Chapter Five:
Bad Day
Elizabeth wasn't sure what made her wake up from her deep sleep, but her body shot up out of bed and jumped right into a defensive position. Backing up into the shadows of her apartment, Elizabeth waited patiently for whatever is to come. Soon enough the window was smashed open and men flew through it.
Immediately her instincts kicked in and she was fighting her way out. The more men that came in, the harder she fought. Her cuts that have started to heal are ripped open, new cuts scattered through her body, but she wouldn't give up. She's down to the last guy, the biggest guy, and Elizabeth breaks her one rule. Kneeing him in the groin and taking him down hard, Elizabeth manages to knock him out before grabbing her bags and making a quick escape through the fire escape.
"Thanks for the heads up." Elizabeth says into her phone, ducking into the dark alleyway, the sun will be rising soon.
"Sorry. He had me tied up on assignment." Zander apologizes, he really hates when he's not there for her and Johnny. "How bad?"
"Ten, but they're down and out." Elizabeth says plainly, keeping an ear and eye out on the street. "I need a new place to lay low."
"There's a place I know of, but its in the middle of nowhere."
"Perfect." Elizabeth says quickly. "Text me the address."
"Its seriously not much." Zander says seriously. "Its a rundown boxcar in the middle of nowhere."
"Like I said, its perfect." Elizabeth states, hearing the streets start to fill with people and cars. "Text me the address before I pass out."
"Do you need a doctor?" Zander questions, worrying gripping him tightly. "Liz, tell me the truth."
"No. I'm fine." Elizabeth touches the part on her stomach that the knife went in pretty deep. "I just need a place to fix myself up."
"Okay. I'll send the address." Zander concedes. "Just be careful."
"I'll be fine, Zander." Elizabeth promises. "Don't let the old man catch onto you."
"Don't worry about me." Zander says sternly. "Just stay alive."
"I plan to."
Elizabeth ends the call quickly, grabbing her bags from where she tossed it and making her way to the address on her phone. She could feel her consciousness start to fade and she knew that she had to get to the place before she collapses in a street somewhere. As she's making it through the town, taking back roads and alleyways, Elizabeth is almost in the clear when she starts to get dizzy. Looking around, Elizabeth walks out of the alleyway to see how far she's gotten, bumping into Jason in the process.
"You okay?" Jason says, looking her over and wondering what happened to her.
"Barely." Elizabeth says jokingly, going for light humor. "I have to go."
"Let me help you." Jason stops her from walking away. "Come on, you look like you're going to keel over."
"Girls must love hearing that." Elizabeth counters, the part of her stomach where she was stabbed is starting to go numb.
"Stop it." Jason says sternly. "Let me help you."
"I can manage on my own." Elizabeth tries to push past him, but he doesn't budge.
"I'll rephrase that." Jason states. "I'm going to help you."
"Fine." Elizabeth concedes, knowing that there was no way she'd make it all the way to the boxcar on her own by now. "Take these."
Elizabeth shoves her bags to Jason, refusing to let him help her walk and laughing at the suggestion that he carry her. Keeping an eye out, she follows him to his car, getting in while he throws her things into the trunk. Jason could see that she was fighting hard just to stay conscious and that had him at awe of her once again. There was just so much to her that he couldn't help but want to figure out. As he's driving them to the penthouse, Jason's cellphone starts to vibrate, but he doesn't move to answer it. He knows who's calling and they couldn't go down that road again. Not right then.
"We'll take the service elevator." Jason says, parking the SUV, glad that he took that instead of his bike. "Less chances of anyone seeing you."
"Whatever." Elizabeth says, slamming the door closed, waiting for him to walk ahead with her bags. "Your boss live here too?"
"No. He has his own estate." Jason assures, hitting the elevator button. "You okay?"
"I'm fine." Elizabeth says, fighting away the fatigue. "I just need to get inside."
"You know, I can carry you." Jason says as they walk onto the elevator.
"I'm not a pathetic damsel." Elizabeth states firmly. "I can carry my own weight."
"You really don't trust anyone, do you?" Jason questions, pressing the button for his floor.
"Three people." Elizabeth concedes, leaning back against the elevator. "But none of them are you."
"Who do you trust?" Jason counters, eyeing her intently.
"Robin. Zander." Elizabeth shrugs. "And, of course, my brother."
"What will it take to add me to that list?"
"You earn it." Elizabeth says simply, walking off the elevator when the doors open. "Can you honestly say you trust me?"
"Yeah." Jason says without hesitation.
"And why is that?" Elizabeth counters. "Because I saved you?"
"That's part of it." Jason concedes. "But also because of Robin."
"You trust me because Robin does?" Elizabeth looks at him curiously, waiting for him to unlock his door.
