What If the Warehouse Explosion: Elizabeth is shot, the choices are different.
Chapter 6
What If the Warehouse Explosion: Elizabeth is shot, the choices are different.
Thank you to Trini12180. Some of the dialogue is pulled from clips, and I put my spin on the story for my wish of how it should have been. What if. Thank you to Notenoughlove, I love your ideas, but this is a small box, what fans called "Jason's Box of Pain," only slightly larger. (With a lock). The other items may be stored elsewhere in the safe house. (That will be TBD). Thank you, Teresa Roundtree, Trini12180, Notenoughlove, and guest reviewers.
Some dialogue is taken from clips from the show, and the story changes based on the "what if" actions were different.
What If 8/2/02
Zander and Elizabeth are talking on the docks when an explosion erupts at the Corothinos/Morgan coffee warehouse. Jason rushes past them toward the blast, and Zander and Elizabeth follow. Roy DiLucca runs inside looking for Felecia Jones but finds Kristina Cassidine inside. Felecia and Alexis Davis appear, and Alexis is hysterical because her sister is trapped under steel I-Beams. After a joint effort with Zander, Roy, and Jason, excavating Kristina and carrying her outside to a waiting ambulance, Jason accuses Roy of setting a bomb at the warehouse. Roy and Zander had been working against Sonny and Jason, and Jason didn't trust them.
Jason says, "Roy, you diffused a bomb once. You would know how to set one." Jason remembers the bomb under Elizabeth's table in her studio on New Year's Eve over two years ago that Roy took out. "You set that bomb, and an innocent woman might die."
Roy retorts, "Like you give a damm about her."
Jason jumps Roy, tackling him. Roy's gun flies out of his shoulder holster, and Zander picks it up. Jason and Roy are throwing punches when Zander aims the gun at Jason. Elizabeth is yelling at Zander to put the gun down. Zander jabs the gun into Jason's back. He says, "It's over. Let go of Roy. Are you going to hurt him like you hurt me?"
Jason backs away. He remembers Zander is not only a hot head but an idiot one at that. Elizabeth worries about Zander's hair trigger. He does not have the level-headedness that Jason has. She says, "Zander, put the gun down. Please put the gun down for me."
Zander's hand is shaking, and he aims the gun, but Jason pushes his arm away as Elizabeth yells, "No!" The gun goes off, and Zander, holding the gun, looks at a stunned Elizabeth. Jason sees the look on her face, and the gun is still in Zander's hand. Jason knows she has been shot.
Elizabeth's hand goes to her shoulder, and she mutters, "I've, I'm…shot." She lunges forward, and Jason catches her before she falls to the ground. He helps her stand up and sits her on a crate. Jason talks calmly to Elizabeth and asks questions to distract her and keep her from going into shock. Zander apologizes, paces, and achieves the complete opposite of Jason; even Roy tells the kid to calm down.
Jason says, "Elizabeth, where are you?"
"Your warehouse."
"Good, now tell me about Italy. What do you want to do when you go there?" He brushes her hair away, strokes her face, and prays for the ambulance the idiot is searching for.
Detective Andy Capelli arrives on the scene with his gun drawn, shouting, "Hands up, everyone." Jason has a shirt against the bullet wound in Elizabeth's shoulder and does not want to let go of her. He thinks, "This moron cop does not care about Elizabeth; he only wants to make a bust. No one is armed."
Andy yells again, and Jason instructs Elizabeth to apply pressure with the shirt, and he stands with his hands interlocked behind his head along with Zander and Roy. Capelli runs to Elizabeth and removes the shirt, yelling for a first aid kit. Elizabeth starts going into shock again without the calming sounds of Jason's voice. She thinks, "Aren't cops supposed to know how to react in situations like this? I want Jason back. This cop does not know what to do. Zander pacing is not helping."
Jason says, "I can stop the bleeding."
Elizabeth adds, "Please let him help. Jason knows what to do."
Jason wraps her shoulder, softly explaining her wound and what he is doing. "It's a flesh wound; you'll be okay. It's going to hurt." His concerned blue eyes bore into her, momentarily distracting her.
"Lucky me, no kidding."
Capelli carries Elizabeth to his car and transports her to GH, meanwhile interrogating her about who shot her. Elizabeth leans her head against the window. "Does this guy not shut up?"
The other cops take the trio to the PCPD and interrogate them. Jason approaches Zander and coldly says, "You are going to pay."
Elizabeth gets checked out at GH by Dr. Tony Jones. Elizabeth asks about Kristina, and all Tony can say is she could use your prayers. Capelli is hovering, and as soon as Dr. Jones leaves, he badgers Elizabeth again. "Who shot you? Give me a name. Was it Smith or Morgan? That Morgan guy is bad news; Zander Smith is a drug dealer; you've been kidnapped. You should stay clear of both of them."
