A/N: Bad news is this isn't a new chapter. It's just the last half of chapter 20 which I've edited and made chapter 21 because chapter 20 was just too long. Good news is that I've just finished re-reading and editing this entire story and am writing for it again. I've decided to focus on one story at a time until each is finished and this story is first. I'll have a new chapter by Thanksgiving and additional new chapters by Christmas and New Year's and beyond until complete. There are roughly 10 chapters left until this fic is finished and then I'll focus on another work in progress. Let me know with a comment which one of my works you'd most like to see finished once this one is done. I'll take your votes into account when trying to decide.
21. part 1 of 2...
Jason was long gone by the time Sam woke alone in her bed, but he hadn't left her without something to smile about. Apparently, he'd used her bathroom prior to dipping out just before dawn because when she'd gone to shower she found his perfectly precise penmanship scrawled in the black-hued liner of her MAC Eye Kohl. On the mirror, above her sink, it simply read smile, and she had.
She smiled again, now, remembering his little note as she ran her fork over her half-eaten eggs. One thought of him, one look from him, one touch, one word, had her smiling. No one had ever affected her so completely.
"Judging by that radiant smile of yours, I'd venture to say some silver lining must have formed regarding this dreadful situation. I'd be delighted if you were to share it with me." The older man across from her inquired.
They'd met over a late breakfast to discuss the case. She'd just finished informing him Jason had been told of the affair and shown proof he was not the father. Sam revealed the basics of the plan she and Jason devised and her breakfast companion had agreed to remain silent for Jason to handle it as he saw fit, as long as violence wasn't a part of it. Sam assured him it wasn't and he'd seemed satisfied to let it play out without further involvement. The savvy senior surprised her by not asking if Jason was responsible for Ric's beating as Nikolas and Alexis had done. Sam wondered if it was because he feared the answer or wanted to spare her dignity the lie?
They'd fallen into a companionable silence as they ate, but her smile waned upon realizing she'd all but forgotten he was there. "Oh, Mr. Quartermaiii..." Sam paused under his reproving glare.
"Edward." She amended. "Forgive me." She smiled again as he nodded his smiling approval. "I was just remembering something a friend told me."
His eyes narrowed in firm speculation. "Well if my grandson has a lick of sense, he was the friend to put that smile on your beautiful face."
Sam blushed and Edward had his answer. Pleased with the possibilities, he made it known. "Excellent. With your good influence, there might be hope yet for this family to mend itself."
"Oh, Edward, I..." She shook her head preparing to explain how she intended to respect the boundaries Jason set with his family as he respected the ones she made with hers, but was cut off as he held up his hand.
"Now, now, don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting deception or manipulations of any kind. Jason has had far more than his fair share of that as of late. However, it has become increasingly clear to me that my grandson holds your opinion in the highest regard. I'm simply suggesting you get to know us better and judge for yourself whether our intentions toward Jason are sincere. This will leave you better equipped to offer Jason a more informed opinion when he seeks your advice on the matter, as I'm sure he will some time soon since I intend on addressing the chance for familial reconciliation in the very near future. Thanksgiving is right around the corner, you know, and maybe cook will actually be inspired enough to not burn the turkey this year if you and Jason were to join us. I'm tired of pizza and cook was most impressed with you for pulling off that spectacular birthday extravaganza. He and Emily told me all about it. You are a woman of many talents."
"That's very kind of you, Edward, and Guillermo and Emily as well, but Nikolas and I have planned a quiet Thanksgiving with my mother and sisters at the lake house." Sam informed as Edward sipped at his coffee.
"Nonsense." He drew back as he set his mug down. "Bring them along. The more the merrier. You're all welcome and I know Emily and Monica would love to have you as well. This way we could all spend the day together rather than having Emily rush off to be with Nikolas after scarfing a few slices of veggie lover's."
"I, I don't know. Alexis is still recovering and I wouldn't presume to speak for Jason. I'm not even sure what he may have planned this year. We haven't talked about it really." She noticed his glimmer of hope dwindling and felt bad. All he wanted was to spend the holiday with all of his family together. "But you should definitely ask him. I'm sure he would appreciate the invitation and at the very least maybe you could hit him up for a rain check!"
"Oh, my dear, how I wish even that much were true. No, I'm afraid Jason is more likely to see an invitation to a gathering with the Quartermaine's as something to be abhorred rather than appreciated and accepted. Never you worry. I understand your need for a quiet holiday this year. Please wish your mother and sisters a happy Thanksgiving for me. You're all in my prayers." His face fell into a glum pout which Sam was certain had worked like a charm on every person he'd ever used it on, male or female. She was on to his tricks and yet she still felt an undeniable tug of sympathy for the silver rascal.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask. I'll run it by my mother and Nikolas and see how she's feeling, though I wouldn't get my hopes up. Mom may not want to leave the house once this affair hits the press. They've been bad enough hounding her for comment since Ric was injured, but you'll have to ask Jason yourself." She added quickly at the end.
"Deal." He agreed, a devilish smile turning up at the corners of his mouth quicker than she could finish her words.
She shook her head with a smirk. "So, what's the overall success rate of that perfected pout of yours?"
Edward's eyes lit with twinkling mischief as he proudly responded. "99.9 percent when used in combination with the proper inflection and word choice."
"And here I thought I was a good con-artist. I bet you could teach me a thing or two." Sam grinned.
Edward nodded thoughtfully. "A businessman and conman have very similar job requirements. Both must be able to convince potential clients to buy into their idea. They have to learn to read people and sell it, sell themselves, as a sure thing in whatever method they determine most effective to that particular investor. The only difference between the two is intent."
Sam was impressed. Most were too busy condemning the job of the conman to recognize the talent and skill behind it, but not Edward. Maybe because Edward Quartermaine was a bit of a conman himself, she mused. Speaking of cons masquerading as businessmen... Sam tensed as the host escorted Cody McCall, or should she say Cal Loyd, to a nearby table. He waved to her casually as he passed and she feigned a smile as she gritted her teeth under Edward's watchful eye. Cody sat facing her and smiled with a polite nod to both Sam and Edward as Sam averted her eyes wishing she'd had Edward meet her in her office after all instead of the Metro Court.
This was safer, though. If anyone saw them together here, it could be explained as a friendly attempt by Edward to familiarize himself with the people in his grandson's life. If he'd been spotted entering or exiting her office, however, someone might put two and two together and deduce he'd been the one to hire Sam and leak information to his grandson giving Jason motive to go after Ric.
"Is he bothering you, dear?" Edward noticed she seemed discomforted by the stranger's arrival.
"A little." There was no point denying the obvious. "I met him the other night at the ball. Mr. Loyd is a consultant Jax hired to overhaul security here at the hotel. He was a perfect gentleman, but considering his occupation I know he's probably a man who pays attention to details. He may see us together now and put the pieces together later." Sam conveyed with concern.
He gave another glance to the younger man's table as Cody placed his drink order seeming to have forgotten them. Edward then looked back to Sam. "I wouldn't worry, dear. We've destroyed all copies of our contract as well as my check you never got around to depositing. As far as anyone else is concerned, I'm here simply enjoying the wonderful company of my grandson's best friend. Someone I would very much like to count as a friend of the family as well."
Sam smiled warmly at him. "I'd be honored to be your friend, Edward."
"Now that is the best news I've heard all day." He held up his water goblet to clink with hers.
"To family friends." He toasted. "May our new bond enrich not only our lives, but those of our families as well."
"Here, here!" Sam clinked with a bright smile ignoring the weight of her father's eyes as he watched her curiously from across the restaurant.
Their dishes were cleared and the check was paid, by Edward at his insistence even though she had invited him, and they were now just outside the front doors of the hotel with Gianni in the background awaiting the valet's return. Edward's driver pulled up first and he turned to her in his long charcoal dress coat and leather gloves and gave Sam a hug before wishing her and his grandson good luck with the rest of their day. Sam hugged back with a kiss to his cheek, her breath forming little clouds as it mixed with the frigid late autumn air when she thanked him and promised to call with an update after all was said and done.