"Yeah." Jason shrugs, gripping her bags in one hand to unlock his door with the other. "Why is that so hard to believe?"
"In my world, you trust those who prove worthy of it." Elizabeth says plainly, following him into the penthouse. "Its ignorant to trust blindly...especially with a father like mine."
"What did Robin do to earn your trust?" Jason drops her bags to the side, gathering his medical kit from inside his closet as she strips down to her undies.
"She stood up for me." Elizabeth smiles slightly at the memory. "She didn't care who I was or what background I came from...she saw me and she accepted what I had to offer."
Elizabeth watched intently as Jason took care of her. He stitched up what needed stitching and bandaged the rest. She's never seen anyone so attentive and careful with her before. Usually she's the one taking care of her injuries, never letting anyone take care of her, but Jason wouldn't give her that option. So there she laid, watching as he used his agile hands to fix up the damage her father's men caused. Just as Jason is finishing up with the bandages, Elizabeth's cellphone starts to ring. She debates answering it before holding in to her ear.
"Yeah?" Elizabeth answers.
"Thank god." her brother's voice says with relief. "I thought...forget what I thought. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Elizabeth says simply. "You worry too much, John."
"I worry enough." Johnny counters. "Where are you? Do you need help?"
"No." Elizabeth looks at Jason. "I'm in good hands. I'll call you later, okay?"
"Okay." Johnny concedes. "Dinner?"
"Sure." Elizabeth says before ending the call. "You done?"
"Just about." Jason shakes his head. "He worried about you?"
"He worries too much." Elizabeth says plainly. "The sooner I can get out of here, the better."
"Why don't you stay here?" Jason counters. "Give me the chance to prove you can trust me."
"Why are you trying so hard?"
"You saved my life." Jason gathers the trash and tosses it into the waste bin. "Just want to return the favor."
"Liar." Elizabeth counters, but lays her head back against the couch. "But fine. I'm kind of tired anyway."
"Get some rest." Jason stands up, covering her with the afghan he keeps in the closet. "I'll be right here if you need anything."
Jason grabs a guidebook from the side table, settling into the club chair to watch over her as she sleeps. He knows how hard it is to fall asleep around people you hardly know and he felt kind of touched that she could fall asleep with him there. Just as he's getting into the guidebook, a persistent knocking sounds through the penthouse. With a sigh, Jason stands up and pulls the door open before the knocking can awaken Elizabeth.
"This isn't a good time." Jason says to his sister, blocking her way from seeing into the penthouse. "Is it important?"
"You're ignoring everyone's calls." Emily says like its obvious. "I just wanted to be sure you were okay."
"I'm fine." Jason says quickly. "Is that it?"
"What's going on Jason?" Emily questions seriously. "You're not usually this abrupt...at least not with me."
"Its just not a good time." Jason says simply. "I'll call you later."
"Call Sam too." Emily says quickly. "She's worried about you."
"Goodbye, Em." Jason closes the door before locking it.
"That your sister?" Elizabeth questions, sitting up slightly on the couch.
"Yeah." Jason concedes, sitting on the club chair. "Shouldn't you be asleep?"
"I was." Elizabeth says plainly. "I'm a light sleeper."
"Sorry." Jason sighs, running one hand down his face. "Maybe you should go upstairs to the guest room. Its sound proof so no one can bother you."
"Sure." Elizabeth kicks her legs off the side, eyeing him intently. "Who's Sam?"
"No one you need to know about." Jason says plainly. "She's not in my life anymore."
"See. You don't trust me." Elizabeth walks over to the stairs. "Keep that in mind when you want me to trust you again."
"She used to be my fiancee." Jason concedes, causing her to stop and look back at him. "She has a daughter with someone I care about and in order to keep them safe, I walked away."
"Did you love her?"
"Yeah." Jason shakes his head. "I did love her."
"That's exactly why I want to take my father down." Elizabeth says sternly. "My brother deserves to be in love without having to worry about the danger."
"What about you?" Jason counters. "Have you ever be in love?"
"Never." Elizabeth's eyes turn cold. "I doubt I ever will."
"Why?"
"A side affect of being in this life." Elizabeth says plainly, turning away from him. "Love's just not possible for me."
Elizabeth walks up the steps, tears in her eyes, not taking a second glance back at him. Jason could hear the pain in her words and see the heartache in her eyes. He wasn't sure what all that was about, but he wanted to find out. He couldn't explain it, but he felt drawn to her in a way that he's never been drawn to another person before. It was like he had to get to know her, but he couldn't understand why. Plopping down onto the club chair, Jason settles in with the guidebook. He's going to prove to her that she can trust him and hopefully he'll get her to see life through his eyes.
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