No copy write infringement intended…I do not own GH or the characters…Entertainment purposes only…

Chapter Forty-Nine

"Sarah, talk to me!" Elizabeth demanded frantically as she firmly applied pressure to the gunshot wound. Thankfully the bullet missed any major arteries but she was still bleeding rather heavily. Still no answer. Time for another tactic. "Snap out of! You're scaring the kids!" And me, she silently added.

Lashes fluttering she moaned softly before hissing when she attempted to move. Her thigh burned like it was on fire. "Anyone else hurt?"

Elizabeth closed her eyes before swallowing thickly. "The boys are unharmed. I think Bay's arm is dislocated from the fall."

Trying to get a glimpse of the whimpering toddler Sarah cursed when pain tore through her leg and side. "How bad?"

"There's an exit wound and no major damage. But you're still losing more blood than I like."

"Don't freak. My medicine thins the blood some. Bay?" she asked wanting an answer before starting to fade.

"Hanging in there like a champ. They're all scared though."

Sarah released a watery laugh. Scared was an understatement for what they had all felt when the gunfire started. "Give me whatever your holding pressure with. Do you have a way to stabilize Baylor's arm?"

Elizabeth darted a quick look at the brown haired imp firmly snuggled into Cam's arms. "It's her shoulder, Sarah. Until it's popped in there isn't much to be done. I'd try to set it…"

"No!" she immediately countered. "If there's a hairline fracture it could make it worse."

"I know." Keeping the pressure on the still bleeding wound she looked at her youngest. "Jakie, I need you to hand me the phone on the shelf behind you."

He quickly scrambled up and grabbed the device before tossing it over. Unnaturally silent he observed the unreal scene before him.

"The guards?"

"I don't know yet," Elizabeth confided quietly. "I do know the guys are aware though. As soon as we shut the reinforced door they were sent texts. Every phone will get one." Clumsily dialing Ritchie's number Elizabeth blinked back tears when no one answered. Trying Marco's she breathed a sigh of relief when his line connected and his deep voice filled the receiver.

"Anyone hurt, Liz?" he immediately demanded gently.

"Sarah's shot. GSW to left thigh, through and through. Baylor's arm is probably dislocated, possibly fractured a well. Is it safe to get help here yet, Marco?"

"Morgan and everyone's in route. Extra guys are already searching the area. I'll call you back as soon as I get an all clear to open the door."

"How bad is it out there?"

"Focus on your sister and Georgie's little one right, Elizabeth. I'll deal with the rest." Marco disconnected before she could protest.

"Lizzie?" Sarah's voice had started to slur.

Elizabeth brush Sarah's hair out of her face. Shock was starting to set in. "We're okay, Sar. You just hang in there for me. Help will arrive shortly."

"MOM!"

Immediately looking over at Cameron she bit back a curse. Baylor was pale, diaphoretic, and glassy eyed. Unfortunately the room hadn't been stocked with medicine, and it was obviously the little girl needed a dose of insulin. "We'll be out of her soon, Cam. Stay still with Bay. Her arm's hurt, honey. Try not to move her. She needs to be still."

"Daddy?"

"On his way, Jake. It won't be much longer, I promise."

Focusing her attention back on her now semiconscious sister she applied more pressure to the wound. Unsure who'd attacked the house frightened her more than she wanted to admit. But whoever it was had failed to plan on how protective Jason really was. When he'd installed the small panic room a couple months ago Elizabeth considered him paranoid and it a waste of time since they were already making plans to move. Now she thanked God for his instincts in preparing for the worst. Without a safe place to hide a nonlethal bullet wound and an arm injury would've been the least of their concerns.

"It won't be much longer at all," she repeated softly, praying she wasn't lying.

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"Are you sure you're okay?" Jason asked again, peering intently at the young woman in the review mirror. He could understand his friend's desire to take her to GH even a she protested. Georgie still appeared pale and tired looking.

"I'm fine," she repeated for the hundredth time.

"Georgie…"

"Johnny, stop! Going to the hospital is a waste of time and completely unneeded. I'm pregnant not sick. Besides, Sarah's at Elizabeth's house, not GH."

