During the Port Charles Hotel fire — the first of what I’d like to call the disaster sweeps stories — Elizabeth was kept mostly on the sidelines which was not an issue for me. Rebecca Herbst was pregnant in real-life and likely would have been around six or seven months pregnant (I believe her daughter was born that April). Jason was, of course, in the middle of things, and he was nearly killed at the end of it by rogue Detective Capelli (a heel turn that devastated many because his portrayer was pretty). There was a cliff hanger, and I was inspired to write what if Elizabeth shows up.
Timeline
This was an episode tag to February 18, 2004’s episode as the hotel fire was winding down. Most of the survivors had been evacuated from the roof by helicopter (leading to one of the most epic NEm scenes in their story — Emily being carried away as Nikolas looks on, trapped). Nikolas was left behind and believed dead for several episodes. (On another note — Nikolas and Emily had some serious super couple writing in that they were constantly being reunited and separated — the stories themselves weren’t so great, but the trope was there, and i think one of the last true supercouples the show launched).
At the same time, Jason had escaped but was stopped by PCPD Detective Andy Capelli who had been ordered by Lorenzo Alcazar to kill him. (I think — this is a bit fuzzy and it’s been a long time since I’ve rewatched). Elizabeth was married to Ric, and that marriage looked relatively stable (their breakup was welcomed but weirdly out of place with the way they’d written them over the previous six months).
Anyway, the scene is this — Jason is trapped by Capelli with a gun on him, facing certain death, and Elizabeth is somewhere on the grounds. I have no earthly clue how this worked out when it actually aired, lol.
“Could you just…please check for me? One last time?”
Her best friend’s heartbroken voice echoing in her ears, Elizabeth Webber-Lansing stepped out of her car and pulled her jacket more tightly around her protruding belly.
Emily was back at Wyndemere but unable to let go of the possibility that Nikolas had been found or was still trying to get out. She’d begged Elizabeth to check just one more time and Elizabeth—the memory of the night Lucky died in a fire all too vivid in her mind—couldn’t bear to refuse her.
The ruins of the once luxurious hotel were still standing up to about the tenth floor. She knew that plans were already being made to tear it down but it ripped at her to know Nikolas’s body might never be recovered.
As she approached the entrance to the building, she heard raised voices. She rounded the corner and stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of Detective Andrew Capelli holding a gun on Jason.
“It’s called a preemptive measure, Morgan,” Capelli hissed. “Take you out before you can take me out.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jason remarked stiffly. “You handcuffed me to a pipe to die. Seems to me you already had your shot.”
“And you won’t get a chance to retaliate,” Capelli declared. He cocked back the hammer.
Elizabeth took a few steps back and took a deep breath. “Hello?” she called. “Is anyone here?”
Capelli whirled around and Jason used the opportunity to tackle him the ground. But Capelli kept control of the gun and Jason ended up on the ground.
“What’s going on here?” Elizabeth demanded.
“Elizabeth, get out of here!” Jason ordered.
“Detective Capelli?” Elizabeth asked, ignoring Jason’s words. She crossed her arms tightly. “Are you in the middle of an arrest?”
“Yes, Mrs. Lansing, so please vacate the premises,” Capelli said, keeping his foot on Jason’s chest.
“Why are you arresting him?”
“This is official police business,” Capelli replied coldly. “Please leave.”
Continuing to ignore the request to leave, Elizabeth strode towards them and stood on the other side of Jason. “So you routinely shoot suspects who are unarmed?” she demanded.
“Mrs. Landing, why do you give a damn about a criminal who’s tried to kill your own husband numerous times?” Capelli said scathingly.
“And who are you to decide who lives and dies?” Elizabeth challenged. “I’m not leaving until you do. So step back.”
“I don’t think so.” He raised the gun to her face. “You either leave or I make you leave.”
Her skin drained of color but she didn’t blink. “If you shoot me, you’re going to find it a little more difficult to get away with that than you will if you shoot Jason. Because my husband will find out and you will pay for it.”
“What makes you think they’ll find your bodies? Maybe I’ll write your spouses a nice note telling them how you ran away together.”
With Capelli’s attention and gun firmly on Elizabeth, Jason used the opportunity to knock him off balance, the gun flying in the air.
Jason tackled him and held him to the ground. He contemplated pulling his gun from his waist but with Elizabeth standing right behind him, he wouldn’t put her in the position to having to see that. “Call the police, Elizabeth,” he directed.
“They’re already on their way,” Elizabeth said in a shaky voice. “I called Ric on my cell and he’s been listening in the whole time.” She removed the phone from her pocket. “Ric?”
“We’re en route, Elizabeth,” Ric told her. “Can Jason hold him down for another five minutes?”
