Chapter 6
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November 10, 1994
Sarevjo, Bosnia
Elizabeth wakes, crosses off the day, and gasps. "Oh, no, she thinks."
Elizabeth counts back and looks at the calendar. "Oh my god! Am I pregnant?" She grabs one of the EPT kits they dispense to the women and girls in the villages. She closes the door to the bathroom and waits. Checking her watch, she taps her foot. Sarah pounds on the door. Elizabeth yells, "Use the other bathroom, I'm busy."
"Elizabeth, I need to grab some items before I head out. Let me in, and I'll be quick." Elizabeth gets a towel and wraps everything inside, including the trash.
"Fine, I'm still getting ready." She wipes the tears from her face.
Sarah collects her things. "What is wrong with you? You aren't even ready."
"Dammit, Sarah. I have paperwork to sign off on the volunteers."
"Mother won't be happy."
"I'll deal. You're her favorite anyway." Sarah leaves, and Elizabeth unwraps the towel. She reads the results and sighs. Elizabeth cleans up and throws the trash outside in the dumpster.
Elizabeth prepares breakfast, and Steven walks in. "Hey, sis. Are you going out to the field today?"
"Umm, no. Steve, do you have a few minutes? I need a sounding board."
Elizabeth looks pale, and he's concerned. "Sure. What do you need?"
"I need to use the jeep and go to the city and the hospital, but no one can know why. Except you, of course."
"What's wrong?"
"I think I might be pregnant. I took a test, but I want to verify with a blood test in the hospital."
Steven holds his sister. "Oh, Lizzy. Whatever you need, I'm here for you. Whatever you decide, I'll support you. Have you told Jason?"
She laughs, "I just found out 15 minutes ago. I'm not saying anything until I know for sure."
"I'll go with you. I can visit patients. I'll tell Dad you are coming with me."
They arrive at the hospital, and Elizabeth gets blood drawn. The technician tells her the results will be available in about two days. She can call the doctor to receive the results. They visit a few patients and return to the compound.
Two days later, Elizabeth calls the hospital and speaks with the doctor, who confirms her pregnancy. The doctor requests that Elizabeth come in for a follow-up and receive prenatal vitamins. Elizabeth thanks the doctor and hangs up.
Elizabeth sits quietly for ten minutes, collecting her thoughts before she calls Jason. She reaches Jason, and he accepts the collect call charges. He smiles, waiting to hear her voice. He spoke with her last week, and maybe she has good news for him that she is returning sooner.
"Jason, hi. Are you alone? I need to tell you something important."
"Yeah, what's going on?"
"I found out today that I'm pregnant. I wanted you to know so we can make a decision together." Jason is silent for about 45 seconds. Elizabeth says, "Jason, are you still here?"
"Yeah, I'm sorry. I wish I could be with you to discuss it in person."
"Me too. How do you feel about it?"
"It's unexpected, but I love you. We created a life. I don't want you to be alone. I can make arrangements to see you in a few days."
"I'm telling my parents today. I think I can leave sooner. You don't need to come. I'll be there soon. I want this too and can't wait to see you."
"Wow! We are really doing this. Take care of yourself, okay? Stop riding that bike."
Elizabeth laughs and agrees.
Steven helps Elizabeth break the news to the rest of the family. Jeff and Sarah are supportive, but Carolyn accuses Elizabeth. "You are a nurse, Elizabeth. Don't you know anything about using protection?"
"We did use protection. You, of all people, should know it's not 100%! I know I was a mistake."
Carolyn slaps her daughter, and Elizabeth rubs her face. Jeff yells, "Carolyn! How dare you hit our daughter."
Carolyn gasps, covers her face with her hands, and says, "God, Elizabeth, I am so sorry for hitting you. You were an unexpected blessing. I apologize for my comment."
"Yeah, right! I heard you and Dad arguing. Maybe I was a blessing to him, but I sure as hell wasn't a blessing to you. I am having this baby, and I want to leave as soon as possible to get away from you! Jason knows and wants this, too."
Elizabeth hurries to her room, and Steven and Sarah follow to console her.
November 12, 1994
Port Charles, NY
Jason hangs up the phone after speaking with Elizabeth. "Wow! Elizabeth is pregnant. It's unexpected, but I want this." He heads home to talk to his parents.
Jason walks into the living room to overhear his parents. "Alan, how did Robin take the news?"
"She was in shock and denial. She thanked me, and I held her as she cried. She was calling Mac as I was leaving."
"We watched Robin grow up. She lost her parents three years ago, Stone has weeks to live, and today, you delivered the results of her HIV test. She's been through so much."
"But Monica, we caught it early. She has a chance that Stone never will."
Jason hides around the corner; his joy turns to sadness. He wipes a tear from his eye and enters the room. "I overheard about Robin. What can I do to help?"
Alan says, "If she calls, be there for her. She will need friends and family in the coming weeks."
Monica says, "Is there something you wanted to say?"
"Uh, Elizabeth called."
Alan says, "Steve said Sarah was coming with Elizabeth. Sarah will finish her degree at PCU and start interning. Elizabeth has a job working with Audrey."
"That's not why I need to talk with you. Elizabeth is pregnant. I'm going to be a father."
Reginald wheels Lila into the room. She says, "Jason, my dear. That is wonderful news. Will Elizabeth be here soon?"
"Grandmother, Elizabeth will be here in two to three weeks."
"Bring her over. I want to meet her once she settles." Jason kneels and kisses her cheek.
