Hope you guys enjoy. Sorry for the wait. The Christmas season always kicks my butt.
Chapter Nine
Jason's jaw almost reached the floor. "What…sorry…what are you doing here?"
Elizabeth tried to keep as much distance between her and the rest of the occupants. "Would it be possible to speak to you alone? I don't want to bother you but I'd…I need to talk to you."
He cast his eyes to his other visitors, with a gentle head movement; they slowly filed out of the area. Monica was the last to leave, her gaze darting between the other two people.
Jason floundered for something to say. Seeing her, he could practically see the X-rays superimposed on her body.
Seeing exactly what he was doing, she said, "Just stop it! This was absolutely moronic. I lived through it without sustaining alcohol poisoning; you didn't need to do this. I didn't come to Port Charles so I could make people feel badly about what I went through. When I overheard Piph talking about you being brought to the hospital…the only thing it did was make me want to leave. I don't need to be coddled or pitied."
"It wasn't pity that drove me to drink." Jason said while trying to put his scrambled thoughts into words. "I loathe the situation that put you in the position to being hurt. I think anyone with an ounce of compassion would feel that way. You lived through hell and what those people did to you, no matter their reasoning, makes me sick…no it wasn't the alcohol." He quickly said when he saw the sharp lift of her eyebrow.
"What good was this though? What could drinking that much and ending in the hospital do to help the situation. Fuck, I am so sick of that word. My whole life has been about the 'situation'…Doing this, was completely idiotic and if you think about it, it isn't going to help anything. You are going to be a very sick man for a while. That being said…thanks." Elizabeth said bashfully. She'd never yelled at a stranger before.
"Thanks? Why are you thanking me?" Jason asked, his face showing his monumental confusion.
"I guess…my thanks is for caring. If you didn't have the requisite humanity, what I went through, wouldn't have bothered you. For the past seven years, it's really just been me and Piph. She's all up in arms about what happened because she grew to love me, I guess. It's all very confusing." Elizabeth replied.
"Why would Ms. Johnson loving you be confusing?"
"Well…if my own parents couldn't find it in their hearts to love me…"
Jason wasn't sure how to respond. Not for the first time he was regretting drinking as much as he had. His brain was muddled enough that clear thinking was not possible. "You and I are going to have to sit down and talk, some things have been discovered, can you wait till my head isn't hosting a marching band and some death metal band?"
"Sure, all I have is time, besides, I trust you."
He'd heard the expression before but he'd never had cause to use it. He was gobsmacked. The appropriate response would have been how, how could she trust him? But his mental gears had locked up so tight; he figured he'd be chewing that mental cud for a long time to come. Before he could even formulate some sort of response, she leaned closer, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek. She retreated quickly but…well, shit…if he thought he was locked up before…
"I hope you feel better soon Jason. Make sure you take care of yourself, you don't need another repeat." Elizabeth said as she turned and walked out.
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Jason was still lost to his locked up mind when Johnny walked back in to his room.
"Jason?"
"Hmm?" He queried softly.
"I've been calling your name for quite a while now, what's wrong?" Johnny asked, more than a little worried.
"She…she just told me that she…trusts me…and kissed my cheek…I'm so confused." Jason said, blushing slightly.
"Wow…that's amazing. Considering what Sonny told us. Man…that's a lot of pressure placed on your shoulders. Maybe this wasn't the best idea. Don't get me wrong, I understand that she needs help but Jason, this…" Johnny said, trying to make sense of the impossible.
"Hey, don't do that, she is not to blame. Her situation…God, I hate that word…it's fucked up and I…me doing this wasn't my brightest idea, the only excuse I have is that I wasn't thinking. Even if Sonny retracted his protection, I'd be by her side and I don't care what level of pressure this puts on me. Whatever the reason, she was brought in to our lives; we will do beyond our best to protect her." Jason said, wincing as the pain ratcheted up another level.
