A/N – Thanks for the comments! AJ will definitely bring the drama.

Chapter 26 - Sidelined

Patrick finished up his exam. "Well, it's starting to heal. It will be a while before we know the extent of the nerve damage. It's important that you don't use the hand at all; not for anything. You can do more damage if you do," he explained.

"Okay."

"And there might be a necessity for a second surgery. We'll know in a few weeks. Do you have any questions?"

"Yes. When can I get out of here?" Jason asked.

"Because you lost so much blood, I prefer that you stay here until tomorrow," Patrick said.

Jason sighed. "Alright, but I need to leave first thing in the morning."

"Fine. I'll make sure that the paperwork is ready," Patrick said. "You will need physical therapy on the hand eventually as well."

Jason nodded.

"I really hope that she's okay," Patrick said before turning and walking away.

Sarah and Carly came back into the room.

"Are you staying until tomorrow?" Carly asked.

"Yes."

"Thank you Jason," she said.

"Will you do me a favor?" he asked.

"Anything."

"Will you go light a candle?" he asked.

She nodded and then kissed him on the forehead. "I can definitely go do that," she said before leaving the room.

Sarah sat down.

"You don't have stay here," he said.

"I know. Elizabeth wouldn't want you to be alone," she explained.

"She loves you a lot Sarah," Jason said.

"I love her too," she said brushing away a tear. "I know that sometimes I can be a pain in the ass but she's the only sister I have and no matter what, we have each other's backs."

"I get it. I mean, I feel that way with Emily; AJ not so much," he said.

Emily rushed into the room. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. The surgery went well," he said.

Sarah got up and cleared her throat. "I'll be right back."

"Jason, what is going on?" Emily asked.

"Elizabeth was taken but we're not sure who did it. That's all I know right now," Jason said.

"Is it always going to be this way?" she asked as she wiped away a tear. "Will she always be in danger?"

"Yes."

Sarah walked back into the room, she didn't understand why Liz would put herself in this position.

"I know what you are thinking. I'd walk away from her if I could but I can't."

"You mean you won't," Sarah said softly.

"Maybe I'm just a selfish asshole but I love her so damn much. We made a baby together and I want a life with them," he said emotionally.

"I get that you love each other but I'm just wondering exactly what kind of quality life she'll have if she's getting kidnapped every five minutes. It's not about you Jason. I like you. I see that you adore her. I just wish you were a banker or something instead."

Jason tilted his head thinking about him being a banker and Sarah started to laugh and then he smiled. "If I have to lojack your sister from here on out I will. I would do anything for that woman," he said.

"You are so whipped," Sarah said. "Thank you for loving her so deeply. I know this is killing you right now. I don't mean to come down on you. I'm just worried."

"I know. It wasn't like you didn't say anything that wasn't true."

They were interrupted by Carly.

"Okay, candles are lit. Now we wait," she said softly.

They all looked at each other hoping that they would be contacted soon.

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One day bled into another. AJ had left Elizabeth alone for the most part. He was still trying to decide how he wanted to play all of this. He had a multi-national corporation and all the money he desired but the one thing that he wanted most of all was illusive; the love of his family. To him, it was simple. If Jason didn't exist, then they'd focus their attention on him and he'd finally get what he wanted. Sacrificing Jason's life was never a concern for him, but immediate death would be way to easy. He wanted Jason to suffer as much as he had. It wasn't like he crashed the stupid car on purpose. If he could take back that one night, he would. He looked up at his guard. "Did you do it?"

Mitch nodded. "I did. I'm now an official reverend and can marry you both."

AJ grinned. "Way to go. We just need to apply for a license under the radar."

"I can have it filed in New York or Pennsylvania instead," Mitch said.

"Let's go for good ol' PA," AJ said. "Let me know when it's done."

"There's one more thing."

"What?"

"Your brother had surgery at G.H. last night. He was released yesterday. Apparently, he cut his hand trying to stop a car from going over the side of the bridge," Mitch explained.

