Chapter 20

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2000

January-March

Jason-26

Elizabeth-24

Nikolas-23

Lucky-21

Emily-20

LuLu-16

Elizabeth keeps busy at GH and assisting in complicated surgeries. She spends time in her studio sketching and painting. She routinely checks her former favorite patient, LuLu Spencer. The Spencers miss their son Lucky, but they recently had news that he might be alive. Luke and Laura went looking for him and asked Elizabeth to watch over their daughter. While Elizabeth adored the teenager, she didn't have the space or want to move in with her Gram. She suggested the Quartermaines, and Monica agreed to help. Emily wanted to go looking for her missing boyfriend, but Elizabeth made a silent promise to Jason to watch over his sister. She asked Emily for help with LuLu. She promised to take her riding with her parent's permission. Nikolas took off with the Spencers, to his Uncle's dismay.

Meanwhile, Jason is in Italy, meeting with Maximus. "Jason, how is Bella? Does she know about Carly?"

"Not yet. Elizabeth is good. She saved my life, but I couldn't face Carly or Sonny."

"Are you upset at Carly's punishment?"

"No, the only thing that bothered me was that she's a mother."

"That's why she only got three months. If it weren't for that poor child, I would have banished her far, far from Bella."

"Carly also has a mother who lives in PC."

"One who does not know she exists. You aren't getting soft on her, are you?"

"Don't get me wrong, I want Carly to pay for what she did to Elizabeth, but she has ties to PC. Sonny won't give up his son, and one day. I hope Bobbie learns the truth."

"You came to me for guidance. I will train you more. One of my guards, Marco, will accompany you when you are ready."

"Maximus, I don't want to take the business from Sonny. I want to be prepared to step in when necessary."

"Jason, I am an old man. There will come a day when I can no longer operate the Italian territory. Max doesn't have the stomach to run things, and Milo, bless his heart, doesn't have the brains. I want you to run things after I'm gone."

"Maximus, I don't know what to say. I'm not ready."

"Of course you aren't. But you will be. Marco will help. When you return to PC, you will be Sonny's enforcer and 2nd in command. Marco will be your 2nd. I'll arrange it with Corothinos. Make things right with Bella; she will be by your side."

"Maximus, it's not that simple. I can't predict the future."

"Nonsense. I see the way you look at each other."

"Lately, circumstances get in the way. Something or someone gets in the way."

"You have a chance to make things right. I never wanted this life for Bella, but the day she met my sons, she became immersed in the Giambetti organization. The day she killed a man, she became immersed in the Corothinos organization. It is up to you to change those circumstances."

For the next two months, Jason endures intense training—more than he received the first time he was in Italy. More than anything, that happened when he was working for Sonny. Marco has been employed by Maximus for the past two years. He trains alongside Jason and is prepared to answer to Jason. Francesca watches but, at her father's request, does not tell Elizabeth where Jason is.

April

PC, NY

Carly returns and reunites with Michael and Sonny. Max is given strict instructions to keep her distance from Elizabeth.

Luke, Laura, and Nikolas rescue Lucky and bring him home. Lucky is angry and distant from everyone except his sister, LuLu, and Elizabeth. Emily visits Elizabeth in her studio, and Lucky stops by. Emily thinks he's there to see her, but Lucky asks for Elizabeth. Emily is hurt and storms out. Elizabeth tells Lucky to stay away from her. He stops by her work, and she tells him that if he doesn't leave her alone, Milo will keep him away. She tries to comfort a confused Emily. Laura arranges for Lucky to receive therapy from Kevin Collins.

Italy

Jason packs a bag and informs Maximus he's traveling for the next few months before he's ready to return. Marco stays behind.

April-August

Lucky stops his pursuit of Elizabeth but remains unbalanced. Elizabeth and Steven go riding, and he follows her to the Road to Nowhere. They drink at Jake's, and Leo joins them. The trio meets regularly at Jake's after a long shift.

Francesca travels to PC for a two-week visit with Elizabeth and her brothers. She doesn't tell Elizabeth what Jason has been up to. Elizabeth takes Frannie riding.

Carly ditches her guard and corners Elizabeth at GH. She thinks Jason told her everything about Carly's role in her attack. She tries to turn the tables, blaming Elizabeth for her banishment. "It's your fault Jason left. You told him lies, and you turned him against me, and he betrayed me in the worst way."

"I heard you were back, Carly, and I have no clue what you are talking about. Excuse me, I have patients to check."

Carly grabs Elizabeth's arm, and Elizabeth snaps back. "Let go of my arm."

Elizabeth turns to leave and hears, "You weren't supposed to survive Pete's attack."

She snaps back, "What did you say?"

"You heard me. Jason wanted you out of the way, but when you survived, he turned the tables and blamed me instead."

Elizabeth balls her fists. She will not let Carly get to her, and she doesn't want to start a fight at the third-floor nurse's station. She grits her teeth, "You are lying."

Carly smirks, "Am I?" She walks away.

Francesca observes the altercation and stops Carly, "Do you remember me, bitch? I'm Maximus' daughter. I know what happened. Stay away from Elizabeth."

Francesca returns to Italy.

Elizabeth, Milo, and Sonny helped Emily, Nikolas, and Lucky out of a situation where an undercover cop was killed. Milo dropped the body off in the cops' car outside the rave. Elizabeth had Emily, Lucky, and Nikolas stay with her until Milo moved the body. Sonny got his tech guy, Stan, to scrub all footage and bring the drug dealer to him. Elizabeth watched Zander Smith tell Sonny that Joesph Sorel wanted him to plant drugs on Jason Morgan's sister. Jason had been missing since before Christmas, and thought it would bring Jason back to town. Sorel wanted Zander to rough up Elizabeth, but she always had a guard. Elizabeth reminded Sonny that Sorel was the one who got away.

Sonny gives Zander a choice: Work for him or go back to Sorel. Zander chooses wisely.

Jason

April-August

Jason traveled to Egypt and other places he read to Michael from his travel books. He returns to Italy, where he collects Marco and flies back to PC. Jason directs Marco to find Milo and distract him. Jason wants to surprise Elizabeth by saying that he's home.

September

Elizabeth is walking on the pier when she hears her name. She turns, grins, and says, "Jason," before running into his arms.