Knowing it wasn't his place and practically choking on the fact that…it wasn't his place, Johnny decided not saying anything was better than putting his size 12 shoe in his mouth.
"Hey, where did Alan and Monica go?" Jason asked, wincing more deeply.
Shrugging his shoulders slightly, Johnny said, "Work I suppose. After we left you alone, they excused themselves and left."
"Can you try to find one of them? If they are going to just keep me on the cocktail to keep me hydrated and give me whatever vitamins and whatnot, I should be able to be at home. I know I'd feel marginally better just getting out of here. Think you can promise them I'll do what needs to be done, so long as I can do it from my own bed? Besides, I haven't gotten sick in a while so…"
Johnny shook his head at his stubborn boss, as if he hadn't seen this maneuver coming. "I'll see what I can do, but I won't promise anything, your parents…err…the Quartermaine's are just as tenacious as you."
When Johnny's back was most of the way out of his area, Jason rolled his eyes. Next time he'd remember, drunk is fine but he wasn't ever going to go to this extreme again…he hoped. He had a shallow relationship with his parents and extended family. Over the years things had mellowed but…since the accident he was branching out and the family's interests and his work interests didn't mesh.
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Elizabeth quietly followed Francis back into the Towers.
"You doing okay kid?" Francis asked.
"I wish this hadn't happened. He didn't need to do it…It seems I am always more trouble than I'm worth…" Elizabeth said somewhat testily.
"Hey! This isn't your fault, what happened to you, even though I don't know the specifics, was horrible. I'll probably crawl into a bottle when I have the misfortune of reading it too. You can't fault us for feeling bad."
"…yeah, but if it wasn't for me, one of your own wouldn't be in the hospital." Elizabeth said.
"True but we can hate the situation and not blame you for our own actions. There is that saying, 'for every action there is a reaction…' that pretty much sums up life. There are those that care and those who don't. Don't waste time on the latter category. Assholes will come and go, try not to focus on the shit sandwich you've been dealt, otherwise, you are just spreading that nastiness to everything." Francis said just hoping something he said would get through.
"Are you a fortune cookie?" Elizabeth asked with a smile.
"Just call me Buddha…" Francis joked.
Before he could finish his comment, he felt her hand on his stomach, rubbing like she was hoping for a wish.
Her musical laughter sparked his own and while his eyes were glassy from his laughing jag, his eyes were also shocked wide. She'd touched him…
"I think your enlightenment has a touch of cynicism and a whole lot of sarcasm." Elizabeth said cheekily.
"I think life chips away at us. Those who live in the real world can't help but be a cynic or resort to sarcasm but I also think this crazy world has some of the greatest joys. It's a trade-off I suppose, you have to take the bad with the good and learn to live with the in between."
"Want to keep sharing your illuminating thoughts our here or would you like to come in?" Elizabeth asked.
"Sadly, I'm still on the clock and while I am sure you are safe here, let's not test that. We have to go to the hospital again tomorrow for your appointments. If you can behave and not make the doctor cry, I promise there is a brownie in your near future." Francis said with a raised eyebrow, almost challenging her.
"Psssh…damn Piph, did she have to tell you about that?"
"I think she was just explaining it because even though you are tiny, you have a wicked tongue and temper. I think her exact words were, though she be but little, she be fierce. It was said with a lot of pride if that helps."
"I suppose, that jacktard was useless. He cried because I refused to accept his mediocrity. I may not be completely healthy but I don't need a freaking wheel chair and helmet…"
"No you don't. Have a good night Elizabeth. I'm off in two hours and Marco is taking over door duty, so if you need anything, just ask him."
"Thanks, but I think I am good. I might place an order for some food later but all that walking tired me out. Good night."
Elizabeth closed the door behind her, wondering if she'd ever truly believe what Francis was trying to get across. She'd just sat down on the couch when a ball of energetic fur landed in her lap, purring her happiness.
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