Chapter 10: A Plan in Motion

Steven walked to the kitchen thinking about his next move. He had to do something soon or their plans were going to backfire. After seeing Elizabeth with the motorcycle boy last night he had to move up a step ahead and find everything he could about his sister's involvement with the man that had brought her home. He stopped short from the swinging door that divided the kitchen from the dinning room, when he heard Elizabeth's voice.

"He's coming for me today, after school." Elizabeth's voice trailed out of the room to Steven's ears.

"Remember you have the final session with the support group today."

"How could I forget? They've helped me a lot, even if I didn't acknowledge it before."

"I'm so proud of you Elizabeth. You've deal with this situation very maturely."

"I had a lot of help. You and Manuel had being my family for two years. Meeting Jason has being a blessing. He's done so many things for me that I can't even start to name. I don't know what I would have done without him."

"We owe him a lot. If he hadn't found you that night..."

"But he did, Grace. Let's not go there, please."

"I'm sorry." The older woman stood from her place at the table and retrieved Elizabeth's empty plate.

Elizabeth stood up and wrapped her arms around the older woman's shoulders. "Don't be, I know what you mean. I love you Grace."

"I love you too child. Now go grab your books or you'll be late."

"When is this torture going to be over?"

"Just two more weeks and it will be over."

"Amen to that!" Elizabeth drank the rest of her orange juice. "I'll go brush my teeth. Tell Manuel I'll be down there in a minute." She walked to the door and stopped when Grace spoke again.

"Be careful today. I can believe you enjoy riding on that machine. I'm going to have to have a talk with Mr. Morgan about that."

"Don't worry about it, Grace. Ridding on the back of a motorcycle is like flying without wings. You feel free and alive." Elizabeth's eyes drifted shot and a smile appeared on her face as she remembered her bike rides with Jason Morgan.

"Earth to Elizabeth."

"What?" She shook the memories away and stared at the older woman.

"Get a move on or you'll be closed up in detention all afternoon instead of feeling the wind in Jason's bike."

"See you later." Elizabeth said with a big smile on her lips. With that she ran out of the room.

Steven was standing behind the door, but Elizabeth didn't notice him as she ran past him and up the stairs. Jason Morgan, Steven thought. Today might not work out as Elizabeth planned it would after all. He'll have to make a few phone calls and arrange a few things for his little sister. It was about time he and the little brat have some alone time.

Elizabeth couldn't contain herself any longer. The anticipation of seeing Jason and going on a ride with him was driving her nuts. She spent all day daydreaming about the wind rushing pass her and that feeling on the pit of her stomach every time she rode on the bike. When the last bell rang, Elizabeth ran out of the classroom and through the gardens of the school and straight to the gates. With a big smile on her face she made her way to the street. She heard her name being called and turned, but Jason wasn't there. Instead of finding his Harley and leather jacket, she found a red Mercedes and a pair of kaki pants and oxford shirt.

Her smile disappeared and a confuse stare appeared on her face. "What are you doing here?"

"Surprise."

"Answer my question, Steven."

"I had the day off and I wanted to take you to a late lunch. We haven't really spent time together and I thought it would be nice."

"Well you thought wrong. I have plans." Elizabeth turned and started looking around for Jason but she didn't see him anywhere.

Steven put his hands on her shoulder. "Elizabeth."

She shrugged his hand off and took a step away. She kept her gaze on the people on the streets and the cars picking girls up. Steven held back his desire to slap her silly and make her look at him and tried again. "Elizabeth, he's not coming."

If something was to get her attention that was it. She turned and faced her brother. "What?"

"Your friend isn't coming. He left a message at the house. Something more important came up and he won't make it in time."

His choice of words made her flinch. Something more important came up... Jason wouldn't leave a message with Steven of all people. She had a bad feeling about this. "You talked to Jason?"

"No, Grace did."

"I don't believe you."

He took his cell phone out. "Do you want to call her and talk to her yourself?"

