A/N – Thanks for the comments. This fic wasn't supposed to be very long. It will probably just be a few more chapters. Had my 26th wedding anniversary. Hubby is out of town, so he'll have to make it up to me lol. He pulled a Jason I need to leave town for work card on me.

Chapter 18

Elizabeth feels like she's treading through mud, at this point. Every day seemed like they blended, and the outcome was always the same. After three weeks of barely sleeping and eating, she is exhausted. The last picture made her sick. She can't imagine how scared they must be. Their closeness is unsettling, but she refuses to allow Ric to make her doubt Jason's love for her. Hopefully, the guys will be able to bring him home soon.

Emily made a motion with her head for her mother to follow her.

Once they reached the gardens at the back of the mansion, she stopped.

"She can't go on like this, mom. We may have to admit her."

Monica sighed. "I know. I at least want to get some saline into her. I don't know what to do. We are all worried sick."

Emily wiped a tear away. "It's like they die a little each day."

"I'm going to talk to her."

"She won't take it well."

"I don't care. If it gets her to yell and scream instead of retreating into herself, I'll take one for the team."

Emily hugged her mom. "I love them all so much."

"Me too." Liz is family, and she will fight for her just like she would for anyone else in their fold.

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Amelia propped her head on her hand as the music played. The way she is turned, she doesn't think that Ric could see her mouth moving.

"You can't answer back. Just stare at me."

His gaze settled on her. She looks tired and stressed.

"I don't know what to do. It seems so hopeless." She ran her other hand through his hair. "He called earlier. He's buying our act. He hasn't asked me to sleep with you, just get you to fall in love with me."

His eyes convey alarm.

"If he does, I'll think of something. One of us might need to pretend to be sick. He already thinks you're sicker than you are, but Jason, something is seriously wrong because you are having headaches still." She paused and then kissed him on the forehead before pressing her cheek against his which would allow him to talk.

"Once he goes, maybe we can mess with the vent pipe. There are no other tools in here."

"I'm scared that he'll gas us, but we need the vent to breathe," she whispered in his ear.

He put his arms around her. "All right, then we figure out if there is something we can use to make a mask to protect ourselves."

She pulled back. "Are you dizzy?" she asked loudly.

"A little bit."

She got up and then wet a washcloth and put it on his forehead. "Rest, okay?"

"Okay." They need to play their part, so Ric won't be on to them.

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Francis met with Stan and Spinelli.

"I think I got a lead on that email. It pinged the tower the next town over and seems to originate from there."

"Any geeks you know in that area?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." Stan scribbled down an address. "He's a little weird, but he is a genius. His name is Nick."

Francis nodded as he read the address. "I'm on it." Luckily, they had installed some top-notch technology that helped them make the trace. Now, they need to pull in the kid and see what information they can find.

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The next day, they hid until Nick parked the car and entered his house.

When he strolled into the living room, he was stunned to see Francis and Johnny sitting on his couch.

"What the fuck?"

"Have a seat."

He turned to run but Sonny stepped into the doorway. "Sit!"

Realizing he's screwed, he plopped onto a chair. "How did you find me?" He knows who they are from the newspaper.

"We have our ways. Are you freelance?" Johnny asked. He has Stan on speaker.

"Yes."

"Someone hired you to send some pictures to us. We need information," Francis said.

"And what if I refuse?"

"You die," Sonny said.

Nick swallowed hard. He has been doing this for a long time and is shocked that someone found him out.

"You got sloppy," Francis said.

"Or I'm just that good," Stan said.

Nick ignored the comment. "I usually sent things anonymously."

"You have to have some trail to cover your ass," Stan said.

Nick grinned. "Well, to an extent."

"What do you have?"

"Right now, nothing, but if you give me a day, I think I could narrow it to a neighborhood."

The men eyed each other.

"Get your computer. You're coming with us," Francis said.

"And if you do anything to help the person who sent the pictures to you, you're a dead man," Sonny said.

"I got it. I'm not trying to die."

"For your sake, I hope you're not lying. You have twenty-four hours. Use the time wisely," Johnny said.

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Liz is stunned that they got a lead, but so happy.

Monica hugged her. "Can we talk?"

