A/N – Thanks for the comments! FYI Lots of info coming next few chapters (Sonny, Emily's death and Q's) + five families explanation (ch 19) Guest – I didn't know all the spacing was removed. Thanks! I corrected it. * blackberry959 – There are rules Jason has to abide by. * leeleelayla5 – He will. * Guest – re: your suggestions – I didn't realize that the site software was amiss and combined everything after the first couple of paragraphs. I've corrected it. All my other chapters are broken apart so it's not usual that I would post one big block. I think for the most part I'm pretty clear re: who's saying what but I'll keep it in the back of my mind to check before I post.

Chapter 12 - Betrayal

Jason pulled back and buried his head in his hands. Elizabeth got up and got a wet washcloth so he could wipe off his face.

"I thought you deserved to know exactly who I am and the life I lead before this goes any further. I'm an enforcer. I kill people to protect your father's business. And that brings a level of violence into my life that goes far beyond what most people would experience. If you don't want to see where this goes now, I'll understand. And once you make a decision, I won't bring it up again."

She studied him for a moment and then straddled his body and took his face in her hands. "I'm not going anywhere. You are so much more than an enforcer Jason. That doesn't have to define you." She said before kissing him softly. Jason grabbed her face and fed off of her lips and mouth. His kiss was rough and demanding and Elizabeth could barely keep up with him. It was so raw and primal. She had never been kissed like that and she found it intoxicating and extremely hot. Jason pulled back and took in a few breaths as their foreheads connected. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so rough with you."

"Don't ever apologize for wanting me Jason. That kiss was….wow." She said breathlessly.

Jason kissed her twice softly. "Thank you for giving us a try. I'm not always good with words, but it means a lot to me that you're willing to stay."

"What happened to your grandmother was horrible, but you didn't hurt her on purpose. And my father…." She said shaking her head. "I don't understand where his head was at."

"He was in a manic period and thought he didn't need his medication anymore. He doesn't think straight without them and gets impulsive."

"Do you think you can ever heal your relationship?"

Jason shook his head. "I don't think so. I can't forgive him. He doesn't even seem like he's sorry. And honestly, he's lucky that I haven't killed him. The five families are the only reason he is still breathing."

They had approached Jason after he came back from dealing with Manny and he told them everything that was going on. They assured him that it would be handled but that needed some time to prepare to make a smooth transition. They had agreed on a set time period and since Jason was so mentally exhausted, he agreed and told them that they had three months to handle it or he would and that time was almost up. So, he avoided Sonny as much as possible for the last two and half months while he tried to get himself together. He felt bad that Michael might grow up without a father but at this point, Jason was thinking that maybe he'd be better off without Sonny influencing his life. Just thinking about all of it was making Jason very angry. For most people, if they saw the current look on his face, they'd run. Instead, Elizabeth softly stroked his cheek and then ran her nails over his scalp and it was like she was calming the beast. Jason's breathing slowed and he started to relax. The only good thing that came from him not killing Sonny was that he probably would have never met Elizabeth.

"Look at me." Liz said softly.

Jason looked up at her.

"Somehow, I'm going to help you get through this Jason. You're not alone okay?"

He nodded and then pulled her into his body and leaned his head on her chest. And that is how they sat for the next half hour before Liz finally stood up and held out her hand and they went upstairs to bed.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Elizabeth stared at the wall as Jason's chest rose and fell. She wasn't sure what to do about her father. Part of her wanted to run screaming back to Wisconsin. It sounded to her that he tended to hurt a lot of people when his illness wasn't controlled. And even though he was doing better now, what happens when he stops again? It seemed like it was a vicious cycle and this time, someone died because of it. She understood mental illness and what it meant to be bipolar. Her father shouldn't be the head of an organization when he was so out of control. And then there was Jason. He was a mess; blaming himself for something he couldn't control as he's forced to work for someone he hates. As strong as he appeared, he was also emotionally fragile and the last few months had taken its toll on him. She could see it in his eyes and she was really worried about him.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

The next morning, Carly came to the penthouse and knocked on the door.

Elizabeth opened it and said hello.

