ABC/DISNEY owns GH. No copyright infringement intended.
Chapter 16
The next morning it was clear to both Johnny and Francis that things between their friends were better. After breakfast Francis went to check in with Jason's guys in Port Charles. Shawn Butler, Logan Hayes, and Andy Capelli were very good at what they did. Hopefully they had something new to report. The two guys Jason had here in Ireland Cody Paul and Cooper Barrett were also very good at their jobs. They were staying not too far away and would meet up with Jason if Elizabeth wanted to go out. Johnny would also send someone to keep a look out.
"So what do you have planned for today?" Johnny asked his friends. They were both practically glowing.
"I was hoping to take some pictures of the horses, since you said it was okay." Elizabeth wanted to try out some action shots.
"My guy is coming out to do some training. I'll let him know that you'll be roaming about. The head groom will also be down there and he'll make sure you get what you need." Johnny said grinning. "The keys to the rig are by the door. You should be able to handle it."
"Are you going to come with me?" Elizabeth asked Jason.
"I'm going to hang out here at the house." He needed to do some planning with Johnny and Francis. Later Johnny would most likely have work of his own to do so Jason and Francis would find something to do.
"My girl will be home tonight for dinner. I want everyone to meet her." Johnny said knowing that Elizabeth would jump all over that.
"You have a girlfriend?" Elizabeth hadn't ever seen Johnny with the same woman twice in Port Charles. "Where has she been?"
"England, on a business trip." Johnny's lady was quite successful in her own right. He was proud of her.
"What does she do? Does she live here at the house? What does she look like? What's her name?" Elizabeth started shooting questions at him.
"Slow down Liz." Johnny said laughing. Jason and Francis were laughing too. "Let me answer those before you come up with anymore."
"Her name is Chloe and she's a designer. Yes she does live here at the house. And before you ask yes she does know that you guys are staying with me. The building out back." He pointed to a one story structure that was probably a caretaker's house at one point. "Is where she works from when she's here. Her main offices are in Dublin."
"Chloe as is Chloe Morgan. Jason's cousin. The well-known fashion designer, that Chloe?" Elizabeth's eyes were getting wider by the minute. She and Emily used to pour over the magazines whenever Chloe's new line came out. Last year Emily even wore one of Chloe's original gowns to the annual Nurse's Ball. Elizabeth hadn't gone but she had hung out at the mansion while Emily got ready.
"That Chloe." Johnny confirmed.
"I don't have anything to wear." Elizabeth said suddenly.
"You look fine." Jason thought she always looked beautiful.
"I can't meet Chloe Morgan in blue jeans and t-shirt. That's just wrong. I should go shopping and buy something nice. Something of hers." Elizabeth said looking down at herself.
"Chloe will be in jeans, we don't dress up at the house." Johnny told her. He really didn't understand women. Why would Chloe care what Elizabeth was wearing.
"She'll be in Chloe Morgan jeans though." Elizabeth said chewing her lip. "Can I go into Dublin?"
Jason hated to shop but if Elizabeth was set on going into the city he'd go with her. "Yeah, we can't leave until later."
"Actually Liz can go now. I'll call a guard to go with her." Johnny had the perfect person for the job. "That way I won't have to shoot you to put you out of your misery when she's done." He'd shopped with her and Emily on a number of occasions. After the first time he always made sure to have a protein bar on hand.
Jason just nodded. He would call his guys to make sure they followed. "Let me get your credit card."
"I have some money Jason." Elizabeth had cash on her. Jason had also managed to have her money from back home transferred to an untraceable account. It wasn't a lot but it was enough to get a few things.
"Using the card will be better." Johnny jumped in before Jason responded. Elizabeth and money could be a touchy subject. Even back home she was famous amongst the guys for wanting to go Dutch if they went out and did something. That habit drove Francis crazy. "You need to establish Elle McCarthy's presence here in Ireland. It would look odd if you are living in the country and don't spend any money."
"Oh, okay." That made sense. "Shouldn't Jason be buying things too?"
"I have been." When they first arrived in Europe Jason had Johnny set up the profiles for them. Jason started spending money almost immediately. The first thing he did was to buy a flat in the city. He realized once Elizabeth knew her friend was alive she would want to visit often. Real estate was a fast way to establish credit. At some point he would sell the apartment and buy something closer to Johnny under his real name.