She never noticed Jason as his SUV passed them by, but he noticed her. Sam hadn't mentioned she was meeting his grandfather that morning, but she had mentioned she would be meeting her client, the one who'd hired her based on a rumor they'd overheard at the hospital. Could Edward be her mystery client? The idea seemed to fit. Jason wasn't sure how he felt about that. He decided it would depend on how Sam's meeting had gone and whether his grandfather intended to interfere in their plans. He continued on his way to the florist deciding to give Sam a chance to call first even though he was now extremely anxious to know how it went. After all, his grandfather wasn't accustomed to relinquishing control.
xxxxx
"Elizabeth." Alisha beckoned ushering her friend behind the nurse's desk.
"So." She began animatedly. "My sister called me on my way in today and you'll never guess what she told me." Alisha continued as she looked around to see if the coast was clear of Epiphany.
"What?" Elizabeth said, curiosity and one brow piqued by her excitement.
"She told me she made a sale." Alisha gushed.
"Is that all." Elizabeth's face fell flat, thoroughly unimpressed.
She grinned knowingly. "A big sale to a big customer." Alisha wiggled her brows. "Wanna take a guess who that big customer was?"
Elizabeth's eyes went wide. "Doesn't your sister still work downtown at Brook's Fine Jewelry?"
The green-eyed nurse grinned brighter seeing she was getting it. "Uh-huh. Top sales rep in the region three years running." She added proudly.
Elizabeth grabbed her arm and shook it with a squeal. It was all going to be okay. She'd thought for sure with the way Jason had been ignoring her lately that things had gotten way off track. She was even preparing to resort to sex with him just to regain his interest. Jason had dodged every attempt she'd made to spend time with him since Sam's return and she was getting desperate, but if her friend was saying what she thought she was saying then... "Tell me everything!"
"Well." Alisha huddled closer. "Stacy barely finished opening this morning when her first customer walked in. She didn't recognize him at first and almost wrote him off the way he was dressed until he walked straight up to their highest end ring display as if he'd been there before and knew exactly what he wanted..." Alisha dragged out enjoying the suspense.
"Jason! It was Jason, wasn't it? He bought my ring, didn't he? What did he get? How big of a sale was it?" Elizabeth knew the marriage wouldn't be real, but that diamond ring would be. If Jason spent half as much on it as the ones they'd seen there days ago, then it would easily cover Cameron's undergraduate degree. Once their plan landed Jason and Sonny in jail and she sold it, that was.
She felt a twinge of guilt at the thought of Jason behind bars, but he really had brought it on himself. It wasn't like he didn't have other options. He'd had every opportunity to take his rightful place in ELQ. He hadn't even been gracious enough to accept the sizable trust fund his grandparents so generously established for him. She had to think of her family first and now that Ric had been savagely attacked and lie unconscious, their financial future was in question. If he didn't heal soon, he might lose his job and that could set his entire political career back steps that might take years to recover.
She cursed the PCPD again as she thought of the man she loved lying helpless in that hospital bed. They still hadn't found the person or persons responsible and even though she didn't think too highly of Jason's chosen profession, she still had a hard time believing he could be so vicious. Ric's face was almost unidentifiable the first time she'd seen him. Fortunately, she'd been assigned as Ric's nurse so her frequent visits didn't raise flags.
"Big, very big!" Alisha's descriptors pulled Elizabeth back to their conversation. "It wasn't the biggest diamond, but it was the finest." She confirmed.
Elizabeth pursed her lips. "That's just like Jason to be so practical. He knows I'd want to wear my ring every day and a big diamond might impede patient care."
She hoped it was at least two carats. Anything less might only get Cameron through his first two years, or one if he went ivy.
"Stacy said she tried to get him to go for something larger, but he was firm on the one he wanted. He told her he'd seen it a couple of weeks ago and knew the minute he saw it that it was the one. He said you had a delicate hand and wouldn't want anything ostentatious." Alisha repeated.
Why would he say that, she wondered silently. True, her hand was small, but the rings she'd shown interest in with him had been no smaller than six carats. She wouldn't be wearing it for long anyway. "Darn it, if he saw it when we were together, why didn't he just show me? He could have made sure I liked it and gotten it sized right then." Elizabeth wondered aloud.
The strawberry blonde shrugged. "Must have wanted it to be a surprise. He's probably got some elaborate dinner planned for when he gives it to you. Man!" Alisha sighed. "You are one lucky woman!"
Elizabeth smiled reveling in her friend's envy. "I wonder when he plans to do it? Tell me more about the ring!"
Alisha nodded. "Stacy says according to its GIA rating its an excellent round cut two carat colorless diamond of flawless clarity mounted on a platinum channel set band with three graduated-weight diamonds tapering on each side. The center stone itself is wreathed on two sides as well with smaller channel set diamonds. She says there are a total of 15 stones with a gemstone weight of four and a half carats total."
"It sounds beautiful. Smaller than the ones I'd picked out, but beautiful." Elizabeth couldn't wait to see.
Alisha agreed. "Stacy said Jason Morgan has the best taste of any man she's ever sold to and that wasn't just sales BS. She said the ring is without question one of the most exquisite they've ever had in the store and you know they're one of the most highly regarded jewelers in New York."
Elizabeth nodded. She did know that which was why it had been the first store they'd gone to and the one they'd stayed in the longest. She'd seen several rings she liked, but Jason had found fault with every one. Now she knew he'd only been doing it so he could surprise her. She couldn't wait. She may not love Jason like that, but it felt nice to be pampered and showered with attention. She'd been fairly neglected throughout her entire affair, waiting for Ric to leave his wife and since he'd been incapacitated she'd been completely without.
"Excuse me, miss." A voice interrupted and Elizabeth turned to find a young man holding a vase full of two dozen yellow roses. "Delivery for Nurse Elizabeth Webber."
Elizabeth beamed. "I'm Elizabeth Webber."
The guy nodded and set the roses on the counter. He pulled out a small pad and pen. "Just need your signature here, please."
Elizabeth signed. "Sorry, my purse is in the locker room. Alisha, you have your wallet, don't you?"
Alisha huffed and nodded. Elizabeth was always using that excuse. Why didn't she just carry cash on her like all the other staff that locked their valuables away?
"Thanks, I promise to pay you back." Alisha went for her purse, but the delivery boy's response stopped her.
"No need. Tip was already included. Enjoy your flowers." He told her and turned to head back to the elevators.
Alisha rushed back to Elizabeth's side, temporary frustration forgotten in lieu of fresh gossip. "What's it say?" Alisha prompted as Elizabeth removed the ivory card from its envelope.
She read it silently the first time and smiled warmly. Say what you will about Jason, he knew how to make a woman smile.
"Are they from Jason? Why yellow roses? Don't they signify friendship? Why not red for love? What's the card say? Is it an invite to dinner? I bet he's going to give you the ring tonight." Alicia guessed.
Elizabeth turned to her friend, still smiling. "It says 'Elizabeth, Thank you for helping me realize there is no other woman I want to marry more than the very best friend I have ever had. Most sincerely, Jason."
"Most sincerely? Not 'all my love' or 'love always'?" Alisha thought that was strange.
"Alisha." Elizabeth shook her head with a confident smirk. "Jason isn't one for frilly words. It's more important to him that I know how sincere he is with what he said. The love is implied."
To each her own, Alisha thought, but when the guy she was engaged to sent her flowers he better damn well know to sign it with love.
Elizabeth read the card again and couldn't wait to accidentally leave it laying around someplace for Sam or Carly to find. It would serve them right to know their place. She'd finally won and soon she would be enjoying her spoils with her true love. She needed to visit him soon and tell him how well things were working out for them now. Maybe her words would be just the encouragement he needed to wake up and come back to her. She missed being held.
xxxxx
"That's my cue." Maxie reached for the door handle having spotted the florist van driving away on one of the monitors. She turned back to her sister's new friend. "You're sure this is going to work?" She inquired again mumbling into her cleavage as she adjusted it.
"Fear not Maximista. The Jackal is on the case. This is the same setup Goddess uses in the field. The wireless earwig is most advanced and so deeply hidden inside the ear canal no one could notice or overhear any sound it produces, but you will be able to hear me loud and clear and I will be able to hear you from the tiny microphone and transmitter attached near your bosom." Spinelli blushed and Maxie thought it was cute how embarrassed he was at the mention of her unmentionables.
