My ladies and Bill are doing well, just going stir crazy, they finally got to read this, so now I can post it here. Thanks for your patience.
Chapter 94
Time hadn't stood still while Jason was in his coma, while he was asleep, several things had happened that Elizabeth wasn't too eager to tell him about. At least not until she was sure that he was up to dealing with everything. "Francis, what do you think?"
"He seems like our Jason, but he has been quieter than normal. What did the doctors tell you?"
"That his memories seem to have fused." She said still feeling confused. Jason, her Jason was there, but he had moments when she saw the vulnerability that was Jason Quartermaine. "Francis, we can't keep things from him, so go ahead."
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth ducked back into the room, and saw Jason talking to Lia. "Jason, we are going to visit with Grams while Francis gets you caught up on what has been going on." Leaning in for a good bye kiss, Elizabeth felt that familiar grab at her stomach that told her that her body wanted more than a kiss. Good to see some things were still the same.
Elizabeth put Lia in the more maneuverable stroller with the large wheels and went to find her grams. Seeing her talking to Lila, Elizabeth smiled at the lighter expressions on the elderly women's faces. "How is Jason?"
"Better, he had some nightmares while asleep, but now that the cobwebs are gone, he is feeling better." Much better she thought ruefully. Carly had almost interrupted them the previous evening as Jason seemed to be determined to prove how well he was.
Jason looked up at former guard and said "So what is going on?"
"Sonny called, he wants you to call him as soon as you are well." Francis didn't even bother mentioning that the former mobster hadn't even asked about Jason, because in typical Sonny fashion, he hadn't.
"Let me guess he wants to know about that hacker?" Jason said shaking his head. "Tell him as soon as we know something, we will let him know. What do we know?"
"We tracked him down to one of Jasper Jacks' hotels. I didn't tell him what was going on, just asked about the incident. Turns out they caught the real Sam McCall there. She is singing in exchange for not facing additional jail time. She is facing time in a federal facility, twenty years for her part in all of it. By the way she mentioned that Jerry Jacks was after the money left to the Zachara girl but lost out when we moved her here."
"What about Ric Lansing, is she going to testify against him?"
"No, her testimony would have exonerated the bastard, anyhow. Not that it is going to be necessary. He was taken out two days ago, connected to Italy, not us. A bullet sent with the Zachara family crest stamped on it."
"Did they pull in the kid?"
"No, he had one of the best alibis' in town. He was eating dinner with Mac, Alexis and Joe Kelly at the diner while waiting for Georgie."
"So it was this sister?" He asked.
"Yes, she is getting bold; she called and talked to one of the families about her family's former territory. The Gambini's made it plain that the moment she comes and makes an aggressive move, they will take her out."
"What has been going on elsewhere? Elizabeth seems to be trying to protect me."
"Not much, Georgie knows about Johnny and with Ric's death and any threat to Kitty taken care of, they are going to tell Mac and Alexis this weekend. We will have fulfilled our debt to Kitty's grandfather, who has cancer. He talked to Max and Milo's dad in Sicily. We do have to talk about that. Max never told the man what he was doing here."
"How did he take it?"
"Disappointed that his son was lying to him, he told his father he ran things around here. Max has been ordered to visit home as soon as you are well enough."
Jason gave Francis some orders then thanked him for all his help.
"Hey, that is what friends do, they cover for one another." Said the man with a small grin. "Now if you will excuse me, I have to take your attorney for lunch."
"She is a handful, are you sure about that one?" Asked Jason.
"Yup, she keeps me on my toes." He said smiling at the memory of the red head's way of waking him up that morning.
"Good luck, but if you are planning on proposing, just a hint, Kelly's isn't a good idea."
"How did...?" Said Francis. "Who told you about what happened?"
"Hospital gossip, I overheard two of the training nurses talking about it, seems like they were witnesses." Said Jason with a small grin.
""I wasn't actually proposing I was fishing for what her answer would be when I did." Said Francis. "By the way, Johnny is coming to see you soon; right now he is with Kate Howard at her doctor's appointment."
Johnny could barely understand what the machine was showing him. Turning to Kate, he asked if she was okay.
