A/N: Thank you so much for all the reviews! I enjoy reading all of your comments and ideas! I always thought that GH missed out on not doing a story b/w Liz and Johnny. They both have incredible chemistry with just about anyone they are paired with. After Liason ended, they were the couple that I kept waiting for, unless they could redeem Jason. (I so miss Liason) I personally think Johnny and Liz would've rock!

I miss Georgie and I am trying to think of someone to pair her with that could work well with the story. If any ideas let me know please. I always love reading the stories where Liz and Georgie share a friendship too. I would like to incorporate that bond in this story.

Enjoy and please review!

Chapter Five

Jake's was crowded when they entered. The place was packed with dock workers and hospital staff alike. Johnny noticed that several of her coworkers stopped and looked at them in shock. Taking her smaller hand in his, he led her up to the bar to get their drinks, observing that the pool table was in use.

"Hey, Coleman."

The scruffy owner looked over and his eyes took in the couple standing before him. "Well, well, long time no see, Elizabeth. How is my favorite nurse?"

Elizabeth flashed her baby blues and winked at the man. "Aww, you know I've missed your usual brand of charm."

Coleman shook his head, eyes twinkling. "You want your usual tequila shots, Elizabeth? Beer for you, Johnny?" he asked them.

Johnny nodded. "Yeah, but just give us the whole bottle of tequila. That way you don't have to run to our table so much."

"You got it. Go ahead and find a booth and I will bring everything out."

They settled into a booth in the back and he watched as her eyes made a quick trip around the room before landing back on his face. "You really didn't need to get a whole bottle. I haven't drank for awhile."

"It's fine. I can afford the bottle." He paused as Coleman placed the two beers, salt, limes, and two shot glasses along with the bottle of tequila on the table. "Thank, Coleman." Pouring them a couple of shots, he grinned. "Here you go."

Elizabeth accepted the glass and wet her hand. He watched as she licked the salt and the slammed the shot down fast without blinking. After sucking on the fruit, she met his eyes and laughed at the look on his face. "Best way to drink it."

"I think I will pass, thanks though."

Another round quickly went down like the first. Looking over at him, she grabbed his hand and tugged it toward her. "Come on, Johnny, live a little."

"There is no way that I am licking my hand," he protested, enjoying the flush that the alcohol added to her porcelain complexion. Moving her hand over with his, he wet it with the liqueur and poured salt on it. Watching her as he raised her hand to his mouth he saw her eyes widen and then close as his tongue made contact with delicate skin. Releasing her slowly, he groaned and downed the shot glasses content. "You were definitely right, Elizabeth, it was better that way."

Turning red and her heart racing, she only managed a small cough. "Um, I am usually right about these things."

Delighted with this side of her, Johnny only laughed and took a swig of his beer, trying to contain the desire that had flared at the taste of her skin. Feeling someone watching him, he turned and met the unwavering gaze of Jason. Seeing that he was with Sam, Maxie, and Spinelli, he tipped his head in acknowledgment before giving his full attention back to the beautiful woman sitting across from him.

Elizabeth studied Johnny discreetly as they talked and drank. His teasing and flirting was causing her to react in like, which did not shock her at all. With his lean muscular body, dark hair and eyes, and killer smile, he was sexy as hell. The added surprise was the caring and compassion that she had witnessed the past two days. The spark that was developing between them scared her a bit. She had promised herself to never go down this road with anyone connected to the mob again, but he was smoothly making his way past her defenses.

"What made you decide to go into nursing?" he asked, catching her off guard.

Finishing off her beer, she waved her hand. "Being a struggling artist wouldn't take of care Cam. It barely took care of me. When I got pregnant, I knew it was time to change careers. Since I am a Hardy/Webber, medicine was the obvious choice. Although I did rebel and refuse to go premed like my parents and siblings. What about you? I know that you are stuck in the family business, but what would you do if you could?"

Chuckling over the way she phrased being in the mob, he ran his fingers over her hand lightly and felt her shiver in response. "Well, I love composing and playing music. Piano is my favorite instrument to play."

"You said you have one at your place. Do you play often?"

"Every chance I get," he admitted. "Playing helps me relax."

Hearing her name, Elizabeth turned her head and didn't bother hiding her annoyance. "Hi, Sam, Maxie."

"What are you doing here?"

Arching an eyebrow at Maxie, she lifted her shot glass. "Well, it is a bar and I am drinking, so I would assume that I am having a good time. Or at least I was until you two wandered over to be nosy. What do you want?"