Compromising wasn't his strong suit, especially when so freaked out. Johnny forced himself to not argue. If she didn't perk up after seeing Baylor she was going if he had to throw her over his shoulder. And he needed Georgie feeling better before he wrung her neck for putting herself directly into Diego's hands. He could understand on some level. She'd do anything to protect Baylor, he knew and agreed with that, but the guys would have never let him out of the park with the little girl. Instead of trusting Logan and Milo, Georgie reacted without thinking, making the situation more dangerous and unstable. Hell, he'd almost shot them after learning she was missing. Only Baylor being present stopped him from reacting harshly.

"Our stuff is being moved to the penthouse for the time being."

His announcement caused her to quickly glance over at him, her eyes locking with his. All the emotions currently swirling in their dark depths warned of how close to exploding he really was. "For how long?"

"I'm not sure. At least until things calm down."

"But…"

"Georgie, it's not negotiable."

"He's right," Jason quickly spoke up before whatever she was going to say could escape her open mouth. "You yourself wanted Baylor to have extra guards."

Mouth snapping shut she shrugged. "Fine. Whatever."

Finished sending out the needed texts to update assignments, Johnny turned halfway in his seat to look at the upset woman. "Drop the attitude, kiddo. We all know why you did it, but you are the one who fucked up by putting yourself in the position where he got you out of the park. Nobody else wants to rock the boat but I'll be damned if you get to act like it's our fault security needs tightened now."

"O'Brien," Johnny warned.

Georgie squeezed his thigh. "No, it's okay. I don't need any of you walking on eggshells around me. I'm not fragile. And he's right. I immediately reacted without stopping to think. But I won't apologize, and I'd do it all over again. What you're failing to comprehend, OB, is while Baylor's his daughter, Diego doesn't know her. To be honest, I can't even say he wouldn't have hurt her in the park. He's different. More volatile than I remember him ever being. I wasn't taking the chance. She was in his freaking arms. So get pissed, yell, lecture, or whatever because I stand by what I did. I knew it was less likely he'd hurt me."

"Less likely," Johnny repeated softly, anger starting to edge into his voice. "Damn it, Georgie! The man is fucking dangerous and you knew it but still walked out of there with him!"

"So I should've let him stand there with my child in his arms and refused to move? Have you lost your mind?"

"Logan and Milo…"

"Don't know him, Johnny!"

"No, but they would've kept him from hurting her."

"Really? How were they going to accomplish stopping him from doing that when he physically had her and they were a couple feet back?"

"Whoa, okay, that's enough." Jason pinched the bridge of his nose while exhaling heavily. "O'Brien, stay out of it. Johnny and Georgie need to discuss this alone. You said what you have to say so just drop it. Yelling and arguing isn't helping. You two," he darted a look at the couple in the back seat, "both need to calm down before either of you say something you'll end up regretting. Emotions are running high and words get thrown around that you won't mean. Table it for now and discuss what happened after you get Baylor down for the night. But if you don't trust your guards, Georgie, we need to know now so adjustments can be made to avoid something similar from happening in the future."

"I do trust them," she responded softly, avoiding looking at the others. "I would have done the same thing no matter who was there with me, Jason. It has nothing to do with Logan or Milo. Or Wilson for that matter."

Three high pitched beeps sounded in the interior of the SUV. Jason accelerated without looking at his phone. There was only reason all of them would've received texts simultaneously.

"Get ahold of Marco and find out what the hell is going on!" he barked at his best friend.

"No answer," Johnny responded seconds later, his brogue more noticeable.

"What's going on?" Georgie demanded with a sinking feeling.

"The panic room's been locked down," Johnny answered while reaching for her as she shuddered hard.

"Oh God!"

Another text caught Johnny's attention. His green eyes hardened. "Shit! They're calling for backup. Ritchie says he knows Elizabeth, Sarah and the kids all made it inside but no one knows if they're hurt. The phone inside hasn't been activated yet."

"Fuck! Elizabeth knows to turn it on immediately. Something's happened to stop her from following instructions."

