Author's Note: I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope your holiday is filled with happy memories with you loved ones. As always, my sincere thanks to everybody who have read, saved in favorites, set to alert or commented on 'Till You Make It'. I really do appreciate it.
Happy Reading and I hope you enjoy!
Valerie
Chapter 12: Declaration of Independence
Each time the elevator dinged signaling new arrivals Elizabeth would glance up to see if Jason was among those walking out. She knew he would be arriving soon; he did promise that he and Cody would be coming by this morning and it was already a few hours away from being noon. The time was moving slow and it made her nervous – though why she did not know. It wasn't like she wasn't safe. Johnny was here and he has been by her side since yesterday. A blush stained her cheeks as she thought of last night and some of the things they did. When Johnny announced he would be staying the night Elizabeth didn't think much of it; she knew it was to guard her but after he returned from his place with a small overnight bag she began wondering what she was suppose to do. There was no denying that she was attracted to him and that one day if things went well between them then they would take that next step in intimacy but she knew now was not the time. She was not ready.
After Kristina and Ray left Elizabeth worried that things would be awkward; especially since the boys were up from their nap. Cameron and Jake were curious about their overnight guest and acted very shy around him when she introduced them. Johnny was doing everything he could to help loosen them up around him but he was trying a little too hard so she suggested that he just be himself around them. It was while they were all out back playing a game of baseball when her boys began feeling comfortable around him. It relieved some of that tension she felt worrying about how the boys would react to a male figure in their home. Seeing Johnny this way was quite an experience; he was nothing like the bad boy everybody believed him to be. He was really having a lot of fun and Elizabeth couldn't help but wonder if he had ever done this before. She found it hard to imagine him doing something like this as a little boy with Anthony Zacchara as a father. That made her sad to think of what kind of childhood he and his sister had. Not that she felt complete compassion for Claudia; how could she knowing how cruel the woman was. She was thankful that Johnny didn't succumb to the same darkness his sister had.
The four of them were all sitting at the table eating dinner when Cameron asked why Johnny was sleeping over. Elizabeth wasn't prepared for the question and she considered lying but Johnny must have sensed that because he leaned over and suggested she be honest with them. "I don't want to scare them." She whispered to him.
"I know you don't but I think it's the right thing to do. I also think it would be a good time to remind them the dangers of talking to strangers and that under no circumstances should they go anywhere with anybody but those you approve of. Plus I'm sure they are going to wonder who Cody is and why he will be hanging around so much." Elizabeth didn't think about that and knew Johnny had a point.
"Johnny is sleeping over because there's a bad man out there that doesn't want to be very nice to mommy so he is going to stay here and make sure this person doesn't bother us tonight." She began explaining to her boys. "Then tomorrow there will be a nice man who will be staying with us for awhile so he can watch over us."
"Like Ray watches Krissy?" She smiled at her eldest.
"Yes baby, just like that."
"What's his name?"
"Cody."
"He has a gun too mommy?" Jake was the one to ask that question.
"He does which means you both have to make sure you follow the same rules you do at your daddy's okay." They both nodded their head vigorously. Elizabeth went on and talked to them about talking to people they don't know. She told them under no circumstance should they get in the car with anybody even if they do know them unless she told them it was okay too.
Later that night after she tucked her boys in for the night Elizabeth went into her room to change out of her day clothes and then to the bathroom to wash her face. Johnny was walking around making sure the house was locked up for the night; it all felt so domesticated. When he made it up the stairs she wasn't ready to call it a night so she invited him into her room where they sat on her bed and talked. When he gathered her in his arms and propped her back against him her mind glimpsed back to another time, another moment when she sat this very way with Jason. It didn't surprise her that she would think of him; after all he was the only many who she had ever been with in this room - on this bed. It was only natural that he would pop up in her head but when their talking turned into kisses and she began feeling guilty then Elizabeth was surprised by that. It made no sense and she became angry with herself. Jason had moved on while her life became a standstill and now that she had met a man who made her feel for the first time since him she refused to allow her past to mess this up.
