Thank You for your Reading this story.

I don't own ABC or General Hospital

Present Day- Manny Ruiz is in PC. Liz is staying at Penthouse 3 (next to Jason's not across from him) talking to Alec Winters in hypnosis.

Jason, in need of answers, goes to see Sam at the safehouse. He also leaves the towers to clear his head. Things take an unexpected turn.

Chapter 22.)

"You came!" She said as she ran up to him and hugged him, "I knew you couldn't stay away. I knew that you believed me. That your love for me would make you see-"

He started to hug her back, but then remembered himself, and slowly backed her away. "I came here for answers, Sam."

"Jayson, you can't believe what the police are saying. You've never trusted the police, so why would you now? And Elizabeth? You know you can't trust her," Sam said as she grabbed onto Jason's jacket as she pleaded with him to see reason.

Jason took her hands into his and made her release her grip. "Stop. I want to hear it from you."

"Jason, I-," Sam started but took a step back. He wasn't relenting.

"The TRUTH," Jason demanded.

"What truth do you think I know?" Sam asked.

"What is the truth about your relationship with Ric?"

"I don't have a relationship with Ric, and you know that Jason. You know me," Sam said rather convincingly.

"I thought I did. There's evidence, Sam. From multiple sources, none of which are Elizabeth. Now answer my question."

"Jason, you know that I love you and I would never betray you," Sam said as she paced behind him trying to buy time. "What will it take for you to believe me?"

Jason shook his head, "It would take you not being linked to Ric several times over. The police have solid proof that you conspired with Ric to frame Elizabeth. Also, your cell phone called his cell phone the other day before you were arrested. Why is that? If you're so loyal to me, why were you talking to my enemy and if it's innocent why didn't you tell me?"

"It's not what it seems-" Sam started to say, as she nonchalantly maneuvered away from Jason, who was in disbelief. He honestly wasn't watching her as he stood there disgusted at the farce his life had become. He now regretted having come to see her.

"I can't trust you, Sam. I don't believe you. I can't do this. I can't stay. Our relationship is ove-'' Jason started to say, but never finished his thought because he was struck over the back of his head with a nearby lamp. He collapsed to the ground as the blow knocked him out. Since they were using overhead lighting, no one noticed that the lamp hadn't been plugged in for the majority of the day. She'd planned on using it on her guard, Cody, to get away. Her target changed the moment that Jason refused to believe her and take her side. She knelt down and pulled his concealed gun that he kept tucked into his jeans at the center of his back, where she knew he carried it. She took off the safety on the gun. She aimed it at Jason, whom she claimed was the love of her life. Her hand started to shake. She didn't think she could do it, not to him. So she slowly walked away from him, convinced that with enough time, she could reverse the damage caused by all the lies she told. The lamp was very heavy, she surmised that while she wasn't willing to kill him she had sufficiently knocked him out for a while. Long enough for her to escape. She'd heard Jason tell Cody to take a break and heard his car leave when Jason came in. She needed to move quickly. She knelt down again and grabbed Jason's wallet and found $200 in cash which she took. She searched the cabin for anything that may aid her in her escape, and decided to take off through the back.

Back at Elizabeth's Penthouse…

Elizabeth sat on the couch that Jason and her father provided. In an attempt to help find the missing women, Elizabeth offered to undergo hypnosis with Alec. Jason left an hour earlier to get answers from Sam. He thought that Elizabeth was unaware of where he was going but she went to visit him earlier and noticed as she exited her apartment that Jason was talking to someone at his door. From their vantage point they couldn't see her. From what she could remember it was his little sister, Emily. Emily was not fond of her and made no bones about telling her. She chose to turn around and allow Jason his privacy. What she wanted to tell Jason could wait, but then she heard Emily urging Jason to go and see Sam, and hear her out. Jason appeared to mull over the suggestion and nod in agreement. Elizabeth went back to her apartment. She decided to let it go. Given what Jason had been through, and all the lies he'd been told she could understand his need for clarity or closure or whatever it was that he was seeking. It appeared that she was not the only glutton for punishment. She knew better than to care. It only helped her decide that she needed to set a different path and in no way rely on Jason, because as the scorned woman in this, a part of her felt the evidence against Sam was rather staggering and spoke volumes. But if he really needed to hear from the woman he loved that lied so convincingly to him for nearly 2 years as she understood it then what could she really do? After Emily left, Jason came over briefly to tell her that he was going out for a bit.