"Hi, I need to talk to Jason."

Liz nodded and stepped back. "I'll go upstairs to give you some privacy." She said before leaving the room.

Jason watched Carly walk towards him. He knew why she was there but feared she was going to be disappointed in his response.

"Jason, I'm sorry for pushing you away. It's just that I knew if I didn't do what Sonny wanted, that he might hurt you. Shutting you out was the hardest thing I've ever done. But I did it to protect you."

"Carly, you did what you had to do and I did what I had to do."

"So you forgive me? I've missed you so much Jason."

"It's not that simple. You know what he did and you still stuck by him afterwards."

"So you wanted me to abandon my husband?"

"You're encouraging his bad behavior and I really don't get why."

"Michael needs his father."

"Please, Michael would be just fine with you. And think about what you are teaching him by allowing Sonny's behavior. Instead of calling him on his shit and demanding that he get help, you babied Sonny. For what? Are you scared about money?"

"No, I just couldn't abandon him. He has a mental illness."

"You're both sick. You pretending there was nothing wrong was not the way to handle it. I can't be in a friendship with you when you can't even admit that what you did was wrong."

"So you're not going to forgive me? You're just going to walk away from me and Michael? You said that you'd always protect my son."

"And at the time I meant that. Carly, you have a husband and Michael has a father. It is up to you to protect him. You have guards. Do you have any idea what I have been through the last four months? I didn't think I deserved to live. I need to take care of myself right now and none of you have my back." He said angrily. "So no Carly, I don't forgive you. I don't forgive Sonny and I sure as hell don't forgive myself."

Carly was shocked. The pain in Jason's eyes took her breath away and she could tell that he was done; that there was nothing she could say to change it. "I'm sorry Jason. I know that really can't cover it but I am. Take care of yourself." She said before walking out the door.

A minute later, Jason let out a gut wrenching yell of frustration. He was tired of having to deal with the people who hurt him so badly on a daily basis. OB ran inside as Jason dropped to his knees and Elizabeth flew down the stairs. She kneeled in front of him and held him for a minute and then OB helped Jason up and they got him to the couch. He laid down and OB watched as Elizabeth got on her knees in front of the couch and raked her fingers through his hair and spoke to him softly. He finally closed his eyes and fell asleep.

OB had gone to the kitchen so Elizabeth went in there to talk to him.

"I know everything about his grandmother and how he reacted to it." She said softly. Elizabeth was really worried about Jason. His body was still trying to recover and all this stress was the last thing he needed.

OB nodded. "It was a bad time for him. Francis was there for him a lot because I was out trying to find you." He said quietly. "I was here one of the times and I'll never forget it; having to talk him down. When I took the gun from him, he begged me to put a bullet in his head. I think that was the only time I've cried since getting into this business. He was so broken. I hope I never have to see him like that again. But he's still carries around a lot of pain."

Liz sighed. "I want to help him but I'm not sure how."

"He needs to go see her. The problem is that she's in a crypt which is on Quartermaine property."

"If I can convince him to go, can you make it happen?"

"Probably, I would just need to figure out their schedules. Alice likes me. I think she'll cooperate." OB said softly.

"Then call her. We need to make this happen soon."

"I'll take care of it."

"Thank you."

OB got up and left. Elizabeth went back into the living room and sat on a chair and waited for Jason to wake up.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Sonny walked into his bedroom and found Carly crying. "What's wrong?"

She wiped her face. "Nothing, I'm fine."

"You're crying. Just tell me what happened."

She sighed. "I went to see Jason and it wasn't pretty."

Sonny rolled his eyes. "Carly, why would you do that?"

"Because I miss him. You made me take sides and stay away from him. I needed to make him understand. I wanted him to forgive me."

"And let me guess, he couldn't right?"

She shook her head. "He's so mad Sonny. This is killing him."

"He'll get over it."

Carly's jaw clenched. "How can you say that? You know how important Lila was to Jason. It's not that simple."

Sonny rubbed his jaw. "I know that Carly. Jason just needs time."

He pulled her into his arms and hugged her. "It will be fine Carly. You just have to wait him out."

"You didn't see the look in his eyes."