“They’ll be here in five minutes, can you hold him until then?” Elizabeth asked.
“Yeah.”
“Yeah,” Elizabeth repeated. “I’ll see you then.” She closed the phone and put it back in her pocket.
“Why didn’t you leave when I told you to?” Jason demanded, his arm pressed firmly into Capelli’s windpipe.
Elizabeth snorted. “Yeah, walk away when someone’s got a gun on you. Dream on.”
If you’ve been around me for a hot minute, you know that I have four ride or die characters: Elizabeth, Patrick, Dillon (only Scott Clifton), and AJ. They can do no wrong. I will worship them for life. When Emily was suffering from her cancer in August of 2003, AJ was completely absent from the story. From the second Bob Guza had taken over in 2002, Billy Warlock was systematically diminished on the show until he completely disappeared just before his ridiculous exit that fall when he embezzled from ELQ. (I have rage thoughts.)
Timeline
In August 2003, Emily’s breast cancer took a turn for the worse, and it appeared as if she was going to die from an infection.
He made it to the elevator almost a dozen times but he could never push the button for her floor. He knew she must wonder where he was—wondered if he even gave a damn.
His sister had always been so full of life, so vivacious and spunky. He couldn’t imagine what she’d look like in a hospital bed, connected to tubes. It wasn’t like that April when they’d thought it was a drug overdose. Drugs…they could fight that, change it. Cancer. He couldn’t even begin to think how to fight that.
But when his mother had told him about the bacterial meningitis…he knew he couldn’t put it off any longer. He couldn’t avoid it to make himself feel better.
It was dark when he slipped into her room—well past visiting hours. He wore the yellow scrubs over his clothes and sat at her bedside.
Her eyes were sunken, she had dark circles and her skin nearly blended in with her sheets. His eyes watered and he reached for her hand.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered brokenly. “I should—I should have been here for you. I should have…” He bowed his head and started to cry.
He felt her other hand in his hair and he lifted his head. “Emily…”
“AJ…” Emily breathed. She managed a weak smile. “Hey…”
He sat up and wiped his eyes. “I’m sorry I haven’t been here, Em.”
She shook her head. “Don’t…don’t worry about it.”
“But I do,” he protested. “You’re my sister, Emily. God, I remember you when you were so young and you came into our family…God, you’re the best of us, Em. You really are.”
“AJ…you’re my favorite, you know that?” she breathed. Her eyes were closing—she was falling asleep.
“I thought that was Jason,” AJ replied.
She shook her head, her eyes closed again. “No. I mean…I love him…but you’re my favorite. The way you keep…fighting, keep living…you’re so strong. And you quit drinking, too. You’re doing so well…I’m proud of you AJ. I really am.”
“I love you so much, Em.” He kissed her forehead. “And I promise…if you think you’re proud of me now…just you wait.”
“You promise?” she said softly.
“Yeah. I promise.” He listened to her breathing even out and he knew she was asleep then. He smoothed her hair away from her face and sat back in his chair to wait for morning.
It was spring 2003 and nineteen-year-old me was OBSESSED with Dillon and Georgie. There’s nothing else to say.
Timeline
Set in May 2003. Dillon is crushing hard on Georgie who is, for some reason, lusting after her cousin-by-adoption, Lucas. (Tony and Frisco, their dads, are brothers). This was before Lucas came out as gay and when he was being played by the VERY pretty CJ Thomason.
Banner
May 2003
Dillon was shaking his head as he entered Kelly’s. Living in that house was enough to make a sane person go nuts. Every time he turned around, there was another family emergency or someone else was getting taken out in ambulance or God forbid a family meeting. They seemed to have meetings to announce everything, from Emily’s return from the trip to rehab to whether Alan and Monica were going to be home for dinner.
He spied Georgie sitting in the corner of the diner, a plate of fries in front of her and a book in her face. He smiled involuntarily and crossed the room. “Hey, I thought you were grounded.”
She glanced up at him, narrowed her eyes and then returned her attention to the book. She reached one of her hands out and gripped her iced tea and brought the straw to her lips, took a sip and put it back in its original position without ever taking her eyes off the page.
“So, you’re not speaking to me?” Dillon asked, raising his eyebrows. She didn’t answer and just turned the page instead. “You’re mad at me,” he concluded. He shrugged and pulled the chair out to sit down. “That’s fine. At least when you’re angry with me, you don’t pull me into a family meeting to discuss my behavior. I think that’s the worst thing about living with the Quartermaines—they think everything is their business.”
Georgie remained stubbornly silent and chewed slowly on a fry. A waitress came over and took Dillon’s order. He reached into his textbook and took the course selection catalog for Port Charles High. He flipped through it, looking for the right electives to take.
