A/N – Thanks for the comments! Glad you are still enjoying this one. * arcoiris0502 – There's a lull in the action before it gets dicey again.

Chapter 18

Lulu and Nikolas were out of the OR next and were in the recovery room. Their surgeries had been successful. Their family gathered around, ready to support them.

Elizabeth slowly entered Jason's room, trying to get a hold of her emotions. He is so still. Her eyes scour his body, noting every nick and scratch. His head is bandaged and he looks so pale. A tear trailed down her face as she tentatively touched his hand. "I thought you were dead and my heart broke into a million pieces. Never again Jason, I can't watch you sacrifice yourself for me like that. I don't think my heart could take it. I need you to fight to come back to me. Please…"

Her father placed a hand on her shoulder. He hadn't realized just how much his daughter cared for Jason.

She turned. "Daddy," she said as her lip quivered.

He embraced her tightly until she let it all out. "Feel better?"

"No," she said taking a languid breath. "He came out of nowhere. I feel like fate brought us together and we just clicked. I don't know if I can watch him hurt like this again."

Julian sighed. "You know the nature of this business."

She is painfully aware of it.

"Are you going to be able to handle being in a relationship with him?"

"I hope so. It's been just me and him for a while now." She nervously gripped the covers on his bed. "What if I can't? Oh daddy, I don't think that I can give him up."

The sob that wrenched from her lips killed him. "Elizabeth, just don't think about that now. Deal with the situation in front of you. Help him heal and then you can talk and make decisions later. I think you know that it would be hard for Jason to leave the business at this point, and you've always run the opposite direction of mine. You're going to have to make a decision because you don't want to break his heart. At some point, you'll have to trust him to protect you."

"And who protects him?"

"Tell him that you need him to have guards. Sometimes in relationships, you have to make concessions and meet each other half way. Take the time to tell him your concerns and deal with it before you get in any deeper."

"I am already in so deep that he is all I think about."

A smile crept onto Julian's face. "For most of your life, that has been how you felt about art. It's kind of nice to see you all strung out on something else."

"Even it if it's Jason?"

"I'm not going to lie, the Jason I've come to know is probably in contrast to the one that you've grown to care about, but that doesn't mean I can't get to know him. I just want you to be happy, Elizabeth, and I think no matter what, you'd be happier with him than without. There are good and bad times in every relationship. When it's bad, it really shows you what you're made of."

Carly is wheeled into the room. She had insisted on seeing Jason. "He's right."

Julian spun around. "Carly! You should be in bed."

"I know. I just had to see him or I wouldn't be able to rest. I won't stay long."

Julian knows she has to be in a lot of pain to have made the ride.

"The mob life isn't easy, but you know that already. Jason deserves some happiness, so if it's with you, then I need you to either go all in or get out. He's been hurt too much. When Jason loves you, he'll do anything for you. Sure he's intense and sometimes goes overboard, but he will fight for you until the bitter end. He's one of a kind. You can leave because of the violence and go meet someone else, but do you think that they could ever take his place?"

Liz shook her head. "No."

"Then don't give him up because of your fear. You were just in a very stressful situation. There will be times where he will get hurt and you'll be there to help him, and he'll do the same for you. Be in it to win it because he deserves a woman who will not try to change him and will not walk away. Can you be that person?"

Liz cleared her throat. "I want to be."

"Then we'll help you. If Jason wants you, then I'll fight for you too. I know life hasn't been easy and you know all too well how dangerous the mafia can be. Let Jason and Sonny work on making things safer and creating an environment that's better than it is now."

"Why didn't you and Sonny work out?"

"We drove each other crazy. He just wasn't the right person for me. I need someone who will dote on me and put up with my impulsiveness and not try to change me. And I also need someone I can love fiercely and won't shut me out, preferably a man that wants to laugh more than pout."

Julian smirked and Elizabeth fought a smile. His phone rang and he stepped outside.

"So, you want to be with my dad don't you?"

Carly took Jason's hand into hers and lightly rubbed it with her thumb. "Am I that obvious?"

Liz lightly chuckled and wiped her face. "I think you both are that obvious. I'm willing to help make it happen. I like you, Carly. I think you'll definitely bring excitement and loyalty, but you're going to have to learn to trust him."

