So many of you wanted this chapter right away, I decided to beta it instead of Thanks to Helena, mainly because of the pitchforks I am going to be threatened with when you all read the chapter for that story.
Chapter 7
Kate refused to even acknowledge Carly as she paid for the groceries and picking up only the six pack of beer, walked to the blond's car and got in the driver's seat. Carly closed the trunk, thanked the bag boy for his help and stopped by her door. "Kate, what do you think you are doing?"
"A, I don't have a death wish and B, you are the one who dragged me out of my nice and warm house refusing to tell me why or where we are going. There is no way I am allowing you to drive me. I am not suicidal and you need to take lessons."
Cursing Elizabeth Webber and her own curiosity, Carly called Jax and asked how the kids were doing. "All asleep except Michael, someday you are going to have to explain yours and his homing beacon for pizza. He just left here wanting one."
Wincing as Kate pulled out of the parking lot, she said "Take a right on Maple."
Robin screeched to halt, then slamming her door shut, rushed to the front door of the huge house Elizabeth was living in. When the brunette opened the door, Robin could see the tears and went charging forward to find the annoying blond. "Where is she?"
"On her way." she replied grimly. "Come with me." Robin stared as she followed Elizabeth from the foyer through the family room to a small hallway then down the circular staircase. Seeing Jack leaning against what looked like the mechanics for a bowling alley, she said "I knew the Stantons were ostentatious, but really, a bowling alley."
"One with duel lanes, luv. Elizabeth if you need me I will be upstairs calling Ned." he said before kissing her cheek then whispering "Tell at least Robin the truth about us."
Looking at him she whispered back "Why?"
"Because, she is feeling conflicted and if she decides to come down on Jason's side, I want to know I won't be found suffering some strange illness with a weird cure."
"Robin wouldn't do that." she protested with a laugh.
Walking away he said "You say that now, but when I have to eat eye of newt or bark of a coffee tree, you will be begging me for forgiveness for not believing me."
Looking at them, Robin winced. They looked so good together, seemed very comfortable with each other, yet she couldn't help wishing it was Jason with her friend.
Hearing the sound of footsteps, Robin saw Kate Howard walking down the spiral staircase along with Carly who was grousing about beer, frozen pizza and something about being forced to buy vegetables for the stick thin blond. Confused she looked at Elizabeth who seemed annoyed. "Carly, you couldn't get cooked pizza?"
"I like this better." she snapped. "Sides, Miss Howard here, said she only eats pizza with beer. And since Papa John's doesn't sell beer, we went to the grocery store."
"Fine, follow me." she said while Robin stared at Kate who said "Why am I here?"
"Hell if I know." said Robin following the twosome around the long wall. She saw the long pool table, a ping pong table and after peeking her head into a door a theater while listening to Carly telling Elizabeth that just because she helped her get the skank arrested didn't mean she wanted to be besties with her.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes then said "No, but I know how much you love to wreck havoc, well this time you are going to be doing it for a good cause. So open the dang box while I set the timer."
Kate followed Robin who just kept walking, exploring the plant room and then the weight room and finally the indoor pool complete with diving board and slide. Walking back to the downstairs kitchen she sat down on top of the ping pong table and asked Elizabeth, "Just how much did you pay for this place."
Looking up amused, Elizabeth said "Jack bought it. It's actually smaller than his family's castle, which was what I told him would work. I didn't mean for him to find a place only a few hundred cubic feet smaller."
Kate sighed, she could care less about the size of the house, but what was taking the pizza so long. Seeing Carly putting in a second pizza she took a slice of the first one while passing the beer around to the others.
"Uh huh, you have a swimming pool in an incredible house. He's cute, charming, rich beyond belief, articulate, dresses better than a man ought to. He is well educated, did I mention the very hot bod, a smile with dimples, he's a brilliant doctor and did I mention the very very hot bod. He adores your kids, has a British title, you get to be a Countess someday, and he has abs of steel and a great ass. There has got to be something wrong with him. Does he; I don't know, snore loudly? Eat with his fingers?" she said while licking hers to Kate's disgust.
Carly ignored the burning jealousy as Robin ticked off each of Jack Griffin's assets and took a long swig from her bottle of beer while Elizabeth looked on amused. Waiting until Robin had stopped talking, she looked down and said "He's gay. He is more likely to have sex with Patrick or Jason then me."
Hearing Robin choking she looked up just as Carly spit out her beer to keep from suffering the doctor's fate. As the beer sprayed around the room hitting her, Elizabeth wiped her face and glared at Carly while Kate checked on Robin.
"Real classy there, Carly."
"What the hell did you expect. That isn't very funny." she snapped then reached out to pull the second pizza out. Tossing the towel at Elizabeth while trying not to laugh as beer dripped down her face, Carly said "Please, I know when a man is gay and that man is as straight as they come."
Hearing a whump-whump-whump, Jack hit the intercom button and said "Elizabeth why is there a helio hovering-- there is someone rappelling towards the deck in our bedroom. Would you happen to have a reason for security not to shoot them, luv?"
Seeing the triumphant expression on Carly's face as what Jack said, Elizabeth banged her head on the table then lifted it alarmed. "Robin would your-- JACK! Tell them not to shoot, it's Robin's mother."
"Fine luv, but why can't she use the front door like normal guests." he said amused then turned to see the middle aged woman with long dark hair coming down the main staircase. "Dr. Robin's mother, I presume." he said with a barely contained grin as the woman dressed in black removed her gloves.
"I do apologize for just dropping in but my daughter said it was an emergency. Something about shooting Carly Jacks I believe. I was a bit confused, though. Has she already done this or does she want me to do it."