"Um, okay."

"Elizabeth, you are not healthy right now. Jason may need you once he's found. You either start eating and drinking, or I will admit you to the hospital and do it for you."

Liz is stunned.

"I'm dead serious. Those boys need you. Cam sees that you are beyond stressed and that isn't good either. So, what's it going to be?"

"I'll do better."

Monica stood. "Follow me."

"Where are we going?"

Monica takes her upstairs to her room. "Lay on the bed."

Liz eyed the bag of saline hanging from a stand.

"You need it," Monica said before putting in the I.V.

"Okay." She's not going to fight it because she has no strength to do so.

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Time is ticking fast. Ric packed up some bags and prepared to leave in a few days. His transfers must be on point, and he had to move up his deadline.

He eyed the screen and watched Jason and Amelia interact. He had thought about gassing them but is considering letting them rot in there instead. Never in a million years did he think he'd finally get one over on his brother and Jason. Too bad Elizabeth decided to sleep with that brain-damaged thug, or he would have taken her and the kids with him. Now, she can live knowing it's her fault that Jason is dead.

He started to get up, but then Jason began to shake, so he listened as Amelia yelled.

She slightly turned. "He's having a seizure."

"Deal with it."

"What do I do?"

"There is nothing you can do."

She held his head until he stilled again and softly spoke to him. "I'm so sorry. You're going to be okay. Don't leave me. I can't be here alone. Please, Jason." She hadn't felt close to someone like this in a long time. While it wasn't romantic, she realized just how lonely she had been.

When she grabbed his hand, he weakly squeezed hers.

"Rest, okay? I won't leave you."

Ric shook his head. Maybe Jason will just die on his own. He could care less as long as he's gone.

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Nick worked all night to try and narrow things down. It's a tricky task, but he's confident he'll find the location.

Johnny drank some coffee. He had refused to leave and just napped in the corner while someone else watched the geek.

Spinelli and Stan were observing closely too.

Finally, with an hour left, he grinned. "Got him."

The room came alive as everyone gathered around him.

He pointed to the map. "This is as close as I can get. He's in this area."

"There's a whole subdivision there," Francis said.

"Sorry. There are some houses on the outskirts as well," Johnny said. "Now, we need to find out which are rentals."

"I'm on it," Stan said.

Nick eyed Francis while Johnny called Sonny. "Now what?"

"Sit tight. You can go lie down on the cot. We haven't decided what to do with you yet."

"I'll do whatever, even offer my services. I'm not ready to die."

Stan eyed him. While he's very good, he's also used to going solo and he's not sure he's trustworthy.

As long as he gets paid well, Nick doesn't care. He just wants an early retirement.

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Obliviously, Ric continued to pack. He made sure to only take exactly what he needed. After he was done, he wrote a note to Sonny.

"Well, brother, I finally got my revenge. You chose a brain-damaged thug over your flesh and blood. Knowing Jason doesn't have a long time to live is so pleasing. Give Elizabeth my regards. She now must live with the fact that it's her fault her thug has to die. Amelia is all alone in the world, so no one will miss her. I hope you lose everything. You deserve the hell that is coming to you. Ric."

Satisfied, he scrawled Sonny's number on it and left it on the kitchen counter for the owner to find.

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The next day, they spent hours searching most of the rentals and there was no sign of Ric, so they had everyone looking.

Amelia nervously paced. Jason had been in and out of consciousness after having another seizure. Something is wrong and things are even more bleak.

"I leave in the morning."

She whipped around. "Are you killing us first?"

"No. Whenever the food and water run out, you'll die shortly after."

"You're a monster."

"You of all people should understand revenge."

"I do. It didn't help. What I lost was still gone."

"How sad for you. Goodbye, Amelia."

She turned around so he wouldn't see her cry. She doesn't want to die. This situation has helped her realize that she wasted so much time avenging her father's death, and not enough time living. If she gets out of this, there are going to be a lot of changes in her life.

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Francis is beyond frustrated. They have five houses to go, and he's scared that Ric slipped between their fingers.

It was 7 a.m. when they reached the next to the last house.

They surround it and then are shocked when the back door opens and Ric appears with a smile on his face.