"Yes, I just can't believe how big the baby is getting." She said touching the picture that Dr. Lee had given to them. "How are you doing with this?"
"Fine, but I really wish that the baby would lie still long enough for us to find out if it is a girl or boy?"
"It has to be a boy; no girl is that stubborn." She said.
Chuckling, Johnny thought, who was she kidding only women were that annoying, and it looked like his daughter was going to take after it's mother. Seeing Dr. Lee returning with a frown on her face, he asked what was wrong?
"Nothing, I just need to warn you to be careful. The chicken pox is going around right now. According to Miss Howard's chart, she never had them."
Kate hadn't but Connie had, she thought guiltily. As soon as they left the doctors office, she let Johnny know that there was nothing to be worried about.
"You need to get your records updated. All this bull crap with your separate identities could endanger our child." He scolded before offering to buy her something to eat.
"No thank you. I have a meeting with a woman named Lila Quartermaine. I need to find out where this office is." She told him holding up a piece of paper with an office number on it.
Looking around, Johnny saw the woman in question with Elizabeth Morgan and said "She is right over there, with her great granddaughter. Let me introduce you."
Seeing her shock, he sighed. Kate was such a snob, but he was going to ignore her shock at his knowing one of the grand dames of Port Charles. "Mrs. Quartermaine, you look lovely today." He said before smiling at Elizabeth who was pushing the stroller. "Liz, you'll do."
Kate was shocked at his attitude towards the woman, but soon saw the smiles and laughter. Kate saw him bend down to smile at the little girl in the stroller who seemed to reach out for him.
"May I pick her up?" He asked Elizabeth who agreed while rolling her eyes at Lila. "She isn't even in kindergarten and she is already got boys wrapped around her finger."
"She wanted out, so I am always more than willing to free an unreasonably imprisoned beautiful woman." Said the enforcer with the dancing green eyes.
"Kate, say hello to Elizabeth Morgan, Lila Quartermaine and the delightfully charming Lila Audrey Mor- owh!" He said as Lia reached up and grabbed tightly onto his nose and yanked to the laughter of the three women standing there. Johnny Zachara and Georgie who were looking for Elizabeth joined in the gaiety, before the younger woman freed him from her clutches.
When the party had sorted out, Elizabeth and Georgie had gone to the chapel while Lila and Kate went to discuss the article that Kate wanted to write. Lia was being walked back to Jason by the two men, who were happy to see their boss up and about.
Taking his daughter into his arms, Jason said "What is up?"
"Not much, Francis said he caught you up about business." Said Johnny. "One thing, the Cannery is full. I was looking at the old pier; we might need to expand into the building there if we want to keep growing."
"Find out what is needed. I have an assignment for you. I need you to talk to Kate about Olivia and Dante. If you are comfortable with it."
"I already did. She is bringing Dante home to visit him next month."
"Good. Johnny I understand you are telling Alexis the truth, this weekend."
"We told Maxie and Robin who agreed to be there. Elizabeth was asked but with the secrets about Jeff about to be blown wide open. Dr. Webber went to the courts who agreed he has a right to know about what happened to his sperm, Alexis is going to tell him before he find it out."
"I know that Audrey is aware of the truth."
"Yes, according to Georgie she is unsure how she feels about it."
Georgie listened as Alexis and Audrey talked. Elizabeth's father was due in a few minutes, and they were all tense. Mac had agreed to not being there, only because he was dealing with the FBI and an annoying Agent Raynor who was furious about Ric dying. He had wanted to turn the man and find out what he knew about various mob families.
"Alexis, I agree that you had no intention of having anyone but Mac is Kristina's father, I get that. I even agree that the man is one of the better father figures in this town."
"Why do I hear the word but there." Said the attorney.
"Jeff had no idea that his donation was going to be used that way. While I agree he has not been the best father, I still don't think that he will walk away. Not after what happened in the past. You really can't expect him to."
"Elizabeth what do you think?"
Shrugging her shoulders, she said "I think that Jeff was a lousy father, no matter what the reason. But at the same time, I can't help agreeing that he deserves to be given a chance. My guess is that he lets things stay the way they are. Mac is for all intents and purposes Kristina's father."