"Logan just texted. Our guy in the PCPD just called Francis. They're in route. Reports of multiple gunmen were called in be neighbors. Francis is talking with Patrick right now. He's ready to help as soon as it's safe to enter the house."

Georgie buried her face against Johnny's chest, clinging to him. His left arm tightened around her body while he kept reading the updates they were receiving.

Jason's heart pounded hard in his chest. The three most important people in his life were in that panic room and right now he had no clue if the boys or Elizabeth were injured. Panic clawed inside him as he flew over the highway. Whoever attacked his family had signed their own death sentence.

Nausea churned in Johnny's stomach. Losing Sarah would kill him. She was the only woman he'd ever honestly loved. Even as he prayed he instinctively knew something wasn't right. His hands shook as he opened the next message before going still.

"O'Brien?" Johnny had noticed the abnormal reaction in the other man.

"All the intruders are dead except for one Marco sent to the warehouse with Jimmy before the cops showed. Elizabeth finally called out. Sarah was hit," his voice cracked. "Lizbits says it's not fatal but she's losing a lot of blood."

"We're almost there. Hang in there. Elizabeth? How about the boys and Bay?"

"Liz is trying to help Sarah. Nobody else was hit by the gunman but Sarah was holding Bay. Her arm was hurt in the fall." Tears glistened in his eyes. "I can't lose her, not Sarah."

Fear for her friend and relief that Baylor wasn't badly hurt warred with one another as tears poured down her face. Georgie leaned up and rubbed Johnny's tense arm. "Sarah's strong, OB. And Elizabeth's the best. She's gonna be okay. She's too stubborn to accept any other outcome."

"Go straight to GH."

Jason immediately headed in the correct direction. "Zacchara?"

"House was cleared. Patrick's in the ambulance with Sarah. Elizabeth went with Baylor and has the kids. Marco, Ritchie, and the others not hit were detained by the damn cops. Cody's the only senior staff not held up because he was farther away. He's heading to the ER but with not knowing who ordered the invasion we need to get there yesterday!"

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"Dad!" Jake broke away and tore down the hallway, jumping straight into Jason's open arms.

Tightly hugging the little guy and whispering reassuring words Jason's eyes found Elizabeth's worried ones. Not spotting Cam anywhere in sight he felt his pulse jump. Carrying his youngest son over to his mother, Jason hugged her with his free arm, kissing the top of her head. "Thank God! I've never been so scared. Where's Cam?"

"Bay cried when Matt tried to check her over. He's right in there with her, Matt, and your mom." She pointed at the closed curtain across from them and watched as Johnny and Georgie nodded before disappearing into the cubical. "Leyla called up and said you were on your way." Inhaling his scent Elizabeth finally let the tears flow, letting her guard drop now that he was there. "I'm never letting you go again."

"Shh, baby, it's going to be alright." He smoothed a hand over her hair, thrilled to have the chance to touch her again. Today had been too close. His biggest fear came to life when the alarm came through on his phone. He'd never wanted the other side of his life to touch his family. "How is Sarah? O'Brien headed straight up to the OR."

"I'm heading up as soon as Bay's finished. Epiphany called and got the latest for me right before you arrived. Dr. Niles and Patrick are closing the wound now. No permanent damage or nerve problems expected. But Sarah lost a lot of blood before we got her here. She'll be fine but they'll watch her for a couple days to make sure no infection occurs."

Jason shifted Jake, looking down into a replica of his eyes. The little guy didn't say anything but Jason felt him shaking. "You and Cam both did an excellent job listening to your mom, Jake. I'm very proud of you."

"Are we going home?"

"We will in a little bit, baby."

Jake flinched at Elizabeth's words. "I don't wanna stay there anymore."

Jason could relate. He didn't want any of them returning to the house, especially tonight. A cleanup crew would start as soon as the PCPD cleared the scene, but he had a sneaking suspicion Jake would still have nightmares. The terror would still play in his mind even if the house was put back to normal. "We aren't, buddy. Tonight Uncle Johnny invited us to stay at his house." He looked over at Elizabeth. "The new house just needs furnished. I think we ought to go ahead and fix that problem and move now. Neither of the boys will feel safe or comfortable at the old house now."

