…..I do not own GH or the characters….

Chapter Twenty

Johnny eyed the syringe and vial of insulin warily. Checking Baylor's blood sugar was one thing, but actually injecting the little girl with a needle gave him pause. With Georgie having finally passed out due to exhaustion only an hour ago, he wanted to avoid waking her at all costs. But the simple matter of never being shown how to calculate the dosage or the procedure of giving the injection had him waiting on Elizabeth. She was the first person that came to mind to call for help.

Baylor quietly played with the buttons his shirt while resting her head on his shoulder. She'd been subdued since she woke up, picking up on the serious mood of Johnny and the guards that had checked in. Peeking up at him from under thick lashes, her deep brown eyes held his. "Is Momma oktays?"

"Your mommy's just a bit sad right now, Bay, but she's gonna be just fine." He hugged the confused child. The bond that she shared with Georgie was obvious by the way she reacted to her mother not being up this morning.

"Whys she sads? Are you leavings?"

"What? No." Sitting her on the table so they he could look her in the eye, Johnny flinched at seeing the fear on her face. "Remember when your mommy and I told you that we got married?" She nodded slowly. "That means that you and her are stuck with me, kiddo. I promise that I'm not going anywhere, Baylor. I know things are different this morning than you're used to, but they'll go back to normal soon." Catching Jason and Elizabeth entering through the living room in his peripheral vision, he held up a hand to stop Jason from speaking when his mouth opened.

"Mommy's not leavings either?"

"Absolutely not," he answered, forcing a smile. He had no idea what caused her fear of being abandoned but he instinctively felt the need to reassure the little girl that had wormed her way into his heart. "Nobody is leaving or going away, sweetie. Mommy was up late and is sleeping in. She'd never leave you, Bay. She loves you more than anything else in this world."

Discreetly wiping her eyes, Elizabeth cleared her throat. "Why don't me and you go watch some cartoons, Bay?"

Kissing her forehead, Johnny helped her to the floor and then gratefully smiled at Elizabeth. "I checked her blood sugar but I've never done anything with the insulin."

"I'll take care of it." Elizabeth grabbed the syringe and bottle of medicine from the table. "What was it?" Getting the answer she deftly readied the dose before putting the insulin back in the fridge and heading into the living room where the sounds of the television were already drifting from.

"Where's O'Brien. I figured he'd be with you."

Jason pinched the bridge of his nose. "He's talking with Max about Sonny's movements before he fled the island." Glancing toward the living room, he lowered his voice. "Spinelli's searching for any little detail that he can get from the letter and photograph. But with what Georgie said, there's little doubt where it came from. We're trying to find some clue to as where the picture was taken though. So far Lucas' body hasn't turned up either." His eyes strayed to the steps. "How is she?"

"Not very good," he admitted. "I was up all night with her." Scowling at the idea of Spinelli being involved, Johnny tightened his grip on the mug of coffee.

"Look, I understand that you're pissed at him. I'm not too thrilled with what he did either, but Georgie asked him to keep silent."

Johnny's head snapped up. Evidentially Spinelli had not disclosed to Morgan all his connections to Lorenzo. Tucking that little tidbit of information away, Johnny pulled the newest problem from his back pocket and tossed it across the table. "My father's playing games. My guess is that he helped Sonny plan the details and then turned on him. As for why, I'm stumped. Bat shit crazy doesn't touch the description of his mental state." He watched as Jason's eyes went flat and cold. "Someone here last night had to of slipped the envelope under the door. This place was surrounded after I saw what had been done to Georgie's brother."

"Fuck! Video surveillance needs to be installed today. Georgie's been adamant that she doesn't want cameras here, but if one of our guys is playing both sides it's no longer open to discussion." Grimly looking back at the paper that outlined Sonny's intentions, Jason shoved back his chair, unable to sit still. "Using only our most trusted men will severely spread us thin, Johnny. Elizabeth may be off work right now, but she'll insist on going back. She loves nursing."

