The day after
She woke up with a start and looked around her. Her mouth felt dry. Her legs felt sore. She padded her hand to the other side of the bed. Jason? But it was empty.
Oh, right. Yesterday.
Elizabeth felt numb. She hoped it had all been a nightmare. Jason learning the truth. Slapping Jake. Everyone had been starring. She had to get away. She remembered Laura, Carly, and Sam. And then Emily. Had she lost her mind?
Everything was blurry after that. Or gone. She didn't remember how she got here. Where was here?
It was a simple room. She was in her favourite cotton pyjamas. She didn't remember how she got there. How did she get out of her dress? She felt around for her engagement ring. It was gone.
Her hands begin to shake. It was gone. Jake- she meant Jason.. Jason was no longer hers.
She ran to the to the door and tried the knob. It was locked. She banged on it.
"Help!" said Elizabeth, "Let me out!"
She hit it over and over again. She screamed but no one came.
—-
"Thanks for calling Laura," said Jason, "I appreciate it."
Sam walked down the stairs of the penthouse. She had just checked on Danny and Jake. They were playing upstairs after eating breakfast. It had felt so normal having the boys at the table with Jason there.
"What's going on?" said Sam.
Jason slumped onto the couch, disturbing the blankets he had just folded. He had chosen the couch over Molly's pink room.
"It was Laura," said Jason, "It was about Elizabeth,"
"What happened?" said Sam.
"She… she's been committed to Shadybrooke," said Jason, "Apparently the police were involved. They wanted to know if I could keep Jake with me until it's all sorted out,"
"Oh, Jason," said Sam.
She laid her hand on his leg. He laid his hand on hers. She had been such a good friend and partner for so long, it was a change to think wife. He didn't feel like he was Jason Morgan, not yet. He didn't have his memories. He didn't remember anything before the accident. Nothing but flashes. But at least he finally knew the truth. So he decided to call himself Jason. After all the deception it felt strange to go continue as Jake Doe. He needed to at least claim his own name.
"After we left, her family tried to see her. But she was inconsolable, frantic, and was talking to herself. Laura called it a nervous breakdown," said Jason.
"I'm not surprised. She was still convinced she had done the right thing lying when I talked to her," said Sam, "Maybe Shadybrooke is the best place for her. She's lied to us before, about Danny-"
"She told me about that," said Jason, "I think she was trying to tell me the truth. I remember so many moments where it was like she had to tell me something- or she lied about little things- god I feel so stupid,"
"You are not stupid," said Sam, "You survived a bullet to the back, being brought back from the brink of death, a car crash, mind control- and yes being lied to when you couldn't remember who you were-"
"I still can't remember Sam," said Jason.
"You are not stupid," said Sam, "You are a survivor and the bravest man I know. You have been a great friend and support to me when you didn't even know you were my husband."
Jason squeezed her hand. It felt natural.
"I just don't understand the past 24 hours. I don't mean to hurt you- but I loved Elizabeth. I mean I love her. I mean, I don't know. I was ready to spend my life with her… even not knowing who I was," said Jason.
"You're not alone. I was ready to marry Patrick. My heart aches for him and Emma right now. The pain this has all caused," said Sam.
"I love Aiden and Cam as if they were my own," said Jason, "But after all Elizabeth has done, I don't think I could ever trust her enough to be with her again. I'm sorry. I'm talking to you like we've talked before; as friends, not husband and wife. I mean I - this is so complicated. I don't want to hurt you Sam."
"I know this is complicated. You are my friend Jake, but also my husband Jason," said Sam, "But I've spent most of the morning thinking, and I think we owe each other a chance,"
"What do you mean?" said Jason.
"I think we should live here in the Penthouse together," said Sam, "With Danny and Jake,"
"But-" said Jason.
Wasn't it too fast? Was there a right step? Was there a manual for how to proceed?
"Let me explain," said Sam, "Right now you are Jake and Jason at the same time, but you've never had the chance to be home. To your actual home for memories to come back. This place hasn't changed much, and you've lived here for years; years before I even came into the picture. I think living here is your best chance to get your memories back,"
"But what if I can't remember, what if I never remember," said Jason, "Can you accept that?"
Sam paused, she wanted Jason, her Jason back. Could she accept his as he was?
"I don't know," said Sam, "But I'm willing to try. We can have separate rooms. We can get to know each other with the truth out,"
"Wouldn't we be displacing your parents?" said Jason.
"I spoke to my mother last night," said Sam, "We discussed the possibility. They were alright getting some place new. Molly finally got into housing at PCU for next term. Mom knew it was hard for me to leave here for Patricks-"
"What about Patrick?" said Jason, "He never lied to you. It's not the same as Elizabeth and me,"
Jason could barely even think about her without getting angry. Last night it had been a blur of faces. Monica was one of his guests, and she had embraced him crying after the truth came out. He was her son. He had a whole family. They had been familiar when he first woke up, be he had brushed it off as nothing. And Elizabeth kept them from him. Kept him all for herself.
