Chapter 17
Thank you to trini12180, guest, Pamela, notenoughlove, jmarlow, diamond2225leo, and starhine for your reviews
1997
Carly wakes up to Jason holding her son. She watches Bobbie show Jason how to hold and feed the baby properly. Jason thanks Bobbie and sits on the chair across from her. Jason softly reads from a book as if conversing with one of the guards. Carly sees Jason forming a bond with her son and likes that even if he pretends not to like her, his attachment to the baby will tie him to her. She shifts in bed, alerting him to her gaze. He sets the baby in his bassinet.
Jason approaches Carly and says, "I'll get a doctor. You've been unconscious for over 24 hours."
Carly grabs his arm, "Jason, wait. Thank you. I'm still out of it. I will need help with the baby when I'm discharged."
Jason nods, "Sonny will be back before you are discharged. I'll stay until then, but after that, I have other priorities." Jason exits, letting Bobbie know the baby needs to be returned to the nursery. He carries his book and leaves the room. Elizabeth walks by and says, "Is that the Italy book?"
Jason smiles, "I was reading to the baby. It never makes sense to read fictional stories."
"I'm sure Carly likes that you are bonding."
"Sonny will be home soon. When he does, can I see you?"
"Jason, what will happen the next time Carly needs you or Sonny goes off the rails, and you need to take over the business?"
"Elizabeth, you've known what I do for Sonny since we met."
"Of course; I know there will be times you must work for Sonny, but Carly is sucking you in with her baby. You don't understand how hard it's been for me because you are doing things for her, which I wish you would have done for me. Sonny is the baby's father; you work for Sonny and will forever be tied to Carly. When I lost our baby, you weren't there for me."
Sonny returns from the Island. He begins making demands. He insists on a christening and names him Michael. He tells Carly they should be married because the Five Families will expect it. They get married, and Jason becomes Michael's godfather. Jason checks on the casinos and has an arrangement with a woman there to satisfy his urges, but it is never enough. He never can find a woman that Carly approves of, and they usually leave him after a month, citing her abuse of them. Jason knows Elizabeth was right. She deserved to be first. Jason feels trapped. He chose to work for Sonny and protect his family, including Carly. Jason doesn't know how to go back and make different choices. Milo disapproves of his choices, but Max enjoys the life Sonny can give him, and his crush on Carly doesn't help when she takes advantage of him.
Milo continues to watch over Elizabeth despite the lack of danger. He promised his Pop, and Elizabeth didn't give him the headaches Carly did. Elizabeth gets involved with Nikolas Cassidine. Carly finds ways to be with Jason and have them run into the new couple. It pisses Nikolas off because he knows if Jason were to put Elizabeth first, she'd go back to him. Sex with Nikolas was great but not nearly as satisfying as sex with Jason. She loves going on horseback rides with him but cannot get him interested in riding on the back of her bike.
Elizabeth meets her brother at Jake's once a week after their shift at GH to play pool and then go riding together. Occasionally, they run into Jason. Steven notices the tension and the glances they give each other. He wishes he could smack Jason on his head, but Elizabeth tells him to back off. They each made choices, and she needed him to respect hers.
Elizabeth becomes a sounding board for Emily. She advises her on her relationship with Lucky Spencer. Emily complains that Carly is sucking the life out of Jason and that Carly is snarky with her when Jason is not around. "Liz, my brother knows we are friends and always asks about you."
"Emily, we agreed not to discuss Jason. Now that Lucky and Nikolas are friends, why don't we get ribs at Eli's sometime?"
"Fine, change the subject."
1998
Brenda returns to PC with Jasper Jacks on her arm. He invests in Deception, and Laura Spencer buys into 49% of the total. Brenda and Laura want to bring back the Face of Deception. Nikolas has been managing Deception and suggests adding a promotion to re-introduce the magazine and try something new. After a vote, they agreed with Nikolas's idea.
Nikolas meets Elizabeth at GH for lunch. He kisses her and says her has an offer for her. He, Brenda Barrett, and his mother are relaunching the Face of Deception, and he wants her involved. Elizabeth tells him she is busy working at GH and spending time at the studio with her art. "Besides, I wouldn't know the first thing about running a magazine or a cosmetics company."
"Actually, I don't need to help with the magazine. Deception is having a promotion fundraiser to launch our new brand. Brenda went to Lila Quartermaine, and Lila used her influence to get Edward to finance a Faces of Deception Calendar."
