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Chapter 17

"Absolutely not!" Sonny bellowed at Jason, looking at the other man with pure fury. "I won't allow it."

"Sonny," Jason sighed softly, "you've got to compromise a little."

Compromise. He felt like he'd done nothing but compromise lately and it was all because of Elizabeth. She didn't want to live with him anymore, so he let her get an apartment on another floor. He gave in to her encouragement that he tell Sam the truth about his visions. Now he was expected to compromise once more and let her get an art studio outside of Harbor View Towers.

While he could understand her need for her own space, and he appreciated his privacy with Sam, this was just too much. He was expected to let his sister out of a building he owned and could control her safety? He roughly shook his head; that was just asking too much.

"She compromised," the younger man said pointedly. "After last night, Elizabeth didn't just want a studio away from here, she wanted to leave completely. She was ready to check back into PC Hotel until she could get a new apartment."

Sonny was stunned and demanded, "What?! But you stopped her, right?"

"I did," Jason nodded.

"Thank you," he said. "Thank you for taking care of this for me."

"I didn't do it for you," his friend said pointedly. "I did it for Elizabeth."

Confused, but sensing Jason was upset, Sonny stopped by his desk and crossed his arms over his chest. "What's going on?"

"Elizabeth ran into Mike yesterday."

"He came back? He knows I told him to stay away from her."

"That's part of the problem," the younger man said. "She's upset that she didn't know Mike was coming by trying to see her. You knew, I knew, the guards knew...but you never told Elizabeth."

Jason paused for a moment and then asked, "Did Sam know?"

"Yes," Sonny nodded.

When Jason looked at him pointedly, Sonny lowered his eyes and looked away. Everyone around her had known Mike was trying to see Elizabeth, except for her. Just like the day of the shooting when Sam had tried to keep Elizabeth away from Kelly's, everyone once again knew and kept it from her.

He remembered that day in her apartment when she told him she wanted to know what was happening. Especially when it concerned her. He'd understood and told her he wouldn't keep things from her again. And that's exactly what he'd done. He hadn't told her about their father was trying to get in touch with her. He'd said it was to spare her, but was that true?

"You think I was wrong?" he asked Jason, even though he greatly suspected what the answer was.

Tipping his head to the side, Jason raised his eyebrows and said pointedly, "Yes. She's your sister, Sonny."

"I know that."

"But she's not a child," the enforcer pointed out. "She's an adult, Sonny, and she deserves to know what's happening. You can't control everything around you or Elizabeth. She won't put up with it."

"I know that, too," he said as his eyes narrowed.

"If you know it, then why are we having this discussion?" the younger man asked. "If you know your sister, then why are you doing this?"

"She's my sister!" Sonny shouted. "I'm supposed to take care of her; I'm supposed to be in charge. You would do everything you could to protect Emily."

"I would," Jason agreed with a nod. "But I know I can't hide things from her or not tell her because I say it's for her own good."

With a scoff, he said, "You don't tell her about the business."

"Of course not. Has Elizabeth ever asked about the business?"

"No," he said on a sigh in answer to Jason's challenge. "She hasn't."

"This wasn't business, it was her life. She was blindsided by Mike and she feels like you're treating her like a child. You're either trying to control her or you don't trust her to know things."

In disbelief, he stared at Jason. "I...I trust her. How can she say that I don't?"

Jason's raised eyebrows gave the clear answer and Sonny sighed and looked away once again. The other man was right; Sonny was being heavy-handed with Elizabeth. It wasn't that he didn't trust her; he just wanted to take care of her. She had been through so much pain, he just wanted to shield her and protect her. He still saw her as the little girl Deke beat or the scared teenager who railed at him for sending her back with their mother.

"I just want to protect her," Sonny tried to explain. "I...I can still see her on the day I called our mother and sent Elizabeth back. I felt it was the best for her, even though I knew Deke would be enraged."

He also knew that one day Deke would be the reason their mother died. He didn't need a vision to know that; it was simply logic. One day Deke's escalating anger and beatings would cross the line to murder. He knew all that, and yet he'd sent Elizabeth back into that nightmare simply because he was scared about what had happened to him and wanted to deny it had occurred. In order to do that, Elizabeth couldn't be there.

She had seen him break down, she had been there taking care of him. She would want to talk, and Sonny just wanted to act like everything was fine. Because he was too proud to deal with what happened he cast his sister aside.

"When she called me..." Sonny paused and swallowed. "She was crying...sobbing. I could hear our mother screaming in the background and Deke was yelling. Then...then it went silent. Her screams stopped and Elizabeth was silent."

He closed his eyes and remembered the sounds. "Then Deke started yelling again. He'd seen Elizabeth on the phone... He grabbed it from her hand and hung up. That's when I took off, got to the apartment, stopped Deke from doing to my sister what he'd done to my mother."

"That's why," he looked at Jason, "I try to spare her contact with Mike."

"I know," the younger man said, "but she's not that little girl anymore, Sonny. You've got to talk to her, be open with her, or you'll lose her. I can't stop her from leaving all the time; she's your sister."

"You're right," Sonny admitted, "you're right. I...I'll talk to her. And...and maybe you can help me find her a studio. Since you probably already started looking."

"I gave Stan a call this morning," Jason admitted.

Walking towards the other man, Sonny held out his hand and said with deep sincerity, "Thank you for looking out for Elizabeth last night. She and I...we're not always on the best of terms and I'm glad that she trusts you and I trust you. I don't know what I'd do without you, Jason."

"It's fine," his friend said, looking slightly uncomfortable. "I'm just trying to help."

"You did," Sonny told him gratefully. "You did."

She had been expecting him all morning. She knew word would get back to him, either from Enzo or Jason, about last night and he'd come down to talk to her. When he didn't show up at her door first thing, she began to wonder if Jason was talking to Sonny about it. And telling her brother about more than just her run in with Mike.

While it was helpful for someone else to tell Sonny her plans, she was removed from his initial reaction, it wasn't really fair to Jason to be the person stuck in the middle. If he was going to be her friend, she couldn't dump all her problems with her brother on him. She wanted to do more than talk about Sonny with him all the time. While Sonny would always color their interaction in some way, she wanted to try to build their friendship beyond the common denominator of Sonny.

This meant she needed to deal with Sonny instead of just running away. They had long-formed habits with each other - he got overbearing, she ran - which they needed to fix. Without having people mediate between them all time. It wasn't healthy for them to keep doing this. So while part of her wanted to avoid this talk with Sonny, she knew it was better to just face it now.

Taking a deep breath, she opened up the door and tried to smile at her brother, "Hey."

"Hey," he returned quietly as he walked inside. "I uh...I'll just be honest and say I've already talked to Jason."

"I thought you might have," she admitted. "It's not fair to put him in the middle anymore, so from now on, I promise I'll talk to you first."

He frowned slightly. "Elizabeth? What's going on? I'm...I'm glad there's someone you feel you can talk to."

"I can talk to Jason," she agreed. "But he shouldn't be put in the middle of our stuff. Especially since he could actually be a real friend for me, and not just someone you pay to keep me safe."

He looked at her oddly, so in order to deflect him from a barrage of questions she didn't want to get sidetracked with right now, she changed the topic. She wanted to keep her relationship with Jason away from Sonny's intrusion.

"So I should have told you myself I wanted a separate studio instead of blowing up and threatening to move out completely."

"You're really that unhappy?" he asked sadly and she heard the guilt settle into his voice.

"Sonny... It's not that I'm unhappy, but this isn't my life. You know the smell of paint can overwhelm me and I have to get away from it." She spread her arms out and said, "I can't do that here."

"Jason mentioned turning one of the other apartments into a studio," he said, almost desperate in his suggestion.

With a sad shake of her head, Elizabeth burst that bubble. "I could smell the paint drifting through the vents. The light's not good and the windows are in the wrong places."

"This hasn't been easy on you," he sighed.

"Honestly?" she asked, knowing this wasn't going to be pleasant for him. "No. You tell me I have to leave the island where I have everything set up the way I liked it. I had a system that worked for me. I was brought here, a place you have always tried to keep me away from, and told it would be a while before it was safe for me to leave.

"You tell me to try to make this my home, but it's not. And when I want to do things to try and make it easier for me, Lord Sonny deems it unacceptable. It's not safe, but you don't give me any options that work."

She walked over and wrapped her arms around him, resting her chin on his arm. "I'm not trying to make you feel bad, Sonny. I tried to make it work; I tried to be accommodating. But I can see this isn't changing soon; you don't trust my safety with anyone but the people here."

"I don't know what Alcazar's doing," he said in frustration. "I feel you're safer here."

"I accept that," Elizabeth told him with a squeeze. "But you gotta give a bit too, Sonny."

He gave a dry chuckle, "Jason told me that this morning. I know I've been pretty unyielding. It's not easy for me to give up control and when it comes to you, Elizabeth, I get a little overprotective."

Her teasing remark was on her tongue, but she swallowed it. This was not the time to poke at him; not when he was opening up to her, being raw and vulnerable. In many ways he was as much of a father to her as he was a brother. Deke had always seemed to resent their presence and he certainly hadn't loved them like a father. Sonny had held her when she was scared or hurt, he was the one who dealt with tears and pleas in the middle of the night. As they got older, he kept things from her, held back a part of himself. Almost as if he had to in order to take care of her.

These moments when he was real with her, showing her all of him, were rare. So she wasn't going to do anything that would cause him to pull back. She wanted, needed, him to trust her.

"I failed you that day, Elizabeth," he whispered, shifting so he could wrap his arms around her. "I knew he was going to snap, and sending you back - when it would be obvious I'd hidden you and lied to him - might escalate it. But I was so scared of hurting you, and I didn't want to talk about it. I was so selfish."

"Sonny, no," she shook her head, wanting to pull back so she could look at him, but he held her tight to his chest.

"Elizabeth, I can't...I can't change the past. I wish I could, but it's worthless to think that way. All I can do now is try to be a better brother. And that means I have to stop locking you up in a tower and keeping things from you."

He stepped back from her, but still held her. His eyes were moist and his voice was thick when he vowed, "If you want a studio, we'll find you one. But don't be surprised if I buy the building just because I can and it will help me ensure you get the best security."

Joining him as he grinned, and then chuckled, she nodded I agreement. "I can live with that; as long as I get to pick the studio I like best."

"Unless the building is a nightmare to secure."

"Honestly talk about it if we differ?" she asked.

"Yes."

Elizabeth beamed at him, "Then we have a deal."

Sonny kissed her forehead, then took her hand and led her to the couch. "Do you want to talk about Mike?"

"Frankly, no," she sighed. "But I realize he's not going to give up and it would be better just to talk to him. He'll probably use it as an excuse to go get drunk and gamble."

"He doesn't need excuses, Elizabeth," her brother said as he took her hand. "It won't be your fault if he does."

"It still doesn't mean I want to see him go off on a bender. It causes so many problems for everyone, especially you, when he does."

Sonny's mouth twisted to the side as he nodded. "I know. Every time I don't give him money, or take care of the loan sharks after him, I worry what trouble he'll get into."

"When does it end, Sonny?"

"It doesn't," he shook his head sadly.

She sat back and drew her feet up onto the couch. "This is just...too much. Let's talk about something else."

"Anything you want," he promised her.

"Can we talk about my guards?" she asked, tipping her head to the side.

Sonny frowned, "What about them? I thought you got along okay with Francis and Enzo."

"I like Francis," Elizabeth admitted. "I feel more comfortable with him than any other guard I've ever had."

"So do you want him even when this is all over?" her brother asked. "Is that what this is about?"

"We can talk about reassigning Francis later. I want to talk about now," she clarified. "Every time I want to go somewhere they feel they have to get permission."

"Because we're talking about the docks and the Canadian border," he pointed out.

"I push back wildly," she countered, "because I can't leave. Let me out, Sonny. Let me go places around town if I want to. And if I do have a moment where I've got to get away, give Francis and Enzo permission to take me. You know that I'll come back; I just need a drive."

It was going against every instinct he had, she knew it, but he eventually nodded. "Alright. I'll talk to them. Set something up. But you only go for your trips with Francis. Or Jason; he said he'd take you. I honestly feel better with him."

She would too, because he was becoming her friend. But she also knew it wasn't always feasible. "I'll try," she conceded. "But he's not just sitting around like a guard, Sonny. I certainly wouldn't count on him always being available. And you do not need to order him to be there; you know there are other things he needs to do, and a son of his own he needs to spend time with."

She watched her normally inflexible brother sigh, and then bend. "Okay. Francis is allowed."

"Thank you," Elizabeth smiled at him. "I'll try to do better, Sonny, and to talk to you before I suddenly blow."

"I'll try to talk to you first, when I can, and not just steamroll your life," Sonny made his own vow.

"If we talk, Sonny, then maybe things can be better between us."

His dimples peeked out as he said, "I hope so too, Elizabeth." He moved closer and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. "I regret we aren't closer; maybe that could happen with this situation."

"Maybe," she nodded against his chest. "I'd like that."

She could hear the smile in his voice as he said, "Good. Now, what do you want to do? I told Sam I was going to spend some time with you and I brought a movie down if you want to watch something."

What Elizabeth really wanted to do was try to convince Sonny to tell Jason the truth like he had Sam, but she knew she'd pushed enough for today. She still thought it was important, but she'd try later. Enough progress had been made; she wasn't going to jeopardize their new standing.

"So what did you bring down from your classic collection?" she laughed, letting him know that a movie was fine. "Grant, Tracy or Bogie?"