Jack just started laughing and pointed the way down the stairs. Meanwhile Carly glared at Robin as they heard Anna over the intercom. Elizabeth went back to the other side of the wall, took off her shoes and walked down the bowling lane to the cold storage unit and grabbed some of the tequila there. She was going to need it.
When she returned Anna was helping herself to the pizza and turned to look at Elizabeth, then said "My daughter said you asked for me."
"Follow me. I need all of your help." she said softly then when they were in front of the fireplace she said "Jason Morgan wrote me a letter in November of '08 two days after we talked at the counthouse. JQ gave it to me the other day and I read it a little while ago. There were a lot of things in it, I never knew. First, Kate, it was Anthony Zachara that shot you the day you were supposed to marry Sonny."
Stunned the blond shook her head then said "Why am I not surprised."
"You will be when you find out the rest." she said sitting on the ottoman. "Carly, we have never been friends, but since I know you still consider Jason Morgan your friend, that is why you are here, and like I said, we are going to be causing havoc."
Nodding Carly grabbed a beer from the tray and a shot glass of tequila then said "I gather this letter explained his irrational behavior."
"Something like that. Robin is here because out of all of us, she knew both Morgan and Quartermaine. Anna, I need your help in an official capacity. How would you like to bring Jerry Jacks in."
Nodding, Anna said "What do you know? Or what did Jason Morgan know?"
"First, you should know, Jason Quartermaine only read the note accompanying the letter, not the actual letter. We five are the only ones who are going to know the contents. I need each of you to promise to keep silent about anything discussed here tonight, people we all care about could die if this gets handled the wrong way." she said looking at each of them carefully.
Michael and Kristina finished their pizza and left the restaurant to take care of business. "What do you think your mom is up with Elizabeth?"
"Who knows, but my guess is that it is similar to what we are doing." he said as they approached the car. Disarming the alarm with his key chain, Michael smirked then said. "Forty-five dollars put to good use."
"Now what?" asked Kristina looking around to make sure no one was watching them.
"We disable it. The brakes out to do it." said Michael as he removed the knife and a screwdriver from the bag he was carrying.
"No, that won't do." said a male voice behind them. Turning they saw Johnny Zachara standing there. "I won't ask any questions, so don' bother lying. And NEVER DO ANYTHING TO A PERSON'S brakes. That is how you hurt innocents."
"Okay, Mr. Big-shot then what do we do?" snarled Michael. He hated feeling like a kid and Johnny was embarrassing him.
"Pop the hood, then come here." said Johnny walking to the front of the vehicle. "Here, this is what you do. It causes the engine to blow when the car is started. Also, here give me that screwdriver."
The siblings watched as he undid the cables to the battery then drove the screwdriver into the back tire. "See, this is how you do it."
"Why so many things?" asked Kristina.
"Trust me, be here in the morning and watch. Then come talk to me about why." he said. "Now get out of here before you get caught."
As they left, Johnny handed the tools to Michael and said "Get rid of them discreetly and if I ever catch you doing this to anyone but her car, I will tell your stepfather. You don't need this kind of trouble. Don't ruin your future, okay?"
With a quick grin, Michael said "I don't intend to. But this one, is payback for a lot of things and people. By the way, you might want to come and see her delightful new wardrobe."
After the women had agreed to keep things quiet, Elizabeth said Step One is Sam McCall. I don't want to kill her, just humiliate her a lot more.
Jack walked down the stairs after hanging up the phone and said "I might be just the person to do that love. Miss McCall just made an appointment with Kelly Lee specifically mentioning her problems with carrying a baby to term. My specialty. Do you want to bet that isn't a coincidence?"
Seeing Jack's eyes dancing she said "Jack, whatever it is you are thinking, don't do it. Don't lose your medical license over her."
"Oh I won't. I will just offer a shoulder to cry on, be a good doctor. Trust me, Lizzie."
"Why do I think that Sam is going to wish she never met you." she said with a soft chuckle.
"If she is dumb enough to believe that I am interested she gets what she deserves. But dear sweet Sammy is going to wish she never met you, your children, Jason Morgan, or even whatever the heck drew her to this town."
"The dead man's hand." said Carly. Seeing him look at her she said "That was what drew her here. Then she stayed because it was such a target rich environment of rich men."
"Thanks, I can use that. That dead man's hand, was that the cards that Wild Bill Hickok had when he died?"
Anna looked at him then said "Yes, why?"
"Trust me, beautiful, the less you know, the better for me. I don't like jail cells." he said with a grin as he went up the stairs.
"Do we trust him with her?" asked a doubtful Carly.
Shaking her head and rolling her eyes, Elizabeth said "Trust me, Sam McCall, gold medal gymnast isn't going to get him into bed."
Getting the joke, Anna laughed then told the others. "British expression you would have to understand to get the joke."
"Moving on, Kate I know that you like Maxie Jones, but she repeatedly made my five year old son cry and I just learned she was just as responsible as Sam for my youngest getting kidnapped a second time."
"I heard. I have been wanting to speak to her about her arrest but so far she hasn't called me... that alone will get her fired."
"We don't want you to fire her." she said with a shark grin. "I have something else in mind."
Kate listened to Elizabeth's plan and started laughing while Carly grimaced but then admitted grudgingly that it was a perfect plan. Robin stayed quiet. She knew that Maxie was in trouble, Mac had warned her that Elizabeth had agreed to probation in exchange Mac had to let her deal with his daughter how she wanted.
"Robin are you okay with this?" she asked her friend.
