A/N – Thanks for the comments! I'm so glad you are enjoying the progress. All hell will start to break loose re: Cam in Chapter 15.

Chapter 11

Elizabeth paused to think about what she had just said and was struck again by how much of herself she had given the men in her life.

"You and Lucky had been on and off for a long time."

Pulling herself from her memories, her eyes shifted up. "Yeah. He was there for me after my rape and it ended up being a giant I owe you card. Apparently, it was my job to save Lucky from himself and situations like that never end well."

"No, they don't. Elizabeth, do you think your rape completely changed who you are?"

"In some ways, yes. I definitely lost some of my spunk and while I'll always be grateful for Lucky sleeping on the floor next to my bed, I have to wonder if our love was really as pure as everyone wanted us to believe. He was guilty. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have been in the park. He had promised to take me to the dance and then ended up taking my sister, Sarah. I'm not saying that I don't think Lucky loved me, I just think he was burdened to love me at first. It was like this giant cement chain around your neck that you get used to and try to pretend it's lighter and you can handle it when all you want to do is cut it off, but you can't because everyone around you acts like you deserve to have to carry it and that it's your responsibility. Eventually, you're hunched over, wondering why it's hard to breathe. When Lucky was presumed dead, I found Jason. He was my knight in shining armor always listening and caring what I wanted. He has a way about him that makes everything seem so simple and has such a big heart."

"Just like you."

"Yes, and people tried to stomp all over his too. I chose Zander over him and I got mad because he didn't tell me that Sonny was faking his death and I pushed him into another woman's arms. That was a bad time for me and I ended up turning to a man who looked good on paper, but had already lost half of his soul. You see, getting revenge on his brother was more important than loving me. All the romantic gestures and sweetness was a ruse because underneath was something darker. He wanted me to save him when I couldn't even save myself. Jason doesn't want me to save him, he just wants me to be me and be happy with that. He accepts all of my flaws and makes me realize that I can be strong and survive anything."

"Your relationship with Jason sounds really good. Why did you both run from it?" The timer went off. "Hold that thought for next time."

"Okay."

"Elizabeth, you're being remarkably candid and under the circumstances, I think you're doing very well. Just don't get too down on yourself. I don't think you need more punishment."

"Thank you for saying that."

"So, we'll have another appointment in a few days or so."

Liz left with a pep in her step. While it was hard admitting her weaknesses, it felt good to just be honest and not feel judged.

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After she got back to the mansion, Elizabeth snuck down to the garage where Alice was waiting and then slipped into the driver's seat.

"So, where are we going?"

"I have the address right here," Liz said handing her a paper."

"It's a warehouse?"

Liz shrugged. "That's where she asked me to go."

Alice felt a little uneasy. Elizabeth was being very covert and she wondered why she needed to ditch her guards. No one would ever forgive her and something happened to the baby, especially if it turned out to be a Quartermaine.

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Claudia adjusted her glasses and waited for Elizabeth to arrive. She had made some phone calls and had a possible lead. She just needed to show up at a bar later that night and flirt, hopefully getting some good information out of the mole.

Emily's car pulled up and Claudia approached it.

Liz got out, followed by Alice.

"Who is that?"

"That is Alice. She works at the Quartermaine mansion and she helped me escape. Alice, this is Claudia."

They shook hands.

"Follow me."

They went into the building and then through the back into another long building.

"Our family owns this shooting range. It's just for guard training and practice."

It was empty and Liz wondered if she had cleared everyone out on purpose. Claudia took off her glasses and went over the basis of gun safety.

"I want you to use this gun, because it doesn't recoil as much since you're pregnant."

"Okay."

After several minutes of teaching Liz how to change the clip and take on and off the safety, she handed her some earplugs and protective glasses as Alice prepared herself in the lane next to them.

The first time Alice fired, Liz jumped causing Claudia to smirk. Even though she had been warned, her body still jerked as the sound reverberated in the room.

Claudia stood behind her to teach her how to line up the shot and grip the gun. Elizabeth couldn't help but wish it was Jason instead.

When she finally stepped backwards, Liz took a deep breath and squeezed the trigger and it took her breath away.

"Again," Claudia said helping her raise her arms up.

