Thank you to notenoughlove, Trini12180, sherimi, and the guests for your reviews. Thank you to the new favs and followers.

Chapter 4

Elizabeth wakes early for her shift. The boys are still asleep, and she sees her phone and charger on the counter. A note beside it says, "I forgot to return this last night. Aiden." Elizabeth starts the coffee and texts Carly. "Spoke to Laura and Lucky last night. On their way back. Home in 2 days. L."

Elizabeth drives to GH, checks the nurses' schedules and supplies, and heads to John Doe's room, now known as Isaiah. He is conscious, and she says, "Good morning. I'm Nurse Elizabeth Baldwin. It's good to see you awake. Last night, Carly Spencer called me because you said my ex-husband's name. Lucky is safe and on his way back to PC with his mother and stepfather."

"You are Elizabeth? You are every bit as beautiful as he says."

Anna interrupts, "Elizabeth, I have some questions for our hit-and-run victim. Do you mind?"

Elizabeth finishes recording his vitals, "No, I'm done. Isaiah, Lucky wishes you the best. He'll visit when he returns."

Elizabeth heads to her next room and nods to the guard. Elizabeth is the only GH staff member Heather Webber likes, but it's because of Franco and her brother. "Heather, how are you feeling today?"

"Oh, Elizabeth. It's always so good to see you. Could you be a dear and check if there is extra pudding for my lunch?"

"Of course, I'll check. Your blood work results should be back today. I can have Dr. Robinson explain them."

Elizabeth hears someone clearing their voice. "Ahmm, Elizabeth, I'd like a copy of those results for Heather's lawsuit."

She turns around, "Ric, I'll make a notation in her file. Heather, I'll check on your pudding."

Ric grabs Elizabeth's elbow as she's walking out. "Elizabeth, wait a minute. Heather, I'll be right back."

He follows Elizabeth to the Hub. "Elizabeth, wait, please. After I visit with Heather, I'd like to take you to lunch."

"Sorry, Ric, but I've made plans. Don't keep Heather waiting." Ric grimaces and heads toward Heather's room.

Elizabeth checks on her next patient. She finds Carly visiting with LuLu. "Hey, Carly. Do you mind if I check on LuLu?"

"Of course. Thanks for the text. Any new updates?"

"No, hopefully, the American Embassy is expediting their travel." Elizabeth enters LuLu's vitals, rests her hand on Carly's shoulder, and says, "Keep talking to her. It helps."

-XXX-

Sam meets Curtis at Charlie's Pub. "Hey, did you find anything on Ric Lansing?"

"You aren't going to like it. He followed you around yesterday."

"He's stalking me? Why?"

"You know him better than me."

"He has it in for my mother, my sister Kristina, of course me, his brother Sonny, and probably Jason. His only soft spots are his daughter, Molly, and Elizabeth Baldwin."

"Sam, I'm not judging, but I want to tell you what he recorded yesterday. He followed you to Jason's bike shop, where he eavesdropped on an altercation between you, Jason, and Danny. Then he followed you to the Towers, and you dropped Danny off and went to the Highsider. He went to the MC; I got Spinelli to hack into his phone records. He made one of the calls to an old FBI contact who works in records. His other call was to Elizabeth."

Sam thinks, "He found the gun and realized it traced back to Sonny. He will find a way to pin a murder on his brother." She doesn't tell Curtis that because she doesn't want him to know her mother disposed of a gun. "Thanks, Curtis; I'll take it from here." Sam considers warning Jason of Ric's vendetta.

-XXX-

At 12:30, Jason arrives at GH and sits in the waiting area for Elizabeth to take her break. Jason can't believe his two years away have forced him to change his behavior. He wants to connect with his sons and is trying to embrace their interests, something Spinelli wanted to get him into several years ago. He is fiddling on his phone and laughing at a meme Danny sent to him. He looks up from his phone, and Elizabeth nods, holding up her hand and showing five fingers, indicating five more minutes. Jason texts, LOL, something he'd never done three years ago.

Elizabeth signs off for her break and walks toward Jason. "You look relaxed."

Jason stands and puts his phone in his jacket. "Hi, Danny sent me a meme."

Elizabeth laughs, "A meme? You know what a meme is?"

Jason nods sheepishly. He hands her three pink tea roses. "Something simple yet flawless, like you."

She smiles, "Thank you; they are beautiful."

"Are you ready?" He extends his hand.

Nodding, she takes his hand. "I only have 45 minutes, so we can't go far."

They walk to Kelly's, and she orders a salad with grilled chicken, water, and a brownie. Jason orders a bacon cheeseburger, fries, and a seltzer. Instead of dining at Kelly's, he suggests a familiar location for them. They sit on the bench overlooking the water.

"This is nice; I remember our long conversations about nothing and everything."

"I do, too." Jason looks at her and thinks, "Elizabeth looks beautiful, even when wearing scrubs." He takes the trash from her and says, "How is John Doe? What did he have to say?"

"Actually, after Carly called, I called Laura to update her on what Isaiah, no longer a John Doe, had to say. Kevin and Laura found Lucky, and they will soon be on their way back to PC. Lucky escaped a refugee camp in South Africa. I saw Isaiah and updated him on the information. Would you believe he's a transplant surgeon?"

"That's ironic. How do you feel about Lucky returning?" He helps her up from the bench, and they walk toward GH.

"He spoke with Adien last night, but I left before Aiden woke up."

"You didn't answer my question. How do 'you' feel about Lucky coming home?"

"I'm hopeful for LuLu, and I hope he can repair his relationship with Aiden. Aiden feels abandoned. Lucky chose to leave because he wanted adventures like Luke. Honestly, I'm conflicted. It stung when he left. He brought Jake back to us but only stayed long enough to say goodbye to the boys. He occasionally kept in touch with Aiden but rarely acknowledged Cam or Jake."

Jason brushes his fingers against Elizabeth's. Haltingly, he says, "Elizabeth, I had reasons for staying away. I should tell you why."

"I won't like your reasons, will I?"

"Probably not." They stop walking and sit on a park bench across the street from GH.

Elizabeth gazes into Jason's steel-blue eyes, "Then don't tell me today. I don't want a wonderful day so far ruined. Tell me tonight or tomorrow."

Jason rests a hand against Elizabeth's cheek, "Are you off tomorrow?" She nods. He leans in and kisses her gently. "I'll tell you everything you want to know tomorrow." He kisses her again.

Elizabeth stands and rubs her eyes to stop a tear from falling. "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow." Jason watches her leave.

Ric had left Heather's room, only thinking about the million-dollar lawsuit he was about to file, and walked to the window. He looks outside and glares at the sight below. "Fuck! Jason Morgan is kissing Elizabeth, and she is not resisting."