"Yes, did Brenda agree to help?"
"According to Lois, yes. I haven't talked directly to her. You should know that Brooklynn is in on this too." she said feeling a bit guilty.
"I just don't see this being too much of a punishment for Spinelli though." she said walking over to get a drink.
"Spinelli is in over his head, this isn't the only thing he will dealing with. This is just icing on the cake." admitted Elizabeth.
Robin's phone rang and after talking a few minutes with Patrick said "I have to head out. Patrick has to go to GH and he is taking Emma with him."
Anna took the keys and said "I'll drive. Elizabeth, just let me know what you need me to do. I will be more than happy to deal with Jerry Jacks."
Kate was talking to Elizabeth a little bit more, looking at the drawings and said "This should do the trick. You do know these aren't half bad. With a twist of fabric here and removing a flounce there, it would be a really decent spring line. Who drew these?"
"I did, but I only copied some old designs that I worked of for Chloe Morgan."
Kate took a pencil from the art holder and drew a line on one dress, plaids on another and said "I think polka dots on this one." She was soon lost in making the sketches as fashionable hideous as possible while Elizabeth turned to see Carly reading the letter Jason had written.
She watched the expression's on the blonds face. First shock then confusion, then pain finally tears before anger. Then a sadness that seemed to seep into her whole body. "Do you think he was telling the truth?"
"Carly..." she said wishing she had put the letter up.
"Seriously, Elizabeth, do you think he was telling the truth in this?"
Sitting down, she tried to find a way to spin it then decided honestly worked best. "I don't know. I think he meant it when he wrote it."
Plopping down, Carly reread the part Jason had written about her and said "He truly loved you. I refused to see it for so long, but... it's here, in black and white."
"Carly, that doesn't mean..."
With a sad smile Carly looked up and said "Yes it does. I know that I took advantage of Jason, always did. I had no idea my asking him to help me hurt him that badly. But I can understand what he is saying. He was right about the other thing as well, this was the only way I would ever willingly let go."
"Carly, I am sorry." she said sitting down next to the blond.
"Don't be." she said with a soft smile. Then she read out loud the part that made everything okay.
"Elizabeth, if you are reading this, I have died. I know you hate me right now, but please give this letter a chance. …. then the final paragraph choked Carly up as she continued Know one thing, no matter what, I have loved you most of my life. Please know that I died loving you and our sons. Someday if you can forgive me my mistakes and secrets, please stand outside, look at the stars and know that I am nowhere right now, doing the same and dreaming of the life we should have had. With all my love, Jason.
"He truly loved you. I refused to see it, was too selfish, too narrow-minded." said Carly standing. "I need to call Jax, have him send a car for us."
"One of the guards can drive the two of you home Carly." said Elizabeth. Nodding, Carly stopped on the second step of the spiral staircase and said "When this is done, we should make sure you wedding is as big as they come. Rub in the nose of all who have ever given you a hard time."
"No thanks. I appreciate the sentiment, but I... I don't picture my wedding like that." she said sadly. "I would prefer something simple, beautiful, yet simple."
Reminded once again how much Elizabeth had lost with losing Jason, Carly walked up the stairs, looking around and realizing that for Elizabeth this was a consolation prize as charming as Jack was. Thanks to what had happened, she had lost Jason and her chance at true love.
Jax entered the mansion and saw Luke standing in the foyer complaining to Alice. "I need to speak to my wife."
"I am sorry, Luke, but I can't get fired and Mr. Quartermaine has made it very clear that I am just one mistake away from that happening. Try Ms. Tracy at ELQ later."
When the older man saw he wasn't getting his way, he stomped out the door muttering about damn Jason Morgan. Jax just ignored the man and went to see if Edward or Jason were in the study.
"Well, what did you find out?" He asked Edward while Jason entered carrying a cup of coffee and frowning.
"Man this coffee sucks." only for the other two to point out that Corinthos/Morgan coffee had been banned by Monica.
"As for the Sam McCall mess, I did some checking around. Mr. Spinelli used Jason's credit card to purchase these drugs over the Internet. It was from that defunct Jack's corporation, Jax. Also, there is a church in that small town, Jason but it is standing the same as it has been for years except for a bullet hole in a pew. So you were shot down there, there was a collapse of a lean to, but no one was found underneath it."
"So my brother shot him in the leg, but he escaped the other wounds."
"I have to talk to Lainey, I might have a theory about that, but want to see if she can give me a better explanation for what is going on in my head." said Jason.
"I have to meet Carly at the hotel, she has some sort of plan going on, thanks to the call she got from Elizabeth last night." said Jax still tired from his wife's tossing and turning all night.
"Elizabeth and Carly are friends?" asked Jason. His memories had shown them to dislike each other intensely.
"No, that is the strange part of things. They fight all the time." said Jax on his way out.
Edward looked at his grandson and said "Sonny is being sentenced today. He took a plea bargain."
"I want to be there." said Jason. "Have you thought about my offer?"
"Is there any other way?" he asked. He didn't like the feeling of being old this was giving him.
"None." said Jason firmly. "I love you grandfather but I won't let you try to manipulate me like you did the others."
Edward shook Jason's hand then pulled him into a hug saying "You always had more gumption then any of the rest of them. Morgan, Quartermaine or whatever you decide to call yourself."
Jason changed into a suit, then went to the courthouse where he found his attorney and the man who had been his accountant waiting to hear what the judge had to say. "Mr. Corinthos, I don't like this agreement, but the deal was reached. I won't waste any more of the taxpayers money on this. I hereby sentence you to twenty-years in prison on both counts, to be served concurrently. Hopefully by the time you are out of prison you will be too old to be creating any more chaos in our city. Good riddance."