When Johnny rolled them over and positioned his body so that he was lying on top of her, all thoughts of Jason flew out of her mind. His mouth was on hers like a man starved for the taste of her and she clenched her fingers in his hair and moaned as she returned the assault with equal hunger. Elizabeth didn't think twice about helping him out of his shirt; she could think of nothing but how he was making her feel. She didn't want this to end and was ready to give herself completely over to Johnny when he pulled away and rolled over on his back beside her. "Why did you stop?" She asked him breathlessly as she rolled her head to the side to look at him.
"Because you're not ready for this and I don't want you to regret it." A part of her wanted to deny that but she knew it was the truth. "And that's okay." He rolled back over towards her, propping his elbow on the mattress with his head in his hand as he stared down at her. "We can wait till the time is right." The way he was looking at her wasn't helping.
"It's not that I don't want you." She wanted to make sure there was no misunderstanding.
"I know that. Believe me you don't have to explain anything." They ended up saying goodnight; fearful that next time they wouldn't stop.
Looking at Johnny, who was sitting in one of the chairs in the waiting area, she couldn't help but smile as she remembered the way he greeted her this morning. A woman could get used to those kinds of kisses; it worked better at getting her day started than coffee ever could. His head turned and their eyes met and a slow sensual smile began to form on his lips making her insides melt. The arrival of Epiphany had Elizabeth dropping her gaze back to the charts she was supposed to be filling out. The woman was handing her a few more to add to her pile. "Isn't it your lunch time now?" Looking at her watch she saw it was already a minute after noon.
"I was just finishing this..." She trailed off as she heard the ding and saw the two people she had been waiting for step off the elevator. Epiphany followed her gaze and watched with her as they walked up to the counter.
"Hi." He greeted her.
"Hi." She greeted back.
"When is your next break?" Jason asked her ignoring the frown the woman next to her was giving him.
"I'm on lunch now. Let me just put these charts away." Thankfully Epiphany was the only one to witness the sight of Elizabeth walking away with the three men following her. Surely it would have been a gossip that would have spread throughout General Hospital. She led them to an empty room and locked the door behind her.
"Cody is up to date with the situation. I briefed him on everything before coming here." Which explained why they were just getting here.
"Hi Cody. It's nice to officially meet you." She greeted the tall man.
"Ms. Webber."
"Elizabeth please." She corrected him.
"Elizabeth it is."
"I am going to add security to your house so I'm going to need your keys." Jason said.
"It hadn't been done?" There was a small harsh tone to Cody's voice when he asked this; it made Jason's jaw clench.
"No." Cody looked like he wanted to say something else but refrained himself from doing so. Elizabeth did not know what was going on but the expression on Johnny's face told her that he may know and was pleased by it.
"I have explained some of what is going on to my boys so they are prepared to meet you." She announced to break the tension between the two men. "Johnny and I decided that it would be best to be upfront with them so they could be aware of their surroundings." Immediately Jason's gaze swerved to her direction then to Johnny.
"That's good to hear. I think that was best." Cody praised her with a smile.
"Thanks." She returned the smile. For the remainder of her lunch break Elizabeth answered all of Cody's questions and went over what her daily routine was like on work and off days. When he asked that she give him a list of names of those she did and didn't consider friends and who was allowed near her boys she hesitated. "That's kind of complicated."
"Has somebody been bothering you?" There was concern in Jason's voice.
"No but once people learn about this there will probably be a few who will try and..."
"Ms...Elizabeth, I'm going to need you to be completely honest with me so I can protect you three. Don't worry about hurting anybody's feelings."
"Cody's right." Johnny agreed.
"I know you work for Jason." Her eyes locked apologetically with the blue eyes across from her. "But just because there are those he considers friends doesn't mean I do too."
"I've already told you that he does not work for Sonny. You have nothing to worry about." Jason told her.
"What about Carly?"
"I will talk to her." She snorted at that.
"Like that's going to stop her. You know once she hears you put a guard on me she is going to be in my face and I shouldn't have to endure that. When it comes to Carly I don't trust you enough to have any control over her." She could see her words hurt him and though she hated it she didn't take any of it back. It was the way she felt and this was her life they were talking about here. "I need to make sure you're going to be okay if Cody should have to physically keep her away from me and that it won't put me in Sonny's sight." Elizabeth shifted her gaze to Cody. "And I need to make sure that you are there to protect me and not worry about upsetting Jason or his friends."