A sheepish smile curved her lips. "Good because I don't think I want to go back either," she admitted.

Jason slid his hand over her small baby bump protectively. "I want you to check in with Kelly. Don't try and argue. We both know your blood pressure's been on a roller coaster ride."

She bit her lip. "First I need to wait on word about Baylor and check in on Sarah."

"Elizabeth, you already know they both are in very capable hands. Humor me."

"He's right," Johnny added. He winked at his friend when she turned her glare at him. "Go take care of yourself. We're gonna be a bit. Bay's sugar is elevated and Matt wants to watch her for a little longer. I'll be up to check on Sarah and Johnny soon." He leaned down and hugged the boy standing beside him. "Thank you for taking care of Bay until we got here, Cam."

"She was scared," he confided. "I didn't want her to cry."

Jason felt a rush of pride. His eldest definitely inherited Elizabeth's compassionate streak. "Francis and Cody are upstairs with O'Brien. Do you care if I have Wilson come with us?" Normally Jason didn't have the guards follow them if he was present but after the events resulting in this visit he realized he needed to reevaluate his habits. The safety of Elizabeth, Cam, and Jake came first and too much security was better than not enough.

Checking and seeing Milo and Logan positioned outside the curtain Johnny nodded. "Yep. Now go check out momma here and text me the latest on Sarah. I'll head up there soon." Reaching over and ruffling Jake's spikes, he grinned. "You guys help your dad keep your mom in line."

Pouting about being outnumbered Elizabeth hugged Johnny tightly. "Let us know if you need anything." Waiting until he disappeared back in with his family she turned back to Jason. "Let's check on Sarah first. I'm…"

"Procrastinating," Kelly interjected with a laugh. "Piph already commandeered us a room. Let me peek at the baby and get vitals, Liz. Then you can go upstairs if everything checks out."

"Fine," she huffed knowing protesting further was useless.

Following behind the doctor and the woman he loved with Jake still in his arms and Cam beside him, Jason winked at Epiphany as they passed the hub. The heavy set nurse nodded. Helping take care of her favorite nurse wasn't a hardship. She already planned on nabbing her pregnant friend before Jason made his request. Now she could blame him when Elizabeth complained.

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Stepping back into the exam room Johnny immediately noticed Baylor had finally given into the exhaustion she'd been fighting. Even with one arm now housed in a bright pink cast and sling she'd clung to Georgie as soon as she'd spotted her mother. The only time she'd released her death grip was to hug Johnny for bringing her mommy back.

Matt nodded at the couple before him and Monica exited after explaining the little girl's condition and answering Georgie's questions. Both could sense their presence no longer was needed.

"It's my fault she's here," Georgie whispered, sweeping a dark curl off her tiny forehead. "I really messed up, didn't I?"

Kneeling beside the bed Johnny laid his hands on her thighs. His anger cooled from earlier, he now knew he needed to reassure the woman in front of him. "This isn't your fault, Georgie. Yes, you should have listened to Logan in the park. The guys are specifically trained to handle those types of situations. But you followed your gut instincts. I'm not happy you endangered yourself, I won't lie. But at the same time your instincts have kept you alive when you were on your own. Baylor's going to be fine, baby. So is Sarah." He leaned up and tenderly kissed her quivering lips.

Georgie swiped at her wet eyes. "You don't have to be nice, Johnny. I know you were pissed on the way back from the cabin."

"I was frantic to find you. My emotions were all over the place, Georgie. Diego could have killed you!" Releasing a long breath to calm down when his voice started to rise, he eased to his feet before slowly pulling her up into his arms. "I don't want to fight. You did what you did and I disagree with the choice you made. But it doesn't change anything. I love you, Georgie. I can't imagine my life without you and Baylor now that I've found you guys." Staring straight into her beautiful brown eyes he cupped her cheek. "And in the back of mind I couldn't help wondering if seeing Diego would change how you felt about me, about us. I was terrified," he confessed huskily. "I could've lost you in more than one way."

"Oh, Johnny!" Looping her arms around his waist she moved closer to his warm body. "What I feel for you, the depth of the emotions, Johnny, they could never just disappear. I love you. You, Baylor, and this new baby are all I need to be happy. Leaving you isn't an option, not one I'd ever willing make anyway."