Jason frowned. "Maybe that explains why Marcus hasn't been in contact."

"I think Marcus is dead. He hasn't answered his phone and the car disappeared."

"Just great. I'll give my brother a call soon."

Mitch left the room.

"It's time to go talk to my blushing bride," AJ said getting up. "We need to get some things straight."

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Elizabeth stared out the window. She wondered what Jason was doing. The one thing she missed the most was his touch. Rubbing her belly, she closed her eyes for a moment as she visualized his face.

The door swung open and she spun around.

"Hello Elizabeth," AJ said.

She didn't say a word.

"Have you been practicing Jason's glare? You're pretty good at it," he said.

"What do you want AJ?" she asked.

"I wanted to let you know that we'll probably be married by this time tomorrow."

Liz rolled her eyes. "Are you really ready to drug me when you know that I'm pregnant?"

"That will be up to you. Are willing to hurt your baby when you don't have to?" he asked. "Think about it. I need to go make a call."

Elizabeth was livid.

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Jason, Johnny, and Spinelli were sitting in the living room at the Penthouse when Jason's phone rang.

"Morgan."

"Hello Jason. Remember me?" AJ asked.

Jason frowned. "AJ?"

"That's right. I have something that you want."

Jason's mouth dropped open. "You took Elizabeth?"

AJ grinned. "Yup. Wish I could see your face right now."

"You fucking asshole. What do you want?" Jason yelled.

"You know, you're going to get wrinkles early with all that frowning you do," he said imagining the look on Jason's face.

"I swear to God if you hurt one hair on her body….." Jason practically growled.

"You'll what. Sit the fuck down and shut up," AJ said angrily. "I am calling the fucking shots here. Tomorrow, I'm going to marry Elizabeth. If you want her and your child to remain alive and well, you will hand over the warehouses that the Dimeras wanted and not try to find her."

"If not?"

"Then I'll marry Elizabeth and make her life a living hell. I will make sure that they are miserable. You will never get to see them. But don't worry, when Elizabeth is pregnant with my child, I'll make sure you get pictures."

Jason put the phone in his injured hand and then picked up his glass and threw it across the room and it shattered against the wall. "I swear to God, there will be nowhere for you to hide. I will not stop until you are fucking tortured and lay dead at my feet. I'm coming for you AJ. You better be very fucking afraid," Jason said lethally.

AJ nervously smiled. "So, when you are transferring the warehouses?"

Jason closed his eyes to keep from completely losing it. "Let me hear her voice."

"You don't get to make the rules here."

"Let me here her voice now," Jason said so loudly and menacingly that even Johnny and Spinelli were scared.

AJ got up and went upstairs. "He wants to talk to you. Watch what you say."

"Jason?"

"Baby are you okay?" Jason asked as his voice softened.

"I'm fine. I don't know where I am but I'm not far," Elizabeth said before AJ pulled the phone away.

"There. I'll call you back tomorrow," he said before ending the call. "That will be the last time you speak to him ever." AJ yelled before slamming the door to the room.

Elizabeth broke down and fell onto the bed. She was scared. This needed to end soon.

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Johnny watched Jason carefully.

"I want to go talk to Susan," Jason said. "I need to find out what she knows."

"I already tried. She's not responding," Johnny said.

"Take me to her now," Jason demanded.

Johnny nodded and Jason followed him to the car.

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When they got to the safe house where Johnny had taken Susan, Johnny stopped Jason from going inside.

"You need to get your emotions in check. She's fragile right now," Johnny said.

Jason took a deep breath. "Okay."

They went inside.

Susan (Kristen) was sitting in a chair holding a stuffed animal humming.

Jason sat on the floor. "Susan, I need you to talk to me. It's really important."

She continued to hum.

"Susan, Elizabeth is in trouble. Kristen helped hurt her and I need to find her," Jason said softly.