Elizabeth had to laugh at that. It was like they'd gone back three years in time and nothing had changed. Jason was off to tend to one of his women, that wasn't his wife. She had to roll her eyes at that. Since Jason decided to keep the truth about where was going from her, she decided not to mention that Alec was coming over. Not that she was interested in Dr. Winters. He was old enough to be her father, but there was a heartwarming intelligence about the Doctor. If he'd been younger, she would definitely be interested in getting to know him in that regard. Intelligence was sexy, and he was all sorts of intelligent. At the very least, she'd made a good friend in the desperate Doctor.

Alec arrived and dimmed the light for optimal hypnosis. Elizabeth was sitting on the couch. Her knees were tucked up against her chin. He was asking her to describe her cell.

"It's dark and musty," Elizabeth said.

"Are you alone?" Alec asked.

"It's quiet, and the room is blurry. I-I can't tell." Elizabeth said.

"How are you positioned?" Alec asked.

"I'm laying down. There's a chill in the room and a thin blanket covering me. I feel groggy," Elizabeth said as she started to breathe harder.

"Why are you breathing harder," Alec asked.

"I'm not alone," she whispers as if she's still in the cell.

"Who is there with you?" Alec asked.

"A man. He's wearing a mask. He calls himself Prince Charming. He says that I'm there to be loved by him. He's watched me before and wants to be a part of his collection. He walks toward me. He's saying I'm special. He's leaning in and grabs my wrists. I can feel his breath on my face and neck. I can't show him that I despise him. He tells me that I belong to him, and that he loves me. He's going to show me that he loves me, but all in due time, because I'm injured. He says that I have to follow the rules. That I can never call out. That I must obey him in everything. That I have to love him, as he loves me. He kisses my cheek and palms my breasts with his left hand. I'm disgusted and try to turn my face away. He backs away and gives me a shot of something in my arm. The room starts to spin more and he fades away," Elizabeth said as she sat hypnotized.

"What happens when you awake again, Elizabeth."

"I'm alone. I'm groggy and when I sit up, I'm disoriented. My equilibrium is off because of the drugs. I get up and take a look around the room."

"Why?" Alec asked.

"I'm looking for a way to get out, but it's no use. The room has solid brick masonry, and there's no exit but the main door to the room. I decide to sit down for a minute to think, and it comes to me."

"What comes to you, Elizabeth?" Alec asked.

"When he was talking to me he told me to never call out. It's a funny choice of words. If I was alone, what would it matter if I called out? Which means someone might be around to hear me if I did. If I stay quiet, I will never see Cameron again. I have to get to Cameron, so my decision to disobey is made for me. I stand up and walk to the wooden door. There's a small opening about eye level. I pull up the cover and peer out."

"What do you see?" Alec asked.

"It's a long hallway. There's other doors," Elizabeth answered,

"What happens next?" Alec asked.

"I yell out. I say to anyone that's listening that my name is Elizabeth Morgan. I tell them I'm a nurse. I don't know why, it just seems relevant, so that I can be trusted. I ask who's out there?" Elizabeth answered.

"Does anyone answer you?"

"Yes, another woman is telling me to be quiet or they will kill me. I ask who she is. She says she's Mary Jane Capelli. I tell her that it's good to hear her voice. I ask if she's alright, but then Kirsten Mills says that she's there too. Then another woman follows her. Her name is Melissa Stanley, then Rebecca Jones, Rose Waters, and then Laney Winters. Laney says that she thinks she's been there five days. It's disheartening as I wonder how I will get out of here."

"Yes, but you do get out," Alec gently reminded her, "How do you get out?"

"Someone brought food. They had a place to push a tray through. I'm contemplating whether or not I should eat the sandwich. It doesn't look good, but I'm starving. I started to hear two people arguing. One was telling the other that he felt betrayed because he wanted more time with her. The other was saying that she needed to be moved. The guy who calls himself Prince Charming is back at my cell. He's inside. He tells me to give him my arm. I don't want to. I notice he's left the door open, so I decide to play along. I pretend to give him my arm and as he tries to grab it, I knee him twice in the groin, then elbow him, and run for the door. I don't know which way to go, and now he is yelling for me. I'm trying to run fast but my legs are heavy from the drugs. He's still yelling."