"Can you tell me what you felt seeing him again?" He needed to hear her say the words. Turning into his father, developing the paranoia that destroyed his sanity, was a hidden fear. Not knowing exactly how Georgie felt for Diego might possibly nudge Johnny into the darkness he'd skirted around all his life.

"Um," nervously licking her suddenly dry lips, Georgie hated herself. "I won't lie. I still care for him." She felt him tense. "To be honest, I think I always will care for him. Diego saved my life, Johnny. And if I hadn't met you again, I'd probably still mistake that gratitude and the way I feel for him as love. But now I know the difference. Being with you taught me to know the difference. I need you! I love you!"

"Are you trying to say you don't love him?" He didn't believe that. She'd stepped in front the other man, between him and loaded guns.

"I wish I could say that, but I promised to tell you the truth. What I can tell you is I love him as a friend and tried to make it into more because I thought I owed it to him for all he did. I love you because I don't want to face tomorrow without you. My heart races whenever we're in the same room and I get goosebumps just by being near you. I tried my best to keep you at an arm's length because unconsciously I knew nothing in my past compared to all you stirred to life inside me. If you'd walk away tomorrow I don't think I could survive it, and not be emotionally whole." A strangled sob had her pausing. "Please don't leave us, Johnny!"

"Hey, now. Don't even think like that." Tucking her against him his head rested on hers. "You just described exactly what I feel for you, Georgie. I hate myself for asking but I needed to hear what you felt after talking with Diego. He's been a huge unknown in our relationship."

"So you aren't walking out?"

"Hell no!" he growled at her ear. "Not even an option."

Georgie reached up and pulled his head down, her mouth connecting with his. When his tongue ran along the seam of her lips she eagerly opened for him with a soft moan. Their tongues caressed one another as he savored her delicious taste.

"You're absolutely perfect," he murmured after reluctantly pulling back. Baylor's hospital room wasn't the place to continue what he had in mind.

"You must love me cause I'm so far from perfect it isn't even funny," she teased with a giggle.

Swatting her bottom playfully he chuckled before sitting in the chair and pulling her onto his lap. "After Bay's sugar comes down I want you to get a checkup. Just to be on the safe side," he added when she rolled her eyes. "Sarah warned us too much stress could cause your body to miscarry, Georgie. And we still have a lot to discuss from what you told me this morning to what happened while you were with Diego."

"We could always put some off that off," she suggested hopefully. When he lifted an eyebrow she deflated. "It was worth a shot," she muttered.

"You just got to get through this. Afterwards I'll know everything, right?"

"Yeah. I just hate talking about what happened."

Clenching his teeth as the questions he still had ran thru his head Johnny rubbed her back. It was a miracle she'd survived her time held prisoner in Prague. "I'll never let anyone hurt you again, Georgie."

"Will you promise me something?"

His eyes searched her for a long minute. "I won't kill Diego unless he leaves me no choice. Risking you and Baylor isn't happening. I'm sorry but it's the best I can give you."

"Thank you. I was afraid you were going to kill him because of what happened today. I hate it could still come down to that, but I understand if it does. Diego's unstable right now. If he would get some help for what must have occurred during his time held captive, he might stand a chance of returning back to the person I knew. But he's a stranger in so many ways. He sees us a possession, not people."

Johnny ran a finger down her cheek. "Were you frightened of him?"

Unable to voice it aloud she nodded instead.

"And you never were before? Not even when he held a gun on you that time?" At the shake of her head he kissed her forehead. "That right there speaks volumes, Georgie, and you know it as well as I do. I'll try my best to honor your request but you got to trust me and the guys from here on out. Because if he takes Bay or you again, I will kill him, Georgie."

"I love you."

Johnny wrapped his arms around her trembling frame. "I love you too, baby."

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Pale didn't even begin to describe how bad her color looked. Fear coursed throughout him. The nurses reassured him Sarah had come through the surgery like a champ but he wanted to speak with the doctors. Johnny had never seen a breathing person so pale. His large hand covered her smaller one, his fingers brushing along the palm out of habit.