He was offbeat, no doubt, but he had a generous nature and easygoing presence about him that somehow balanced it all out. The laid-back part probably had something to do with the scent lingering in the air, but who was she to judge? He wasn't bad looking, but he wasn't really her type. She tended to go for bad boys. Then again, she'd been known to go for good guys too, but they had to have an edge. Spinelli was just too... cerebral, too sweet, which made him not so much the right guy for her, but perfect for her sister, Georgie. She was glad the two seemed to be hitting it off so well. Her sister deserved a nice guy and, from everything she'd seen so far, Damien Spinelli fit the bill. Sam really seemed to trust him too and her opinion was one Maxie was quickly growing to respect, especially since Sam McCall had given her the opportunity of a lifetime. Kate was seriously going to make her pay tomorrow, but it was worth taking a sick day to be the one to knock the sainted nurse from her pedestal and witness her fall from grace.
"You're cute, Spinelli." Maxie smiled sweetly before returning to all business. "Just make sure you warn me before Jason arrives."
"Most assuredly." He concurred as he stood, slightly hunched, to assist Maxie with her exit from the back of his van. He then issued a friendly two finger salute before sliding the door back shut. He quickly returned to his mobile command pulling up his team's global positions and waited for them to appear on the hospital schematics. As soon as everyone was in place, the fun would begin.
xxxxx
"It's nice to see you taking time to smell the roses, Elizabeth." Epiphany announced as she rounded the corner to find the younger nurse's nose in the petals. "But if you don't mind, I'm sure the patients would prefer you do it on your own time."
Elizabeth had become somewhat of a slacker over the course of the last year or so. It had happened so gradually Epiphany hadn't really noticed at first. There always seemed to be good justification. Her husband was injured on the job and required extra attention which she apparently hadn't given like she claimed since he'd taken up with another woman. Then there was Lucky's affair and subsequent divorce followed by her sudden engagement and now she was pregnant again. Lately, she'd been spending an inordinate amount of time at yet another ex-husband's bedside. Always something. Always some excuse why she was late, or disappeared for extended periods past her allotted break times, had to leave early or call out altogether, needed to make personal calls or gossip in the halls. It was irksome and irresponsible and Epiphany was tired of it and she was tired of making and accepting excuses for it. She was going to ride Elizabeth's tail feathers until she straightened up and decided to fly right again.
"Yes, Nurse Johnson." Elizabeth replied shoving the card in the pocket of her scrubs top as Alisha entered orders at a nearby computer.
"Oh, come on Epiphany." Robin countered entering the hub to search for a chart. "Give her at least a minute to enjoy them. It isn't every day a girl gets flowers as beautiful as these, especially if they're from Jason Morgan." Robin winked at Elizabeth.
Epiphany sighed. She still had the doctors fooled, it seemed. "Just as long as a moment doesn't turn into twenty." She replied curtly before answering an angry phone.
"Who's the chump that sprung for flowers?" Patrick blurted walking up as he pocketed a pen in the chest pocket of his lab coat and returned a chart to the rack.
Elizabeth shook her head with a rueful smile. Patrick Drake was such a bachelor. He and Robin were dating and getting pretty serious, but Robin still had her work cut out for her. "Jason sent them."
"You're just worried my ex may be showing you up." Robin teased causing Elizabeth to smirk and Patrick to roll his eyes.
"Please. He's your ex for a reason. No offense, Elizabeth." Patrick looked to the nurse who simply shrugged then back to Dr. Scorpio. "But I have nothing to worry about."
"There you go again, thinking you're the only fish in the sea." Robin argued. She couldn't let him get away with such cockiness.
"Not the only catch. Just the best." He told her as he sauntered over to her and leaned down to her mouth, hesitating to cover her lips. Her eyes narrowed as he held her gaze with that bad boy twinkle. He was waiting for her submission which she granted wordlessly in the flash of desire that clouded her vision, but not her thinking. She waited until his lips were mere inches from hers then turned in time for him to catch her cheek instead.
"Nicely played." Maxie congratulated as she stopped at the counter. "I think you stole that from my playbook though." She grinned as Robin chuckled at Patrick's frown and serious brow. He could be such a little boy sometimes. "Better luck next time." Robin told him with a pat on his cheek.
He pulled his face away from her, pouting. "Who says there's going to be a next time?" He challenged as he grabbed the chart of his next patient.
"Who are you kidding? You know you can't stand to be bested. I give it an hour before you're sneaking up behind her ravaging her neck and pulling her into an empty room for a feel." Maxie ventured.
"Maxie!" Robin reprimanded.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes with a shake of her head. The girl could be so crude.
Patrick just grinned. "I resemble that remark." He then turned his attention back to his chart as Epiphany alerted him to a parked call.
"I have a report to deliver. I hope to find you on rounds when I return, Elizabeth." Epiphany stated briskly then turned a dubious brow on Maxie as she passed. There was no point warning that girl. She never listened.
Robin's eyes widened with a sheepish grin and shake of her head at Nurse Johnson as she stormed off. "Something has her in a mood this morning."
Elizabeth huffed. "Something has had her in a mood for months now. She's constantly riding me."
"I would think that would be a welcomed change for you, Elizabeth, since you're usually the one doing all the riding."
"Maxie!" Robin reprimanded once again.
"What?" Maxie wanted to know. It was true. Elizabeth was constantly riding any guy's jock that showed her the least bit of attention.
"So rude." Elizabeth scoffed.
"It's great to see you, but please don't start..." Robin pleaded.
"Oh, I'm not here to start anything." Maxie swore. "I'm here to finish something."
She turned her icy eyes on the nurse. "Or someone as the case may be."
"Maxie." Robin warned knowing her cousin all too well. "What are you up to?"
Elizabeth's brows creased at Maxie's cryptic response as she rolled her eyes and returned to her computer. "I don't have time for this."
Maxie looked at Robin dawning as innocent a face as possible. "I just need a moment alone with her. I promise it won't take long. I'll be good." Maxie told her. Damn good, she thought to herself, because she was about to tangle this nurse up in her own web of lies.
Robin looked at her skeptically. "Maybe you should use the private waiting room across the hall. It's empty right now. Just... be nice."
"I'm always nice." Maxie insisted with a straight face causing Robin to chuckle with a shake of her head as she returned to work.
"Come on, Nurse Webber. You and me across the hall. Let's go, I don't have all day." The blonde ordered.
Elizabeth looked at her as if she were crazy. "I have nothing to say to you."
"Oh, I disagree." Maxie retorted as she slipped a brown envelope across the counter to her.
"What's this?" Elizabeth eyed it as if it might be laced with Anthrax.
"Karma." Maxie taunted.
"I don't have time for your games, Maxie." Elizabeth attempted to brush her off.
"Open it." Maxie gritted menacingly. "Or I take it straight to that fiance of yours and you have this conversation with him."
Elizabeth didn't like the look in her eyes, or the confidence in her demeanor. She really thought she had something on her and Elizabeth needed to know if it was real or only a bluff. She huffed as her hand slapped down and grabbed the envelope to rip it open. Her eyes bugged out when she pulled the photographs from within. She swallowed thickly, unable to speak as she quickly looked around and shoved them back in the envelope.
"What are you doing? Where did you get these?" Elizabeth demanded.
Maxie smirked with wicked glee oozing from her nearly silver eyes. "Step into my office." She motioned to the small room Robin had pointed out.
Elizabeth looked around again to see if anyone had noticed their exchange. Epiphany hadn't returned. Patrick was still on the phone. Robin was writing in a chart, and Alisha was talking with an aide. She followed Maxie into the small room and closed the door behind them. "What the hell is the meaning of this?"
"Funny, I bet that's the first thing Jason says when he sees it." Maxie replied.
"There's nothing funny about this Maxie. I don't know what you think you have here..." Elizabeth said waving the envelope around. "But it's nothing that can hurt my relationship with Jason."
