Chapter Nineteen
Lucky and Sam stayed out later than they had planned, the day before had been fun and less awkward than either would have thought, so going out again seemed like a good idea, it wasn't even hard to pretend that they were having fun, it seemed like the more time they spent together, the more they liked one another.
Sam had worked earlier that day, there was something about Amelia that seemed vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place what that something was. It also struck a cord in Sam that Amelia was getting moodier the closer the air date came. She had praised Sam for her great work and everything the day of the first taping, but it now seemed like everything she did, wasn't good enough.
Lucky had been out looking for a job, but supposedly there was nothing to be found anywhere. He even tried to suck up to Mike at Kelly's diner, but that turned out to be fruitless too, seems like Sonny and Jason were blackballing him at every turn.
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Jason could bear to leave Liz, so he had Johnny call Sonny. People needed to be told about what happened to Liz, at least the people they cared about. He really didn't want to leave anything in Johnny's hands, he was still furious, but that could wait till another time. Right now, Liz's need's needed to come first.
Sonny called Audrey, explaining as much as he could about Liz's condition, but before he even really had a chance to get into it, she said, "Don't ever call me again, if it wasn't for you hoodlums, this would not be happening, she would be safe." With that said, Audrey slammed the receiver down, ending the connection.
Sonny looked at the phone in his hand, as if he had never seen something like it, to say he was shocked by the vehemence in Audrey's voice was an understatement. Finally cluing into the annoyance of the constant beeping, Sonny hung the phone up, there were other people to call, ones who would want to see Liz.
He had always had a soft spot for Elizabeth, but it wasn't until recently that he truly understood her. She was a lot like Carly, even if she was loathe to admit it. They both fought for what they believed in and whom they believed in, they also fought for love, even when it sometimes didn't deserve to be fought for.
After the rape, Sonny had thought that she would become a wall flower and slowly wilt away, but the little vixen had surprised him, she had surged forward, and while there were times when the brittle façade tried to slip, she managed very well.
She also did a commendable job of standing strong beside Lucky through his addiction, even though at every turn, he spit in the face of their love to go back to the pills and Maxie. That alone baffled him, why would anyone choose Maxie over Elizabeth, it was like comparing lobster to cockroaches.
Sonny's next phone call was placed to Carly, as soon as she heard the news, both her and Jax were on their way to the hospital, she had come to respect Liz more and more over the weeks.
Sonny also called Nikolas and Emily, it was still a little odd talking to Emily after everything they had been through, but she still had the ability to affect him, although no one knew this but him, it was something he planned on taking to the grave, his relationship with Emily had almost destroyed his friendship with Jason, and that in and of itself, he could not handle, they were to good as a team.
When the calls were done, Sonny sat back on his couch, he would go to the hospital in a bit, but right now, he needed to think about Johnny and the mistake he had made. It was one thing to let your guard down, but it was entirely a different thing when he didn't follow simple orders. He had always respected the man, but he didn't know if he would ever be able to forgive him for his actions, or trust him with his or Jason's life or that of his family or Jason's any longer.
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He had gotten home an hour ago, things were floating in his mind, he couldn't understand them, until the other day all of a sudden came back at him, with the force of a Mack truck.
It brought him to his knee's, the image of the woman on the ground, him repeatedly kicking her and the way the sun kept bouncing off the ring on his right hand. The memories had a sick clarity to them that caused his stomach to revolt, he retched for minutes at a time, first heaving anything that was on his stomach and then dry heaving. He couldn't get the feeling of her nose breaking as he slammed his fist into her face, or the way her cheek had given in, like a bruise on an bad apple.
The images plagued his mind, drawing from him a despair that was bottomless, he had never done something like this, yet for some reason he had. Then another image came to him, a bull of a man tossing him like he weighted no more than a feather, rushing to her side. He was lucky he had been given a chance to escape, because he understood on a primal level that his life was forfeit, if they ever discovered that he was behind the woman's attack, he would not be granted a stay of execution, because he would never see the inside of a courtroom. His judge and jury and executioner, would be Sonny and Jason, on that he had no doubt.
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Jason had momentarily dosed off, his brief sleep plagued by horrific nightmares, images blending, ideas waxing and waning. No sooner did one begin than the next was ready to take its place.