The waitress brought Dillon’s food and they ate in silence. Finally, Georgie sighed and set her book down. “You had no right to say what you did.”
He nodded. “You’re right. I was out of line. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t know me that well and you don’t like Lucas anyway, so you—” she stopped. “What did you say?”
“I said that I’m sorry,” Dillon repeated. “Just because I think Lucas is an idiot and you could do better, it doesn’t mean you have to think so, too.”
She glared at him. “You don’t have to be so agreeable, either.”
“So you don’t want me to argue about Lucas but you don’t want me to stop either?” Dillon asked amused.
“I’m not trying to be funny,” Georgie fumed. “I’ve made up my mind to be mad at you and no amount of you apologizing is going to change that.”
“That’s fine,” Dillon replied. “Hey, what you recommend? Study hall or journalism?”
“You just don’t get it do you?” she demanded.
“Apparently there’s a lot of things I don’t get about you,” Dillon replied. He grinned. “But I’m looking forward to finding out.”
She smiled despite herself and flushed a little. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“You just…I don’t know.” Georgie shrugged and looked away. “I know Lucas is into Maxie, but that doesn’t mean I should give up on my dream, right?”
“Right,” Dillon replied. “But, hey dreams change all the time. When I was ten, all I wanted to do was meet the Quartermaines.”
Georgie laughed. “How’s that working out for you?”
He grimaced. “One more family meeting and I’m turning myself into the police.”
I never liked Ric Lansing, but I loved Rick Hearst. He and Becky had MAD chemistry that almost made you forget that he tried to kill her repeatedly. He’s also the only pairing she’s ever had that was obsessive about her, LOL. So it was kind of nice. Anyway. I was intrigued by their break up and wrote this piece. I actually posted it on a LiRic board.
Timeline
Set in early May 2003. Elizabeth has just learned the extent of Ric’s crimes against Carly and Courtney, and has broken up with him. This is before the pregnancy later that month. (What a plot device to force her to give him another chance. The disrespect.)
Banner
May 3, 2003
It shouldn’t surprise him really. He hadn’t expected her to stay around once she knew the truth.
He’d hoped. He’d prayed.
But he can’t blame her for walking out.
What reason had he given her to stay?
He could have told her the truth. Told her how he’d dreamed of ruining Sonny’s life from the very moment he’d discovered his existence. He could stopped this at any time—given up as soon as he’d fallen for her.
But he hadn’t. He’d gone ahead and made Carly believe they’d slept together. He’d blackmailed her, he’d kidnapped Courtney, he’d partnered with Faith…he’d lied to Elizabeth at every turn.
He’d never expected anything to happen with her—given the way they’d met. She’d always seemed too suspicious of him—always seemed aloof.
He’d been drawn to her, drawn to the smile she wore, to the sparkle in her eyes, to the infectious laugh.
But he’d reminded himself of his goal in Port Charles and it had worked.
Until he’d danced with that day in Kelly’s and he’d kissed her. He’d then tried to tell himself that he could have both. He could destroy Sonny and still salvage his relationship with Elizabeth.
But he’d come to the conclusion long ago—on the day that they’d made love for the first time—that he would lose her.
He’d just never expected it to hurt so much.
He stands outside Kelly’s and watches her at the counter. This is what his revenge had cost him. His hatred for the brother he’d never known has cost him the only pure and good emotion he’d known.
He loves her. She is the first thing he thinks about when he woke up, his last thought before he falls asleep. She consumes his every waking thought now that the truth is out.
He touches the glass and contemplates going inside. He thinks about sitting at the counter where she will be forced to wait on him. He thinks about trying to talk to her—trying to make her understand.
But he knows better than that. He knew she was too good for him—he’d known it all along.
He listens to that message on his machine over and over again. Hearing her say “I love you” was a bitter victory for him. She’d loved him, but inevitably, he’d destroyed all of that. There was no going back, there was no saving this.
He’d loved her and he’d lost her.
She looks up then and her eyes catch sight of him. He tries to keep the contact but her gaze is angry and cold and no matter how much he deserves it, he can’t take it anymore.
He tears his eyes away and walks away.
She walks quickly to the stairs, anxious to get back to her studio and sleep, trying to forget the memory of Ric looking at her through the window that day.
“Elizabeth!”
She falters, her hand gripping the rail and she turns to see him standing a few feet away on the docks. “I have nothing to say to you.”
“Just please listen,” Ric pleads. “Elizabeth, I should have stopped this a long time ago, I should have realized you were more important than some stupid vendetta—”
“But you didn’t,” Elizabeth breaks in coldly. “You didn’t. I told you many times that if you couldn’t be honest with me, that you should walk away. And you didn’t. You led me to believe that you were someone you aren’t.”
