A/N – Thanks for the comments! Things will start to look up! Two surprises in this chapter! * Guest – rofl too funny! Teenage years are hard! * Virgy15 – I hear you. I can't imagine my kid waking up and not remembering me and then becoming a hit man. Monica's a control freak too so that just adds another level. * Liasonisthebomb – Very true! * ilovedana53 – It was a bad situation all around. They understood the anger but still couldn't do anything about it. Would be hard to accept your kid killing people. * BeachGirl114 – Thanks! * kikimoo – Very well said!
Alright NC-17 is coming soon so if you don't follow the story and search for it remember that MA is not in the default filter. You have to select All for rating.
Chapter 15 - Exposed
Two hours later, Edward's procedure was over and he was in recovery. Jason squeezed Lila's hand as Monica updated them on his status.
"He did very well. It wasn't as serious as we thought. They were able to restore blood flow and if we can stave off any infections, I think he'll be back to being cantankerous in no time."
Tracy breathed a sigh of relief for not only Edward but Alan who had assisted. If their father had died on the table, it would have destroyed her brother.
A few tears fell down Lila's face but she was smiling from ear to ear. "When can I see him?"
"I'll come get you when they take him to his room." Monica said as she briefly squeezed Lila's shoulder.
Tracy watched as Jason doted on Lila. He got her some water and made sure she was comfortable and wasn't cold. She had mixed feelings about her nephew. The accident had torn the family apart and lying about Lila had just taken it to another awful level. Healing for her family was long overdue.
Jason looked up and saw a man duck into the hallway and he was on high alert. "Excuse me grandmother." He said getting up and walking over to Francis who had just come from checking out the stairwell. "One of Zacchara's men was in the hallway."
"Shit."
"So, they'll know she's here."
"I'll let everyone know and I'm adding Marco." Francis said.
"That's fine. I'm not 100% so the extra backup will be needed. I'm taking Liz to Kelly's for something to eat once Edward is settled."
Francis nodded and made a call. Jason sat back down.
"Is everything alright?" Liz asked.
"They know that you're here."
She nodded as her eyes scanned the room.
"Is everything okay dear?" Lila asked after hearing the exchange.
"Nothing you need to worry about." Jason said softly.
"You don't have to stay."
"I know. I'll wait until they let you see Edward."
Lila patted his hand. "I've enjoyed your company. I know things are far from okay with the family, but we could meet for lunch or you can sneak in the mansion to see me until you're ready to see them. Alice will let you know if the coast is clear."
Jason smirked. "Okay."
Tracy caught his eyes and mouthed thank you and Jason nodded.
Liz asked Lila about how she and Edward met and Jason listened as Lila eagerly shared the story. Monica eventually interrupted and Liz gave Lila a hug.
"Come here." Lila said opening her arms to Jason. "I love you Jason Morgan take care of that sweet girl."
Jason smiled. "I will and I love you too."
He watched Lila roll away and then gave Tracy a brief nod before taking Elizabeth's hand and walking to the elevators. "Are you hungry?"
Liz smiled. "I could eat."
"Let's go to Kelly's."
"In public?"
"Yeah, they already know you're here and I could use some comfort food."
"I'm in." Liz said pressing a button.
Francis slipped inside and they headed out.
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When they walked into Kelly's Michael and Carly were sitting at a table.
Carly looked up at him with sad eyes as Michael jumped up and hugged him and started rambling about his trip to the park earlier.
Jason gave Liz his order and spent a few minutes talking to Michael before Carly interrupted.
"It's time to go see your dad."
"Aww mom."
Carly gave him a look and Michael sighed.
"Goodbye Uncle Jase."
Jason messed up his hair and then Carly gave him a little smile and walked past him. Liz walked back to his side and they sat at a table in the corner.
"You must come here a lot."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because they already knew your order." She said smiling.
"I'm a creature of habit."
"I see."
"What did you get?" He asked curiously.
"Um, chili fries and a chocolate milkshake."
Jason grinned. "I'm going to enjoy learning about what makes you tick."
