Chapter Fifteen

Leaning back in his leather executive chair, Jason's tired cerulean eyes stared up at the white ceiling titles of his spacious office at the warehouse. There were fifteen tiles going horizontal and twelve going vertical, equaling a grand total of forty square feet. He hadn't counted tile by tile, but simply used multiplication for what seemed like the hundredth time in the last ten minutes.

His eyes had popped open before his alarm clock had gone off in the morning. A few long laps in the pool followed by a quick shower, Jason had checked on his daughter and strode across the hallway. All day Jason had kept his mind busy. He had ignored Brenda throughout breakfast by concentrating on Della and David. On the ride over to the warehouse he had read the Port Charles Gazette from cover to cover for the second time and evaded all the questioning glances Sonny and the Four Musketeers threw him. At the office he had thrown himself into work and by lunchtime he had all the coffee invoices done for the week. Now done with reading the New York Times, Jason was left to his thoughts. And just like every waking moment since last night his mind went back to one person in particular—Elizabeth Webber.

She had kissed him. His mind was still processing the kiss. She had pulled his head down and kissed him to only scurry away in the opposite direction, leaving him completely stunned and his skin burning. He had taken a step towards the staircase last night before hesitating.

Her kiss had been gentle and full of passion. Her lips had been soft and supple like he remembered. Her touch arousing. Her body warm and inviting.

As quickly as she had initiated the kiss, she had pulled back. It only confused him. If he meant nothing more than her employer to her then why did she kiss him and act concerned for his well-being? Why torture him by kissing him, but still remaining firm on leaving? None of it made sense. Her kiss had sent all his nerve endings on a tailspin. At the end all of his thoughts, his mind came back to one question. Why did she kiss him?

A brisk knock on his office door brought Jason crashing back to his surroundings. Sitting up straight, he answered gruffly. "Come in."

The door opened softly and Johnny came in silently. He looked a bit off, but a smile was spread across his lips. A yellow manila folder in his hand, he raised it up and began to speak, "I've got what you asked for—"

The sound of an argument cut off the young guard. Both of them looked out the door to see Sonny and the rest of the Musketeers heading for Jason's office. Stepping out of the doorway, Johnny allowed for the older man and the rest of their friends to enter. They filed into the room, quarreling over a topic that neither the enforcer nor the bodyguard knew of.

The second the door shut behind them, they all sobered up and took their respective places in the office. Johnny and Jason exchanged inquiring looks before they focused on Sonny.

The older man took a moment to collect himself before pulling his black silk Italian suit into place and sat up straight. A look of strict business fell over his face. "As you all know, while we were away Johnny took care of Manny Ruiz."

A flash of anger passed through Jason before his demeanor hardened.

"After what he had done to Elizabeth, there was no need to continue peaceful relations with the Ruiz family. It's done and over with. The shooting, the hit, and the sudden disappearance to the islands are all covered up and our lives may now return to the interesting normal that we have."

"What about the rest of the Ruiz family?" Jason asked his hands fisted. His words were emotionless.

"They have no more heirs," Sonny explained. "It's over."

All members gathered in the office nodded their heads once in understanding. The tendons in Jason's forearms eased as the tension that had seeped into the room when Sonny had started to speak lessened. Sighing, he once again leaned back in his chair and gazed up at the ceiling well aware of the eyes watching him.

Manny Ruiz had taken over the Ruiz family empire after his brother's death. The notorious South American mob family had isolated itself from international situations before Lorenzo Alcazar unfortunately began to meddle with relationships. The Corinthos Empire went from peaceful relations with rival mob families before Lorenzo had involved Manny in taking down Sonny. After months of constant tension, it all came to an end with Elizabeth paying the ultimate price before retaliation took place.

The memories of Elizabeth's crimson blood on his hands rushed through Jason's mind. Instantly, his eyes closed and guilt speared through him. If they had taken care of it right away instead of waiting it out, Elizabeth never would have been hurt. Things would have never changed between them and she wouldn't be leaving in a few days.

He felt the guilt, but also the feeling of understanding of the path life had forced him to go down. If Manny hadn't presented a threat and hurt Elizabeth, God knew how long it would have been before he realized how important she was to him and Lil. He would have never kissed her. He would have never realized how much he cared about her.

Glancing around the room, Jason's gaze paused on his best friend for a moment and he regretted it. A twinkle appeared in Sonny's eyes along with a cheeky smile on his lips and Jason knew what was coming next.