"Yes."

"Go ahead."

Elizabeth took the phone and moved from Steven's earshot. The older man looked around and was almost praying for his plan to work. If this Jason Morgan guy showed up his whole plan will collapse. Elizabeth's voice brought his attention back.

"No one answered."

"Well I guess you'll have to believe me then. Come on Lizzie, I'm making and effort here. Come with me."

Elizabeth eyed him suspiciously and looked around again. She had no other choice. If Jason wasn't coming for her she had no other way of getting to the hospital. She looked back at Steven and nodded. "Let's go."

Jason cursed again. Was there a world rule book on police conduct? He laughed at himself, probably. He's had the displeasure of meeting cops from about 10 countries and they all acted the same way, like snobby- know it all- I have the power in my hands- jerks. He shook his head and looked back at the police officer who was in the middle of verifying his license for the fifth time. Jason was considering on ridding from the cop, when the tall and thin man made his way to him once again.

"Well? Am I free to go or are you going to take me in?"

"Señor Morgan, I don't appreciate your actitud." The older man said in a thick Spanish accent.

"I don't I appreciate being pulled over and waste 20 minutes of my life for nothing so I guess we're even."

"You should be more careful next time. This is a verry, how you say, ah yes, dangerous road."

"Can I go now?" Jason was exasperated. He was running late and now he'll have to break every transit law in the country to get to Elizabeth.

"Yes. Have a nice day Señor Morgan." The older man nodded and took a step back from Jason's bike.

Jason turned on the bike and looked back at the cop. "Are you going to give me back my license or what?"

"Ah, sí. Sorry, I just forget." He was going to give Jason his license and it fell to the floor. "Oops. Let me get that."

Jason was loosing his control, if the clown kept stalling him he'll have to beat the crap out of him. The policeman picked up the license and gave Jason an apologetic smile. Jason took the card out of the man's hand and put it on his back pocket.

"Drive safe."

Jason didn't respond he just drove off without looking back. The policeman walked to his car and smiled.

She was sitting inside a fancy restaurant and felt completely out of place, she didn't fit in this place at all. She'd preferred to have some fast food over a shrimp cocktail and sirloin steak any day. Steven had excused himself after his cell phone rang a few minutes before, and Elizabeth welcomed the space. He'd being hovering over her all afternoon. He was trying too hard and she just couldn't let herself believe his intentions were good. There was something about him that she just didn't like and that made her feel awful. Why couldn't she just accept that her brother wanted to know her and reconnect? Because it was too good to be true, that's why. She kept playing with her food until Steven made his way to the table.

"So, how's the food? Do you like it? A friend at work recommended this place highly. The chef is like contemporary or something and he uses local products and mixes local and international cuisine."

"It's good."

"I knew you'll like it. When we finish, I want to take you to Old San Juan. I haven't being since I came home. You'll love all the galleries and museums, there's a lot of historic buildings and small plazas that will inspire any artist."

"I know."

"Oh, so you've been there. It's beautiful isn't it? Did you go with your friends from school?"

"Not exactly."

"Did you go with that Jason guy? Is he your boyfriend or something?"

Elizabeth choked on a shrimp at his question. Jason, her boyfriend? Yeah and she'd just died and gone to heaven. Whoa Elizabeth where did that came from?

"Are you okay?" Steven had seen her turn every shade of red imaginable at his question.

"Yeah, I just didn't chew well that little sucker." She dropped her napkin and took a long gulp of water. "I'm okay."

Steven was silent for a moment and she thanked God he had forgotten his questions. But that was not the case at all.

"Are you going to answer my question? Are you and Jason Morgan together?"

"No. Why would you ask that?" Her answer was fast, a little too fast.

"Is just that I saw you with him last night and you obviously had plans with him today. I was just curious, that's all."

"Jason and I are just friends, really good friends. He helped me during a difficult time. Plus he's the ex of my best friend."

"Best friend? Who is she? I haven't seen anyone around the house. Is she a classmate?"