He couldn't blame only Elizabeth. Nikolas had known. Hayden had told them Nikolas had been arrested for his suspected involvement in her shooting. But Elizabeth simply lied, and kept lying. Poor Patrick was just as much victims as the rest of them.
"I can't turn my feelings off," said Sam, "But I need to give us a chance. I knew you weren't dead for the longest time. I felt you out there. And the signs were there. The adventures we've had. Spinelli and Mrs. Yi and Sonny all seeing you as Jason. You have been the love of my life, and I will not give up on you. I will not give up on us. As much as it's going to hurt Patrick, and Emma- I need to give us a chance,"
"Alright," said Jason, "I'll stay."
Sam lit up and pulled him into a hug. His body felt familiar to her. She breathed him in. Jason. It was like coming home.
"I have to tell you something. I didn't tell you about some flashes of memory before, because it didn't make sense. But I've had memories of you. But they do now. Seeing us in bed the night of I came here on Helena's orders; When we rode on the bike; When we renewed… our.. this is so strange…our vows- it felt so familiar. I think I've been starting to remember all along," said Jason.
Sam couldn't help but keep smiling from ear to ear. She knew she had to break the news to Patrick. She had to move out. Jason had to move out. It was bittersweet. But for this moment she would focus on the sweet, they had a chance. Something she hadn't had yesterday morning.
She heard a few rapid knocks on the door, before it flew open. Carly. Somethings didn't change.
"I swear, I locked it," said Sam.
"Jason," said Carly, "I have to tell you something,"
"Carly is something wrong?" said Jason.
"I can go," said Sam, "You two should talk,"
"Don't be ridiculous Sam," said Carly, "You stay, this affects you too,"
"What's happened now?" said Jason.
"Elizabeth has been locked up in Shadybrooke," said Carly, "It's the perfect time for you to fight for Jake. You should fight for sole custody, and take him away from that psychotic bitch!"
—
She felt like she had banged on the door for hours, that was until two large men, orderlies, put a shot in her arm. She instantly felt numbed. She suddenly felt like their was a layer of glass between her and everything else. She was brought into an office.
Sitting next to her, was her sister Sarah. Sarah had been here for days before the wedding, she was her maid of- Elizabeth felt fuzzy. Like she was trying to dig into something inside her she just couldn't reach. Across from her was a doctor: Kevin Collins.
"What did you give me?" said Elizabeth.
"A sedative, a mild dosage of Seconal," said Kevin.
"Where am I?" said Elizabeth.
"You are at Shadybrooke," said Kevin, "You've-"
Elizabeth tried to get up. Sarah held her in place.
"I don't belong here," said Elizabeth, "Nothing is wrong with me,"
"You've had a breakdown Elizabeth," said Kevin, "You're sister and grandmother decided it was best that you had a place to recover and recuperate,"
"Nothing is wrong with me," said Elizabeth.
"Liz, you knowingly were about the marry Jason and keep his identity from him for the rest of your lives," said Sarah.
"I kept a secret, I'm not mentally ill-" said Elizabeth.
"No one is saying that. What I think your sister is trying to say is you were in a tough place. Do you remember coming here?" said Kevin.
Elizabeth looked around. She knew it was bad she didn't remember. That she had blacked out.
"You were screaming and yelling, when we got in you had torn your dress to shreds. You were curled up in a ball, and kept saying it was your chance with him, the only way you-" said Sarah.
"Enough," said Elizabeth.
"We tried talking to you, reasoning with you," said Sarah, "But it was like we couldn't reach you. We called 911 and they brought you here,"
Elizabeth focused on her breathing. She was fine. Maybe she wasn't fine then- but she was fine now. She would move past this.
"As you can see," said Elizabeth, "I'm better now. I just want to go back to my family,"
"We just need to asses you first," said Kevin, "And once we feel like you've made some progress and are strong enough to return home you will be free to -"
"You can't hold me against my will," said Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth, while you're family agreed this was the best place for you. You were brought in with the police. The EMTs couldn't move you. You were screaming, and violent. You've been committed to this institution until you're recovery," said Kevin.
"Liz it's for for your own good," said Sarah, "Once you've recovered you can be there for your boys,"
"I can't leave them," said Elizabeth, "They must be so confused. I need to talk to Jake,"
"I've arranged everything," said Sarah, "I need to go home to work, and Gran can't handle them on her own. I can come back when you get out to help you. But Laura has made arrangements to stay with the boys at your house. She's going to handle the bills, and everything. She's even working on getting in touch with Lucky, so he will be with the boys,"
Elizabeth could have laughed. Lucky had left, again, and again. He couldn't manage to stay in town for them before- even with Jake back.