A sharp whack and howl of pain had all the heads in the room swiveling sharply in the direction of the noise. Adam sat on the arm of the black matching leather sofa in the corner, glaring at Max and rubbing the back of his head.

"Max, what did you do?" Sonny questioned with all the disappointment of an old father.

"Nothing. He's been moping around and that love sick pout of his is just insulting to the male race," Max glared right back at Adam.
"That doesn't give you the right to smack him," Sonny scolded the guard.

Francis sighed heavily. "If Max hadn't done it, I would have."

The youngest Musketeer threw him a dirty look.

"Leave him alone," Johnny spoke up. "He just misses the Doc."

"Which can be easily fixed if he'd get his butt on a plane and down to the island to fix his libido," Francis scuffed.

Adam's face got darker if possible. "I don't have a libido problem, jackass."

"Then, what would you call it?" Francis questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Innocent longing. I miss her and I'm not looking for a quick lay as you might prefer," Adam retorted. "Look where it got you."

Francis scowled, his fists clenched, but Adam didn't back down.

"And if you ask me, I think you're being a total idiot about it."

"Well, I didn't ask," the oldest Musketeer hissed.

"I think he's right," Max added as the oldest and youngest Musketeers got ready to square off.

"You know nothing about what's going on with Kris," the Italian guard growled.

"I know that you're being an insensitive bastard by ignoring her," Adam fired back, hopping off the leather soda. "When all she's done since you found out is apologize."

"She lied to me."

The dark head rolled his eyes in obvious disbelief. "She did no such thing. If you had asked rather than simply dragged her into bed at every chance, she would have told you."

"Listen here you numbskull," Francis started towards the young guard, his hands clenched tight. "Don't—"

A sharp ear-piercing whistle had the two Musketeers frozen in place. All heads turned to a disappointed Sonny; his hand back in his lap. "Now that I have all your attention, would someone like please explain what's going on?"

When neither Francis nor Adam spoke up or stopped glaring at each other, Johnny waited a moment for Max to speak up, but when the guard caught in the middle stayed quiet and kept swinging nervous glances between the others, he shook his head and decided to answer. "Adam misses Doc, which has been established. Francis found out Kris was separated from her husband before we left and Max is flirting with your secretary relentlessly, but doesn't have the balls to ask her out."

Three sets of eyes snapped up and if looks could kill Johnny would have been a corpse where he stood by Jason's desk. He simply ignored them and continued on.

"And as for this one here," he gestured to the silent enforcer. "I got no clue on the whole nanny courting project."

A fourth set and this time deadly blue eyes joined the glaring contest at Johnny. He shrugged and looked to Sonny to take over.

The older man looked amused as he watched all his men glare at each other except Johnny, who silently faded back into the corner besides Jason and waited patiently. Clearing his throat, Sonny cracked his knuckles and shifted the chair he sat in until he faced all the occupants of the office. "Let's start with you, Max."

An alarmed look passed over Max's face for a moment before he gulped roughly.

"How long has this…" Sonny waved his hand in the air, searching for the right word. "Shameless flirting with Jill occurring?"

Eyes downcast, he mumbled, "Three months."

Sonny's eyes widened for a moment before a proud smile graced his lips. "Then, what are you waiting for?"

"He's just scared," Francis murmured.

"Am not!"

The rest threw him a look of disbelief.

"Go ask the girl out and let her make an honest man out of you," Sonny said, smiling. "Just no dirty business on any of the office desks, please." He grimaced for a moment before turning to Adam. The young guard was still glaring at Francis. His hands were balled up and his eyes were narrowed into thin slits. "Now, Adam. Miss Amanda?"

"Yes, ," he replied through clenched jaws, his eyes off of Francis.

"We've been over this a hundred times, let's try that again."

"Yes, Sonny."

"Good," the older man replied satisfied. "Now, want to do me a favor?"
Adam nodded his head briskly, his gaze back on Francis who glared back at him.

"Give it a week."

His head snapped to Sonny so fast, the cracking of his neck echoed in the room. "Huh?"

Sonny winked and a smile instantly bloomed on Adam's slips as the older man's words sunk in. "Now, onto the next one," he murmured, moving his gaze to a disgruntled Francis. "What's the story with this Kris? She's Della's nurse, right?"

Unable to ignore his boss, Francis replied, "Yes."

A troubled look fell over Sonny's face. "I thought Johnny was interested in her?"

"More than a hand or a mouth full has no affect on me," came Johnny's simple response.