"Audrey, why are we meeting in the chapel?" Asked the man in question when Monica escorted him into the room. "Elizabeth, hello." He said going to hug his daughter.
"Dad, can you sit down?" She said. Alexis hadn't been thrilled with Elizabeth's request to be the one to tell him, she had felt that it should be on her to tell him the truth and why she had kept it a secret. Elizabeth suggested that he might take it better from her.
Sitting down, he saw how pale she was and gripping her hand asked if she was okay.
"Yes, I am fine. We know what happened with your 'donation' to the clinic." She said awkwardly.
Stunned at the topic of discussion, he sat quietly as Elizabeth explained the mix-up. Then about Alexis and why she had been so insistent on keeping him out of it. Finally that Elizabeth had learned about it earlier that year, and then that Audrey had learned by accident. "So what happens now?"
"Shouldn't that be my question?" He asked. "Alexis, what are you comfortable with? Also where is your husband, shouldn't he be here?"
"Mac wanted to be, but I thought you might feel a bit ganged up on. Georgie came for moral support instead. "
"I honestly don't know how I feel. I wanted to know the truth, but learning that there really was a child born, and that she is here.... I need to think of it. I do promise you one thing; I will not try to take her away from your husband and you." He said looking Alexis in the eyes. "I am well aware that the two of you having been raising her and that you are her mother. As for me, I guess I should take some time to figure that out."
Jeff thanked them for telling him, then walked out the door still in shock at what he had learned. Some part of him knew that he had to let things be, but another part recalled learning the truth about Steven and the damage that did to his relationship with his father. Walking through the park, he tried to wrap his mind around things.
Two hours later, he still had no answers but seeing Jake's entered. Sitting down he had no more answers then when he had left the hospital. Seeing a familiar face sitting at the bar, he got up and walked closer. "Noah, is that you?"
When the man turned around rather shakily, Jeff asked "Are you okay?"
"No, I came in to visit with my son; instead we got into our usual shouting match about how I was a lousy father and how he is a better surgeon and even a better man." Chuckled the dark eyed man. "What are you doing in town?"
"Visiting my daughter, Elizabeth. Annie's daughter, in fact." He said hesitantly, this man had been there when his daughter was born, had delivered her as well.
"I knew she was hers, I almost gave it away a few years ago." He said to Jeff. "She is most definitely her mother's daughter. Right down to the core."
"I know, I spent years running from it, it consumed me."
"You were protecting her; I never got that, you know. Divorcing Carolyn would have worked a lot better."
"No, this way I had the ability to at least attempt keeping her under control." Watching as the wreck of a man kept drinking, Jeff saw the sallow tinge to the man's skin and wondered if he had liver disease. Seeing him throw back another drink, he grabbed the man's keys and nodded for the bartender to cut him off.
Jason was wondering how much longer he had to be kept in the hospital. When he approached his brother in law and Drake, they assure him that he would leave at the end of the week. "Your brain seems to be firing on all cylinders. And now that your memories are available to you, I just want to keep an eye on your test results."
Elizabeth reached over to touch Jason's shoulder and asked Patrick, is there any reason I can't watch out for him at home?
"No, you might need to monitor his blood pressure every couple of hours, but other than that, Jason would just have to come in for blood work."
"So tomorrow?" He asked them.
"There really is no reason for you to stay tonight." Admitted the brain surgeon. Calling up Robin Scorpio, he informed her that they were letting Morgan head home.
"Fine, his wife can watch him. Do you have the data available?"
"In the morning, before your flight. I can meet you at the airport or bring it to your Uncles."
"See you at the airport." She said hanging up. She sighed, he was cute but way too much of a player and Steven Webber seemed to have a god complex. Alan Quartermaine had thanked her for her help, but had made it pretty clear that all positions at GH were filled at the current moment. She couldn't help wondering if her past attitude was why she couldn't get hired here.
Walking into the living room, she saw Maxie sewing beads on an outfit, as Kristina seemed to be playing with her blocks. "Where are Georgie and her shadow?"
"Kitty is over with Michael; they have been playing soccer together a lot. Georgie is with Alexis. Then she is meeting Johnny for dinner. Just the two of them."