Chapter 18

"You sure you want to do this?" Jason asked as they approached the waterfront diner.

Elizabeth drew her bottom lip in between her teeth and worried it to the point that Jason was afraid it was going to start bleeding. "Yeah," she nodded, crossing her arms tightly across her chest. "I'd rather just do this and get it over with. If I don't talk to him he's just going to keep coming by; maybe this way he'll understand I don't want to see him."

He wanted to tell her that he could make sure Mike stayed away from her for good, but he knew that wasn't what she wanted. She didn't want someone to fix her problems for her; she didn't want someone shielding her and acting like she couldn't do anything for herself. She had determined to meet with Mike and while Sonny hadn't been thrilled, he'd respected it was her decision to make. Jason recognized it was a step forward for the siblings.

Then Elizabeth had surprised them both by saying she didn't want Sonny there. It would only escalate things or make Mike feel they were ganging up on him. She preferred to meet him alone, with only Jason there to ensure things did not get out of hand. He'd been surprised that she would want him there, but she'd proved she was astute by saying he would only step in if Mike got unreasonable and overly belligerent, but also that Mike respected Jason more than others in the organization and that respect would help keep him in line.

Sonny knew that Jason had little respect or patience for Mike, but wasn't overly confrontational for Sonny's sake. Maybe he had spoken about that to Elizabeth, or maybe she just sensed it. Whatever the reason, he would keep his distance while Elizabeth spoke to her father, but he would also keep an eye on the older man. Mike wouldn't upset or try to intimidate her while Jason was around.

As they stepped inside Kelly's, Mike was sitting at a table in the corner, obviously hoping for some privacy with Elizabeth. She sighed as she looked at him, then glanced over her shoulder at Jason a bit uncertainly. "Will you stay in here while I talk to him?"

"I'll be at the counter," he assured her as he gently touched her shoulder.

With a relieved nod she walked towards Mike, her head held high. Jason watched her for a moment, and then turned for the counter. Bobbie was behind it, working on the books and apparently getting very frustrated by them.

As he sat down, the nurse looked up and smiled, "Hello, Jason."

"Hi, Bobbie," he smiled back briefly as she poured him a cup of coffee.

Glancing over at the corner she leaned forward just a bit and quietly asked, "Is that Sonny's sister? Mike said he was waiting for his daughter."

"That's Elizabeth Corinthos," he admitted. He knew Bobbie wasn't like Carly, but he still didn't want to go flaunting her identity around.

"She doesn't often come to Port Charles," she commented lightly. "She just here to visit Sonny?"

"She's helping Sam plan the wedding," he said offhandedly, hoping it would dissuade her from more questions. Apparently it worked, because she turned back to her books and let him drink his coffee. He looked over at the corner and saw Elizabeth didn't look happy, but he didn't sense any real trouble.

With a sigh, she tucked the pencil into the book and closed it. "I'll let Luke deal with this."

Pushing aside his coffee, Jason gestured toward the ledger, "I could look that over for you."

She smiled, but shook her head, "Thank you, Jason, but I'll give it to Luke. He needs to do more than raid the till and harass the cook."

Bobbie looked over at the corner and then warily back to Jason. "I'm not sure if you know, but Carly thinks you're dating Sonny's sister. She's convinced you're going to marry Elizabeth, take Michael and the two of you will raise him leaving Carly without her son."

With a sigh, he ran his hand over his face. "I'm not dating Elizabeth, and I would never take Michael away from Carly. She's his mother and he needs her; I would never-"

"I know, Jason," Bobbie said with a pat on his hand. "But you know how Carly is. She wants a life with you, and since you won't marry her, she makes up wild imaginings."

"I know," he answered with a beleaguered sigh. She also made crazy schemes which is what he feared her friend Alex's visit to the house the other night was about. Or she was trying to make him jealous by letting the man around Michael. "But it's not going to happen."

With an apologetic glance at Michael's grandmother he said, "My relationship with Carly is strictly as Michael's father."

"I understand that, Jason, but don't be surprised if Carly refuses to accept it. Until you're married, she'll always hope." With a wistful sigh she then admitted, "Even then that may not stop her."

Jason glanced over at Elizabeth, checking to make sure she was still holding her own and then looked back at Bobbie. "Carly's just going to have to learn that my personal life is none of her business."

"Yeah," Bobbie nodded, with a look of her own at Elizabeth and Mike, "we'll see how well she accepts that."

"Do you want anything to eat?" Mike asked as they sat down at the table.

"No, thank you," she shook her head. "I'm not really hungry."

Her stomach was in knots over the whole though of this meeting, and if she decided to leave early she wouldn't have to leave food behind uneaten or make a dash for the bathroom.

"What about something to drink?" he asked with a hopeful smile.

Deciding that to completely rebuff him would be rude, and deciding something sweet might help get her through this, she nodded and said, "A hot chocolate."

"In this heat?" Mike laughed.

"What does one thing have to do with the other?" she shrugged.

There was an awkward silence as they waited for the waitress to bring her hot chocolate and a refill of Mike's iced tea, but Elizabeth didn't want to be interrupted by the arrival of the server so she waited. After their drinks arrived and the young waitress walked away, she took a sip and then looked at her father.

"Listen, I wanted to talk to you, Mike."

He gave a little chuckle, "I figured as much. Look, I want to apologize for the other night. Your brother wasn't passing on my messages and I just wanted to see my little girl."

"I'm not your little girl," she said coolly. "I don't really even know you. My first sound might have been da-da, but that's only because it's an easier sound to make phonetically for babies. I certainly had no references for Daddy since you took off when I was only a couple of months old. As far as I'm concerned, you just happened to be there the night I was conceived."

Mike stared in disbelief and shock at her and she took a drink of her hot chocolate and then swiped her tongue over her lips to clear the residue. "I'm not trying to be cruel, Mike; I'm trying to be honest so you understand. I don't remember you. All I know is what I picked up as I grew up. You abandoned us. You might have come back every-so-often when you wanted to, but you always left again. To me you were just a guy who came, dropped off a few presents and left. You might as well have been Santa Claus for as real as you were."

"I'm sorry, Elizabeth," he said low and rough. "I know I wasn't a very good father. I just...I have this sickness."

"You have an addiction, Mike," she corrected him. "Sickness sounds like cancer; something you can't change. You could go to rehab and meetings; you could get help. But you don't. I know Sonny's offered to help, but you turned him down. You don't want to change, but you want everyone to feel sorry for you. You owed Mom child support, but because you cared more about yourself you never paid."

"I did when I could."

She took in his hanging head and I'm sorry attitude and told herself to not get angry. It wouldn't really affect him, and would only hurt herself.

"She worked two jobs, sometimes three, and married someone she thought would take are of us. Instead, we got Deke. I'll be honest, Mike, I'm not sure I can ever forgive you for that. All you had to do was worry about was whether you could pay your bookie. We had to worry if Deke was going to beat us to death. Looks like it happened to Mom."

Mike glared at her, "Don't be glib, Elizabeth. I loved your mother."

"But you loved the ponies more. So don't act like I'm your little girl and we're going to have all sorts of father-daughter bonding moments now that we're in the same town. I don't want to get together with you for dinner or drinks, I'm not going to spend time getting to know you now, and I'm not going to lend you money."

"That's not what this is about," Mike shook his head.

"You only came around after Sonny made a name for himself and had a lot of money. Which you needed. You always get a lot more fatherly when you're in deep. I don't want anything to do with that," she told him. "So please, stop coming by the Towers. Don't try to contact me."

"What happened to you, Elizabeth?" he asked sadly. "You were a happy child. Now you're cold and distant."

"Just because I'm not warm and friendly with you doesn't mean I'm cold. I'm sorry I can't give you what you want, Mike. But I just can't be your little girl and make a happy little family."

"Is this because of Deke?" he asked. "Did he hurt you?"

She looked over at the counter and caught Jason's eye. When he turned towards her, breaking off conversation with the waitress behind the counter, she pushed back her chair and stood. "Yeah, he hurt me, Mike. He didn't restrict his rage to my mother."

"No," Mike said softly as Jason approached the table, "did he hurt you?"

Jason stopped abruptly by her side, "You ready to go?"

She nodded.

"Elizabeth," Mike stood and stepped to the side, blocking their path. "Wait, please. I know you want nothing to do with me, but you are my daughter and I need to know. Did Deke...did he...touch..."

His voice dropped and he leaned forward, "Did he molest you?"

Elizabeth stepped back, stumbling as she collided with Jason. She swallowed and clutched her purse to her, "Please stop trying to contact me, Mike."

"Elizabeth," he pleaded.

"Mike," Jason cut in, his voice low, "you heard her. Come on, Elizabeth. Let's go."

He had his hand on her elbow and guided her towards the door. She looked straight forward, focused on getting outside and away from this whole awful scene. As they got outside, and Jason guided her towards the car she thought she heard someone call after them, but Jason didn't stop. He got her to the car and inside, then climbed in and looked over at her warily.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly.

"Can you please just...can we please just take a drive somewhere?"

"Yeah," he answered, and she closed her eyes in relief, letting her head rest against the window. "Yeah, we can do that."

Carly stood in the doorway of Kelly's and stared in angry disbelief as she saw Jason drive away with Elizabeth Corinthos. She'd wanted to talk to Jason and he'd flat out ignored her. But he was certainly attentive to the woman she'd accused him of dating, but he'd denied seeing. Funny how he always seemed to be around her; today he'd even practically had his arm around her as he was molded to her side.

As Sonny Corinthos' sister, she would have guards with her all the time. Jason was not a guard, so if he was spending time with her it was not to keep her safe. Rides on his motorcycle, lunch at Kelly's - which her mother owned, it was practically a slap to Carly's face to come here - and spending time together with Michael was not innocent. No matter what Jason tried to tell her.

Pulling open the door, she stalked up to the counter and sat down. She raised her eyebrows as her mother looked over at her and asked, "Want to tell me again how Jason isn't cheating on me?"

Bobbie stared at her and then shook her head, "Jason can't cheat on you because the two of you are not together. And if you're talking about Elizabeth, he was only here while she was talking to her father."

Carly looked over and saw Mike stumbling his way upstairs. The old man was probably drunk already. Pathetic.

"It wasn't a pleasant conversation," her mother informed her, "and Elizabeth was upset when Jason led her out of here."

"When I saw them, if they were any closer they would have needed a room," Carly huffed. "He keeps telling me he's not dating her, but all evidence says otherwise."

"Carly," her mother sighed.

"Save it," she snapped. "I know you think I should just give up, but I love Jason. We should be a family, and I'm not going to give up until he sees that."

Then she stood and walked outside. When she reached the street, she flagged down a cab and pulled out her phone. She didn't know how busy Alex was with Jax's company, but hopefully he'd be able to come up with an excuse to leave. She needed to see him right now and she didn't want to have to wait. Not today.

Elizabeth was quiet the entire ride up the cliffs. When they'd left this morning, she'd been disappointed they weren't taking his motorcycle, but now Jason was glad. He would have worried about her on the back of his bike as they'd traveled here.

He'd seen her quiet and still before, but that had been when she was hurt. Every other time he'd been around her, even when she was sitting, she radiated an energy. Now she was abnormally still and it was a bit unsettling.

It didn't help him in his efforts to not think of Mike's last question to Elizabeth. It wasn't his business; that was personal. But that question rolled around his head and he often looked at Elizabeth out of the corner of his eye wondering if he could discern the answer by her behavior. She was clearly unsettled by what Mike asked, but did that mean the answer was yes?

Jason knew Deke Johnson was a monster. He'd beaten his wife to death. He'd tortured and tormented his stepchildren. Jason knew what the cop did to Sonny, and he'd heard a few things about Elizabeth's experiences to guess about what she'd been through. But had Deke crossed the line from physical abuse to molestation?

Slowly he eased up to the bridge and turned off the car. He rested his hands on the steering wheel and then glanced over at Elizabeth. She hadn't moved; she merely stared straight ahead.

"He didn't touch me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jason swallowed, but couldn't speak.

"He hit me, he yelled at me, he said I was a freak and he hated my mother for not telling him the truth about me, making him be stuck with all of us. But he never..."

If Jason looking at her made her uncomfortable, she didn't show it. She merely stared straight ahead and spoke quietly, almost mechanically.

"Except for that night."

Jason clenched the steering wheel and looked out the windshield, hate and revulsion rolling through him.

"He was furious that I'd run away, that Sonny had hidden me, and then that our mother brought me back home. He was sure that I'd slept with Sonny's friends and that now that I was a mob whore...

"He was drunk that night, which wasn't very unusual, but it was worse that night. My mother wasn't there. He'd mostly just ignored me after I came back, and I kept my head down and stayed out of his way. Did my chores, kept to my room, tried not to make any noise. But he was enraged that I was back. He hated my presence in his life and it was an embarrassment to him, a cop, to have his stepson working for Joe Scully. I think he would have been happy for me to be gone, but he had appearances to keep up so he had to act like he wanted me back."

"He didn't," Jason managed to say, his throat raw.

She laughed dryly. "No. He resented my presence, who I was, what I was, and he was going to make me pay. He came after me and I...I fought him. That only made him angrier. That's when my mother came home."

Closing her eyes and leaning her head against the seat, tears seeped out. He reached out and hesitated a moment, then rested his hand over hers, trying to give her comfort and strength. She didn't pull her hand away, so he felt that she didn't resent his touch.

