Chapter 25

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July 2001

Tears fall as she listens to a message from her father. She reaches for Jason's hand, and he squeezes it. There is also a message from her Gram and another from Johnny. He is one of the few who has her number. She looks at Jason, her eyes glistening; "Emily was in an accident. She's at GH and partially paralyzed. They are sending her to rehab. Dad said Monica wants you there for Emily. Johnny left a message since he hasn't been able to get ahold of you. You should check your messages. Sonny left PC, and Sorel is on attack mode."

Monica doesn't have any contact information for Jason; only Emily does. Elizabeth says, "I want to call Monica. Hopefully, she'll let me talk to Emily. Would you like to talk to her?" Jason nods. Elizabeth dials the number as Jason cancels the flight plan to PR. Monica answers, and Elizabeth says, "Monica, it's Elizabeth. How is Emily? Can I speak to her?" Elizabeth and Jason move to a secluded area, and Elizabeth puts the phone on speaker. "Monica, what is Emily's condition?"

"Elizabeth, is Jason with you?"

Jason replies, "Monica, I'm here. How is Emily? What happened?"

They can hear Monica choking back sobs. "Emily was planning to run away, and while waiting for the bus to arrive, there was a collision with a train, and there were several injuries. Your sister is partially paralyzed."

"I just heard my father's message today. He said Emily was going to rehab. Has she left yet?"

"She's leaving tomorrow. She's in her room with Nikolas and Lucky. They are saying goodbye. I'm sure they'd love to talk to you."

"No, please, Monica. I don't want Lucky to know I've called. Don't say anything to Nikolas, either. He may say something to Lucky."

"Okay. They are leaving soon. Jason, can I speak to you privately?" Elizabeth nods, and Jason takes the phone off speaker and walks to a window looking outside the Madrid airport.

"Monica, what else is going on with Emily?"

"Sorel's men almost got to her. Zander tackled the guy, and Ned helped send the guy to the PCPD. That's when Zander made the sacrifice and convinced Emily to go to rehab without him. Emily was devastated but agreed. He doesn't want to know where we are sending her if Sorel corners him; he won't be forced to give up her location. Lucky and Nikolas have left. You and Elizabeth can speak with her, but make it quick; she will leave for rehab tomorrow. If you want to visit her, I give you her address."

"Thank you. We will give her a week to settle."

"I'll take you to Emily." Monica brings the phone to Emily's bedside and leaves the room.

Elizabeth says, "Em, it's Elizabeth. Jason is here with me. How are you?"

"Liz, I want out of this bed. Zander worries about my safety, and Mom and Dad are sending me to rehab. When can I see you and Jason?"

Jason says, "Elizabeth and I will come out after they get you settled. I'll hire extra security and ensure Sorel or his men never come near you again."

"Jason, Sonny is missing, and I worry about Zander. Can you find someone to watch him for me?"

"Yes, I'll get someone to watch Zander for you, but he's known to give his guards the slip."

"I'm concerned about Elizabeth. Lucky is my oldest friend; he hasn't acted like himself since the fire. Luke, Laura, and Nikolas have a plan against Helena; maybe Elizabeth can help. But I'm afraid to ask."

"Emily, I want Elizabeth to be safe but won't tell her what to do. We'll talk when we see you. I love you."

Jason and Elizabeth fly to PR in the morning. Over the next week, Elizabeth tries her hand at the various games and finds a knack at the blackjack tables while Jason works on the books and checks Sonny's status. He runs decisions through Benny and ensures that Carly, Alexis, and Zander have people watching them. Jason joins Elizabeth in swimming; he applies lotion to her body and lays beside her. "You are so beautiful. Part of me wishes we could stay longer, but it's time to visit Emily."

"I don't mind leaving; I can't wait to see Emily." They fly to California. As they walk down the stairs of the charter jet, Jason squeezes her hand.

Meanwhile, back in Port Charles, other events occur.

Sonny has been hiding out with Angel when he hears Sorel has been spotted in the city.

Helena puts Lucky into a trance and takes him underground. She explains to Stavros that Lucky is programmed to protect her against anything and anyone. She plans to use Lucky to destroy Luke and bring Nikolas back into the family. Stavros introduces himself to others as Lucian Kane. He flirts with his son's girlfriend, Gia.