"What?" They hadn't left since arriving.
"We have a flat in the city." He told her. "We also both own cars. They are parked in the garage."
"Why are we staying with Johnny then? Is it just because of Helena?" Elizabeth went long stretches without thinking of the older woman.
"That and I thought you'd like to visit." Jason told her.
"I am having a wonderful time." She said smiling. "But I don't want to be underfoot. Chloe might want some privacy."
"Chloe is looking forward to meeting you and Jason both." Johnny told his young friend. Despite being related she and Jason had never met because Chloe hadn't ever been to Port Charles. His girlfriend didn't know who was staying just that they had guests.
"So how did you two meet?" Elizabeth wanted to know.
"Lila." Johnny said laughing. "Chloe was having some issues with getting her materials in. She complained to Lila during a phone call." She refused to pay protection to the local crime boss and he retaliated by burning her shop down. Johnny stepped in after a call from the Quartermaine matriarch. He had been surprised that Jason had given her the number.
"That's so romantic." Elizabeth said clapping her hands. "You came in and protected her and the two of you fell in love." She could guess what issues meant.
"Chloe thought I was a pompous ass." Johnny said laughing as he remembered those first few meetings. He took one look and fell hard. She one the other hand was not interested. "I had to wear her down, but in the end she fell for me."
"Like she could do any other thing." Elizabeth was still grinning. "Okay, call your guard I need to go shopping. Would you like for me to pick up anything for you?" Elizabeth asked Jason.
"I'm good." He was wearing jeans if Chloe didn't like it that was too bad.
"Okay. I'm going to go get my stuff and I'll wait for the guard in the living room." Elizabeth stood up and so did both guys. She gave Jason a quick kiss before heading upstairs.
"Who are you sending with her?" Jason trusted Johnny he just wanted to meet the guy who would be with her all day.
"I'm not telling you. You'll just have to wait." Johnny walked over to the phone to make his call.
"So what's happening in Port Charles?" Jason asked Johnny. The three men were in mob boss's home office waiting for Elizabeth's guard to arrive.
"Maximus levied a pretty hefty fine against Sonny." That didn't surprise anyone. "He told Sonny that if Carly acted up again there would be a more severe penalty." The mob boss explained. Johnny also knew that Sonny was going to need to borrow money to pay it. In the time since his return he had run the organization to near bankruptcy.
"How did Sonny respond?" Francis asked his friend.
"He had no choice but to take the punishment. This morning Carly was admitted to Roselawn Sanitarium. She was catatonic." Johnny said shaking his head. "Apparently the stress of what her family has been going through and the recent ending of her relationship with Sonny was too much for her to take."
"Damn." Francis said putting down his coffee. He had information as well. What he knew fit well with what they had just learned. "That's a hell of a response." Sonny hadn't wasted any time.
"It's probably for the best." Jason had to admit he was impressed with what his former partner had done. "Carly wouldn't have listened and in the end she would have gotten both her and Sonny killed. Where is Michael?"
"With AJ." Francis reported jumping in. "Sonny never had any legal rights to the little boy so he is staying with his father from here on out."
"That's good." Jason thought a life away from the mob was the best thing for the little boy. That was why when AJ got primary custody Jason hadn't help Carly make his brother disappear. It was also why he refused to let Sonny make AJ disappear. "AJ has been sober for over a year now and he's good with Michael. What else?" Jason knew that couldn't have been easy for Sonny to swallow, he hated AJ.
"Sonny had another reason for wanting Carly neutralized. Alexis is pregnant." Francis said laughing. "Apparently they've been sleeping together and no one knew it."
"Still, that's gotta be some kind of record." Johnny said laughing too.
"She passed out at work and ended up at the hospital. Marco expects her to be Alexis Corinthos by the end of the week." Francis told his friends.
"That's why he didn't fight about Michael?" Johnny guessed.
"Alexis is a good influence on Sonny. He makes more rational decisions since he hired her." Francis saw that for himself when he was in Port Charles. "I'm sure she talked him down from doing something stupid."
"Emily?" Jason asked about his sister.
"Is doing well. The wedding plans are in full swing. She and Nikolas have been staying at the mansion." Francis reported. "She graduated from high school and is deferring her first year of college."