"She fought him, kept him away from me...it was..." She shook her head. "Chaotic, out of control...just too much. I called Sonny and he came. I think you know the rest of the story."

"Yeah," he nodded. "I do."

"Thinking about that night..." She swallowed and more tears spilled over. "Mike doesn't know everything; Sonny and I agreed he didn't need to know. He wasn't there; he wasn't part of our lives. What right does he have to ask me? What makes him think I'm going to tell him anything? He abandoned us. He didn't care back then; it's hollow for him to act like he cares now."

Jason squeezed her hand and said, "You don't owe him anything, and you don't have to talk to him again. Sonny won't make you, and we'll make sure the guards know that he's not to get close to you. You never have to deal with him again if you don't want to."

She nodded, swallowing thickly, trying to choke back the sobs he could see were close to the surface. Tremors were beginning to hit her and he knew he needed to distract her, give her something else to think about. "Come on," he said.

"What?" She was confused as she looked over at him.

"I want to show you something," he coaxed her. "There's an old estate across the bridge. The house is gone, but the grounds...there are these statues. I think you'd like them."

He got out of the car and was glad she easily followed him, climbing out before he reached her side. He took her hand and led her across the bridge, drawing her out of the past and the pain and giving her something to focus on. He knew the artist in her would love the statues with their weathered and vine covered appearance. Hopefully she wouldn't think about Mike or Deke or what happened that night long ago; he just wished he could do the same.

Chapter 19

"You needn't skulk in doorways or corners."

His brother gave a tsk of disapproval, but entered the study. He poured himself a drink and then sat down across from him.

"I'm surprised to see you here," Luis said as he took a sip of his drink. "You usually avoid this place. It's too sullied for your noble, high-minded university ideals. This is where we do the dirty work, Lorenzo, are you sure you should be here?"

"I came to try to reason with you, Luis," his younger brother said, almost pleadingly, as he leaned forward. "Give up this madness."

"Madness?" he asked quietly, sitting back and appraising the man across from him. "Poor choice of wording, Lorenzo."

"Forgive me," he apologized. "I did not mean...I was not thinking of-"

"You are correct," Luis said coolly. "You were not thinking. You are also foolish if you think you can come in here and lecture me. You choose not to be involved in this life, even though it was the means of paying for the education you take such pride in. Father allowed you to pursue your lofty ideals, acting like you were better than him and wounding him with your youthful arrogance."

He was pleased to see Lorenzo looked chagrinned and he dealt the upstart another blow, "I have allowed you to stay away; mostly because I have no desire for you to be around. I have no use, or want, for someone who turns his back on family or acts as if he is better than those who raised him."

Standing, Luis crossed to the credenza and refilled his glass. "So you may leave now, Lorenzo. Don't get involved with things you chose to stay out of."

"I'm foolish?" his younger brother demanded. "At least I have the sense to realize its utter foolishness to go after Sonny Corinthos. This isn't about increasing business or eliminating someone who betrayed you; you're on a personal vendetta. It is not worth it."

"I say it is," Luis replied, steel coursing through his voice. "And that is all that matters."

"You're stretching your resources too thin."

"You know nothing of my resources," he laughed at Lorenzo's naïveté. "I have Corinthos over a barrel; he just doesn't know it. I have assets in place that have yet to be activated, and I have a point man in so close nobody can see him. He's been very useful, and quite successful. In fact, this week he just recruited his most valuable ally."

Taking a sip, he eyed his brother, and then turned away from him in dismissal. "Go back to your idyllic little school, Lorenzo. You aren't going to sway me from my course, and if you get in my way I will deal with you. Regardless of the fact you are my brother."

Sonny knocked on the door, mostly just to announce he was there, and then opened it to step in. Ever since Jason took Elizabeth out to look at the studio possibilities Stan had found, and then to meet with Mike, he had been avoiding Sonny. Something had obviously happened and he was tired of waiting to find out exactly what. He was going to get some answers.

As he stepped into his sister's apartment he was struck by the difference. Either he now owned a building Bernie hadn't yet told him about and Elizabeth was starting her packing so she'd be ready to move in when the renovations were complete, or she was expending nervous energy by boxing up all her art supplies. Since Sonny knew he hadn't signed any ownership papers, he was betting on the second option.

"Elizabeth?"

She looked up, pausing in the process of setting tubes of paint in a box and asked, "What do you want, Sonny? I'm rather busy at the moment."

"No, you're not," he shook his head, knowing he was risking her ire. "You're trying to avoid me. Just like Jason is. So I want to know why? What happened with Mike?"

"I liked the second building the best that Jason showed me. Had the best light and Jason doesn't think they'll need to make too many upgrades. He gave the information to Bernie; I thought you'd have it already."

"He hasn't gotten it to me yet. And you're trying to distract me so you can avoid the question." He closed the distance between them and lightly clasped her wrists to still her actions. "Elizabeth?"

"Mike wanted what he always wants," she said in aggravation. "The thought that we'll be one, big happy family. I told him in no uncertain terms it wasn't going to happen; that I don't remember him or want anything to do with him. But he kept going, trying to show his concern or whatever it was he was trying to do."

"What happened?" Mike's sudden attempts at parental concern were nothing new, and it had never upset Elizabeth like this before. Sonny also couldn't see how this would affect Jason so that he'd virtually disappear. "There was something more."

"He asked about Deke and if he'd ever..." She pulled her hands away and paced across the room, wrapping her arms around her middle. "He asked if Deke had ever...touched me. I didn't answer the question but Jason heard it."

Sonny swallowed thickly and closed his eyes. Jason loathed Deke for all that the cop had done to Sonny and his family, but if he thought the man had raped Elizabeth it would incense the younger man. He hated abusers.

"I told Jason the truth about that night. Everything." Her voice was weak and shaky and she stared resolutely out the window. "He knows what Deke said, what he tried, what he did. I...I felt he deserved to know the truth."

"I agree," Sonny agreed softly and stepped towards her cautiously. "I never told him, because it wasn't for me to reveal what Deke tried that night. If you told him...it was your decision to make."

"I trust him," she said, her voice firming as she turned just slightly. "I didn't like the way he showed up that night on the island, but I accepted that you trusted him. I wondered if he was spending time with me simply to keep me in line so that I didn't distract you and cause problems. But I trust him now. I see the good in him that you do."

"He's a good man," he said fervently, with deep conviction. "I trust him with my life."

She turned so she could lean her hip against the wall. "I do too. Which is why I trusted him with the truth."

Sonny tilted his head, suddenly wary. Truth.

"He didn't look at me like he doubted me; he believed me implicitly. But he didn't go all weird on me either. He didn't get skittish or all cautious, acting like he had to coddle me for the horror I went through. He treated me normally."

Turning even more towards him, she looked at him with wonderment. "Do you know what that means to me, Sonny? He acted the same. That's when I fully understood why you trust him like you do with everything. He's a very unique man."

"And that's why you think I should tell him the truth about what I see," Sonny huffed with irritation. "You got me to tell Sam and now you want me to tell Jason.'

She turned away from him, once more looking out the window. With a sigh Sonny rubbed his forehead, "I'm sorry. That...that wasn't fair of me."

"No," she clipped out. "It wasn't. You...you make me sound like I'm some calculating or manipulating person, trying to bend you to my will."

He stopped by the window, near her, but not touching her. "That isn't what I was...I know you're not trying to manipulate me. But you are trying to get me to do something that I normally wouldn't choose."

"I'm making a suggestion to you, Sonny," she shook her head slightly, still looking at him. "You live a life of secrecy; it began even before you got into the mob. That works great for the mob, but it's not always best for everything else."

"Sometimes, yeah...I guess not," he admitted.

"You knew Deke was going to kill Mom. Not just a well-founded conclusion based on the fact that he beat her like an animal, but because you saw it." Elizabeth swallowed and closed her eyes, her head slumping forward. "You never told her because you had lied to her for years and told her you didn't see things. That your visions earlier were just childhood ramblings, jokes. And when you realized Deke didn't like it you stopped."

Turning to look at him, she asked, "Is it because you were angry with her for never standing up to Deke for us, or was it because you thought she'd think you were weird and that was why you never trusted her with this?"

"I don't know," he shrugged and rubbed his hand across his forehead. "I just saw that she looked happy when I said it was a joke. I think she knew she made a mistake with Deke, that he wasn't who she thought he was, but she was stuck. I was one less thing she had to worry about."

Elizabeth appraised him silently for a moment and then turned away again. Staring out the window she quietly said, "You mean me."

"Elizabeth," Sonny said with pain and regret.

"No, I know. You tried to tell me to be quiet, to not talk about it. How many beatings did you take for me because I foolishly ran my mouth in front of Deke?"

"I didn't count, but I would have taken hundreds more than I got if it meant he didn't hit you."

Her lip quivered and her eyes were bright as she glanced over at him. "You were the best big brother, Sonny. I'm just sorry I caused you so many problems."

Sonny put his hands on his sister's shoulder and made her face him. Putting his finger under her chin so that she'd look at him he told her, "I want you to listen to me, Elizabeth. You were never a problem. The problem was Deke and I thought it was my job to protect you and Mom. I acted out just to draw his wrath so it didn't end up on you."

She stepped into his embrace and he held her as she tried to stifle her sobs. He rubbed her back gently, trying to calm her down and he breathed a small sigh of relief when she firmed her shoulders almost as quickly as she'd teared up.

"We're quite a pair, aren't we?" she said, her voice lightly laced with bitterness. She tried to bury it in force, embarrassed levity. "Two messed up people."

"Not everyone sees us that way," he told her. "We don't, Sam doesn't...and no, Jason doesn't either."

"Yeah," she nodded, leaning her head against his chest. "You found some good people."

"I don't know how," he shrugged with one shoulder as he continued to rub her back. "I don't know how I lucked into them."

He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly before admitting, "You were right."

"About what?" Elizabeth asked, pulling back to look at him in confusion.

"About telling Sam. I feel better after telling her; I'm not hiding anything from her anymore. Except for business."

"I knew she would understand," his sister nodded. "I'm glad for you, Sonny. You deserve someone, who's not your little sister, who knows it all and accepts you. It's all I ever wanted for you."

"You think Jason would understand as well."

She huffed in irritation and pulled out of his arms, "Sonny, I don't get this. A few minutes ago you thought I was trying to manipulate our conversation, and now you're the one who won't let it go. What do you want from me?"

"I want your honest opinion," he said, searching her eyes. "Do you think he'd understand? I...I'm the head of all this; I'm not supposed to be weak."

"He's seen you break before," she reminded him. "Did you ever feel like Jason thought you were weak?"

He shook his head, "No."

"I think you already know the answer, Sonny. You're just nervous about dispelling another lie. But I think you already know that Jason won't judge you." She touched his cheek lightly and said, "Ultimately, it's your decision. I can say what I think you should do, or what I think Jason will do, but only you can decide. I won't pressure you, I won't bring it up again, and I'll stand by whatever you choose."

"I just have to make a decision," he sighed. It all sounded easier said than done, but that was why he was the boss. To make the tough choices. It's just that it was awfully lonely at the top.

Sam stepped quietly into the sanctuary and slowly walked up to the man sitting near the front. She knew her footsteps echoed in the empty room, but she also knew if he was lost in his thoughts he might not hear her. It wasn't likely, but she'd seen it happen before.

"Jason?" she called out softly, and she knew he'd heard her because he didn't tense when she touched his shoulder. He slid over so she could sit down and she silently joined him.

"Father Coates said you were in here," she said after a few moments. She'd been surprised when she showed up for a planning meeting with the priest and he said Jason was in the church. That he'd been here since early in the morning and didn't want to be disturbed. "Is everything okay? Is...is it your grandmother?"

He shook his head, "Lila's fine."

"That's good," she said with relief. She liked Lila. Mrs. Quartermaine liked Sonny, and she had always been polite, even friendly, to Sam whenever they met.

"Then what's going on?" she asked. "It's not like you to sit for hours in church; unless you're worried about someone. Is Michael sick?"

"It's not Michael."

She fell silent, looking up at the altar and the crucifix over it. Jason was tense, clearly upset and while he went to church every Sunday, it wasn't normal for him to sit here for hours. Not unless something was wrong. If it wasn't his grandmother or Michael, then it had to be someone else he'd been around. Aside from the men at work, he'd only been around her, Sonny and Elizabeth.

"Are you upset about Elizabeth?" Sam ventured quietly and hesitantly.

He tensed, "I'm not upset with her."

"That wasn't what I asked," she corrected. "Did something happen?"

Jason didn't answer, but she didn't need to be psychic to know he was bothered and that it centered around Elizabeth. Sam was glad that Jason appeared to be building a friendship with Elizabeth; her future sister-in-law could only benefit from it. She was so isolated sometimes in her life and didn't have many friends that she could completely trust.

That didn't even take into account the fact that she hardly dated. Men either got scared off, or it was discovered he was only trying to get at Sonny through Elizabeth. Very few were there for her. Sam knew that Sonny didn't want her to play matchmaker between his sister and enforcer, he didn't want Elizabeth involved anymore in this life than she already was. Sam honestly wasn't planning to, but if something developed on its own, then she would do what she could to support the pair and get Sonny to accept it and not fight them. Elizabeth needed a good man in her life like Sam had.

When it became obvious Jason was not going to answer her, Sam quietly shifted in her seat and sighed, "It's not easy to care about the Corinthos family. Sometimes they can be open and you understand where they're coming from and what they want. And other times they're so closed off. They've got a lot of demons and fight a lot of internal battles."

