Chapter Eight

Johnny slipped from Elizabeth's bed quietly, determined not to wake her. They had been up most of the night and he wanted her to get some sleep before everyday pressures started again. Quickly pulling on his clothes, he bent over and kissed her forehead with a smile before heading toward the room that he was sharing with Francis.

Meeting his friend's unhappy expression, he shook his head. "Don't start, Francis."

"Why not? What happened to giving her space?"

"I tried, dammit. I won't apologize for anything that happened. I know you love her, but I would never intentionally hurt her. She made her own choice, Francis. Let it go."

Francis sighed, exasperated with entire situation. "I know that. I am worried about you getting hurt actually. What happens if she decides that she wants to give John another chance?"

Grabbing some clean clothes from his duffel bag, Johnny met Francis' gaze before heading to the shower. "It is a chance that I am willing to take. I love her, Francis. I am willing to fight for Liz if I have to. I am not letting her walk away again. I did that once and it hurt too bad. I want her and Cam in my life." With that declaration, he went into the bathroom and shut the door, effectively ending the conversation.

Hearing light footsteps heading toward the stairs, Francis quickly joined Cam and Emily heading down to the kitchen. Looking over at Liz's son, Francis only hoped that everything worked out. As they entered the kitchen, he broke into laughter as he listened to Cam wheedling a homemade breakfast from Zander, who had been already at the table with a cup of coffee.

Emily listened to the usual banter around the table and smiled inwardly. She was so happy to be back with her friends. She glanced up as there was a knock on the back door and Francis opened it.

"Hey, John, Nik. Come on in. Do you want any breakfast?"

Both men shook their head and sat quietly at the table. Knowing the expressions on their faces, Emily made Cameron a plate to take to eat at the coffee table so that he could enjoy some cartoons. Catching John studying his son out of the corner of her eye, she awkwardly led the little guy out of the room before returning after setting him up. "I know that you are anxious to know him, John, but you need to talk to Liz before approaching him."

"I know," he groaned. "But I really don't think she is listening to anything I have to say. Yesterday was a bust."

"You left her, no matter the circumstances, that is what she is seeing. She has a huge complex about abandonment. Give her some time. Elizabeth will eventually talk things out." Emily noticed Johnny entering from the living room and noted the dark look that he was giving John and smirked. "However, just because she might forgive you doesn't mean that she will forget."
"I am beginning to realize that. She is definitely stubborn. On a different note, your brother pulled his attorney from Sam's defense. I also heard that he wanted divorce papers filed."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Emily nodded. "Good. I want her in jail and his eyes open to what she really is."

Hearing raised voices, everyone stopped and looked toward the living room. Cam entered and ran to Emily. "Mommy is mad. She just slapped that Carly lady," he confided in awe.

The men hurriedly entered the living room to see Carly holding her face and glaring at Elizabeth. Cursing Kurt, who was on the front door, Johnny moved in between the two ladies.

"Carly, what are you doing here?"

Stunned at seeing him standing there, she took a step backwards. "I-I came to talk to Elizabeth. Jason asked me to ask her to meet him since she has people keeping him out." She made a face at A.J. and shook her head. "All the dead people here? Are you hiding Sonny as well?"

Johnny caught Elizabeth as she started forward again with a gleam in her eyes. Keeping an arm around her small waist, he pulled her against his side. "Calm down, Lizzie. No, Carly, Sonny is not here and if he was, well, there would be another death of him. Jason was warned about Sam and chose to ignore what she really is. Elizabeth will not be seeing him."

"What's the matter, muffin? Can you not speak for yourself?" she sneered.

"You know what, Carly, I know you upset over Sonny's death. God knows why," Elizabeth snarked. "But I did not kill him. In fact, I almost thought you had changed after Joss got Jake's kidneys. I guess I was wrong. You only wanted your precious little girl saved." Her voice broke and Johnny turned her into his chest, glaring at the selfish blonde that was hurting her emotionally.

"YOU need to leave. I don't know how you got past the guards, but it will be addressed. It is amazing how you always held Sonny and Jason on such a peddle stool, but they aren't the ones that saved your daughter. Elizabeth was, Carly! She saved you child, not anyone else. The woman that you have continuously belittled and hated throughout the years signed the paperwork that allowed your daughter to survive! Think about that for awhile and tell Jason that I will meet him for a little chat." His eyes flared and Carly backed away from Johnny even more. "Get out now before I decide to make you answer for every vile thing that you have ever done to her. Now!" he thundered.