"What about Kitty?" She asked, she was still shocked that the same Uncle Mac that had given her such a hard time about dating was comfortable with Georgie practically living with a guy. "What is this weekend about, do you think they are planning on getting married or something?"
"Most definitely or something." Said Maxie laughing. "It's about his parents. That is all I know. Could you please hand me that black swirly bead?"
Georgie was telling Johnny about what had happened when Francis entered looking for them. "I need to talk to the two of you."
Hearing what he wanted, Georgie looked at Johnny and laughed. "Francis are you sure about this?"
"She said yes, but that it had to be tonight." He explained. "So will you do it?"
Shrugging, Georgie went to call Alexis and then asked what else needed done.
Carly rushed into the hotel, grateful it was empty other than the training of staff. "Jax, Jax, JAX!" She shouted. Everyone turned to start at the stirred up blond.
"Carly what is it?" He asked coming from his office. "I could hear you yelling all the way down the hall."
"I need a really big favor. Can we hold a wedding here tonight?"
"Depends on who the couple is?" He asked amused. They had their capacity license but Carly had insisted on having the staff completely trained before opening.
"You don't want to know." She warned.
Father Coates entered the new hotel at the same time as the police commissioner and his wife. "I can't say this is the first rush wedding, but I have to admit it is the first where the couple didn't have to rush to get married." He said with a laugh.
An hour later, Johnny's romantic dinner became a wedding shower as Francis rushed Diane into marriage. Carly got him off to the side and asked why he was in such a hurry.
"I am not giving her a chance to walk away." He said.
Jason walked into the penthouse to the sounds of his daughter playing with her small toys. Seeing Audrey and Emily sitting on the sofa with her, he asked how she was doing?
"Your little girl is full of herself this evening. I think that she knew her daddy was coming home tonight." Said his sister as Elizabeth came into the penthouse holding the mail. "Liz, did you get my invitation yet?"
"Yes, it came yesterday. Why are you sending out formal invitations to your maid of honor?" She asked as she watched Jason sit down. She hated to be acting like his nurse here at home, but it was the only way that Steven and Patrick would let him out.
The two women edged towards the door wanting to let the small family be home alone for the first time in almost a month. "Liz, I will see you at the hospital tomorrow."
Once it was just the two of them, Elizabeth said "I have to get Lia to bed. I will be right back down."
"Good, Elizabeth, we have to talk." He said softly. "There are a few things I have to tell you."
Elizabeth picked up their daughter and let him kiss her goodnight before carrying her up to give her a bath and put her to bed. She dawdled as much as she could, worried about what Jason wanted to talk about. He had been acting more like Jason Quartermaine the further away from the hospital that they got. Finally growling at herself, she rushed down the stairs, only to sit down next to him on the sofa. "Jason, what is going on?"
Smiling slightly, he said "Good things, at least I hope so. First I have a few things I need to tell you. I have all the Morgan as well as the Quartermaine memories. But I also had a strange dream while in that coma. That is what we need to talk about."
"Okay, what kind of dream." She asked worried.
"I saw Carly's future. I saw the mistakes we made, I saw me losing you time and again. Out of our fear and our eagerness to protect others." He said looking into her eyes. "That will NOT happen, I promise you that."
Elizabeth realized that what she had taken as Quartermaine's attributes were in fact Jason dealing with what had happened in that alternative timeline. "I love you." She said softly. "I am still a little worried; I just don't find Jason Quartermaine too attractive compared to my Jason."
"That's funny because my Quartermaine half keeps coming up with remarks that would make me very happy in an hour's time." He said dryly. "He is in love with you almost as much as I am."
"Are they separate parts or integrated?"
"For the most part they are integrating. The medical stuff is coming into my mind. His memories of Alan and Monica as well as the rest of the family. The infamous Thanksgiving Day dinners are there. I still don't understand some of his other memories. What little that are in my head involve helping Karen Wexler after she was addicted, dealing with AJ's drinking and few other things."
"Have you told Patrick that?" She asked as he pulled her into his arms.
"Just that I have had some memories integrating. Not what they are. But how are you feeling?" He asked as he touched her stomach.
"Fine, a little sore like I was with Lia." She admitted blushing.