Johnny raised his gun. "Don't move."

Ric's stomach drops as several men rush toward him and grab him. They throw him to the ground and then tie him up before dragging him to a car and shoving him inside.

Johnny slips next to him. "Were you going somewhere?" The other men are scouring the house to see if there is any sign of Jason or Amelia.

Ric didn't answer.

"Where are they?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" He had smashed the remote, so there was no way to get in there.

"We can do it the hard way or the easy way."

"I'm going to die regardless. I'll never tell."

Johnny wants to strangle him. "I'll make your death as painful as possible then."

Ric doesn't care. There is no way he'll die, and Jason gets to live.

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Elizabeth can't believe they found Ric, but there is still no sign of Jason or Amelia.

"I want to see him."

"Elizabeth…" Francis said. Her defiant stare almost made him gulp.

"I will make your life a living hell if you don't take me. I mean it, Francis. I have to do this."

"You know he will just upset you."

"It's my closure. I know he must die, but he can't until he hears what I have to say."

He pulled out his phone and had a lively conversation with Sonny and Johnny before he finally eyed her. "Let's go."

Emily isn't sure what to think. "Take care of her."

"I will."

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Amelia is scared. Jason hasn't regained consciousness. That is not a good sign. She wiped his brow and then said a prayer. Hopefully, Sonny is doing all he can to find them, she just hopes that it won't be too late.

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Elizabeth entered the basement where Ric was being kept. He's in the center of the room and other than a few bruises on his face, looks fine. She guesses that he mouthed off and either Sonny or Johnny shut him up.

When his eyes landed on her, he was shocked that she would be a part of this.

His eyes tracked her until she stopped just in front of him, and then he smiled.

"Elizabeth. You look a little worse for wear. Are you here to do the honors since your thug boyfriend is not around?"

Her hand lashed out and she backhanded him hard, making his head snap back.

Sonny's brow rose.

"Shut up, you asshole. You think you've won, don't you?"

He moved his mouth around a few times trying to lessen the sting. "I know I have. You might have gotten lucky last time, but it won't happen again."

"While you're rotting in a grave, Jason and I will be happy together and dancing on it."

Ric chuckled. "You'll never find him in time."

"I think you're wrong."

"Oh Elizabeth, you never realize when you're in over your head."

"Pot meet kettle."

"He's not good enough for you."

"And you are?" She laughed when she nodded. "I lost a baby because of you. You almost killed me, yet you sit there like your shit doesn't stink. I'm so sick of your face. No one will miss you. You can't destroy me, Ric, no matter how hard you try. I will survive because that is what I always do. Just a small amount of time with Jason is better than none at all. He is such a better man than you."

He scoffed. "He doesn't want you, Elizabeth. He's quite happy with Amelia. You were so easily replaced, just like when he chose Courtney."

"Shut it! He would never do to me what you did. You are just a piece of shit, and I couldn't hate you more if I tried. Tell me where the hell they are, now!"

"Never. Jason is going to die because of you and there is nothing you can do to save him."

"I hope you die slowly and painfully."

When he smirked, she grabbed a bat off the table and swung it, striking his knee.

A howl left his lips, as he cried out in pain.

As Elizabeth swung again, Johnny ran forward but didn't make it before she struck his other knee. Johnny gave her a bear hug to stop her as she struggled against him.

"Let me go. I missed his crotch."

Johnny grinned. "I don't want you to pull anything."

"Johnny!"

"Elizabeth, let us handle it. Do you trust me?"

"Yes." She dropped the bat, so he let her go.

Slowly, she turned around with tears glistening in her eyes. "Make him hurt."

"I will."

Sonny walked over to her and hugged her. "You did good."

She gripped the back of his jacket. "I hate him so much."

"I owe you an apology."

She retreated. "Why?"

"I should have gotten rid of him a long time ago."

Liz squeezed his hand. "He's your brother. My family sucks, but it would be hard to make that decision. I get it."

Sonny sighed. "I won't make that mistake again. Let's get you home."

"Follow me."

Ric has tears running down his face. "Elizabeth! How could you let them kill me? I'm your only chance of saving him!" When the door opened and she walked through it, he screamed her name one last time.