"There will be no problems what so ever with me removing anybody from your presence no matter who they are; even if it's Mr. Morgan himself." That was all Elizabeth needed to hear.
Kristina sat inside her car outside her father's house trying to summon up the courage to go in and tell him about the changes in her life. This needed to be done; it should've been done already but the fight with her mother postponed this talk. She knew it couldn't be postponed anymore. With a deep breath she got out of the car and walked in where Max greeted her and informed her that her father was in the living room. She found her father sitting at his desk with a few files and loose papers scattered in front of him. He hadn't noticed her and it gave her time to study his profile. She noticed how tired and worried he looked. Kristina wondered if it had anything to do with Anthony threatening Brenda and Alex. She hadn't had a chance to talk to Johnny about how serious she should take his father's threats; he had stayed the night at Elizabeth's and planned on staying with her until her bodyguard showed up and took over. She planned on cornering him soon but not today.
"Hi Dad." Kristina greeted her father letting her presence be known. Her father looked up and flashed a smile.
"This is a pleasant surprise. I haven't seen you in awhile."
"I know. I'm sorry about that. I've been busy." He stood up and walked over where he embraced her with a hug.
"How are you doing?"
"Good. You look tired. Please tell me you are taking care of yourself."
"I am. I promise." He led her to the couch. "How are you enjoying your summer break?"
"Actually really well. That's kind of why I'm here."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I um got a job." Kristina decided to just come out and say it.
"When did this happen?" There was no change in his voice making it hard for her to tell whether he was upset by this or not.
"I started on Monday." She answered then before he could ask any other questions she continued on. "It's just a small café so I'm learning how to make all sorts of coffees. I work from six till one so I still get to enjoy my days and when I start school my manger already assured me she could work around my schedule." The last part wasn't true - yet. "I've already promised mom to quit should it become too much once I begin college. I know you are probably not happy about it like mom but I like my job and I even asked Jason to check the place out before I started working there. I knew you would anyways so I had him do that and just so you know he said the place checks out fine and before you get upset about me turning to Jason and not you well I did that because I knew he would be discreet about it." Her father was staring at her as he ran his fingers across his chin. "Are you going to say anything?" She asked him when the silence lagged.
"I wasn't sure if you were done talking." He flashed a smile; his dimples deepening letting her know he was joking with her.
"I was sure you wouldn't be happy about it so I figured I'd just talk and prolong hearing you say that."
"Actually I think it's a good idea." Kristina looked at her father in surprise. He laughed. "I do and if Jason said the place checked out fine then I say enjoy your first job."
"Really?" She was looking at him suspiciously. "This is not a trick to ease me into a false relief only for you to pull the rug out from under me is it?"
"Sometimes I admit I can be a bit overprotective but that's because you are my daughter and I love you."
"I love you too."
"So if this is what you want to do then I support you." This was the part where Kristina should throw her arms around her father thanking him but she didn't because there was one more thing she had to tell him and she was not so sure this would go as smoothly.
"That's good to hear because I have one more thing to share with you." Her father laughed and shook his head.
"By the way you're acting I have a feeling I'm not going to like it. Am I going to need to make me a drink first?"
"I rented me an apartment and I move in this weekend."
"So that would be a yes." Her father sighed and stood up where he walked over to his bar and poured himself a drink.
"It's in the same building where Michael and Abby live so I will be close to him." She hoped hearing that would help. "Only it's a few floors above them." This time instead of rambling on Kristina chose to wait to get her father's reaction. It wasn't till he finished his drink did he say anything.
"Why didn't you and your mother come and talk to me about his before making this decision?"
"Well I didn't exactly discuss it with her first either. I made both decisions on my own before telling her."
"And how does your mother feel about this?"
"She's not too thrilled about it but after we went a few rounds about my job she realized that this was something I wasn't going to change my mind about. I understand you both being concerned about this but I want to really do this. I rather have my own place verses a room at the dorm."
"Your mind is already set isn't it?"
"It is."