She rubbed at her nose, pausing for a moment. "My father has accepted that I love Sonny, but he tried to dissuade me from getting involved with him. He thought Sonny would be too hard to live with, and sometimes he's correct. It can be hard to be involved with Sonny, but I never considered giving up. Good things come after a little hard work; the easy things never last."

They sat in silence once more and then Jason asked, "You really do love him, don't you?"

"With all my heart," she answered immediately. "I already consider us married; the wedding is for my father and the Church. But for us...we became a family a long time ago. Elizabeth is part of that family, and I love her like she's my own sister. So just...be careful with her, Jason."

Chapter 20

When Jason knocked on Carly's door to bring Michael back after the little boy had spent the night at his house, he hadn't expected to find her half-dressed boyfriend on the other side. He knew from the guards that Alex Henderson had been to Carly's house before, had even stayed the night, but he didn't use the guards to spy on her. They gave him an update for security reasons only; he wasn't going to be pulled into anything that would let Carly think he was jealous. So he never mentioned Alex.

She, on the other hand, went out of her way to mention her new boyfriend every chance she could. She talked about the times Alex had gone with her and Michael to the zoo or the park. She mentioned that Michael would be with Bobbie for the night because Alex was taking her to dinner, and when she dropped off the little boy at his penthouse last night she was dressed up like one of the women in her fashion magazines she always showed him. Alex was apparently taking her to New York City to see a play.

"Hi," Alex smiled at him, holding out his hand. "You must be Michael's father Jason."

"Yeah," he answered, walking into the house. Jason thought it was rather obvious who he was, especially since he was holding Michael. Looking around he asked, "Where's Carly?"

"She was still asleep when I got up. She likes to sleep in," the other man said with just a hint of a smirk.

It was nearly 11; she should be up by now. Especially since Jason told her he would have Michael back before lunch because he had a meeting this afternoon.

"Could you check?" he asked a bit reluctantly. Leticia wasn't here, and he wasn't going up to Carly's bedroom - he placed boundaries on their private space after they stopped sleeping together - so Alex was his only option.

"Look, if you need to go, I'll watch Michael," the other man smiled benignly. "It's the weekend; I don't have to work today. My plan was to spend the rest of the weekend here with Carly and Michael."

"I need to talk to Carly," Jason said calmly, even as he was growing steadily angrier. "So could you go wake her up and tell her I'm here? Please."

Alex shrugged and headed for the stairs. "Sure. Be right back."

Fifteen minutes later, after some unmistakable sounds drifted to the living room, Carly finally stumbled down the stairs. Alex followed behind her, tucking his shirt in. He looked over at Jason, then kissed Carly on the cheek. "I'll go pick us up something to eat."

Once the door was closed, Jason turned his gaze on Carly, scrutinizing her. She was sitting on the couch, her knees pulled up against her chest, but tilted just enough to show off her cleavage in the robe that wasn't quite completely closed. She pretended to fiddle nervously with the ends of the red silk, adjusting it around her legs while not looking him in the eye.

"Are you hung over?" he asked tightly.

"Alex and I enjoyed ourselves last night," she stated. "We didn't do anything wrong. He hired a driver."

"You were still asleep when I arrived. You knew what time I was coming with Michael. You should have been up."

She rolled her eyes, "Alex said you refused to leave Michael with him. Michael likes Alex, Jason; he's spent lots of time with him. If you're going to let your girlfriend look after him then you can't complain if Alex watches him."

"I don't care if Michael's around Alex," he said, letting out a breath. "What I care about is your behavior, Carly. You're his mother; you knew Michael would be here at a certain time. You have a responsibility to him that you sometimes just don't care if you meet or not as long as you're happy. It can't work like that when you're a parent."

"What are you going to do?" she snapped at him. "Tell A.J. that Michael is his? Take him away from me and raise him yourself?"

"You know I wouldn't do that," he sighed and shook his head.

"That's right," she smirked in triumph. "You love Michael and you don't want to lose him."

"I do love Michael," Jason confirmed as he glanced over at the playpen where Michael was playing. "And I want what's best for him and I don't want anyone to hurt him. Including you."

"I would never hurt my son!"

"Sleeping to noon because you're hung over, or not watching him because you want to go somewhere with Alex, isn't helping him, Carly," he told her sharply. "Leticia is not a substitute for you. She's here to help, but you can't keep acting like having a child is inconvenient for your lifestyle."

"That's not what I'm doing," she yelled at him. "You're acting like I'm a bad mother or something."

"I'm telling you to grow up," he told her. "Act like an adult; be responsible."

"Or what?" she huffed, rolling her eyes again. "You'll cut off my allowance?"

"Actually," he began with a shrug and Carly's eyes widened.

"You're serious?!"

"Benny pays all your bills anyways, but now I'm restricting your credit. It's no longer going to be unlimited. Maybe that will keep you home with your son if you can't go shopping all the time or go to the spa or eat out every day. You'll still have enough money for you and Michael, but it won't be unlimited anymore. Maybe I gave you too much freedom. It's not about the money; it's about taking care of our son."

She looked murderous as she reminded him, "He's my son."

"Then act like his mother, Carly," Jason said wearily as he stood. "I don't want to have to have this conversation again."

"So this is where you run your empire," Elizabeth mused as she looked around. When Sonny glanced sharply at her she rolled her eyes and said, "I'm talking about your coffee empire, Sonny."

He sighed and sat down at his desk, sifting through some files his secretary and Benny had left there for him to go over. Elizabeth looked at him, seeing the strain around his eyes that had nothing to do with contracts. She knew it getting crazy, and it wasn't just the wedding plans. Business was very unsettled right now.

She'd found a studio that she liked and Jason didn't think was a nightmare to secure; Sonny had approved her choice and made the owner a very generous offer. But the whole project had stalled there. Sonny had been in meetings with families, overseeing shipments and even once getting hauled down to the PCPD with Max. Jason was gone even more, and Elizabeth and Sam had taken to spending their evenings together simply to keep from driving themselves crazy with speculations and worries.

She had been about to accuse Sonny of deliberately not signing the permits necessary for the renovations when Benny called her this morning. The accountant had sounded flustered and apologetic as he asked to meet her, but she knew that was pretty normal for him. Benny was respectful and deferential to Sonny and Jason, and downright solicitous to her and Sam simply because of who they were.

"So Benny called me this morning," she said, looking out the window that faced the harbor. She didn't care to look out over the warehouse floor. "I went to the building and met with the project supervisor. You told them to ask my opinion on how to make the renovations?"

She turned to look at her brother and raised an eyebrow. He leaned back in his chair, swiveling to face her and asked, "You're surprised? You shouldn't be. You had some very exacting requirements when we set up your studio on the island. I'm buying this building for you, why shouldn't it be set up how you like it?"

"But all the units?" she asked.

"Why not?" he shrugged simply. "If other artists don't like it, they'll make do. But this is your building, Elizabeth, and the studio is going to be how you want it."

Elizabeth bit her lip and blinked a couple of times to keep from crying at his amazing generosity and simplistic view. Walking over to him she leaned down and hugged him, "Thank you, Nito."

He brushed his hand over her hair and his own voice was husky as he said, "You're welcome, Lizbeth."

She straightened and tugged at her shirt, "I know you have meetings so I should go. I just wanted to stop in and see you since I had to go to the studio and I was out."

"Benny tells me it should be done soon," he replied, not looking entirely pleased as he said the words but knowing this meant a lot to her. "Soon, okay?"

She nodded, "I know. I know you're busy, so I was actually surprised to hear from Benny today. I hadn't thought this would get much attention with everything else going on."

When Sonny sighed and looked down she wished she hadn't said anything. She wasn't trying to make him feel guilty. He was about to speak but she cut him off with a shake of her head.

"It's okay, Sonny. I just...let's just move on, okay?" When he nodded, she smiled. "Great. Now I know you're busy, but I want you to try to find some time to go tux shopping, okay?"

"I already have a tuxedo," he countered.

"Sam wants you to have a new one. And she's the bride so we get to go shopping."

"You're not my best man," he teased. "I thought that was his job."

"I don't really see Jason dragging you into a tuxedo shop," she smirked back. "I figured it would be the other way around. I know what Sam wants, so..."

"Yeah, alright," he smiled with a good natured grumble.

"Okay, I'll tell your secretary so she can try to find some time. I'll see you later." She gave him a kiss on his cheek and then turned to go.

"Oh, sorry," she sighed apologetically as she knocked a clipboard off the corner of his desk. Bending down she picked it up to hand to him but paused and looked at the sheet on it.

"Elizabeth?" he frowned, holding out his hand.

"Sonny," she looked at him uneasily, "this is different writing."

He peered at the warehouse receiving log and shook his head. "It's the same."

"No, it's not," Elizabeth insisted. She picked up a pencil and drew a line between two entries. "It changes here. The handwriting looks the same at first glance, but it's different."

She pointed to the top half of the sheet, "This is green and this," she pointed at the bottom, "is rust. Either someone tried to make it look the same but it's different people, or it's the same person, but something changed with him."

Sonny took the clipboard and looked at it, then picked up some other papers. "What about these?"

She quickly flipped through them, separating them into green and rust piles. He looked through them and then back at the clipboard. "It all seems to change about two weeks ago."

"Sonny?" Jason knocked on the doorframe and then looked in, his gaze skimming over her. "Did you need to reschedule?"

He wouldn't look directly at Elizabeth and she wondered why, but she also knew that Sonny needed to deal with this finding and would need Jason's help. So she quickly made to excuse herself. "I should go. You need to look into this, and I'm supposed to meet Sam for any alterations she might need."

She started past Jason, "I'll see you around."

"Yeah," he nodded stiffly.

It was odd, but she attributed his behavior to the fact that business was crazy and he was probably even busier and more harried than Sonny was right now.

Once his sister closed the door behind her, Sonny looked at Jason and was eager to get down to business, "I want you to do something. I want you and Benny to look into our warehouse manager."

"Kurt?" Jason asked in surprise. "Why? What am I looking for?"

Sonny glanced down at the clipboard and the line Elizabeth had drawn. He couldn't see what she did; all he saw was plain writing that looked the same. But he trusted her when she said something was different, because she'd once alerted to an imposter in a rival organization all because of a written note.

"I don't know what to tell you you're searching for," he admitted. "It's just a hunch I have. Something doesn't seem right. I want to investigate his activities, his bank accounts...all the usual things going back several weeks."

"A hunch?" Jason asked, challenging Sonny more than he ever had in the past.

"Yes," he answered, his eyes narrowing slightly. It had always been good enough for Jason before; he didn't understand why Jason didn't take his orders now.

Plus, Sonny was not going to give the real explanation. Would Jason believe that Elizabeth saw colors around people's writing and that she'd noticed Kurt's changed a couple of weeks ago? It wasn't really Sonny's condition to reveal or explain. And if he said he implicitly believed Elizabeth because he had visions he couldn't control, what would Jason say to that?

His challenging, almost confrontational, manner was what Sonny had always feared if he ever told the truth. While Sam had accepted his condition and Elizabeth believed Jason would understand, Sonny wasn't so sure. He couldn't bear to have, not just his employees, but his friend think he was weird because of this condition.

Jason right now seemed skeptical, not ready to run off and investigate Kurt just because Sonny told him to. If Sonny told him the truth would this be more common? Would he feel the need, or even the right, to challenge, countermand or flat-out ignore Sonny's orders? He wouldn't be able to handle people looking at him strangely or the men trying to take away his power.

"Forget it," Sonny growled roughly, grabbing the clipboard and the files. "You don't want to follow an order then get out of here. I don't need, or want, you around until you're ready to do your job."

"Sonny," Jason said quickly with a shake of his head. "I wasn't saying I wouldn't do it."

He raised a challenging brow and said, "It's what it looks like from here. So get out of here. I'll have Benny handle this because he knows how to follow orders."

"I only asked why you wanted me to investigate Kurt," Jason said, now scrambling to placate him.

"It should have been enough that I told you to," Sonny stated, heading for the door. He was going to Benny's office so he could get away from Jason. "Go home, Jason. I don't want to see you here anymore."

Jason walked out of the warehouse and paused by his motorcycle. Looking back at the building he frowned as he recalled what happened. He had always planned to investigate Kurt; he just wanted Sonny to be honest with him. The order came after Elizabeth saw something that Sonny hadn't.

The older man had always told him to keep business away from family and innocents. But he'd talked about things with his sister quite openly, and it was based on her observation that Sonny suddenly went into action. It made Jason curious, especially since Sonny tried to keep business from Elizabeth and she had never asked questions.

He hadn't meant to upset Sonny; in fact he didn't quite understand the other man's sudden shift. When Sonny got this mercurial it was often a harbinger of a break to a bad place. There had been no warning signs which was why the anger and demands he leave caught Jason off guard and worried him. But it was going to be harder to keep an eye on Sonny now that the older man was sending him away.

Jason sighed and climbed on his bike. He would go back to his penthouse and call Benny. Together, the two men would investigate the warehouse foreman and deal with whatever they found. He'd even put out some feelers to informants, but he wanted to stay close to the penthouses. Because he needed to talk to Sam about Sonny.

Chapter 21

Sam watched Sonny go out the door and frowned tightly. Sonny had been upset and withdrawn for the past three days and if it didn't change soon she was going to have to tell him that Jason had talked to her. It had been hard to listen to her fiancé's friend describe what happened at the warehouse and voice his concerns and not tell him everything.

