Chapter 24

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May 2001

5/1-5/2001

Jason and Elizabeth arrive late in Amsterdam, and Jason splurges on a nice hotel room. Elizabeth exits the shower.

Jason says, "I'm sorry for needing to finish business, but before we go to Italy, I thought you might want to see Amsterdam. I bought a travel book and read it has great art galleries and museums. I like the way you explain and describe things to me in a way I can understand."

Towel drying her hair, she laughs, "How many travel books do you own, and how many did you bring on this trip?"

"I have a box of books I left at Sonny's, but I brought two for the trip. I looked through the Amsterdam one while you were sleeping on the plane. I wanted to wait on the Italy book for us to look through together. We can pick up more if we decide to move on."

Elizabeth changes into a nightshirt and applies lotion to her arms and legs. Jason sits behind her and pulls her back toward him. "I love the way you smell," he says.

Elizabeth smiles, bites her lower lip, and asks, "Jason, am I enough for you?"

"Why would you ask that?"

She stammers, "I don't have any experience. I mean, I've never, umm, not before you."

"Are you saying you and Lucky never…?"

"No, never. When he first came back, he was pushing me toward Nikolas. Then Zander and Emily happened, and we discovered that Helena had messed with his head. When everyone thought he was better, neither of us was ready, and we decided to wait. Then he became possessive and controlling; you see how he's been since the warehouse fire."

Jason kisses her, "Elizabeth, you are more than enough. Since my accident, I've only been with Carly and Robin before you." He kisses her again, and they make love.

Over the next several days, they toured The Rijksmuseum and The Van Gogh Museum, and when Jason got bored or needed space, he let Elizabeth continue without him. He checked in with Sonny.

He rented a motorcycle, and they rode through the De Negen Straatjes. Elizabeth purchased some items for her Gram, Emily, and her sister Sarah and arranged for them to be shipped back to Port Charles and Providence, RI. They checked out the local cuisine and breweries.

Resting in bed, Elizabeth checks her email. She chuckles, "Jason, I got an email from Emily. Edward blackmailed Emily. He faked a mugging and told Emily he'd drop the charges if Emily broke up with Zander and moved back to the mansion. AJ and Ned got him to confess, and your Grandmother forced him to sign a paper confessing what he did." She pauses, and her hand covers her mouth.

Jason says, "What's wrong?"

"Bobbie's son, Lucas, is in the hospital. They don't know what is wrong with him. Do you want to call Carly?"

"No, she'll just beg me to come home. Let me know if Emily has any updates.

5/6-31/2001

Jason and Elizabeth fly to Italy, and he rents a villa. Jason showed her the places he had visited the previous year. They check out new spots and settle in Verona for the next few weeks. They travel to Dolomiti and hike the mountains. Jason shows her how the lights are different in Italy. Elizabeth paints and develops a deep tan. Jason takes her on bike rides, sometimes letting her steer back to the villa. They tour Vineyards. Elizabeth picks up a little Italian.

She keeps in touch with Emily, Gram, and her father. Jason works on more contacts to take down Sorel's organization. They make love often, and Elizabeth becomes more comfortable with her body and encourages Jason to experiment more. One night, she pins him down on the bed, straddles him, and kisses him down his body. Jason turns her around, kisses her neck and shoulders, and carries her to bed.

Elizabeth receives more updates from her family and Emily. Emily attaches letters from Nikolas and says Lucky keeps asking about her. Jason gets disturbing news from Sonny.

Emily says Lucky is becoming increasingly erratic. He zones in and out. Luke and Laura believe Helena is controlling him with objects and word phrases. Laura begged her to ask Elizabeth to return home, as they thought she could be vital to Lucky's recovery. Kevin's methods aren't working.

They travel to Venice for a week to visit the glass-blowing exhibits, walk along the canals, and travel via water. Jason calls Sonny, and Elizabeth hears, "She did what?! Okay, let me take this call someplace private." Jason covers the mouthpiece. "Elizabeth, do you mind leaving? I need to speak with Sonny?"

Elizabeth nods, "I'll go out to the balcony and sketch."

Jason smiles and says, "Sure."