Sonny plodded by Jason with the bailiffs help. Looking into the blue eyes of his former partner, the Cuban didn't see any of Jason Morgan left in the man standing in front of him. When he was placed in the prison van, he was shackled to the two other prisoners and told to sit down between them.
Sweating as he tried to figure out how long of a drive it was to Pentonville, he heard the man next to him whisper "Mr. Z sends his regards and that he hopes a fellow widower finds enjoys the present he is sending you."
Sonny turned white, and started to struggle until the guard threatened him with the tazor. Sitting back, he hoped for death, he knew he wouldn't survive long inside.
Michael offered Kristina the last of his milkshake, groaning when Mike asked when they were leaving for school. "Hey, kids, I get that you didn't want to be there for your dad's sentencing, but you still should go to school."
"We are going to skip morning classes, don't worry our parents wrote us notes." said Michael not acknowledging Sonny being sentenced. His father had snapped at both Kristina and him last night when they had visited. Everything was all about Dante, who could care less about the man. They were done even trying with him.
Getting elbowed in the gut, he turned to Kristina to protest when he saw Sam coming down the stairs. Looking at the clock he said in a soft voice. "Nine-fifteen, must be nice to not have a job."
"She was fired or quit from every single one she ever had." replied her sister then giggled when she saw Sam wearing one of the shirts she had altered when packing up her sister's belongings.
"I think Spammy is about to have a very bad day." said Michael as she got a cup of to go coffee and walked over to them not noticing the glares and whispers she was getting.
"Why aren't you in school." she asked idly, She needed to get the kids out of here before Maxie arrived so they could talk about her plan for today.
"We are meeting someone in a bit before going. Dad was sentenced today." she said. "Here want the leftovers?" offering up the second muffin and the sausage.
"Yeah, thanks." said Sam sitting down just as an older woman walked over and said to her
"You should be ashamed of yourself, how can you wear that outfit around decent people."
Sam looked down, a tee-shirt, it was low cut but not as low as most of hers and a short skirt but even that was more modest than what she usually wore. The twosome left and went to the corner hoping it wouldn't be long before Sam came out.
Shrugging off the attack, she turned towards the door to see John Zachara approaching.
"Spinelli said you were looking for me." Sitting down, he covered his mouth with his hands to keep from laughing. He was glad Kristina was on his side.
"I need to know who took over the territories." she said then after a pause added "It's for an old case of ours."
"Don Roma, but I would stay away if I were you. Are you aware there is a bounty out on you." he asked.
"What are you talking about?" she asked. "Did Sonny do something stupid because he was mad at Jason, again. Last time he tried to have Jason killed, let me guess this time he sent them after the person Jason loves."
Blinking, he tried to stop himself but couldn't. "No, as far as I know there isn't a hit out on Elizabeth Webber."
Seeing her turn red was worth losing points with her, he added on "No, the IRA has it's hit list out, and you Sam McCall are number one with a bullet. Payback for some doctor they respect. I would stay close to town if I were you."
"Please, the IRA, why would the Irish Army have a hit list?" she asked not believing him as something rang a bell within her.
"The Irish Army, Sam?" questioned Johnny then he laughed bitterly "You really aren't that smart are you. The military is the Irish Defense Forces (IDF). The IRA is a terrorist group."
"Why..." Sam recalled where she had heard of them, Spinelli had been ranting about Elizabeth and how thanks to her accepting Sam's apology his goddess was safe. "Elizabeth Webber did this."
"Yeah, right. A nurse at GH called the IRA and asked them to kill you. Get a grip and realize all the bad things in this world don't trace back to a mother of two who works as a nurse." he said scornfully. "I can't recall a single crime or even mean thing that woman has ever done to anyone who didn't deserve it."
"She slept with my fiancee while married, how about that one?" she asked. Mike was walking up so Johnny finished quickly.
"From what I heard, you were screwing your stepfather the exact same night, you weren't engaged to Morgan any longer and her husband was a drug addict screwing his dealer. Compared to you she is a saint." with that he walked over to pay his bill and got an earful as Mike asked Sam to change her clothes or leave.
When she grabbed her leather jacket and stalked out the door, Johnny took another look at the back of shirt that said Will swallow for 99 cents. Ask about my two-for-one couples coupons.
Talk about truth in advertising, he laughed as he walked out the door just in time to see her kick her back tire that was now flat as a pancake. "Do you want me to call you a tow truck?"
"Don't do me any favors." she snapped as she changed the tire herself, breaking a couple of nails along the way. When she had the tire back on, her jacket had a ripped left shoulder and her hair looked windblown.
As she slammed the trunk her car alarm went off and she couldn't stop the noise, Mike walked out and told her to deal with it or he would call the police to. "Are you sure you don't want my help?"
"Get out of here." said Sam as she went to lift the hood. Seeing the loose cable, she went back to the trunk and saw no tools. "Wait, do you have a screwdriver?"
Silently going to his own car, Johnny got her the tool then handed it to her and said "Return it to me later, I am going to be late for my meeting."
Sam finished dealing with her alarm and the cable, muttering about the stupid car. As she started it, the engine started gasping then black smoke started to fill up the inside of the vehicle. Then silence and her car made a last gasp before shutting down completely.
Getting out, she called the police and said "Someone more than likely hired by Elizabeth Webber sabotaged my car."
