Chapter Twenty-One

The cold wind and dark sky matched her mood perfectly as Elizabeth stood beside Johnny as Francis' coffin was lowered into the damp earth. Her emotions were in turmoil from one day to the next and she was exhausted mentally and physically. Having Jake back was the best thing that had ever happened to her, but losing Francis the same night that she had learned that Lorenzo was her father, then held his hand while he died was weighing heavily on her. Feeling a squeeze on her hand, she looked up into concerned green eyes.

"Baby, we need to leave. Are you okay?"

Looking around, she noticed that everyone was starting down the small slope to the waiting limos. "Yeah, I guess. Can we walk over by Lorenzo's grave before we go back to the house?"

Wrapping an arm around her slender frame, he kissed the top of her head before silently leading her over to the more private part of the grave yard where they had buried Lorenzo just yesterday. Feeling her tremble, he peered down at her and worried at her pale complexion and the dark circles under her normally vibrant eyes. Johnny knew that it was starting to sink in all that had been lost. Hoping that she would sleep tonight, he held her as she stood at her father's grave.

Once they were back in the warm car, he pulled out his cell phone and called to Nik to check on the boys. Hanging up, he smiled when she curled against his side. "Cam and Jake are fine. Spencer and Nik have them building a fort in Cam's room. How are you holding up, Liz?"

"It just hurts so bad, Johnny. Francis was always there for me, without any questions or judgements. Then learning about Lorenzo and losing him in the same day, I feel like it was a cruel trick of fate."

"Francis loved you, without a doubt. You were the sister that he never had. As for your father, he protected you the best that he could. He didn't want you to hate him for what Luis had done. Every since he learned that you were his child, he kept tabs on you." Brushing a tear from her cheek, he sighed. "I can't even imagine the rollercoaster that you have been on, Liz. All this happened and then Jake coming back, but you are holding up so strong. No one would blame you if you broke down, baby. Don't hold everything in."

"I just don't understand," she whispered sadly, choking on the words. "Why? Why did any of this have to happen?" As the sobs started, he held her and rubbed her back, murmuring soothingly to her.

Half an hour later, he carried her into the house where most everyone was gathered in the living room. Emily's forehead wrinkled as she started to stand, concerned that Elizabeth was hurt.

"It's fine," Johnny told her softly. "She finally broke down on the way back. She needed to get it all out of her system." He raised an eyebrow at seeing Jason standing the doorway. "I am going to take her upstairs. I will be back in a minute."

Zander ran a hand through his dark hair and frowned. "I worry that she has been through too much, too quick."

"She has," Jerry conceeded. "But that is one tough little woman up there. If anyone can handle it, she can. It's not like her life has ever been easy, Zander."

Grimacing, Jason knew that a lot of the hard times recently had been his fault, inadvertly in some form or fashion. "She looks like she is not sleeping good."

"She hasn't been," Johnny confirmed as he stepped into the room and opened the beer that he had snagged from the fridge. He looked at Jason as he leaned against the wall. "Did you need something? Or did you stop in to see Jake?"

"A little of both. I spent the last hour or so with Nik and the boys. I figured with how things were with Francis and me in the end, that I should stay home today." He rubbed his temple and exhaled heavily. "I got a phone call today. The baby that Sam was carrying, well, she miscarried this morning."

John straightened from where he had been lounging beside Emily and glared at the man. "You knew where the bitch was? Did you have A.J. move her?"

"No," he snapped, aggravated with the looks that he was recieving. "A.J. did that on his own, but I am thankful that he did. Granted, I lost the chance to be that child's father, but it was still a part of me, Zacchara."

"And you are telling us why?" Jerry wondered aloud.

"Because I know that you and O'Brien want to deal with her. I am asking you to let me clean up my mess. I made the disasterous decision that let her into my life. I will be the one to atone for that error."

Studying the cold eyes that were trying to mask the emotions, Johnny debated, but knew that Jason needed to do this. "I am surprised that you are even telling me. You could have taken care of things without telling me."

Jason met the gaze and nodded. "I could have. However, you are the one that has been clearing the decks, so to speak. I figured that you would appreciate knowing."