Elizabeth exits, and Jason returns to his call. "I'm alone. Now tell me, what the fuck did Carly do now?" Jason listens as Sonny explains the last couple of weeks. "I can't believe she would betray you that way. It happened when you arrived to get the bomber tied up in the warehouse? So, what are you going to do? That's harsh, but trust is important. She's staying with Michael in the Brownstone? I heard what happened to Lucas. Do you have any more details? Yes, Elizabeth is great. One more thing, could you keep an eye out for my sister? She's still with Zander, and if Sorel's people can get to you, they can get to Zander. Thank you. I will."

Jason walks to the balcony and asks, "Are you ready for dinner? We can take a boat ride to Burano tomorrow to see the glass-blowing factory."

"I'd love that. Is everything okay with Sonny?"

"I'll tell you after dinner."

Jason holds Elizabeth's hand as they walk to the Hotel Ca'di Dio. "This isn't a secret because several people in Port Charles know what Carly did. With Roy's help, she turned Sonny over to the Feds."

"She did what?!"

"Carly thinks backwards. You think normal. Carly wants to have another baby with Sonny and wanted a safer life for them. She asked Sonny to leave Port Charles and live off the money he has. Even if he wanted to leave, this life is not something you can quit. She thought if Sonny were arrested, he'd turn over all his contacts, and he'd be able to get immunity and leave the mob. Sonny realized she was the one to call the FBI on him when she overheard a phone call. Sonny pretended to take the deal to get bail and threw Carly out of the PH. He changed the locks and sent her and Michael to live with Bobbie. She's been begging Johnny to give her a way to reach me."

"Wow! While I won't pretend to wish you didn't work for Sonny, I understand that is your choice, and if there's a time I'm unhappy, I'll walk away and not turn you over to the feds."

Jason laughs, "I appreciate it. What do you think about staying here for a few more days and returning to Verona for another week?" Would you want to go to France or Spain next?"

"Can we do both?"

"Greedy, huh?"

"Maybe a little. We could skip Uzbekistan on any trip."

"That's okay; I didn't bring my umbrella."

After they return to Verona, Jason discreetly calls Luke and Laura to see if they know what is going on with Lucky. Elizabeth finishes her paintings and ships them to her father in Port Charles once they are dry.

Mid-End May 2001 Notes:

Elizabeth keeps in touch with Emily and her father. Jeff emailed her to inform her that Tony Jones had found an antiviral serum from Johns Hopkins that saved Lucas's life. Luke tells Jason he thinks Helena is responsible for the kid's illness.

Jason calls Sonny and finds out that Lucky was arrested for assaulting a petite brunette server at Kelly's. Lucky claims not to remember the incident. Scott is representing him. Luke and Laura point fingers at Helena, saying Lucky is still under her control. Sonny says, "Luke wants Elizabeth home. He believes Elizabeth could help free Lucky from Helena. I told him I'd pass the message on but not to hold his breath."

"What's going on with Zander? Is he behaving himself?"

"So far. He came to me for a job, and I offered him one in the coffee warehouse. Alexis is concerned about Zander being caught in the crossfire with Sorel. I told her we were working on finding his associates."

"How is Carly?"

"She's dead to me. I gave her a suitcase with two million dollars inside and told her that should be enough. I don't know where she is and don't care. Was it you who arranged for the bomber to be tied up in the warehouse? Well, Carly overheard the call and foolishly thought she was helping me. Now, thanks to Carly, the FBI and Taggert entered my PH with a warrant and accused me of tampering with their witness, who was gift-wrapped to me. They didn't find anything. Alexis is working on getting all the charges dismissed. They have no case. AJ came for his visitation with Michael, and I had to tell him Carly had taken him on a vacation. I was cocky and went to see Sorel in jail. I taunted him with my own bomb, a kitchen timer that counted down, and the buzzer startled him. I understand your need to leave town, but I need you sometimes to ground me. "

"Sonny, I can't always be around to clean up your or Carly's messes. You need to be patient and not fly off the handle. Let Alexis counsel you. For right now, you're on your own. Good luck."