Grabbing his ex wife's arm, concerned that Johnny would go after her right in the living room, A.J. pulled an unresisting and subdued Carly outside. "Bad idea to come here and start trouble, Carly. Make sure that you tell Jason to stay away too." Releasing her arm, he headed back into the house without a backward glance.

Inside John was watching as Johnny handed a still upset Elizabeth off to Emily, who then herded her up the stairs while Nik checked on Cam. Witnessing the connection that she shared with O'Brien hurt, but John was determined to make her listen to him before completely giving up on the mother of his son.

"Get a meeting set up with Morgan," Johnny snapped at Zander. "Make it for today or tomorrow."

"What about the she-devil?" Francis demanded. "She came in here and purposely flung words to hurt Liz."

"Easy. A.J., get the lawyer to file the paperwork on Michael. It will completely push her over the edge. I knew that she hadn't changed." He turned to John and noticed the look but shrugged it off for now. "I am going to need you at the meeting with Jason."

John nodded at the man that was leading the Zacchara Organization after he had given it up. John had no desire to be stuck in this life of violence. He had plenty to say to Jason Morgan himself, so going to the meeting was not a problem for him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elizabeth was standing beside Francis in the backyard while the others were out doing errands. Nik and Emily had taken Cam over to play with Spencer and start classes with the tutor that she had hired. Zander and Enzo had followed to provide security for Cam and Emily. Needing to get some fresh air, Elizabeth had donned her jacket and slipped silently out the door. Exasperated at her slipping off alone, Francis had joined her and then lectured her.

Throwing up her hands in defeat, she nodded. "Ok, Francis. I am sorry, I really am."

"I know that you aren't use to having to take someone with you everywhere. We all know that, Lizbits, but you need to understand that we are trying to keep you safe. To do that, we need you to cooperate with us."

"I just needed to get out. I felt like the walls were moving in."

"What is eating at you? Is it Carly?"

Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth shook her head. "I am use to Carly's antics by now. My temper just got away from me this morning."

"And here I thought you would have been in a better mood this morning," he teased.

Blushing bright red, she avoided his gaze. "I don't think that you really want to talk about that, Francis."

"Oh, the complete opposite actually. I think that we need to discuss you and Johnny and what you are going to do about John."

"I don't know what I am going to do about John. I am hurt and angry right now. I do know that Johnny makes me happy. I haven't felt like this is in a long time."

"I just don't want you to get hurt. John still has unresolved feelings for you, and you are going to be dealing with him for a long time to come because you share a child."

Elizabeth adamantly shook her head again. "You don't understand, Francis. He left us. He let me think that he was dead for years. While I will always care for him, John is not the man that I thought he was. I do hope that we can be friends. I also want him to be happy and to find someone that will make him feel like I do with Johnny." Nibbling on her lip, she evaded looking at him. "Johnny makes me happy and feel like I am special and cherished. I know that he will always tell of me anything important. He treats me with respect and doesn't act like I am piece of glass that will shatter at one wrong move. That is what I want, with him."

Seeing the naked emotion oh her face, Francis backed down. It was clear from talking with both of them, that Johnny and Elizabeth were serious. "If Johnny is who makes you happy, then I am all for it. There may be hard times that are going to crop up though, Liz. He is running the Zacchara Organization because John decided to walk away. But that was before you and O'Brien reconnected. If John does not take this well, it could be a real bad situation."

"I know, but I refuse to walk away from what I feel for Johnny. I am willing to fight this time for my happiness."

Hearing his phone ring, he pulled it out and looked at the caller ID. "Hey, Jerry. What's up?" Listening to the other man on the phone, he laughed. "Thank you. I will see you later." Hanging up the phone, he herded Elizabeth back into the house as snow flakes started to fall.

"That was Jerry. Sam was sent to the hospital after she started cramping at hearing that Diane was no longer representing her on Jason's orders. She will then be moved into Pentonville's medical ward while awaiting trial."

"Did she have a miscarriage?" she asked softly.

"Nope. They think she was faking the symptoms to get out. Monica met her at the ER and is still with her." Francis sneered. "I don't think that woman is going to wake up."