"I do understand, Morgan. And I think that you actually need the closure. Besides, you will just do it anyway," he added with a smirk. "The only thing that I ask is that one of us are there too. Just for insurance purposes."

Knowing that he deserved the uncertainy, it still rankled, but he only gave a short nod. "Fine. I figured that you would want to be there anyway."

"Um, I think that Zacchara would be a better person, or even Jerry. I can't be in the same room with that bitch without wanting to strangle her myself." Johnny looked over at John, knowing that he had the ruthlessness of his father, but it hardly ever came through. However, he knew that the man needed to get some things of his chest. And this would be the perect opprotunity for him to do so. "John?"

His brown eyes were trained on him as he nodded. "Sure. It would be my pleasure." He cast a glance at Jason. "When?"

"Tomorrow night. I don't want to do it tonight. Francis deserves better respect than that."

"Perfect."

Emily winced but knew that the woman deserved whatever was coming her way. "Um, does this mean that you aren't going to kill A.J.?"

"I may have wanted to at first, but then I realized what he had done. In fact, Jerry has known where Sam was since the night after she arrived at the clinic. We have just been keeping watch, making sure that she stayed there." Johnny shrugged as they all looked up in shock. "I keep tabs on all threats."

The discussion was quickly tabled as Cam bounded into the room with Jake on his heels and Spencer and Nik bringing up the end of the line. Cam's dark eyes searched the room and settled on Johnny's. "Momma is crying. Is she hurt?"

"No, buddy, she is really sad today. I will go check on her." He ruffled his curls and tweaked Jake's nose as he headed up the stairs.

Emily saw the expression on her brother's face and took pity on him. Picking Jake up, she gave him a hug and walked over to Jason. Seeing them side by side made her wonder how anyone could have missed the similarities. They looked just alike. "Jake, do you remember Jason?"

"Mommy's friend."

"Yep, your mommy's friend."

Jake studied his father for a couple seconds before reaching out and sliding into his arms. When Jason held him close, the little boy only patted his shoulder and smiled. "My eyes," he said, looking into his same eyes.

Clearing his throat, Jason hoarsely replied. "Yep. We do have the same eyes, Jake."

Climbing up on the couch beside his father, Cam studied the man holding his brother before looking at John. "Is that Jakie's real daddy?" he asked softly, seeing the resemblence. "I hope so. No one deserves Lucky as a daddy."

Unsure how to answer, knowing that Elizabeth and Jason had not told Jake today because of her emotional state before the memorial for Francis, John only smiled. "You are right. Lucky was not a very good daddy, Cam."

When the doorbell rang, saving him from answering the question, he saw Zander, Nik, and Jerry look amused at his relief as he jumped to his feet. "I'll get it." Scooping Cam up, he carried him piggyback style to the door, causing Cam to shriek with delight.

Jax followed the two into the living room, keeping Carly close to his side. "Hey. We wanted to stop in and see how Elizabeth is?"

Looking up and seeing the awe on Jason's face as he held his son, Carly smiled, but stayed silent. Jax had been adamant that she behave. Knowing that this meant the world to her friend, she tightened her grip on her husband's hand, enjoying the moment.

"She is not handling today that good," Jerry confessed. "It's been hard on her."

Jax's reply was cut off as Johnny hurried down the stairs and ignored everyone, focusing on Emily. "I need you, Em. Now!" he barked out, his tone alerting the adults in the room that something was wrong.

Instantly bounding up the stairs, she felt him close on her heels. Entering their bedroom, she gasped at seeing Elizabeth pale and covered in sweat on the bed, looking like she was asleep. "What happened? Elizabeth?"

"She just passed out while we were talking. Em? Is she okay?"

Checking her friend, Emily noted all her pulse and respiration's seemed normal. "I don't know, Johnny. Did she say anything before passing out? Was she feeling bad?"

"She didn't say anything about not feeling well." He ran a hand through his dark hair in frustration and worry. "But she has been quiet all day. I just assumed it was because of everything that has happened."

Spotting something that caused her heart to tumble in her chest, Emily raised stricken eyes to Johnny. "Get the car," she snapped quietly but with no room for argument. "We need to go to GH now!"