AN:

So... yeah this chapter kinda got away from me. However I am thrilled that I finished it so soon. I hope you enjoy because I'm nearing the end.


Chapter Twenty-four

"Can't this wait Mac? I mean Elizabeth just woke up." Ric asked anxiously. He couldn't help but want to protect Elizabeth.

"I'm afraid not, Ric. We need to make Elizabeth's statement isn't tainted."

"At least let Dr. Meadows..."

"Ric its fine. I just want this nightmare to be over." Elizabeth said placing her hand on Ric's arm. She knew this had to be done. The sooner Mac had his statement the sooner Jason could be locked away. Elizabeth was worried he would come after them.

"Alright."

"You need to leave." Justice said from behind Mac.

"What are you doing in Elizabeth's room?" Ric immediately demanded to know.

"I'm here to make to keep you from railroading my clients." The mob lawyer stated smugly. He did not want to know how Sonny managed to pull this one off.

"I'm not leaving my wife."

Mac sighed deeply at Ric's reaction. He should have known Ric wouldn't make this easy. "Look Ric I know you don't like this, I don't either but..."

"No. I'm not leaving Elizabeth alone in here with Sonny and Jason's lawyer." Ric said firmly. He did not know if Jason or Sonny had a hand in this but Justice, being here raised so many red flags.

"That attitude right there is why you have to go."

"It's okay Ric. Mac will be right here."

"But..."

"Maybe you could bring our son back? After all I haven't seen him yet." Elizabeth said softly. She did not want Justice to have any way off discrediting her. Unfortunately that meant Ric had to leave. Beside she didn't want him to know

"You win. I love you." Ric told Elizabeth kissing her softly. He did not want to leave her but he couldn't wait until she saw their little boy.

"I love you too. Now go."

Mac waited until he knew Ric was gone before asking his first question. "Okay Elizabeth, can you tell us exactly what happened?"

"I had been shopping with Gia most of the day. After she left I went to my studio..."

"For what?" Justice interrupted to ask.

"I wanted to get some supplies so I could start on the nursery."

"What happened next?"

"Emily knocked on the door. She said she wanted to talk. So I let her in."

"And?" Mac prompted when Elizabeth seemed to hesitate.

"The next thing I remember is waking up in a locked room."

"Do you have any clue where you were?"

"No there was no window... no anything."

"So the room was bare?" Justice asked trying not to smirk. If Mrs. Lansing did not know, where she was there was a good chance she didn't know who had her either.

"Um...no... it had a bed, a few chairs and a table. There were also some folders."

"What was in the folders?"

"Things about Ric. The information started just after he was born. Then this person told me to read the files. After that he left for a while."

"Did you read the files?"

"Yeah. It was mostly about his time before he came to Port Charles. Nothing I didn't really know." Elizabeth said with a shrug. She didn't want to tell them about Ric's childhood or his work for the mob. None of that mattered now.

"Okay. After you read the files what happened?"

"Jason... he wanted me to leave town."

Justice was instantly suspicions. "Wait. How do you know it was Jason?"

Elizabeth had to admit Justice had a point she had never actually seen Jason. "I know what Jason's voice sounds like."

"What happened next Elizabeth?"

"Jason... he admitted that Emily... that she helped kidnap me. I was supposed to be a distraction. He was going to kill Ric." Elizabeth told them as she started to cry again. The realization of how close she came to losing everything was just too much.

"What about Mr. O'Brien?" Mac asked trying to figure out the last piece of the puzzle.

Elizabeth blinked in confusion. She knew Jason wouldn't allow anyone in on his plan. He admitted Emily being involved was a fluke. "Johnny? Why would you ask me about him?"

"Because he was the one who brought you to General Hospital."

"He wouldn't have helped Jason. There's just no way."

"How can you be so sure?" Mac asked gently. A lot had happened to Elizabeth in the last week he was worried it had affected her perception.

"I just am." Elizabeth said unable to explain why she was so sure.

"I think that's enough." Ric said from the doorway.

"I'm not done..." Justice began heatedly at the interruption.

"Yes you are. Now leave."

"Ric we really to get the rest of Elizabeth's statement." Mac said gently. They needed to know everything if they had any hope of convicting Jason Morgan.

"She's been through enough." Ric

"It's okay. There's not much more anyhow. Jason... he and I started fight. Then I started cramping. I... told Jason but he accused me of lying and left. Then I woke up here."

"That's everything?"

"Yeah." Elizabeth said softly. She didn't want to remember how close she came to dying, to losing her baby.

"I'll have someone type this up and bring it over for you to sign."

"I still have questions." The other man said stubbornly. He needed a way to try and prove it was Johnny O'Brien and not Jason who did this.

"That's too bad." Ric said sitting down beside Elizabeth. He could tell she was still scared.

"Justice you're only here as a curiosity. I'm through so we are leaving."

"Fine. I'll leave but I will get my questions answered."

"Mac wait. What will happen to Emily?" Elizabeth asked before the commissioner could leave.

"I think you know the answer Elizabeth."

"I know you're going to have to arrest her. I just hoped... I don't know what I hoped."

"Why are you arresting Emily?" Ric asked not understanding what was going on.

"She helped Jason kidnap me. I don't she planed to... it just happened."

"And that makes it okay?" Ric demanded to know to know. He saw Elizabeth's reaction and sighed. "I'm sorry, Sweetheart. I just I do not understand how you can protect Emily. Actually, I think I can. You have such a good heart. I just hate it."

"I'm going to go now. Congratulations."

"Thanks Mac."

"Ric did you forget our son?" Elizabeth teased anxiously. She hated that she could not remember him being born. That however did compare to seeing him, holding him for the first time.

"The pediatrician is looking him over. Audrey said she'd bring him in when the doctor is finished."

"I thought you said he was okay." She pleaded as fear took over.

"He is I promise. The doctors have to look at all the new babies." Ric said softly trying to reassure Elizabeth. He could tell she didn't quite believe him not that Ric could blame her. "Elizabeth I swear he's fine."

"I know you wouldn't lie to me about this but... I... I was so scared Ric. Jason... he... he knew I was in pain but he did not care. He said that our baby shouldn't exist."

"I'm so sorry for what you went though. If I could have taken your place I would."

Elizabeth shook head at the suggestion. "Jason would have just killed you."

Ric held Elizabeth as she started to cry again. He hated Jason Morgan even more in that moment. "Jason can't hurt either one of us anymore. He's been sitting in jail since before Johnny brought you in."

"What? Why?"

"Apparently he was in your studio when Lucky took Steven over there."

"Steven is here?" Elizabeth asked shocked but elated. She had not talked to her brother in years.

"He came back with Audrey." Ric told Elizabeth that relieved she was happy about the news. "Jason... uh... broke his nose. So Lucky arrested him."

"I'm sure that made Lucky happy." Elizabeth said with a smile. Lucky hadn't gotten along with Jason for years.

"Probably."

"Ric is Johnny in lockup too?" Elizabeth asked know the answer when she looked at Ric's face. "Ric no. You have to get him. He did not do this. He wouldn't."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because Jason wouldn't have told anyone what he was doing. Sonny probably doesn't know everything. Please Honey you have to do something. He saved our lives."

"Shh. Calm down. I'll see what I can do okay?" Ric said wrapping his arms around Elizabeth. He hated to see her so upset. Ric knew he would everything in his power to get Johnny released.

"Okay."

"Somebody wants to see his parents." Audrey said rolling in a bassinet.