A/N – Thanks for the comments! Guest – re: not reading because of the show. I said that the show was my reason for doing this because they have pissed me off. That should be clue enough for you to hang in there. Wink wink. Also, I don't think Jason is ambivalent about his feelings from Sam at all. You know the end game.

I know that you're mad at Monica, but she is just doing her job. It was a very public incident and any hospital would have done the same thing. Lots of people do things on this show that you would never think they would do. It wasn't personal, it was business. The police are doing their jobs as well. It doesn't matter how you feel about a person, child endangerment is serious and it doesn't matter whether drugs weren't supplied by Elizabeth or not. Cam was in danger being around a drug user and ingested drugs. There are plenty of nice people who commit patient. I think you will like the next chapter after we get through another bumpy patch in this one.

Chapter 3

Carly waited until the shifts were changing before slipping into Elizabeth's room unnoticed. She studied the tiny woman as she slept. Liz might look all innocent, but she isn't even close to the Princess Purity persona she readily reflected. As far as she is concerned, Liz is bad news and will bring Jason down and there is no way that Carly is going to let that happen. Sometimes, you have to make hard choices and do what you have to in order to protect your family. Jason is a part of hers and even though she feels bad about Cameron, the little boy is not where her loyalty lies. There is no doubt in her mind that if Elizabeth got her claws deeper into Jason, that Carly will lose him and that is what sparked her to take extreme measures.

Liz's eyes flickered open and she gasped. "Carly?"

"I see you've certainly managed to get Jason's attention—again."

She really isn't in the mood for Carly's delusions. "This isn't about Jason."

"Isn't it? You are possibly carrying his child right?"

"Carly…"

"Your life is a mess and since Lucky didn't exceed your expectations, you're looking to find your next meal ticket."

Liz's eyes narrowed. "I haven't asked Jason for anything."

"You probably don't have to. I can see it now, you bat your eyes at him and turn on the tears and you know that out of guilt, he will do whatever you ask. It's because he's a standup kind of guy and when has he ever told you no?"

"I'm really in no mood to placate you. I lost my son. He is somewhere scared and confused right now and my life has been turned upside down. So, if you came here to protect Jason's honor, you can save it. He doesn't want me anyway. He has Sam."

Carly rolled her eyes. "That little twit doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as him either. It is something you have in common." Sam is next on her list and she couldn't wait to take that slut down too.

"And you do? After all the things you have done since you got to town, you're going to judge me about my life? You took Michael away from Jason and it almost destroyed him!

Carly smirked and filed away the comment. "Well, it's nice to see you have a little fire left in you. I was starting to wonder."

"If you're done trying to kick me while I'm down, you can leave. I'm tired."Much to her chagrin, Carly pulled up a chair.

"If I had information that would help you get out of this predicament—that would help you get your son back—what would you be willing to do to get it?"

Liz swallowed hard. "I would do anything for him."

Carly leaned forward. That was the answer she was hoping for. "So you would stay away from Jason to get Cam back?"

Liz's eyes filled with tears. She couldn't hate Carly more if she tried. "I'm not even with Jason, so why are you pushing this?"

"Because I can see the signs. Jason loves children. If you are pregnant with his child, he won't back away. You'll have him right where you want him and I won't let you take advantage of him."

"You know, not everyone thinks like you, Carly. I would never want Jason if he was only with me because of a kid. I have no problem being a single mom."

"You say that so easily, but now that you've lost everything, I think you'd be tempted. So, your answer is?"

Liz thought about how she was being railroaded. Cameron needed her and maybe she shouldn't even hesitate. He deserved to come first. There is no Liz and Jason, and they barely had contact with each other. It would be no different than normal if she promised to stay away. Currently, she is handcuffed to a bed and will probably be thrown in jail the next day if she doesn't do something. It's not like she has a lot of options. "Okay."

Carly's smile lit up her face. "Shake on it."

They shook hands.

"What do you have?"

"Maxie is the one that phoned in the tip. She told them that you were a horrible mother and that you took the drugs from the hospital. I think she might know where Lucky is as well."

"What a bitch." Even bigger than the one sitting next to her.

"Tell your lawyer and maybe they can have someone review the security tapes around the time the drugs were stolen. It would probably prove that Maxie was around, discrediting her. I'm sure Diane will be able to get the call thrown out on the basis of what a vindictive bitch she is. I am willing to testify that I heard every word that she said. In fact, I taped it with my phone. I'll hand over the recording tomorrow and will give Dante a statement. No one would expect me to help you, so it will make it more believable. All you have to do is push Jason away and keep your distance."

Liz wiped a tear away, feeling like she had no choice. "I'll do it."

"For the record, I'm sorry Cam was taken. It's not your fault and you didn't deserve to lose him. Glad we could do business," Carly said before walking out.