"Helena?" Was the next thing Jason asked.
"No sightings." Johnny answered. "We suspect she is in Russia. If that's the case it will be hard to get her out, but we are watching. Nikolas is being very cooperative."
"That just leaves Luke and Lucky." Jason looked at his two friends.
"They are both still in Port Charles, but they are sticking close to home since the judge said he could stay out on bail. There have been a lot of trips to the store in the last few days. Your guys are keeping tabs on them but, Luke is slippery." He worried Francis. Luke Spencer spent years perfecting the art of being invisible. If they lost him he'd be damned hard to find. "Your guys have also reported a lot of international calls to Paris."
"Who is he talking too?" Jason wanted to know.
"No clue." Johnny filled in. "Never the same number twice. He's got a lot of contacts. I think he is looking for Helena, but I also suspect he is looking for Liz. Lucky is required to see a psychiatrist. It wasn't hard to get access to his records. He spends a lot of time talking about how he needs Elizabeth to get better. Whatever Helena did to him, they are having a hard time reversing."
"So we need to stay here." Jason knew that was the best course of action at the moment.
"The property adjacent to me is vacant. Maybe you need a country home too." Johnny suggested. He knew Jason wouldn't want to stay here much longer. He would want privacy. "It's at the bottom of the road so no one else will be on your other side."
"I'll call the realtor and have a look. If I like it I'll buy it." Jason agreed.
"If you want it I'll have my lawyer do the paperwork that way you don't have to deal with the legal mumbo jumbo. She will get everything done quickly." There was a knock on the door. Johnny got up and opened it. "Come in."
A striking red head entered the room and both Jason and Francis stood up. "Hello." She said eyeing the newcomers.
"Guys, this is Siobhan McKenna." Johnny made the introductions. "That's Jason and that's Francis. Siobhan is going to be Elizabeth's guard."
Jason's jaw dropped. "A woman?" It was out before he could stop it. Sonny would have never hired a female guard.
"Forgive him." Johnny said laughing. "Liz would kick your arse if she heard you say that."
"Is she any good?" Francis wanted to know. He didn't care if he hurt her feelings. Man or woman he wanted to know that the person watching Liz was good.
"Don't insult me Francis." Johnny said seriously. "I wouldn't send Liz with anyone who wasn't the best. Siobhan is very good. She used to be with Chloe."
"And she's not now because…" Francis asked his friend.
"Chloe wanted a guard who is more discreet." Siobhan answered in a snippy tone. She didn't like having her skills questioned.
"Chloe's personal assistant is also her guard. It's a better fit." Image was everything in the world of fashion. Having a bodyguard made Chloe seem unapproachable. "Siobhan will keep Liz safe."
"So where is she?" Siobhan wanted to meet her charge.
Jason wasn't objecting because he would have guys watching too. Plus he knew Johnny wouldn't give Liz someone who would screw up. "I'll go get her." He walked into the front room and not seeing his girl ran upstairs. "Your guard is here." Jason looked around the room. Every article of clothing Elizabeth owned was out. Time with Emily let him know what that was about. He hoped Siobhan had a lot of stamina.
"What's he like?" Elizabeth trusted Jason's judgment.
"He's like a she." Jason grinned.
"A woman. Seriously." Elizabeth said smiling. "That is very progressive of Johnny." She grabbed her bag plus her camera and they headed down.
"Liz, this is Siobhan." Johnny made the introductions. As her guard Siobhan would be privy to Liz's real name as well as her alias.
"It's nice to meet you." Elizabeth said shaking hands and smiling.
"Same here." Siobhan was a big believer in first impressions. She already liked Liz. "I hear we are going shopping."
"Yes, do you know some good stores?" Elizabeth asked liking the woman already.
"That I do. We'll have a good time." Siobhan said smiling.
"Fantastic." Elizabeth gave Jason a kiss and the two ladies headed out the door.
"Watch your back Francis, I don't think Siobhan likes you very much." Johnny said grinning.
"I don't care if she likes me, she just needs to keep Liz safe." Francis replied.
"Let's get the realtor out here." Jason wanted to get things rolling.
"I'll make the call." Johnny said heading to his office.
Thanks for the reviews, the follows and the favorites!