"Robin lives in Paris. She's in college."

"So is a pen pal kind of friendship." "You could say that. Look Steven thanks for the late lunch and everything but I have to go. I have an appointment at four o'clock."

"Okay. I'll just go pay the check. Elizabeth, I'm glad we did this."

She looked at him, who was smiling at her, and felt bad for not believing a word he said. "Me too, Steven."

It was almost four o'clock when Jason walked in the office. Marcos and Francis where working on some new leads and where both surprised to see him there.

"Jason? What are you doing here?"

"I work here."

"You said you had plans. What happened?" Francis was standing besides Jason.

"I got pulled over by a cop. He stalled me for almost half an hour. When I got to the school, Elizabeth was gone."

"What do you mean gone?" Marcos was genuinely worried.

"She wasn't there. One of the nuns said that a young man had come for her."

"You don't think Tony..."

"Don't even finish that thought. My guess is that it was her brother."

"So she has a family. I thought you said she was abandoned by her filthy rich family."

"Her brother came home after they got the news of her attack. She's been uneasy about him; we talked about it last night. I'm worried. It's not like her to just leave without leaving me a message or something."

"She has her group session today, right."

"Yes."

"I'll call Barbara and ask her to drop by to see if Elizabeth made it."

"You think she'll do it?"

"After what happened yesterday, she wanted to talk to Elizabeth anyway."

Elizabeth walked inside the room and took a sit on her usual place. The meeting was almost over before she gathered enough courage to speak. She had been going to the group session for four weeks and it had helped her deeply to listen to what all of these women had to say, but she never dared to speak until now. For some reason she felt strong and in control of her life. She now knew that what happened to her wasn't her fault and that she wasn't about to start leaving in fear.

After the meeting was over there was a small gathering, where all of the women came to Elizabeth and gave her their support and comforting words. Dr. Gónzalez was very proud of Elizabeth's quick recovery and turn around. And she made sure to let her know. When Elizabeth was about to leave, Barbara Díaz walked in the room.

"Elizabeth. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. You?"

"Good. Do you have a minute?"

"Of course."

They walked to a corner and made sure that no one was looking or eavesdropping.

"I wanted to know if you were okay with what happened yesterday."

"Oh, that! Yes, Jason explained about it afterwards. I was just more embarrassed than anything else."

"It's just that Johnny and Francis can be a little overwhelming. You know their brooding good looks and charm." The sarcastic tone wasn't lost on Elizabeth.

"Everything is okay, really."

"Good. But I just wanted to make sure you understand that Jason's life is a bit different and that things like that may happen every now and then."

"I know that Jason's life has its particulars. But I think I can deal with it just fine."

"I'm sure you can. But believe me honey there are things that you want to stay clear off."

Elizabeth eyed the older woman and realized that she knew. After making sure that no one was near them, Elizabeth took a chance. "Like the mob part of his business?"

Barbara's eyes widen. "Did he tell you about that?"

"Not really. But he was about to ask me to stay away from him and scare me of with how dangerous it can be around him. I've seen his gun and the guys outside of his office didn't look like bartenders."

"Okay so you know what they do, what do you think about it?"

"I don't commend violence, but I got to know Jason before I knew about his job description. I know he's a good person, caring and loyal. I want him in my life and I want to be in his. So I just won't think about it at all unless he gets hurts."

"You really care about him."

"He has helped me when he didn't have too and he listened to me when no one else had. Yeah I care about him."

"He cares about you too. I'm glad you guys are friends he needs someone like you around."

"What do you mean like me?"

"Some one that makes him happy and that doesn't judge him and that supports him."

"Well I'll be glad to take that job, if he takes me on bike rides."

"You like that thing?" Barbara was surprise at the girl's request.

"I love it." Elizabeth's eyes sparkled and she smiled.

"God help me. You two are more alike than what I thought." Both of them laughed.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews for the last chapters. Please leave feedback, it helps with the muse.