Ned and AJ expose Skye for giving money to Emily to run away. Alan is disappointed, and Edward takes away her ELQ shares. Skye says she never meant for Emily to get hurt.

Jason and Elizabeth check into the hotel, and the following morning, they speak with Emily's doctor and ask if they can visit. Her doctor says Emily is in physical therapy but should be finished soon.

While they wait in Emily's spacious room with pictures and mementos, Elizabeth emails her father, letting him know she is safe and visiting Emily. She doesn't know when she will return.

Jason calls Johnny and asks for an update. Johnny updates him on recent events. He explains that Sorel took Carly and Alexis hostage. Zander snuck in from a side entrance, and Sorel shot him. Sonny arrived with Angel and offered himself in exchange for getting Alexis, Carly, and an injured Zander out of the PH. He says Sonny and Carly are slightly banged up, but otherwise, they are okay. Alexis has minor injuries, but Zander is in serious but stable condition. He adds that Monica operated on him. Jason says, "Thank you. Please don't let anyone I've called."

Emily is wheeled in on her chair, and her face lights up. She opens her arms for a hug. Elizabeth is the first to reach her best friend. She hugs her tightly. "Wow! Liz, you look relaxed, happy, and very tan."

Jason hugs her next. She says, "Jase, you look relaxed too. Don't take this the wrong way, but I haven't seen you smile this much since Robin."

Jason smiles, takes her hand, and asks how therapy is going. "Better. I can't wait to get out of this place. Look, I can move my feet! With assistance, I can walk for a few minutes. How is everything in Port Charles?"

Jason doesn't want to upset Emily with news about Zander. He says, "You would know more than us. We haven't been there since May."

"As soon as Sorel is gone, Mom and Dad say I can return home. I don't want to return until I can walk into his arms. I sent letters to the family updating my treatment." A nurse enters the room and informs them that visiting hours are over. Jason promises to return in the morning.

After dinner, they return to the hotel, and Jason fills in Elizabeth on what he learned from Johnny about Zander. "Elizabeth, you know how I feel about letting people make their own decisions? Well, I don't want Emily to know what happened to Zander. He's in stable condition, but she will want to come back for him. She needs to heal first."

"I agree. You should call Sonny while I take a shower." Jason calls Sonny and gets a more detailed update.

"Carly and I are fine. Alexis has a fractured wrist, but Zander stepped in front of Carly and saved her life. He's stable but will probably be in the hospital for a week. The person who took out Sorel was his daughter, Angel. I don't think there will be charges, but Alexis is working on a deal in case. Sorel is dead, but people in his network still need to be eliminated. How is your sister?"

"Her rehab is going well. I haven't told her about Zander. Are things better with Carly?"

"I haven't forgiven Carly yet. She thought she could be pregnant and hoped it would get her back into my good graces. Thankfully, the results are negative. Carly is embarrassing herself and is begging me to understand and forgive her. I told her to get out and leave me alone."

The next day, Jason and Elizabeth revisit Emily. They watch as she finishes her hour of PT. An aide helps her transition to her chair. Emily says, "Jase, can we go outside? I want to feel the sun on my face." Jason complies while Elizabeth follows them.

August 2001

Luke discovers Stavros is alive and realizes Helena's master plan. 'An eye for an eye and a son for a son.' Helena unleashes the Ice Princess on Lucky, instructing him to inject his father with a virus. Lucky repeatedly mutters that he has "taken the King to protect the Queen." Helena's plan is going as planned. Helena tells Stavros that instead of killing Luke, she had given him a drug that, when mixed with alcohol, made him an obnoxious drunk, which would alienate all his friends and family. Her big plan was to make him lose everyone he loved by chasing them away.

8/13/2001

Bobbie showed Carly a note which arrived with her mail. The note said, "Carly, first your kid and then those you love." Carly says she needs to find Sonny. She shows him the note, and after reading it, he says he has things under control. Carly was not satisfied and demanded more information. Sonny walked out. AJ had been eavesdropping in the background and went to talk to Carly. He says that Michael was his son, and they needed to do what was best for him. He offers to send her and Michael away. Carly believes Sonny can protect her and Michael.

"Carly, one of these days, you will regret not allowing me to help."

"Is that a threat?"