"And if I tell you I am not happy about this at all..."
"Then I would tell you to get over it." She sweetly answered with a smile making her father laugh.
"I'll be honest, I don't like it... But again I will support you." Now she was looking at her father as though he had grown a second head. This was going way too easy.
"Okay, who are you and what have you done with my father?"
"That would be my doing." Brenda told her as she joined them. Kristina stood up and hugged her stepmother.
"How are you?" She asked her.
"I'm good. Alex is upstairs taking a nap or I would've brought him down to say hi."
"That's okay." She assured her. "So tell me what is it you have done to my father because I have to say I like it." Brenda laughed.
"Let's just say I had to remind him that smothering will do nothing but push the one you love away." Kristina smiled as his father lovingly kissed his wife.
"Well I have to say it worked because I don't think he's been this agreeable with me before."
"Let's see how agreeable you are in return." Her father's words made her smile falter. "I have a condition of course." Of course he did.
"And that would be what?"
"Putting a bodyguard on you." Kristina did not know how to respond to that. How could she tell him that she already had one on her; one that she not only trusted but liked as well? If she told him that then her father would blow a gas fuse when he learns Ray is one of Johnny's men. Then of course if she didn't then her father won't be so agreeable with her moving in to her own place. Either way she was screwed. "I know you don't like the idea of having one on you but it would make me feel so much better knowing you are being protected since you will be living alone." She really did not know what to do here and calling somebody was not an option; not when Ethan was out of town and Johnny was with Elizabeth. Though there was Ray who was parked a few blocks down.
"Let me make a quick phone call." Her father looked amused by this.
"Your mother won't be able to change my mind." He told her as she stood up and walked through the doors that led to her father's terrace. Kristina let her father believe that was who she was calling; it would save any questions from being asked. When Ray answered his phone she quickly explained what her father was asking of her.
"What should I do?"
"There is nothing you can do but make a choice."
"Thank you so much, that's really helpful." She said sarcastically.
"I know you were probably expecting me to give you a third alternative but I don't see one Kristina."
"Damn it, I was so not expecting this from my father."
"I do understand where he's coming from." Kristina didn't reply instead she stood there quietly contemplating what to do. "You could always just not move."
"I don't think so." She was quick to reply. Ray responded with a chuckle.
"Okay I knew you wouldn't go for that but I thought I'd give it a shot."
"Seriously though, you can't think of anything at all?"
"No, I can't."
"And if I were to be upfront with him about you...?"
"Johnny and I can handle ourselves." He correctly guessed what she was really asking and assured her.
"But you shouldn't have to because of me."
"Why haven't you called Johnny?"
"I didn't want to disturb him while he was busy with Elizabeth."
"I'm sure by now her guard has showed up. I suggest you call him." Kristina took him up on his advice and dialed Johnny's number and when he answered she quickly explained her dilemma.
"Do you really not want anybody else guarding you?" He asked her.
"I prefer nobody but Ray."
"Then tell Sonny that and don't worry about us." This surprised Kristina.
"My father will probably gun for you."
"He already is thanks to my father."
"Are you sure Johnny?"
"I promise you I will be okay Krissy." She bit her lip for a few long seconds before deciding.
"I will call you later." When Kristina walked back inside she found her stomach was too knotted up to resume her seat on the couch so she opted to stand. "Here's the thing..." She paused to take a few deep breaths and work up enough nerves to continue. "I will agree to having a guard on me but only if it's one of my choice." Now it was her father's turn to look surprise. Beside him Brenda covered her mouth with her hand to hide her lips that were twitching with amusement.
"You are actually agreeing. Wow." He says that now but he hadn't heard who it was she was choosing. "You can have any guard you want."
"Then I chose Ray." She watched his forehead wrinkle up in confusion.
"I don't have a guard by that name."
"I know because he isn't one of yours." Slowly his eyes narrowed as he began to understand what it was she was suggesting. In a flash he was up on his feet.
"There is no way in hell that you will be guarded by someone employed by the Zacchara's." His voice was low and filled with anger.
"There is a guard Johnny just hired..."
"You're not hearing me."
"...and he and I have..."
"No Kristina."
"...gotten to know each other."