"Maybe you should consider focusing on the safety of your family, Jason. At least until Sonny gets what he deserves."

"Are you crazy?" Jason interrupted heatedly. "Elizabeth would never forgive me if something happened to Georgie or Baylor. O'Brien and I have a plan in play for my bag of problems. Spencer should cease to be a factor today or tomorrow in fact. Besides that, the danger to Baylor and Georgie traces back to the damn Alcazar and Jerome connections. That makes it business."

"It's not just fucking business!" Johnny snarled. The knowing look Jason shot him had Johnny grimacing while running a hand through his already disheveled hair.

"No, it's not," he answered, understanding the outburst.

With a swift knock on the door, Milo entered and closed the back door. Happy to realize that Georgie was absent from the kitchen, he cleared his throat before looking between the two men. "The PCPD received an anonymous report of a male body. Our man inside verified that Commissioner Scorpio identified the body as Lucas Jones." Swallowing back the bile as he recalled what he had been told, he rubbed his sweaty hands on his pants legs. Preliminary reports states days of torture before he died from blood loss." Avoiding a growling Johnny, he shifted his focus to Jason. "A picture was found at the scene."

"Of?" he demanded unnecessarily. Milo's unease and sickened expression pretty much gave it away.

"Georgie, the Jones boy, and Baylor, who appeared to be only a few months old. From the landmarks our guy said it had been taken in Brazil. His phone records for the past three years were tossed at his feet. Numerous calls, incoming and dialing out, were placed to a burn phone."

"Either Lucas kept in touch with his sister or their father is actually alive," Johnny speculated, his voice infused with anger, while wondering how much longer it would take Mac to show up. "Anything else at the scene concerning Georgie or Bay?" Needing to keep Georgie in the dark about the threat against Baylor, he hoped not. He knew Georgie was going to lose it when she learned that he'd kept it a secret from her but worry and fear for her emotional health outweighed the possibility of facing her wrath later on.

"Not that I was told. Logan's talking to Barrett on the phone now. If there was anything else we should know shortly."

"Any of the guards rotating with you and Logan acting differently?"

Milo shook his head. "Not at all. Except for Logan avoiding Zacchara as much as possible after Anthony's chat with Georgie in the park."

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Sick of the repetitive questions and probing stares, Georgie counted to almost a hundred before the urge to scream evaporated. "I already explained the picture, Mac. It doesn't matter how many freaking times you ask the answer will still be the same!"

Diane felt for the young woman. Not only was she dealing with the death of a family member, but now the man who had raised her was demanding details of a past that Diane knew she rarely spoke of. "My client has been more than cooperative, Commissioner. Do you have any different questions?" Her eyebrows rose to her airline when he ignored her.

"Georgie, I'm not asking as a cop now. I just need to know why you felt it was safe to talk to Lucas and not tell me and Maxie that you were alive." Hurt mingled with fear in his heart. The little girl that he had raised and that had miraculously returned after supposedly being dead was in trouble. As if being married to the mob wasn't reason enough to fear for her safety, now her and Baylor's picture had been left with the dead body of her cousin. None of it made sense. "I can't help if you keep lying."

"And just how to you propose to help me?" she flung back at him, scorn dripping from each word. Twisting away from Johnny when he reached for her, she took another step toward Mac. "Like how you kept me safe back in 2007?"

Mac recoiled as if she had slapped him while everyone else in the room gasped. Her verbal assault had Diane's mouth hanging open in shock. Elizabeth flinched, knowing that her friend would regret how the statement implied Mac failed her.

Slipping his arms around her from behind, Johnny pulled Georgie back against his chest. "Stop it," he told her gently, his mouth brushing her ear so his words didn't travel. "You're gonna hate yourself for punishing him for something he had no control over, Georgie. Don't take your pain out on Mac. He doesn't deserve it." When the tension drained from her body and her breath hitched, he turned her so that her head was buried in his chest as started to cry. "Mac, now is not the time for this."

"Mrs. Zacchara is obviously mourning the loss of her cousin and friend," Diane added. "I think we should delay any more questions for another day."