Silent sobs shook her body as she thought about what Lucky had cost her. Everything was a mess and the last person she wanted to hurt was Jason, but Cam needed her and she couldn't let him down and Carly is going to pay if it's the last thing she does.

liIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Maxie saw two figures at the end of the alley and crept towards them.

"I need more than this," Lucky said desperately. Somehow, he woke up and his pills were gone.

"I'm sorry man, that's all I have for now. I can meet you here tomorrow with another batch."

Lucky sucked in his breath and then smashed some money into the man's hand and watched him walk away. He popped a pill into his mouth and closed his eyes, waiting for the much needed euphoria to begin.

"You're in big trouble. The cops are looking for you."

He spun around, his wild eyes meeting her calm ones.

"What are you doing here?"

"Saving your ass. Cam ate one of your pills."

Lucky's mouth dropped open, realizing that he had forgotten about the toddler and that Elizabeth must have come home and got him. "Is he okay?"

"They took him to the hospital. I'm sure he got his stomach pumped and Elizabeth was arrested for exposing him to an unsafe environment. As long as you are missing, they can't arrest you and she'll look like the crappy mother that she is. All we have to do is get you clean so that you can pass a drug test."

Lucky shoved the other pill in his pocket. "I can't go home."

"I rented a motel room. It's a pit, but it's all I can afford right now."

"Why are you helping me?"

"Because I love you despite your need to stay with the person who tore you down in the first place. She isn't right for you and I don't know why you can't see that." It seemed that no matter what Elizabeth did to hurt Lucky, he still wanted her. Maybe it was his addictive personality, but whatever it is she wished there was a rehab for it so he could get Liz out of his system.

"And you are?" His eyes were red and heavy as the drugs started to work their magic.

She touched his face. "I have sacrificed and protected you. When everyone turned their backs on you, I was there. Let me take care of you."

"Can you get me a score?"

"You know I'd do anything for you, but right now, you are going to go to jail if I do that. I can't let that happen. Please Lucky. I promise after this is straightened out, I'll get you all the drugs you want."

He kissed her roughly and then walked her backwards to the wall as she moaned and the drug finally kicked in. Reaching under her dress, he ripped off her underwear and unzipped his zipper and freed himself, needing her right then and there. She dropped down and sucked him until he was hard as his brain drifted, and just when he was about to go over the edge, he threw her against the wall and drilled into her over and over until he was spent.

"I knew you loved me."

"Let's go."

Maxie smoothed down her dress and then took his hand. She had a plan and she really hoped that he would go along with it. In the end, Elizabeth would have nothing and they'd have everything.

liIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Elizabeth closed her eyes. Patrick was at the nurse's desk reluctantly signing her discharge paperwork for the next day and then she would have to go back to the PCPD.

Jason tentatively entered the room. "Hey."

"What—what are you doing here?"

"I needed to make sure that you were okay."

"I'm so not, but I'm not your responsibility."

Jason was taken aback by the cold look he is getting as Elizabeth's stomach churned. "You're my friend."

"Not really, I mean, it's not like we've been close lately."

"Elizabeth, where is this coming from?"

She shrugged. "Maybe losing your child, possibly your job, and your freedom puts things in perspective. You can't be here Jason. If child services see you, they might hold it against me."

He froze in place, thinking she had never judged him like that before. "Oh." Making her life more difficult was the last thing he wanted to do.

She started to cry unable to hold it back any longer. The dejected look on his face was killing her. "You should go back to Sam. It's where you belong."

"Elizabeth, let me help you."

She held her hand up to stop his forward movement. "Don't come any closer. Just—I'm sorry, but you can't help me this time. I won't turn Diane away, because I am desperate, but that's it. You can't fix this. The baby is probably Lucky's anyway, so you should be thankful that you don't have to deal with all my drama."

"Why would you say something like that? I would never think of you like that." The realization of her words hit him like a ton of bricks and he took a few steps backwards like she had punched him. "You don't want me to be the father, do you?"

She took a languid breath as tears clouded her eyes. "It would hurt so many people and I just can't deal with that right now. Your life is so dangerous and we were a fantasy, not a reality. Cam and this baby must be my only priority. Whatever is between us was done and over before it started. It has to be."

He sucked back his tears. Her words had wounded him because not having her in his life has proven to be more painful than he had anticipated. "Fine, maybe it's for the best then. I have to go," he said before quickly moving into the hallway, her rejection stinging his eyes and making him feel nauseous. She couldn't accept him or his choices and that rocked him to the core.

Elizabeth let out a sob and buried her head in her hands. He was gone. Hopefully, it wouldn't be all for nothing and she could get her son back.

liIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Lucky woke up and rolled onto his back and Maxie snuggled closer. His body was twitching, already needing another fix, so he reached for his pants and grabbed a pill.