"She is mean, mean, mean," Susan said softly. "But I took care of that. She can't hurt your Elizabeth anymore."

"But someone else is hurting Elizabeth; someone who was helping Kristen," Jason said. "I need to know where she is before they can hurt her baby."

Susan looked at Jason. "Her baby?"

"Yes. She's in danger," Jason said. "Can you try to think Susan? Were you following Kristen around?"

Susan nodded. This was almost too easy. AJ had double-crossed her so it was time to teach him a lesson, then she'd be there to pick up the pieces and he'd be indebted to her. "Yup."

Johnny was shocked that Jason got her to talk.

"Where did she go?"

"To the hotel and to the house that Elizabeth was at," Susan said.

"Anywhere else?" he asked.

She nodded. "She was with a man. I saw him kiss her," she said.

"Did he have darker skin or skin like mine?" Jason asked.

"Like yours."

"Do you remember where they were?" she asked.

"I think so."

There was a knock on the door. Johnny frowned and opened it. "Anna."

"Sorry guys. I had to find out what was going on. Who is that?" She couldn't quite see Susan's face.

Susan began to whimper and Johnny pushed Anna onto the porch.

"We are this close in finding out where Elizabeth is and I can't let you go in there and ruin it. Susan is fragile mentally," Johnny said as he pinched his fingers together.

"Susan Banks," Anna muttered. "Of course."

Inside, Jason focused in Susan. "Don't worry about her. She's just a friend. She won't hurt you Susan. I won't let her."

"You're such a nice man," she said.

"Will you help me Susan?"

She nodded. "Elizabeth was nice to me when I was looking for Elvis."

Jason stood up and held out his hand and Kristen took it and he led her to the door. "Susan, this Anna."

Anna smiled. "Hello Susan."

"Hi," Susan said shyly looking down.

"Susan is going to take me to the place that she followed Kristen to," Jason said.

"I'm coming with you," Anna said.

Jason nodded and they all got into his car.

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They drove back to the Metro Court. It was the only way that Susan said she could remember how to get there. And about a half hour away, they passed a street.

"That was it," she said. "I'm positive."

Johnny pulled over. "Johnny you come with me. Anna please stay with Susan. I'm not going to do anything. I just need to assess the situation," Jason said.

Anna nodded. "I'm going to trust you Jason. Don't make me regret it."

Jason got out with Johnny and they made their way through the woods and finally saw the house. There were several guards walking around.

Jason pointed and Johnny followed him to the side of the house and that is when he saw Elizabeth through a window. Jason sucked in a deep breath as Johnny tried to see how many men were in the back.

"Have a few of the guys move EJ and Stefano's bodies into the woods near the house. When AJ goes down, their deaths will be pinned on him. I want to make sure that he pays for good," Jason said.

"Done," Johnny said.

"Let's go," Jason said.

They quickly made it back to the truck and headed back to the safe house.

"What do you want to do?" Anna asked.

"We need a plan; a way to get to her without her getting hurt," Jason said. "Anna, AJ Quartermaine is the one that took her."

Anna's mouth dropped open.

"He hates me so he's doing this for revenge. He called earlier and said that he was going to marry her tomorrow," Jason said. "We need to stop this before that can happen."

Anna nodded. "Don't worry. I have enough agents in the area to do what we need to do."

"Johnny and I have to be there. We can supply a few more men."

Anna's eyebrow went up. "I'd prefer to keep this completely above board."

"And I'd prefer that I at least be there in case AJ goes off the deep end," Jason said.

"You and Johnny can be there too. The rest of your men can stay by the road but they have to stay out of the way," Anna said. "I'll make sure an ambulance is on scene in case Elizabeth needs it."

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Johnny pulled up to the safe house and they all got out. He walked Susan inside the house.

"Are you going to okay here?" Johnny asked. There was a new guard named Lee stationed outside to watch out for her.

"I'll be fine. You go save that baby," Susan said.