Nodding his head in understanding, Sonny muffled his chuckle with his hand and turned back to the Italian bodyguard. "And what did she exactly do that's caused you to ignore the poor woman?" The older man spoke in a gentle, yet authoritative tone.

"She was separated from her loser of a husband when we got together," his dislike for the man evident in his words. "She didn't tell me until the ass wipe stopped by before we left for the island."

"Did she deny it?"

"No."

"Did you ever ask about her past?"

He shook his head as his hardened face fell away.

"Do you love her?"

Francis sighed heavily before nodding his head.

"Then, quit acting like an idiot and go after her before it's too late."

Adam threw Francis a triumphant smile before sticking his hand out in apology. Without a second thought, the older Musketeer accepted and pulled the younger one into a bear hug. "Punch me next time?"

"Absolutely," Adam replied. "The stomach sound okay to you?"

"Wherever as long as the message gets through."

The tension began to fade from the room as laughter filled it. Sonny smiled like a proud father watching his sons and then it slowly occurred to him that Jason had yet to say a word. Moving his chair around again, he faced the front of Jason's desk and took in his best friend's appearance. Just as this morning, his eyes were emotionless the moment the laughter faded away. He could tell the younger man was avoiding something.

Jason realized Sonny was watching him again as he got a hold of his emotions. The glint was back and his dimples were out in full force. He was in trouble Jason thought as the others began to gaze at him as well. He was backed into a corner and this time there was no way out as Sonny clasped his hands.

"What did you do this time?" Francis asked, plopping down next to Max on the sofa.

There was no way out of this, he was going to have to cooperate or who knew what they would do to him or the reinforcements in shapes of Brenda and Emily would be brought in. "Nothing," he murmured. "I did absolutely nothing."

"Then, what's with the long face?" Max asked.

"I'm confused."

"Uh oh," Adam murmured a look of complete horror crossing his face. "What did she do?"

Surprise filled Jason for a moment before relief replaced it. Someone had an understanding of what he was going through. "She kissed me," he mumbled.

Adam fell off the arm of the sofa with a thud. Max and Francis exchanged flabbergasted looks. Johnny adjusted the collar of his white dress shirt. Sonny's jaw parted slightly before he realized and pulled himself together. All the men in the room regained their balance and continued to gawk at the now fidgeting enforcer.

Francis finally broke the silence. "Exactly what did you do in the first place to deserve the kiss?"

Jason shrugged. "Nothing just went home after the meeting with the Five Families."

"Wow," Sonny mused. "I wish it were like that with Brenda. The woman is either cheeky when I get home or too busy with the kids to pay any attention to me." The men chuckled at their boss's confession.

"Did you kiss her back?" a very excited Max asked.

The back of Jason's neck began to turn red as he avoided everyone's gazes.

Rolling his eyes at Max, Johnny broke his silence. "Did she say anything to you?"

"Just that she was glad I was okay."
Smiles began to spring up left and right, confusing Jason even more than Emily and Brenda did.

"That means she cares," Sonny explained.

"When a woman initiates a kiss," Adam began to explain further. "It means that she cares and that the feelings go deeper than friendship especially if she does after your life has been threatened in anyway. And there is no need to think it was a reaction to her anxiety over your well-being," he quickly added as a look of doubt filled Jason's eyes. "Since she kissed you because she was relieved that you were home safe that means that her feelings for you are strong."

The tense muscles in Jason's shoulders began to relax from Adam's explanation of why she kissed him. An unfamiliar feeling began to form in his heart as he sat back and let his mind process it all.

She cared.

It gave him hope that all wasn't lost. That there was still a chance. A chance for everything to change and it to go in his favor.

"Any cold showers?" Sonny asked.

And once again Jason's face warmed.

"That answers the question," Francis laughed.

"Now," Max drawled sharing a look with the others. "What are you going to do about it?"

They all stared at him, expecting something. Jason took in a deep breath. "Try not to screw it up," he answered honestly. "Be around as much as possible. Taking care of her. Let her know that she's wanted and not just in Lil's life." He stretched his back in his leather chair before continuing. "And keeping my damn hands off of her."

"Good," Johnny said. "I'd have to shoot you if you didn't make an honest woman out of shortie before any funny business." The tail end of a grin told Jason he wasn't serious, but the enforcer still took it seriously.

Glancing at his watch, Jason sat up straight. "And when I said I'm not going to screw things up, I meant it and I'm going to start by making it home for dinner," he spoke every word with confidence.

"And he grows a spine," Francis mused, smirking.