"I seem to remember helping with that." He said with a smirk.
"Too bad, this time you can't. At least not yet. You heard my brother yesterday. No more of that for at least a week."
"I don't recall Steven saying a thing about making out with my wife."
"Your blood pressure, remember." She said with a laugh. "The whole reason they wanted to keep you for some additional tests was because of the spike we caused in your blood pressure. Now behave."
"As soon as I get the all clear..." he said leaving it for her to figure out. "You know what happens if I wake up in the middle of the night and forget what is not supposed to be going on?"
"Jason Morgan, you are going to be good, if you are really good, I will give you a surprise." She offered. "A really, really good surprise."
Thinking of all the ways she could surprise him, Jason said "My ability to fantasize came back at just the right time. I can think of lots of ways you can surprise me."
Laughing, Elizabeth and he walked up to bed, stopping to visit their daughter on the way.
The next morning, Jason had a visitor that ruined their good mood. "Alcazar, its barely seven o'clock."
"I ha- rather we have a problem." Said the man. May I come in?"
Jason let him into the penthouse, grateful that Elizabeth was working this morning and Lia had gone to day care. Sitting down, he waited for the older man to start talking.
"Skye had an idea to get Diego straightened out while you were in the hospital. It seemed to be working, but yesterday morning when we were supposed to go to court, he was gone. I had a tracker on him. Morgan, he is in Italy with working for Claudia Zachara. Before he left, he had contact with Lulu Spencer."
"What does Lulu have to do with anything?" Asked Jason.
"She was bragging about having access to one of your men. Someone who would talk about things to her. My tracker is bringing me the information he overheard, but it didn't sound good. It sounded like she got some stuff she shouldn't."
"Did you get a name? He asked grimly.
"That I got right away. I am sorry about this." Said Lorenzo. "The man's name is Logan Hayes."
Jason went over and called Francis, "Who is Logan Hayes and what does he do for us?"
"Hayes? The kid that runs and get meals. Why?"
"Does he have any way of getting access to anything we wouldn't want him to have?"
"No, he is a former military washout. We hired him for his possible connection to Jerry Jacks through that Barrett kid."
"He claims to have told Lulu Spencer shipping info and guard rotations."
"He never had access ever. I didn't trust him. We just hired him to keep an eye on him." Said Francis. "Do you want me to cancel my time off?"
"No, but have Johnny come over to the penthouse. Then head out. Thanks Francis, sorry to call you at home this morning."
"No problem, it was my decision to hire this kid." Francis hung up and kissed his new wife. "We can head out; that kid you called a braggart told Lulu Spencer he had access to secret files."
Sage met up with Georgie in the lunchroom. "Diego did a runner and had help from Lulu. That witch had better stay away from me or else." She said as they walked down the hall to their history classroom. "Are you ready for practice?"
"Yes, but I am running to get Kitty so that she can watch us. I asked permission before hand."
"I'm surprised Michael didn't want to come as well." Said the dark haired girl who suddenly growled.
"Down girl." Said Georgie as she glared at Lulu. What was she up to talking and getting that close to Dillon, was she trying to piss off Sage?
Walking up to her on again and off again boyfriend, Sage smiled at Lulu and suggested she head off to class. "We are running late for history, don't you have Spanish now?"
Lulu wanted to say she didn't care but knew that she didn't want to piss off Georgie. Georgie heard her name called over the PA and went to the office. "Miss Jones, you are required to head straight to the health office."
Entering, the nurse smiled at her and explained. "There is a rash of chicken pox cases running through the elementary schools. Since according to your records you never had them, we have to check. Michael Corinthos claims he had contact with you this week."
Groaning, Georgie checked and saw a spot. Showing it to the nurse, she saw the look of sympathy on her face and said "You might want to have Kitty Zachara checked too."
"I will call and arrange for your teachers to send you home your schoolwork." She said. "Do you want me to call your Dad?"
"No, I will take care of it. Nurse Kantic, what about my little sister?"
Looking at her file, the nurse suggested calling her parents right now.
Georgie grimaced but did so. "Dad, I need you to come to my school. They say I have the chicken pox."
