A/N – Thanks for the comments! GC is next then I'm winding this down. * ilovedana – lol re: Olivia. * skatiefan – Thanks! *

Chapter 32 - Friendship

Elizabeth was so happy to see the Alcazars.

"How is Claudia?" Sage asked.

"She's in stable condition but she has a long way to go." Elizabeth said softly.

Lorenzo looked over at Jason with a worried expression as they silently communicated. "Elizabeth, what's wrong?"

A tear slid down her cheek. "It's my fault she was shot. I made a mistake."

Lorenzo tipped her face so she was looking up at him. "It wasn't your fault. This was all on Anthony. Don't let him win. Don't go into a dark place."

She let out a sob and Lorenzo pulled her into his arms. "Shhhhh. It will all be okay. I promise." He said trying to sooth her.

Sage rubbed her back. "It's okay Elizabeth. You did the best you could."

Jason's heart ached listening to her cry. Finally Liz pulled back. "Sorry for crying all over you."

Lorenzo smiled. "It's okay."

"He has like thirty of those suits in his closet anyway." Diego said smirking.

Liz laughed as she wiped her face and then sat next to Jason and he put his arm around her. He was glad that the Alcazars were here and supporting Elizabeth.

"How long are you staying?"

"We'll be here for a while. I had the house opened up. I figured Elizabeth might need some friends." Lorenzo said.

"Thank you. I missed all of you." She said smiling. "Where's Luis?"

"He'll be here in a few days." Sage said.

Lorenzo stood up. "It's getting late. Can we see you tomorrow?"

Liz nodded. "Definitely."

Sage hugged her once more and then followed her uncle and brother out of the house.

Jason pulled Elizabeth onto her lap. "You alright baby?"

"Yes. I love you."

"I love you more."

She smiled. It was something her father always said to her. "Let's go to bed."

He stood up with her in his arms and made his way up the stairs.

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It was after midnight when Ronnie walked into the Zacchara house and went into the study. He had purposely avoided that shit show when Anthony took Liz because he knew it wouldn't end well. He had tracked her and had their computer geek check out the parents. When he found out they were leaving town, he knew where they needed to be to take her. It was brilliant really. Jason had several guards around her but he had made sure that his men had more fire power.

He needed to get in and out of the mansion fast. The town was buzzing with FBI agents and there was no way he was going to jail for some crazy bullshit. He opened the safe and stuffed some money in his bag and then slipped out. What he didn't know is that he was being followed.

He got into his car and drove out of town and pulled into a hotel about a half hour outside of town. When he went into the lobby, Luis went around back and parked. He put on some gloves and a hat and grabbed his bag and swiped a card that he knew wouldn't work in the door reader.

Ronnie came up behind him and Luis jumped. "Sorry man."

"Fucking card isn't working."

Ronnie held his out. "Allow me."

"Thanks."

They moved inside and Luis went to the room across from Ronnie's and fumbled with his bags and as soon as Ronnie got the door up, Luis went on the attack.

They struggled as they fell to the floor just inside the room and Luis began to stab Ronnie over and over. And right before he was about to slit Ronnie's throat, a shot rang out and struck him. He growled and knocked the gun away and stabbed him in heart. Luis got up quickly and got some towels from the bathroom and placed them on Ronnie to prevent him from bleeding on the carpet. It was probably a futile attempt but he figured he'd at least attempt to minimize the damage.

He grabbed his phone. "Lo."

"Luis? Where are you?"

"I'm shot."

"What?" He said standing up. "Who?"

"Ronnie. He's dead but I need a doctor and a cleanup crew." He rattled off the address."

"We'll be right there."

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Jason groaned as he picked up his phone. "What?"

"Jason, it's Lorenzo. Luis killed Ronnie and he needs a cleanup crew and a doctor?"

"Where?"

"That dive off of route 38. He's in room 14."

"Go to the clinic on 4th street. I'll go get Luis and send some men."

"Thank you."

Jason was stunned as he called OB and explained the situation.

"I'll call David on the way over."

Elizabeth got up and started getting dressed before Jason hung up the phone.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Luis needs us. I can assist David. Let's go."

Jason jumped out of bed. "You can't be a part of this. I don't want these kinds of things to touch you."

She started putting her shoes on. "Well, sometimes they will. I consider Luis my friend. So, hurry up."