"Trust me, I've seen the look. But there's nothing you can do about it."

She pulled out of his arms and looked out of the window. "Nothing will ever be the same again."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Jason woke up.

"Hey." Liz said getting up. "How do you feel?"

"Frustrated." He said sitting up.

She quickly looked at his bandage. "It's time to change that."

He watched her walk away to get some supplies and then she carefully change his bandages.

"I want to talk to you about something."

"What?"

"Feel free to tell me to butt out if you want to but I don't think you're going to be able to move forward until you go see her." Liz said hoping that he would hear her out.

Jason put his head his hands. "I don't know if I can face her."

"This will eat you alive if you don't. And frankly, I don't know that we have a fighting chance if you don't deal with this."

Jason knew she was right but he was scared of all the feelings that would come to the surface.

"OB and I will go with you Jason. You don't have to face this alone. Let us be there for you."

"I forget what that's like."

That was partly his doing because he pushed everyone away.

"Well, we're going to remind you. Please say that you'll think about it."

OB walked inside. "We could go now. They are all out to dinner."

Jason's heart was beating a mile a minute.

Liz placed her hand on his arm. "Jason, we'll be right there. Please…"

He took her hand and just nodded his head yes.

They stood and Liz grabbed his keys and they followed Johnny downstairs. Jason felt like he couldn't breathe as he got into his truck. He knew he needed to do this but he was so scared.

OB drove and pulled into the driveway. Alice saw them from the window and hoped she was doing the right thing.

He parked and they all got out and made their way to the crypt. But when they got there, Jason was stunned. Lila's name was nowhere to be found.

"This isn't possible." He muttered.

OB frowned. "Alice is back at the house. Maybe we should go ask her what's going on."

Jason spun around. "Let's go."

They walked to the main house and Alice opened up the door. Jason pushed his way inside. "What have they done with her Alice? Where is her body?"

Alice sighed. "Come into the living room."

"No, where is she?" He yelled.

"Please Jason, just follow me." She said quietly.

They all followed Alice to the sitting room and Jason took a few steps inside and then stopped abruptly. "Oh my God." He muttered.

Liz and OB stepped to his side.

"You see her right?" Jason said. He was shaking and tears were pouring down his face.

"Yes, I see her." Liz said not knowing what to think.

Lila could barely look at Jason. Pain radiated off of him and it was almost hard to breathe in the room. "Jason…"

Jason dropped to his knees and Lila looked up at Alice to push her towards him.

"This can't be. I don't understand." He said emotionally.

"I'm alive Jason. I survived. The family faked my death so your enemies would leave us be."

Jason continued to cry as his head dropped into her lap.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know." Lila said softly.

"I put you in this chair; because of my job. I'm the one who's sorry."

"Jason, it's okay. I'm still alive and that is what is most important."

OB was pissed. They should never have let Jason suffer the way that he did. Suddenly, two people walked into the room and gasped at the sight.

"Jason what are you doing here?" Alan asked.

Jason stood up as his body shook with rage; his breathing jagged. "I can't believe you all lied to me like this. How could you?"

Edward walked up behind them and spoke up. "It was your fault that she almost died, you and that scoundrel Sonny."

Monica took two steps towards Jason. She had never seen her son so broken. "Jason, we had to make it believable. Her life was in danger."

"I almost took my life twice because of this. I couldn't live with myself. All I saw was her getting shot, lying there lifeless over and over in my head. I couldn't stop it." He started breathing funny and gasping for air. "You….just…don't…." Jason's voice trailed off and then he passed out.

OB caught him mid fall and laid him down on the floor. "He's recovering from a gunshot wound."

Monica rushed over to him and took his pulse. "His pulse is erratic."

Alan ran and got his bag and he listened to his heartbeat. "Something isn't right."

"You have to help him." Lila cried out.

Edward tried to push her from the room.

"No, I will not leave him."

"Lila, it's better if…."

"No." She yelled. "Haven't you caused him enough pain? If he had succeeded in ending his life, it would have been on all of your heads."

Alan picked up his phone and dialed 911.

A/N – Well did I surprise you?