7 Time is Running Out

The loud buzzing of the engine was almost deafening. The speed made the trees disappear into a big green streak. Her hair was dancing in the wind as they cruised down the cliff road. Slowly she felt that fire start at the pit of her stomach. The fire she thought was long gone…

"Nurse Webber."

Elizabeth's head was bent down over a patient file, the pen in her hand still over the paper, her eyes looking down but her mind going 80 miles an hour on Jason's Harley Davidson.

"Nurse Webber!"

Hannah Fitzgerald, the 40 years old Head Nurse called her name more forcefully, making Elizabeth jump and look up at her emerald green eyes.

"There you are. Nice ride, ha? Welcome back."

Blinking Elizabeth's mouth turned into an "O".

"Close your mouth Nurse… Or should I start to call you Doctor now?"

The petite brunette smiled widely. "Not yet, but soon. One more exam and I can start my residency."

"So I assume you were just taking a quick nap with your eyes open."

Elizabeth closed the file and walked into the nurse's hub to place the orange folder on the big pile. Her lips turned up into a secretive smile. "Not really. I was actually reliving the most amazing night I've had in a really long time."

The older redhead turned to look at the younger woman with interest. "Do tell. Does this amazing night have a name?"

"Yes it does." Elizabeth answered and stepped up to the computer and started to enter data on it.

"Are you really going to deny me information? Come on I'm 40, with 20 years of marriage and 3 daughters. Please throw me a bone here, let me live vicariously through you."

"Don't be so dramatic, Hannah. You love your husband and your stories are way more scandalous than mine."

"I know, I know. But still…" The ringing of the phone stopped the older woman's reply. She turned and answered.

"Mercy Hospital, Pediatric Nurse's Station… Yes she's actually right here."

The head nurse turned and gave the phone to Elizabeth. "It's for you Webber."

Elizabeth frowned but took the receiver anyway. "This is Nurse Webber, how can I help you?"

"Elizabeth, hi. It's Sam McCall."

"Sam?" Elizabeth's voice revealed her surprise.

"I'm really sorry to bother you. I'm in the area running a few errands and took a chance to call and see if we could have lunch together."

"I- I was just…"

Sam heard her uneasiness and spoke quickly. "It's okay if you are busy. We can plan ahead when you are not so tied up. Sorry to bother you."

Something in the other woman's voice made her speak up. "No. Sam, wait don't hang up. I was just checking the time. I'm almost due for my lunch break."

"You are? That's great. So can we meet? I'm about done here anyway, so I can meet you at a little Bistro called 'Tables' it's down Jefferson's Avenue. Walking distance from Mercy Hospital."

"I know the place. I can be there in 15 minutes."

Elizabeth hung up the phone and sighed. She kept entering data on the computer, but her mind was now wondering if she had made the right choice.

Her arms were tight around him. Her breath close to his ear made his skin tight in awareness. And the wind blew her scent around him, enticing him, alluring him… Waking up feelings he thought were long gone, igniting a fire in the pit of his stomach that he had missed so much without even realizing it.

Jason was sitting at his desk, his eyes burning the computer screen, his hands frozen over the keypad. The knock on the door made him crash down to reality. He ran a hand over his face and blinked back the memory of Elizabeth's arms around him.

"Come in." He said standing from his leather chair.

The door opened and he watched the young man walk inside his office. And just like that, as if his life wasn't complicated enough, and after more than 5 years he was face to face with Lucky Spencer.

"I know you must be wondering what I'm doing here." Lucky said coming to stand in front of Jason.

"I'm sure this is not an official business, I haven't been by the PCPD in years. So this must be about Sam, and it's been a long time coming."

If his words surprised Lucky, he didn't show it. Point one in favor of Spencer.

"Do you have time to talk?"

"Sit down." Jason answered signaling the chair in front of his desk as he moved to his own.

"So…" Lucky said placing his hands on his lap.

"Let's put everything on the table. I'll go first. I've known about you and Sam since the first time you slept together at Jake's. I've known you've been seeing each other in secret for almost three years. And I've been hoping you care enough about her to step up."

"If you know, then you'll realize this isn't some kind of game. I'm in love with Sam. I've been wanting to make a family with her for a long time, but she didn't want to take…"

Lucky trailed off. But Jason knew what he didn't want to say. Sam didn't want to take Lila away from him. Little did she know that Sonny was about to do the very same thing.

