Chapter 19
Refresher: Each "What If" Scenarios are stand-alone, and the story starts from the OG story. Alan is still dead, and Jerry Jacks is alive. Some of the scenarios are brief and establish what my idea that if they had made different choices or revealed paternity sooner, things would have been something else. Once the reveal is made, it is assumed things changed for the better, or at least in the right direction. Thank you again for your reviews.
More What If Scenario 7 to Jason's Trial.
June 2007
Scenario 7
The PCPD got word that a baby of Jake's age and size was left at a daycare, and they are bringing him to the station. Jason watches from the interrogation room, and Lucky and Elizabeth wait for the social worker to bring the baby in. One look at the child and the despair shown on Elizabeth's face makes it apparent that the baby is not Jake.
Lucky and Elizabeth return home distraught. Lucky says, "Sorry to get your hopes up."
"It wasn't your fault. You are doing everything you can. We have to keep hoping and praying."
"That's why you keep running to Jasson. You think he can find Jake. You don't have faith in me, and if he weren't locked up, he'd be out searching for our son."
"Lucky!"
"You think he'd be able to find Jake when I can't?"
"How dare you!"
"You might as well admit it. I can see it on your face. You don't think I can rescue our son from a kidnapper, but Jason can?"
I don't give a damm who brings Jake back. I would love for Jason to be in the search party. If Manny Ruiz rose from the dead and brought Jake back, I'd be grateful. Stop feeling that if you are the one who finds Jake, it will make up for how you've treated me as a suspect."
"I resent that!"
"No! You resent Jason, your dad, and any other man who comes through your life and makes you feel not good enough. Whenever that happens, you expect your good little partner to drop whatever she is doing and pick up and fix your broken, fragile ego. This argument is pointless because my son is out there alone. I don't know where he is or who has him. Could Jason find him? Maybe. Because Jason would only be concerned with finding Jake. He would not be wasting time blaming me for turning my back for five seconds, and he would not use this as an opportunity to get into a pissing contest to prove to himself and the world that he's man enough for the job."
"I love my son; every move I've made since yesterday has been to find Jake."
"Then do it! Quit wasting time questioning my loyalty or sulking because I dared to see Jason."
"That's what I don't understand. You find it easier to talk to a man who is behind bars than your own husband."
"You wanna know why? Do you really want to know why? Because Jason gives me hope. He believes in me. He doesn't attack me or suspect me or make me feel like I did something wrong for tying my other little boy's shoe."
"Jason didn't lose his son!"
"Goddammit, Lucky, he did! Jason is Jake's father! Jason has shown me more empathy than you. Why does he listen to me when you won't? And Jason can't possibly understand how terrified I feel? Then why is it that Jason is the one who makes me believe that Jake is still alive? He is Jake's father."
Scenario 8
Jason is released from jail, crosses state lines, and rescues Jake. He brings Jake back to Lucky and Elizabeth. He carries Jake to the door, kisses his head, and says, "You are home, son." He opens the door where Elizabeth is reading to Cam. He hands Jake to Elizabeth.
She says, "I knew you'd find him."
Lucky arrests Jason and has him taken to the PCPD for crossing state lines. Elizabeth says, "I can't believe you had the man who saved Jake arrested out of spite."
"Jason refused to give up the name of the woman who took Jake."
"The woman was disturbed. Jason thinks she needs help, not jail. Yet, Jason is not being arrested for not giving up the woman's name. You had him arrested for bringing Jake back. Jason could have skipped town and never returned. He came back!"
"For all I know, Jason was behind the whole thing. It was another opportunity to look like a hero."
"Are you insane? He rescued his own son! You are pissed because he made you look bad! You can't stand it when someone other than you gets credit for something."
"Did you say Jason's son?"
"Yes, genius! Jason is Jake's father. You are petty and vindictive. I'll let everyone know why you did this."
Scenario 9
July
Restrictions have been lifted for Jason to receive visitors. Jason and Sam break up, and she confesses to watching Maureen take Jake. She plans on telling Lucky everything. Jason threatens her with accessory to kidnapping.
Elizabeth visits, telling him, "Ric handed me a subpoena to testify against you. What if he asks about Jake? He knows we slept together; he can do the math."