Edward walks in and says, "Did I hear there's going to be a new Quartermaine joining the family?"
Alan says, "Leave it be, Father. I will not let you interfere in Jason's or Elizabeth's choices."
"Humph! Jason, your cousin is embarrassing himself in those leather pants at the Outback. Would you please collect him and your brother for dinner tonight?"
"I think Ned is singing, but I'm not in charge of AJ today. I would like to see if Robin Scorpio is there or visit her at HBT." Edward waves him away. Jason drives to the Outback and waves to his cousin singing with his band, 'Eddie Maine and the Idle Rich.' He slides onto the stool next to his brother and orders a beer. Mac places a bottle before him, and Jason asks, "Mac, I heard about Robin. How is she?"
"She could use a friend. So could Stone." Jason throws five dollars on the bar and asks AJ to accompany him. They go to HVT to visit Robin and Stone. Jason comforts Robin, and AJ assures Stone it is not his fault.
On the ride back, AJ asks, "Why didn't you tell Robin and Stone about Elizabeth?"
"They have enough to worry about. I feel guilty that I'm happy when they have so much to lose."
They return to the mansion for dinner.
November 13-26
Sarajevo, Bosnia
Elizabeth and Sarah travel to the villages to say their goodbyes. Sarah accompanies Elizabeth to her first prenatal appointment. Steven finalizes their travel arrangements. Sarah and Elizabeth are moving to PC. Steven is taking a Trauma Surgeon position in Memphis. Jeff and Carolyn are moving to California to teach and work in the hospitals.
Port Charles NY
Jason finishes the project for Elizabeth's studio. Brenda Barrett returns to PC and discovers her old flame, Sonny Corthinos, is married to a mob boss's daughter.
Robin defers her scholarship to Yale for another year.
November 27
Sarajevo, Bosnia
Elizabeth packs her suitcase and lifts it off the bed. She drops it, doubling over in pain. She cries out and falls to the floor. Steven returns after selling her dirt bike to find his sister withering in pain. He rushes to her, checks her pulse, and feels her forehead. He yells for one of the new doctors to call the hospital. "Elizabeth, can you hear me? I will carry you to the jeep and get you to the hospital."
Elizabeth cries, "Ja..Jason." Steven straps Elizabeth into her seat and drives off.
"I'll call Jason as soon as I know you are okay. Dad and Caroline are in the field, and Sarah will return to a note. You are my only concern."
"Stevie, I'm scared."
Steven reaches arm across and pushes her hair away from her face. "I know, kid. So am I." He pulls into the emergency area and yells for help. Doctors take his sister away, and he parks the jeep. He runs to the ER and stands by the door as her doctor tends to Elizabeth. He tries the compound and reaches Sarah. He updates her and asks for Jason's number. Sarah explains she doesn't know the number, and the Sat phone is packed somewhere. She'll look for it. Steve calls his Grandfather for the number. He withholds the situation about Elizabeth until they know what is wrong.
Jeff and Sarah arrive, and Sarah hands Steven the Sat phone. Jeff asks, "How is Elizabeth? What happened?"
"Dad, the doctors are checking on her now. I found her on the floor, curled up in a ball, crying in pain. Where is Carolyn?"
"She's packing."
"Dammit, Dad, when will you realize your wife is a major bitch. She is Elizabeth's mother, and she is off packing?"
"I know Steve. I'm sorry. I was hoping this family excursion with DWB would bring us together as a family. I don't know why she favors Sarah over Elizabeth. It's not fair."
"Is it true that Elizabeth wasn't planned?"
"Carolyn only wanted one child. Elizabeth wasn't planned, but I am so happy she's here. When Carolyn found out she was pregnant, she agreed to carry Elizabeth to term if I got a vasectomy."
"Wow! And yet you stayed with her?"
Her doctor comes out to give the family an update. She says, "Elizabeth is fine. She is stressed and dehydrated. She needs rest and has a mild virus, which we gave her an antibiotic. It won't affect the baby, but she needs to be quarantined for two weeks before she can leave the country. She wants to see you." The doctor looks at Steven.
Steve enters Elizabeth's room. She reaches for him, and he takes her hand and sits beside her. "Elizabeth, you scared the shit out of me. Do you want me to call Jason?"
"No, I don't want to worry him. I'll be in quarantine; there's not much he can do waiting. Apparently, a good friend of his has a boyfriend who is dying of AIDS. He wants to be there for her."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Is Sarah or Dad outside?
"Yes, do you want to see them?"
"Yes." Jeff and Sarah come in, and Elizabeth updates them. She makes them promise not to tell anyone until she is better and ready to leave PC.
A/N: "Ours To Keep" does not belong to me. The lyrics are credited to Rachael Lawrence and Deborah Ellen.
"How does circumstance seem to cost us every chance?"
11/29
Port Charles, New York.
Stone Cates succumbed to AIDS. Robin has a lot of support, and Jason checks in with Elizabeth. He reaches Steven, who breaks down and tells him what is happening with Elizabeth. "Jason, Elizabeth is too stubborn to ask for help. She needs you."
"Okay, I'm flying out tomorrow. Don't tell her I'm coming."
"Cost us every chance…"
12/2/1994
Jason jumps in a cab and directs him to the airport. The car skids on a patch of ice and rolls over several times. The cabbie is killed instantly, and Jason is taken away in an ambulance."
"And Living out the Truth in our Hearts"