"End of discussion."
"I know you don't like Johnny..."
"I said end of discussion." Her father hollered out but Kristina refused to back down.
"...but he is my friend and I trust him completely."
"Sonny just calm down." Brenda gently laid her hand on her father's arm.
"Stay out of this." He snapped at her; his eyes never wavering from hers. "I know you think he is..."
"There's no think about it dad. I know and nothing you can say will change my mind so please stop fighting me on this. If you want to meet Ray then you can. If you want to have Jason check his background out then fine, do it, but I've made up my mind. If you want me to have a guard then it will be one, of my choice and I've made it."
"I forbid this."
"You can't. I'm eighteen years old now. I have a job and about to move into my own place. You and mom can no longer forbid me on anything." The two were locked in a stare down; no signs of either of them backing down. That is how Jason and Sam found them when they walked in. Kristina was relieved to see them and hoped that they would be able to help her father agree to this.
"What's going on here?" Sam asked. Kristina happily explained the situation; ignoring her father's bouts of tirade. "You got your own place?" She nodded. "I wasn't aware of this."
"I just got it and was planning on telling you today after I told my dad but he is being stubborn as usual."
"I don't know Krissy." Her sister surprised her by saying. "I think I'm going to have to side Sonny on this one." Behind Sam her father looked pleased. The anger she had been holding in was close to erupting.
"I know all I need to know. I trust Ray and wish you would trust me enough to make my own decisions."
"It's not that we don't trust you but you have to understand that we don't know anything about this guy."
"Then you all can do whatever it is you guys do when you hire a new guard."
"I'm sorry but the answer is no." There was finality in her father's voice.
"Then I guess I'm not getting a guard." Kristina jumped when her father's hand came down hard on his desk.
"We are not going to argue about this." He yelled out. "No guard then..."
"Don't you dare finish that sentence; not if you want to damage the relationship we worked hard fixing."
"Krissy..." Sam tried to calm her down but she ignored her.
"What about you Jason?" Kristina asked the man who had yet said anything. "What do you think about this?"
"I think this is between you and your father."
"Ray is the man who was there with us yesterday." Kristina saw this surprised him and her sister.
"What is she talking about Jason?" Her father asked clearly hating to be out of the loop.
"I'm talking about the man who was over at Elizabeth's house." Kristina answered herself.
"What does Elizabeth have to do with any of this?"
"That is why I am here; to tell you that Franco is back and he has Elizabeth in his sights." Jason answered.
"When did this happen?"
"Yesterday. We both received a gift from him. I've called Cody back to town and have him guarding her and the boys."
"You didn't have to go to him. We have plenty of other guards you could have used."
"Elizabeth preferred it this way." If Kristina remembered correctly, it wasn't just her friend who preferred Cody but Jason himself. After all he had already made the call before he even learned about Elizabeth's package.
"We will talk about his later but now I want to know why Kristina was over at Elizabeth's?"
"Because she and I are friends." She answered before Jason could say anything. "And I'd prefer it if you ask me these questions not anybody else."
"When did you and she become friends?"
"Recently but that's not why I brought her up. I did that so Jason would know who Ray was."
"And why was this Ray..." His voice trailed off. "Johnny was there was Elizabeth." Kristina was surprised her father knew about them. "Are you the reason she is associating herself with him?"
"Yes." In a way.
"Kristina what are you doing? Elizabeth doesn't need a person like that in her life."
"How is it any different then when she was with Jason? Yes I'm aware about their past but don't bother answering the question because this has nothing to do with Elizabeth. This is about you trying to make decisions for me; something I don't appreciate. So here how it's going to be. Ray is going to be my guard because I trust him. If you want to get to know him then let me know and the three of us can sit down and talk but under no circumstances do you threaten him or Johnny about this in any way or I am cutting you from my life till you learn to respect me." She walked up to her father who was standing near his desk seething in anger. "And I warn you right now; should you do anything to hurt either of them then there will be no coming back from that." Knowing she got her point across she leaned in and hugged him. "I love you dad."