"Spinelli scrubbed the GH mainframe of that paternity test."
"Will my telling the truth hurt you or help your case? I know it will destroy Lucky, but I'll do anything to get you acquitted."
"I'll ask Diane. I don't want you to get charged with perjury, but the truth could hurt several people, especially our son. I trust you to make the best decision possible."
Jason tells Diane that he is Jake Spencer's father. "Elizabeth is worried Ric will ask about Jake. He knows that I slept with Elizabeth. Elizabeth is worried if she tells the truth, it will look like she would do anything for me. She is worried about hurting Lucky and the danger to Jake. But if she lies, there's a perjury charge. Which answer saves Elizabeth the least amount of pain.?"
"Jason, I know there's something more than you being a father to Elizabeth's son. If it's love or something else, I don't care. I do care about getting you acquitted. You need to think about yourself right now."
"No! Jake and Elizabeth are my priorities. What should she do?"
"Honestly, I don't know which response would help or hurt you."
Ric calls Elizabeth to testify. He asks about the phone call Jason received on the day of Lorenzo Alcazar's disappearance. She recently had a baby, and he visited her. Elizabeth acknowledges the call, and Ric asks, "What was the call about?"
"I don't know?"
"Did you hear any part of the conversation?"
"Yes, Jason said he was on his way."
"Do you know who the phone call was from?"
"No."
"What do you think the call was about?"
"I don't know."
Diane says, "Objection. Calls for speculation." The judge overrules and allows the question.
Elizabeth evenly replies, "I don't know. He could have said he was on his way to pick up his dry cleaning, he's particular about his leather jackets, or his to-go order from Kelly's was ready. He likes their soup."
That brings a chuckle from the jury box. Ric sneers. He wants to treat Elizabeth as a hostile witness, too. This is not how he expected the questioning to go. Ric continues. He gets to the one question Elizabeth can't lie about. Lucky is sitting there watching her. Ric asks, "In all the meaningful years of friendship with the defendant, have you and Jason Morgan ever had sex?"
Jason loses it and shouts, "Leave her alone, Ric!", which the outburst surprises Lucky.
Ric asks the question again.
Elizabeth looks at her lap, raises her head, and looks directly at Ric. "Yes." She can't look at Lucky. She knows her response is destroying him.
"When was this?"
"Last August. Right after you had sex with your stepdaughter."
"You recently had a baby?
"Yes, he was born in May."
"His name is Jacob Martin Spencer?" Ric pauses on each name, emphasizing the J and the M.
"We call him Jake."
"He was a full-term baby?"
"Yes, he was."
"That means he would have been conceived around the middle of August of 2006? Nine months after that one fateful night with Jason Morgan."
Diane objects, "Revelance, your honor."
"Overruled. Answer the question."
"I'll ask the question again. Is Jason Morgan, the defendant, the father of Jacob Martin?
Elizabeth looks steely at Ric and says, "Yes. Jason Morgan is my baby's father."
The courtroom erupts, and the judge calls "Order." Eventually, the room quiets.
Ric has not fully twisted the knife into Elizabeth's pain. He asks, "Did you take a paternity test?"
"Yes."
Lucky is furious, and he storms out of the courtroom.
"Are you lying now to gain sympathy for the defendant?"
"No. You've humiliated me, degraded me, and twisted everything I've said to excuse your obsessive, twisted need for control. You did it when we were married. You are doing it to me now. Your…"
Ric yells, "Objection!"
The judge says, "You opened the door, Mr. Lansing. Continue, Mrs. Spencer."
"Thank you, Your Honor. The way Mr. Lansing is treating me today compares to our marriage. His need to win and his obsession with ruining Mr. Corothinos and Mr. Morgan is what ended our marriage. He doesn't care what he's done to my life."
Rattled, Ric asks again about the day in question when Elizabeth was present for a call that Jason received on May 23, 2007.
Elizabeth replies, "Here is the truth once again, Mr. Lansing. Yes, Jason came to visit me in the hospital because he is my friend. During that visit, he received a call. He said he would take care of it and left, end of story. That is what this trial is supposed to be about, and no amount of how much pain you cause or how many people you deliberately hurt will change my testimony."