Mac slowly got up from the arm chair. Unsure how to approach the woman who was so different from the girl that he'd raised, he rubbed his neck and sighed. "I'm sorry I upset you, Georgie. I'm just concerned about you and Bay."

Untangling herself from Johnny she wiped her eyes before hugging the only true father she or Maxie had. "I should be the one apologizing, Mac. I know you care." Stopping as her voice trembled, she bit her lip. "Has Coop told Maxie yet?"

"She was at Kelly's when we broke the news to Bobbie. Lulu too. All three took it hard. Lucas, Dillon, Maxie and you were all pretty tight at one time. I know that Brooklyn booked the next flight out after Monica called her. She's arriving tomorrow morning." He started toward the door and then stopped, his attention on Elizabeth. "Lucky failed a random drug screen this morning and was placed on suspension. His behavior's been on a downward slide. Sam flew into a rage when I ran into her outside Kelly's. Everything is your fault of course. Be careful. Lucky's a ticking time bomb." After one last look at Georgie, Mac shut the door behind himself.

"Diane, I'm sorry that Johnny dragged you over here for no reason," Georgie apologized to the red head after shooting Johnny a questioning look.

"Honey, you can't just speak with the police, whether it's Mac or not, when they arrive on official business, not with being married to Johnny. Up until your marriage, Mac had him and Jason at the station at least twice a week. The newness will wear off and Mac will start to miss having them there for the stimulating chats." Lifting her leg and showing off her expensive heels, Diane was rewarded when Georgie giggled. "My shoe collection needed this impromptu get together. I've been eyeing the fall line. They're heart stopping."

"Go visit Max since he's back. Maybe he'll help you overcome that ridiculous shoe fetish of yours." The saucy wink she tossed his way caused Johnny to shudder.

"Hmm, I do love it when he tries his best."

Georgie elbowed Johnny when he gagged loudly.

Elizabeth waited until the attorney left before following Georgie to the kitchen. The fluctuating mood swings were something she recognized all too well. She had been on the same ledge that Georgie was teetering on at the moment. "Are you coming over while Johnny goes to the meeting tonight?"

"I don't think so. I haven't spent much time with Baylor today. She's not use to that. We're just going to spend the evening here."

"Georgie, I'd feel better if you weren't here alone, and I know Johnny would too. There're so many variables that could go wrong."

"Yeah, and Johnny has the house locked down." Lifting herself up to sit on the counter, she rubbed her temples, trying ease the pounding in her head. "I'm not trying to be a bitch, Elizabeth, I'm really not. For a long time it was just me and Bay. Being alone doesn't bother me, actually its soothing in a way. After seeing what they did to Lucas," she bowed her head in guilt, "I want to be alone."

"Don't you dare go back into the shell that you spent so long hiding in," Elizabeth retorted, grasping her shoulders and giving her a slight shake. "Lucas would not expect you to push everyone away. His death is not your fault!"

"They never would've touched Lucas if…"

"If what? You had sacrificed yourself?" Lowering her voice when Georgie's chin quivered, Elizabeth blinked back her own tears. "Would he honestly want you to leave your daughter without a mother? All because Anna and Sean think your biological father is alive. No, he wouldn't. I remember how close you two were before you even knew he was your brother, Georgie. Lucas cared about Maxie and Lulu too, but that protective streak wasn't as strong as it was with you. Grieve for him, and then live your life, Georgie. Let Johnny and Jason do what they do best, deal with the problems. Because you've come too far, fought too hard, to give up now, especially when you have people that you can trust and depend on. And not just Jason and me, but Johnny too. He's nothing like Dillon who disrespected you and put everyone else's needs before yours, but more importantly, Georgie, Johnny isn't Diego. He's not going to freak out one day and suddenly go crazy. Even Anthony isn't insane. He's a very intelligent man that uses it to his advantage that people believe he's mental. Ruthless, sly, and even cruel describe him, but so does sane, greedy and obsessed with power. Lucas loved you. Respect him enough to not waste your chance at a happy life because it can be gone in an instant, Georgie. You of all people know that."