"You're damn right there's nothing funny about it." The nurse had already pushed her buttons. "Jesse was killed in March of last year. Lucky and I didn't start until May. That means you were sleeping around on Lucky for months before he was with me then neglected him when he was injured and grieving for his partner and you had the nerve to pretend like you're the victim? If you'd been giving your husband the time and care he needed instead of spreading your legs around town, maybe you'd still be married. Though, I have to say, divorcing him was probably the kindest thing you've ever done for someone in your life. You are just straight up poison."
"Hah!" Elizabeth replied heatedly. "You're one to talk. You're no saint either, or are you forgetting you seduced a married man?"
"I never claimed to be and certainly have never gone out of my way to make people think I am when I'm not. I am who I am, no apologies. I'm human and I make mistakes like everyone, but I never blame my actions on others. I own up and pay the consequences when I mess up. I think it's time you do the same."
Elizabeth huffed. "Like I said, Maxie, Lucky and I are divorced. This affair is a thing of the past. You've got nothing on me."
"Have you been double-dipping into the med-cart again? I think you better take a closer look at those photos before you screw yourself worse than you already have." Maxie advised.
Elizabeth frowned. She pulled the photos completely out of the envelope this time. She noticed the markings printed in the lower right corner. Dates. Times. Crap. How had Maxie gotten a hold of those pictures? She couldn't possibly have been the one to take them, could she?
"It doesn't matter." Maxie told her.
"What?" Elizabeth asked unsure of what she meant.
"How I got them. It doesn't matter. What matters is what I do with them."
Elizabeth's eyebrow rose as her face hardened. "And just what do you plan on doing with them?"
Maxie was silent dragging it out like the winning announcement at a pageant contest. She smirked and shrugged. "Depends."
Elizabeth sighed deep trying to maintain her patience. "On?"
"On whether or not you sign over joint custody of Cameron to Lucky."
"You're joking! There's no way I'm handing my child over to anyone. Lucky doesn't deserve to be a father to Cameron after what he did to his mother!"
"I'm as serious as Diane Miller's gonna be about a court-ordered paternity test the minute Jason finds out that kid you're carrying may not be the next Quartermaine heir after all." Elizabeth paled and Maxie's eyes narrowed as her smile widened. She was loving every minute of watching her squirm.
Elizabeth's brain was working overtime to come up with a way out of it, but she was trapped. If she didn't agree to Maxie's demands, she would go straight to Jason and Ric wasn't awake to protect her from his reaction. She would just have to agree to her terms now and hope Ric woke up before the joint custody was made official. "What are your terms?"
Maxie grinned. "I thought you'd see it my way. First..." She strolled to a chair and sat. "I want you to admit the truth to me right here. I already know when it started and that it's obviously still going on, but I want to hear you admit it and I want to know who it is." Sam never gave her the identity of the guy in the pictures and the not knowing was killing her. "Fair warning, Elizabeth, if you lie to me all bets are off."
"Fine. Is that all?" She hissed.
"You wish. You're also going to contact your attorney today and have them draw up papers granting Lucky joint physical and legal custody and insist they expedite it." Maxie finished.
"I have no control over my attorney's schedule, or the court's." Elizabeth argued knowing she needed to drag it out as long as possible.
"Not my problem. That's the deal. Take it or I walk." Maxie stood, ready to leave.
"Okay, okay." Elizabeth huffed with impatience. "Just, just give me a minute."
"No deal. Not giving you a minute so you can come up with more lies to try and weasel your way out of this. Start talking, or I'm gone. The truth!" Maxie reminded.
Elizabeth bit her lip. She really didn't want to tell Maxie anything, but what difference would it make anyway? Maxie obviously didn't know who she'd been seeing, so she was probably lacking in a lot of other details too. She wondered how she could possibly know when it started when she didn't even know who it was, but figured Maxie was probably guessing. Fortunately, the photos hadn't given Ric's identity away. While Elizabeth was more than ready for the truth to come out and for Ric to finally be free to be with her, she knew he wouldn't forgive her if it came out that way. He needed to be the one to break the story to Alexis and the media. Improper handling of a bomb like that could destroy his political aspirations.
"That's it!" Maxie moved to walk past her out the door.
"Wait. Okay, I'll tell you." Elizabeth relented.
"The truth? About everything?" Maxie needled.
"Yes." Elizabeth soured, angry to have her hand forced by anyone, but especially by her husband's ex lover of all people. The only thing worse would have been Carly. Oh God, Elizabeth feared, Carly could never find out, or all hell really would break loose.
She sighed, resigned to her predicament and proceeded to tell Maxie bits and pieces of the truth mixed with convenient lies. "It started on Valentine's of 2005. That's a really hard time of year for me and usually Lucky is always with me, but that year he had to work and we fought about it. We'd been fighting a lot due to tight finances which was why he was working so many extra shifts, but I really wasn't comfortable spending the night alone. So, I turned to an old co-worker. He doesn't work here anymore, but he'd become a good friend. I was hurting and vulnerable and Reed was so attentive and kind. After a while, we realized we were in love with one another and wanted to be together, but it was complicated. I was married and so was he. We fought it, but we couldn't walk away from each other."
Maxie shook her head. "Explains your divorce from Lucky. Not why you're now engaged to Jason instead of Reed."
Elizabeth swallowed again. This was where more of the truth would need to be weaved in carefully. "The night of the blackout, we met and agreed to finally tell our spouses we wanted a divorce. I went home and waited for Lucky, but he never showed. Reed was supposed to call as soon as he'd told his wife, but when he didn't call I couldn't take the suspense any longer so I drove to his house. It was dark and quiet because of the power outage, but there was a decent view from the moonlight and when I looked in through the window I found them together. He was making love to his wife on the floor of their living room and I lost it. Emily and Nikolas were in Greece at the time so I went to the next person that crossed my mind. Jason had offered some really good advice the summer before when Lucky and I were fighting and I knew I could count on him that night too."
"So, you cried on his shoulder with some false sob story about how you'd just found your husband with me instead of your lover with his wife?"
Elizabeth was reluctant to answer, but she did. She had no other choice. "Yes."
Maxie scoffed. "Can't let anything tarnish that halo, now can we? No matter who else you condemn to hell!"
"Don't act like you're an innocent party here Maxie. You may not have been sleeping with my husband that night, but I'm sure there were plenty of others."
"You're right, lots of positions and locations too." She cajoled. Didn't matter if it was true or not. A little mindfuckery went a long way. "But this isn't about me. My wrongs are known, consequences paid. This is about you and what you did. What you're doing still. It wasn't enough to lie about me and Lucky sleeping together that night, you implicated us both in felony charges! My own father was forced to initiate an investigation to determine if I'd actually stolen drugs from the hospital to feed my lover's habit, a habit purely based in your imagination. Lucky was never addicted to those pain meds and you knew it. He could have lost his job, been arrested. Do you have any idea what happens to cops in jail, Elizabeth? Why? Why did you do it?"
"Don't be so melodramatic. Lucky is one of the best detectives on the force. It was his first offense, first disciplinary censure of any kind. Even if they found enough evidence to file charges, he would never have done any jail time. He was innocent and considering the circumstances and threats of counter-suits the department may have incurred, at most, he would have been ordered to complete a court-approved drug rehab program and received some type of probation. Maybe a demotion." She rationalized with a nonchalant shrug. "I warned Lucky not to pursue custody of Cam. He should have listened."
Maxie's temples throbbed, her eyes too, as her blood pressure rose to immeasurable heights. "That's some serious strategizing there, Elizabeth. Tell me, at what point did you earn your law degree?"
Elizabeth shifted nervously at that remark. No one could know Ric had been the one to advise her on the matter. She was almost thankful Maxie was too pissed to notice her reaction.
"So let me get this straight, you knowingly and falsely accused us as a means of what, some kind of custody insurance?"
"Lucky and I were over. I was doing what was best for my son."
Maxie was just floored. She started to speak, but was at a loss for words. She closed her mouth and shook her head trying to fathom the depths of that woman's heartlessness. Moving on, she told herself. Her time was probably almost up and Maxie wanted to get as much information out of her as possible. "So then tell me why you accepted Jason's proposal if you're so in love with someone else? I mean, obviously you didn't break up with this Reed guy, unless you make it a habit of shoving your tongue down all your exes throats when you show up on their doorsteps in the middle of the night."
