A/N – Thanks for the comments! I always appreciate them! After Gabriel is handled, there will be lull before some drama kicks up again, so hang in there.

Chapter 14

Stan glanced at his computer monitor and cursed in disbelief.

Sonny frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Gabriel is in town."

"What!"

"He's at ELQ."

Sonny's heart is pounding in his chest. "He has to know that Jason is not close to his family."

"It's still family. There's no way that Jason will let them get hurt. Jason gave Paulie his phone. We can't get in touch with him and don't know where he is."

Sonny growled as he stood. This is going to end badly. He pulled out his phone and called Johnny to have him go to Edward.

"He's leaving."

"The son of a bitch just wanted to make a statement."

"If the people who are after him come to Port Charles, it's going to be a blood bath," Stan said. Gabriel's enemies wouldn't play around. They'd go in for the kill.

"We'll gather everyone together tonight and we'll figure out what we should do."

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Johnny walked up to the reception desk. "Hi."

The younger woman smiled at him, appreciating his handsome face. "Hello. How may I help you?"

"I need to speak to Edward Quartermaine."

"Your name?"

"Johnny O'Brien."

She checked the calendar. "Is he expecting you?" Edward usually didn't take appointments so early.

"No, but he'll want to talk to me."

She shrugged. "What company are you from?"

"House of Corinthos," he said trying not to smirk at her look of confusion when she picked up her phone.

"Mr. Quartermaine, there is a gentleman named Johnny O'Brien that's here to see you."

Edward frowned. "Is he selling something?"

"I don't think so. He said you'd want to see him."

"Who does he work for?"

"House of Corinthos."

Edward gasped. "Bring him to my office." He fiddled with a pen until the door finally pushed open. "Did Sonny send you here to kill me?"

Johnny grinned. "Not this visit."

Edward grunted and pointed to a chair. "Is this about Jason?"

Johnny nodded. "Can we talk in another office?"

"You think this one is bugged?"

"Maybe..."

Edward stood and Johnny followed him to a conference room. "What is the meaning of this?"

"You are in danger. There is a man after Jason who made it a point to make sure that we saw him standing outside your building about a half hour ago. I think he's sending a message that if Jason doesn't do what he wants, he'll attack you."

Edward gripped the arms of his chair. "I'll hire some guards then."

"I really don't think that will help. This is very serious. We don't know where Jason is, but he needs to know what is going on."

"Maybe I don't want him to know because if he does, then he'll come back and then what? He'll be killed. I've lived a long life. I don't want to die, but I sure as hell don't want Jason making that sacrifice. I know we haven't gotten along because of the business, but he's still my grandson. Monica has lost enough people that she loves."

"If you know anything about Jason, then you know he hates people making decisions for him."

"I'm aware of that, but it still doesn't mean I want him thrown to the slaughter. Can you find this guy and do what I know you're capable of?"

"We're trying. There are other men that are after him. If they come to Port Charles, it's not going to be pretty. They won't care about casualties."

Edward's eyes shut as he contemplated the gravity of the situation. Giving up Jason's location just seemed like the wrong thing to do.

Johnny's head tilted as he observed Edward's body language. "You know where he is. Don't you?"

Edward's eyes snapped open. "Now why would Jason ever confide in me?"

"Because you are the last person anyone would think he'd go to. It's brilliant really. Edward, it's not just you who is in danger. Monica, Alan, and Tracy will be a target too. Jason doesn't have his regular phone. I have it. Please consider getting a message to him. It's important. A lot of innocent people are going to die and we don't have time. I need him. He'll know what to do." Jason is good at solving these kinds of problems.

Edward ignored his plea. "What should we do to protect ourselves?"

"There's not much you can do. He'll see you. He has eyes everywhere. You need to lay low. I dispatched some guards to the house and here. When it's time to go home, they will escort you."

"Tracy is out of the country."

"Where are Monica and Alan?"

"They are at the Metro Court having breakfast. I was supposed to meet them."

"I'll send Francis over there. He was on the way to the hospital. You need to call them and warn them, but be careful about using your phone. I can have Francis pull her aside and tell her the details."

"That would probably be for the best. She's nosey."

Johnny chuckled and handed him a piece of paper. "That is my number. Give it to Jason." He handed Edward a disposable phone. "Use that to make any calls related to this situation."

Edward didn't deny or admit that he knows where Jason is.

"Be careful Edward and watch your surroundings. Have the building checked for bombs, especially in the garage area. You need to up security. I wouldn't put it past him to make some grand statement because he likes attention."