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Sam bit back a scream. The figureless bitch better enjoy her short time on Jason's arm because it was rapidly coming to an end. No way could the boring, scared little nurse compete with her own attributes. Adjusting her already low cut top by tugging it further down, she strutted into the diner, grandly putting on a show of ignoring Jason and Elizabeth. Practically crawling on top of Lucky, she kissed him hello.

Disgusted at the vulgar display, Elizabeth rolled her eyes before threading her fingers with Jason's as they approached the table that Maxie was sitting at with Cooper and Logan. She and Maxie had reached a truce since Georgie had come home. Normally Elizabeth wouldn't seek the petite blond out, but Georgie had asked her to.

Maxie looked up as the shadow fell over the table. Unconsciously shredding a napkin, she smiled wobbly. "Georgie send you to track me down?"

"She wants you to call her. She's worried about you, Maxie."

"I know, but I don't think I can deal with her pain, Liz." Shame flooded her. "All I've done is cry and I wasn't nearly as close with him as she was."

Coop squeezed her thigh. "Hormones, remember? Dr. Lee explained that you'd be overly emotional."

Logan snorted. "Then don'tcha think it might do ya some good to be together, Max?"

"I'd only bring her down more, Logan."

"Shouldn't her husband be holding her hand? Poor Maxie doesn't need the extra stress," Lulu chimed in as she flopped into the chair across Logan. "Or did she already bore him to death with her neediness?"

The resemblance to Carly was scary. Trying to control to slap the annoying girl, Jason directed his attention to Logan. His lips were twisted into a frown as he too looked ready to strangle his ex. "Logan, don't forget that you're needed back at Johnny's by eight."

"Oh, I kinda thought we'd be at your place."

"Baylor's had a rough day. Georgie wants to keep her home." Elizabeth glanced once more at Maxie before giving up. The red rimmed and puffy eyes had her compassionate side kicking in. "At least call Georgie tomorrow, Maxie. You don't need the stress of avoiding her while causing pain."

"It's no wonder you and that slut bonded so quickly even knowing that her brat's father killed Emily. Neither of you can turn down mobster who kill people and have tons of money," Lucky sneered, reaching for her arm as they passed his table.

Placing her hand on Jason's arm when he started to step around her, she wrinkled her nose. "How was your day at work, Lucky? Is hard to concentrate while high? Too bad you haven't done us all a favor and overdosed yet. But there's still time for you to achieve success at one thing. You might stand a chance at that goal."

Sam yelped as she landed hard on the floor when Lucky jumped from his chair. Lucky's temper was ruining her plan. She rubbed her sore bottom after pulling herself to her feet and curling her fingers around his wrist. If he hit the pregnant man stealing whore Jason would never leave her side. "Lucky, please. She's so not worth it," she purred, rubbing her chest against his back. "Don't let her provoke you, baby."

"Morgan, you can't, not tonight," Logan reminded him of the meeting. Making sure that Coop had moved Elizabeth far away from the pathetic duo, he grimaced. Jason's eyes had the lethal edge that appeared right before someone died. Lowering his voice, he leaned closer. "Think of everything happening. If you go to jail, Elizabeth and the boys will be the ones suffering, not that pathetic excuse for a man."

A curt nod followed the warning. Hayes was right. He couldn't afford to deviate from the plan, no matter how much Diane drooled over shoes. Without a word, he collected Elizabeth and led her from Kelly's.

"Care to tell me what that was all about?" Elizabeth asked while trying to ease the uneven pitching of her stomach. "The notorious Stone Cold façade cracked a bit in there, Jason."

"And I got on Zacchara earlier about letting emotions sway his decisions," he muttered before caressing her abdomen. "He almost knocked you down. I overreacted."

