Chapter 3

Jason was only partially paying attention to what Sam was telling him. He had gotten back to the penthouse a little while before to find she had ordered dinner from Kelly's and had set it up for the both of them.

After explaining he had already ate, then had to deal with her tears over what she had described as her trying to help him for all the help he had given her. Right now, he was trying to find a graceful way to escape but Sonny was at home, annoyed with Carly, the business was running quietly and efficiently.

Just as he was about to give up, he heard Sam's words and knew they were going to have to talk AGAIN. While he understood she was a bit out of it, because of the baby, clearly she didn't get it. Whatever she chose to name her daughter was up to Sonny and her, he would have nothing to do with it.

Starting to speak, he heard his phone and was surprised to see that the call was from the guard he had assigned to Elizabeth. "Morgan."

"Sir, she packed up the last of her things, left the Hardy residence and has driven home." reported the guard. Then after a few seconds added. "She was sitting in her car and crying sir."

"Why didn't you let me know before this?" he asked standing, starting towards the door.

"Sir, she is fine now. I think she had yet another argument with her grandmother." he said. "There is another reason I called. I checked, that car that I have seen around the Scorpio house, it belongs to the Zachara family."

Not liking that, Jason was already reaching for his coat, when the guard said "Sir, something else, did you assign Max to check up on me?"

"No. I didn't. Did he show up?" Jason asked, not mentioning names, not wanting Sam to know what was going on, she was eavesdropping a little too often for his comfort lately.

"Yes, wanted to know why I was watching the police commissioner, I told him that you were keeping an eye on that new detective dating the blond sister, that Maxie. I figured if need be, I can admit to knowing he has been sneaking around and dating Scorpio's daughter."

"I am on my way, let me know if he shows back, immediately." With that, he turned off the phone then said "Sam, I have to go out. There will be a guard in the hall if you need anything."

Watching him leave, Sam was not a happy camper. Calling Sonny, she could hear his annoyance at her daring to bother him, so she didn't even ask, knowing that more than likely he would lie to her anyhow.

Hanging up, she had no way of knowing that Sonny was too distracted by seeing Carly kissing her husband at the hospital to care anyhow. Sam waited an hour, then faked yet another panic attack.

The guard took her to the hospital, she was quickly admitted and when Sonny showed up he was furious to learn that Jason had left her all alone.

Calling his second in command, he was mollified to be told that Jason was looking into a possible leak. Not knowing that the person he was concerned about was Max. "Well get here as soon as possible, she had another health scare and is asking for you."

At General Hospital, Ric was sitting with Alexis, as Kristina slept. "We have to talk about it."

"No, we don't." she snapped then apologized. "You are right, we have to talk about it. I just hate that I am going to have to depend on him for anything. I hate that he can swoop in here and make my life miserable."

"What about my suggestion, that we are married. It might help." he said. When she actually considered it, he pressed his advantage. "It is the best way to protect Kristina. You heard Ned, if you don't tell him, he will. Take control of the situation, Alexis. Besides, you know that Sonny is the father of Sam McCall's baby. You heard the doctor, stem cells might work."

Standing, she said "Can you call Father Coates and arrange for the wedding."

Agreeing, he walked out, went to the chapel and grinned widely at finally getting one over on Sonny. Walking back to the hallway, he saw that Sam was being led into a hospital room with Sonny unhappily following behind.

Elizabeth had had enough, she was back at work when Lucky showed up yet again. The day before she had had it out with her grams, now it appears that it was going to be necessary for some equally plain speaking with her ex fiancee. "Elizabeth, we need to talk."

"You will have to wait, Lucky." said Alan Quartermaine. He had come to speak to Elizabeth about her schedule request for the surgical training sessions and knew that part of what they were going to have to talk about was Lucky.

"Elizabeth and I need to talk." insisted Lucky then seeing others were watching, walked away for now. He was getting pretty fed up with this, his brother owned this hospital, yet the staff treated him like he was dirt. Mac had already been on his case, he didn't need another run in with his boss, he would talk to his brother later, get him to tell the staff to stay out of his business with Elizabeth.

Mrs. Hardy had been back for almost a day and a half, she had promised to speak to Elizabeth, promised to help him get all of this straightened out. He would let it go now, there would be time to fix this, after all, everyone was on his side.

Alan led the way back to his office and sat down across from Elizabeth and asked. "This is in regards to your intentions to join the surgical training sessions. I will be honest Elizabeth, it is a very difficult path and if you can't give it everything, I would prefer you let me give the position to another nurse."

"I can, I swear, Dr. Quartermaine." she said quietly.

"How is that possible when every other day Lucky is showing up at your work place. You need to be very clear about one thing, I won't let anyone, even someone I have watched grow up treat this hospital as a hobby." Alan knew she had the ability to do the job, but did she have the staying power, that was his issue.