He didn't have time to argue with her so he threw on his clothes and shoes and they raced across town.

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When they got there, the men were carrying out Ronnie's body.

"Can't say I'm sad to see him go." Jason muttered as he went inside.

Liz raced into the room and ran over to Luis who was sitting at a table. "Are you alright?"

"What are you doing here?" He asked while gritting his teeth.

"You need help. Can you walk?"

He nodded as he held the towel over his arm. Jason assisted him into the car and then they took off.

Liz checked it. "It didn't go through."

Luis grunted. "It's good to see you again."

Liz shook her head. "It would have been better if you weren't bleeding all over Jason's car seats."

Jason looked in the rear view mirror and caught the smirk on Luis's face.

"I had to make sure you were safe."

She stopped and looked at him. "You killed him for me?"

"For all of you. You've been through enough." He said quietly.

Liz stared at him for a moment and then made a crazy face. "Do I thank you for that like you just gave me some flowers? Perhaps I should get you a gift or take you out to dinner."

Luis chuckled and then grimaced as she pressed down on his wound.

"Seriously, can you take backup next time at least?"

"No time." He muttered as his head lolled backwards.

"Don't you dare pass out on me Luis. Look at me." She yelled.

Jason looked up again. His girl was not playing.

Luis's eyes slightly opened. "Were you always this bossy?"

Jason chuckled and Elizabeth turned her head slightly. "Don't make me come up there. How long?"

"Another five minutes." Jason said.

"Honestly Luis, Sage needs you." She said softening her tone.

"She has Lo."

"But she still needs her father. You have to be more careful."

He grimaced again. "Okay….will try." He said before hissing as Jason went over a bump.

"Sorry."

Liz looked into his eyes and brushed his cheek with her hand. "Thank you for caring and wanting to make things safe for me. I just don't like to see you hurt." She said quietly.

"Sage needs you too." He said softly. "She looks up to you."

Liz smiled. "I like her a lot too."

Jason parked the car and Lorenzo opened the door as David pushed a gurney close to the car. They got Luis out and Liz followed them inside. She helped hook Luis up to monitors and cut off his shirt.

"Have you been doing crunches?" Liz asked with a smirk.

"You are just saucy tonight." Luis said with a grin.

"I need to get that bullet out." David said. "What's your blood type?"

"O."

David disappeared and came back with a bag of blood and hung it. "Get ready for surgery in the next room." He told Liz.

She went into the next room and scrubbed, put on some scrubs and then started to clean her hands again. David gave Luis some medication to knock him out and then walked into the room and scrubbed as well and then they went back into the other room as Lorenzo and Jason waited outside.

Diego rushed inside with Sage. "Were is he?" Sage asked.

"He's in surgery." Lorenzo said standing up as Sage hugged him tightly.

She cried. "He has to be okay."

"He will be. They'll take good care of him." Jason said calmly.

She sat down next to him and then Lorenzo sat on the other side and they both held her hand.

About an hour later, David came out and Sage stood up. "How is he?"

"He's stable. I got the bullet out. He got lucky. It nicked an artery but he'll be fine."

"Thank you." Lorenzo said.

"Elizabeth is getting him settled and monitoring him. I'll stay with him tonight. We should be able to move him to your house in the morning."

Liz interrupted him. "David, could you come with me please?"

He rushed back inside.

"His blood pressure is a little too high."

David did some checking and made some adjustments and his pulse went back to normal after a few minutes.

Liz smiled. "You're very good at what you do."

He smiled. "So are you. I think we'll make a great team."

Liz felt good. Luis had made a huge sacrifice for her and even though she had teased him, she was grateful that she was safer for it.

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The next morning, Elizabeth dragged herself out of bed and into the shower. Jason was already up and working out with Milo.

"Jason, with your permission, I'd like to be on Liz rotation."

"Really?"

He nodded. "She's easy going and I can stomach the clinic."

Jason chuckled. "Are you sure? There will probably be lots of germy people there."

"There's always a mask."

"Are you sure?" Jason liked Milo and he knew that he missed his brother. Max would rotate on the island but right now Sonny was used to him so it made sense that he stayed close.

"Yeah. Do you think she would be okay with that?"

"I've never heard her complain about any of you guys. I was thinking about maybe having you and Logan on her."

