A/N – Thanks for all of the reviews! Glad everyone liked the Wii scenes. LiasonLuv – Glad you are enjoying it! Kikimoo – I actually included Claudia because of another plan. You'll find out soon. BeckyFan1999 – lol re: working hard. He is irresistible though. I can't say that I'd be able to hold out. Thank you so much for the compliments! You are a great writer! Vicky Dockery – A lot of people are loving Johnny. I love the character! Butterflyliz – Jason will start to step it up. Silvermaj – Loved your comments! Hellzz – On point as usual!

Chapter 10 - Tragedies

The next day, Jason took off for lunch again so that he could see Elizabeth. He couldn't keep his mind off her anyway. When he entered the house, he heard her crying but couldn't find her at first. He rushed into several rooms and finally found her in the corner of the dining room sobbing.

"What's wrong?" he asked leaning towards her.

Liz shook her head.

"Elizabeth, please tell me," Jason said tenderly. He hates seeing her so upset.

She tried to stop crying, but she couldn't and before she knew it, Jason had picked her and carried her to the couch, sitting her in his lap as he held her. She finally calmed down and Jason asked her again.

"My grandfather died."

Jason swallowed hard. Lorenzo had run the business for quite a while, but his father was widely respected. It will be a big loss.

"I'm sorry."

"I need to go to his house, but I just…" It is going to be hard to face this. She always had a special relationship with her grandfather. He treasured her.

Jason gripped her tighter. "I'll take you."

"Thank you."

He just wants to make her feel better, but she needs to let out her emotions. Everyone is aware of her closeness with her grandfather and he had attended their wedding. Carrying her upstairs, he carefully put her down in their bedroom and then kissed her forehead. "I'll be downstairs when you are ready."

After giving it some thought, Liz put on a simple black dress and some heels. She pulled her hair back and wore very little makeup, knowing that she'd cry it off anyway. After going through her jewelry, she finally settled on her grandmother's pearls and then went downstairs.

"I'm ready."

Jason had changed into a black suit and he put his arm around her and led her to his SUV. He helped her inside and then got behind the wheel and held her hand on the way over there and opened the door for her after he parked. They entered the house and she was immediately swallowed up by relatives. Jason walked over to a corner and sat and watched her interact and move around the room.

"Jason, thank you for coming," Lorenzo said shaking his hand.

"I wish it was under better circumstances. I'm sorry for your loss. Your father will be missed."

Lorenzo gave him a sad smile. "Thank you for saying that."

Jason nodded.

"How's my girl?" Lorenzo asked.

"She took it very hard."

"They were so close." Sometimes his father could be closed off, but he never was with his daughter. She was the apple of his eye.

Skye approached them. "Thank you for bringing her here. Is it okay with you if she spends the night at our house?"

Jason paused. For some reason, he felt the need to take care of her himself, but he understands.

"Um, I guess—if that is what she wants."

Skye nodded. "It is."

"Can I see her?" Jason asked.

Skye led him into the study and then closed the door to give them more privacy.

Liz is staring out the window.

"I was going to go, but I just wanted to check on you first," he said softly.

Liz turned to look at him. He had certainly surprised her today with his tenderness.

"Thank you for bringing me."

Jason moved closer and she slipped into his arms. They embraced for a moment and then Jason pulled back and placed his hand under her chin. "It's going to be okay. He'll always be with you. When I lost Lila, it was horrible. I hadn't lost anyone since the accident and I just remember feeling like I had lost part of my heart."

She tried to hold back her tears, moved that he had shared something so personal with her. Jason leaned down and Liz held her breath. She watched his mouth move closer and then he gently kissed her lips. "Call me if you need me," he said softly. She nodded and tracked him until he disappeared into the hallway.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

The next few days were like a blur for Liz.

The funeral was well attended which was evident since the church was packed. Jason stood beside Liz the entire service and dutifully stayed with her as everyone left but the immediate family. He had been wonderful and she was glad that they had turned a corner. They were all walking back to their cars when Jason heard the first shot ring out.

He pushed Liz onto the ground as everyone took cover, shielding her with his body as Lorenzo's men furiously fought off their attackers and before long there was silence.