"Look Jason, we are not friends. We haven't been in over a decade, but right now there's something bigger that may require us to work together."

"If you and Sam want to start a family of your own, I can't stop you." Jason said his eyes looking at some imaginary point over Lucky's shoulder.

"I want a family with them. But Sam, she doesn't want to take Lila away from you. And even if it pains me to admit it, she has a point. You are the only father Lila has known. It wouldn't be fair to take her way from you. Not now."

The ex- mob enforcer looked at the younger man, his eyes unbelieving.

"You have every right to doubt my words. I haven't been forthcoming or even fair when it cames to you… All those years ago, after I came back, I was jealous of you. You had what I wanted the most."

Jason sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. "What is that? Money, power?"

"Elizabeth."

The name was like a bucket of cold water falling over Jason's head. Lucky saw the brief flash of something on Jason's eyes. Surprise, recognition or hope, he didn't know and wasn't about to ask.

Jason stood from his chair and walked around the desk. "It was never like that with Elizabeth."

"Come on Jason. I know you never had a physical relationship, but you had a 'connection' as she used to call it. But a connection is too tame a word for whatever it is you guys had… I can't describe it there are no words…"

Just like that Jason remembered their time together in the studio, when Elizabeth risked everything and showed him more passion and commitment than anyone ever had. "When someone saves your life, when they find you in the snow and they drag you up and make you walk and bring you help when you told them not to, then make you drink gallons of soup, and when they lie to everyone they know, that's more than friends. There's no word for what I feel for you."

"It drove me crazy to see the way Elizabeth looked at you. She used to light up from the inside every time she was around you. I couldn't stand it, because I wanted to be that man, and I couldn't be. And I used to think that if Faison and Helena hadn't faked my death maybe I would have been."

They were both silent for a while.

"This isn't payback, if that's what you are thinking. I truly love Sam and now I'm going to lose her. Maybe it's karma. I did a lot of awful things to Elizabeth. I lied, cheated and was emotionally abusive to her. For the most part it had to do with the brainwashing, but still she didn't deserve that."

"If you love Sam so much, stop meeting in secret, like some illicit affair. We are not married and she also deserves to be happy. She's been trough a lot of shit. And she needs to feel loved and cared for. Claim your child and be together."

"What do you mean my child?" Lucky asked in confusion.

"Sam's pregnant."

"Do you want more ice tea?" Sam asked Elizabeth as she waved the waiter over.

"No, I'm ok."

"Then what about some dessert? I hear the chocolate cake here is to die for."

"I'm not so sure I…" Elizabeth started to protest, but Sam cut her off.

"Come on. I hear you are a chocolate fanatic."

Elizabeth looked at the other brunette in surprised. Who could have told her that?

Sam signaled the waiter and ordered the dessert. A loud crash from the kitchen made her flinch. Her head was pounding and she really wanted to go lie down. But she had to do this… if not for Jason, then for her daughter Lila.

"Sam, why did you invite me to lunch? We've never been friends and it's been 5 years since we've seen each other. I don't get it."

"I wanted to start making plans."

Elizabeth's brow turned up in question.

"For the bake sale. Remember? We are the first team, and the date it's quickly approaching."

Sam rubbed her hand on her temple and closed her eyes for a minute. Elizabeth took a closer look. She seemed distracted and uncomfortable.

"We can do it at the Penthouse. I'm sure Jason it's going to be thrilled to see you again."

That's what this is all about… Jason. Does she know about their ride last night? Is she jealous or suspicious about their renewed friendship? Oh God… they've met two times randomly and now his wife thought she was a threat to their marriage. So much for staying away from the drama.

"I don't think this was a good idea Sam." Elizabeth said as she started to pick up her purse.

"What?" Sam said opening her eyes wide in surprise. "Do you have to go back to work?"

"I don't think we can be bake sale partners." Elizabeth stood up and Sam followed her.

"Elizabeth wait. Was it something I said?"

Sam caught up with Elizabeth before she could step outside the doors and grabbed her by the arm. Both brunettes looked at each other in question.

"I don't understand. I thought we were starting a friendship here?" Sam spoke up her voice trembling as she let Elizabeth's arm go.

Elizabeth turned around and walked through the door. Sam followed slower this time. She looked around and there were some people at the outside tables still having a late lunch.