"What do you see?" Alec asked.

"A stone tunnel. He's right behind me," Elizabeth voice hitches in terror.

"You get away?" Alec redirected, "How?"

"There's light, and I run to it. Suddenly, I'm outside."

"Do you see a house?" Alec asked.

"No."

"You see a barn?" Alec asked.

"No, there's just light and the Sun, and I'm moving. I'm running down a hill. He's firing a gun and I trip. I get up because he's yelling. I trip again and tumble down the hill. I get up but my ankle is hurt. I dart to my left and come to the edge. There's a waterfall and the drop is quite high. I start to back up, but then I hear it."

"Hear what?" Alec asked.

"I hear the footfalls of someone behind me. I turn around and I see him."

"The man who claims to be Prince Charming?" Alec asked.

"No, his partner in crime. I recognize him, but I don't know where from. He's aiming his gun at me and telling me to walk toward him. I pretend to walk toward him but then I decide to turn and run off the ledge. I wasn't thinking. I left the other women behind. I was scared and I ran, I left those other women behind in their cells," Elizabeth said as she started to break down in tears.

Alec came up to her and whispered words of reassurance that what happened wasn't her fault.

Elsewhere…

He was truly disoriented. He was looking down at his body.

"What's happening?" He questioned.

A sweet voice he was familiar with, but very surprised to hear, answered him, "It would seem as though you've been betrayed by the someone you loved and trusted...yet again."

"Grandmother?" Jason asked.

"Yes, dear." The angelic voice replied.

"You're standing?" Jason asked

"Yes, where we are we don't need a wheelchair."

"Am I dead?" Jason asked.

"You're merely unconscious," Lila replied before continuing. "Angela hit you very hard on the head, or was it Samantha?"

"How am I here? Why are you here?" Jason asked.

"Oh Jason, the man upstairs has allowed me to make this visit to you. While he isn't pleased with your career choice, there is a reason your life is on this particular journey, but the heavenly father is displeased that you're squandering the gifts he's entrusted to your care. He feels that you're headed down a path that will only lead to heartache. Which brings me to my question. Why did you visit Samantha or whatever name she goes by?

"I-I wasn't really planning on it, but I needed to know what was real and what wasn't," Jason answered.

"But dear, you already know that none of it was real. Your relationship with Samangela was purely circumstantial, built on grief over a daughter that you were never really going to raise, if Sonny had his way, should the poor child have lived, that is."

"I love her," Jason said confused.

"Yes, but who is her? Do you even know this person that you love? And she certainly repaid your love by stealing from you, lying to you, framing an innocent woman and trying to kidnap your actual child. Could it be that you were in love with the idea of her, rather than who the woman she actually is?" Lila said.

Jason didn't say anything to Lila.

Lila then went on to say, "I know life has not been particularly kind to you. Since you woke up, as Jason Morgan, you've had both unfair and unrealistic expectations placed on you by your family. You've taken up with the Mob because at the time you desperately needed a place to belong and needed very much to feel competent and have employment. As a result, you've been very successful as a business man and formed unique friendships with the company you now keep. In life, I've never once admonished you for making the choices that you felt you had no choice but to make. However, I would be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to point out to you that you're making a rather large and perhaps irreparable error in judgment by not showing some loyalty to the one person who has been loyal to you despite the neglect and verbal abuse they've endured on your behalf."

"What's this really about? You've never bothered to argue with me before about my life choices," Jason asked, completely perplexed.

"Maybe I should have. Jason, if you continue on this path and maintain the status quo, you're going to lose Elizabeth and possibly even your son."

"Elizabeth? So that's what this is about?"

"Yes." Lila said firmly. "How do you think Elizabeth feels knowing you went to visit Samantha tonight, after everything that that con-woman has done to her?"

Jason ran a hand across his ethereal face, "I didn't tell her where I was going tonight, not that it matters. There is no romantic relationship between Elizabeth and myself. I don't owe her an explanation."