Her legs were shaky as Kristina walked to her car. It took her a few minutes to calm herself down before she could start up her car and drive off. When she stopped at a red light she made a quick call to Johnny and left him a message on his voicemail alerting him that her father knew about Ray but not that he has already been guarding her. Parking her car in the driveway at home Kristina walked over to where Ray was and told him the same thing. She apologized for any trouble this will cause him.
"Don't worry about it." He was leaning against the car eating a sandwich he apparently had brought from home. "I have to say I am very surprised you actually told your father about me."
"I am surprised too." She admitted. "But I have to say it felt good standing up to my father for something I believe in and not just because I am acting like a spoiled brat."
"You a spoiled brat...I don't see it." Kristina narrowed her eyes at his smirk and turned around and walked away ignoring the sounds of his chuckles.
Ray just shook his head and smiled as he watched Kristina walk into her house. It hadn't even been a full week since he began guarding her but he already cared about the girl. Sure she was a smart ass but that was part of what he liked about her. So far his job has been fairly easy. Not once has Anthony Zacchara approached her. He didn't know if that was a good thing or not. Johnny had told him from the beginning that he was unsure whether his father was going to do anything at all; that he was just being cautious with Kristina's safety. The things he knew the man was capable of told him that that wouldn't be the case. Anthony had to be up to something and Ray would be waiting to make sure no harm came to her. Yesterday when she opened Elizabeth's door and frantically motioned for him to go inside he was sure that this was what he had been waiting for. Only it wasn't what he expected but a package that seemed harmless to him despite that it came from an unknown source. There was nothing menacing he could find about the male doll lying inside until they told him who it looked like. He knew Johnny had to be notified immediately.
His boss arrived soon after and he saw the concern on the man's face for both women. When Johnny saw the doll he immediately knew what they were dealing with and he stood back and listened as he and Kristina tried to convince a reluctant Elizabeth to notify Jason about the situation. Ray knew why she didn't want to turn to the enforcer; it was because of their history and the feelings he saw they still had for each other. He may not know their story but one thing he did know and that was how up till now Elizabeth had been unable to move on with her life unlike the man who surprised them all by showing up with Sam. The living room filled with tension with their arrival. Ray said nothing; he just stood by the door and watched and listened. He noticed how Johnny and Elizabeth stood beside each other on one side facing Jason and Sam on the other. Kristina stood in the middle looking much like a referee. It had to be hard on her knowing that her family and friends were not on the best of terms.
He didn't know Jason and Sam well enough to have an opinion about them but so far what they have shown him was not so good. When Ray had walked off the elevator with Kristina that Monday at the hospital and found Elizabeth having to defend her actions to the two and her ex-husband it did not sit well with him. Since she wasn't in any kind of danger he couldn't put himself in the middle of it so he stayed back. When Kristina stood up for her friend he felt nothing but respect for the girl and for Elizabeth herself who was trying not to let this come between the two sisters, despite that he felt Sam deserved it. It showed him what kind of woman Ms. Webber was and what kind of man Mr. Morgan wasn't. He could understand him wanting to be loyal to the woman he was involved with but standing there and doing nothing he could not. The only emotion that Ray saw crossing Jason's face was when he happened to turn his head and noticed him standing by the elevators. The man's eyes narrowed suspiciously; he did not turn away from the man's stare. He returned it instead. Luckily Elizabeth was able to thwart suspicious off by acknowledging she knew him.
Despite the not so great first impression, Ray didn't let it sway what he thought of them because of Sam being Kristina's sister and Jason once being an important part of Elizabeth's life. He chalked it up to the tense atmosphere. Yesterday's 'meeting', now that was very interesting. Ray learned a lot through their non-verbal exchanges. He saw the jealousy on Jason's face whenever Johnny and Elizabeth did anything that suggested there was something between them, the deep concern he felt when he saw the package she had received and the way he tried to dismiss his boss regardless that it wasn't his place to do so. Something told him that the enforcer did this often. When it was revealed that Jason received a package too and what was inside as well as what the note read Ray saw everybody's reactions in the room; especially Sam. There was fear in the woman's eyes and it had nothing to do with this man Franco and everything to do with the possible threat to her relationship.