Elizabeth raises her eyes, "A calendar with pin-up models for every month?"
It would be more tasteful than that; it has Lila's approval. We need models from various professions. A student from PCU, a doctor, a nurse, perhaps a surgical nurse."
"No! Count me out. I don't have the looks to be a model and don't want to be the Face of Deception."
"Liz, you are beautiful. If you don't want to be the Face of Deception, that's fine. The calendar is for promotion, and the proceeds will go to the General Hospital Aids Foundation. Here is who we have: Lucky's friend at PCU, Gia Campbell, Kelly Lee, a new doctor starting at GH, and Emily wants to do it if the Quartermaines will allow it."
"That's three; the last time I checked, there were 12 months on the calendar."
"You're funny. I want to do a Deception for men. We'd start with men's cologne. There would be six men and six women for the calendar. Do you think your brother would want to pose? Can I change your mind?"
Carly walks by with Michael and Max and overhears the discussion. "Awe, does the muffin face need a second job now that Jason isn't in the picture?"
Milo stops Elizabeth from charging toward Carly, "Carly, unlike you, Jason never supported me. You went from Tony to AJ to Sonny. I guess my brother lucked out. He wasn't rich enough for you to latch onto. Jason never fell for your charms. I work for a living. The calendar spread is not paid. I'm volunteering my time. You don't know me. Muffin face? You need to get more original to insult me. I grew up a bitchy sister."
"Milo follows Elizabeth and grins, "Carly will run to Sonny."
"I'm not afraid of Sonny."
Elizabeth helps Nikolas and Brenda with the calendar over the next few weeks. She recruits Amy Vining and the new cardio doctor Monica hired to her staff. All the nurses swoon over Dr. Leo Jullian. She added interns, Drs. Chris Ramsey and Matt Harmon. Brenda found two men from Wyndham's Department Store and the Port Charles Bank. She convinces Robin to come for a brief visit to round out the women to six. Lucky Spencer offers his services as a photographer.
The calendar is a big success, causing several men to approach Elizabeth. Milo helps scare the men off, provoking jealousy from Nikolas and Jason. The Faces of Deception goes to Gia Campbell and Dr. Matt Harmon. Matt agrees to the contract if he can still work at GH.
Elizabeth gets into a fight with Nikolas over his overbearing grandmother. She tells him Helena has no right to threaten or imply she is beneath her grandson. "Nikolas, I heard enough from Luke and Laura about the Cassidine/Spencer wars; I don't need any more headaches getting involved with her."
"Elizabeth, I'll speak with her."
Elizabeth laughs, "Good luck with that. I'm moving back to my studio."
1999
January
Elizabeth kicks off her shoes from a double shift at GH. She had one drink at Jake's with her brother and begged off more in place of sleep. She brushes her teeth, spits out her toothpaste, and rinses. She hears a noise exiting the bathroom and finds the tactical nightstick she keeps nearby. She turns off the light and hugs the wall. The light above her bed turns on. "Jason, you scared the shit out of me. What are you doing here?" She tosses the stick on the bed.
"I missed you. I heard you ended things with Cassidine."
"Three months ago. You are lucky you turned on the light."
"Where's the baseball bat?"
"By the window and my art table. I missed you too."
Elizabeth pushes Jason back on the bed and straddles him. He claims her lips, tasting her toothpaste. She pulls off her sweater, and he removes his t-shirt. She kicks off her jeans and reaches for a condom. She tosses it to him and turns up the heat while he removes his jeans.
Jason pulls up the covers around them, and she rests her head on his chest. "I bought the calendar. You look sexy in scrubs."
"Half of us were wearing scrubs."
"Steven's not my type. Ow." He rubs his arm where Elizabeth punched him.
"It was for a good cause, and I only agreed if they wouldn't make me the Face of Deception. Robin had the same stipulations. She's finishing her final year of med school. She's met someone. She seems happy."
"I'm glad she's happy. I should get going."
"Thanks for the visit." Jason dresses and kisses her. He rides to Jake's, has a few beers, and plays pool before returning to his PH.
Carly hears him come in. "Where were you?"
"Out."
She smells the vanilla scent on Jason. "You went to see Elizabeth Webber?"
"Carly, you are not my keeper. Good night." He slams his door.
"We'll see about that."