A/N – Thanks for the comments! Pamela – most of the people I'm focused on right now know Carly is gone and the rest are focused on Liz and Jason. There will be closure though.

You get an extra chapter because I need to get this one finished by the 21st.

Chapter 53

Alan dialed his phone.

"Hello?"

"Johnny, it's Alan."

Johnny's attention goes to Emily and then to his mother. "Hi. Is everything okay?"

"Yes and no." He had spoken to Sonny and Johnny doesn't know about Nikolas yet.

"I need to speak to Emily, but I want you to know first."

"Okay." He hopes that everyone in the family is okay.

"Nikolas's body was found in the water."

Johnny sighed. He had known that would probably be inevitable. "Do you want me to break the news?"

"No, I just need you to be there for her."

"Of course…" He'll have to talk to Francis to see if he knows how it went down.

"Can you get her for me?"

"Yes." He lowered the phone. "Emily?"

She looked up.

"For you," he said as he held the phone up.

She rushed toward him and grabbed it as Johnny motioned for her to sit. "Hello?"

"It's your father."

"Hey, dad."

"First, I miss you."

She smiled. "I miss you too."

"I'm not sure how to say this."

"Is it the family?"

"No. Emily, I was informed that Nikolas's body was found."

Her shoulders fell and tears welled in her eyes. "How?"

"The island was blown up. I don't know the details."

"Okay."

She sucked in a breath. "Thank you for telling me."

He's surprised by her tone which sounds angry. "Are you okay?"

"I will be. Have to go. Love you."

"I love you too."

She eyed Johnny. "Did you know?"

"No."

"I need to know how."

"Emily…"

He closed his eyes and cursed and then dialed his brother.

"Hey, slacker."

"Hey. Emily is listening."

"Hello, Emily."

"Hi."

"Why does she sound pissed?"

"She wants to know how Nikolas died."

Ryan groaned. "Emily…"

"Please…"

Sonny is sitting across from him and nodded.

"He killed Helena."

Emily gasped. "What?"

"How much do you want to know?"

"All of it." If she doesn't know, it will haunt her, and she needs to let all of this go.

"He choked her and threw her over the parapet."

It's so hard for her to see him that way. God, he had changed so much. While he came from a family of murderers, it is difficult to imagine that he would be like them.

"He was mad at what she did to you. The parapet was then hit by a projectile and unfortunately, they couldn't get to him and he fell."

She wiped a tear away. "Thank you for being honest."

"You're welcome." He didn't know what else to say.

"Bye."

"Goodbye."

She handed the phone to Johnny and then got up. "I'm so mad right now."

"Go on."

"That bitch ruined him, Johnny. As mad as I am at him for trashing his life, I hate her so much more for putting him in that position."

"Thank God that she's dead."

She turned to face him. "That's the best thing out of all of this. God, Laura, and the family must be going crazy."

"It won't be easy for them. If you want to go back…"

She moved to his side. "No. I'm where I need to be. He's gone and showing up at a funeral will change nothing. Besides, if Helena's men are still alive, they'd anticipate that."

He's proud of her for thinking along those lines. "I'm sorry."

"I'll say goodbye my way. Maybe I can go to the island."

"Um, Emily?"

"Yeah?"

He hadn't known all the details, but he knows enough. "I don't think there is anything left."

She groaned. "I did love those horses."

He grinned. "You still have something to ride."

"Johnny!"

"What?"

"Your mother is across the room."

"She can't hear me."

Maggie shook her head. "Boy, do you even know me?"

Upon seeing his shocked look, Emily busted out laughing.

"Kids…"

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Alan pushed a transport chair out of the hospital doors and to a car where he opened the door.

Elizabeth carefully got out. "How is he?"

"He's slowly coming around." He didn't want her walking too much, so he insisted on using a chair. She still doesn't have stamina and is in pain.

She sat on the chair and then is pushed inside. When Epiphany saw her, she hugged her.

"I just checked on him. He's moving a little, but saving those eyes for you."

"I can't wait to see them."

Alan quickly got her to the room and then parked the chair next to the bed so she could hold his hand.