Reaching up on her tiptoes, Elizabeth slid her arms around his neck and urged his face down to hers before brushing her lips over his. "I love you. I know you want to pound Lucky's face in for the way he's been acting, but do me a favor and let it go for now." When he pulled back enough to give her a searching look, she chuckled. "No, I'm not taking up for him, Jason. It's just that you missed so much of my pregnancy with Jake. I need you to here through this entire one. Don't start giving Mac and the boys at the station any excuse to pull you in."

The pressure on her hip eased her closer as the stood on the docks. "I'm not going to miss a thing, I swear." His mouth closed over his as his tongue traced her lips, slipping inside as she moaned softly. He'd never been one for public displays of affection but he lost all control with her, always had.

"Geez! She's already knocked up, Morgan. All of town doesn't need a reenactment of how it happened."

Elizabeth flushed deeply as Jason's mind filled with ways to wipe that cocky grin from the man's face. "Those looks that had nurses lined up waiting for their chance in the supply closet with you could disappear, Drake."

Patrick's grin only widened. Seeing his friend so happy and Jason just as lost in her as she in him had brought out his teasing side. After the horrible day that he'd suffered through it was a welcome difference. "Yeah, just remember that you may need my talented hands in the future."

The sassy replied died on Elizabeth's lips when she got a good look at Patrick. His eyes were bleak and worry lines etched his normally jovial features. "What's wrong, Patrick?"

"The better question would be what isn't. I think my wife lost her mind, Liz."

Jason tensed as Robin was mentioned. Her betrayal of Georgie, helping to lure her to the park that cold December night drowned out any respect that he'd once felt for his ex.

"She has been acting weird since Georgie came home. Did she do something else?"

"It's more along the lines of what she is letting happen. When I went home after work I overheard Anna and Frisco discussing Georgie. Robin wasn't actively participating, but she didn't protest either." Ashamed of Robin's treatment of her young cousin, Patrick darted a quick glance at Morgan and could see he wasn't shocked.

After making sure that no one was around, Jason exhaled heavily. "What are they planning, Patrick?"

"Just make sure that Georgie stays away from her cousin's funeral," he hedged.

"She'll never agree to that, Patrick. Lucas and Georgie were extremely close."

"Elizabeth, she can't go there," Patrick responded shortly. "I heard Anna saying that they had to grab her before Jerry Jax did. Whatever Georgie knows, they are desperate." He rubbed his face, uncomfortable under Jason's intense eyes on him. "And Robin just sat there agreeing with them. She's not the woman that I fell in love with anymore. To do this to Georgie after everything that she's been through, it's unthinkable."

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"What do you want?" he demanded. "I have to get back before I'm missed."

Anthony beamed at the man. He loved having the upper hand. "You need to remember I'm the one in charge and what you have to lose." Drumming his fingers on the desk top, Anthony took great pleasure in the way his face paled. "You deliver my message as instructed?"

"Yes. I know that Johnny found it this morning."

"Perfect. Now I need you to get that child to the park tomorrow. The death of Georgianna's brother has John's attention while Morgan is distracted by Sonny and the drug addled ex of his lady love."

"I don't know if I can hurt Georgie like this. Baylor is her life." The protest died when the old man slammed his fist on the table and lifted the proof that could destroy his life.

"Either you do as I instruct or I blow apart the house of cards you've built. Georgianna trusts you and her daughter is comfortable with you. Use that to get Baylor to the park. My men will take it from there."

Not having a choice, he swallowed hard. "And what about Georgie?"

"Either she'll trust John to make the right decision or she won't. But it could be a moot point. Others believe she is the key to having the power. They're sadly mistaken. Baylor is Jerome's heir and she already signed control of the Alcazar estate over to my son." Seeing the concern, he waved it aside. "I already told you that I would not go after her as long as you do your part. The others, well, I don't control their actions. Either John saves the woman he thinks he loves, or you'll get the chance to play hero. I have no stake in that." The glossy 8 x 10's slid across the table top when he tipped the envelop holding them and Anthony's eyes lit with an unholy gleam. "You're worried about John figuring your part out. But what do you think his response will be if I send him these? You've caused his wife pain indirectly. You've seen him with her. Do you think he'll just overlook that? Do you believe that the woman you're so ready to protect will not ask for retribution? Georgianna has all the qualities to be a Zacchara, merciless when those she loves are attacked. Face it. You have no options." Anthony laughed as his words sunk in. "Baylor at the park tomorrow or I give my son everything I know about you. Your friendship with Georgie won't save you."