Mac had been reading his paperwork but looked hard at the phone as if he could actually see his daughter. "I will call Alexis and we will be right there."
Twenty minutes later, they both arrived in the health office and listened to the nurse's recommendations. Hearing the phone ring, the women in the ducky scrubs answered. After listening and shaking her head, she asked Georgie if she came into contact with any other kids.
"Lia Morgan, I held her for a few minutes yesterday. Morgan Quartermaine, as well as my sister."
"Well, Kitty Zachara has them, do you know how to reach the children you mentioned parents?"
Alexis called Elizabeth who asked if she could call her back that the daycare needed her to come down. "They are going to probably tell you that Lia has the chicken pox."
Elizabeth went down and got confirmation, then was told she had to be checked herself. Ten minutes later, Elizabeth was grateful to learn she was immune to them. Unfortunately, Monica couldn't remember if Jason had them as a child.
Maxie and Kristina escaped them but Morgan was sick with a light case as well. As the calls spread like wild fire, a few more cases were confirmed, including Sage and Lulu. Dillon was the only escapee of the younger set.
After careful consultation it was decided that Lulu, Georgie and Kitty would stay at the Brownstone along with Carly's two boys. Elizabeth was going home with Lia, since the hospital records showed that Jason had a mild case of them, while AJ had spent two weeks in bed.
Sage had asked for permission to stay with Georgie, but Skye and Lorenzo decided to bring her home after finding out that Lulu was going to be staying there as well. Arriving in her room, Sage saw all the electronics and books. "Uncle Lo, this doesn't last that long."
"It will feel like it is that long." He said before leaving so that Skye could help with the calamine lotion that the doctor had recommended.
Elizabeth entered the penthouse and saw Jason reading a file while sitting on the sofa. "I have some bad news; Lia has the chicken pox."
"What is the chicken pox?"
As Elizabeth explained, Jason took their little girl up to her room and helped Elizabeth change her into something loose. "What do we do now?"
After explaining the treatment, Jason felt like something was just out of reach. Then JQ's memories came up. "What about the baby?"
"He or she is fine. I am immune to them." She explained as they took the bottle of lotion and carefully rubbed it on Lia.
Robin arrived back in Paris to fourteen voicemails. Listening to the various messages about the illness rushing through Port Charles, she found herself shaking her head at Patrick Drakes offer to come over to Paris and personally inspect her for the rash.
Dialing his number, she saw Brenda entering. "Dr. Drake, I was just calling to let you know that while your offer is appreciated, I had the chicken pox when I was seven. Maybe next time."
"Chicken pox?" Asked Brenda. Then hearing her explanation felt her jaw drop. "You were flirting with this Drake guy, do you like him?"
Last Brenda knew, Robin was still hung up on Jason, now she was leaving flirty messages with a doctor back home.
"No, he is insufferable, arrogant and thinks he knows everything, while having sex with anything that moves."
Brenda couldn't help thinking that other than the sex, he sounded just like her best friend.
Diego reached over and pulled his shirt from the top of the dresser. "You know you are absolutely incredible, Miss Zachara."
Claudia purred, for a man so young, he certainly had staying power. "Come back to bed."
"I will be right back, I need some water." He said going to grab one of the bottles of water from the small refrigerator. "So is what I gave you of any help?"
"Yes, maybe not about the shipping and guards, they change those frequently. But this information about my brother, that will come in handy. Johnny needs to learn that affairs of the heart are a weakness he can't afford."
Diego crawled back into the messed up bed, then twenty minutes later, said "Are you sure that these are silk sheets, they are making my back itch."
Claudia saw the rash on the younger man's back, something she had missed in her eagerness to get him into bed. "What is wrong with you, why do you have spots all over your back?"
"I don't know." He said going into the bathroom. Claudia went to the door and did what she had planned for later.
"Take him out, then bring the body to our doctor, there is something wrong with the kid and I need to know if it is infectious."
TBC
The next chapter, my ladies refused to give me. They were not happy to be stuck in what they are now calling geriatric prison. This upcoming chapter has all of our faves dealing with the chicken pox and one fatality. We are also going to get a couple of love scenes and some odd couples working together dealing with this illness.