"Why is he restrained?"

"He had sat up the last time he was awake and probably did some damage. As soon as he's calm, we'll take them off."

"I'm just worried that he'll think he's still there."

Alan nodded. "I wouldn't do it if I didn't think it was necessary." They can't take the chance that he'll hurt himself.

"Okay."

It took another two hours before his eyes snapped open. The doctors were in the room because his vital signs were showing that he may wake up any minute.

Elizabeth gasped as he began to panic. The whole time he was waking up, he could tell that a female was speaking to him, but he thought it was Carly and was trying to fight her.

Alan hurried to stand on the other side of the bed near his head. "Jason, you're safe."

He's confused as his blurriness finally faded.

Elizabeth slowly stood. "Jason, you're okay. You have a tube to help you breathe. She can't hurt you anymore."

His head slowly moved and when he laid eyes on her, his filled with tears.

She kissed his hand.

His gaze went to her belly and panic set in again making his blood pressure go through the roof.

"Mr. Morgan, you need to calm down."

Elizabeth squeezed his hand. "The baby is fine. I went into labor and had a cesarean procedure. I would love to kiss your face right now, but I can't bend like that. Blink twice if you understand."

He blinked twice.

"I love you so much."

He wishes he could tell her how much he loves her. He moves his arms because he doesn't understand why he's in restraints.

"I'll take them off. The only reason they were on was in case you fought. We didn't want you to hurt yourself," Alan explained.

He feels like a bus hit him.

The doctor leaned forward. "I'm Barry. I'm afraid you have extensive injuries. We had to do surgery to put some plates in your chest because the broken ribs were compromising your breathing. Do you understand?"

Jason blinked twice.

"Good. We managed to repair the damage. You had been heavily drugged, but it doesn't look like they have caused any damage. Your torso is very bruised, and it will be hard to breathe probably for another day."

Alan finished removing the restraints.

"We need to do some tests."

"Can I show him something first? He'll probably sleep afterward and I need to go feed the baby."

"Sure." He backed up and Liz moved closer.

"This is our baby, Lily Alina Morgan. Isn't she beautiful?"

Jason's eyes welled with tears again and then he blinked twice.

"She can't wait to meet you. Soon... Just do whatever they say so you can get out of here. You need the vent another day and then, hopefully within a day or so after that you can go home if you're stable enough." She figures she'll spring the mansion idea on him after he can talk. "I love you."

He pressed his eyes closed and then opened them again.

"It's so good to see your eyes." She touched his face and Jason relished it. "I'll come by tomorrow. Barry said you'll probably be sleeping most of the time until then anyway."

She touched him one more time and then sat.

The doctors converged on Jason as Alan pushed her from the room.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

As Bobby comforted Laura, she wondered where her daughter disappeared to. She had heard from her briefly about a week ago, but nothing since. All she said is that she's close and will touch base with her soon. As much as Carly drives her crazy, she hopes that somehow, her daughter will get it together and stop causing so much mayhem.

Mac cleared his throat.

"What now?" Laura asked. She's barely holding it together.

"Bobby, can I talk to you in private?"

She blew out a shaky breath. "It's Carly isn't it?"

"You can say it in front of me," Laura said.

He shut his eyes for a second and then focused. "Carly was found in the water near Wyndemere."

"What!"

"I'm sorry. She's gone."

A wail left Bobby's lips. "No!"

"Perhaps you should sit."

Laura directed her to the couch.

"I want to see her."

"I'm afraid—I don't know how to tell you this."

Bobby wiped her face. "Just say it."

"There were explosives, Bobby. Do you want me to spell it out?"

Bobby's head shook and then she buried it in her hands. "Oh God…"

"We'll recover what we can." There is so much carnage. They have retrieved as many body parts as they could, and they are being held at the morgue.

"Are you sure it's her?"

He nodded and pointed to his head.

Bobby is stunned.

"She's at the morgue."

Bobby just stared at him like he was speaking another language.

"Mac, you should go. We'll be okay," Laura said. She's not sure how, but this whole situation is a nightmare.