"Yes, ma'am. We will send an officer immediately." said the 911 operator. Calling the station, she gave them the information and Harper drove over to the scene himself. Looking under the hood, he said "Sam, the only thing that caused this is your car needed oil. And don't call 911 again unless it is an emergency. I will have your car towed to the nearest garage for you though."
Watching as Sam stomped away, Kristina and Michael held their sides, as she tried to hail a cab but it just drove on by. "Lets get to school."
"That was so worth it. Now on to stage two. Her wardrobe." said Kristina. "Problem is it is already tacky. I can't keep writing slogans on her shirts, she will figure it out."
Elizabeth dealt with her patients, still not sure what she was going to say to Jason. While she was at peace with knowing he had loved her some of the reasons he had written in the letter for not telling her seriously pissed her off.
"Epiphany, Mr. Rossi in room 856 wants to know if you will marry him. What should I tell your Bedridden Romeo?" she asked cheekily as she returned her charts to their correct spot.
"Humph." she said "A ninety year old man should know better. I swear men act like children the older they get."
"I guess that means you won't be registering for china patterns at Wyndhams?" she asked wiggling her eyebrows at her boss.
"Get out of here, go do something. Anything." she growled before pointing out it was time for her break.
"Fine, but if you change your mind about Mr. Rossi, let me know. I want to pick out the perfect bridesmaid dress." she said walking to the end of the counter.
"As if I would let a skinny little thing like you be in my wedding." said the head nurse as Patrick walked up.
"Epiphany, you're getting married, whose the groom?" he asked as Elizabeth left the area laughing out loud. Only for her arm to be grabbed and to be turned around. Seeing Luke Spencer standing there scowling at her she asked "What is it?"
"Lucky left me this note." he said thrusting it into her hands. Elizabeth read the crumpled note and said Okay.
"What did you do to my son. I heard Nik left town as well." Seeing Lulu and Ethan approaching, Luke saw similar notes in Lulu's hand. "Well, what do you have to say for yourself?"
Handing him back the note, Elizabeth said "Lucky was fired from the PCPD and is wanted for questioning about tampering with FBI wiretaps, why would you think this has anything to do with me? I ended things with Lucky before I left here last year."
"Because with Lucky, it's always your fault. You mess with his mind." said Lulu furious with the nurse.
"No, it isn't. When are you going to face that Lucky is responsible for Lucky. I stopped being his crutch and his excuse ages ago. But my guess is that since Rebecca Shaw quit and went with him, this has more to do with their new baby."
"What are you talking about? Rebecca isn't pregnant." said Ethan.
"Actually, she is." admitted Luke. Then turning to Elizabeth he said what about Nik?
"That would be Nik's business now wouldn't it. But Luke, don't you ever approach me like this again, or accuse me of being responsible for your son. Go away, now."
"Or I will call the local police and have you all arrested for verbally assaulting a member of the hospital staff." said a silky posh voice as the taller man approached wearing a lab coat.
"You can't do that, my brother funds this hospital." said Lulu.
"And I am an English Viscount, neither of which has anything to do with this situation. Your brother would not be able to stop me from pressing charges. Not if he wants to keep his hospital accreditation. Now go away. Take your father with you. Mr. Spencer, I won't give you another warning. Stay away from Elizabeth."
Ethan was silent as they took the elevator down then went to the Haunted Star listening as Lulu and their father fumed about the English doctor. "Shut up for two minutes, will you."
When they looked at him, he said "What do you know about Rebecca being pregnant and where would Lucky go that he would consider a good place for them to go."
Jason saw it was only the head nurse behind the hub when he asked for Dr. Winters. "She is going to meet you in the rehab center."
"Thank you." he said walking quickly to meet the woman.
Lainey offered him a seat on the workout bench in the apparently empty room. "What can I do for you?"
Sam slid into the dirty towel hamper, glad she had decided to come to GH and deal with Elizabeth herself. As she listened in, she held her breath hoping for some sort of miracle.
"I am remembering certain things. How I ended up working for Sonny. I was so sure Dr. Jones was wrong, that the brain damage wasn't bad. Now with my own mind, I can see what was wrong with Jason Morgan."
"What do you mean?"
"He was so hurt and angry with his family. He was still without the ability to deal with emotions. And he was learning from the wrong people. Robin, who had her own agenda, Sonny, Luke Spencer, even Carly. Looking back I see that it wasn't until Michael I understood unconditional love."
Sam was ecstatic, Jason was remembering, it wouldn't be long until she would have everything she had ever wanted back.
"Then there was anger with Robin for what she did. Now I see that I, rather Jason was more angry about losing Michael. But I think part of him understood her expressed motive but not the underlying one of revenge on Carly." he said pained.
Lainey asked him to explain and he tried then he said "It wasn't really losing Robin that hurt, it was that she had been his constant through all of this. Morgan would find needy people and cling to them because of their flaws."
"Why is that?"
"Michael wasn't his to love, deep down he knew Robin's. Carly was and is so messed up,
that he felt normal by comparison. Same with woman he married. This Courtney chick had a serious mental problem. Most of what I know about her is second hand, but if what I have been told is accurate, she was his way of rebelling against Sonny and trying to stay sane."
"Why would Jason Morgan need to stay sane." asked Lainey.
"Because he met someone broken, who healed." he said quietly. Lainey looked at him and asked him to explain.
"Jason fell for Elizabeth because she was broken when Lucky supposedly died. He had feelings for her he didn't understand the minute they met."
"Tell me about it." asked Lainey glad Jason was making progress..