Emily confesses to Elizabeth in an email, causing her to smile. Jason asks why she is smiling. Elizabeth says, "Your new sister, Skye, is rubbing all the family except for Edward and Alan the wrong way. Edward actually gave her ELQ voting shares. Skye went to Sonny and wanted his help to take down the Quartermines. Sonny turned her down. She is jealous of Emily, but AJ and Ned are watching out for her." Elizabeth chooses not to tell Jason that his little sister lost her virginity to Zander at her prom.

A/N:

Nikolas caught up with Luke and told him something was wrong with Lucky. Lucky overheard and blasted him for going to his father. Lucky keeps getting angrier and more hateful. Nikolas tries to tell him that his programming has returned and that he needs to see Dr. Collins.

Helena uses the Ice Princess to instruct Lucky to poison Lucas Jones with the vial Helena gave him.

In exchange for the antidote, Tony promises that, when Lucas has recovered, he will return and help her with Stavros. Helena threatens him that Lucas and the other Spencer-related children will all suffer if he tells Luke or anyone else about his bargain. Tony followed the instructions, and Stavros' heart monitor began to beep behind them. Waiting eagerly for her son to rejoin the living, Helena promises Stavros that no Spencers will survive her wrath this time. She sat with Stavros and whispered that all the plans were in motion for his return. At the sound of her voice, Stavros opened his eyes.

June 2001

Jason and Elizabeth agree to spend more time together and worry less about PC. They turn off their phones and shut down their computers.

6/1-10/2001

They arrive in France and spend a week traveling to Arde'che, Carmague, and Abondance. They swim in the ocean, and wine and cheese taste.

6/11-25/2001

They travel to Spain and visit Madrid, Barcelona, and Majorca. Jason rents a motorcycle, and they travel, enjoy the cuisine, and swim.

Meanwhile, in PC:

6/1-15/2001

Sorel escapes lockup. Alexis tells Sonny that if Sorel ends up dead and he gets arrested, she will defend him. Carly tries to get Sonny to forgive her. He says if she won't leave, he will.

Sorel stabs Sonny while he visits Lily's grave. A dark-haired woman dressed in white saves him and takes him to her private island. Her name is Angel. Alexis calls Taggert to inform him that Sorel was spotted in the cemetery.

Luke and Laura join forces against Helena and fight to get Lucky back. Helena uses the Ice Princess to control Lucky. She plans to use Lucky to hurt his father.

Helena was shocked at Lucky's rebellion when she asked him to repeat the words take the King to protect your Queen. Lucky was adamant about loving his father and would not harm him. Helena ran for the ice princess and brought him back under control.

Luke, Laura, and Nikolas kidnapped Lucky. Kevin arrived to help deprogram Lucky. He was initially resistant, but Nikolas told Lucky it might help reduce the charges against you. Scott called Laura's cell and said Lucky had to turn himself into the police; he was facing charges for the attack on the waitress. Laura asked Scott to give them till the next day.

Kevin put him under hypnosis. He made strides because Lucky was willing to reveal them, but a lot remained a secret. Luke asks, "Did you hurt Lucas?"

"Yes, my Queen asked me to." Lucky talked about a place he had never been before; it was dark and creepy. Luke asked about Elizabeth. "It's her fault she looked like Elizabeth. If my Elizabeth had stayed, that waitress would have been safe. My Queen is disappointed Elizabeth left with Morgan. She has plans for Elizabeth."

Kevin asks, "What else does Helena want?"

"To destroy my father. He thinks he will succeed.?

Both Luke and Kevin say, "He?"

The last thing Lucky said was Stavros, and he woke up.

Luke mouthed to Laura, "Stavros?"

Luke wants to find Elizabeth, thinking she can get through to Lucky, but Kevin is concerned Elizabeth could set Lucky off and put her in danger. Kevin tried to keep the reality that he would try to undo the programming but could not know for sure until he had more sessions with Lucky. Luke and Laura confirmed that they needed to stop this once and for all. Luke advised Laura to watch her back because this was far from over.

Sonny continues to recover from his stabbing. He is curious about Angel.