"Screw you, Maxie!" Elizabeth spat.
"Not even on your best day. Now answer the damn question!"
Dammit. She was going to have to lie again and the only one she could come up with wasn't going to put her in a very good light, but so what? It was a lie and it was only to Maxie and she didn't care what that little home-wrecker thought of her. What was important was that no one learn she'd been working with Ric to spy on Jason and Sonny's organization. "The night those photos were taken was the last night we met, to say goodbye. Reed is a wonderful man and I love him, but he has a child of his own already and with Cameron and another on the way... He just wouldn't be able to provide for us the way Jason could. Besides, Jason was there for me when I was at my lowest, when my heart was breaking and we came together that night and created this miracle. I couldn't deny Jason rights to his own child, even though in my heart I would rather Reed be the father to all of my children."
"So, you're claiming this baby is Jason's? How can you be so sure?" Maxie had to fight from rolling her eyes at the bull coming out of her mouth. Sam had filled her in on everything except the guy's name.
"Reed and I always used protection. Plus, the timing. Look Maxie, I'm not comfortable getting into specifics here, but... I just know, alright? I know Jason is the only possible father of this baby. I've told you everything now and in exchange for my cooperation I expect you to keep your mouth shut about what you know." Elizabeth ran her hands over her belly, silently apologizing to both Ric and her unborn child for the lie and hoping for some kind of sympathy from Maxie at the gesture.
"Don't expect the fact that you got yourself knocked up to earn you any sympathy from me. You're still the same selfish bitch you've always been. Motherhood has only given you ammunition to add to your arsenal. You use those kids like weapons to wield them against the men, friends and family in your life until they bend to your will. That stops here. Now. At least as far as Lucky is concerned. I won't say another word outside this room about what you just told me, assuming you've told the truth, because Lucky's going to continue to be Cameron's father in every way that counts from now on and you will be bending over backwards to make it as easy as possible for him and Cameron to bond. Got it?"
Elizabeth's eyes narrowed and her lips pursed into a fine line of hatred. "Got it." She seethed.
Maxie was prepared to go on for as long as it took, but she was startled by a buzzing in her ear before she realized it was Spinelli talking to her through her earpiece. "Maximista, Stone Cold has arrived and Goddess is near. You're good to go."
"Good!" Maxie responded to Spinelli, but it worked for Elizabeth too. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have the rest of my day to enjoy. You can keep the pictures. I have copies. Lots of copies and video as well should you decide to double-cross me. I think I'll see if Robin wants to go for an early lunch."
21. part 2 of 2...
Maxie walked out of the little room, leaving the door open behind her and headed for the nurse's station, anticipating yet ignoring the way all eyes were on her.
Elizabeth took a few deep breaths to compose herself before returning to her station. She was surprised to find everyone's eyes on her; Epiphany, Patrick, Robin, Alisha, Emily, Monica, Lucky, Jason, even Lainey and Kelly Lee as well as a few others on staff. Their faces ranged from disgust to regret and maybe a touch of pity.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Elizabeth asked of Robin who remained speechless, shaking her head.
Monica stood with them at a loss for words as well, her eyes roaming from Elizabeth to her son and back again.
Epiphany gave Alisha a hard glare as she sat dumbfounded, ignoring the ringing phone. She answered to an OR nurse relaying a message for one completely irate, moderately confused Chief of Staff. "Excuse me, Dr. Quartermaine, but Dr. Alan Quartermaine is on line one and he demands to know what the hell is going on."
Alisha shrugged innocently as she felt Epiphany's heated rays on her again. "His words, not mine."
"I'd like to know the answer to that." Jason demanded icily as he motioned to the flat screen monitors mounted in the hall above their heads.
Elizabeth looked up to find the time-marked video on a loop as it vividly exposed her greeting an unidentifiable lover with her tongue, hands groping and groins grinding. "Jason, I can explain!"
She rushed to his side. There had to be a way to salvage things before it all blew up in her face, but Jason's face was that of stone.
"No need Elizabeth. We heard it all, just now." Lucky accused as he pointed to the speakers located throughout every room and floor of the hospital. "Right from your very own lecherous lips."
Elizabeth turned on Maxie with hatred venomous enough to kill as the horror of what the younger woman had done to her sunk in. "You recorded our conversation?"
Maxie smiled vengefully. "I warned you not to lie Elizabeth. You should have listened." She threw the woman's careless words back in her face.
Elizabeth lunged as if ready to attack, but Patrick stepped in between them and restrained Elizabeth until she calmed.
"Think of the baby." He reminded her as Maxie shook her head laughing.
Monica took the phone from Alisha and proceeded to reassure her husband, who was in the middle of overseeing a third year on a bowel reconstruct. The conversation had apparently been piped through to the entire hospital if it had made it to the OR's. Monica had heard it on her way back from a consult outside of the cardiac care unit and had immediately made her way to Elizabeth's floor to see about it.
"How could you, Elizabeth?" Emily approached her, angry and heartbroken. "You betrayed a good and decent man, two good and decent men and for what? Money? Greed? Your own selfish desires? You accused innocent people of crimes they never committed, sat back playing victim while their names were dragged through mud. You let my brother believe that baby was his!"
"Emily, Emily!" Elizabeth cried as she rushed to her friend begging for understanding. "I know it was wrong, but we fell in love! This is Jason's baby though, I swear it!"
Emily scoffed. "You expect my brother, any of us..." She gestured to the multitude of doubting faces. "To believe you after all the lies you've told? I sided with you over Lucky, one of my dearest and most loyal friends. He's Nikolas' brother! You know the rift it put between Lucky and me and the strain it put on my relationship with Nikolas yet you never said a word. You planned to let my brother fall in love with a child who could be ripped away from him by his real father at any time. It took a heart as pure as a child's to see just how dark and traitorous yours truly is. And when he did? When an eight year old little boy caught on to the real you, my own little nephew and godson, what did you do, Elizabeth? What did you do?" Emily was shouting at her now.
"Emily..." Lucky laid a calming hand on her shoulder. Elizabeth pursed her lips shaking her head in disbelief as fat tears fell down her cheeks. How could her best friend turn on her that way?
Emily lowered her volume, but did nothing to conceal her contempt as she continued. "I'll tell you what you did. I'll tell everyone. You threatened him, that's what! You told a child who'd been kidnapped and stolen from his family only months ago that if he dared to act or speak out against you, then you would use our friendship to manipulate me with more lies so that I would help you convince my brother to send Michael off to military school. Send him away from his family, his life, everything and everyone he knows and that makes him feel safe and loved. All so you got what you wanted, a stake in the Morgan and Quartermaine fortunes."
"Emily, that's not tr..." Not true, Elizabeth started to say and it wasn't, not all of it was true anyway. She didn't really care about Jason or the Quartermaine's money. She considered the engagement ring as hazard pay for publicly aligning herself with hardened criminals. Ric would make enough for them to live very comfortably. However, she was cut off before she could continue.
"You bitch!" Carly snarled as she stormed toward Elizabeth, but was held back as Jason wrapped his arms around her.
"Let me go Jason!" She struggled to break free. "That bitch threatened my son! She's the reason Michael's nightmares returned! She's the reason he started waking up in the night again screaming in a cold sweat and lashing out at anyone who tries to touch him, comfort him, terrified of his own mother's touch!"
Jason held tight. He wasn't sure how Carly had gotten wind of the plan, but he could tell she wasn't bluffing right now. If he let her go, she just might forget about that baby and lay hands on Elizabeth and that wouldn't be good for anyone, especially Carly or her boys.
Elizabeth gripped tightly to Patrick's side seeking shelter from Carly's wrath. He was as disgusted as Robin upon hearing Elizabeth's confession and now Emily's accusations that had yet to be rebuffed by Elizabeth, but his first concern at that moment was the safety of the innocent baby she was carrying.
"Mom!" Michael cried out halting everyone in their actions as he ran to his mother's side. "Please, mom. Stop. I don't want her to hurt you."
Carly's heart clenched as she swallowed. She messed up. She had always gone out of her way to avoid such ugliness in front of children, but hearing Elizabeth confess and then seeing Emily confront Elizabeth on her son's behalf, it invoked the mother lioness within. "Shh, Michael. Honey, it's alright." She soothed her frightened boy as Jason released her sensing her shift in focus.
