Warning for language and adult situations. Hope you enjoy and will share your thoughts with me. Thank you for the reviews/follows/faves, they mean the world to me!
Chapter Sixteen
"Carry on my wayward son, there will be peace when you are home…"
Flying with a grumpy toddler was not something she ever wanted to experience again. She'd been forced to snap at three different passengers and two flight attendants.
She would have put off coming home if she would have known he wasn't feeling well, but with him, it was so hard to tell. It wasn't until he was flat on his back during the day that you could even tell.
Her boy was full of energy and it took him feeling pretty damn gross before he calmed down. She had never seen another child so…happy and determined.
So, here she was, flying and Cameron couldn't stop the low cries. His tummy hurt and he felt ucky. His words. Between the comments of her being a bad mother and her incompetence at soothing her child, she reached the end of her rope.
They had maybe twenty minutes left of the flight, when Cameron turned an interesting shade of green and threw up all over her lap. One moment he was just not feeling well, the next he leaned over and let loose.
"My poor baby, do you feel a little better now?"
His half nod, half shrug didn't really instill confidence in her but she was a mommy first and foremost. All the asses could jump off the plane if they couldn't deal with a sick child.
"What kind of mother makes her sick child fly?" Snarked a man behind her.
"The type of mother who didn't know her boy was sick, you ass. He was feeling fine until a few hours ago. There isn't a stick you can shove up someone's ass to discover when they will not feel well. Obviously you are either childless – thank God – or you are as big of an ass as I think and leave your wife, mistress, girlfriend to handle your kids."
"Listen lady…"
"Really, you want to have this conversation while I am literally covered in puke?"
When the moron stayed quiet, Elizabeth quickly cleaned off her pants as best as she could and picked up her boy.
Grabbing her carryon bag, Elizabeth made her way to the bathroom.
"I's sowry mommy."
"Oh my precious little man, there is nothing to be sorry about. You don't feel good; you are not at fault for this. Just wait till we get home…"
Only problem was, they didn't have a home.
After she changed both their clothes and packaged the dirty clothes into a plastic bag, she was beginning to feel a little better.
"Cam, I need you to chew these, they will make you sleepy, but your tummy will feel better okay?"
"Mmmhmm."
By the time they were back in their seats, Cam was having trouble keeping his eyes open. "Sleep baby, hopefully you will feel better when you wake."
She didn't like the hit to her pride this was going to cause but, she didn't have a choice. Using the phone on the plane, she called Alan Quartermaine, except, he wasn't home.
'So now what?'
'Now my snarky bitch, we get off the plane when it lands, and my son and I go see his father. It is time he gets shit figured out.'
'At the jail?'
'Yes, what's it too you, you've always liked the way his ass looks in those 'issued' PCPD clothes.'
'Seriously, you are going to start thinking about his ass, while we smell like barf and…'
'I didn't, you did.'
'Same person my dear.'
'Bite me!'
Not giving herself the chance to snark back, she turned her thoughts to other things. Elizabeth simply held Cam to her, his head resting on her breast as she soothed him as she rubbed his back.
XxXxX
"Have you talked to her today?"
"Jason, you talked to her 7-8 hours ago, would you please calm down."
"I can't. I've been thinking of seeing her and…I miss her dad."
"I understand that, but you can't rush these things. Speaking of rushing, when are you getting out of here?"
"Honestly, I don't know. With Ric attacking Diane…I won't bother her right now, she needs to heal, he may not have her hurt bad physically but I am sure his attack will leave some emotional scars and since Mac is with her…I think my lawyer is getting close to him. Shit, with both of them out of here, I could be stuck here for years!"
Alan's laughter was rich and came from his belly. "Relax, when I talked to them earlier, they said they were going to do everything they could to fast track your release. Since all the evidence came for Ric, you'll be released, you might have to spend one more night in here but they will get you out."
"So you are telling me to have patience?"
"I know, not something you are used to but no matter what, remember Liz will be home soon."
Alan watched the dopey grin that spread across Jason's face. "Home, I haven't heard anything sound so good in years."
"It is nice to see you smile, a true honest smile."
"I hadn't had much to smile about before this. Dad, you know that Cameron is my son too right?"
"Jason, I know biology never mattered-"
"No, he is my biological son. Umm, we don't know the how's but Elizabeth mentioned it the night I was shot. I want you to run a DNA test, just to be sure, but from the moment she said it, I've felt the truth of it, you know…in my heart."