6/16-30/2001

Hearing of Sorel's escape, Alan worries about Emily. Edward hires guards to protect her. A worried Zander comes to the mansion to make sure Emily is okay. Monica allows Zander to stay in the Boathouse. Zander returned to his room at Jake's to pack up his things. Fear and rage gripped him when he found a note that said the next time Sorel found them, both Zander and Emily would die. Emily sneaks out to see Zander. He told her he was leaving town to keep her safe. She sees the note and convinces him they love each other enough to take a chance. Zander took Emily back to the mansion so she could prepare for graduation. Skye offers to help the couple escape and gives them cash. After talking it over, they decide to take Skye up on her offer to help them leave town. Emily asks Skye to give her parents a letter after they're gone.

The NB is scheduled on the same day Emily leaves with Zander.

6/20/2001

One of Sorel's men spotted Emily and Zander at the bus station. He calls Sorel and informs him about finding the kids. Sorel's first concern is to flush out Sonny, and he thinks that if something happened to either Zander or Emily, it would bring Sonny out of hiding. He tells his associate to take care of them. Emily and Zander sit in the waiting area. She hopes Skye gives Alan and Monica her note. Zander suggests she call them to let them know that she is okay.

The bus stalled at some train tracks and was hit by an oncoming train. People are lying all over an open area. Zander wakes and searches for Emily. He climbs over Sorel's associate, who is unconscious, and finds Emily, but she is unresponsive.

The Nurse's Ball is paused when all the nurses and doctors are paged to the ER. Lucy finds others to fill in for the missing acts.

Paramedics began bringing injured patients from the accident between a train and the bus carrying Emily and Zander. Alan and Monica rush around the ER, trying to help as many patients as possible. They were stunned and confused to see Emily brought in on a stretcher. Zander explained what happened. Emily cried out for Zander while her Mother was trying to examine her. Monica was troubled when Emily couldn't move her feet or legs. Alan ordered x-rays to determine how serious his daughter's injuries were. Skye watched and felt guilty about giving the teens the money. Bobbie showed Monica Emily's x-rays, and Monica broke down crying.

Monica pages Jeff and asks if he knows how to contact Elizabeth. She hopes he can get a message to his daughter about Emily. Hopefully, if Jason is with her, he will return home. Jeff says, "I can try, but Elizabeth emailed me a few weeks ago saying they would be unreachable for several weeks."

Zander waited outside of Emily's room. A man told him that Emily and Zander wouldn't be so lucky next time. Zander jumped on the man, but everyone pulled him off. Zander tried to explain to Taggert what had happened, but Taggert didn't buy it. Determined to protect Emily, Zander went to Sonny's office and stole a gun.

AJ burst into Sonny's office and told Zander that Emily needed him. AJ then left a message for Ned and told him he needed to come home. Zander raced to the hospital to see Emily. As he got there, he overheard Alan telling Edward that the accident could leave Emily paralyzed. Zander rushed to be by her side.

Zander keeps vigil by Emily's bedside. He's afraid to leave if one of Sorel's men comes by. Zander told Ned about Sorel's man at the bus station and coming by the hospital. He didn't want to leave Emily because he wanted to protect her. Ned said they could put armed guards by Emily's room, but Zander said he would rather stay.

Sorel's associate reported that Zander had seen him and chased him off. Sorel said he had a new assignment for the man. He wants him to follow Carly Corinthos, which should take him to Sonny.

AJ tells Ned that Skye helped Emily run away.

Alone with Emily, Zander leaned down to kiss her, and she saw the gun sticking out of his waistband. She freaks about his carrying a gun. He tells her about the threat Sorel's man had made against her life. Sorel's associate, Harry, enters Emily's room and draws his weapon. Zander jumped Harry just as Ned showed up. Together, they were able to get the gun away from Harry. Ned calls the PCPD. As Ned and Zander talked out in the hall, Zander realized what he needed to do to keep his Emily safe. He rounded up Alan and Monica, begging them to send Emily away and not tell him where she was.

Sonny quietly phones Benny and instructs him to run a background check on Angel. He does not want Carly to know where he is.

6/26/2001 Elizabeth and Jason return to their hotel after a day touring the Plaza de España in Seville.

Jason asks if she would like to go to the Island in PR. He says there are beaches and casinos; she could try some games. She agrees, and Jason charters a plane. While they are waiting to board, Elizabeth turns on her phone and checks her email. Tears fall as she listens to a message from her father. She reaches for Jason's hand, and he squeezes it.

July 2001-