"That's where you're wrong. You've denied Elizabeth a speedy divorce, which is of course the right thing to do since you plan to compensate her. She deserves that compensation, but since she is still your spouse, you should've been honest with her. You're lying by omission. I fear it will cost you greatly," Lila said.

"Elizabeth doesn't know where I am. I needed to speak to Sam. I needed answers," Jason said defending.

"Do you not see that because of your need for answers, Sam got away? She will be gunning for Elizabeth, and make no mistake, your beautiful bride knows exactly where you went tonight. She just had the decency, as usual, not to bring it up."

"I don't deny that Elizabeth has been treated badly, by myself, more than most, but I'm working to rectify it. We do have a child to think about, and I'm not abandoning either one of them."

"Poor Elizabeth, she just wanted you to love her. It's hopeless isn't it?" Lila asked.

"It's not that I feel nothing for her, but it's hard to reverse what I thought I knew. Don't get me wrong. Elizabeth is so…beautiful, and I'm not unaffected by her, but I can't just turn off what I thought I knew. It's not like I wouldn't love it if things were different. She's very fragile. I don't want to mislead her."

"Fragile? Lila asked, shaking her head. "I think you mean gentle and kind, but I would hardly call that girl fragile. She's been through more than anyone I've ever met, and she's remained kind, endearing, and thoughtful in all her actions and she's still fighting. But there's a lot you've missed out on. You look at her and see a victim, and to a certain extent she is, but she's still fighting. You're missing her fearlessness."

A moment later, Cody came through the door and noticed the lamp appeared to be knocked down. As he approached the couch he saw Jason face-down on the carpet and unresponsive and bleeding from a head wound. "Jason…Jason, wake up man." He checked for his pulse. Luckily, there still was one and it was strong, he was just knocked out. Cody pulled out his phone and placed a call to Sonny.

"Well at least now, I'm getting some help," Jason said to Lila.

"It'll be a while before you can leave the land of nod," Lila replied, " Come with me."

As Jason looked around, the room changed, and suddenly they were at a bus stop. Before them Sam appeared. She looked like she was getting out of town. Jason shook his head in disappointment.

"This is the love you've been fighting to hold onto? A woman who claims to love you, but would bash you on the head if you failed to believe her, because she's a lying con-woman who can't be trusted. This is the woman that you're willing to throw your family away over?" Lila asked.

I thought what we had was real." Jason said.

Lila placed her ethereal hand on his shoulder, "With the head injury that you sustained. You've never really been able to empathize with other people. Now, to a certain extent you can see what Elizabeth has been going through. She thought what you two had was real as well. It hurts quite a bit doesn't it? To open yourself up to someone and have it turn out to be a lie."

Jason nodded, "Is that the lesson?

"Goodness no. While I have you, I'm going to make you privy to information you don't already have. Can I ask you, what kind of woman have you been looking for and what did you find in Sam? Be honest because I already know."

"When I first woke up…Well I won't deny, I was a bit of a dog. That's how I got to know Carly. But then Robin came along and I learned more about companionship. That relationship was ruined because she couldn't stand that we hid the truth about Michael's paternity. And for a while, I thought maybe Carly and I might head in that direction, but Sonny moved in on her. He was trying to show me her true colors…ironically he ended up with her. Then there was the colossal mistake that was Courtney. She and I weren't looking for anything other than to have fun. We used to flaunt our relationship in front of Elizabeth. I regret that. After Elizabeth disappeared, Courtney and I broke up not too long after. She wanted it to be more than I did. She tried to change me. When that didn't work she started dating that cop for a while before moving on to Jax, and eventually Cassadine. Sonny and Carly were having a problem in their marriage, and Sonny stepped out on Carly. We know that she was seeing someone on the side too, we just don't know who. Sonny slept with Sam, who was pregnant with either Jax or Sonny's kid. Even though the baby turned out to be Sonny's kid, he decided he wanted to work things out with Carly. So Sam became my problem, and at first that's how I saw her. I didn't treat her that much better than Elizabeth, but over time and many months my affection for her grew. We fell in love and bonded over the death of her daughter, but it turns out it was all a ruse. Ric did a good job by bringing her in."

"Yes, he did. He's a real student of the game," Lila said as the bus pulled up and Sam boarded, not even looking behind her. "You never answered my question. What kind of woman have you been looking for?"