"Sir, I am serious about being a surgical nurse. I will deal with Lucky. WE aren't back together and I have no intention of doing so. He doesn't respect my choices or my son. I won't accept any less from those I let near my son."

Nodding, then thinking on how Emily had gone quiet in regards to the relationship between Elizabeth and Lucky. Now he was hearing that that relationship had never actually existed. "Elizabeth, your grandmother said that Lucky and you are close to getting engaged. Is she wrong?"

"More like putting pressure on me to make it true. I have told her repeatedly that there is no future. I have moved out, have done everything I can do to get those around me to face that Lucky Spencer is not my future."

"Elizabeth." Looking at her, he told her. "I will help you deal with Lucky. Make it clear the the security staff to keep him away as much as possible without causing a scene. Would that help?"

"I hate to admit needing help, but yes." she said with a sigh of relief. "He hasn't found out my new address yet, but I am living next to Mac Scorpio so I would guess being at home shouldn't be a worry for me, and if I could get some breathing room here, it would ease some of the pressure off me."

"I will take care of that." he said then saw her hesitating and wasn't sure what to do, but knew if she changed her mind, she was out of the surgical program so her response surprised him.

"Uh, sir one thing. Well, with Nik being his brother, how will you get them to obey your orders? And Em... well we have sort of had it drive a wedge between us." she said embarrassed to be telling her boss and Em's father this.

"I am chief of staff and if need be, I am more than willing to throw around the Quartermaine name." he said with a half smile as she stood and said thank you. "No, Elizabeth, there is nothing to thank me for. This is part of my job. What I will also do is try to talk to Emily.'

Nodding again in thanks, she went back to work just as she saw Jason getting off the elevator along with Diane Miller. Neither were close to each other, but suspicion made her look at both of them closely when the red head came over to her. "Elizabeth, how are you my dear?"

"Lovely, Diane." she said with a smile as the older woman looked at Jason then Elizabeth asked if he needed something. "Just a few minutes, later. I will give you a call or stop by when I can."

Smiling in acquiescence, she returned to direct Diane to her appointment then agreed to have lunch with her attorney in an hour as the hospital business began to take up more of her time.

"Elizabeth."Looking up and seeing her brother she asked "Steven, when did you get back?"

"They brought me back to consult on the Kristina Ashton case." he said giving her a hug then whispering. "I heard you have dealt grams a crushing blow in her need to control your love life."

Feeling her stiffen, he said "No, I think you did the right thing. I saw Lucky this morning while I was at the police station to file some paperwork regarding John Durant's death, he is awfully cocky for a man who has lost you."

"He came here a while ago, left after Dr. Quartermaine asked me speak to me. I am afraid this is all going to come to a very ugly end." she said with a heavy sigh then though back. "Wait, Mr. Durant died?"

"Yes, two weeks ago, while in the city." he explained that it had been a hit and run. "An old limo, the car was found abandoned down by the old Coney Island amusement park."

"Wow, poor Carly." she said feeling for the blond who had never really gotten close to her father.

"She didn't turn up for the funeral but did for the will reading, don't feel too sorry for her." he said drily. Seeing her shaking her head in surprise, he added "I have someone I want to introduce you to later, but right now, I have to check on my patient. She is a nurse, I talked her into coming here from Memphis."

Before Elizabeth could tell him about already meeting Nadine, he had started walking away, he stopped and said "Oh, I found Gram's with this, it was addressed to you and she was about to open it."

Reading the return address, Elizabeth gave a heavy sigh and said "Wait, this was mailed to me here. Why would she have it."

"That is something to think about, now isn't it?" he asked gently as he walked away. Steven had asked and his grandmother had outright admitted that Bobbie Spencer had handed it to her for her granddaughter.

That no, she hadn't told the red head she didn't live there anymore, that if Elizabeth wanted her to know, she should take care of it herself.

Elizabeth fumed, angry to realize that her grams' had once again stuck her nose in something that didn't concern her. Stepping off the hub when it was time for her break, she saw Diane returning just in time.

"Who was the cute short stuff you were just speaking to?" she asked as they walked to the cafeteria.

"My brother, Steven." she said with a laugh as she handed over the envelope and asked her to read the results. Diane did so, then smoothly explained that it didn't change a thing. "Yes, it does, if you were telling me the truth, I am living there under false pretenses."

"No, you are not." Diane admitted. "I was contacted by a concerned party, who shall remain nameless, he however has no idea he is the father, Elizabeth."

"Then who does he..." That shocked her as she looked at Diane then said"I need that back, I have to tell him. Tell him all of it."