"Wow!?"
"Pretty much how I felt when finding out I have not one but two kids. You know, I've messed up a lot throughout the years but somehow, she is always there, even when I don't deserve her, she is there. Why didn't she give up on me?"
"When you find the right one son, they can't give up on you. You are just as much a part of her, as she is you. It is a unique bond that ties you two together but don't make the mistake and think nothing can tear it asunder, because it can be. You are lucky she is so pure of heart; I don't know another woman who would have put up with your stupidity. It makes me proud to know that she is so devoted, but no more taking her for granted, okay?"
"Not a chance, my head has completely been removed from my ass, see look!" Jason said, and then flashed his father his ass.
"Smiles and joking, be still my heart." Alan said.
"Do you think I hit my head when I was shot and that is the reason for the differences in me?"
"Maybe, but if you want my doctor-ly opinion, I think you had a close call and finally saw the proverbial 'light'. Jason, you've never been a bad man, despite your profession, you've just been lost and angry. I think this close call made you see what you were giving up, made you see that there is more out there than death and intimidation. If I can give you one piece of advice-"
"Go for it, no point holding back now, Lord knows, I need all the help I can get."
"You really have changed… My advice is simple, love her, cherish her, and let her know every day how grateful you are for her. You may be the man of the house but she will forever be the heart of your home."
"Wow, when did you get so deep?"
"Many years spent on the couch, the proverbially dog house lends to deep thoughts and plots on how to never end up there again."
"I can't say that I've ever willingly slept on the couch but I am sure there will be nights that it will happen for me too. The funny thing, I look forward to such mundane things. For as long as I can remember, my life has always been about other people, with brief moments of thinking about what I needed or wanted. I know moving forward with Elizabeth and the kids, I'll be living for them, but I will also be living for me."
"Living and loving for someone is different than handing your whole life over to greedy and obsessive people, just wait till the moment your child calls you daddy or gives you a sloppy kiss. Just wait till Elizabeth wants to hit you but makes love to you instead. You have lived a life of halves, but when you fully commit yourself to your family, nothing will ever be the same; you'll wonder how you lived without them in your life for so long. They fulfill a part of us, which we never knew was missing."
"Do you think I should look into getting another attorney, at least until Diane is feeling better?"
Alan was hard pressed to answer that. It was one thing for his son to take marriage and or love advice, but it was another when he was being asked a question of such magnitude.
"I think Diane will need all the normalcy she can get, when she comes back. Don't stop using her to help her; I think it would have the opposite effect."
"I know I haven't been a good son but I can't thank you enough for all the help you have given. I know I didn't deserve another chance, but you gave me one anyway."
"It is called family Jason. We may not understand those in our family, but they will stand beside you through thick and thin. We may fight and argue but we feel things so deeply, that sometimes it comes out in anger. Your mom, stubborn ass that she is, forgot that for a while, I hope that when she gets out of rehab, she'll remember that all families are stronger together."
"Is this the part where we cry and hug and vow to be better?" Jason asked with a laugh.
Before Alan could reply, there was a knock on the door and there stood the best sight either man had ever seen.
XxXxX
"Jason!"
"Elizabeth!"
They said together. Their names but a breath but felt and heard like an explosion on a battlefield.
"Are you alright?"
"It was a long flight and a long cab ride here. Cam's not been feeling well; we had to perform an emergency clothes change because of a mishap. Actually, I was hoping Alan could check him out, he seems to have gotten worse on the ride over."
"Of course I will, where are you staying, do you want me to have the cab drop your stuff off and I can take you to the hospital?"
"I-" Elizabeth started but broke down crying.
One moment Cam was in her arms and the next he was in Alan's. One moment she was standing alone and the next she was in Jason's arms.
"Oh Jason, you don't want to do that, I smell and I'm dirty-" She tried to say more but his grip tightened. Long months since she had last felt so at peace, so loved, she sunk into his embrace and the comfort he was offering.
"Hush, you've carried the load alone long enough. Never again Elizabeth, never again, we are in this together and will remain so."
Knowing it was partly pregnancy hormones and partly from being alone for so long, she gave in to his comforting presence and felt the love pouring into her, bolstering her fragile heart.
"God, you feel good. It has been too long Jason. When will you be free to come home, wherever that may be?"
"Diane was attacked by Ric, as of right now Diane and Mac are together but Mac told dad that they will be dropping all charges. The paperwork just has to be done."