Liz shot several times before she was finally comfortable and started to relax, spurred on by her determination. When they were finished they went into a room that had couches and drank some water.

"Thank you for taking me seriously."

"I had no one to protect me, so maybe I was feeling charitable. It's rare for me."

"So you were attacked?"

"I hope you don't mind, but I did look up your past. I needed to know who I was dealing with. Like you, I was raped, maybe not so viciously, but I had to see my rapist every day and he taunted me."

"I'm sorry that happened to you. I understand."

"I know people think I'm a little crazy, and maybe they are right, but I will never let anyone do that to me again. I made sure I learned how to fight back."

Liz gripped the sides of her chair. "I just—I'm scared they'll come after me too. I didn't protect my son from Lucky and I'll always regret that. I'll be damned if I will let anyone hurt me or my son like this again. I look at you and I don't see damaged even though I know both of us are to a degree. I see a survivor who fought back. I admire that. If other people can't see that, well—to hell with them."

Claudia smirked. "I like that you still have fire. I have some leads I'll be following up tonight. I'll touch base with you tomorrow and I know about Carly."

Liz's eyes grew big. "How?"

"Because she's an idiot and hired someone to try and find the witness and he has ties to our family." Carly couldn't go to her own people.

Liz really wished Carly would stay out of the way and she couldn't wait until the other woman found out that Jason knows about her duplicity. It's going to kill her to lose Jason and that will be the ultimate revenge for the blackmail.

"He filled me in and bottom line, he's going to keep updating me whenever they are in contact. Do you need me to put her in check?"

"We'll handle her."

"We who?"

"Me and Jason."

Claudia grinned. "One day, I'm going to get you drunk and you're going to tell me just how good he is in bed."

She turned red, causing Claudia to laugh.

Alice wasn't sure if she liked Claudia, but if she is helping Liz, then she'd go along for the ride to make sure the woman was on the up and up. The sound of her knuckles cracking filled the room.

"You know, Jason is going to freak when he finds out who you are meeting with and I would bet that someone followed you today."

"Emily is in my bed right now, taking a nap."

"Did you tell Jason that you are up to something?"

Liz made a face.

"He is a protector. He'll trust you to a degree, but he is also vested in your safety. So, I will give you a call tomorrow or maybe even tonight. Maybe this will be a good union. I can help you let out your inner bitch, and maybe you could help me dial it down. I'm going to be brutally honest with you, so don't hold back with me either."

Liz nodded and stood.

John threw open the door and Claudia groaned. "What the hell? Shut the door."

He did so without taking his eyes off of Elizabeth. "Is she threatening to hurt you?"

"No. She's giving me shooting lessens." The perplexed look on his face made the women laugh.

John plopped into a chair. "I don't know how this came about, but you're playing with fire. I read the news reports and I know that Jason could be your baby daddy."

"And?"

"If Sonny or Jason finds out that you two are bff's, all hell is going to break loose."

"Jason won't hurt you or her as long as you don't hurt me. I'm a big girl, John, and no one has the right to tell me who I can hang out with." She turned to Alice. "Are you ready to go?"

Alice grabbed her gun case and they left.

"You have lost your mind."

Claudia grinned. "Not really. I like her. I'm going to try to help her find her kid and I think it will calm down the tension between Sonny and myself."

"You're playing with fire."

"You worry too much."

"Whatever you have planned regarding the kid, I want in." It pissed him off that the Russians had involved a child in their war against the Spencers.

"You'll wait in the car."

John studied her for a minute. He wasn't sure whether to commit her or kidnap her so she couldn't start trouble. He just hopes that they will survive it.

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Johnny O'Brien slipped into the interrogation room and waited for Jason to enter. He wasn't sure how he was going to tell him about Elizabeth, but if he didn't, the reaction would be far worse. After Jason was seated and the guard went outside he took a deep breath before meeting his boss's gaze.

Jason knows him too well and knew he was stalling. "Just tell me."

"She slipped out of the mansion with Alice. At first, Paulie thought it was Emily, but when they got to the buildings and saw her get out, he could tell by her body it was a ruse."

"Go on."

"There was a woman there, but she had on a hat and glasses. They went inside for a little over an hour before John showed up."