"Jason, I need to speak to you?" Monica said quietly, trying to rouse her son.
"Mo-Mom, what is it, is Liz okay?" Jason asked, panic worming its way into his voice.
"Well, yes and no, there have been no changes in her condition but I wanted to warn you that when the swelling comes down, we are going to need to do some reconstructive surgery, her cheek has had many bones broken, that is obvious. However, as far as we can tell, there is no internal damage and it also looks like she hasn't suffered a concussion, so that is good news, but with the pain medication she is going to be taking along with all the pills to fight infection and anti-inflammatory pills, she will not be able to breastfeed Alan. I know that isn't a big deal, but it very well may be to her." Monica said, hating each word she spoke, because she could see the pain it was inflicting upon Jason.
"You know, this is not your fault, the man who did this, is a sick twisted SOB. Don't you go looking for guilt, life gives us enough already, take responsibility when it is deserved, otherwise let the rest go." Like they say, "No man's an island."
Jason took in the advice, but could not process it at this time, there were just to many things going on. The custody case for Cameron was tomorrow and even if Liz could remain coherent throughout the case, she could not show up to court in her condition. Then there was the kids to deal with, Jason loved them dearly, but he also understood that they needed their mother, so he would need to find out if Isabella could stay with the boys till this matter had been dealt with or if he needed to find someone else, he couldn't leave Elizabeth, she needed him, but more so, he needed her.
"Thanks mom, right now I just need to concentrate on Elizabeth and getting her well. Can you sit with her for a few, I need to call Sonny, we were suppose to appear in court tomorrow, but that obviously can't happen." Jason said to his mother, an inner war battling, fear, anger, love, devotion and longing. All he wanted to do was to take her pain away, give her a reprieve from the unbearable pain.
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"Sonny, I need you to get a hold of Diane, we need a continuance, Elizabeth can't do this right now." Jason said, trying to keep his emotions under control, or some semblance at the very least.
"I understand Jason, I will do all I can. I do have to warn you though, if Lucky gets a good enough attorney, this continuance may be just the thing for him to gain temporary custody." Sonny replied, feeling for his friend, he couldn't imagine what he was going through.
"There is no way I am letting that pill popping maniac near my sons. I don't care what the courts say, I am Cameron's father, we have already got the papers drawn up, we are just waiting for the custody hearing to file them. Please help me stop him from taking our son." Jason pleaded.
"I will do everything in my power to help, you know that. Just hope for the best and prepare for the worst." Sonny said.
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Carly and Jax were the first to arrive, when Sonny had called he had said that Liz was still in emergency, so when they arrived and she wasn't, both Carly and Jax took that to be a good sign. The were directed to room 210.
Jason was once again holding vigil over Liz, he looked like he was rooted beside her bed. At the same time, they looked at the small form beneath on the bed. Carly's shocked gasp tore Jason from his thoughts.
He had always loved Carly as a friend, and not once the entire time they knew one another, had Carly ever shown much for Liz, yes they were getting closer, but there was still a long way to go, much had been said over the last seven years, Nevertheless at that moment, Carly burst into tears, rushing to the opposite side of the bed, Jax close behind.
He looked dumbfounded at what his eyes were trying to show him, this could not be the woman who not that long ago, carried his child. When the child was lost, Jax never forgot the generosity of this woman and not once did he blame her for what happened.
Carly gripped Liz's hand for all she was worth. Something inside of her broke when her eyes finally registered just how bad it was. She chided her stupidity for thinking just because she was out of the ER, that she was going to be okay. She too took stock of all Liz's injuries, she almost wished that she could feel indifference to Liz's plight, but Elizabeth's condition struck a cord deep within herself, resonating, demanding that she listen. She understood something finally, somewhere a long the way, she had grown fond of her, so it was even more so a atrocity that someone had done this.
"Carly, loosen up your grip, she had enough bruises already, no need adding another one." Jason said, trying horribly at lightening the somber mood. But comedy was not his forte, nevertheless, Carly's had loosened.
"I'm so sorry Jason, I didn't mean to hurt her." Carly said as fresh tears traced an invisible trail down her cheeks.
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