Liz smiled. "Just give me chocolate and I'm a happy camper."
"That I already knew."
The waitress brought their meal.
"This is so good." Liz said biting into her fries.
Jason wiped his mouth. "Everything here is good so I'm told."
Liz smiled.
They quietly ate and then someone walked inside.
"Look who it is, Mr. Personality himself." Anthony said walking into the diner. "And who do we have here?"
Jason stood up and turned around. "No one you need to know."
"I beg to differ. She is absolutely beautiful and will make a gorgeous bride for my John."
Liz touched Jason's arm. "Let's just go."
Anthony leaned in closer. "They will make gorgeous babies don't you think?"
Jason growled and Francis stepped forward. There were a few other people there including Robin, Patrick, and Maxie who were watching closely.
"Look, I don't want any trouble. I just want to bring Elizabeth back with me to the house. Johnny misses her terribly."
Johnny walked inside. One of the guards had alerted him. "Christ pop, what the hell do you think you're doing?"
Anthony smiled. "I'm just trying to get to know your girl."
"She's not my girl and you know that."
"Ah, but she could be and if Morgan wants to keep the peace, he knows what he must do. Sonny's little girl belongs with you."
Jason threw some money on the table, grabbed Elizabeth's hand, and led her out of the diner. "Sorry about that."
"It's okay. At least I know who to avoid now."
"I won't let him hurt you."
Liz waited for him to open the door and gave him a quick kiss. "I know."
Jason shut the door and walked around to his side, hoping that he could keep that promise. Anthony needed to be handled.
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Liz looked outside the window. "Where are we going?"
Jason smirked. "You'll know soon enough."
"Brat."
Francis pulled into a parking spot and cut the engine. Jason and Elizabeth got out and he walked her to the bridge.
"It's beautiful here."
"I like to come here to think."
"I can see why." She said looking down at the water.
Jason stood behind her and pulled her into his body.
"I guess if you haven't run away screaming after the last 48 hours, then I shouldn't worry about you leaving."
Liz smiled and turned around. "I already told you that you're stuck with me."
Jason looked deeply into her eyes. "I'm very thankful for that."
She stood on her toes and kissed him as her fingers played with his hair. God the man could kiss. They got lost in each other for a minute before they came up for air.
"Elizabeth, this might be too soon to ask, but are you going to want to go back home once the danger is over?"
Liz looked up at him; surprised at the amount of emotion in his eyes. "I haven't had time to think it through."
"It's just that what I feel for you isn't casual. I haven't let myself go there in a long time and I don't want to get hurt."
Elizabeth sighed. "I would rather throw myself over this bridge then be yet another person who has hurt you Jason. You've already been through so much. It's been a long time for me too. I don't know what the future holds for us but I am still willing to see where this goes. I just haven't worked out the logistics yet."
"Fair enough."
"Alright Superman, we should go back now. You still need your rest."
Jason made a funny face and Liz laughed. "It's been a really long day."
"If I have to…"
"You do." Liz said grabbing his hand and pulling him back to the car.
They got back in the car and Francis headed home.
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Johnny picked up his phone. "Hello?"
"John, it's your Uncle Rudy."
"What's up? I haven't spoken to you since last summer."
Rudy sighed. He wasn't even sure where to begin. "Do you have a few minutes?"
"Yeah sure."
"And you're alone?"
"Yes, I'm in my room."
"Listen, me and Micah decided to check out this property we found out Anthony owned. It's a little run down so no one ever bothered to go there before. We were kicking back and decided to check it out. So, we approach the house and there are bars on all the windows, which were blacked out by the way. Anyway, we jimmy the lock and we walk into the living room and we see this woman."
"What?"
"She looks at us like we're ghosts or something. So, I start to walk towards her and she grabs this long candlestick holder and waves it in front of her. Her hair was all wild and hanging in her face. By this time, we're convinced she's a lunatic. So, I start talking to her and she tells me that I'm not real; that I should go away. I try to convince I'm not a ghost her but she's not having it. Micah holds out his arm and walks over to her and she slowly reaches out and touches it and then dives into his arms, begging him to get her out of the house. We're stunned to say the least."
