Chapter 3-One Shot #3
Thank you to the guest reviewers, Trini12180 (I think Lucky is beyond Kevin's help), and to Notenoughlove, thank you for your comments on my one-shot.
5/29/02-Jason returns to PC
What If
5/29/02
What if when Elizabeth sees Lucky having sex with her sister Sarah, the choices and actions are different?
A waitress is begging Elizbeth to cover a shift for a sick colleague, but Elizabeth explains she has plans. Elizabeth and Sarah are actually getting along. Sarah compliments her sister. Elizabeth is about to return the compliment, but she stops mid-sentence. Jason Morgan arrives at Kelly's; his eyes bore into Elizabeth. Sarah says, "Lizzie, he's staring at you."
Elizabeth mumbles, "I told you not to call me Lizzie." She walks to Jason, happy to see him after his leaving left a hole in her heart a year ago. She regrets not going with him when he asked her to. "Jason, it's good to see you."
"It's good to see you, too. How are you?"
She shrugs, shakes her head, and replies, "I'm okay," her body language betraying her.
"No, you are not."
Chuckling, Elizabeth says, "I forgot. I don't have to pretend with you. Lucky and I aren't together anymore. It turns out everything you said about him was true. He did all those things you said he did. I wish I believed you. I'm sorry for not trusting my first instinct that you would not lie to me. I dragged us being together longer than I should have. It was more because the Sepncers wanted us together than anything else. I was doing what everyone expected of me."
Jason smiles. He knows she rambles when she's feeling awkward and uncomfortable. He also knows she has to talk it out herself. He waits for her to take a breath.
Jason tells Elizabeth she is better off without Lucky, and Elizabeth tells him he can stop by the studio if he wants. He leaves, ignoring Sarah, discussing working as a doctor at General Hospital. Elizabeth tells Sarah about her relationship with Jason and Lucky, and she only wants to focus on herself. Elizabeth was unaware that Sarah was smirking when she said that while she still loved Lucky, they were better off apart.
Elizabeth is helping Bobbie with a party for Carly, and Sarah switched shifts with another doctor. Even though Elizbeth is not with Lucky and he appears to be concerned about her being alone, Elizabeth drops that Jason is back secretly wanting a rise out of him. The moment she lets that sliver of information escape her lips, she regrets it. "Dang it, Elizabeth," she tells herself, "are you hoping he will be jealous?"
Jason arrives at the request of Carly, and he surprises Elizabeth when he says, "I came because I also wanted to see you." Soon after, Sonny and Carly enter, and Carly runs to Jason, pushing Elizabeth away. Elizabeth shrugs, "Carly is being Carly. Ignore her." She pours herself a cup of punch when Maxie Jones approaches her to secretly inform her that Elizabeth's sister is sleeping with her ex-finance. Agast, Elizabeth doesn't believe her; after all, the 13-year-old has had a crush on Lucky since she was nine. Despite wanting to believe she would not be betrayed that way, Elizabeth walks up the stairs to the rooms above Kelly's to verify for herself. Hearing soft laughter and moans coming from Lucky's room, Elizabeth opens the door to discover the two people in her life who swore they never hook up with each other.
Sarah covers herself with a sheet, trying to hide her smirk. She knew Maxie saw them and also knew of her crush. It was a 50-50 chance she would run to tattle on her and Lucky. Lucky looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Elizabeth scoffs, "Don't even try to explain this. I know I have no right; we aren't seeing each other, but did it have to be my sister and so soon after our aborted wedding?"
Lucky chases after her, attempting a weak excuse about it just happened. Elizabeth doesn't give him a chance to come up with further explanations. She clenches her fist and punches Lucky in the jaw, drawing blood and splitting his lip. "I am tired of being the understanding ex-finance and trusting sister. The two of you deserve each other." Elizabeth storms off. Fuming, she rushes out of Kelly's, almost running into Jason. "Perfect. You are just the person I need. Can you come with me?"
Ranting as Jason follows Elizabeth to her studio, he lets her vent. Elizabeth trashes her studio, and Jason offers up a blank canvas for her to destroy. She tells him about finding her sister and Lucky having sex and says, "I am such an idiot. What is wrong with me?"
Jason hates seeing Elizabeth hurt this way, "You are not an idiot. Please tell me how to make it better for you. What do you want?"
Elizabeth places her hand on Jason's shirt, trembling, "I want you. If you don't feel the same way, say so; otherwise, shut up."
They undress each other, not saying a word. She pushes him to her couch and says, "Jason, I don't know what this should mean. I don't want you to think I only want to be with you because of Lucky and Sarah. Part of me has wanted to find out what it would be like to be with you. Lucky and his idiotic family kept me from going after what I've wanted."
"I don't think that. I've wanted the same thing. I may have said, I didn't think about you not coming with me when I asked, but I would have been lying to myself. I often lay awake at night thinking about what if."