"You were a hero today, Sarah. That bullet would've hit Georgie's baby girl in the head if she'd been standing beside you. I'm so damned proud of you, sweetie. But now I need you to fight a little bit more, for us. I don't want to live if you aren't at my side. I need you to come back to me, Sarah." His voice was hoarse as he begged his wife in a low whisper. "You're my world."

Patrick tapped on the door, alerting the distraught man of his presence. "Sarah's condition is very good for all the blood loss she suffered, Mr. O'Brien."

Lisa jerked at the name and interrupted before Patrick could continue. "Her chart says Webber. Why are we updating him?"

Frowning at his colleague, Patrick wanted to gag her. Johnny didn't need her condescending attitude at the moment. "This is Sarah's husband, that's why."

"Just like her sister," she muttered distastefully. "Figures marrying criminals ran in the family."

Johnny pointed at the door. "Get the fuck out before you need treatment, bitch!" at her shocked look he started to stand. "Now!"

Ashamed at Lisa lack of professionalism, especially considering the circumstances, Patrick rubbed his neck. "I apologize, Johnny. Unfortunately Robin ran her mouth in the weeks before her attack."

Trying to control his temper he shrugged off the other man's words. "Don't apologize. You didn't say it, Drake. Why she's so pale?"

"We had a really hard time getting her blood to clot. Elizabeth mentioned it could be due to one of her medicines. I just finished looking in her personnel file. The only prescription she takes regularly is her fertility shots." He paused, hating to do this to the couple. "Until she's healed completely I'm stopping the treatment, Johnny. If I don't Sarah could start bleeding again."

"Fine. I just want her to wake up and recover. We can always restart them later." His attention drifted to her chest, closely observing her shallow respirations. "When will she wake up?"

"Hopefully soon. We transfused over six units for a simple GSW. The surgery should've been a breeze because no artery damage but the intense bleeding brought about an unexpected complication."

Johnny jerked. "But she'll be okay? Right?"

Patrick nodded. He didn't know Johnny O'Brien well, but the few times they had talked at Elizabeth's he'd been relaxed and laughing unless it concerned business, then he displayed a seriousness that rivaled Jason's. Seeing him almost frantic for his wife's health stunned the doctor. He obviously loved her deeply. "Because of the amount of fluid loss it might not be until tomorrow, but Sarah will wake up. In fact her recovery time might be a bit longer than most with this same type of injury. But, Johnny, she's going to recover back to 100%."

Sagging against the chair he didn't even try to stop the tears. "Thank you. I owe you a debt of gratitude I'll never be able to repay, Drake."

Patrick swallowed. Maybe he'd go visit Robin. Watching the mobster almost fall apart made him miss his own wife, before her horrible decisions of course. "I'm glad to have been able to help. I've only spoke with her on a handful of occasions but Sarah's a wonderful person and a highly respected doctor. I'll be on call for the next couple days. Don't hesitate to ask the nurses to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I'll be back in a few hours to check on her." He paused at the doorway, looking back at the man Elizabeth considered a brother. "I know it's easier said than done, but you need to try and rest yourself, Johnny. She'll need your support to help her heal, physically and emotionally."

As soon as the door clicked shut Johnny laid his head beside Sarah's still form and wept. The terror he'd been drowning in since learning she'd been hit finally receded, leaving him extremely grateful but exhausted. Several minutes later he pulled himself semi together.

Tucking a lock of her blond hair behind her ear, he once again kissed her sleeping form. "I love you, Sarah. You rest up and then get your ass back here with me. You know I tend to get in trouble if you aren't keeping a close eye on me."

Retrieving his cell phone from his pocket he sent a text to Francis. He wanted an update. Whoever came after his family, which included every single person that had been trapped in the panic room, was going to die knowing what a grave error in judgment they had made. While he, Jason, and Johnny were with their families at the moment, he had no doubt that the men working for Morgan/Zacchara were already tearing the city of Port Charles apart. If they had to burn it to the ground they would. He had no problem getting the information by any means necessary, a strategy Jason and Zacchara shared.