"Are you sure Laura can handle them," said Elizabeth, "Three boys are a lot of work. They have a schedule to keep."
"Laura handle it. And don't worry Jason is going to visit Cam and Aiden, and Jake is going to stay with him," said Sarah, "At least until you get better,"
Stay with Jason and Sam. She felt like she was going to tip over. But the edges were still numb. Nothing seemed to feel like it was suppose to.
"What about my job?" said Elizabeth ,"We are short staffed as it is."
"Again, it's handled," said Sarah, "I spoke to Dr. Obrecht and you're on medical leave. And she insisted the leave was the best thing due to the investigation-"
"Investigation?" said Elizabeth.
"I thought we agreed it was best for Elizabeth to find out more in increments," said Kevin.
"I'm sorry," said Sarah, "It just slipped out."
"What investigation?" said Elizabeth.
She had lied. They had just lied. In the end she hadn't done anything wrong. She protected Jason from the mob. She protected Sam and Patrick. She had done the right thing. She had tried to do the right thing.
"Hayden Barnes," said Sarah, "Actual Hayden Hornsby, weird story, is pressing charges against Nikolas for attempted murder. She has this crazy idea that you were an accomplice. She thinks Nikolas was behind her shooting. But that's ridiculous right?"
Elizabeth starred at her fingers. She hadn't pulled the trigger. She hadn't ordered the hit. But she knew Nikolas had been behind it. She knew.
"I had nothing to do with Hayden being shot," said Elizabeth, "Hornsby? Like the District Attorney Paul Hornsby?"
"Jennifer Eckhart and Paul Hornsby's daughter," said Sarah, "Apparently since she's been at Wyndemere and out of the news lately, he had no idea his own daughter was in Port Charles or had been suffering amnesia. But she's remembered everything,"
Elizabeth felt like she was falling off her chair. But she looked down. She was still on her chair. If Hayden remembered, she remembered why she was going to see Jake, she is remembering that they fought right before the shooting.
"Oh," said Elizabeth.
"So it's the best thing for you to be here and recover," said Kevin, "We'll meet tomorrow morning and start your first session,"
Before she knew it, Elizabeth was sitting on her bed in her room again. She stopped paying attention to them. She vaguely remembered Sarah kissing her forehead.
Elizabeth felt the fog start to lift. She found a bag in her closet. It was the same bag she had packed for their honeymoon. Instead of island dresses, swim suits, and lingerie, she found another pair of pyjamas and sweatpants and assorted teeshirts. She felt around for the side compartment. It was still there, they had missed it.
She took out the perfect little package. She carefully unwrapped it. She had gotten it for Jake, for her Jason. It was a framed picture of all of them. It was an silver and engraved, J & E and family forever.
She held it close to her heart. She hadn't realized tears had started to fall down her face. What if Jason went on their honeymoon with Sam? What if he took her to Hawaii? Were they taking Jake and Danny? Would they be a family now?
Shaking Elizabeth grabbed the phone. She had a line out. She dialled Jason's cell phone number. She knew it by heart.
"Hello?" said Jason.
"I need to speak with Jake. I need to speak to my son," said Elizabeth.
There was a long pause on the other end.
"Just one minute," said Jason.
He was so cold. So matter of fact. Where was the Jason who had kissed her goodnight a few nights ago? The Jason who had promised to love her no matter what?
"He doesn't want to speak with you right now," said Jason, "I don't blame him,"
"I'm his mother and I have rights," said Elizabeth.
Silence. Again.
"Jason?" said Elizabeth.
"I don't really want to speak to you right now either. When Jake is ready to talk to you he will call or we'll take him to visit," said Jason.
"We?" said Elizabeth, "A day after you pledge you're love to me, and you and Sam are already a we-"
"Ugh," said Jason, "I can't do this with you. What I do with my life from this moment on is my choice. You don't have a say in it. You are not keeping me away from my family any longer,"
"We are your family, me and the boys," said Elizabeth, "Remember when you said you would stay with me no matter what you're past was-"
"Enough!" said Jason, "I'm done. Don't call again. Don't worry about Jake. I'll take care of him. Give him time. But like I said last night, you and I are done,"
She heard the dial tone. He had hung up.
She dropped the phone on the it's cradle. She kept holding the picture frame close to her heart. He would change his mind. He would take time and he would forgive her. He had to forgive her. He always forgave her. He would realize that Sam wasn't right for him. He didn't have to be an enforcer anymore. He would realize she was his best chance.