"It was in an old rail car. I can see it clearly in my head. It is one of the few completely clear scenes I see. I feel the emotions, I can smell the fresh air, if that makes sense. But I remember thinking about her after leaving Lucky and her. Being attracted to her but knowing it was wrong because I was with Robin and she was seeing Lucky."
"Attracted?" asked Lainey while a fuming Sam gritted her teeth.
"Uh, sexually." said a blushing Jason. "But it was more than that, I felt an emotional pull towards her. When Lucky died, I felt sick that night. I had been trying to ignore things, but it was there."
"What happened next?"
"I remember talking to her at Jake's. Dancing with her in the diner. Wanting her, but knowing she was too young and too fragile at that time."
"At that time?"
"When I was shot, she helped me. I couldn't ignore it any longer and it scared me."
"Why would you be scared if she was older." she asked.
"Because, Elizabeth had healed, she just hadn't realized it. Then everyone started attacking her for our friendship. I saw the way people changed their attitude towards her and I didn't want that for her. Then an enemy of Sonny's planted a bomb to send me a message. I got it. I told her I had to leave but I didn't want to. Not alone, not really." he admitted for the first time.
"But you did, why?"
"Elizabeth was and is Jason Morgan's pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, his ideal. He loved her, I can feel it here." he said touching his heart. "It's a living breathing part of him and was for most of his life."
"But he married and had other women in his life." said Lainey while Sam cheered her on.
"Yes, but it wasn't the same. They were part of Sonny's world, part of the gutter that Jason felt he belonged it. Carly, Courtney, that trampy McCall woman. Jason felt like he should stick with those types, but in the end, he had his dream."
"But he wasn't with Elizabeth. Other than a one night stand." said Lainey.
"Wrong, though that was the beginning of everything. Jason got his dream for one night. He even tried to walk away, went back to the walking whorehouse, but in the end, the pull was too strong. Until their son almost died."
"Jake." Lainey still couldn't believe she had missed seeing that one.
"Yes, Morgan saw him as a part of Elizabeth like Cameron was. He swore he would never let his world touch Cam or Jake. When it did this last time, it broke him."
"The heart pains." she said smiling. Jason had had a major breakthrough.
"Yes, our hearts are connected. When Elizabeth is in pain, so am I. We were feeding off each other's pain, trying to kill the connection anyway possible. But it wasn't breakable. I love her. I will die loving Elizabeth."
Lainey gave him a sad smile. Then saw his face and asked if he had remembered anything else.
"Just one thing." he said looking down. "I remember proposing to Elizabeth, I remember the joy I felt when she said yes."
As her beeper went off, she said "I have another patient, do you want to talk some more, later?"
"Tomorrow, here is okay." he said standing. "Thank you."
"Your welcome. Jason I noticed that when it was hard to talk about things you referred to Jason Morgan but with this last bit you said I."
"I know, the one thing I knew when I woke up, was that I was in love with a snow angel. As my memories returned, I realized what I had been dreaming, part of it was real. Elizabeth did rescue me in the snow, and she really did smell like snow." with that they walked out the door as the orderly came in and dumped the dirty towels down the laundry chute.
Jerry walked cautiously into the warehouse, worried as to why the new head of the PC mob wanted to meet. "Hello Jerry." was the last thing he heard as he inhaled the chloroform.
Waking up he found he was tied up to a chair with two strangers standing over him. "You are going to be telling us the truth."
"Now why would I do that?" he asked. "What is in it for me?"
"You might be allowed to live." said the men standing in front of Jerry. "I want to know about the deal you made with Ian Devlin and Claudia Zachara."
"Sure, what do you want to know?" he asked willing to play this particular game.
"Everything of course." he was told. Jerry slipped what had happened, from Claudia approaching Ian to Michael getting shot. As he explained about Sam, they seemed to perk up which suited Jerry. But when they asked about Mexico, the man claimed no knowledge.
"Really, what about selling her to a certain house of ill-repute."
Jerry grinned. He had enjoyed that part. The look of terror on sweet Sam's face as his friend messed with her mind. "That was to get her on my side. I had a plan and it required Sam's active participation."
"How so?"
"I needed money and thanks to Morgan I had no access to it. I showed her Jason, he was out of it, injured. I said she could have him if she played by my rules."
"Your rules?" he asked.
"I would mess with his mind, give her something to help keep him, shall we say active? And she would get me money. She kept the seven thousand coming and tried to renege on the rest of the deal. I had to get to her."
"Why are you here, now?"
"Because I want my money and Sam is going to help me get it." he said with a smile. "Now how about being nice mobsters and letting me go."
"Sure." with that his ropes were cut and the men disappeared. Jerry looked around then moved very cautiously towards the door. Opening it, he saw the warehouse was deserted. Hurrying to the door, he found himself outside and looked around. They were truly letting him go? What the heck had that been about?
Jason was leaving GH when he saw the dark haired woman leaving GH looking rumpled. Walking back into the ER, he saw Monica talking to a doctor with long hair. "Sam McCall just left through the custodial entrance."
Calling upstairs, the security guy looked through the tape and said "She was on the Ninth floor."
Mac was called and he stopped over to see Alexis. "Sam was at GH stalking Morgan again."
"I don't know what to do with her. I kicked her out last night, she is staying at Kelly's, but Mac, how do you walk away from your child." she said looking stressed.
"You don't, but you also need to make sure you aren't overcompensating for her behavior. Eventually Sam is going to end up in a jail cell permanently."
"Sir, you have a visitor." said a stunned rookie as he entered. "A hot older chick with a British accent."
Debating if it was Holly or Anna, Mac entered his office to see his former sister-in-law sitting in her old chair. "Jerry Jacks is back in town. There is a bounty for his head. Dead or alive."
