Chapter Eighteen

He ran like the hounds of hell were chasing him, he jumped into his car as he approached it, and sped off, this had not gone how he had planned, it was suppose to be simple, yet it turned out nothing like he had thought.

He waited till he was more than five blocks away before he yanked the mask off that he had been wearing. He needed to get rid of it, it would not due for him to become a suspect.

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Johnny knelt over Elizabeth, speaking nonsensical words, just trying to remind her she had so much to hold on for. He could hear the ambulance in the distance, he knew he had to call Jason, but he didn't know how to tell him, that he had failed in his duties of protecting his soon to be wife.

A few minutes later the ambulance arrived, the paramedics raced to the rear of the building, a gurney pushed between them. Johnny stepped back to allow them to begin their work, but he heard the shocked gasps that echoed in the still afternoon. Perhaps unwittingly the shorter of the two paramedics spoke under his breath, "Who could do this to an angel."

The same thing had been running through Johnny's mind, and the ever more persistent thought, "This is my entire fault."

The paramedic's as gently as possible placed Elizabeth's prone form on the stretcher. Gently placing a light blanket over her before they raced back to the ambulance, Johnny jumped in the back, the paramedics looked like they were going to protest, but decided against that quickly.

Sitting in the ambulance as it raced towards General Hospital, Johnny played over and over again what he was going to tell Jason, there was no excuse, this was his fault.

Biting the bullet so to speak, he pulled his phone out again, pressing number 2 for speed dial. A lump suddenly lodging itself in his throat, "Jase-Jason, it's me Johnny." He got no further though.

"Johnny, what's happened, why can I hear an ambulance?" Jason asked, his heart all of a sudden in his throat, something was wrong.

"Jason, you need to get to GH, fast." Johnny said, ending the call and shutting his phone off, the paramedics had been glaring at him the whole time.

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Jason looked towards where Isabella was playing with the boys, his heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest. He felt his knees beginning to unhinge so he quickly leaned against the couch. Finally getting himself under some semblance of control, he took a couple of deep breaths before he spoke. "Isabella, I need to go out for a few, I will be back later, okay?"

"Not a problem, I'll get the boys supper in a bit, so take your time." Isabella replied, until she realized she was speaking to an empty room, "wow" she thought to her self, "He moves quickly."

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Jason raced to the hospital, his entire world held in the balance of what he fear he would see. He didn't know exactly what had happened, but he could feel that everything could possibly change from this moment on.

He pulled up to the hospital but had to take a few moments to gather enough courage to enter.

He could see Elizabeth in the emergency room, but it took his eyes time to adjust to the sight of her. He had never seen her like this, he had prayed he never would.

Monica stopped him before he could rush to her side. "Jason, please wait."

"Mom, I need to see her." Jason replied, he could form no other words.

Monica tried to stop him, but saw the fruitlessness of her efforts, her son needed to see the woman he loved and while she knew that they way Elizabeth looked right now, would forever be ingrained on his mind, she knew it was something he had to do. No matter how much she wanted to protect him from this, her son was in for a very hard time, she just hoped he would allow her to help.

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Jason slowly approached Elizabeth, all of a sudden his feet felt like they were made of concrete. He could see Johnny sitting beside her, his head in his hands.

"Johnny, I need to be alone with Liz for a few, then you can tell me what happened." Jason said, his voice hoarse with unshed tears.

"Sure man, not a problem." Johnny said, unable to meet the other man's eyes.

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Jason took the seat that Johnny had vacated, still unable to look directly at his hearts mate. Slowly he lifted his eyes, the tears he had been holding back finally spilled in a torrent.

Her beautiful face was bruised and battered, her arms looked almost as bad, large handprints marred her flesh, you could see almost every detail. Each finger and the size of the palm, it hurt his heart to see her flesh like that. Her left eyes was swollen shut and her nose looked like it was broke. It caused him physical pain to look upon her like this, because he had never seen her or anyone look like that. He catalogued each blemish and bruise, each scratch and gouge, marking them in his memory, when he found the animal who inflicted this pain upon her, that monster would wish he had never been born, because it was obvious it was a male who had done this.

He held firmly to one hand while with the opposite hand he gently traced her face, careful not to apply any pressure. when he paused briefly on her cheek, he could feel the looseness beneath her skin, it was enough to finally tear all rational thought from his mind, he lowered his head to the side of the bed, letting his tears once again escape their confinement. His body racked by seemingly unending sobs, his hand unable to let hers go, he felt like he would lose her if he let her hand go.

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He finally pulled up to his place of residence, as he walked up the stairs to the front door, he suddenly couldn't recall what had transpired earlier in the day. He knew something was wrong, there was blood on his shirt and more on his jeans, but it was his right hand that was covered with the most, it had dried somewhat, turning a deep maroon. But the question that began to repeat in his head, was very simple, "Who's blood is it?"

He didn't waste anytime reflecting about those thoughts now, he knew he had to get inside and get cleaned up, should someone see him like this, suspicions would be begin and he didn't need that.

He shut the door behind himself and locked it, quickly moving towards the bathroom, he felt sick to his stomach, but once again didn't know why.

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"Ja-Jason?" Elizabeth whispered, unable to say any more than that, her face was a map work of pain.

"Elizabeth!" Jason exclaimed, unable to control the sweeping relief at hearing her voice. "Don't try to talk, for once listen to what I say, please. You don't need to hurt yourself more."

He had a point, just the effort it took to say his name, hurt her more than she wanted to admit. But she couldn't get something out of her mind, "How can we go to court tomorrow, I look like I have been beaten up by Sugar Ray Leonard." But her stubbornness shone through once again, as she slowly tried to speak. "Jase, who di-did this?"

Giving her a warning glare while his heart tried to shatter into a million pieces he said, "I don't know love, but I will find him, I promise you that." Jason leaned over placing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "But this wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for Johnny, I don't think I can trust him around you or the kids again, he is going to have to be dealt with."

Elizabeth tried to shake her head in negation, but instantly regretted it, the room swam out of focus and the dark abyss of unconsciousness tried to overtake her again, but this time, little by little it retreated. Once again going against his wishes she said with much effort, "My fault, not his, please, love you." Her eyes slipped closed, the exertion was just to much for her damaged body.