Edward sighed. "I'll be careful."

Johnny left and Edward stayed seated for a few minutes. There is no phone in the vacation home, so he did what he thought was best and phoned an old friend and tried to get Carole's number. He left a message and then tried to call Monica and Alan, who had stayed at the Metro Court to get away the night before and were probably on their way to eat. Since they weren't answering, he decided to go fetch them himself.

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Johnny left a guard on Edward and then went back to a secret location. Sonny is there with Stan and the guys with Julian listening in.

"He knows where Jason is."

Sonny is stunned.

"Brilliant," Stan said.

"Very much so and no one would guess. He didn't admit it, but he didn't deny it either. I told him to send Jason a message, but he's hesitant. He thinks he'll be sending Jason to his death."

"We could be," Sonny said softly. "What next?"

"We find him."

Stan hit enter a few times as he typed furiously. "I found him."

Everyone turned to look at him.

"He's an arrogant S.O.B. He's staying at the Metro Court," he said as he watched a video feed.

"Unbelievable."

"If Jason comes back with Elizabeth, it's going to be a disaster," Julian said.

"If he doesn't come back, then lots of people will die," Max said.

Sonny is beside himself. "He's going to want you, Julian. No matter what, you can't give yourself up."

"I'm not sacrificing Elizabeth and you know it will come to that. He wants her dead to punish me. The man has nothing to lose."

"Maybe he can leave Elizabeth wherever they are and come on his own," Milo said.

"I'm not convinced she will obey," Julian said. His daughter is headstrong.

"Then we'll deal with it and hide her."

"Monica and Alan are at the Metro Court. I texted Francis so he can get a few more men over there just in case. Apparently, Edward is headed there too," Johnny said.

All they need is to hear from Jason.

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Jason heard someone banging on the door. He quickly got out of bed and threw some clothes on and grabbed his gun. Stealthily, he crept towards it and when he looked out, he is surprised to see Carole. He puts the gun in the back of his pants and smooths his hair down before opening it. "Carole?"

"I'm sorry to intrude, but I got a call from your grandfather."

Jason is shocked. "Is he okay?"

"Yes. May I come in?"

He stepped backwards and she entered the room. It had been a long time since she had been in the house. Edward had a cleaning person come over every occasionally to open the place up and dust.

"He said that you need to call this number at 9:30 A.M."

He took the paper from her hand. "Thank you. I'm sorry if he woke you up."

"I was a nurse, so I always wake up early. He sounded really nervous."

"We haven't always gotten along. This trip was something he offered as a truce."

Carole slightly smiled. "I'm glad that you're working things out. I know Lila always talked about her family in such a loving way."

"I miss her."

She nodded. "Well, I won't keep you. It's almost time to call. Take care, Jason."

He walked her out and then went back to the bedroom.

"What's going on?"

"Edward called her."

Liz jerked into a sitting position. "What?"

"I know. I have to call him in five minutes." Something is definitely wrong if Edward is breaking the silence. Part of Jason didn't want to know because he has a feeling that everything is about to change.

She ran to use the bathroom and when she came back, Jason had retrieved his last throwaway phone and is already talking to Edward.

"What happened?"

Edward got up from the table and walked towards the balcony as Monica, Alan, and Francis watched. They had been trying to decide what they are going to do to stay safe. "I didn't want to call you. I don't want you hurt."

"Just tell me."

"Gabriel showed up in front of ELQ. Johnny thinks he was trying to send a message."

Jason ran his hand through his hair. "This is bad."

"He put guards on me and your mom and dad. There hasn't been any further contact. Sonny wants you to call this number after you are off the phone with me."

Jason scrambled to find a pen and paper. "Go ahead." He jotted down the number.

"Jason, I know that we haven't been very close, but Monica can't lose you. She has already lost Emily to cancer three years ago and AJ to drinking five years before."

Liz watched the pain wash over Jason's face.

"I know, but I can't let him hurt you. This has nothing to do with you and I won't let you suffer over this."

"I would gladly sacrifice myself for my family, I'm an old man."

Jason didn't know what to say. "I'll make the call. Please be careful until I can get there."

"I will."

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Francis approached Edward. "I don't want to scare you. I'm Francis—Johnny sent me. The man that is after Jason is staying in this hotel. You need to leave as soon as possible." The other guard was checking out the outside of the building for anything that looked suspicious.

Edward surveyed the room nervously. "We just have to pay the check."