Seeing his expression she said "When I told my bosses he was seen, they gave me the news. A million dollars to the law agency that takes him down."
"We are not bounty hunters, Anna." he snapped. "He is facing a whole slew of charges here as well."
"Good, then arrest him. They just want him off the streets. Congratulations on the Corinthos bust." she said. "Mac, I heard about Maxie and what is going on. Do you want any help?"
With an upset shaking of the head, he sat down and said "Is it wrong that there are days I wish Maxie had died and Georgie had lived."
Rubbing his shoulders, she said "No, and yes. Georgie was a lovely girl who died too young but you would still regret Maxie's death."
Looking up at her, he said "Yes, I would. But honestly I think I am one of a very few who would. My daughter is running around town with Sam McCall, her ex-fiancee/boyfriend is a loser who I lost all respect for when I heard what he did to a five year old. She isn't learning from her mistakes, she seems determined to destroy her life."
Sam arrived at the office, looked around then asked if it was okay for them to talk. "Yes, Kate came in earlier in a serious snit though. She stormed out of here talking about needing a model for some fashion line, then had me calling all her contacts but no one has anyone willing to do the job."
"What job?" asked Sam as she sat down in Lulu's chair.
"I don't know, she wouldn't say. But anyhow, why do you look so bad."
"Long story. I fell into a towel bin while doing research today. Do you have something I can borrow?"
"Actually I don't. Kate was furious about the arrest, I am forbidden to borrow anything for a month. But at least that is the only punishment I am getting here. My dad called, I have a meeting tomorrow with a lawyer since your Mom said she can't represent us."
"Good luck. Anyhow, we have to move up the time table a bit. I have my appointment with Dr. Griffin tomorrow. Can you be there with your cousin so when I make my accusation it will be more realistic."
"Taken care of, lunch with Robin before girding myself up to meet the lawyer." she said with a smile. "I was also thinking we call Social Services and report Elizabeth as a bad mother."
"No!" she insisted. "Jason is getting his memory back. It won't be long now and this way when we take her to court, I still have that card to play so that I-we can claim Jason's son back."
"Fine." she said pouting. Looking around she said "We have to stop talking, Lulu should be back soon."
Lulu was in fact standing outside the office. While she was angry at Elizabeth, there was no way she was going to stand for Jason trying to claim his son at this late date. Deciding she needed to find out what was going on, she called Maxie and told her that Kate had ordered her to do a few things and she would be out of the office for a bit.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Lulu came back to the corner and eavesdropped, as Maxie and Sam outlined their plan. Calling the one person she knew Elizabeth would believe, she told her Aunt Bobbie what was being said.
Slipping out of sight as she heard the elevator arriving, she saw Alexis Davis walking towards the office. "Sam, don't you think you are in enough trouble, what the hell are you wearing?"
"What is wrong with this outfit." she asked looking down.
Seeing Alexis pointing at something, Maxie walked behind Sam and said "Oh my god." Taking a picture with her cell phone, she showed her friend who screamed just as Kate entered the office with Lulu carrying files.
"I see." Turning to Maxie, Kate said "I believe I told you earlier your friends were no longer welcome here. Miss McCall, please exit this office. Alexis, are you here to see me or are you looking for your daughter?"
"Sam." she said removing her coat. Tossing it at Sam, she said "We have to get you a shirt, I don't know what you were thinking."
Sam left with Alexis while Lulu looked at the t-shirt on the phone. Kate confiscated it then sent the picture to Carly, sure the woman would pass it on. At the end of the day, she gave Maxie back her phone, altered with a small piece of electronics courtesy of the woman she met for lunch.
Sam entered GH only to be greeted by a security guard. "Miss McCall, do you have an appointment today?"
"Yes." she snapped.
"Good, here is your badge, please have it on at all times." he said handing it to her. "You have a half hour after your appointment ends to exit the premises."
Jason watched the dark haired woman, he wasn't going to let her harm Elizabeth if he could help it. Slipping into a supply closet, when he saw her talking to the talkative blond he now knew as Maxie Jones, Jason found himself frustrated when he couldn't hear what they were saying.
Walking away from Sam, Maxie saw Robin by the elevator and Elizabeth heading for a nearby a supply closet, pushing her in, she locked the door thinking that this way she would be out of the way for Sam's plan to work.
Elizabeth felt the hands on her shoulders and then felt herself falling forward into the closet. "Here, I have you."
"Jason?" she said looking up in surprise. "What are you doing in here?"
"Hiding from that woman." he said annoyed.
"What woman?" she asked moving to try and open the door. "Do you have your cell phone?"
"Yes, here." he said handing it to her. Calling Jack she said "Sam and Maxie have arrived, be careful." Grateful to Bobbie for the heads up, Elizabeth wasn't taking any chances that an innocent would get hurt in Sam's fight with her.
"Where are you?" he asked while approaching Kelly Lee's office with a nurse.
"Locked in a supply closet on the Ninth floor." she said. Then looking at Jason she said "I'm not alone."
"Jason?" he whispered quietly.
"Yup. Could you arrange for us to be freed?" she asked.
Jack hung up then feeling guilty called for Robin over the new system. When she returned the page, he explained just as Sam arrived with a sly grin on her face.
Looking at her cousin, Robin debated then decided that Jason and Elizabeth locked together was a good thing. When Maxie mentioned needing to make an appointment with Kelly, she let her lead her to the office, well aware the two fiends were planning something.
