will do everything to protect us."

"What could have happened this afternoon would have been disastrous," Jason mused, hoping and knowing she was right all at the same time, "As long as I'm around, nothing like this is ever going to happen again. Sonny's been making stupid moves, and it could have cost us Michael. I won't let that happen to my sons. Or to you."

She loved the way he instinctively called them his sons. Both Cameron and Jake, though he'd only biologically had to claim Jake. Cameron thought the world of Jason, awaited his visits, smiled more in his presence. And Jake simply brightened when his father entered the room, as if merely seeing his daddy assured the tot everything would be alright. She knew the faith and the love that her little boys bestowed on him wasn't misplaced, and would never be treated like it was anything less than priceless. Jason didn't simply say he loved them; his actions proved it.

A persistent, heavy banging started on the door. Jason groaned, dropping his face to bury it in her shoulder, while his wife giggled in his ear, "Timing right?"

"I'll get rid of them," Jason promised solemnly, steeling himself as he caught another glimpse of her tantalizing bare legs before she curled them underneath of her.

He was going to hurt whoever was at the door for interrupting their precious, stolen moments. Although now, he thought wryly, their time would be stolen in a whole other way entirely. Grasping the knob, he pulled the door open to reveal Sonny Corinthos on the other side.

"Good, you're home," Sonny pushed his way into the apartment, not even looking up from his path as he barged into his partner's home, "We need to talk." Finally bringing his head from the floor, he was taken aback when he saw Elizabeth curled into the corner of the couch, clad in a soft, pink robe. Was this the reason Jason had been so distracted and ornery lately? He'd been sneaking around with his little nursemaid? The same woman who didn't want him anywhere near his own kid? "You won't let him be with his son, but it's okay to sneak around and sleep with him?" Sonny blurted out before actually thinking.

Jason quickly jumped in, speaking in a clipped tone, "You do not speak to my wife like that. In our home or anywhere else."

Sonny gaped, "You-your what? Since when?"

"Wife. C'mon Sonny, remember the ceremony where you stand up by the priest and promise to love each other faithfully forever? You've done it like-what? Six, seven times?"

Elizabeth could see that Sonny was a hair-trigger away from blasting Jason about disrespecting him, which would send Jason off on a tangent of his own. Her husband had been sitting on a powder keg of buried anger and resentment when it came to his partner; this afternoon's development increasing that ten-fold, and Elizabeth could see that if pushed too far, it could very well explode; burning bridges and cutting ties, "I'm going to go. I've got to go pick the boys up at Grams and bring them home. I just can't wait to explain the recent developments to her."

Jason caught her wrist loosely between his fingers, seeing her worry behind the sarcastic cracks, "You want me to go with you?"

"No, baby, that's okay," She gave him a quick kiss, a promise of more, much more, later to come, "I'd rather the boys not see their father get beaned with a figurine of the baby Jesus again."

Smiling ruefully, Jason rubbed the back of his head, thinking back to the moment they'd broken the news of their marriage to Audrey. Elizabeth's grandmother had been one of the very view who'd known, "Your grandmother has a mean arm."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, and with a curt nod in Sonny's direction, headed up the stairs. Both men watched her go; one longing, the other bewildered. When she soon disappeared from sight, Sonny turned that same bewildered look on Jason. The enforcer merely shrugged,

"She was having a moment," Seriousness quickly descended over him once again, and Jason inquired, "What are you here for Sonny?"

The Cuban paused, rubbed his forehead with an open palm before facing his long-time partner squarely in the eyes, "I want out," Both held themselves completely, totally still, the tension that permeated the room thick enough to be sliced, "And I want you to make it happen."