"You don't have to pretend anymore. I know what this is about." Elizabeth said in a hush tone.

Sam was shaking now, beads of sweat where starting to form on her forehead. Her face was turning paler if that was possible. "I really doubt that."

"Oh but I do. This was just a hoax. This is not about our children's bake sale. This is about Jason."

When Sam eyes turned down Elizabeth got her answer. "You know about last night and you want to warn me off him. Well this is not going to work, because there's nothing going on between us… Jason and I we are just friends. We've run into each other twice and we've talked and nothing more. I know he's your husband and I'm not interested in breaking up a marriage."

Elizabeth looked up and realized Sam was leaning over an empty table. The anger and embarrassment left her face immediately and worry took residence in the pit of her stomach.

"Sam? Sam, are you alright?" Elizabeth said taking a few steps closer to her.

Sam looked up and her eyes were red and the beads of sweat were now running down her temples. Elizabeth's eyes became big with worry, "Oh my God! What's happening?"

Sam's eyes rolled up and she fainted. Elizabeth grabbed her before she could fall on the street. "Someone please call an ambulance!

Jason and Lucky walked inside de Emergency Room at Mercy Hospital both silent, their demeanor was tense and edgy. They had been talking when Jason received a call from Elizabeth telling him that Sam had been admitted to the hospital after fainting on the street. Without waiting for an explanation he grabbed the keys to his SUV calling over his shoulder at the younger man.

And now here they were, both looking everywhere for someone who could point them in the right direction. Lucky took a step around Jason and strutted over towards the nurse's hub.

"Excuse me, I want to see Sam McCall. She was admitted less than an hour ago."

The young African American woman looked at both men. "Are you family?"

Lucky let out a frustrated sight. "No, but…"

"I'm sorry I can only give information to next of kin or close family members."

Jason said walking up to the hub and standing next to Lucky. "I'm Sam McCall's emergency contact."

"You have to give me a minute. Please take a sit while…"

"We are not taking a sit. I want to see her, she needs ME!" Lucky yelled frantically.

A security guard that was standing at the entrance took a step closer and looked over at the young nurse.

"Do you know who you are talking to? I'm detective Lucky Spencer from the PCPD…"

"Hey… Hey Lucky. Take it easy or we are going to get thrown out."

Staring at the two men the nurse spoke again. "I'm sorry I can't tell you anything until the doctor comes out. They are still doing a check up."

"Can you find Nurse Elizabeth Webber? She works here and she was the one to give us a call." Jason asked gently.

"Please give me a minute and I'll see what I can do."

The nurse turned around and walked across a double door that divided the patient cubicles from the waiting area.

Jason walked over to the waiting area and sat down. He ran a hand over his face and expelled a breath. Meanwhile Lucky started to pace, still mumbling incoherently.

Fifteen minutes later, they heard the doors open and Jason stood immediately to see Elizabeth approaching him. Their eyes met and right there he knew the news weren't good. Lucky walked over to stop her before she made it to the waiting area.

"Lucky, what are you doing here?" Elizabeth was shocked.

"How is she? Is she conscious? We have to call Doctor Danielle Torres…" Lucky said in desperation.

Elizabeth and Jason's eyes met again and they both mirror their confusion.

"Doctor Torres is in with her as we speak. She was on duty when we came in. Sam is coming in and out of consciousness." Elizabeth said.

"Ok. If Doctor Torres is with her everything is going to be okay. She knows what to do." Lucky said heaving a sigh.

"What happened?" Jason's only words cut through Lucky's rambling.

Elizabeth ushered them back to the waiting area. "We were having lunch at a nearby. We had a bit of an argument and she just fainted. She looked pale and kind of shaky. I knew something wasn't right, but I didn't realized it was so serious."

"What do you mean serious?" Jason asked again. "Is something wrong with the baby?"

"The baby?" Elizabeth asked in surprise.

"Sam is not pregnant Jason." Lucky said forcefully.

"Then what is going on?" He said his temper flaring.

"You don't know?" Elizabeth asked meeting Jason's confused expression. Then turned to look at Lucky's somber face. "And you do?"

"It's a long story." Lucky said under his breath.

"Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on here?" Jason asked losing his patience, looking from Elizabeth to Lucky.

Elizabeth eyes met Jason a mix of concern and sorrow. "Jason, Sam has cancer. And from what I gather from the doctor, she doesn't have much time left."