Diane follows up with a few questions. "Mrs. Spencer, has Mr. Morgan received calls in your presence before?"
"Yes."
"And has he ever explained the nature of those calls?"
"No."
"So other than the day at the hospital, has Jason Morgan ever received a phone call and then left?"
"Yes."
"It didn't seem unusual?"
"No."
"At any point, before, during, or after the phone call, did Jason Morgan say the name Lorenzo Alcazar?"
"No."
The judge dismisses the trial for the day.
As Elizabeth leaves, Ric stops her. He says, "I know I hurt you today. I'm sorry."
"No, you're not. You're thrilled you made Jason look bad. You don't care about my privacy or Lucky's pain because that's the type of person you are: cruel, self-righteous, self-centered, and envious of your older brother."
"This has nothing to do with Sonny."
"Oh, Please. Where would you be without Sonny? Not in Port Charles or this courtroom, and you certainly wouldn't be DA."
"Don't blame me, Elizabeth. Blame yourself."
"You know, losing a child is sad, but had our child lived, who knows what kind of poison you would be teaching it about Jason or Sonny? I worry about what you will say to Molly or Kristina one day."
Elizabeth visits Jason at the PCPD. Jason says, "I'm sorry for what happened to you today."
"Why are you sorry? You are the one who wanted the truth out from the start. I'm the one who refused. I told the truth today, and I have to own that. You were right."
"I don't like seeing you in this much pain."
"I don't know what I'll be facing when I get home. I should have told Lucky the truth."
"He knows now. If you need anything, call Sonny. He will look out for you."
Jason holds her.
Elizabeth arrives home, and Lucky is waiting for her. He's holding a bottle of scotch in his hand. He takes a swig. "You are a slut. No wonder you were begging me not to arrest Jason. How long have the two of you been fucking behind my back? You humiliated me in front of my boss today."
"Lucky, you are drunk. I told you I would not tolerate your behavior like this. I'm taking the boys and staying at Grams."
"Not until you tell me everything!"
"Lucky, your behavior is scaring me. I found you in bed with Maxie twice. You get addicted to pain pills. Jason has been a friend to me for years. He was there for me when everyone thought you were dead. I don't need to explain myself to you. Let me go upstairs."
Lucky grabs her arm and slaps her across the face."
Elizabeth gasps and knees Lucky, sending him to the floor. She runs upstairs and slams the door. "Lucky if you don't leave, I will call the cops on you, and with your drug history, who do you think they will believe? Let me leave." She calls Emily. "Em, it's Elizabeth. Can you come and get Lucky out of the house? He's drunk, and he slapped me."
Lucky storms out, and Emily shows up to help her pack.
She calls Sonny and says, "Jason said I should call you if I need anything. I need help leaving."
August 2007. The trial continues, and Jason is acquitted. All of PC sees Elizabeth embrace Jason. Further tension occurs between Lucky and Elizabeth.
Sam moves out and suggests sleeping with Lucky to get back at Elizabeth.
Reset to OG Storyline
What If's
August 2007-
October 2023
Jason says, "Since I've moved in, it seems we've had less time together than when I was recovering at the safe house."
"I know. I'm sorry. I've stayed away from my new position longer than I wanted to. I will spend more time at the hospital for a while, but maybe after Thanksgiving, we'll have more time as a family. Cam will be home for the holidays by then. How was Carly?"
"She made a piss-poor attempt at an apology. I think Drew pushed her to do it."
"You didn't believe her?"
"I think she needs to know that just because I'm back doesn't mean I'm her lap dog again. She needs to make amends for what she did to Aiden. Spinelli is going to help him expand his website."
"That's great! What about Sonny?"
I'm going to try to broker something in the next few days. He has new guards and lieutenants, and I think Brick is his Enforcer. He's been managing fine since I've been gone. He doesn't need me for that stuff. The coffee started as a front, but it brought in money. Sonny liked having me there because I was good with the books and kept immaculate records for the other businesses. I don't know if that is one of the things he misses, but it was as if Sonny and Carly couldn't survive without me as their tether."
"Have you considered what you want to do now that you are back besides work as an Estate Designer? Do you want to partner with Sonny again?"
"No. I think he misses the friendship, and I do, too, but as I said, he doesn't need me for the organization anymore. He will be easier to set boundaries with than Carly will be."