"Logan and I get along."

"Alright, I'll take it into consideration. I think I'm going to keep Enzo on Michael. He's good with him."

"Who are you putting on Carly?" Milo asked as he changed the weight on the machine for Jason.

"I was thinking Marco. He's young and could keep up with her. Besides, he's a freak and likes to shop." Jason said before pushing the bar up slowly.

Milo chuckled. "That is true."

Liz looked into the room and smiled at Jason's body. "Alright you two, we need to go see Claudia."

Jason rested the weights on the bar and then sat up. Milo threw him a towel.

He smiled at his girl. "I'll jump in the shower."

Hearing someone knock, she ran downstairs and opened the door. "Hey." She said smiling.

Diego handed her some hot chocolate. "The guys said you liked it."

"Thanks." She said sipping it. "Yum."

Sage walked in behind him. "We decided to come with you to GH. David called and he's doing some tests and then we can pick Luis up afterwards."

Liz smiled. "Perfect, that way I can get him settled in."

"I think he got shot so you could take care of him." Diego said wryly.

Liz chuckled. "Very funny. Don't say that in front of Jason though."

Sage chuckled. "I love how jealous he is of you."

"So, you still seeing Eddie?"

Sage shrugged. "Here and there."

Liz was surprised. "I thought you were all hot and bothered for him."

"He's okay but I don't like his friends."

Liz smiled. "Well, maybe you can work it so you don't have to be around them so much."

She rolled her eyes. "They are joined at the hip. I want to know I come first."

"That's right because you deserve it." Jason said as he came down the stairs.

Sage smiled. "You sure you don't have a younger brother?"

Jason pretended to think. "No, but I have a cousin you might like. He has hair issues. Maybe you can help him."

Sage made a face. "Is it like growing where it shouldn't?"

Liz laughed as Jason tilted his head and tried to picture what she was thinking. "No, it's just a little wild."

"He needs product." Liz said chuckling. "Tracy said he's home for the summer."

"Well then, I will expect an introduction."

Jason looked ill and Sage was confused.

"He's just upset because that will mean he'll have to spend time with his family." Liz said.

"Are they that bad?"

"You have no idea." Jason muttered. "Let's go troops."

They went down to the SUV and Jason drove them to G.H.

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Claudia had been stable so they were allowed to come in two at a time.

"Hey." Liz said softly as Claudia slightly smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"Like shit but I'm happy to see you."

Liz sat down next to the bed and grabbed her hand.

Jason walked in and smiled. "It's good to see you conscious."

Claudia smiled. "Very funny."

"I was so worried about you." Liz said softly trying not to cry.

Claudia looked up at Jason with concern and then back down at Liz. "Elizabeth what's wrong?"

"I'm so sorry. This was all my fault."

Claudia gasped and then swallowed hard. "You did nothing wrong."

"I lied and it made him mad. If I had just played along…" She said as tears flowed down her face.

"You did one of the most brave things I have ever seen. Besides Johnny, no one has ever stood up for me like you did. When he said he was going to kill me, you didn't even hesitate. And with that said, I never want you to do that again." She said firmly.

Liz's mouth dropped open.

"My life is not worth you risking yours for." Claudia said choking back her tears. "I know what you were trying to do but what happened between me and my father was destiny. It was ten fucking years in the making. When I saw you fall to the floor I nearly lost my mind. I've never had a friend like you before. I'm just damaged goods but you are so special Elizabeth." She said fully crying.

Jason put his hand around Elizabeth's and Claudia. "Claudia, I need you to calm down okay. Your blood pressure is going up."

David ran into the room. "What's wrong?"

He looked over at Elizabeth's tear stained face and then at Claudia's.

A nurse walked in. "Ms. Zacchara needs to rest."

Liz stood up and hugged Claudia and then stepped aside.

Jason brushed the hair off Claudia's face and leaned down. "I don't want to ever hear you say that you are damaged goods or don't matter. You saved her and yourself. What you did was brave; coming all the way to Port Charles to face what your father did to you. When they tried to take her you refused to let her go. I will never be able to thank you for that. So, we are never going to have this conversation again. You're stuck with us so deal." He said with a slight smirk as Claudia laughed and cried at the same time.

She watched them walk away. "I'm very lucky you know that?" She said looking up at David.

He smiled. "That you are."