"I'll send the waitress over."

Monica and Alan watched a pale Edward sit.

"We need to pay and get out. We'll have to go get your bags."

"They are downstairs. I left them at the desk and they are going to keep them there," Alan said.

"Good."

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Jason ended the call, wanting to throw the phone.

"What happened?"

"Gabriel is in Port Charles."

Liz swallowed hard. "And we need to go back to save your family?"

"I want you to stay here."

"No, Jason. I can't. They are going to expect you to deliver me and when you don't…" her voice trailed off, unable to even finish the sentence.

He pulled her towards him and kissed her forehead. "Whatever happens, I can't let you sacrifice yourself. "

"I feel the same way. You can't leave me here."

"If I take you back, I may not be able to protect you. He's the most dangerous person I've come up against."

She touched his face. "I trust you Jason. I know that you'll do your best."

His eyes closed. "I need to talk to Sonny and then we'll decide what to do."

"Okay."

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Everyone in the room is tense as they waited for the phone to ring. Bad scenarios are running through their minds. They need to get to Gabriel, but he didn't use his name to pay for the room, so they have no idea which one he occupied, not to mention he is surrounded by normal customers.

The phone rang and Johnny quickly grabbed it. "Hello?"

"It's me."

Johnny put it on speakerphone. "Go ahead. We're listening."

"Why can't you get to him?"

"Because he's staying at the Metro Court and he rented several rooms under different names. We're not sure where he is." Due to privacy laws, there are no cameras on the floors.

Jason sighed. "Has he made any threats?"

"He keeps showing up at different places. Our cameras caught him in front of ELQ, the Towers, and the hospital. He's sending a message."

"Is my family protected?"

"Yes." They don't know what Gabriel has in store and are playing a dangerous game.

"I'm coming back."

Johnny sighed. "Jason, there are very bad people out there trying to off Gabriel. They make you look like a marshmallow. They are stalking him. We're following him, but it's a mess trying to figure out who is who. If we add you to the mix, it's going to get ugly fast."

"I can't just sit back and do nothing."

"Is Elizabeth okay?"

"Yes. She wants to come back with me."

Julian cleared his throat. "You need to convince her that isn't a good idea. In fact, it sucks."

"Um, you do know your daughter, right?"

Everyone in the room fought a smile.

"Are you saying you know her better?"

"No, but she is stubborn and won't give in."

"Can't you sneak out or something?" Julian said.

"I'm not going to lie to her. I can't."

Julian growled. "Are you sleeping with my daughter?"

Jason didn't answer right away and everyone is surprised.

"Son of a…."

Liz, who could hear the conversation, grabbed the phone. "Not another word, daddy. We're together so you're just going to have to deal with. I'm not letting Jason sacrifice himself for me, so you'll just have to live with my decision."

"You are all I have left."

"I know, but I can't let a bunch of people die because of me."

Julian slammed his fist down on a desk. "Dammit, Elizabeth."

She swallowed hard. "I'm sorry, but I'm not going to change my mind."

"We'll pack and leave now," Jason said, his gruff tone signally that his word is final. "Text me an address of a safe house you want us to go to. It needs to be off the grid."

"We have a place," Sonny said, intending to send them to the safe house where Ric is staying.

"See you soon."

Julian remained silent, so Sonny started to clear the room for a minute so they could talk privately.

Johnny suddenly stood as he put his phone to his ear. "What's going on?"

His muscles are taut and everyone's eyes are glued to him.

"Shit! Just do what they say for now."

Francis knows he can be discovered at any moment. He was around the corner getting their bags and there was no exit. Luckily, the coat person hadn't come back from her break. "Carly is here along with Edward, Monica, and Alan."

Johnny was jotting it down. "Anyone else?"

He peeked around the corner. Several gunmen are yelling at people to get down. "Just the mayor, Nikolas Cassadine, Anna Scorpio, Maxie, and Lulu. I think that's it. I can see six gunmen."

"Alright, be safe. I'll get Stan to tap in."

"Shit, a man is moving this way. I'm near the coat room."

"Got it."

Francis hung up and Johnny let out a sharp breath.

"What happened?" Sonny asked.

"Gabriel and his men have taken hostages at the Metro Court." He read off the list of names.

"Shit."

"They are in the main lobby. Stan, we need to get a blueprint and locate any access points. There are six gunmen that he could see."

Stan got on it.

"This is really bad," Sonny said. They knew what is coming. The question is what they are willing to do about it.