You followed the stuff Sonny recently went through with the Feds, right? It didn't seem real. Either Sonny was losing it because he didn't have someone like you to watch his back, or it seemed too…."
"Too easy? Too pat? Yes, that's what I thought when I read about it. Brick is too sharp to let Sonny mess something like that up. And then the charges are magically dismissed? Yeah, something is up, but I'm glad that's no longer one of my worries."
I told you about this kid who works for Sonny. He's dating Josslyn. He's a little older than you were when you started working for Sonny. There is something off about him. He's too obvious in his duties. I was biased toward him because Joss broke up with Cam to be with Dex, but Cam is happy now."
"Are you saying you don't trust him? Do you care?"
"Sonny and I have had our moments. In the early days, he was kind to me. When he needed my nursing expertise, I was happy to help, but he was cold towards me with his support of you and Sam. I care enough not to want to see him rot in prison, so I guess I care if this Dex character uses him. I'm sorry, it sounds like I'm telling you to look after Sonny, which I am not. I see the shades of grey in his line of work. I know trust is essential. From an outsider's perspective, I don't trust Dex, but I have no proof of anything."
"Well, thank you for your observations. I don't want to get too involved or roped in, but I'll watch my back. To your question of what's next for me? I don't know. I have enough money to last for several years. I don't think construction is where I want to land, but having input in our new home is nice."
"Jason, I read some of your letters while we tried to be together. I'm sorry. I wish I was stronger in my resolve. I was too focused on saving Lucky and feeling guilty about trying to save him and failing."
Jason laughs, "And then there was our tired and lame excuse of the danger my life posed to you."
"Yes, it took me a long time to get over the fact that you could let Carly, Sam, and even Courtney in your life, but you rejected me using the 'D' word."
"Elizabeth, you were the one good thing in my life that I didn't want to ruin, and by the time Jake came along, and I could admit my feelings, I was in too deep. I was stupid. I didn't know anything else."
"Yet, you went back to Sam after the things she did, and you allowed danger in her life."
"I told you I was stupid. Stupid and foolish."
"More than 20 years later, we are finally smarter."
Jason pulls her into a kiss. "Better late than never."
Elizabeth straddles Jason and removes her red lingerie. She unbuttons his shirt and says, "I believe we have some catch-up to take advantage of."
Jason kisses her neck and shoulders. "I love you and regret all the years we missed being together."
The following morning, Jason rises early and makes omelets for everyone. Elizabeth checks with the boys, and Jake offers to drive Aiden to school and give his parents some extra time together before Elizabeth gets to GH. Jack accompanies them.
Jason says, "I want you to read the rest of the letters. I've been reading your journals, which gives me more insight into what you endured in your early days in Port Charles. I watched you, but reading your words makes me wish I could have made things easier for you."
"Remember what I said about no regrets? That's not necessarily true, but much of it wouldn't have gotten us to where we are now. I guess we must take the good with the bad and be grateful we found each other again."
"Tonight, I want to finish sharing the remaining contents of the lockboxes and destroy what is no longer needed in our lives."
"I agree. I am nervous about broaching this subject, but I have the contents of Franco's box. Some of it pertains to you. I don't want any secrets, and we can destroy anything you want once we've looked through it."
"Okay. I've been settling into our home, and I can't find your painting of 'The Wind.' Where is it?"
Elizabeth wipes away a tear and replies, "After the thing with the Russians and we got Jake back from another kidnapping, I was hurt and angry. I went to my studio and trashed most of my paintings. I slashed The Wind. It's gone. I'm sorry. It was too painful to hold onto."
"Oh, honey, I am so sorry you had to go through that. I have regrets about that time. I should never ended things with you and cut off contact with Jake."
Elizabeth picks up the dishes to carry to the kitchen. She kisses him and says, "Another to let go of the bad and move on."
She texts Francis that she will be outside in 15 minutes, and he drives her to GH.
Jason loads the dishwasher and checks in with Mario. He says things have been quiet with Carly, and Sonny has been planning his wedding to Nina. Jason says he's going to the site and will let Johnny know he's on his way.
More reveals
Letters
Journals
Sonny
The Q's
Other