Once he was gone, they comforted each other. Life will never be the same again.

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Ric moved from his cell to some stairs. He's been having a hard time lightly. Everything seems off. As he began to descend, he tripped on an unseen wire yelping as his body flew forward and then his hands and head collided with the metal in the middle of the stairs, snapping his neck, and then his body bounced and flipped until he hit the floor where he lay in a pool of blood.

The guards, who had been paid off by Ryan who didn't bother to get Sonny's permission, tried to tend to him, but he was already dead. The prisoners were sent to their cells, and later, with the help of Stan, the cameras glitched and the clear wire was removed before the police arrived.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Ryan ended the call notifying him that it was done. He hopes that Jason won't be mad but after all he had learned from Francis, Ric needed to die. The plan was something Jason had come up with as a backup to the poison idea which had been put off because everyone was so busy with Helena. Sonny will have to deal.

His phone rang again as Edward entered the office.

"Take them down," Ryan said before looking up with surprise.

Edward got comfortable.

"Call me when it's done." He put the phone down. "Mr. Quartermaine…"

"You're not going to have to feed me to the fishes now, are you?"

Ryan grinned. "Tempting, but that just depends on the conversation."

Edward smirked. "I like you. Who were you sending to the pinelands?"

Ryan's brow furrowed. He has no idea what Edward is talking about.

"Never mind the place…"

"We found some of Helena's henchmen. If one of them survives, we'll question them, but I think they were the ones who'd carry out Helena's plans after her death. I'm checking one more place." All the Cassadine properties are being decimated one by one. If it weren't for Stefan, it would be like they never existed.

"Good. I'm worried about that, and I want Emily to be safe when she returns."

"You have my word that I'm trying to make that happen. The word is out to not mess with this organization and when Jason is back on his feet, I'm sure his glare will take care of the rest."

Edward smiled. "I came because I need Ric and Tom Baker to die, and I know that my grandson can't take care of that right now."

Ryan's head tilted. "Do you usually put hits out on people?"

"I can't tell you that without incriminating myself."

Ryan laughed. "I like you too. Jason already put dealing with Baker in motion."

"Do I want to know?"

Ryan shook his head. "No." Tom Baker is slowly being poisoned. He has about 4 weeks to live and the last 2 weeks will be excruciating, but they'll never find out what the problem is. He was impressed by Jason's cleverness. While he couldn't end Ric that way, at least he still got to utilize the plan.

"Fair enough. What about Ric?"

Ryan smiled. "I can't tell you that either, but I will say that I think there will be an interesting news report tonight on the subject."

Edward stood. "Nice doing business with you, Mr. McCarty."

"And you as well."

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Edward gathered everyone in the sitting room including Elizabeth and then turned on the nightly news.

Reporter: "The PCPD is about to hold a news conference. We have no idea what it is about, just that it is major news."

Mac appeared. "About two hours ago, there was an accident at Pentonville where former D.A. Ric Lansing was being housed. He tripped going down the stairs breaking his neck and was pronounced dead at the scene. No one was around him at the time, and after reviewing some footage, it appears to be an accident. Officers have arrived to investigate, but thus far have found nothing to indicate that Mr. Lansing was pushed or that anything was on the stairs that would cause him to fall. His family has been notified."

As Mac moved away, the reporters went wild.

Everyone's focus went to Elizabeth.

"Wow. I didn't see that coming," she said as she stared at Ric's picture on the screen.

"He can't hurt you anymore," Edward said.

"True."

She stared at the floor, too stunned to even process it.

"Are you upset?" Audrey asked.

Liz shook her head. "Is it wrong that I'm relieved? I mean, there was a time that I do think he loved me, but so much has happened since the beginning. He has hurt me so much and I was so scared that he would get out of jail and come after us again."

Alan sat next to her and put his arm around her. "You don't have to worry about that anymore. You're safe."

She closed her eyes as he rubbed her arm. It's over. Helena and Ric are dead, and for the first time in a long time, she felt relief, and tears begin to fall. "We're safe."

Alan held her as she let it all out and then Francis carried her to her room.