"I like to act out, but honestly, it's mainly because of my insecurities."

"You can't hold your past baggage against him. Let him prove himself and before you do something that could sabotage everything, how about talk to him first?" She read Carly like a book and felt that if she dealt with whatever made her insecure, she'd be good for her dad.

"You're right. I'm glad we had this talk. Clearly I need to deal with all my crap."

"You do." Jason voice was soft and raspy and they both gasped.

"Jason?" Liz said grabbing his hand. "Say something else."

"Elizabeth… Don't leave." He had heard most of the conversation, but he was just too weak to respond.

"Shhhhhh, I'm not going anywhere. We'll work it out. I just need you to get better."

The tension started to leave his body.

"Rest baby, I won't leave you."

"Unless she has to pee," Carly quipped.

A slight smile graced his face. "TMI," he whispered.

Liz lightly kissed him on his cheek.

"Better." His eyes are closed and his breathing starts to even out.

Patrick rushes into the room.

"He spoke."

Patrick let out the breath he was holding. "That's good." He checked the monitors.

"Alright Carly, I need to take you back," the nurse said.

Liz glanced over at her. She looked really tired. Julian stepped back into the room and gave his daughter a hug. "I'm going to hang out with Carly for a bit."

"Okay. I like her," she whispered in his ear.

"Good to know."

Liz walked over to Carly and gave her a hug. "Take care."

"I will."

Julian followed her out and Liz took a seat next to the bed as Patrick studied the readouts.

"He's stable and everything is looking good," he finally said.

"Thank you, Patrick."

He smiled. "I'm glad that I was able to help."

He left and she laid her head on the edge of the bed as she held his hand and quickly fell asleep.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Mac clamped his hands together and put them behind his head as he leaned back in chair. Maxie is dead and he needs to call her parents. It is something he has been dreading which is why he is shocked when Felicia, who hadn't been seen in years, rushed into his office. Her eyes are red and he quickly stands as she throws herself into his arms.

"I'm so sorry."

Felicia let out a sob. "Did she suffer?"

"I don't think so. I wish I could have gotten her out faster."

"It's not your fault." She stepped back and took a tissue from the box on his desk. "I can't believe she's gone."

"Georgie doesn't know. She's with her friend who lives in the City."

"Do you have the address?"

"Yes."

"Can you take some time off and go with me?"

Mac nodded. He needed some time to grieve. Maxie was like a daughter to him.

"Yes."

"Thank you."

She waited while he talked to a few people and made some arrangements and then they headed back to the house, unaware that Georgie is already on the way.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Sonny walked into Jason's room carrying some dinner for Elizabeth. Joe and Doreen are standing at the window.

"Thank you, Sonny," Liz said taking it from him.

"I thought I'd bring Joe and Doreen to my house and cook them some dinner. They can stay at Jason's penthouse."

"That is very nice of you," Liz said.

"It's no problem. I love to cook."

Doreen smiled. "Me too."

"How's the patient?"

"He's in and out, but Patrick says he's doing well."

"Good. I can bring them back in the morning."

"Thank you," Liz said giving a surprised Sonny a hug.

He studied Jason for a moment and then looked over at Jim and Doreen. She grabbed her purse and they followed him out. Liz ate her sandwich and sipped on the chocolate shake he had bought her. It is delicious and she is thoroughly enjoying it.

Jason woke up and watched her. "Addict..."

Her head tipped up with a big grin on her face. "I'm not even going to try to deny it. How are you feeling?"

"Sore and tired."

"Please press the button if you're in too much pain. It's okay to rest."

"Okay." His head feels like it weighs a ton.

"Sonny was just here. He took Doreen and Jim back to his place and is going to feed them and then take them to the penthouse."

"I'm glad they came."

"Me too."

"Where's Chloe?"

"One of their friends is looking after her. You miss her?"

"Not the drool, but I do miss her," Jason said. He never thought he wanted a dog, but Chloe had gotten under his skin.

"I wish we could go away for a while where you could recover peacefully."

He slightly smiled. "You just want to get me alone."

"You're on to me."