"Jason, sush, let's find out if 'what if' was worth it."
Thirty minutes later, as Elizabeth rests her head on his chest, the door to her studio rattles. She hears her sister as the knocking gets louder. "Lizzie, I mean Elizabeth; it's Sarah. I'm sorry. Lucky and I are both sorry. Please open the door."
Jason sits and pulls on his t-shirt. Elizabeth stops him from continuing. She waits. Sarah continues, "I told Gram about what happened. She told me I should be ashamed. I knew it was wrong, but I wanted to see what was so special about Lucky that you would risk your life for him. I wanted to hurt you before I left town. Aww hell, It's all in this letter."
Elizabeth's eyes widen, and she throws on a robe. "Sarah, what the hell are you talking about? Did you say you are leaving Port Charles?"
Sarah apologizes again. "I wanted….wait, are you screwing Jason Morgan? Jason, you realize that Lizzie is only fucking you to get back at Lucky. Lucky doesn't deserve what you are doing to him!"
Elizabeth laughs, "That is rich, Sarah. Pot...Kettle…Black. Jason knows everything. My choices and my life does not revolve around you and Lucky. What you and Lucky did hurt me. It was less about Lucky and more about my sister doing it to hurt me. But if you are leaving, don't let the door hit you on your way out."
Sarah leaves, and Jason pulls Elizabeth close. "All these years, I've listened to you describe your sister; she seems as awful as AJ. Are you okay?"
"I'm better now. Sarah's wrong, you know. What happened with us was not to get back at Lucky."
Jason kisses her, "I know." Teasing, he says, "But I wouldn't put it past you to garner favors for more bike rides."
She nibbles his lower lip and replies, "Busted. You figured me out."
"Okay."
"Okay, what?"
"Okay, we can go riding."
Elizabeth giggles, "Yes! But I wasn't…."
Jason kisses her and says, "All you have to do is ask. Do you still have the painting of The Wind?"
"Yes, but it's not right."
He leans closer and whispers, "But it's mine."
Elizabeth pulls his face to her and kisses him. "Riding first, and then I will show you the Wind when we return. Since you can't bring it on your bike, it will be here anytime you want to see it."
They return from their ride, and Elizabeth shows Jason the special hiding place for the unique painting. "I look forward to the next time we ride. I'm moving back into the Penthouse. You know where to find me." He kisses Elizabeth. "You matter to me."
"That much is clear."
Next up—
Zander and Liason: What If: 2002
Part 1: 6/24/02-The Crypt.
2023 What If Teaser: (At the end of each "What if" chapter, I will write a continuation of What if Jason is Alive story. It will continue as each chapter, separate from the one-shots.
June 2023:
Elizabeth is at the Hub receiving the news from Terry and Finn that the board voted unanimously to offer her the Head Nurse position. Terry says, "Monica is out of the country and wanted to tell you herself, but you are the new Head Nurse at General Hospital." Elizabeth receives hugs from Terry, Finn, and Portia.
Elizabeth passes by her Gram's picture and says, "Gram, I got the job. I'm the new Head Nurse." Her phone rings, "Elizabeth Baldwin. Oh, hi Monica. Yes, Terry just told me. Thank you. It means a lot you endorsed me. Terry told me about the letters Epiphany wrote for me last year."
Monica says, "Elizabeth, it's terrific you are succeeding your mentor and following in your grandmother's footsteps, but that's not the purpose of my call. I need a long over-due favor."
"Of course. What do you need?"
Monica says, "I have a long-term private patient that needs your expertise. No one can know I am treating him. He's staying at a private facility, and all the necessary supplies are on-site. I've arranged for you to take a few days off to get situated. I need you to take over his care. There is no one else I trust."
"Okay. If you text me the address, I'll leave in about an hour."
"Elizabeth, tell no one. Not Audrey, your kids, no one. I'll wait for your arrival to take over."
Elizabeth thinks, "Whoa, this is serious."
"Thanks, Monica." Elizabeth changes out of her scrubs and collects her belongings. The text arrives, and Elizabeth's eyes widen at the address. She quickly heads out, but Finn and Terry try to stop her.
Terry says, "I thought we would join Portia for drinks to celebrate. Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"Uh, I forgot I made other plans. Rain check?" Before anyone can press her further, Elizabeth rushes out and drives to an address she has not been to in over 15 years. She thinks, "Only three people, including her, knew that place existed. One is supposed to be dead, but Monica knows the location, and Max left town over five years ago. Oh God, does this mean Jason is alive? It's been 19 months." It takes sheer willpower not to speed. The last thing she needs is a ticket or to tip off the location. Her stomach is in knots. Could Jason be alive again? It's not the first time people thought he was dead.
Elizabeth pulls into the driveway, jumps out of the car, and rushes to the door. Monica opens the door and says, "He's been asking for you."
TBC