Elizabeth snorted in disgust. "Monica will never give up on trying to get close to her as long as she is pregnant. If she can't have Jason, she will try to get close to his child."

"But it may not be his. We have been watching her a long time. She was sleeping with Ric for the past year and a half. Emily warned Jason to get a paternity test."

Completely done with feeling sorry for him, Elizabeth only laughed. "Hey, he made his choices and chose to have her in his life after everything that she did to us. I think that this is poetic justice in a way. Jason Morgan deserves to have some misery in his life. Let him see how it feels."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~b~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John waited until they were away from the house before speaking. "What is going on between you and Elizabeth?"

Keeping his eyes on the road, Johnny shrugged. "I think you should ask her. I am not discussing this."

"Bullshit! She is the mother of my son, O'Brien!"

"The son you have only seen in person twice," the older man snapped. "I am not walking away this time. I care about her and her son. It is up to her what she wants, John. You can't make her forgive and forget the past. While I understand what you did, it was not the right decision. I think you know that now."

"Looking back, I realize that. I let myself believe that Morgan would look after her. I regret what I did, I do. That does not mean that I accept that we are over."

Glaring at the man sitting beside him in the SUV, Johnny gave a slight shrug. "That is your problem to deal with her over. Fair warning though, I am not just walking away, Zacchara. Elizabeth is a loving, compassionate, and beautiful woman that I care deeply about. I let her get away once, but I won't do it again. If she chooses you, I will accept that, although it will crush me. However, I won't step back for anyone, not even you."

"What if I take my position back?"

Smirking, Johnny slid him a look. "You can have it back if you want. Being the head of the organization is not why I am with Lizbits. But can you really make the tough calls that have to made to keep everyone safe?" At the silence he nodded. "I didn't think so. Don't try to threaten or blackmail me. It won't work. It will only piss me off."

The rest of the drive to Vista Point was quiet. Pulling into the gravel lot, both men checked their guns before replacing them and exiting the SUV. Spotting Max and Cody ahead at the old bridge, Johnny headed that way with John trailing behind him watchfully.

Jason stepped up and waited with his stone cold face on. As the two men met him in the clearing, he pinched his nose. "Why did you insist on meeting?"

"Oh, I don't know. Why did you send Carly to Elizabeth's with a message? I believe that you were told that she was no longer your concern."

"I don't take orders from you, O'Brien. I want to speak with Elizabeth and you were blocking any messages," he countered bitterly.

"Damn straight and I will continue to do so. You abandoned her and your son, Jason. You don't get to just say your sorry now that you are slowly learning the truth. She doesn't want to see you."

"Why not? She was seen talking with him!"

John stepped forward, vibrating with anger. "Yes, I was with her at the park, not that it is your concern. Why don't you tell me why you didn't take care of her. You promised me that you would make sure that she was safe and away from any danger. Instead, you moved her into a direct line of fire."

"Back off, John. I did my best."

"Your best! Whatever! You let her to flounder after O'Brien here was almost killed by you. You then watched as she married that piece of shit Spencer. He emotionally abused her and Cam. Then you get her pregnant and let YOUR wife torture her at every turn and never step in to protect them!" John raged.

"I made mistakes, just like you," Jason spat.

"You are right. You both made huge mistakes and now Elizabeth is struggling to pick up the pieces of her life. This is your last warning, stay away from Liz, Jason. She does not want anything to do with you anymore. The connection that she felt with you was destroyed by your own selfishness. If she wants to mend the rift with John, that is her choice and none of your concern. Back off."

Determined to throw the cocky man off his game, Jason glared. "Did your men take out Sonny? Have you declared war on us? You know that you cannot win that battle O'Brien."

Johnny met his gaze without blinking. "Did my men take out Sonny? No, I did. I put the two bullets into his brain and watched him take his last miserable breath." He sneered at the three men giving him death glares. "My men did, however, set the fires that took out your buildings. Consider it the beginning."

Watching as the two men walked away, Jason punched the stone wall that he was standing beside. Running through his options, he knew that he was at a disadvantage. "Max, do what we discussed. Make sure that it goes off safely though. Use the safe house that we just finished."

"When?" was the only question.