When Elizabeth wanted to turn down using one of Sonny's guards Ray saw how hurt this made Kristina feel. It revealed to him that Elizabeth had once been friends with the mob boss and that their friendship had gone sour. His mind went back to the day when he first met Ethan when the man stopped by Johnny's Penthouse where he learned secrets from Elizabeth's past. Of course Ray had stepped out and didn't hear what was said but by the way they are tiptoeing around Kristina hoping she never learned any of them; he imagined these secrets weren't good. He had to admit he was curious. It was decided that this man named Cody would be Ms. Webber's guard. Whenever he meets this man he was going to observe him carefully and make sure he was right for the job because just like Kristina he cared for Elizabeth as well. Things suddenly became really interesting when Sam offered to help guard Cameron and Jake and Elizabeth reacted the way she did. To Ray it sounded like she didn't trust her to be anywhere around her boys; this had to stem from somewhere and it made his eyes narrow in suspicious as he looked at the dark-haired woman.
The vibration from his phone brought Ray back to the now where he was still sitting in his car outside of Kristina's home. Looking down at it he saw he had received a text from Brook Lynn. Seeing her name brought a smile to his face. Since Saturday, the day she opened up to him and revealed that she had been raped, the two of them have talked everyday; more than once in a day. After learning she didn't have a cell phone he took her with him to buy her one. It took him awhile to convince Brook to accept it. That very night when he was home he called to check on how she was doing after the emotional afternoon she had. They ended up talking to each other for over an hour. Ray enjoyed every second of it and has enjoyed all of their conversations.
"Hi." Her soft voice greeted him when he called her instead of replying to her 'Are you busy' text.
"Hey." He returned. "How is your day going?"
"It' good...kind of boring."
"I'm just about done here for the night. How about joining me for dinner?" Hearing how it sounded like he was asking her on a date he quickly added. "That way you can get out of your small room and go somewhere other than the bar downstairs."
"I'd like that but would you mind if we picked up take-out food and eat it somewhere with no crowd."
"Sure. I will be there in a few hours."
The smile was still there on his face after he hung up the phone. Ray knew he was getting too attached to those around him; something he knew he shouldn't be but couldn't help but doing. With Brook it was more and that made him extremely nervous. Nothing could happen between them and not just because she was dealing with a trauma in her life but also because he had no plans on staying here in Port Charles indefinitely. He couldn't. Yet that didn't stop him from stopping by a store and buying the items he needed to treat her to a nice picnic at the park. When he arrived at Jakes to pick her up Ray was nervous. It felt like he was going a date. Though he knew that wasn't what was going on here he couldn't help but feel that way. There have been many women he has been intimate with over the years but never has he been in any kind of relationship. When he walked in he nodded to the bartender who was standing behind the counter. He was about to greet the man when movement from his left caught his attention. Ray turned his head and forgot whatever it was he was going to say.
Brook was walking towards him looking absolutely breathtaking. He could feel his heart beating faster as he drank in the sight of her. She wasn't wearing anything fancy or even spectacular; she was in a pair of jean shorts and a plain brown t-shirt, but she looked different then the last time he saw her. Her hair was down and all Ray wanted to do was run his fingers through its long thickness. On her face she had a light layer of make-up and his eyes were drawn to her lips. Suddenly the temperature in the room picked up a notch and he knew he had to get a hold of himself. He reminded himself of what she had gone through not too long ago to help reign in the feelings that were coursing through his body. He smiled when she reached him.
"You look beautiful." A shy smile formed on her lips and she dropped her gaze as she thanked him. After greeting Coleman he led Brook to his car. The entire drive she kept trying to figure out where it was they were going since he was refusing to tell her. When he parked in the lot at the park she got out and looked at him hesitantly as he walked to the trunk of his car. Her eyes widened when she saw the basket and thin blanket he pulled out.
"I would never have pictured you as someone having a picnic basket."
"And why not?" He asked jokingly.
"You just don't seem like it."
"How do you see me?"
"Enjoying a nice quiet meal at home in front of the TV with a cold beer." He stared at her in wonder as she hit it right on the nail.
"That's exactly what I would do. How did you figure that out?"
Her arms clasped behind her back and she gave him a look of innocence as she shrugged her shoulders. "I just guessed."