"The Zaccharas?"

"Yeah. Seems she had a date with Claudia."

Jason was floored. "I can't even process that."

"That was one of their training buildings. It has a shooting range behind it."

Jason's head tilted. "What?"

"Maybe Liz wants to learn how to protect herself."

"Well, why not come to me?"

"You're in here and we are all busy trying to find Cam. Maybe she wanted more resources. I don't know, but she seemed fine when she left."

Jason wiped down the front of his face.

"She asked you to trust her right?" Johnny asked.

"Yeah."

"Then do it. The Zacchara's have been pretty quiet since Anthony is gone. I'll keep an ear out of course, but if I tell her to stay away, I'm not sure that will fly."

"It won't. Just make sure she stays safe." He can't lose another person he cares about.

"I will."

They went over the leads he had and Jason gave him some suggestions.

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Sam growled in frustration. It almost seems like someone keeps planting bad information to throw her off. A tap on the window diverted her attention and she was surprised to see Lucky standing there, but she let the window slide down and greeted him. "What hell are you doing here?"

Lucky smirked. "Can I get in."

"I'm not sure that is a good idea."

"I'm not going to hurt you."

Her eyes narrowed. "Fine, but I'm packing and I have a taser."

He got in on the other side. "I wanted to make you an offer."

"What?"

"I need to make sure that Jason and Elizabeth don't get together."

Sam rolled her eyes. "Jason is with me."

"Barely."

Sam glared at him. "Shouldn't you be in a cell?"

"No. They have nothing on me."

"You know, I would think that after what you did to Cameron, you'd be lying low right now."

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"He could have died, Lucky."

"Cam is fine."

Sam looked at him like he was crazy. "He is far from fine." When Lucky remained quiet, her mouth dropped open. "You know where he is, don't you?"

"No, I don't, but I have faith that he will be returned soon."

There was no doubt in her mind that he knew where Cam was hiding. "And you think Elizabeth will come back to you if you bring him back?"

"No. That ship has sailed."

"So you want to take Cam away from her and you want me to help you?"

"Elizabeth is taking Jason away from you and I think the baby is his. I don't even remembering finishing with her the last couple of times and before that, we weren't having sex because of my injury. You might as well face it. He's going to leave you for her and you'll have nothing. If you work with me, then you can hold onto your man because Elizabeth will be in jail and you can raise the baby yourself."

Sam wasn't sure how she wanted to play this. She could pretend to go along with it and use that to impress Jason into staying put or she could make sure his scenario played out and she'd still get Jason. Either way, she figured she'd win. "Let me think about it. I'll get back to you tomorrow."

"I can't give you my number, so I'll send you a message."

"Fine."

Now she just needed to figure out how to play this. Either way, there was a good chance that Lucky was going to manipulate this and make sure Elizabeth does time and possibly even Jason. It was clear that he must have framed him and she couldn't let that happen. Somehow, she needed to try and contain Lucky, but she wasn't sure how.

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Emily joined Elizabeth on the porch as soft music played from Liz's phone.

"How did it go?"

"I think it went well.

When Emily averted her gaze, Liz knew she must be worried.

"I'm good."

Emily took a languid breath. "No, you're not, but that's okay. You're worried about Cam and your pregnant. It's understandable, but just know I'm not the enemy. Anything you tell me won't be repeated. I'm not going to run to Jason."

"Thank you."

"So, are you and my brother going to really try and make things work?"

"I think so." She looked down at her phone as Yuna's song Coffee began to play.

"Why don't you look happy about that?"

"I've just made so many bad decisions and been with several people for the wrong reasons."

"And you don't want to be with Jason just because of the baby."

Liz shook her head. "I don't and that goes both ways. It has been really difficult, but I feel like I'm starting to find myself and I don't want to get lost again. I want to continue to go to therapy and find my center and honestly, I don't want that to be yet another person who your brother feels obligated to. He's like this white knight on a motorcycle instead of steed, and I really want to bring something to the table."

"Did you ever stop and think that maybe just being with you and kids is enough for him? I think Jason's world is pretty dark and you are the complete opposite. Maybe you give him something to look forward to coming home to."