"Don't," she muttered.

"Why not?"

Her eyes fluttered open and she sat up. "I have a plan to fix all of this."

"What?"

"Hear me out before you say anything. I think if you got clean, they couldn't prove that you were on drugs and therefore you could get away with what happened to Cam. You can deny they were your drugs and at that point, I don't think anyone would believe Liz's story."

"It's well known that I'm doing drugs."

"But I would vouch for you and if you're sober when you turn yourself in, they might believe the rest of our story. You can say you weren't strung out on drugs that night; that you just needed to get away for a while and clear your head and don't know how those drugs got there."

He sighed. "And what is the rest of the story?"

"There's something that you need to know first. Lucky, Elizabeth is pregnant."

Tears sprang into his eyes. "I'm going to be a father?"

Maxie rolled her eyes. "Maybe."

"What does that mean exactly?"

"Your darling little wife doesn't know who the baby daddy is."

He stormed out of the bed. "She cheated on me with Patrick.? I knew it. I've said it all along."

"Lucky, it wasn't Patrick."

He struggled to think. "She was having an affair with someone else too?"

Maxie couldn't believe the depth of how dense Lucky could be. "The night she found us in bed, she slept with Jason."

Lucky's body clenched and he grabbed the lamp and hurled it against the wall.

"Hey! Stop it! We'll have to pay for that."

"She fucked Jason? That little whore."

"You need to fight for that baby. Technically, since you are married, it's yours. If you are clean, we can get a lawyer to prove that she's unfit. Think about it. It's the ultimate revenge. She cheated on you after all you've done for her. Losing Cam and this baby will kill her and if she goes to jail—."

"—even better," Lucky said with a smirk. "Okay. Tomorrow, we work on getting me clean and then we ruin Elizabeth's life." She deserves it for sleeping with that thug and not telling him the truth. He had begged her to take him back last go round and apologized over and over while the hypocrite had slept with Jason.

Maxie grinned. "God, I love you."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Sam watched a dejected Jason walk into the penthouse. "Jason?"

He sighed heavily, wondering why he had even bothered to come home. "I'm really not in the mood to talk right now."

"Are you mad at me?"

He groaned his annoyance as he put his gun away.

"Jason, I need you. If this baby turns out to be yours, I don't know what I will do. I'm just—I can't give you a baby and I'm just still reeling from that news."

He stared at her as a tear rolled down her cheek, wondering if she was being manipulative or sincere and realizing that he felt nothing as he watched her cry. Had it really gotten to the point where he just didn't care anymore? "Sam…"

"I was shot in your arms. I sacrificed my ability to have a child for you—to be with you." He is the love of her life and the only man she has ever truly loved. The wall between seems almost insurmountable, but she wants him to fight.

"I didn't ask you to do that. It was your choice."

"So this is my fault?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I didn't say that!"

"Yes, you did. I got shot because of you! I can't have a baby because of you!"

His eyes darkened. "Is this your plan, Sam? Are you going to try to guilt me into professing my undying love and make me feel like shit because you were hurt over and over?"

Her lip quivered as she really turned on the tears.

"You begged to be involved in my life because you're an adrenaline junkie. You can't have it both ways just because you got hurt."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You can't say that you're my ride and die chick and then when you get hurt blame everything on me."

Her body sagged onto the couch. "Did you ever love me, Jason?"

His hand sliced through the air. "Of course I did. Why would you even ask that?"

"You don't seem very upset that you can't have a complete life with me. There will be no kids. Why don't you seem to care?"

"It's not that. You know what kind of life I lead. It's dangerous and really no place for children. I never said I wanted them." While that was partially true because the danger is real, he would love to have a child, but wasn't sure how that would work with his current job. Sonny has kids, but Alexis tries to shelter them from him and Michael and Morgan had been kidnapped before. His partner loves power over all and is selfish. Jason figured it would be selfish to dream about children when they could die just because of their father's job.

"Yes, but you are willing to raise your child with Elizabeth."

"I don't even know if it's mine and it's not like I consciously chose that. It wasn't planned." If the baby is his then he will do everything to protect it, but there is no way he will walk away, not after losing Michael and then Lila.

She wiped some tears away. "What now?"

"I don't know. Things just aren't like they used to be and I don't think we can ever get it back. Look, I need to get out of here."

Right when he got to the door she called out.

"Don't—don't walk away from me, please."

He let out a harsh breath and shut the door behind him.

"Jason!" Her shrill scream punctured the air before she dropped to her knees as she sobbed.

Having the conversation with her had made him realize that he couldn't walk away from Liz even if she was trying to push him away. She was emotional because of all the horrible things that were going on around her and all the pressure she was under so she had lashed out at the one person she knew she could. He wasn't going to let her get away with it because too much is at stake. He would deal with Sam later.