Jack entered the room with Kelly and saw the patient was already in the stirrups, after going through her medical history, he ran through a routine exam then asked Kelly to give him a minute with the patient, hitting the secure camera button at the same time. "Miss McCall, I can't help you if you don't tell me the truth."
"Huh?" she asked sitting up some.
"My specialty is High risk OB/GYN surgeries. I have only seen this kind of scarring damage twice in my career, and I am certainly aware it didn't come from a bullet wound."
"You're wrong. I carried a baby to term before I was shot." she said.
"No, you didn't. I read your file, I know you had a difficult pregnancy. I also know why. Now how many pregnancies past 28 weeks?" He asked without looking up.
"Two." she mumbled.
"What about abortions?"
Sam growled and said "Three."
"One more question, rough sex?"
"Screw you." she said getting angry and forgetting the plan.
"You can answer me honestly or you can get dressed and walk out of here, right now. Either way, I am not wasting my time."
"Okay, okay. A few times."
"With what?" he asked not really wanting the answer and wincing when she told him. Are you fucking out of your mind? And you wonder why you had such a hard time carrying kids? Jack was wishing he could say the things on his mind but keeping it professional, he took a blood sample then told her to get dressed.
Getting control over the obvious disdain on his face, Jack said "I can arrange help for you. There is a specialist in Switzerland and one from China. They will be in Boston next month."
"I want you." she said now that she was dressed, moving to a chair, Sam abandoned her first plan of saying he sexually harassed her. If she could have Jason's kid, be sure she would carry to term she would forget all about poor pathetic Elizabeth Webber.
"Miss McCall, the only reason I am treating you is as a favor to Kelly Lee. I won't be your doctor. You endangered Cam and Jake, frankly I don't think you should be allowed to procreate. But that is your business, not mine. Here" he said writing down the information. "Call either of these doctors, but I won't help you."
Maxie was about to burst in, when Sam rushed out of the room. Turning around she looked at the doctor and said "You will regret saying what you just did. I am going to sue you for everything you have. You and that tramp of a baby-stealing fiancee of yours are going to end up living on the street while Jason and I get custody of what should have been rightfully mine."
Going to the computer, he pulled out the thumb drive and tossed it to her. "Go for it, here is a tape of your visit. Be sure to include the facts, and Miss McCall..."
"What?" she screeched.
"Get out of my office." he said slamming the door shut.
Robin looked at them and said "Maxie, your friends define who you are, is this what you want to be someday?"
Giving Robin a scathing look, Sam left quickly, needing to regroup. Seeing Lainey Winters, she asked Maxie to take the badge and leave. Nodding, Maxie agreed passing the security guard who heard his computer beep and signed the paperwork that Sam McCall had left.
Jason sat down, waiting for Elizabeth to join him. "I don't think he remembered to tell anyone we are here."
Looking at his phone and the dead battery, she replied, "I knew he was annoyed about an appointment he had this morning. He'll remember, in the meantime, maybe we can talk."
Seeing his hopeful expression, she said "I read the letter. You should as well."
"Maybe someday. Right now I need to get my memories back unaffected by what I wrote." he said softly. Looking at her, he said "Do you believe me now about how he felt about you."
"Yes, I am still angry at him. Oh, maybe not about the Sam stuff so much anymore, but that he seemed to see me as fragile, and being too good for him. This idea that I deserved so much better than him. I wanted Jason, warts and all." she finished sadly. "But he wanted me to be perfect."
Stunned, he felt his jaw drop. "You have that completely wrong."
With a sigh, she looked up and said "Why do you say that?"
"Elizabeth, you have flaws, Jason... he just cherished them. He was right, he wasn't good enough for you, in his mind, no man was." Moving to sit next to her, he said "I feel his emotions, they have become mine. I look at you and I see … I see perfection because of the flaws, the stubbornness, the way you won't ask for help even when you need it."
"I don't know what to think. I mean, he apologized for doing something without telling me about it. That I had a right to know, but he didn't ever want me to have to shoot someone to protect myself or the boys again." She said. "But life isn't safe, there are no guarantees."
"But we, both of us want to wrap you up in cotton, protect you from the dark side of the world." he said reaching for her hand. "Elizabeth, Jason would have literally died if something happened to the boys or you. He couldn't risk it."
"But, he would spout danger to us then be around everyone else. Sam, her sisters, Robin and Carly when they were pregnant. Everyone else but us." She said looking at him with tears in her eyes.
"Yes, but Jason knew the danger was Sam, he didn't know how or what she was doing but he was trying to prove it. I honestly don't know what happened in Mexico, but I do know a man by the name of Jerry Jacks was involved and that the things I thought had happened, didn't." He didn't want to add that he got the feeling Sam had done something to him, he couldn't bring himself to say what he believed.
Reaching out, she held his hand in both of hers. "Jason, I... I wish things were different, but I don't know what is going to happen. Your idea of our being a family, I don't know you. I never knew Jason Quartermaine. I don't know that I would love him."
"And you are happy, with Jack." he stated softly.
"Yes, Jack is great but.." she never finished speaking when she saw how close they were and she felt rather than saw Jason moving closer. The soft feel of his lips on hers felt awkward, like a first kiss with your first boyfriend.
Then he pulled back, embarrassed. "I am sorry, I don't... I mean... I don't remember... how..." the door opened up and he looked up at Epiphany and said "Thank god."
Then rushed out into the hallway he tripped over the cart she had been bringing it. "Mr. Quart--" when he got up and rushed down the hall, Epiphany looked at her stunned nurse and said "What did you do to that boy?"
"I honestly don't know." she said dazed as she left the supply closet.
TBC