She wondered how often Elizabeth had felt that way, struggling to explain something when any excuse would be futile and not entirely believable. She'd wanted to tell Jason about Sonny's paranoia because of the visions and not wanting to appear weak. She wanted to explain what she understood about what Elizabeth saw and how the artist must have seen something on the paper that seemed odd and that alarmed Sonny. Of course Sonny would believe his sister, but there was no way Sam could explain that.

This was why Elizabeth had pressed Sonny to tell Sam the truth and why she so obviously wanted him to tell Jason. If Jason knew the truth then all this would not be happening. Sonny would feel more comfortable telling him about whatever Elizabeth picked up on. He would have just explained and then Sonny would not be angry and stomping around and Jason would not be worried and walking around on eggshells.

"Oh, Sonny," Sam mused. "You stubborn, proud man."

There was no way Sonny would tell Jason now. Not when he thought Jason was being judgmental and troublesome. Sonny was pulling back, only talking to a few people and not discussing everything with everyone. Sam could see the paranoia beginning. He was scrutinizing everything Jason did, wondering if the younger man was going to try to take over.

All this supposition, all this secrecy, all this subversion. It wasn't necessary, it wasn't doing anyone any good and Sam knew she could stop it. But to do that would betray everything Sonny had told her and she feared he might never forgive her even if he came to realize and accept why she had.

She now understood better all the worry that Elizabeth had about her brother. The need to protect him, sometimes from himself; the need to defend him, against people who didn't fully understand; it must have weighed on Elizabeth so much. To know at such a young age what was happening, to help Sonny through his first breakdown...Sam was impressed and in awe of her soon-to-be sister-in-law.

It was part of the reason Sam struggled with whether to tell Elizabeth about what Jason came to her with. She didn't want to burden Elizabeth, not when she now understood and could help Sonny herself. But Elizabeth knew her brother better than anyone and she might have another idea that Sam didn't. Plus, she didn't want the other woman to feel like Sam had excluded her.

Deciding to drop in and just see how Elizabeth was doing she planned to play the situation by ear. Elizabeth might have already sensed something was happening and she might bring it up first.

The red smelled horrible as it flowed over her hand and onto the carpet. Everyone always said blood was supposed to be metallic, like rust, but to Elizabeth it had always smelled like rotten eggs. The sulfuric smell would permeate their house every time Deke beat her mom and for years the mere sight of eggs could make her vomit.

The smell of sulfur was overwhelming and Elizabeth began to feel light-headed. Not from the blood, but from the memories threatening to pull her down. She couldn't do anything right, not even open a box of art supplies.

"Elizabeth?" she heard Sam call out as she knocked on the door and Elizabeth knew she couldn't hide this.

"Come in, Sam," she sighed wearily and braced herself for the impact.

"Hey, Elizabeth," Sam said cheerfully as she opened the door. "I hope you don't mind me coming down. I was bored after Sonny left and I-"

Sam stopped mid-sentence and stared, then swore and rushed forward. "Francis," she yelled over her shoulder. "Francis, get in here!"

Pulling off her shirt, revealing her camisole underneath, Sam pressed the fabric against Elizabeth's arm. "What happened?" she demanded as Francis rushed into the apartment. Rounding on the guard Sam commanded, "Get a car. We have to take her to GH."

"No," Elizabeth insisted. "No."

She couldn't go there. The smells, the sounds, the taste of sickness and death that permeated the air was worse than the smell of sulfur.

"No," she repeated as she pulled back, blood flowing down her arm again. "No."

"Okay," Sam nodded, stepping forward to reapply pressure to Elizabeth's arm. "No hospital. But we need to get this looked at."

"Call Sonny," Elizabeth told her friend.

"Honey, Sonny has a meeting this morning."

"I'll call," Francis stated. "If I can't reach him I'll call Jason."

"No," Elizabeth shook her head. "Just Sonny."

"How 'bout a doc?" the guard asked. "We keep someone to patch up our guys when we can't take 'em to a hospital. He'll fix you up here."

"No," she shook her head again, panic beginning to set in. "I have to get out of here. I can't breathe with all the sulfur."

She pressed her hand on the fabric against her arm and started for the door. She needed fresh air. She had to get outside before she was sick.

"Elizabeth," Francis and Sam called after her as she started for the door and stepped into the hallway.

"I need air," she told them, stabbing the call button for the elevator repeatedly. "You don't understand, I have to get out of here."

"Here," Francis said, shoving his phone into Sam's hand just before the elevator arrived. He picked up Elizabeth, stepping into the car with Sam right behind them. "Tell Doc we're coming. And then try calling Sonny and Jason again. I don't know what's going on; I'm just trying to keep her calm."

He huffed as he adjusted his grip on Elizabeth. "And keep her from wandering out into the street bleeding. Taggart would have a field day with that."

Jason had no idea what happened here today, but he was at least comforted in knowing Elizabeth was safe at a remote location with Sonny keeping an eye on her. There was blood in the elevator, new carpeting was being installed tonight; blood on the elevator buttons, blood in the hallway and Sonny had ordered everything replaced. Especially the carpeting in Elizabeth's apartment.

"Jason."

Sam's voice was flat as she walked into the room with Max escorting her. The guard stopped in the hallway, turning to take his observation post.

"I thought you were with Elizabeth and Sonny," he said, surprised to see her.

"Elizabeth wanted some clothes and she didn't want the guards going through her underwear," she replied.

He noticed Max shift, tugging on his collar and Jason understood. It was a little embarrassing to think about going through the underwear drawer of his boss's sister. And then it was bad when he suddenly thought of how much he might like it. To see what colors and styles she preferred.

"Right," he nodded curtly, trying to rein in his wandering mind.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Supervising clean up," he answered. "Sonny wants everything cleaned up and aired out before Elizabeth comes back."

"I hope it can be," Sam said wistfully, almost doubtfully.

"What happened?" he asked. "Francis was a little vague over the phone but he sounded upset."

Sam crossed her arms over her chest and looked away uncomfortably. "Elizabeth cut her arm trying to open up one of the boxes of supplies. She was a...a little lightheaded from the blood loss."

Jason would have believed her if Sam had looked at him. There was no doubt an element of truth, but there was also something more. Sonny wouldn't have looked so frantic, Francis wouldn't have sounded so worried and Sam wouldn't look so uncomfortable if it was merely that Elizabeth had been lightheaded after cutting her arm. Something else was going on.

"Sam," he tried, "there's more. Francis stated quite clearly to not go to the clinic. He seemed to think Elizabeth didn't want to see me."

"She didn't," his friend's fiancée answered in a small voice after swallowing. "But I...I'm sure it was just because she was disoriented."

Frowning, Jason let his arms fall limply to his sides. "Sam? What is going on?"

He sighed when she remained quiet, "Elizabeth has been avoiding me, Sonny will hardly talk to me. I saw them at the warehouse a couple of days ago and after that...everything changed."

Sam ran her hands through her hair and then said, "Jason...I...I know what's going on, but I can't explain everything. I...I can't betray something Sonny's told me in confidence."

"I wouldn't ask you to," Jason shook his head. He knew how important loyalty meant to Sonny and this business.

"Part of it also has to do with Elizabeth," she continued, casting a sideways glance at him. "And I can't betray her trust, either."

When he stayed quiet she asked, "Do you remember how I said that sometimes it can be hard to love the Corinthos family?"

"Yeah," he nodded, remembering that day when he'd sat in Queen of Angels for hours. He'd driven around that night, bothered by his conversation with Elizabeth. Though her stepfather hadn't molested her, he'd tried that tragic night back in Bensonhurst. Jason had been angered for all that Sonny and Elizabeth had endured because of their stepfather and saddened on behalf of a teenage girl fearing one of the worst things a woman can endure.

He hadn't understood his strange reaction and when he found himself passing by the church he'd felt compelled to go inside. Father Coates had been respectful and kept his distance as Jason tried to sort through all the confusion in his head.

"This is one of those times," Sam told him. "They're not trying to be difficult; they're battling some old wounds. I...I can't explain why, and maybe I shouldn't even tell you...but Sonny fears you're trying to take over, Jason."

"I'm not," he immediately insisted.

"I know, but Sonny is seeing things distorted right now. So don't push him to tell you what's going on, show that you support him. Keep him informed, don't question him and just be there so that when he realizes he was wrong you guys can keep working to find Alcazar and stop whatever it is he has planned."

Jason was surprised that Sonny had mentioned Alcazar to Sam, but he didn't have time to dwell on it further because his cell phone rang. Pulling it out he was surprised to see Bobbie's name on the display. They didn't have much contact, despite her believing he was Michael's father.

"Morgan."

"Jason, it's Bobbie," she sounded relieved as she talked. "I was spending the afternoon with Michael and Carly was supposed to get him but she's not here. I can't reach her or Leticia and I need to get to my shift at the hospital. I'm supposed to be in surgery soon."

Jason sighed in annoyance and asked, "Is Michael's guard there?"

"Yes."

"Let me talk to him," he requested. "I'll have him bring Michael to the penthouse and I'll find Carly."

And when he did, they were going to have another talk.

Sonny lifted his head when he felt the soft hand touch his shoulder. Sam put the bag she'd brought from Elizabeth's down beside the nightstand and then smiled at him. "How is she?"

"Sleeping," he answered. "On her own. She just...was exhausted."

"Come on," Sam coaxed him, bringing her hand down to wrap around his bicep and tugging. "Let her sleep without her big brother watching."

He agreed and followed her out into the great room. Sitting down beside her on the couch, he took Sam into his arms and kissed the side of her head.

"Thank you for looking out for my sister today," he told her. "She's never dealt well with blood."

"She kept talking about sulfur," Sam said, confusion in her voice.

"Blood smells like sulfur or rotten eggs to her," he explained. "Ever since she was little. She doesn't really like eggs and certain shades of red...she can't paint with them or wear them."

Sam was silent, but then she nodded against his chest. "Do you think she was upset by memories?"

"I think that was part of it," Sonny admitted sadly. "Deke...he was cruel and blood was common. He'd be even crueler with her and blood because he knew she didn't like it. Often he'd make her clean things up when our mom couldn't. I tried to do it one time, and he beat me so bad I couldn't move and then he made Elizabeth clean that up too. When she got sick, he hit her and made her continue cleaning. Deke was..."

When he trailed off, Sam shuddered and said, "I'm sorry the two of you went through that, Sonny."

He merely held her closer, but was quiet. He really couldn't talk about Deke or all that his stepfather had done to his family. Sonny was grateful that Sam understood and let him deal with the memories and the guilt in his own way and time.

"I saw Jason when I went to get Elizabeth's things," Sam said some time later. "He was concerned about her and said he'd have the clean-up done right away."

Grunting non-committally in response, Sonny hoped she'd let it go. He knew, though, that she wouldn't.

"Why are you punishing him, Sonny?"

"What?" he asked, looking down at her. He hadn't expected her to say that. "I'm not punishing him."

Sam turned to face him and arched her brow. "You're not? You have him personally overseeing a clean-up. You won't take meetings with him. You're pushing him away and so I'm wondering what he did that you're punishing him for."

"He didn't follow an order I gave him," Sonny said angrily. At her for pushing this and with Jason for causing it in the first place.

She blinked at him, "What? That doesn't sound like Jason at all."

Sonny stood and paced away. She was right; Jason hadn't disobeyed an order per se, he was just slow in agreeing to follow it. And he'd looked at Sonny oddly, questioning why he'd suddenly given the order.

"No," he agreed, "he's followed it. Even when I told him to forget it and get out. That's why...that's why he's been calling."

"Then why have you been ignoring him?" Sam asked.

"Because he...he wanted to know why I gave the order. And I couldn't explain it was because Elizabeth saw something."

Turning to look at Sam he said, "I was thinking of telling Jason everything. Elizabeth has encouraged me to, especially after I told you and I...I was thinking about it."

"But not anymore," she surmised flatly. If she was disappointed or saddened by his choice she was doing her best to hide her expressions. But it was obvious in her toneless words.

"After the way he was acting, no," he shook his head. "Not anymore. I know Jason's not trying to pull a coup and I know I can trust him."

"I'm glad you realize that," his fiancée sighed as she stood up and walked towards him. "I've been worried about you, wondering what exactly was going on with the two of you."

"You wondered if I was having a breakdown," he spoke as he took her into his arms, grateful to have her love and support in his life.

She admitted, "I did. But I'm glad that it doesn't seem to be the case. Actually...I'm worried about Elizabeth."

"Because of how she acted when she cut herself?"

"No," Sam shook her head. "She's been withdrawn the past few days. When I've talked to her about the wedding and mentioned Jason, she would change the subject. I thought they were becoming friends."

"Jason barely looked at her that day in the warehouse. He barely spoke to her. I don't know what's going on," he sighed with a weary shrug. "I can't make my enforcer be friends with my sister."

But he would hurt Jason and do a lot worse than make him supervise the clean-up and removal of bloody carpet if it turned out Jason hurt Elizabeth.

Chapter 22

By the time Elizabeth came back from wherever Sonny had her recuperating, Jason had overseen the replacement of the blood-stained carpet and re-installation of new elevator control panels. Francis had made sure that the car he'd driven her in had been cleaned and detailed, plus he intended to never use that car for her again. Sonny approved and was grateful for all that the men had done for his sister, going so far as to give every person involved a hefty bonus.

He also finally met with Jason about their warehouse foreman Kurt. It turned out that a few weeks ago, just as Elizabeth had told her brother the day she was talking about green and rust, that Kurt had opened up an account in the Caymans and transferred the very large deposit from his main bank account he'd made only a few days prior.