"Jeeze, Carly. I wish Jason were here. He'd talk sense into you. All I care about is keeping our son safe. I wish you'd believe that."

Nikolas has been secretly working with Luke to figure out Helena's plan. Laura tells her son she thinks Luke has been drugged. Nikolas hired someone to hack into Emily's account to get Elizabeth's contact information.

Elizabeth and Jason plan to stop in Colorado before choosing their next destination. Jason says goodbye to his sister and stops to pick up food to bring back to the hotel.

Elizabeth returns Nikolas's call, and Jason can hear arguing coming from their room. "Nikolas, I don't know how you expect I can help." Jason enters, and she waves. "Yes, I understand. No, of course, I care. I'm well aware of your Grandmother's treachery. Okay. I'll try."

Jason says, "You are going home, aren't you?"

"Yes, but not for all the reasons you think. I've loved every moment and every place we've visited, but I miss Port Charles, my Dad, and Gram. I skipped last semester, but I want to finish school, and it starts next month. Nikolas is worried about Lucky; Helena has plans to destroy Lucky and his family. I'm not in love with Lucky, but I owe it to the boy I used to know. The man Helena turned him into doesn't deserve this."

"You don't need to explain. I've loved every moment, too. I love the way your face lights up when you experience new things. I don't want you to be sorry. I want you to be happy. I can't go back, not yet." Jason wants to tell her how he feels, but the last woman he said those words to left him because of Carly. "When are you leaving?"

"Nikolas is arranging a flight tomorrow afternoon. We have tonight, and then I want to say goodbye to Emily.

After they make love, Jason holds Elizabeth in his arms. He kisses her forehead. "Elizabeth, I don't know how long I'll be gone. Please live your life. Please don't put it on hold for me."

8/20/2001

Elizabeth returns to Port Charles; Jason heads to parts unknown.

Nikolas meets Elizabeth's plane and updates her on recent events. He says they have a plan. Nikolas calls Helena. "I got Elizabeth to leave Jason. She's back in Port Charles."

"Bring Lucky to me. Prove you are still loyal to the family." Nikolas picked a fight with Lucky and asked Helena about her programming. He asked her to program Lucky to forget Elizabeth, as he wanted her for himself. Elizabeth was hiding, listening. Helena wiped all Lucky's memories of Elizabeth from his mind.

Elizabeth rushed out to Lucky's side to try to bring him back from Helena's most recent programming. It was too late. Lucky did not remember loving her. Lucky tells Nikolas that he wants nothing to do with Elizabeth and she belongs to Nikolas now. Elizabeth says, "I don't belong to either of you. Lucky, you are my friend, and friends don't give up on each other."

"Leave me the hell alone." Lucky ends up on the pier and runs into Gia. "Elizabeth finally came home. She left Morgan to be with Nikolas. I told her we were over. You should walk away from Nikolas, too. I can help. He kisses Gia.

Nikolas takes her to where Luke and Laura are hiding. Elizabeth reveals that it was a large uncut diamond that Helena used to reach the deep levels of Lucky's brain to program him. Simultaneously, Nikolas, Luke, and Laura exclaim, "Ice Princess." Luke says, "We must steal it from Helena."

Nikolas says, "Elizabeth and I can do it. Luke, Please let me save my brother."

Elizabeth says, "I will do this because no one should have their free will taken away, but I do not want to be with Lucky. Once he remembers, you must tell him to let me go. He needs to understand I've moved on."

8/22/2001

Shocked by Lucky's kiss, Gia asked what had gotten into him. Lucky claimed he wanted to start his life over and was no longer in love with Elizabeth.

The pair discusses who will take the Ice Princess at Elizabeth and Nikolas's table. Nikolas wants to be the one to do it, but Elizabeth states he will need to distract Helena if necessary. Elizabeth changes into a maid's uniform.

Jax catches Elizabeth breaking into Helena's suite. She explains what Helena has done to Lucky; Jax guesses she's after the Ice Princess. He gives Elizabeth a hint about the location of the Ice Princess. She locates it and quickly escapes the room before being seen.

Lucky runs off to the boxcar after his encounter with Gia. He feels conflicted about his feelings of love and rage. He shreds photos of him and Elizabeth from when they were teenagers. Elizabeth finds him and waves the Ice Princess before a dazed Lucky. Nikolas lies in wait.

September 2001