"I know that it was easy when it was just us, but I will have to come back."

She gathered her trash and threw it away. "I know."

"Come here."

She moved closer and gave him a gentle kiss. "I missed your mouth."

His eyes are half closed as he gazes into hers. "I'll make it up to you."

"I'll look forward to it."

"I wish you could lay with me."

"Me too, but you have stay still because of your head injury and your body is bruised."

"I would risk the pain, but I know I shouldn't move a lot."

She kissed his hand. "You're only in here for a few days and then we can cuddle all you want."

"Sounds nice." He misses her touch.

Epiphany walked in. "I figured you'd want an update on your family."

"Please."

"Monica is resting. She had surgery and they took out her spleen, but she's doing fine. She has a concussion and a broken wrist. Edward is resting and his back is bruised. He's ornery, but will be just fine."

Jason lip quirked.

"Your father had to get a pacemaker. He's recovering and is stable. Luckily, they caught the problem before he had a heart attack. He's one big bruise, so he's in pain and he had cuts just like everyone else. You two are very lucky. Alan had thrown his body half on top of yours and you were the last ones rescued. The ceiling collapsed right after you got out."

"Francis?"

Epiphany smiled. "Besides flirting with all the nurses, he's been a good patient. He broke his ankle, bruised his hip, and is really banged up. He took a lot of shrapnel too. Diane hasn't left his side, but she asked for you."

"I'm glad that he'll live."

She left and Jason closed his eyes for a moment. The headaches were getting to him a little. It wasn't lost on him that his family had tried to protect him. They still loved him and he didn't understand how.

"Talk to me," Liz whispered.

"I don't get why they still love me when I turned my back on them."

"You are family."

"Not really. I'm not their Jason anymore. I might look like him, but I'm not anything like him. I never could process that. They love him. They don't know me."

She took his hand. "Jason, regardless of the personality change, a parent can't stop loving their child. I've heard parents say that the instant they held a child in their arms, they were in love. Don't you see? The instant you woke up and came back to them, even if you were different, they loved you."

"They couldn't accept me."

"I don't think anyone truly knows what to do in that kind of situation. I can't even imagine what you or they went through. It was natural that they missed him. They had to mourn him while you were still standing there and maybe they did make wrong decisions and say things they couldn't take back, but that was before. If they wanted a chance now, would you give it to them?"

Jason's eyes fluttered open. "I think I told myself that by shutting them out, I was protecting them from my life. If my enemies know they mean something to me, then they might go after them."

"I get that. Maybe you will have to get them to agree that if something is going down, that they have to have guards if they want you in their lives."

"I'll think about it."

"And I'll support you either way."

He slightly smiled. "Thanks."

Brenda rushed into the room and then stopped in her tracks as her eyes filled with tears.

Jason held up his hand and she went around the other side of the bed and took it. "Don't cry."

"We were watching on television and-"

"I know it looked bad."

"I'm just really glad that you're okay."

"Me too. How is Nathan?"

Brenda sighed. "He's stable. It was pretty scary for a while, but he's doing better. Ric has been going out of his mind with worry."

"What about you?"

Her mouth turned up in a sly smile. "You do care. I knew it."

"You had to ruin it, didn't you?"

She laughed as she wiped some tears away. "I can't help it. Seriously though, I'm glad you're both safe. How long do you have to stay in here?"

"A few days."

She stood. "You look tired. I'm going to go find Robin before I head back. She flew in because of Anna."

"Tell Anna I said thank you if you see her."

"I will." Brenda kissed his hand and then left.

"Lock the door. She was too nice. She'll come back to finish the job."

Liz chuckled. "You're crazy. Now, close your eyes and I'm going to lie down on the bed over there and get some shut eye."

He didn't like her being that far away, but he was barely hanging on and didn't have the strength to fight her about it.

Liz watched him nod off. He is stirring up so many feelings and while she is a little scared, she is hoping he is the one for her. They came together under extreme circumstances. She relied on him to keep her safe and she understood that it had been the center of their bond. Her biggest concern is that they won't be able to make the transition to normal. She shook her head, trying to drive away her thoughts. They would have to deal with it because she didn't want it to end.