Kurt had gone on the Alcazar payroll, a fact he admitted to Jason after some persuasion. The man confessed a lot quicker than Andrew had, and Jason was glad. The less time he spent with Kurt, the more time he could spend looking for the man the foreman named as his contact. Jason had spent the past nights at The River Rat and Jake's looking for anyone who matched Zander's description.

He'd had no luck, though, so he was taking the night off. Other men in the organization, men who were at the bars anyways, would be there and Jake promised she'd keep her ears open for any mention of the man. Jason knew he could trust her; he couldn't say the same about the owner of The River Rat, though. He could only rely on their guard Paul's loyalty to the organization to cover the dive.

Tonight he was going to take a break from the craziness that inherently surrounded Carly, as well. He told her he couldn't take Michael tonight when she'd called because it was Leticia's day off. He'd watched Michael the day she didn't get the little boy from Bobbie's house and one other night since then as well. While he normally would take extra time with his son, he couldn't do it tonight. Things were really busy, and Carly needed to make adjustments in her life as well.

Jason hadn't told Carly what he was really doing. If she knew he was saying no because he wanted to talk to Elizabeth, she would flip. She was still so sure that Jason was dating Elizabeth, or at least interested in her. Michael's mother would take this as proof. Besides, it wasn't any of her business. She repeatedly told him he couldn't object to Alex hanging around since Jason repeatedly said he didn't want to date Carly; her personal life was private. Except that she kept sharing it with him in the obvious hopes of making him jealous. He wholeheartedly agreed with her and would have told her to shut up when she started talking about Alex, except for the fact that she often talked about Michael as well and he needed to know how her personal life was impacting Michael.

Her already erratic and irrational behavior escalated after she began spending time with Alex. Jason first believed her involvement with the businessman was all just an attempt on her part to make him jealous; when it was obvious it wouldn't work, Jason figured Carly would cease her involvement with the guy. But it hadn't happened and Alex had practically moved into Carly's house. Jason wondered if he should have Benny run another background check on the man to see if they'd missed anything. He was beginning to question if Alex was as good as he appeared on paper.

He'd make that call tomorrow, Benny was busy tonight trying to run a trace on a name Jason managed to get from a guy at The River Rat. Locating Zander Smith so they could send him to the bottom of the harbor beside his good buddy Kurt was more important than Jason's frustration with Carly.

"Hello, Enzo," Jason greeted Elizabeth's secondary guard as he neared the door.

"You here to see Ms. Corinthos?" the man asked. When Jason nodded, Enzo said, very formal and slightly off-putting," Let me see if she's available."

Jason had never before been made to feel his presence at Elizabeth's apartment was unwanted and he wondered why the sudden shift. She hadn't wanted to see him while she was recuperating, either. Not that Jason had time really with everything else going on, but Sam and Francis had been quite clear that they would take something Elizabeth had asked them to get from her apartment and bring it to her. Even though it meant Sam would be a little late to her meeting with the cake decorator and Jason offered to drop it by for her instead.

"Ms. Corinthos," Enzo said after he knocked on and opened the door. "Mr. Morgan is here to see you."

Mr. Morgan. Not Jason. He really wanted to know what was going on now.

Whatever she answered, it was too soft for Jason to make out, but the guard turned and looked at him reservedly as he said, "You can go in."

Jason stepped into Elizabeth's apartment and immediately noticed the lack of boxes. The men must have moved all her supplies into her new studio already. The construction workers had been paid a big bonus for completing the renovations ahead of schedule. Jason knew from comments Sonny had made in passing that he was glad it was finally done. Elizabeth needed to get painting again because it would help her.

A movie was paused, the image flickering slightly on the TV and a blanket was kicked to one end of the couch. She had obviously been watching something, but now she was standing across the room with the sofa between them.

"Hey," he said when it became apparent that she wasn't going to say anything. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," she answered. "Everyone overreacted, especially Sonny. I only needed a few stitches.

Jason had seen the blood stain on the carpet and he didn't believe that it was only a few stitches. His eyes drifted towards the spot by the table where she'd obviously cut herself, remembering the size of the stain. Was she downplaying for everybody, or just him? He remembered how she hadn't objected when he stayed after she'd hit her head, in fact she'd seemed grateful that it wouldn't be Sonny hovering over her.

"So do you like your new studio?" he asked, trying to keep her talking.

She nodded.

"Did you paint anything today?"

"I just set it up," she shook her head. "Got everything put where I wanted it."

Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head to the side. "Why do you care, Jason? Why are you here?"

"I wanted to see how you were," he told her, holding his hands out in sincerity.

"Why?" she arched a disbelieving brow.

"Because we're friends."

That brow went up higher. "Really? That was why you wouldn't look at me in the warehouse? After you'd overhead me and Sonny talking? See, I don't think my brother realized you were outside that door longer than you made out. But to me it's obvious, and you heard most of our conversation, didn't you?"

He licked his lips and nodded.

"And you didn't understand it, did you? So you weren't sure what to make of us so you couldn't look at us. I was just a freak, wasn't I? Some unnatural weirdo."

Jason stalked around the couch, surprising her, but grabbing hold of her before she could move. He gave her a small shake as he said, "No. I don't think you're a freak, Elizabeth. I am not Deke."

She gasped and he continued. "Yes, I heard you and Sonny talking. At first I didn't like that Sonny was talking business with you. He was the one who taught me that you don't involve women in this life; you protect them from it. So why was he talking to you about it?"

"It wasn't him," she protested. "It was me. I...I saw something."

"Yeah. I...I heard you talking about colors and sorting papers into piles," he admitted. "And I didn't understand what you were talking about, but Sonny did. And I shouldn't have been listening; I should have let Sonny know I was there. So when I walked in..."

"You didn't look at me," she said sadly. "I figured you heard and thought I was a freak."

"Stop saying that," he commanded her with another shake. "I don't understand what I heard or what you don't want to tell me, but you are not a freak. That was Deke's word for you and he was wrong. Do you hear me? He was wrong."

Elizabeth bit her lip and then her face crumpled as she dissolved into tears. Jason pulled her into his arms and held her. She had so many hurts, so many things she buried so deep and he had, unwittingly, brought them up again. He was curious about what she was keeping hidden, but he respected her right to keep it to herself. He had no right to ask and he did not want her to feel like he was pressuring her.

At some point he realized Elizabeth's sobs turned to sniffles and then quieted all together. But Jason still held her. He liked the sensation of her in his arms, liked the feel of her hair under his hand. And he suddenly realized it was a very dangerous feeling. He shouldn't like the smell of her shampoo as it drifted up, clean and fresh, and he shouldn't wonder if her lips would taste just as clean.

He stepped back slightly before his body could betray the direction of his thoughts were turning and he asked, "Do you wanna get out of here?"

"That was amazing!" Elizabeth declared as Jason slowed the motorcycle and brought it to a stop at the bridge. "It felt like we were flying tonight."

The wind had pulled at her hair and stung her cheeks and she loved it. It was better than any other ride they'd taken before. It was almost better than any she'd ever had. Jason had let the throttle open; pushing the bike to the point that Elizabeth had feared they were going to lose control. But Jason certainly knew what they were doing and they made it through every turn and then raced down the straightaway.

She had screamed in delight every time Jason gunned the engine and she could feel his laughter rumble through his chest even though she couldn't hear it. He was enjoying their ride just as much as she was. Which was why they'd ridden for hours until they finally turned back for the cliffs and the old abandoned bridge.

"There's no need to ask if you enjoyed it," Jason chuckled as he helped her off the bike.

"I hope I didn't bruise your ribs," she teased. "There were a couple of times I was a little nervous."

He suddenly frowned, "You were scared?"

"No," she shook her head to assure him. "I know you're a good driver, and you've always been careful when I rode with you. There were just a couple of times that...they were thrilling in that good terrifying kind of way. I could taste the adrenaline."

"I thought you would like going fast," he smiled.

"Especially tonight," she said, her shoulders dropping slightly in self-castigation. "I'm sorry I avoided you and thought the worst. I just...I reacted that way because I couldn't bear the thought that you... I just decided to speed along what I thought was the inevitable and avoided you so I didn't have to deal with you avoiding me."

Jason stepped closer and placed his hand on her arm, "It's alright. I know Deke-"

"Deke isn't a reason to not trust you," she shook her head firmly. "You already showed me you were my friend. Not because of Sonny, but because you actually care about me."

"I do," he said, his voice low in the night. She shivered from the unexpected way it caressed her spine and suddenly she was very aware of the heat of his hand on her arm.

"So I should have trusted you," she said. "It's just not easy for me."

His hand glided over her arm as he brought it up to her shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze before dropping it back to his side. "It's alright. But it's very late and we should probably get back."

It was probably a good idea, Elizabeth admitted, even if part of her wanted to stay where it was quiet and peaceful. The fact that she knew she didn't want to end her time with Jason was the exact reason why she nodded her head. The feel of his hand on her arm and the friction she felt in her stomach as he brought his hand to her shoulder was very dangerous she knew. It wasn't wise to start looking at Jason in any way other than her friend.

She never had any luck in the romance department, so she needed to keep things light. As they walked back to the bike she was playfully nudged Jason with her shoulder, "So are you ever going to let me drive?"

He clutched his keys in his hand, "I told you; I'm the only one who drives my bike."

"But I have my own motorcycle license."

He looked down at her and smirked. "Then get your own bike. Now get on."

She looked at him for a moment and then darted around and climbed on. In front. Holding the handlebars. He looked at her and then raised his brow, "In back, Elizabeth."

"What about a challenge?" she asked. "If I manage to start the bike you let me drive."

"The bike's too big," he shook his head. "You'll never start it."

As she took the keys from him she swallowed. The bike was big; obviously well-suited for Jason. But Elizabeth was not one to back down from a challenge. Especially one she issued. She would find a way to start Jason's motorcycle, one way or another.

As the couple drove away, Morgan's arms wound around Corinthos' little sister's and his hands on hers, he stepped from the shadows. He didn't know why Morgan had been so insistent that the lovely Miss Corinthos would not drive his motorcycle. If he could sit behind such a pretty little thing and wrap his arms around her, he certainly wouldn't hesitate.

Morgan was certainly interested in the comely brunette. He had been sure several times that the Corinthos enforcer would just give in and kiss those pouting, teasing lips, but somehow he'd resisted. Was it nobility or foolishness? Or maybe this was all just one big foreplay session.

Zander's information said Morgan was dating Miss Corinthos, even though they were trying to keep it quiet. Maybe they were simply trying to keep it from her brother, or maybe the mother of Morgan's brat. Neither one would probably take to the news of the pair's involvement.

Either way, it really didn't matter to him. He'd done what he'd been sent to do.

Pulling out his phone he dialed Zander's number, but wasn't surprised when it went to voice mail. "It's me," he said. "Morgan was with Miss Corinthos tonight; they ended up right where you said they would. I got the pictures."

That would make Zander, and Alcazar, happy. They had proof of the affair, and irrefutable proof the lovely Elizabeth would bring Corinthos and Morgan to their knees.

"Admit it," she smiled as they rode up in the elevator from the parking garage. "I didn't do half bad."

"The bike's too big," Jason shook his head, but belied his seriousness with a smirk. "If I hadn't been on with you, you wouldn't have been able to balance it."

"Maybe not," Elizabeth shrugged as they stepped out of the elevator onto her floor. It still made her laugh that he insisted on walking her to her door when she lived on a secure floor in a secure building. "But I really didn't need you to steer. Despite what you may have thought."

As they neared her door he tilted his head to the side and conceded, with a grudging smirk. "You didn't do bad."

"High praise indeed," she laughed.

They stopped at her door and she reached in her pocket for her keys. Unlocking the door she was suddenly hit with a wave of nerves. It was like coming home from a date. Should she ask him in? Should she shake his hand? Kiss his cheek?

No! Her brain screamed at her that they were just friends. She should just say goodnight and go inside. He had things to do tomorrow and she definitely wanted to go to her studio to paint. A simple 'goodnight' and 'see you around' would suffice.

If only her mouth had followed her rational brain.

"Well," she said, turning the doorknob and feeling the door open behind her. "Goodnight, Jason. Thank you for tonight."

Then she stood on her toes and kissed his cheek before he could say anything, and then she slipped into her apartment. Once she closed the door she dropped her head against the heavy wood and whispered, "What did you just do, stupid?"

Chapter 23

"Jason!"

Sonny called out as he saw the younger man walk by and watched as his friend stopped and then slowly walked into his office. Jason raised a brow and asked, "Yeah?"

"Did you just get in?"

"I finished overseeing the shipment's arrival," he nodded, closing the door and then taking a seat. "I know we've slowed things down because Alcazar's been going after them, but the secondary site is almost full."

"Okay," Sonny said on a sigh. "Benny's got the shipping routes revised, so we'll implement them tonight. Maybe if we've changed the stuff Kurt told this Zander character about, then we can stay ahead of Alcazar."

Jason linked his fingers and rested them in his lap. "Hopefully."

"Anything new on this Zander Smith?" he asked.

"No," the younger man said in frustration. "Our men have looked everywhere, not just Jake's or The River Rat. Nobody's seen him; nobody's heard anything about him except to know he exists."

Sonny huffed in irritation. "How can a guy exist but nobody knows anything about him? Has Benny found anything?"

"Smith's a common name," Jason answered with a shake of his head. "He's not having much luck."