"Why do I feel like you're not being honest with me?"
"Are you calling me a liar?"
"Well..." He teased her jokingly.
"Okay you got me. You mentioned it once and I remembered."
"That's right I did." He nodded his head. They stopped in the same spot where Ray first saw her. Together they spread out the blanket and seated themselves across from each other.
"So what are we eating?" He lifted the lid on the basket and brought out two plates that were covered with foil. She looked at it questionably then at him before peeling it back. Laughter rang out of her when she saw what was underneath it. "Pizza." She blurted out with delight.
"With everything on it."
"This is so funny. A few years before I moved here to Port Charles I had this really good friend by the name of Gina who had this crush on a boy we went to school with. I didn't like him all that much; thought he was a little too cocky but she did so I didn't say anything. She would watch him from afar and talked about him constantly to the point where I had had enough and talked her into asking him out. It took her an entire month to work up the nerve to approach him and when he said yes I thought she was going to burst with happiness. He was supposed to meet her at the park at lunch time where Gina had a picnic set up with pizza and a few cans of soda. I helped her set it up and then I was supposed to leave only I wanted to take a picture of them so that she would have it to remember always so I hid behind a large tree and waited. Only he never showed up and seeing how sad she was by this I joined her and together we enjoyed the picnic and..."
"You both turned it into a weekly tradition." He finished for her.
"Yeah." She confirmed. "How did you...?" Her voice trailed off as she stared down at their plates and the can of sodas he brought out before looking back up at him. "I told you already." He nodded his head. "You did this for me."
"You mentioned how much you missed it so I figured you would enjoy this." Brook was staring at him with wonder. "You're not the only one who listens."
"Thank you Ray."
"It's nothing..." He stopped when she gently laid a hand on his arm.
"It is to me." There were unshed tears in her eyes.
"You're welcome." After they finished eating and packed their plates back inside the basket Ray and Brook Lynn sat back and enjoyed the slight breeze that was blowing. It was a peaceful area they were in; only a handful of people passed by them but they paid them no mind.
"How long have you been working for Sonny?" She surprised him by asking. "It wasn't hard to figure out. You said you worked in security, you carry a gun around and the first time I saw you, you were with Kristina. I put it all together."
"Very observant of you." He complimented. "You're right I am a guard only I don't work for Mr. Corinthos." She looked confused by this.
"Who do you work for then?"
"Johnny Zacchara." Her eyes widened at that.
"I wasn't expecting that. So you're not Kristina's guard."
"I didn't say that." She looked confused.
"Johnny and Kristina are really good friends and I can't tell you anymore than that because it's not my place to say." When she hadn't said anything he worried that she may not like that since she was friends with Sonny Corinthos. "I would understand if you didn't want to see me again."
"Why wouldn't I want to see you again?"
"Because of what I do..."
"Get that thought out of your mind." She cut him off. "I'm fine with what you do I'm just finding it hard to believe knowing how much Sonny and Johnny hate each other; nothing more. " She assured him.
"Okay."
When they returned to Jake's both were not ready to call it a night so they sat in a booth at the back of the bar and continued their conversation. He listened with amusement as she told him about her parents and some of their crazy stories. He now knew where she got her talents from when she told him that her father was a singer. Ray also remembered hearing she was a Quartermaine. He has seen their mansion many times and wondered what kind of people they were. He tried to picture Brook living inside there but couldn't. He was enjoying hearing her talk about her family; he wished he had stories he could share with her but he couldn't because then he would have to mention Ana and that was something he couldn't do. So he sat back and just listened and watched every emotion that filtered across her face.
Ray knew the exact moment her mind wandered back to that day in the hotel room. Her eyes became hooded and she crossed her arms across her chest and he wished he could wipe that memory away for her. He hated seeing her in so much pain. He wanted so bad to reach across and grab hold of her hand but he wasn't sure touching her was the right thing to do so he kept his hands to himself. "I'm here." He softly assured her hoping that would be enough.
Her tear filled eyes looked up at him. "I know."
Author's Note: Thank you for reading. Chapter 13 will be added soon. Comments, criticisms and suggestions are always welcomed.