Anna was talking on the phone. "Can you do it in three hours?" she asked.

Kristen took note of the time and then watched as Johnny left. She was debating on whether she should go the house under the guise of helping and get Elizabeth. She could easily get one over on Lee and steal his car and drive back to the other house. She smirked and found some paper and a pen in the kitchen and wrote a note to Johnny explaining that she didn't mean to hurt Lee but she needed to help.

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Anna, Johnny, and Elizabeth drove to one of the Corinthos coffee house. Sonny thought it was kind of ironic that they would let the WSB use it as a home base. Of course, they'd have it swept for bugs after they left but it did give him the creeps that there were so many agents running around.

Jason walked inside and looked at Sonny's worried face and smirked. "Thanks for doing this. I know it's asking a lot."

"Elizabeth means a lot to you and I just want to make sure that she's safe," Sonny said.

"Well, hopefully, this will be a surprise and he won't see us coming. I don't want her hurt," Jason said.

Francis and Cody walked up. "So, what's the deal?"

"You have to stay out of the way but I want you both there just in case," Jason said. "I'll be going in with Anna."

"Jason, you're injured. I don't think you should be going in without a guard," Francis said.

"Do you doubt my skills?" Anna asked Francis who looked over at her.

He smirked. "Should I?"

Anna gave him a wry look. "I could take you Corelli," she said making Francis grin.

Jason and Johnny looked back and forth between the two.

"She'd eat him for breakfast." Johnny whispered.

Jason nodded.

"I have a helicopter at our disposal. I would normally drop in that way but since I need to babysit Jason, I'll be on foot," she said making Jason roll his eyes as Johnny grinned.

The group of agents gathered around.

"No one goes in before I say so. We need to wait for a good opening. I don't want to give them the opportunity to hole up in the house and barricade themselves in. So, we'll have a few agents smash through the second story windows. We'll only go in Elizabeth's bedroom if necessary. Try to take AJ alive but if you can't, then take him down," she said before looking over at Jason who nodded.

He didn't give a shit what happen to AJ. He was on his own.

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Kristen parked the car and slipped out into the darkness of the night. After hitting Lee over the head with a lamp, she had grabbed his keys and took the car. "Easy peasey," she muttered as she walked through the wooded area.

The guards were all huddled on one side of the house talking to each other, so she snuck along the other side of the house and climbed into an open window and then ducked behind a couch. And when she thought it was safe, she crept upstairs and slipped into a room.

AJ came down the hallway and she saw him unlock Elizabeth's door and then leave once he saw that she was sleeping.

She smiled. Now was her chance. After he was gone, she crept down the hallway and took out some tools and began to pick the lock and then slipped into Elizabeth's room and re-locked the door.

She sat down next to Elizabeth and stroked her hair making Liz jump up and gasp. "Susan?" she asked as her mouth dropped open.

"That's me," Susan said.

"How did you get in here?" she asked incredulously.

"I snuck in," Susan said.

"Why?"

"Because you need help silly. I came to rescue you," she said smiling.

Liz was stunned. She stared at the woman for a moment until she found her voice. "Susan, do you understand how dangerous it is to be here?"

Susan nodded. "Uh huh. And your McDreamy will be here soon. He's bringing a lot of people to help save you and the baby."

Liz's eyes grew big. "Jason is coming?"

"Yup and Johnny and some lady named Anna….."

Liz was surprised that they must have sought outside help.

"I have a gun and I'm not afraid to use it," Susan said. "I stopped that mean Kristen from hurting you.

"Well, don't pull it out yet. I don't think AJ will come up here for a while," Liz said calmly.

"Okay then we'll just hang out," Susan said.

"Once we know Jason is here, we'll hide in the bathroom," Liz said.

"Okay. Sounds like a plan."

Liz sighed. She really hoped that neither of them got hurt but Jason was on the way and hopefully, she'd be back with him soon.