"What about Alcazar?"

"Nothing new. He's from Venezuela, has a compound there, and houses in other countries. He's got government connections; not just with our government. That's what's making it difficult to find anything. Many governments have buried his information in top secret files behind encryptions and firewalls. Stan's working overtime on it, but he keeps hitting roadblocks."

"I know he's trying," Sonny admitted, knowing their tech guy was looking stressed and tired the last time he'd seen him.

"So we know that the person who turned the guards on my sister and my door, and got to my warehouse foreman is Luis Alcazar. We know he's an arms dealer with government connections." Jason nodded with his assessment and Sonny ran a hand over his face in frustration. "It's not a lot of information and it doesn't explain why he's suddenly come after me."

"Shipping lanes," the younger man said. "Kurt said it was shipping lanes."

"He already has shipping lanes to Canada," he retorted. "Why suddenly target ours?"

That was the question nobody could figure out and it was driving Sonny crazy. Every other time someone made a move on his territory it was obvious and well-stated. But Alcazar hadn't made any announcement that he was behind this; they'd only found his name from the traitors they'd caught and interrogated. And they wouldn't have found those men if it hadn't been for Sonny and Elizabeth's gifts.

"We're working on it," Jason shrugged, "but nothing makes sense."

"I know," Sonny sighed in response. "So what else is going on? Has Benny found anything new on Alex?"

"Nothing," Jason shook his head. "Stan came up with new search parameters; there's nothing on him. We've got his school records, employment history, parking and speeding tickets; nothing we didn't already know. The only thing we did crack was his juvi record and found he bumped around through the foster system in Utah. Nothing seems too perfect or unbelievable."

"So either he's exactly who he says he is," Sonny said with a tilt of his head to the side. "Or someone went to a great deal of trouble to invent a history for this man."

His friend leaned back in his seat, "Yeah. I don't know what to believe. He's working for Jax; his consulting firm is legitimate, the Quartermaines have used it in the past. I just..."

"Your gut says something isn't right," Sonny surmised.

"Carly picks up a consultant at Jake's who happens to work for Jax? When I don't get jealous she stays with him?" The younger man shrugged, "it's not like her."

"And yet," Sonny pointed out, "she dumps Michael with anyone she can every chance she gets. You cut her credit in an attempt to rein her in, but Alex gives her money. She's drunk or hung over and not taking care of Michael."

That was like her. And Jason knew it, even if he didn't want to agree. Carly Roberts Spencer was all about what she could get and whomever she could have fun with. Alex was funding her good time right now.

"What am I supposed to do?" Jason asked. "I love Michael and I want to protect him."

"That's why you agreed to be his father," he nodded. "You wanted to protect him from the way the Quartermaines would treat him. You feared they would cut Carly out of his life and turn him into another A.J. And she uses that fear to keep you in line."

"What do you want me to do, Sonny?" Jason asked in exasperation.

"You want to protect Michael, but are you prepared to protect him from his mother?"

The younger man sat up straight in his chair and glared at Sonny. "I promised Carly I would make sure she was always with her son."

"And you promised Michael you would protect him," Sonny pointed out. "What happens if those two promises are at odds? Which one do you honor? The one to a woman who constantly screws up and expects you to accept it and clean up her messes just because she blackmails you? Or do you protect an innocent child who needs someone to care for him, even if it means you break a promise to someone else?"

"I can't take Michael away from Carly," Jason shook his head. "It wouldn't be right."

"Then you'll lose him," Sonny stated sadly. "Whether it's by her blackmail, her schemes, or her going to the Quartermaines herself. Or maybe she'll marry someone and move away. How will joint custody really work?"

"Sonny."

There was a world of anguish, frustration and pleading in that one word and Sonny sighed. Leaning forward in his chair, he said, "Jason, I'm not trying to be cruel. I don't like Carly, you know that. But these questions aren't about that. I'm trying to get you to look at the big picture, think from every angle and consider every option. Because you know Carly does. As Michael gets older, your easy arrangement is going to get harder. Think past your attachment to him and your promise to Carly before you really understood what she was asking of you and instead think about what's best for that little boy that you love."

"He needs his mother," Jason replied automatically and without even pausing. Sonny didn't know whether that was because Jason really believed it, or if it was just an automatic thing for him to say because he'd promised it to Carly and she preyed on it.

"Even if she inflicts mental damage on him?" he asked gently, trying to get his friend to really think about this. "Child abuse doesn't just include beatings. Some of Elizabeth's deepest scars are from the things Deke said to her, not where he hit her. What will Michael learn from Carly? How to emotionally blackmail someone and pull a con? Or that lying, cheating and stealing are okay in order to get what you want?"

Jason arched a brow and said pointedly, "I kill people, Sonny. I'm a mobster."

"Who does have limits and doesn't destroy someone simply for personal pleasure or gain," he countermanded.

"Boss?"

The young, fresh face of their new hire nervously opened the door after knocking, effectively ending his conversation with Jason. Sonny hadn't planned to hire any new people, not with Alcazar getting to his employees at an alarming rate. But Milo was Max's younger brother and the trusted guard vouched for the kid. Max had never been turned, even though he had been approached before.

"Yes, Milo?"

"A package came for you," he entered the room and held out an envelope. "Max checked it out and said to bring it to you immediately. And...and he's called Miss McCall's and Miss Corinthos' guards."

He was already opening the envelope, tipping it to dislodge the contents. But at Milo's last comment, he ripped the envelope and reached into it hurriedly, anxious to see what it was. Jason stood and came around the desk to stand beside him.

"What is it?" he asked as Sonny flipped the glossy paper over.

"Max is checking out who sent it?" the enforcer demanded as Sonny looked down at a picture of Sam and Elizabeth.

"He is," Milo assured them.

The photo had to have been taken with a high power lens. There was no way someone with a camera could have gotten this close to Sam and Elizabeth without the guards noticing them. Alcazar was sending a message. He could get close anytime he wanted. As Sonny touched the faces of each woman he loved and worried for, he hoped for a spark. A flash of something that would give him some clue if this was just a warning of I'm watching them or an imminent threat of they're dead tonight.

He couldn't feel anything except a hum of worry. There was something else there, but Sonny couldn't figure out what. He also couldn't be sure there actually was something. He could just be trying so hard to find something that he was reaching for it and imagining it. This was why he hated these flashes; he couldn't get them when he wanted them.

"Boss."

Max walked into the room, his face all business. "I called their guards. Miss McCall is at the penthouse; she just got back from a trip to Wyndam's and the florist. Miss Corinthos is at her studio. Francis is in the hall, he said he'd send the men in the lobbey to check the perimeter."

"Thank you, Max," Sonny said with a nod. He appreciated the man's attention and quick action.

"What do you think?" Jason asked, looking up from the photograph.

"I don't know," he shrugged. "I don't know if it's immediate or just Alcazar saying he's watching them. I...I'm going home. Do me a favor."

"Get Elizabeth," Jason anticipated him. "And bring her back to the Towers."

Sonny nodded. "She's been painting a lot and she's not going to want to come, but try to persuade her. She'll hopefully listen to you and not put off Francis."

Jason gave him a nod and a hint of a smile. "I'll go get her. She'll stall Francis; I won't take no for an answer."

It shouldn't be this hard to get one woman to leave a room. He was bigger than her, he could just pick her up and carry her from the studio, but he didn't want to. He feared it might make her not trust him and he preferred to use the action as a last resort.

She said she understood they needed to go. She just wanted to finish this one part of her painting since she finally got the color mixed right. She'd gestured to a series of canvases with paint on them, apparently indicating her previous failed attempts. While he couldn't see the lines, forms or shapes in a painting, he thought he could tell color. The colors all looked the same to him.

Elizabeth, however, saw a difference. And as she swirled her brush through the right color and applied it to the painting she was working on, she told him what each color was lacking. One was too sour, one was too flat and one sounded wrong. When Jason shook his head in confusion, she shrugged self-deprecatingly.

"It doesn't make sense, I know," she said, sweeping the brush across the canvas. "It didn't make sense to me either. Things have always been different for me, and I didn't understand it when I was younger. It was also part of the reason Deke hated me. He didn't understand and he didn't like it when I talked about crazy things."

"Deke was..."

"Yeah," she shrugged, stepping back to appraise the painting. He moved towards her, but she skirted away, twisting the canvas and placing it between them. "Better light. Deke was a lot of things, but there was a time when I thought I was crazy."

He frowned, "You're stalling, Elizabeth."

"I'm almost done," she assured him, and he suspected she was nowhere near done. He made another step towards her, contemplating how best to grab her. Enough was enough.

"I was so happy I finally got the right color. When I was on your bike the other night...it was amazing. The smell of the wind...it was like an espresso laced with amaretto. It was pure adrenalin and I had to get that in the colors...the silver shimmer that lights them from within. What I really needed was mercury, but of course I can't use that so I had to experiment. But I finally got the espresso right."

Considering the espresso was purple instead of brown, Jason figured this would be another thing he was just going to accept that he didn't understand. He was curious, he would admit that, but he wouldn't ask. He didn't know if Elizabeth was aware of what she was saying in her ramblings, or if this was just another case of her getting to it in her own time. Although sometimes she just rambled and said things he wondered if she meant or were true. Like when she'd asked him if he had visions too.

"Come on, Elizabeth," he said, putting a bit of steel into his voice. He was getting anxious to leave. They should have been gone by now. "We need to go."

"Almost done..." she said, stepping back and tilting her head to the side. "Just...one...more..."

She made one more stroke and then nodded in approval. "There."

"Great," he said as he walked towards her. "Let's go."

"I need to clean up," she shook her head.

Grabbing her hand he said firmly, "Elizabeth, we have to go. Now. There is something going on and we've already stayed too long. Don't make me carry you out of here."

"Fine," she huffed with a roll of her eyes. "I can always buy a new brush."

"Good," he said, his anxiousness increasing. He told Sonny he would bring his sister back to the Towers where she would be safe. While they had secured this building, it wasn't as safe as the penthouse.

As they were heading downstairs, Jason's cell phone rang and he knew when it pulled it out and looked at the display that it would be Sonny. "Yeah."

"Where are you?" the older man demanded.

"We're leaving now," he said in a tone that conveyed his annoyance and displeasure over the fact. He'd leave the full explanation, though, until they were at Sonny's.

"Just now?" His friend sounded panicked and it made Jason slow down as they exited the building and neared his bike. "Jason, get out of there now!"

Snapping his phone shut, he grabbed Elizabeth's arm. No bike. They were taking one of the cars Sonny insisted be parked at the building. "Move," he growled at her.

But the warning was drown out by the sound of gunshots that suddenly filled the air. He tightened his hold on Elizabeth and pushed her towards the ground, rolling between the cars for protection as well as trying to shield her from the asphalt. He reached for his gun, searching the area for a gunman while covering her with his body.

"Unlock the car," he commanded Elizabeth, giving her the access code for the panel by the handle. They always kept a spare key inside the vehicle for moments like these when the men wouldn't know which car they'd be able to reach.

"Get inside and stay low," he ordered after opening the door. Elizabeth kept as flat as possible as she scrambled in through the driver's side and across the seat. Jason rose into a crouch to climb in and that's when it happened. His leg exploded in fire and he lurched forward as he entered the vehicle.

Gritting his teeth, he reached for the spare key and started the car, throwing it into driving and leaving. His gun was on the seat between them and he checked the mirrors constantly for signs of anyone following. He just needed to get them to Harbor View and then it would be okay. Elizabeth would be safe, he could get his leg looked at and then Sonny could justifiably yell at him for not getting Elizabeth out of her studio sooner.

The back window exploded inward and Jason swerved the wheel, jerking the car towards the left and down a side street. These cars were reinforced and the glass bulletproof; whatever firepower the other side had was strong. And he wanted to get away from it.

Elizabeth was crouched low in her seat, looking pale and little gasps and screams escaped from her. Jason wanted to reassure her, but found he didn't have the words. Not right now. But when he his cell phone rang again, he had to ask for her help.

"Elizabeth," he managed to say as he pressed his injured leg down on the brake to execute a sharp turn around another corner, "grab my phone."

She looked ready to refuse, but then reached into his pocket and pulled it out.

"Put it on speaker," he bit out, pulling another quick turn and making his leg burn in the process. Her hand shook as she followed his instructions and soon Sonny's voice filled car.

"Jason, don't come to Harbor View. Stay hidden; contact no one. I'll call when I can. Just keep Elizabeth safe."

Then the line went dead and a dial tone filled the car until Elizabeth pressed the end button. Jason glanced over at her and then focused back on the road. He had to lose whoever was following them, ditch the car and then get them somewhere safe. And try not to pass out, along the way, from the bullet in his leg.

Chapter 24

Elizabeth was light-headed and panting by the time Jason finally decided it was safe for them to stop. The car they had left the studio in had been abandoned after Jason managed to lose the people chasing and shooting at them. She had wiped down the car, inside and out, to get rid of their fingerprints while Jason hotwired a 1989 Oldsmobile. She knew she couldn't get rid of the blood, but she would make sure that everything Jason touched was clean. No sense giving everything to the cops.

Even with the new car, Jason was cautious. He kept to the speed limit, he didn't draw attention to them, but he insisted on driving. Elizabeth offered to drive, because she knew he was hurt, but he rejected the offer. He wouldn't let her drive a stolen car, despite her worries for him.

