Chapter 32

-GH Hallway outside of Elizabeth's Room -

By the time Jason found a nurse to keep watch over the baby and made his way down to Elizabeth's room, the door was shut to him and Emily was there to grab his arm and hold him back. "They're doing everything they can."

"What happened?" His voice grated out through his raw throat, his heart pounding in his chest.

Emily shook her head in disbelief. "She was having a session with Kevin and... and..." Emily had no other words for him as Jason turned around in a circle and spied the man he was looking for standing near the hub.

Kevin, to his credit, didn't run... and he didn't flinch when Jason advanced on him across the crowded floor.

"What happened?"

The menace in Jason's eyes was real.

"She understands that what's in her head is different than what her instincts tell her... she was struggling to decide if she wanted to explore her gut reaction, but I could tell the struggle was difficult for her. Still, I had no idea that her mind was warring with the idea so much. She was bright and seemed to be dealing with the stress-"

"She's good at hiding herself behind a smile." Jason's heart ached for the woman he loved, turning his head slightly he watched as a nurse rushed into the room. "She takes too much on herself."

"She was starting to really challenge the ideas that Dr. Keenan put in her head, the one thing that really keeps coming up... the conflict at the core of this whole mess is that she's seeing Cameron in her head, not the new baby. It's hard to challenge that idea without trying to force the real information into her mind. I've been trying to cue her thoughts in the right direction."

Emily smoothed her hand down Jason's arm. "She'll get through this, Jason... she will."

- Audrey's Car -

She had trouble buckling Cam into his car seat, he just wouldn't stop squirming and Audrey couldn't help letting her frustration find release in her voice. Still, Cameron's distress wasn't lost on her. "Cameron, sweetheart, please, held your great-grandmother."

"Mommy," he groaned, "I want my mommy."

Audrey's tears were instant. "I do, too, Cam... I do too."

He finally settled somewhat into his seat and she was able to buckle him in.

- General Hospital - Elizabeth's Room-

Jason walked into the room and saw Monica hovering by the bed, smoothing Elizabeth's hair back from her face. She turned and gave him a weary smile. "She's worn out."

It was true. Jason could see the strain in her face even as Elizabeth slept. "What happened... really?"

Monica's features pinched slightly and Jason realized that she wanted to hide something from him.

"I need the truth."

She nodded and beckoned him closer. "The strain of whatever it was they did to her mind... the strain of the pregnancy... the preeclampsia... it's all taken its toll, Jason. She's a strong woman... but-"

"No." He cut her off cold. "You don't know her. You don't know how strong she is."

"No matter how strong she is, Jason," Monica sighed when she looked the younger woman. "A human body can only take so much punishment without injury... permanent imagery."

"Leave."

Monica stepped back away from Jason. "I'm not just saying this, Jason... I-"

"Leave." He glared at her. "Now."

She opened her mouth as if to say something else, but instead she backed out the door and shut it behind her.

Jason sat down on a stool beside the bed and took her hand in his. He felt the faint heat of her body as if it was trapped beneath her skin instead of infusing her body with life. "Our baby wants you to wake up... and remember." He began to talk to her. "He has blue eyes... like us. His hair is a lot like mine when I was younger. He's the best of you," he sighed, "and the parts he has from me doesn't seem to mess it up... so we're lucky."

Elizabeth's hand was still in his.

"He's still got this big empty space on his information card where his name should be."

The machine's taunted him with their incessant noises.

"So I'm hoping you'll open your eyes and remember." He held her hand between his and willed her to open her eyes. "I want to see your eyes when you look at me and know... that you know... how much I love you."

Sliding off the stool he leaned over the bed. His hand pressed their joint hands to the center of his chest as he leaned over her still form to kiss her lips. He pulled back a scant inch and whispered to her. "Come back to us, Elizabeth... please."

The door behind him opened and he turned, startling Emily as she hovered in the doorway. "Audrey's here."

Jason left with his sister to go and see Audrey Hardy.

-General Hospital ER-

Audrey and Cam were shown into an exam area and Audrey set Cam up on the bed and waited for the doctor to see them. Nadine was the first one to poke her head in. "Mrs. Hardy, what are you doing in here?"

Audrey touched Cam on the shoulder. "Elizabeth's son has a stomach ache and I wanted to see-"

"I thought you were here about Elizabeth!"

Fear stabbed at Audrey's heart. "What happened?"

Nadine looked like she regretted her words. "She was having a session with Dr. Collins when she went into arrest and-"

"Watch Cameron," Audrey pushed past Nadine and into the hallway. "I'll be back."

Nadine gave Cameron a grin... an uncomfortable one. "Hey, Cam."

The boy just stared at her with his big dark eyes. "I want my mommy."

"Well," Nadine searched her head for something to say... and came up blank, "I'm sure she wants to see you too, but-"

"I want to see my mommy!" Cameron scooted to the edge of the bed, holding his arms out as he waited for her to lift him down to the floor.

"Uh," Nadine was at a loss, "Cam, I don't think I can-"

"Hello there, Cameron."

Nadine swung around and let out a happy gasp. "Dr. Quartermaine! How nice to see you!"

Alan gave her a quick smile and then turned back to Cameron. "I'm Jason's daddy."

"Jason?" Cameron brightened and bounced on the bed. "I know Jason."

Alan waved Nadine off and she disappeared with a smile.

Cameron looked at the older man. "Do you know my mommy, too?"

"Oh I know her very well." He gave the young boy a grin. "I work with her here at the hospital and her best friend is my daughter, Emily."

"Auntie Emily!" Cameron's hands reached up above his head. "I love my Auntie Emily!"

"Yes... and she loves you too, Cameron. You're a pretty special boy."

Cam grinned at him. "Mommy says that all the time!"

Nodding, Alan stepped up to the bed. "I bet you think she's pretty special too."

Looking up at the doctor, Cam seemed confused. "She's my mommy!"

"You're right... that's all that matters isn't it?" Alan held out his hands to Cameron. "Want to go for a walk?"

Cameron narrowed his eyes at the man standing before him. "Only if you take me to my mommy."

Alan gave him a smile. "I thought you had a tummy ache?"

With a little grin, Cameron completely won over the doctor. "I knew if I was sick, Grammy Audrey would take me to the hospital."

"Somehow, I wonder if you're not a bit of a Quartermaine after all." Alan helped Cam down to the ground and took his hand. "Let's go."

- General Hospital ICU Nurse's Hub -

Jason caught Audrey before she ran into Elizabeth's room. "She's resting."

Audrey gasped and clutched her hands to her chest. "She's alive... that's all that matters." She looked around and saw Kevin standing nearby. "I'm beginning to question your methods, Dr. Collins."

Kevin took it like a man... standing up. "Medicine isn't a perfect science, Mrs. Hardy." He shook his head. "But I would never do anything that I thought would hurt Elizabeth. I know that her children are depending on her and she's well loved by so many people."

"I understand what you're saying," she shook herself, "but I'm beginning to wonder when this nightmare will be over. And now, poor Cameron is ill."

"Cam?" Jason straightened up and looked at Audrey with real worry etched in his features. "What's wrong with Cameron?"

Audrey's emotions and focus shifted on a dime. "I brought him in with a stomach ache.. he's had it all day."

Jason stepped up beside Audrey. "Can you take me to see him?"

She looked at Jason and saw the real concern for the boy in his eyes. "I think he'd be happy to see you."

Jason gave her a nod. "I think I need to see him."