Elizabeth wants to say, "I didn't ask for your opinion. Leave me the fuck alone." Instead, she answers, "No one. It was an accident."
Mac gets the call about Elizabeth's statement the shooting was an accident and that she won't name names. Mac says Jason and Zander are free to go, and Jason rushes out before the cuffs are off Zander. He finds Elizabeth waiting for her discharge papers and wants to know if she is okay.
"I told the police it was an accident. No one meant for this to happen."
"Elizabeth, this has to stop. You keep getting hurt because of Zander and me. It's not safe for you to be in Port Charles."
"What if I don't want to leave? What about you? Put aside the danger. Do you really want me to go away?"
Before Jason can answer, Zander bursts into the exam room. Zander apologizes, and Elizabeth says she is okay.
Jason tries to exit, but Elizabeth stops him and says, "You never answered my question. Zander, I was talking to Jason. I'll see you tomorrow. I appreciate your concern." Zander leaves, kicking himself because, once again, Jason wins.
Jason takes Elizabeth back to the studio, helps her out of her clothes, finds a sleep shirt, and helps her dress. He tucks her into bed and feeds her a round of antibiotics. Elizabeth laughs and says, "The shoe is on the other foot. This time, you are providing me with antibiotics. Before I drift off to sleep, do you really want me to go away?"
Stammering, she says, "No, I don't want you to leave. I want you to stay, but tomorrow, we must discuss security."
Elizabeth murmurs, "Okay." She falls asleep. Jason strokes her face, kisses her forehead, and says, "I love you. I'll make things right for you."
Vista Point Kiss-What if:
The storyline follows the constant argument of Jason pushing her away to keep her safe and Elizabeth being sorry for being with Zander; what if he didn't turn her away this time, and what if she didn't let him?
Since the crypt and sending Jason mixed messages about her feelings, especially when she was with Zander, Elizabeth knows she was wrong. Elizabeth regrets sleeping with Zander and how much she hurt Jason when he saw Zander with her.
Elizabeth thinks, "I seriously need a shrink. Why did I stay so long with Lucky after his emotional abuse of me? Did I need to save him only because I felt I owed him after my rape? Why was I so drawn to Zander? Did I feel like he needed saving due to his poor choices? Did I feel like I owed him for keeping me sane while locked in the crypt? Like Lucky, Zander has to be in charge and doesn't think before he acts. Jason is the one I can feel safe with. I don't have to worry about his agendas. I need to let Jason know how I feel."
Elizabeth lures Jason to Vista Point. Initially, he is not happy with the deceit to get him there. He worries about her safety. He tells her to stay away from him. "I am not taking any more chances with your life. I'm leaving. Don't follow me."
"Jason, you are such a liar. You aren't leaving to protect me; you are doing it to protect yourself."
Jason looks into her eyes, "You are not safe with me."
"Everything is a risk. You care about someone; they care back. They make you believe you have a chance; then they do a 180, close off, show interest in someone else, and make you think what the two of you had wasn't important. But it was. I did it to you when I was with Zander, and I am sorry."
Jason stammers, "I..I..I just want you out of this."
Frustrated, Elizabeth replies, "Don't you get it? It's not okay for you to drop out of my life. I would miss you too much. Everything about you matters. The way you listen and the way you care like no one else does."
Jason holds her face, strokes her hair, and pulls her in for a kiss. She responds. Jason says, "Things will change. I'll arrange for security if you want to try."
Elizabeth kisses him, "I want to try."
9/3/03-The Penthouse. What if decisions were different when Zander and Elizabeth stayed at the Penthouse?
June 2023
She sips and grimaces at the bitterness. She returns to the box and sorts through it.
Elizabeth opens the box and finds several envelopes with names on them. She sets aside the ones not addressed to her. Another envelope contains two copies of registered gun licenses; one is in her name. On the back, written in code, is the combination to a gun safe. She makes a note to look for the safe later.
In another envelope are five photos: (Emily, a young Michael, and Morgan; a faded and worn picture of Elizabeth holding an infant Jake; a photo of Elizabeth, Cam, Jake, and Aiden; one of Elizabeth and Jason; and a Quartermaine family picture from when Lila was still alive.)
The last envelope has Diane Miller's name on it. "CC In the event of my death." Elizabeth taps the envelope against her hand several times, eventually placing it alongside the other envelopes. She takes the envelopes addressed to her and curls up on the couch across from Jason's bed.