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Tying his tie as he made his way down the stairs, Johnny groaned at the sight of Georgie half asleep on the couch. The tiny little shorts she had changed into after her shower had inched even higher as she lay on her side while lazily flipping through the TV channels. Approaching her quietly, he returned her sleepy smile and sat on the edge of the cushion when she scooted over.

"I really don't like the idea of you staying here alone."

"We'll be perfectly safe, Johnny. Stop worrying. Milo and Logan will be here."

"If Logan ever decides to get his ass here," he growled with a dark look at the front door.

Georgie giggled. "You can't blame him because his truck got a flat tire."

"Oh yeah I can," he muttered before sweeping a wet lock hair from her cheek. Whatever she and Elizabeth had talked about in the kitchen before the nurse left had brought about a reflective mood. The sadness in her eyes was still present, but she no longer carried the air of defeat with her. "You should go to bed. You didn't get much sleep today."

Snuggling into the soft cushions, she yawned while fighting to keep her eyelids from drooping. "The couch is fine. If I fall asleep just wake me when you get home."

Letting his fingers trail down her arm and rest on her hip, Johnny was relieved when instead of pulling away, Georgie just looked at him out of the corner of her eye. Expecting her to retreat from the attraction simmering just below the surface like she had been, he blinked once before leaning over her, his face inches from hers.

"You're making it really hard for me to walk out that door tonight."

A light blush stole across her cheeks as she closed her eyes at his touch. His dark eyes swirled with emotions that had her heartbeat accelerating.

"I want more than just one night with you, Georgie," he whispered, his breath teasing her ear, shooting shivers along her spine. "I won't settle for less, not with you." The uncertainty on her face only strengthened his resolve. "It's all or nothing." His head swiveled to the door when the soft knock sounded. Refocusing on the woman that he'd fell fast and hard for, Johnny cupped her cheek. "There's no pressure. If you can't do that, give me all of you, then nothing changes."

"I…."

"No, don't answer now. I'll wait as long as you need me to because your worth it and so much more. No regrets, remember? Think about what you feel for me, Georgie. Be absolutely certain because there's no going backward for me." Quickly pressing his lips to her once more, he stood before looking down at her. "The guys will be right outside if you need them."

Georgie flung her head back on the arm of the couch once the door softly clicked behind him. The concept of all or nothing terrified her. If Johnny broke her heart, she didn't know if she'd be able to recover. The depth of emotions he stirred to life was like nothing she had experienced with Dillon or Diego. She believed that he would never set out to hurt, or her him, but fate had proven time and time again that happiness faded and feelings changed.

Logan opened the door after a quick tap. "Hey, doll, just wanted to tell ya…" he trailed off at the thoughtful expression on her face. "You okay?"

"Hmm. Oh, yeah, just thinking."

Leaning back against the door, he stuffed his hands in the back pockets of his jeans. "You've had a hell of a couple months. Hard to believe you're the same shy, bookworm waitress that avoided conflict at all costs. Unless it was to pick a fight with yours truly," he teasingly added and was rewarded with a laugh.

"Anytime I yelled you deserved it."

"Probably," he conceded. "Do ya need anything before I get back out there?"

"No thanks. Just gonna veg out in front of the TV."

Logan tossed her a Twix bar and smirked when she excitedly ripped into the package. "Thought it might help. I remember how you always wanted one after fightin with your sister." Waving aside her thanks, he rejoined Milo on the porch where they spilt up to patrol the property.

A/N: All your comments are greatly appreciated! You guys are the best!

Works been hectic, but I hope to have an update on this story and my other one tomorrow. All depends on the ER tonight… Pray for me, I almost pulled my hair out the last night. lol