"Remember there is a God," Sonny smiled cheekily. "He works his miracles even for the hopeless."

Jason rolled his eyes as he held the door open for them. One by one they all exited and instead of bickering as they had entered they left joking and laughing at each other like a family, each ready to face the world together. The last one to exit was Johnny. He walked up to the door and paused beside Jason.

"The file you asked for," the Irish guard held out the folder he had brought in earlier.

"Thank you," Jason replied in appreciation, taking the file from him. Smiling gratefully, he stepped into the threshold of the door before pausing. Turning back to Johnny; he raised a sandy eyebrow in question.

"Something wrong, Jason?"

"I just thinking," he paused for a moment. "Why is it that your personal life never gets dissected?"

"Simple," Johnny began. A slow sly smile pulled at the corners of the Irish Musketeer's lips as a devious glint twinkled in his deep green eyes. "I never kiss and tell."

~*~

He was out of breath by the time he made it to his penthouse door, but Jason didn't care. He had exactly five minutes left and he didn't care that he was still in his work clothes and probably smelled like coffee beans. All that mattered was getting to the kitchen in time for dinner with his daughter and nanny. Skidding to a stop in front of the entrance of the kitchen, a smile tugged at his lips at the sound of soft laughter.

Taking in a calming breath and straightening to his full height, Jason stepped through the archway. The aroma of spices and warmth enveloped him the instant he fully entered the kitchen. The table was set for two with lilies set in the middle for decoration by his daughter, but three chairs were pulled up to the round table.

Lil sitting with a blue napkin draped on the lap of her pink dress squealed at the sight of her father. "Daddy, you made it!"

Her squeal of delight brought Elizabeth's attention to the kitchen entrance. She froze with a basket of bread in her hands, her cobalt eyes were stunned and Jason couldn't help running his eyes over her petite body. She was in a simple white tank top with knitted red flowers along the hem and snug blue jeans. She wasn't expecting him that was evident and it made Jason grin that he had caught her off guard.

Pausing to kiss Lil's golden locks, Jason flashed Elizabeth a crooked smirk. "Am I late for dinner?"

Her surprise began to slowly wear away and a cautious smile made its way to her plush pink lips. "Of course not, we were just getting ready to sit down."

"Great," he replied, crossing the kitchen to take the basket she held and placed it on the table with the serving dishes. "Sorry about this morning," he apologized, reaching around her to get himself a plate, brushing his arm against hers. He noticed the contrast between their skins and the sparks that passed, but choose to watch her from the corner of his eye instead. She had found a spot on the wall very interesting. "I wasn't thinking straight and just…sort of…disappeared."

Elizabeth nodded her head slightly, her eyes dazed. "I understand." She helped set his napkin and silverware before she turned to face him. "Can…can I get some kind of warning or note next time?"

"I'd be more than willing to do that," he smiled in agreement.

A shy smile pulled at her lips, her eyes downcast, and a nice shade of blush sipped into her cheeks. "I'd like that too."

Silently coming to an agreement, they took their places at the table. Lil beamed up at them.

"Can we have the baked ziti's now?"

Jason and Elizabeth laughed at Lil's mispronunciation of what they were having for dinner. She simply shrugged and threw them an odd look. Jason inhaled and he looked up for his eyes to connect with Elizabeth's. He didn't look way instead he stared openly into her eyes. There was a storm of emotions in her eyes and one of them was happiness. The joy he saw in her beautiful eyes made his heart swell with the same emotion.

"Can we watch a movie after this?" Lil's question drew Jason's attention back to his daughter.

"Sure," Elizabeth answered with a sweet smile. "What would you like to watch?"

"Finding Nemo!" came the automatic answer.

"That one again?" Jason asked incredulously. "You watched it last night."

"Yes," she smiled wistfully and Jason knew his daughter was ready to battle for the blue clown fish. "He's my favorite. I'll share my brownies with you if you watch with us?" She bargained with a knowing smile.

"Elizabeth's brownies?"

"Of course," the nanny in question grinned.

Jason smirked as he stuck his hand out to his daughter. "You've got yourself a deal, Angel." Lil shook his hand gleefully to only cause her father and Elizabeth to laugh in amusement at her antics.

Sitting at the table with Lil yapping away with Elizabeth at her side helping her cut through her meal and listening intently to every word she said gave Jason more hope than he thought was possible. Things were starting to go in his favor with the help of his friends. It was now time for him to continue on before all hope was lost. Apart of him told him he would make it, but he was fully aware that he had a tough battle ahead of him.