"I don't think I'm looking for anyone anymore. My track record speaks for itself."

Lila only rolled her eyes, "We're running out of time. Elizabeth needs you to come to a decision, although I think after tonight she may move on without you."

"What does that mean? Move on where and with whom?" Jason asked.

Lila laughed before responding, "Not necessarily with anyone. But I have to say that in her case she may feel that it is better to be on her own than to be poorly accompanied. Does that bother you Jason?"

"Why would it bother me?" Jason asked, "We've never been a true couple."

"Then why would you ask where and with whom she was moving on with?" Lila asked.

"We do have a child together. If she were to move on, I would like to know who will be around Cameron," Jason answered.

"So stubborn," Lila said, shaking her head, "You're trying to tell me, with a straight face, that you're not at all curious about that beautiful woman who carried your child."

Jason only blinked in a response.

"Admit it, Jason, since you've learned more about her, you're at least a little curious about her."

Jason slowly nodded, "I don't really know her."

"Have you even tried talking to her about what she's been through these last few years? All the upheaval, and heartache…you haven't tried to address it?" Lila asked.

"Jason, who was facing away from Lila, turned to look at her, as Sam's bus departed, before responding, "I know what she's been through."

"You've talked to her about it then?" Lila asked.

"No, I've heard from others. Francis, Alcazar, Johnny and Justus have all filled me in on what she's endured."

"You mean you've spent the last few days in her presence and you haven't bothered to ask?" Lila admonished.

"I have the facts," Jason said.

"No, you have third party accounts. That's not the same." Lila replied. As she said that the environment changed for Jason and Lila. They were now at The Towers. Inside what was to be Elizabeth's Penthouse. She was pacing around. Obviously lonely, when the phone rang.

Elizabeth picked it up on the third ring, "Hello," she answered. After a moment, a small smile appeared and she responded, "Hi Alec. What's going on?" There was silence as she was taking everything in. She looked down in concentration and then responded. "I don't see how that could hurt. At this point, we might as well try anything to help find your niece and those other poor women." The line was quiet yet again, before she responded, "Yes, I'm sure it'll be fine. I'm going to go next door and let Jason know. I'm in Penthouse 3. See you then!" Elizabeth snapped the phone shut, and stepped outside her door. Lila and Jason's ghostly figures followed her out. Because the hall had a small alcove, you couldn't easily see if someone exited her penthouse. She stopped shy of coming around the corner, because she heard someone talking. Jason was surprised to see Emily and himself in a conversation that he'd had with Emily earlier that day. She was encouraging him to go and talk to Sam to get her side of the story. He heard himself agree with Emily that he should go visit Sam. He looked to the side to see Elizabeth look down sadly. The only way he could describe how she looked was hollow. She quietly turned around and went back into her Penthouse, and sat down. He and Lila followed her. She looked over at the door, when he stopped by to tell her that he had something he had to take care of. She only nodded. When he shut the door tears appeared in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall.

"I tried to tell you that she's aware of where you went."

"She didn't confront me?" Jason said.

"Well considering how you've treated her, I'm sure she felt like you wouldn't have listened to any thoughts she would have on the matter. And you went so far as to lie to her about where you were headed that you wouldn't care anyway."

Lila and Jason were interrupted from their argument by Elizabeth placing a call. "Now who is she calling?" Jason asked.

"Hey, It's me. How's Cam?" Elizabeth said. There was silence for almost a minute before she started talking, "That's good. Can you call your guards and have them gather my belongings that I left at your home?" There was more silence before she continued, "My friend Alec is going to stop by. We're trying to figure out where the missing women are.," There was yet another pause, "Thanks, I'm going to call him and ask him to stop by your place on the way. Give Cameron a hug and a kiss from me. Please tell him that mommy loves him." She hung up.

"I would have gone to get her belongings," Jason said.

"You bumped your head, remember?" Lila asked, which made Jason's celestial jaw tick.

Elizabeth then called Alec back and asked him to stop by her stepfather's house to grab her belongings which he agreed to.

"Are we just going to sit here and watch her?" Jason asked Lila.

"Why do you have somewhere more important to be? Remember, you're unconscious. The rest of you is on the way to General Hospital. Might as well settle in."