Carly held Michael to her and kissed his head. "She isn't going to hurt you, me, or anyone we love ever again. Okay? Your dad, Uncle Jason and I will make sure of it." Carly vowed as she shot a death glare toward Elizabeth.
"She just threatened to kill me and my unborn child! You're all witnesses. Lucky, I want her arrested!" Elizabeth was desperate to throw the spotlight on anyone other than herself.
"Enough!" Jason shouted stopping everyone dead in their tracks. He was pissed and tired of the circus. He just wanted it over.
"Carly." Dr. Winters stepped in seeing her patient still clearly distressed. "Why don't we get started with Michael's session a little early today?" She suggested.
Carly looked over at Elizabeth wanting nothing more than a piece of her. She felt Jason's hand smooth across her back and over her shoulder and looked up at him. It was as if he read her mind because without words he simply nodded his reassurance that everything would be fine. He would see to it. She sighed deeply and committed herself to doing what was best for Michael. She hugged her son and prompted him to turn so they could go with Dr. Winters. She nodded at Lainey's questioning gaze and the doctor smiled warmly at Michael and waved her hand for them to follow. Michael, however, didn't budge. He remained rooted in his spot staring up at his uncle.
"Uncle Jason?" His voice wavered with concern.
Jason gave his shoulder a squeeze. "It's alright Michael. I'm just going to have a talk with Elizabeth and I'll call you later and you can tell me how your session went, okay?"
His voice was calm and steady doing its best to encourage those same feelings in his nephew.
Michael nodded reluctantly. "Okay. Promise you won't forget?"
"Promise." Jason swore and Michael knew he could believe him. Satisfied, he nodded and turned to head with his mother and doctor to Lainey's office.
"Jason!" Elizabeth beseeched. "Jason, please, you believe me don't you? This baby is yours. You know exactly when we made him. He's yours and he's here, right here!" Elizabeth grabbed his hand to pull it to her belly. "And we can fix this!" She implored as she looked up at him with big blue eyes full of tears.
Jason was surprised to find the emotion overwhelming him wasn't fury, but disgust. He pulled his hand from her stomach and shook his head, unable to recognize the woman in front of him any longer. Was she ever the woman he'd thought her to be?
"Actually this e-mail right here..." Maxie pulled a paper from her purse. "Dated September 12th, 2006 from Elizabeth Webber and addressed to...well, let's just say it wasn't addressed to Jason, states that according to her OBGYN appointment that morning, and I quote, 'I feel like I'm walking on a cloud. Kelly says I'm right around eight weeks. Both myself and the baby, our baby, are perfectly healthy. My due date is off by a few weeks, but Jason will never know the difference. Babies are born prematurely all the time. I feel so deliriously happy to be carrying your child and I hate having to pretend for one second that I'm in love with Jason and that this is his child, but I know it will all be worth it in the end. I can't wait to be with you. I love you, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth gulped and watched as Lucky's disgust turned to an almost proud smile toward Maxie. "You were in on this, weren't you?"
"What?" Lucky said, confused. He was only there to check on Lansing's prognosis as a favor to Ronnie who was busy following a lead. Domestico thought Spencer might have better luck getting more information out of the doctors due to his tighter bonds with the community.
"Oh please, Maxie isn't smart enough to hack e-mails or even make very good fakes like that one must be. She had to have help and the only one she knows and trusts with access to people with connections like that is you!" Elizabeth accused of her ex.
"I'd love to take partial credit for exposing you of all your spiteful lies, Elizabeth, but truthfully you aren't worth it. I wouldn't risk losing my badge breaking into private e-mail accounts or hacking hospital communication systems and computer networks." Lucky expressed plainly. "But you can bet I will be taking this information to my attorney and I will be re-filing for joint custody of Cameron based on it."
"You'll never get your hands on my son. Do you hear me? He's mine. You did this, I know you did this! You helped her!" She insisted again.
Epiphany was ready for the show to be over, but Dr. Monica held rank and she would follow her lead. So far the cardiologist had been quiet and Epiphany wondered if the woman was in shock. Epiphany had work to do and was ready to get back to it, but she also had to admit it was a rather compelling scene they made. She'd wanted to stick it to Morgan and Corinthos for years for bringing her son into their nasty business and this felt like a little bit of justice being served.
She was also mortified to hear the depths to which Elizabeth sunk. All in all, nurse Johnson was ready to wash her hands of her vendetta against Morgan now and her defense of the less than saintly nurse Webber. Still, she would never stop trying to get her son to quit the business and if, God forbid, anything ever happened to Stan her vendetta against Morgan would be back in force.
"No. He didn't." Sam spoke up. Jason turned to her relaxing instantly at the sight of her. She walked up to stand between Jason and Lucky as she faced off against Elizabeth.
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes on Sam. "Well then who did? And why should we take the word of a con-artist anyway?"
"Oh, Lizzie, I really don't think you want to be pointing your lying finger my way. Lucky wasn't the one to provide Maxie with those photographs or video. And I know this because I was." Sam smiled pleasantly as Elizabeth's face reddened with anger.
"You? You were? How, why..." Elizabeth was too infuriated to speak.
"Because I needed a professional investigator to prove you for the lying whore you are." Maxie tapped back in.
"Maxie, please. This is bad enough without..." Robin started, but Jason cut her off.
Now that Sam was there, he felt calm enough to have a private conversation with Elizabeth. "I need to speak with Elizabeth. Alone."
Elizabeth turned toward Jason once again trembling from the cold look he gave her.
Patrick felt her shaking. "I'm not sure that's a good idea. You're justifiably upset right now, Jason, and Elizabeth is pregnant. No matter what she's done wrong, too much stress could jeopardize her health and the baby's."
"Patrick is right." Her doctor, Kelly Lee, agreed. Elizabeth had a history of miscarriage and this pregnancy was at higher risk because of it.
Sam looked over to see the traces of the victorious smirk Elizabeth attempted to hide. It reminded her of the one she'd given the day Nikolas jumped to defend her against Maxie. Jason deserved to have his say and he needed to have it now, not later. It couldn't wait another day, hour, or minute. She walked over to his side and took his hand in both of hers. He looked down at her and she felt her eyes water at the thanks she saw there as he gripped her hands tightly. She gave him a little smile and then turned back to address the doctors. "I'll go in with them so they won't be alone. Jason would never do anything to hurt a child, especially one he believed was his until just recently."
Patrick studied Sam then Jason. He seemed in control and, now that Sam was by his side the man even seemed relaxed, somewhat. He looked over to his colleague to gauge her impression. Kelly Lee gave Patrick a hesitant nod. "Elizabeth." She said. "You don't have to do this if you don't want. Do you feel up to it?"
Elizabeth wasn't up for anything, especially a conversation with Jason when Sam was listening in, but she couldn't stand the thought of staying and being subjected to everyone staring and whispering behind her back. She'd spotted a few co-workers standing by and it had already started. The whole hospital had heard her and Maxie's conversation. She was mortified and humiliated and it was only the beginning. Soon the news would be all over town. She was also more than a little afraid to talk with Jason alone, but at least she had witnesses if she did it here and now. She decided to get it over with so she could go and visit Ric. "Will you and Patrick stay close in case I need you?"
"Of course!" Kelly told her. She didn't agree with anything her friend had done, but she didn't really know what Jason Morgan was capable of under the circumstances and she felt she owed it to her patient to help.
"I'll be here." Patrick assured her and Elizabeth nodded and wiped at her eyes as Sam and Maxie rolled theirs.
Monica had finished her call with Alan and was now standing next to her daughter with a comforting hand on her shoulder as they watched the three walk away.
Elizabeth walked slowly to the waiting room she'd been in with Maxie as Jason and Sam followed, closing the door behind them. The blinds were already drawn.
"Jason, I can explain." Elizabeth began. "But first I want her to leave. This is between us and she doesn't belong here!" Now that Patrick and Kelly were outside to support her, she felt more confident being alone with him. It would be easier to work things out without Sam in his ear.