A letter is dated 5/20/08. Elizabeth, I arrived home after kissing you goodbye in the rain. I was torn apart after Michael's shooting. I feel how much I love you, but violence is all around me, and I can't protect the ones I love. I remember you telling me that if I wanted to feel responsible for Michael getting shot, even though Carly and Sonny are his parents and are responsible for making choices about his life, you couldn't stop me from beating myself up about that. Then, the next thing you said hit me hard. You said I do not get to blame myself for what happened between us. I weakly said I should have stopped it. You said, "Stopped what? Stopped us from becoming friends, stopped me from falling in love with you? Because if it were that easy, I would have walked away years ago." Our lives converged that day in Jake's and our motorcycle rides. You once said that you think that was when you fell in love with me after I saved you from that thug. But I fell in love after the day you found me in the snow.
I'm writing this with regret, as I used the danger excuse to keep us apart. You said it didn't stop you from imagining ways we could work or wanting what we can't have, and it was killing you because I wasn't going to be included in your life with the boys. You cried, saying, "Don't do this. Don't make me love you anymore when I know we can't be together." I wanted to spend the rest of our lives together, but I didn't see a way it could work. You saved my sanity tonight. We kissed goodbye, and even in the rain, you are so beautiful. I arrived home to my Penthouse and saw Michael's picture on the mantle. I sat down and wrote this letter. Perhaps tomorrow, I'll make better choices. I feel lost without you. I love you so much. –Jason
Elizabeth wipes a tear away and holds off reading more letters he never sent. She returns the items to their container and places the box on the top shelf.
Elizabeth checks Jason's vitals and returns to the couch. She reviews Monica's list, and she drifts off to sleep. Around 5 a.m., her internal clock wakes her. She takes a quick shower. She makes coffee and checks the menu Epiphany and Monica created for Jason. She prepares a light breakfast for two and pours orange juice into a glass.
Elizabeth checks her watch and taps Jason on his shoulder, waking him up. "Jason, I need to go home and check on the boys, but I'll be back in about 2-3 hours if you will be okay while I'm away."
Jason startles and takes a moment to remember Elizabeth spent the night. "Elizabeth, thank you for staying." Elizabeth helps him sit up and hands him a cup of coffee.
Elizabeth hands Jason his cane and walks beside him until he reaches the table. She brings him his meal and says, "Monica said she arranged for me to take some time off, but I must get to the boys and make arrangements with Laura and Bobbie to check in on them. I have a brief stop at GH to review the nurse's schedules, and if you text me a grocery list, I'll try to remove some of your food restrictions when I go shopping."
"I wish I could see the boys, but I'll settle for some recent pictures."
"I can arrange that. Anything else you want that Monica or Epiphany couldn't provide?"
Finishing his last bite, Jason smiles, "I'll text you if I get inspired."
Driving home, Elizabeth exhales. She is still in a state of shock. Jason is alive and staying in their old safe house. He looks good, considering what he went through. Elizabeth pulls into the driveway and braces herself. She can't tell anyone about Jason. She hates keeping this from her sons. Elizabeth packs a few clothing items and her laptop, which has her digital pictures. She searches for her own lockbox, which has personal items from her time with Jason. She places all the things in her trunk. Elizabeth texts Laura and Bobbie and places two grocery orders. As she finishes making breakfast for Jake and Aiden, she calls them to the table. She explains she will be reachable but busy with a private client for a few days. Laura and Bobbie will be available if necessary. "Jake, I trust you to take care of things. I don't want any parties or strangers in the house." Jake had a shift at Kelly's, and Elizabeth dropped Aiden off as a volunteer at Lila's Kids Camp. Her next stop was General Hospital. She checked with Deanna and told her to call with any issues. She posted the nurse's schedules in the staff room and online. Elizabeth drove to Best Buy and picked up several electronics. Before she went to the store to collect her food order, she checked her texts for any special requests from Jason. She dropped off food for Jake and Aiden. She quickly made a few adjustments to the house, and as she exited the driveway, she texted Aiden to get a ride home after camp.
Elizabeth slows the car and takes a long detour; she checks her rearview mirror in case she is being followed. "Paranoid much?" She thinks. She parks and hits the trunk release.
Jason leans against the door jam. He wishes he was stronger so he could help carry items in, but instead, he watches. Elizabeth has six bags of food, a duffel bag, her laptop, and two boxes from Best Buy. Jason unloads the groceries, and Elizabeth takes her duffel to the 2nd bedroom. She enters the kitchen to see Jason making sandwiches.
"Hi!" She smiles. How are you feeling? Are you up for a walk after lunch? The PT notes recommend it, and I don't know if you've been outside recently."
"I would love to go outside. Are you going to tell me what you brought?"
"Soon. I want to hear more about you. We still have a lot to catch up on."
Elizabeth watches as Jason ties his shoes. She has ulterior motives for the walk. She's checking his reflexes and hopes he can soon manage without assistance and return to his life. Until then, she has some surprises for him.
TBC
Guesses on the surprises?