"As soon as possible. Also, take out O'Brien, Corelli, and Zacchara. I don't care how, just do it!" he snapped as he headed toward his bike. Gunning the engine, he closed his eyes and prayed that everything worked out before speeding off.

The two remaining guards looked at one another, knowing that this was a bad idea. The way that Jason was handling this situation was going to get them all killed. There was no way that any of the guards surrounding Elizabeth was going to let her disappear without retaliation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~b~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Walking into the silent room, Jerry looked at the man sitting behind the desk. His face was set in a mask of anger. Sitting across from him, he waited for him to speak first. There was no way that he was risking pissing him off worse than he already was. After almost thirty frustrating minutes, his companion finally spoke up.

"I want security on Elizabeth and Cameron upped drastically. Something is coming, I can feel it."

"She is always with Johnny or Francis. They are the best to guard her."

"And what happens when they are taken out or immobilized? Then she is left absolutely alone and vulnerable." He sighed and rubbed his head that was throbbing. "Tell O'Brien that I need to see him. We don't have much more time to clear this up."

Understanding exactly what he was saying, Jerry nodded. "Are you sure that you are making the right decision. She deserves to know."

"Absolutely not! Also, someone needs to address the problem of Miss Davis. She walked away the other night, but after sleeping on it, she contacted some of Helena's former associates in the government. Make it clear what will happen if she keeps trying to help Sam." Eying her former boyfriend, he added, "I mean it, Jerry. Make sure that Alexis knows that her actions are being watched. I don't care how you get the point across."

"Carly was there this morning. Francis said that she upset Elizabeth."

"That woman is so stupid," he huffed. "Make sure that A.J. gets custody of his son for helping us."

"Do you think that the families will protest all the power that O'Brien is about to come into?"

Lorenzo shrugged. "It doesn't really matter if they do. He will have more power than they ever dreamed over. He will also inherit my get files on certain officials. He will never face charges if he plays everything just right."

Jerry snorted. "He wouldn't anyway. He plays everything just right, except for the personal issues that he is taking care of for your daughter. Francis has had to contain him a couple times."

Lorenzo laughed, amused at the thought of the level headed man losing his control. His protectiveness of Elizabeth was the main reason that he had made sure that every file he had ever obtained on Corinthos-Morgan went to him and Francis. "Are him and John are going to come to blows before this is over?"

"I think that each one of them will respect her choice, and I think that she already made it. I am sure that she will let Zacchara be in Cam's life, but I think that Johnny never had to worry. I would bet money that if he had come back while she was involved with Morgan that she would have still went back to him. Their connection is very solid."

"Good. He is a good man. I would have been happy with either him or John, but her happiness is the main factor." Lorenzo stood. "Just make sure that you do as I asked."

Arriving back at Elizabeth's cottage, Jerry was entering at the same time that Johnny was. Motioning him into the kitchen, he relayed the message. "He wants to see you tomorrow. He also said that Alexis is attempting to get Sam released."

Frustrated and pissed, Johnny gritted his teeth. "Fine, I will see him tomorrow evening. Can you handle Alexis? Take the paternity tests that we found. Show her who her real child is and who Sam's real family is. If that doesn't work, get her out of the way. Ship her and her daughters to the island that we were on."

"She still may not believe it," Jerry warned.

"Either you make her see reason, or I will. I am done with the people in this town burying their heads in the sand to ignore the truth." Johnny started for the stairs, but turned back him. "John will be here in the morning. Him and Liz are going to talk. I am going to take care of some things and need Francis with me. I want you all here with her. Cam will need to stay with here too. We can't spread the guards too thin."

Jerry smirked. "Sure. I can do that, even if it will not make baby's breath happy."

Laughing at the use of his nickname for Elizabeth, Johnny silently made his way up the stairs and stopped at her bedroom door. Entering the dimly lit room, he smiled at her as she looked up from her book. Kicking off his boots he joined her on the bed. "How was your evening?"

"It was alright. Cam, Em, and I made smores in the fireplace."

Laughing because he knew her love all things chocolate, Johnny pulled her into his arms but she pushed away.

Raising her eyebrows, she looked at him. "I think you are a little overdressed for bed, Johnny. Unless you aren't staying." She smirked as he grabbed her and pushed her down.

"Oh, trust me, baby girl, I am not going anywhere."