Johnny spit beer on the table after listening to her while taking a drink. Amused at the look that she flashed at him, he laughed, causing the two women to glare at him. "Did you ladies need something?"

"No, we just came over to say hi," Sam answered while looking between the two of them.

Elizabeth snorted but didn't reply, causing him to smirk again. "Well, thank you, but we are getting ready to head out. Have a good night," he offered.

Watching them head back to their table, she shook her head in disgust. "They drive me crazy," she muttered. When eyes connected with Jason's at the other table, she paused before turning back to Johnny.

Standing, he offered her his hand and helped her up. Once on her feet, Elizabeth wobbled and swayed a bit. Johnny looked back at the table and noticed that tequila bottle was over half empty and he had only had three to four shots. Wrapping his arm around her tiny waist, he pulled her close to help her balance as they walked up to the bar. He was impressed at how well she handled her liqueur. The only clue that she was intoxicated was her less than steady gate.

Coleman shook his head as he took the credit card from Johnny. "Lizzie, I think that you drank more than on you do on your girls nights out."

Laughing, she nodded. "A little too much, I think. But hey, I am standing and talking."

"Did you need a cab?" he asked Johnny.

"Nope. I mostly drank beer. I will be fine, I didn't have nearly as much as she did." Taking his card back, he placed it in his wallet and looked over at Elizabeth. "You ready to get out of here?"

She started to nod and stopped as the room spun. Giggling, she leaned against his side as he pulled her close again. "Yep. I think that I need some food."

Kissing the top of her head without thinking, he smiled down at her. "I will cook you whatever you want. Let's go."

Jason watched them, unhappy with what he had been witnessing throughout the evening. As he had sat at his table, he had saw Elizabeth and Johnny flirting and laughing. Watching him lick Elizabeth's hand had almost sent him out of chair. Then seeing her snug against him with his arms holding her securely against his side as they left had added to his ire. He knew that it made no sense to be upset, that he had walked away to keep her and his son safe from the dangers that came from being connected to the business. Now it looked like she was heading into a relationship with the heir from a rival family. He wanted Elizabeth to be happy, but only wished that it was not with Johnny Zacchara.

"Jason, are you ok?"

He turned and met Sam's worried eyes. He smiled reassuringly at her before tipping his beer and emptying the bottle. "I'm good. Just thinking about getting out of here for the night. Are you ready?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~b~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once they were in his car, Johnny turned and looked at Elizabeth. Her dark chocolate tresses were falling in waves around her slender face and her eyes were bright from the alcohol. He had to admit that she was breathtakingly beautiful.

"Are you going to feed me?" she asked, looking over and catching him watching her.

"I sure am." He started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. "Do you want to go to a restaurant or do you want me to cook for you?"

"Can you cook?" she questioned.

He laughed. "I am a single man that lives alone, of course I can cook."

"Then I guess I will brave your cooking."

When he pulled into his parking spot at the garage of his building, he got out and went over to her side of the car and touched her arm. "Hey, sleepyhead, lets get you up to the penthouse."

"Am I home?" she asked sleepily, leaning on him as he helped her out.

Thinking back to the half a bottle of tequila and several bottles of beer that she had drank, he cursed himself, especially considering her slight build. When she could barely stand, Johnny lifted her easily into his arms and headed toward the elevator. Worried about her, he knew that he should have not let her drink as much as she had.

Tensing as her lips brushed over his neck when she turned her head in her sleep, Johnny groaned as his body instantly reacted. Exiting the elevator onto his floor, he nodded at Tony as he opened the door. Seeing Jagger sitting on his couch, he raised an eyebrow at him.

"We need to talk, now. It is important," Jagger told him quietly, looking at him as Johnny cradled the passed out brunette.

"Fine. Let me get her upstairs. I will right back."

In his room Johnny placed her on his bed and removed her shoes. He debated on sliding her jeans off so that should be more comfortable but decided against it. He didn't want her to think that anything had happened while she was passed out. Pressing a light kiss against her lips, he covered her with the comforter before turning off the lights.

Once he was back downstairs he motioned to Jagger.

"Your father's guard contacted me after you turned off your phone. Alex heard him asking one of the men still loyal to him to get all the information on Elizabeth and you that he could gather. He also ordered a tail on her."

"Dammit! That means that he will know that she is here."