"Who is she?" Johnny asked curiously.
"I'm getting to that. Don't rush me. We sit her down and we ask her what she's doing there. She says that Anthony is holding her hostage. Of course, we have no idea what she is talking about. So, I say, what is your name? I hope you're sitting down for this. She says Claudia Zacchara."
A chill runs down Johnny's back. "What? How is that possible? I watched Claudia die."
"I don't know. I didn't even recognize her. Her hair was long and stringy and she's really thin. We took her out of there and drove to Micah's sister's house so no one would suspect anything. We fed her and Angelina gave her a haircut and got her some clean clothes."
"Is she mentally okay?"
"We had a doctor come look at her. She's fucked up for sure but he says she's sane. Johnny, she asked for you. I think you should come see her."
"Jesus Rudy, I don't even know what to say."
Watching his father kill Claudia had haunted him for years. It was one of the reasons he had tried to reach out to Jason when Lila was supposedly killed. To know that his sister had suffered for so many years was enraging him.
Rudy took his silence as a sign Johnny was already planning something. "If my brother did this, then he deserves whatever you see fit. I won't stand in your way. Your poor sister has been to hell and back."
"I'll get the first plane out in the morning."
"Alright, I'll meet you there."
Anthony knocked on his door. "Hey son, what's going on?"
Johnny closed his eyes and tried to keep his temper in check. He needed to make sure this woman was really Claudia and then making his father suffer would be his number one focus. Letting out a deep breath, he said, "Dad, I need to go away for a few days and handle some business. Rudy said there's a problem in one of the warehouses."
"Why can't Rudy handle it himself? Your uncle is a pain in my ass."
"It's a delicate situation. I thought I'd handle it better. It shouldn't take me more than a few days and I'll come right back."
Anthony didn't like it. "I don't know John."
"Pop, if I'm going to run this business some day, I need to be involved in all aspects. You should be happy that I want to show you I can handle it."
Anthony smiled. "Okay son. Let me know if you need anything."
What he wanted to say was I need you dead but it was a long flight to Italy so he'd have plenty of time to think of all the ways he could make his father hurt like he had tormented his sister. John returned his father's hug and fought the urge to rip his head off. He watched him walk out of his room whistling and then sat on the bed and tried to process everything Rudy said. If it's true then his father is definitely a walking dead man.
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Faith took off her wig and threw it on the bed; another shitty motel in a shithole town. Taggert was gone and Spinelli ran off. She needed to get out of the country fast. She was scared. Everything had been going so well until fucking Jason Morgan showed up. "Damn." She muttered under her breath. There was a knock on her door and she froze.
"Front Desk." A man yelled.
She rolled her eyes and looked out the window. She didn't remember him from when she checked in. "What do you want?"
"I have the remote for your television and some towels."
Faith undid the latch and opened the door.
James smiled. "Hello Faith."
She tried to push the door shut and he pushed his way inside.
"Who are you?"
"Taggert is dead."
"What? No, that can't be." She said putting her hand over her heart.
"Oh, but he is. We're not sure who pulled the trigger but he's definitely dead."
When they had gotten a tip and went to the house Taggert was holed up in, it had stunk to high heaven when they found him. James thought it was an easy way out for the enforcer but at least they didn't have to worry about him anymore.
He held out his phone and Faith gasped as she looked at the decomposing body. She gagged for a second and had to calm herself. "Are you here for me?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes. You see, I'm here to take you in Faith. You've been a naughty, naughty girl."
"Over my dead body." She said whipping out a gun from behind her back.
"Wrong answer." James said as the door burst open and five other agents ran into the room.
She glared at James and slowly put the gun on the floor before she was pushed onto the bed face first and cuffed.
"Resisting arrest, I'll just add that to your list." James said smiling. "Sometimes I love my job."
"Go to hell."
"I wouldn't want to take your spot in line. Get her out of here."
James smiled. Finally, they had gotten one of the bad guys. Now, he could go to Port Charles and nose around for a while.