They didn't go to a safe house; he wouldn't trust a hotel, so he found an abandoned house in an out-of-the-way area. He parked the car in the back and Elizabeth was relieved they finally stopped. She couldn't stand the smell in the car and she could only be amazed over the fact that Jason hadn't passed out yet.

Opening the door, Elizabeth leaned against the car as she stood slowly. Jason was pale and didn't move and she knew they had to get him inside, because there was no way she could drag him if he lost consciousness. Grateful for the fresh air and the diminished sulfur smell, Elizabeth knew it was time to act.

"I'm going to check the house," she told him, bending down to look in the car.

"No," he protested weakly reaching for the door handle and missing wildly. "I'll do it."

She arched a brow, "Jason, you can't move. Don't be stupid. Sonny's my brother; I know how to shoot a gun. So give me yours and I'm going to check the house."

He clearly didn't like it, but he finally conceded and handed his Glock to her. "Be careful."

"I will," she assured him.

The back door of the house opened easily, and the place was dirty and dusty, but empty. Thankfully. At one point squatters had used the house, but judging by the undisturbed dust and lack of footprints in the thick layer on the floor she knew they were long gone. But they had left behind a few things.

Once back outside she rushed to the driver's side. "Come on. It's dirty and definitely not the best place for a gunshot wound, but it's empty."

He was barely able to get out of the car, and leaned heavily on her as they walked to the house. He was sweating and pale and in the end it was a controlled fall onto the floor. If he didn't get an infection it would be a miracle.

"Are you okay?" she asked as she straightened.

"Jason?"

He didn't answer and Elizabeth knew he was unconscious. She knew it had been by sheer willpower that he hadn't succumbed before now. She knew why he'd done what he had, but she still thought he was foolish for waiting so long. He had protected her, not going to a safe house because they didn't know what was going on and couldn't risk that. Sonny and Jason's properties had been compromised. Now, it was up to her to take care of Jason.

She would, and hopefully not get ill on him in the process.

Jason awoke to a cool caress on his forehead. He was disoriented and confused about where he was, and his hand flexed wondering where his gun was. He was lying on something soft and warm; or maybe the heat was coming from him.

"Shhh," a soft voice murmured. "It's alright, Jason. You're safe."

"El-Elizabeth?" His throat was parched and rough and he coughed.

"Don't try to talk," she urged him, continuing to bathe his head with cloths she would remove from his head, place in a bowl, pick up a new one and wring it out. "I'll get you a drink in a moment; I just want to finish this."

Whatever she was doing, she had a rhythm to it, making him wonder how often and how long she'd been doing this. In time, the cloths were no longer very cool and soon Elizabeth didn't remove a new one. She picked up a thermometer and instructed him to open his mouth. By the time it beeped to signal it had registered, she was back inside, the empty bowl at her side. She took the thermometer and let out a breath as she read it.

She looked tired and pale, but she gave him a brief smile, "I think your fever's finally breaking."

"Elizabeth?"

"Don't speak," she admonished him again. "At least not before I get you a drink."

She came back with a bottle of water and the first aid kit he'd made sure to take from the car when he'd abandoned it. Sitting back down on the floor beside him, she opened the water and then put her hand behind his neck, helping him take a drink. Then she opened the pill bottles.

"Antibiotics," she said, "and for your fever. How's the pain in your leg?"

"I'm okay," he grunted, even though it hurt.

She arched her brow and then said, "I'll let you get away with that lie for now since this is the first time you've actually been coherent in two days."

"Two days?" His own eyebrows went up. "We've been unprotected for two days?"

"We weren't unprotected," Elizabeth shook her head. "I know how to shoot, and I've done all I could to make sure we were hard to notice."

After swallowing the pills she placed in his mouth he asked, "Elizabeth, what...what..."

"Lie back and rest," she pushed on his shoulder. "You got us here...I took over. This place is filthy and I knew we needed supplies. I...I took money from you so I would only use cash. I'll pay you back when this is over."

"Forget that," he growled, shaking his head. He did not like the fact that she had apparently gone out by herself.

"I was safe," she tried to assure him. "But I got some things we needed. Sleeping bags, blankets, water, food...all at different stores. I...I even passed a camping and hunting store and they had a camouflage car cover. I parked the car near the trees and covered it so the red car didn't stick out."

"That...that was actually good thinking," he told her. While he hated that he'd been unaware of things for two days, he could admit that she had done well. No wonder she looked stressed and tired, she had been shouldering everything. "And you found the first aid kit?"

"I did," she nodded. "I've never been so grateful for my brother's obsessive planning."

"We've found it helpful before," he stated. "Especially the antibiotics and the pain killers."

"Definitely not standard fare in a first aid kit you buy at the store."

"It's why we have them," he agreed. "So my leg?"

He started to move the sleeping bag, but Elizabeth put her hand on it and shook her head. "Can...can you look at it later?"

She had gone suddenly pale, her breathing went shallow and her hand shook slightly as it rested on his. Frowning in concern, he asked, "Elizabeth, what's wrong?"

"I...I'm not ready to look at your leg," she closed her eyes. "I have...I have to prepare myself for it."

Now worried, he demanded, "It's that bad? I...I knew it hadn't gone through, but I-"

"No," Elizabeth opened her eyes and shook her head. "It...it's not that bad. I just..."

"Elizabeth?" he pressed, but gentler this time.

"I don't like blood," she explained. "Ever since I was young."

"Because of Deke," he surmised.

"It was actually before that," she corrected. "I've never liked the smell of it. It...it smells like bad eggs to me. Sulfur like."

He was confused; that wasn't what blood smelled like. But he sensed this was just another thing that was unique to Elizabeth.

"It got worse after my mom married Deke," she admitted. "He knew I didn't like blood, and he took great delight in making me clean it up or making me bleed more when I threw up at the smell."

Jason's jaw clenched at the description of Deke's sadistic actions.

"That's why I freaked out when I cut my arm. The smell, the memories...it all just hit me and it was overwhelming."

"So why didn't anybody tell me?" he asked, shifting slightly. His leg hurt, but he didn't want to take a pain pill. He didn't like the way they made him feel, and he wanted to be alert for a while.

"Because I told them not to," she confessed and looked away. "I...this was when I thought you thought I was...weird. And I didn't want you around. And it's hard to explain...not everyone understands the things I say or what I am."

She looked like she was going to say more, but she didn't. He wanted to ask, he had so many questions, but he didn't want her to feel like he was pressuring her. He sensed she'd had a lot of people push her in life, and he didn't want to be one of them.

"So you got sick taking care of my leg," he surmised, seeking to distract himself by talking. He also wanted to know everything that happened while he was unconscious.

"I knew that I had to get the bullet out and clean the wound," she said. "You couldn't afford me freaking out or refusing to do it just because I was uncomfortable. So I just had to prepare myself for it. If...if you want to look at it I'll just go take a walk around the house."

She stood up and dusted her hands off. Then Elizabeth cleared her throat and her face pinked just a little as she confessed, "I had to take your pants off. I promise I didn't molest you or anything while you were unconscious."

Then with a little cough, she left and Jason sighed as his stomach did an odd little clench at her words. Pushing aside everything but thoughts of his wound, Jason moved the sleeping bag off his leg and maneuvered himself up on his elbows so he could inspect it. Pulling back the gauze, he looked at Elizabeth's work. She'd had to stitch him up after removing the bullet. It wasn't terribly pretty, but it was done and he knew it had most likely saved his life.

The area around the wound was slightly red, but Jason had seen - and had - worse infected wounds. He didn't think he was in any immediate danger; he merely had to take some time to heal. Unfortunately time wasn't his friend right now. He needed to check in with Sonny and find out what happened at the Towers. He needed to talk to a guard and make sure Michael and Carly were okay.

It was also time to leave this place. While they hadn't been discovered, the longer they were here increased the chance. Someone could notice a light, the car, or anything. They had to move on.

The door opened and Elizabeth stepped back inside. "Are you ready to re-wrap it?"

"Are you going to be okay?" he asked with concern.

"Yeah," she nodded. "You're not bleeding anymore...I just needed to suppress the memories of it."

With an almost clinical efficiency, she cleaned, treated and wrapped his wound. As she took care of the supplies he said, "We need to leave here tonight."

She was quiet for a moment and then said, "I figured you'd say that. And I understand why it's smart, but there is no way we're leaving until tomorrow."

"Elizabeth-"

"Jason," her voice was firm as she snapped at him. "You were shot, you lost blood, you still have a fever and you were unconscious for two days! You barely woke up. It's going to be dark soon. I'd rather not wander aimlessly around at night. We'll leave in the morning, after you get some rest."

It went against every instinct screaming inside him to go now. But in the end, he conceded. He was in pain, even if he didn't want to admit it. He was weak and Elizabeth knew that. Right now, she was upset and insisting they leave would only make it worse. It simply wasn't worth it for tonight.

"Okay," he nodded. "Okay. But tomorrow morning."

She nodded in agreement. "Tomorrow morning.

"Look," she sighed, "I know that I should have left sooner when you came to get me. I know we need to leave, but you can't even stand right now, and it's just not smart to try to figure out where we're going in a place we're not familiar with in the dark."

"Okay," he nodded once more, understanding her concerns. "But we'll leave early in the morning before the traffic gets too heavy."

"Alright," she conceded with a slight smile. "Now, let's get you something to eat. I'm afraid I'm down to canned soup and canned ravioli."

His nose wrinkled at both suggestions, but he knew he needed to eat in order to get his strength back. "I'll pass on the mystery meat; I'll take the soup."

"You're doing good," Jason assured her as they drove down the street. The cop car going the other way kept going. He didn't turn around; he didn't seem to do anything suspicious at all. Except to continue to disappear in the rearview mirror.

The red Oldsmobile had been exchanged for a blue Nissan and apparently the owner hadn't woken up yet and reported it stolen. That certainly worked in their favor. As had the fact that Jason's fever had stayed down, even dropping more overnight.

"Take a right," Jason instructed her, and she dutifully complied by turning on her signal light and slowing down. Jason had been randomly instructing her to turn and she knew they were driving around in circles. Yet, she also sensed they were getting closer to their ultimate destination.

As if sensing her thoughts he said, "Not much longer now. I just want to make sure we haven't been noticed and followed."

"Don't you think we would have been found already if the people were close?" It was the closest she came to actually challenging him.

"I'm not taking any chances," was all he replied and that ended the discussion.

After a few more miles and a few more random turns Jason said, "Slow down and pull over by the curb."

She did as he directed, and she wondered which of the distantly spaced houses was the one they were hoping to stay at. Glancing over at Jason she asked, "Are you sure about this?"

When he looked over at her in question she continued, "The day this all happened you refused to go any near any of the safe houses for fear they were compromised. Now we're going to one?"

"That was three days ago, Elizabeth," he explained his reasoning. "If they searched the houses, that was days ago. They won't still be here and they don't have enough people to watch every place. If they are watching any of the houses, they won't be watching this one."

"How can you be sure?"

"They'll expect us to go to an out-of-the way place. Not one in a neighborhood where Mom, Dad and two kids are right next door." He looked back across the street, his voice dropping. "I just want to make sure that's what they actually did and we're not walking into a trap."

Elizabeth looked out the windshield and raised her brows. "So basically everything you said was just a big ol' SWAG and you don't know anything."

He was quiet and Elizabeth bit her tongue and tried not to be too irritated. Jason was only trying to keep her safe and protected. Nothing was perfect and there were no guarantees so she needed to keep it together. She wasn't the only one tired, who was worried about loved ones, and getting upset with Jason didn't solve anything.

"Okay," he said quietly. "Start the car and go around the block. There's an alley. I want to check the back of the place."

Elizabeth nodded and did just as he instructed. Apparently he was satisfied by what he saw because he told her to go back to the street and pull into the driveway. She punched in the access code he gave her that opened the garage and then she pulled in the attached building and closed the door after stopping the engine.

"Help me inside," he requested and she nodded. "I want to try Sonny again."

Once he was on the couch and had a bottle of water, she went to inspect the house. The bathrooms were fully stocked and the thought of a shower was very enticing. There were medicines, which she was happy to see. Jason would soon be out of antibiotics and she didn't want to risk a relapse with him. A quick tour of the bedrooms revealed she was going to be wearing some baggy clothes. Apparently nobody had thought to stock women's clothes. She'd have to address that with Sonny.

Hoping that she'd been gone long enough to let Jason talk, Elizabeth walked back down the hallway intending to inspect the kitchen. They both were hungry and longed for something that didn't come out of a can. Although given the logistics of a safe house there was little chance of there being anything fresh. But no doubt there was pasta or pancake mix and they could at least get some breakfast. There would be variety, and that meant they didn't have to live on cold soup.

Jason was setting on the couch, his phone tossed across the table. The bottle of water had been knocked over by it and water was pooling on the hardwood floor. Her heart flew to her throat and sweat bloomed on her back.

"Ja-Jason?"

"I can't reach him," he admitted roughly. "I can't reach anybody. I don't know where Sam, Sonny or the guards are. I can't call Carly directly right now, so I don't know how she or Michael are."

Elizabeth sat down on the table, ignoring the water at her feet and reached out her hand to him. Jason immediately latched onto it, holding tightly. He was worried and his voice was full of anguish when he needlessly said, "It's not a good sign that I can't reach anyone."

Blinking to quell her tears she nodded, "I know."

He tugged on her hand and she complied, moving to sit on the edge of the couch and leaning into his waiting embrace. "I promise I'm not giving up, Elizabeth," he said against her neck. "I'll keep trying. But no matter what, I'll keep you safe."

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