"Again. He already knows that you have spent the last couple nights with her. He thought it was all about Baker, but after you took her out, that won't fly."

Johnny sat on the couch and rested his elbows on knees. Holding his head in his hands, he sighed heavily. "I placed her in more danger. I should have stayed away."

"Then Tom Baker would have had her," Jagger scoffed. "I caught him at her house and the security there sucked. You protected her, Johnny. She knows it and so do I. Now you need to talk to her about the danger your father poses. She had to know that being around you would attract Anthony's attention."

"I wanted her to have the option of being connected to me, Jagger. Now she will be at risk no matter what. Even if she walked away tomorrow, my father is going to be a problem."

"She made the choice to be a part of this life several years ago. She was friends with Morgan for years. They have a child together. Granted they hid the paternity, but no secret stays hidden if someone is digging. We found it easily. Talk to her, Johnny. Be straight forward. There is no time. Tell her. I don't think that you are alone in your feelings, but you might have to have patience. Elizabeth has had a rough couple years and you have only been around on the edges of her life that she is aware of. How fast it is moving for her might freak her out."

"I will talk to her tomorrow after she sleeps off that tequila."

Jagger frowned. "Why did you let her get so plastered?"

"I didn't. I never realized how much she was drinking and she was fine until she stood up to leave. Once I got her in the car, the movement seemed to lull her to sleep." Grimacing, he looked toward the steps. "She drank over half a bottle of tequila."

Jagger whistled. "You need to watch her tonight and make sure that she is ok." He stood from the chair. "I need some sleep. I have to go get a hotel room until I find a place to rent."

Stopping him, Johnny shook his head. "I already told you earlier that you could stay here until you found a place. My couch is comfortable and it will save you the hassle of dealing with a lot of people."

"I figured that you would be on the couch tonight. Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Johnny sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I am going to sleep in my room in case she needs anything in the middle of the night. I'm concerned with all she drank."

"You are a glutton for punishment, my friend."

Johnny flipped his middle finger at his friend while heading toward the stairs. "There are linens and pillows in the hall closet. See ya in the morning."

Back in his room Johnny eyed the woman that was snuggled into one of his pillows. Frustrated at his body's reaction to seeing her in his bed, he grimaced as he headed into the bathroom to change into a pair of sweats. Joining her on the king sized bed, he vowed to stay on his side and not to touch her. There was no way that he wanted her to think that he had taken advantage of her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~b~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elizabeth awakened slowly, feeling secure and safe, wrapped in a delicious warmth. Her head spun slightly as she cracked an eye and came face to face with a sleeping Johnny. The fog began to lift as she noticed that she was snug in his embrace, facing him, with one of her legs hitched over his. Blushing furiously as she gasped in a breath, she saw him blink and his eyes open slowly.

Taking in her surprise and confusion, Johnny snapped awake. Bringing his hand up and brushing a lock of hair away from her eyes, he hesitantly asked how she was feeling.

Clearing her throat, she started to untangle herself from him when Johnny only tightened his hold. Jerking her startled gaze to his, she blushed again as she met his eyes. "Um, I feel alright."

Running his fingers lightly over her back, Johnny's eyes flashed when shivered. Bringing his lips close to her ear, he whispered, "You look amazing even just waking up."

Unable to help herself, Elizabeth ran her hands through his thick hair, her gaze never leaving his intense one. Catching her breath when he kissed her neck she mewed softly and arched against him.

Johnny groaned and flipped her onto her back and eased himself over her, trailing kisses along her collarbone while his hands lightly explored her body. "Oh, God, Elizabeth," he breathed against her ear.

The loud knock on the door had Johnny cursing vehemently as he rolled away from her dazed form. Jerking the bedroom door open hr growled at Jagger. "This better be good."

Jagger winced, understanding exactly what had been happening. "Sorry, but your father is demanding to see you. He is downstairs."

"Shit! I will be down in a couple minutes. Keep him down there!" Turning to Elizabeth and noticing her widened eyes, he sat beside her on the bed. "I have to deal with him. I will be back in a few minutes." Kissing her forehead, he reluctantly left the room.

Falling back on the bed and rubbing her face, Elizabeth wondered what had just happened. The attraction that she felt for Johnny was overwhelming her. It was scary the intensity between them just a few minutes ago. Pushing herself up to stand, she winced as she heard Anthony ranting. Realizing exactly what was being said, she stopped and gasped.