"Well, where the hell is Mac? I'll be back; I will drag his ass out of bed and bring him here. You've been in lock up for something you didn't do for long enough."
"Elizabeth-"
"Alan, you'll take Cam to the hospital and get him checked out right? You'll stay with our boy and give him the best medical care, right?"
"Elizabeth you don't even need to ask, of course I will. Besides the fact that he is my grandson, I took an oath."
"Good, good…I love you Jason. On occasion I want to bash your head in for all the dumb moves, but I do love you."
Before he could say anything, she kissed him deeply on the lips and then rushed from the room.
Mumbling under her breath the whole way outside, "Mac Scorpio, you are in charge…wasting our time by sleeping…damn men who think the world runs on their schedule…Why I never saw a more half-assed job in all my life… He ought to be thinking himself fortunate that I wasn't here sooner… I'll drag him by the shorthairs if he doesn't fix this right away…"
She caught the looks the people around her were giving her, but could care less.
"Oh shove it you giant jerks, as if you haven't talked to yourself on occasion!"
She breezed by Lucky Spencer without a glance back, there were things that needed to be done and no one was going to stand in her way.
Luck being on her side, she flagged down a cab and rattled off the police chiefs address.
Barely giving the cab time to stop, Elizabeth tossed some cash at him and jumped out of the car. Time was money or so they said and right now, she didn't want to wait another moment. Hopeful or not, she was planning on being in Jason's arms come bed time.
Banging loudly on the door, she waited a moment then banged again. "I know you are in there and if you don't answer this door, I'll be coming in and dragging you out."
Not sure what it was she heard, her patience all used up, she grasped the doorknob and pushed the door open. She'd barely made it five steps when she was graced with a sight she hadn't thought she'd ever see.
"Well…holy…shit…Wasn't expecting that. Mac, you look good for a man your age and who knew all that was under the stuffy tweed! Diane, yowzers, you are a beauty, look at you. How do you keep everything so firm?"
"Elizabeth Webber what the hell are you doing in my house?"
"You haven't released Jason yet! He needs to be released; he has to come to the hospital to see about his son."
"Elizabeth, you haven't given birth yet, I can tell."
"Not this baby, Cameron, he's been sick half the day…"
"…"
"Well, are you going to do something?"
"Elizabeth, breaking into someone's home is a punishable offence."
"Yeah well, if you were where you were supposed to be, I wouldn't be here, but here I am because you are having some afternoon loving!"
"Elizabeth…"
"I know Diane and I am so sorry that Ric did that to you and I will be happy to spend time with you, we can be in a group or something, those screwed over and hurt by Ric, but I refuse to invite Carly, she's too crazy for my parties. Besides if I understand it correctly, you won't even be needed because Mac can draw up his release papers here, you can sign them and go back to enjoying your lovely Merlot and Mr. Scorpio can come with me, once he puts some clothes on and then, wham, bam, thank you sir and he will be all yours again and he can commence what he was doing…If you want my opinion, employ a little more hand and finger action with what you were doing and she won't be able to sit still."
"My God Elizabeth, shut up!"
"Does that mean you are going to do as I ask so I can get out of your hair or do I need to start telling you Jason's and my life story from start to finish, with all the nitty gritty details?"
"Mac, go please or we may never have a chance to continue this. You go release Jason, bring him back here and then they can leave, okay?"
"Yes dear!"
"Already?"
"I'm just practicing for the future."
"You managed to find a real catch Diane, congrats! Mac, does this mean you will be getting dressed soon? I don't think I was meant to see this much of you for so long…"
When he threw his hands in the air and stomped out of her sight, she couldn't help but laugh.
"Who knew that was hiding under all that crap he wore, he is a manly man, too much hair for my liking but I think Miss Miller is a LUCKY lady!"
"I'd be even luckier if you hadn't shown up."
"Just think a strategic cock block can add to the passion. He'll be so hot for you, he won't know whether to bend you over and dive right in or compete in the muff Olympics!"
"Elizabeth Webber!"
"I know, I know… I can't help it, I think it and it spills right out of my lips. I think the baby is messing with my brain filter."
"So that's your story and you are sticking to it?"
"Hell ya, otherwise, Mac may just decide to take me in and book me."
When Mac leaned over and gave Diane a tongue-y kiss, Elizabeth simply smiled. Life wasn't perfect, but it was looking up.
XxXxX