When he pulls back to look at Liz, he realizes that she is unconscious. "Elizabeth," he yelled shaking her.

He quickly perused her body and saw that her skirt was ripped near her mid-thigh area. Then he saw the blood on the ground and realized that the bullet had grazed her leg. "Lorenzo," he yelled. "Liz has been shot."

He heard Skye cry out.

"Get her out of here," Lorenzo yelled.

Jason picked her up and ran towards the limo and jumped inside. Skye scooted in beside him and the driver pulled away.

Jason laid Liz's head on Skye's lap and tore off his tie, secured it around her leg, and then applied pressure because the wound is still bleeding. He flipped open his phone. "Johnny, get Francis and meet me at GH. Liz has been shot."

Jason hung up the phone and gazed at his wife. Skye is very calmly talking to her even though she was still unconscious. They finally made it to the hospital and Jason picked her up, ran into the building, and then headed to the ER where he put her on a gurney. Skye pulled him over to the waiting area and they sat.

"Jason, look at me." She is worried about him. He looks so pale.

Jason's eyes slowly connected with hers.

"She's going to be okay."

"She has to be."

Skye wasn't sure when things had changed between Jason and her daughter, but there is no mistaking the fact that Jason is falling for her.

A doctor came out to talk to them as Lorenzo moved behind Skye.

"I'm Dr. Steven Webber. Elizabeth is stable. The bullet grazed her thigh. It looked way worse than it was. I gave her some stitches and some saline. She should be her old self in no time."

Lorenzo smiled and hugged Skye as Jason let out a sigh of relief.

"Does she have to stay here?" Skye asked.

"Well, for some reason, she hasn't regained consciousness. She may be in shock. If she wakes up soon, then yes, you can take her home."

"Can I see her?" Jason asked.

Both Lorenzo and Skye looked at Jason with surprise.

"Yes."

They all followed the doctor to the room, but Skye held Lorenzo back. "Give them a minute."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Jason walked inside and grasped Liz's hand before touching her face and then he leaned closer to her ear.

"I'm sorry I treated you so badly. You didn't deserve it. Please wake up. I don't know what I'd do if…" His voice trailed off.

Liz blinked her eyes and tried to focus on his face. "Jason?"

He let out a big breath and smiled. "Welcome back."

"What happened?"

"You were shot."

"What?" She is slightly alarmed, not remembering anything after they walked away from the casket.

Skye and Lorenzo entered the room. "Hey, Bella." Skye kissed her on the head. "How do you feel?"

"Crappy."

Lorenzo smirked.

"The doctors say you're going to be just fine," Skye said.

"Who did this?" Liz asked.

"We're looking into it," Lorenzo said.

A memory filtered through Liz's head. "I remember feeling a sting and then Jason pushed me to the ground and that's about it."

"It's okay, baby. It's over. I'm just glad you're safe now."

"Can I go home?" Liz asked.

"Yes. I'll see where they are on your paperwork," Lorenzo said before leaving the room.

"I'll have Carmen prepare your favorite food and we can stay up late and watch movies," Skye said smiling.

Jason frowned. "She's coming home with me."

Liz's head jerked up.

Skye focused on him. "Jason, be reasonable. I want to take care of my little girl."

Jason stepped forward. "I am her husband and I will take care of her." His tone was firm.

Skye tried not to smile and then glanced at Elizabeth who is wide-eyed. "Is that okay Mija?"

Liz nodded.

Jason let out the breath he was holding and sat.

"I'm going to go see how your father is doing," she said before leaving them alone.

Liz and Jason gazed at each other until he finally cleared his throat. "When I was holding you in my arms, I was panicking inside because I couldn't stand the thought of losing you. Will you please let me take care of you? I need to do it."

Liz smiled. "Okay."

"Thank you." Part of him felt like he didn't deserve the chance, but he planned on making sure that his wife understands that he wants a relationship with her and that is why he has been making so much effort to show her because he's not always good with words.

Lorenzo and Skye returned. "The doctor will be here shortly to go over what needs to be done to take care of the wound," Lorenzo said.

They gave their daughter a kiss. "You're in good hands, so we're going to go."

Liz and Skye exchanged a knowing look. "Thanks."