"Sam is right where she belongs." Jason shot back as his hand clasped Sam's a little tighter feeling incredibly fortunate to have her by his side. She squeezed back letting him know she was with him all the way.
Elizabeth flinched at the ice in his tone. "This is all a big mistake."
"You're right. Trusting you, almost marrying you was a huge mistake." Jason agreed.
He could see she was about to protest. "Save it. I don't want your explanation. I don't need it. I already know the truth and now I want you to know the truth. I want you to look in my eyes and see I mean every word."
Elizabeth was silenced by his hard stare. She swallowed and nodded fearing what he would say next.
"I know you've been having an affair with Ric Lansing since February of last year." Elizabeth paled as Jason continued. "Don't bother denying it. I've seen the e-mails. I know that baby is Ric's and I know you knew all along there was no way it could ever be mine because we never slept together. Did we, Elizabeth?"
"Jason, please..." Elizabeth's wetworks started up.
"Did we?!" Jason growled, his body tensing with rage as she tried to manipulate him with her tears.
Sam let go of his hand to place hers on his back. He took a deep breath exhaling steadily as her calming influence caressed him.
"No." Elizabeth admitted guiltily.
Jason's fists clenched at his sides at hearing the admission from her lips. Anger welled up inside him, outrage. "Why? I thought we were friends? Why would you do this to me? Why would you help Ric come after me?"
Elizabeth swallowed hard, wiping at her tears. Jason knew the truth about her affair with Ric, the lie about the baby and that they'd never been together. He knew she'd been helping Ric take them down. The only thing she could do now was try and appeal to any remaining sympathy he may have for her, get him to forgive her and allow her to move on and live her life with Ric.
"What I said to Maxie earlier was true. Ric and I never thought we would ever be together again, but we were both hurting and it happened. Somewhere along the way we realized we still loved one another. I'm sorry Jason, but it's true. I love him in a way I've never loved anyone before, even Lucky. I would do anything for him and when Ric asked me for help, I... I knew it was wrong. You were my friend. You were there for me when Lucky and I were falling apart. I told Ric I couldn't be a part of it. I refused, but then that night when I found him on the floor making love to Alexis the same night we were supposed to finally be free to be together... I kind of lost it Jason. I wasn't thinking straight. I was desperate not to lose him and the only thing I could think of to keep him was to go through with what he'd asked of me, to help him with his plan. I hated lying to you, but Jason you're a grown man and you had to know eventually you would be held accountable for your actions. You could have been anything and you chose to be a criminal. Ric was just doing his duty and, as the woman who loves him, I owed it to him to support him any way I could."
"Don't you dare stand there as if your actions were justified, like Ric is some paragon of justice. You chose to stand by a disgusting pig who threatens women over a man like Jason who's lived his life protecting them!" Sam yelled at the insipid woman.
This time she felt his hand on her back, soothing her.
"That was a long time ago. Ric was sick. He got help. He isn't that person anymore." Elizabeth defended blindly.
"Don't defend someone you obviously know nothing about." Sam advised coldly.
Elizabeth noted the concerned and protective demeanor with which he regarded Sam. She wasn't sure what was going on, but she got this feeling...
"Did you..." Elizabeth studied him a moment longer. "You were the one who attacked Ric!"
Jason's cold eyes shot up to hers, his jaw tightening in satisfaction at the memory of pounding into the bastard's flesh. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You found out about us. You were jealous and angry and you wanted to make him pay!" Elizabeth insisted.
Jason shook his head wanting to dispense a healthy dose of reality to the woman he once thought a friend. "Going after Ric would have required me to actually love you enough to care."
Sam was surprised to hear him speak that way to Elizabeth. He'd always treated her with kid gloves, like she might break. She was glad he'd finally taken them off.
"I owe you the truth too Elizabeth." Jason continued. "And the truth is I had already decided to leave you to be with Sam before I ever found out about your lies. I was angry and a little hurt when I found out, but you know what I felt most? Relief. I was relieved of any guilt I felt about hurting you and filled with hope that your baby might not be mine so I could be done with you and your manipulations."
"You do love me, Jason. What about the flowers and note?" She grasped.
"What about them?" Jason shrugged.
"You sent me yellow roses, a symbol of our friendship, and thanked me for helping you realize there was no other woman you wanted to marry than the best friend you have ever had. You wouldn't have done that if you didn't care." Elizabeth concluded smirking at Sam as she recited his words before returning her eyes to him.
"You know what else yellow roses symbolize?" Jason asked then continued without waiting for reply. "Dying love. That's why I sent them, to let you know you killed any love I ever had for you. As for the note, I was thanking you for helping me realize the person I want to marry isn't you, was never you."
Elizabeth looked between the two, standing side by side, and realized he'd been talking about Sam. Sam was the woman he wanted to marry and Sam was the woman he'd bought the ring for, not her. He'd told the sales rep he knew it was the one for her as soon as he saw it the other week. He'd known since before Sam even came back to town that he didn't want to marry her which was why he'd found a problem with every single ring. It wasn't because he'd wanted to surprise her.
The realization was a swift slap in the face to Elizabeth's ego and the sting far longer-lasting than any blow Carly may have landed.
Sam felt him tense, almost nervously, when Elizabeth mentioned what he'd written in the card. She'd been the one to suggest he send flowers to help further the appearance of a devoted fiance before they dropped the hammer and everyone witnessed his very public shock of learning for the "first" time that the woman he planned to marry was cheating on him. But the card had been all him and Sam couldn't help wonder if he'd been referring to her or if he'd just wanted to twist the knife with one last dig to Elizabeth of her betrayal.
"I'm sorry Jason. I never wanted to hurt you. I was just looking out for my family." Elizabeth apologized futilely. She meant it, but it was meaningless.
"And now I'm looking out for mine." Jason stared her down as he took a step closer, his voice lethal. "Stay away from my family. If I find out you've done anything to hurt the Quartermaines, Sonny, Carly, their boys, or Sam and her family I swear I'll make you live to regret it Elizabeth." He paused to allow his words to sink in. "Are we clear?"
The hairs on the back of Elizabeth's neck stood on end as he issued his threat to her. She'd never believed he could treat her that way, so cruelly. It was bad enough he claimed Carly and her brood, but now he'd included Sam as his family and she was standing there all smug. Elizabeth bet Sam probably hadn't waited a minute before rushing to tell Jason on her and Ric. Had Sam told Alexis? Would they make the affair public? It could ruin Ric's run for governor next term.
"Elizabeth!" Jason called roughly cutting through her anxious thoughts. She looked back from Sam to Jason. "I said are we clear?"
Elizabeth's eyes narrowed in contempt. To think she'd actually wasted time feeling guilty for taking Ric's side over his when he'd clearly never really cared about her. "Crystal." She snarked. "What about Maxie?"
"What about her?" Sam questioned before Jason could.
"She blackmailed me. She insisted I have my lawyers draw up papers to grant Lucky joint custody of Cameron. She humiliated me in front of my friends and co-workers. How am I going to face everyone after what she did? I know you're angry with me and you have every reason to be..." Elizabeth feigned contriteness. She didn't pull it off so well. "But you're a very private person and you have to be as upset with Maxie as I am for blasting our personal business all over town. She deserves to pay! I think Diane could make a good case against her for those charges Lucky brought up about hacking private e-mail accounts and the hospital's communications systems and network."
"First off..." Sam started, almost amused by the woman's gall. "Maxie misspoke when she insisted you had to grant Lucky joint custody." Elizabeth was momentarily relieved to hear it. "You'll actually be taking these papers to your lawyers for processing."
Elizabeth unfolded the papers Sam handed her from her back pocket. She shook her head. There was no way. "These are from Diane Miller naming Lucky in a petition for adoption of Cameron and for him to share joint legal and physical custody."
"For someone so slow, you sure read quick." Sam chirped ignoring the way Elizabeth's eyes narrowed on her. "Second, Maxie never really blackmailed you because she clearly stated if you lied all bets were off. You did lie, no surprise there, so clearly the deal was made null and void and even if you could somehow make that stick." Sam told her as she took another step in her direction.