"Good idea." she said as she saw the two loud blonds who were entering the room approaching their table. "Hello, may I help you?"

"Elizabeth, we need to talk. Jason has enough on his plate without whatever made up drama you are trying to drag him into." said Carly as she glared at the brunette.

She had just overheard Alan Quartermaine telling security to keep Lucky away from the other woman, she had also seen Jason eavesdropping then making a call. "Why don't you stick with my cousin, after all he is perfect for you."

"Yeah, what she said." mumbled Courtney who was having issues of her own. Jax had been chasing and now that he had sort of caught her, had distanced himself.

Elizabeth looked at them then said "Whatever you think is going on in your heads, it isn't right. Either way, Carly I heard about your father and I am sorry for your sake."

Not wanting anyone to know what she was sure Steven Webber had gleefully told his sister to be made public Carly left and pulled a surprised and confused Courtney away.

"What on earth was that about?" Asked Elizabeth, normally Carly didn't leave until she had extracted her pound of flesh.

"Gossip in the courthouse, her father left her nothing, just words." Diane stated. "Then his ex-wives stuck her with the cost of his funeral and final costs."

"I have another issue, my grandmother was given personal mail addressed to me by Bobbie Jones, Lucky's aunt. I am going to speak to her, but if it happens again, do I have any legal recourse against it?"

"I will speak to Ms. Jones, then send a cease and desist letter to your grandmother, do you think that will at least help." offered the red head while making plans to pass the message on.

Thanking Diane, Elizabeth went to finish her shift, her mind on how to find a way to tell Jason what she had learned. "Elizabeth, I need to speak to you again."

Now a bit worried, Elizabeth followed Alan to his office where she found Emily and Nik sitting. Emily was destroying a tissue and looked like she had been sobbing. Looking at Nik who just looked at Alan and said"Your show."

"I went to speak to security,they told me that they were already given that order by Nicolas." he said then added. "Nik, why don't you tell her what I learned."

Knowing it was a betrayal of his brother, Nik said "Elizabeth, Emily made a promise to Lucky to get the two of you together. Emily has regretted it since the end of last month so I gave security an order to stay close but not too close in regards to my brother. I am sorry, we both are for..."

"For trying to get you back with him." finished Emily who then stated."I wanted to tell you, but Lucky back then made me promise not to and since I couldn't help with what he wanted, I stayed silent at least. I am sorry, I know that you don't need to be dealing with Lucky now."

Looking steadily at her friend, then at her fiancee she asked "What changed?"

"A lot." Explaining about the dinner party, the visit with Lucky and his attitude. Then she said "At that point, I decided to stay out of it, be Switzerland, like Nik suggested. Then when we were talking that day in the locker room, I messed up. A few days later, Lucky had an assignment and he blew it off and was suspended by Mac."

"The football game." Elizabeth said to clarify. When they nodded yes, she said "How long?"

"How long what?" asked Nik.

"How long will this last this time. Frankly, Emily, you have been a fair weather friend when it comes to me in regards to Lucky. Thank you for finally realizing that I don't want him back, but how long until he does something, screws something up, or until I do something that worries you before you changed your mind and jump on the Lucky bandwagon again?"

Wincing at the sharp but correct assessment, Emily said "I am sorry and I understand why you can't trust me right now. I promise, I will work to regain your trust."

"Then I will give it a try too, but I am serious, the first time you start the Lucky and Liz belong together crap, no matter what, you are out of my life. I won't make that mistake, not when I have a son to raise." she said firmly to her old friends.

Finally at home that evening, Elizabeth was just returning down the stairs putting Cameron down to bed when she heard a knock on her door. Opening it to see Mac Scorpio standing outside, she let him in.

"Georgie told me about Lucky. I will have the patrols that go by my house, add yours to the watch list." he said. "You should know I think he is up to something."

"I am sure he is, he showed up at the hospital today. He was rather pushy but Dr. Quartermaine pushed back. I just don't know how much longer it will be a problem."

Mac wanted to say until she got married again, then maybe, just maybe Lucky would get the hint. However his phone rang and answering it, swore then said "I will be right there."

Turning to Elizabeth he said "Apparently Sonny Corinthos is the real biological father of Kristina Ashton. Alexis told him after marrying his brother."

Shaking her head, she said "Alexis is a fool, Ric isn't doing this to help her, to protect her, he is doing this to get something over on his brother."

"I don't expect it to." he replied as he left. Elizabeth had just settled down with her sketch pad when she heard footsteps. Turning around, she was surprised to see Jason standing there in the shadows.

Their eyes met, Jason's were hooded at first, but then she saw something in them that told her his being there right them was no accident. Stiffening her spine, reminding herself she had sworn never to be used by anyone, not even him, she crossed her arms and returned the stare...

TBC