"The Quartermaines are on the board. In fact, they practically own the hospital. They may not like Maxie's method, but I'll bet they'll be more likely to show her leniency over the woman who lied to their son and grandson and tried to lay claim to their fortune with a child that was never his. As a prominent member of the board, I'm sure Nikolas wouldn't mind the opportunity for a little retribution either against the woman who cheated on his brother. Then there's the fact that Maxie's father is the police commissioner..." Sam shook her head as she crossed her arms. "Maxie is more likely to be thanked than charged, but I doubt you'll be that lucky."
"What are you talking about?" Elizabeth huffed, not following.
Sam remained silent looking to Jason to see how he wanted to proceed.
"Forget about Maxie." Jason spoke. "You're going to grant Lucky's petition and you're going to come in tomorrow and give your two weeks notice. This is my family's hospital and I don't trust you anywhere near them."
"You can't force me to give up my son and my job!" Elizabeth needed Ric to wake up right now. This was so wrong. It couldn't be happening!
"You're not being forced to give him up. You're being forced to share him. Lucky is Cam's dad. It's in his best interest to know the love of both his mother and father and it's in your best interest to stay as far from my family as possible. There are certain lines I would never cross. Women and children are two of them, but if you hurt anyone I care about again I'll go after Ric instead and finish what somebody started." His eyes and words pierced through her indignation sending a chill down her spine.
Jason was done. He was done with her and every foul feeling their confrontation brought on. He walked past her toward the door dismissing her as if she weren't even there. Sam followed, but paused on her way out. "I'd think twice about repeating any of this private conversation to anyone. So far Ric's reputation is still intact. Make any more trouble and he can wave goodbye to that bid for governor. Not to mention, we now have you on tape confessing to filing a false police report against an officer of the law and the police commisioner's daughter." Sam warned and Elizabeth's eyes widened realizing she now had no choice but to go along with their demands. Ric would never forgive her if she cost him his dream and the last thing she needed was to be charged with a crime making her a liability for Ric's political gain.
Jason stalked off past doctors Drake and Lee who were still standing nearby when the door opened. Maxie and Lucky were in the opposite corner talking when they heard the door and Maxie started to approach, but Sam held up her hand, shaking her head at the bad idea. She looked over at Jason as he made his way to the elevators never looking back and held up her hand indicating she would call while mouthing Later. The girl huffed with a stomp of her red-backs as she folded her arms with a petulant frown. She begrudgingly nodded her acceptance as Lucky stood by shaking his head at her with a slight grin.
The rest of the crowd had since been ordered to return to work with Epiphany all too ready to enforce Monica's orders. Monica was still there with Emily. Her heart hurt for the pain Elizabeth caused her son, daughter and grandson. She wished for the millionth time she and her son were closer, close enough for him to turn to her for advice, close enough to give him a hug when he needed it. She sent Emily instead, urging with her hands for her to go and check on him.
Jason stood in front of the elevators, his fist pounding the call button several times until it lit up. Sam was still by his side. He breathed deep. He needed to be strong for her right now. He looked over to find her worry soften into a faint smile as their eyes met and held. He breathed deep again and felt his fists unclench as he held his arm open for her. She stepped into his side wrapping her arms around his middle as he brought his down around her shoulders and hugged.
"Jase?" Emily called timidly.
Jason turned to her, never letting go of Sam. "You alright?" He asked his little sis.
He knew it had been hard on his sister to confront someone she'd loved so much. Emily loved Elizabeth longer and deeper than he ever had.
Emily huffed with a confused smile as she shook her head. "I'm okay and in two weeks I'll be even better, but how are you?"
Jason looked down at the woman in his arms, so strong and solid beside him. Sam looked up at him questioning his silence with her own.
"I'm good." He finally answered holding Sam a little tighter as his hand slid to her waist. As long as he had Sam by his side he was better than good.
Emily studied him for a moment noting his hold on Sam and knew he had all he needed. She nodded with a warm smile. "Take care of each other." She told them as the elevator doors opened and the couple stepped in and turned back to her.
"Always." Sam and Jason promised in near unison causing them both to look at each other. Her with a wide grin and him with a smile revealed only by the love in his eyes.
Emily smiled too watching as love once again healed better than any medicine she'd ever encountered.
xxxxx
"You sure you weren't followed?" Cody inquired, his eyes casually surveilling the busy lobby as he spoke. Some dental convention, Courtney had told him when she'd stopped to chat with him at breakfast.
"I'm sure." Coop answered confidently. "So what's so important we needed to meet in person?"
Cody eyed him. "I needed to see your face when I asked you what the hell happened the other night between you and my daughter that had her so upset?"
"I already told you..." Coop started.
"No." Cody corrected. "You already lied to me. This time I want the truth!"
Cody stood tall, staring straight into his partner's eyes until Coop relented with a sigh. "I kissed her."
"That's the best you could come up with to distract her?" Cody shook his head. "Well, why was she so upset? I figure she'd just slug you and be over it if she didn't want you touching her. What else did you do?"
"Nothing!" Coop defended. "I didn't do anything, but Ric saw us and so did Jason. Ric made a few rude comments about Sam and Morgan knocked him on his ass. He was pretty pissed."
"Jason Morgan, Sam's friend?" Cody had done his homework. He knew Sam was pretty close to Sonny Corinthos' right hand man.
"Yeah, well, he acted more like a jealous lover when he stormed off. Sam was pretty upset." Coop recounted.
Cody sighed. His baby girl was in deeper with that Morgan guy than he realized. "Are they dating now?"
Coop shrugged. He didn't really feel comfortable discussing Sam's personal life behind her back. In fact, he didn't really feel comfortable doing any of it behind Sam's back any more. "I think we need to bring Sam in on this now."
"No good." Cody denied with a definitive swipe of his hand.
Coop's jaws clenched. He was tired of having the same argument with her dad. He believed Cody only wanted to keep her safe, but Coop no longer agreed with his methods. "Look, you said yourself it's only a matter of time before she finds out anyway. We should bring her in now, before she finds out some other way and ends up not trusting either one of us."
"We can't risk it. Alcazar already has her on his radar. I was able to get him to back off after she cost him that deal in Kabul, but if he finds out she's in on our plan to double-cross him..." Cody pursed his lips and shook his head. "She'll never be safe again as long as he's alive."
"I get what you're saying, but all due respect you don't know Sam like I do. You know who she used to be. I know who she is now and I'm telling you she can handle this. She would want to know. She needs to know the truth before she starts putting pieces together and comes up with the wrong picture. Besides, if I have my way Alcazar won't be around long enough to see good on any of his threats against the people I care about." Coop argued.
"You're right. I don't know who my daughter is today, but I know who Lorenzo Alcazar is and Logan Hayes and I know what they're capable of. I know you plan to take them both out, but I can't risk them getting to her first. I want my girl as far from this as possible for as long as possible. We'll bring her in as planned with the story we agreed on when the time is right." Cody insisted.
Cooper huffed as his jaw clenched in frustration. "This is wrong."
"Maybe, but it's my call and I'd rather be wrong and have her safe even if she ends up hating me than be right and risk her future." Cody told him. "So can I count on you to stick to the deal, or not? In or out? Say the word and I finish this on my own."
Cooper shook his head and breathed deep. There was too much at stake and Cody was just stubborn enough to walk if he didn't back him. "In, but if she ends up in immediate danger from being in the dark, I'm going to tell her myself!"
It was Cody's turn to breathe deep, jaw clenching at the thought of anyone daring to hurt his girl. "I won't let it come to that." He would die before he let anything happen to her.
"See that you don't." Coop told him as he turned and walked off more angry and anxious than ever.
Logan smiled behind black glasses and a fake mustache, handing out brochures he'd stolen from one of the vendor's booths as he eyed Barrett leaving the building. It seemed he and Cody needed to have a little discussion about who he chose to associate with in Port Charles. The conversation appeared to be more of a confrontation of sorts so Logan doubted they were working together, but he would definitely be keeping a closer eye on them. He also needed to report back to Lorenzo to see just how he wanted it taken care of. Maybe Logan would get lucky and Lorenzo would authorize the hit.
Page 34 of 34 Created: 2011-12-01 Updated: 2014-11-09 Words: 14098 Characters: 77018