“I know and I’m sorry,” Ric tells her. “Just…just please give me another chance—”
“Are you joking?” she says in disbelief. “What planet do you live on that you think I should give you even five seconds of my time?”
“I know I don’t deserve it—”
“You’re right,” Elizabeth cuts in. “You don’t deserve one.” She turns back to the stairs.
“I love you.”
She stops for a moment and closes her eyes. “If you love me, then let me go,” she whispers.
She waits another moment, listens to the sound of the water lapping against the pilings, to the sound of his breathing, to the distant sounds of the cars.
“Goodbye,” she says softly.
She walks up the stairs, and disappears around a corner.
Ric lets out a breath and walks in the opposite direction.
I was obsessed with Faith Roscoe back in the day. Cynthia Preston made you root for this absolutely insane character in ways that boggle the mind. She tried to kill Elizabeth repeatedly, and I still adored her. In 2003, Jason prepared to kill her for the first time, and it was cliffhanger Friday so I put together this episode tag.
I gave Faith a maiden name in this story, and then a blogger writing about GH was searching for her maiden name — came across my story and linked it. It gave me a huge spike in traffic, LOL, so it’s something I’ve always remembered.
Timeline
By April of 2003, Faith Roscoe had annoyed the crap of Jason and Sonny. She’d joined the show in late December 2002 as Roscoe’s widow. I don’t know if Roscoe had an actual first name, but I’ve always called him Mickey in my head. Roscoe was the guy Jason executed in the summer of 2002 and led to Elizabeth’s kidnapping. Faith came for revenge. I honestly can’t remember why Jason was preparing to kill Faith at this point, but the set up here is that he has her in a room and is laying down plastic to prep for the clean up.
Banner
Someone is walking up to the bedroom door.
Hearing him knocking —
She knows what it’s for.
She’s at the window wondering why there is no one to save her.
Raising up her eyes to a brand new sky she knows the truth at last —
She’s never coming back.
— This Is The Day, Ivy
April 23, 2003
She was five the first time her father molested her.
It’s a hazy memory, but even a small little girl is unable to forget the first time her daddy climbs into bed with, slides her cotton nightgown to her waist and touches her in places that only her mother has ever seen.
She was ten the first time her father raped her.
And she was fifteen when she shot him.
She doesn’t remember when it happened, she doesn’t remember pulling the trigger, she’s not even sure where the gun came from.
But the memory of holding the gun in her hands, standing over his fallen form is etched into her memory. She remembers that part clearly.
It was the second that Faith Rasticoff decided that no man would have power over her again. She would never be the victim again.
Which was why the current situation was ironic. She was about to die. At the hands of a man.
She’d made last moment pleas for her life, begged…would have groveled if she weren’t tied up. But it was unnecessary. Jason Morgan had made his career on his lack of mercy.
Tears streaked down her cheeks, smearing her mascara. Her sobs were soundless, thanks to the duct tape.
She was a threat. A threat that had to be removed.
She was seventeen when she met her husband. Mickey Roscoe took good care of her, didn’t push her in the bedroom, dressed her in fine clothing and took her to all the right places. He’d saved her from a life on the streets.
Was it so hard to believe that she’d wanted a little revenge for his death?
She could hear Morgan loading the gun from behind her. Her eyes squeezed shut and she clenched her fists at her side.
She’d wanted children. A little boy for Mickey, and a little girl for her. She would have been a good mother, she knew it. A little girl she could protect from people like her father, from people like Sonny Corinthos. Mickey would get a boy to take over his operation. A perfect life.
She’d been coming home from a doctor’s appointment when one of Mickey’s guards told her. Corinthos had ordered Mickey’s murder.
She’d never been able to tell him she was pregnant, and when she lost the child three months later, she hadn’t been able to tell anyone about that.
Was it so wrong to want Sonny Corinthos to pay for the family he’d ripped from her? Only his family mattered? Only his unborn child was worth anything? What about her? What about the family she’d been creating? What about the love she and her husband had shared? Had it been any different than Sonny and Carly?
She heard the phone ring behind her and steeled herself. Mickey had gone with dignity, she knew it. He hadn’t cried or begged for his life, Mickey was better than that.
She would die like he had. She’d done nothing wrong, nothing that the great Sonny Corinthos wouldn’t had done himself.
She’d seen a threat and she’d sought to remove it.
“It’ll be done.”
His cold voice rang through the room and Faith’s heart began to beat wildly.
She was going to see Mickey again…and her unborn child that had never had a chance to survive.
She’d be free.
She felt the cold nuzzle of the gun at her ear and she squeezed her eyes tighter.
If you were watching back in 2003, you were probably as confused as I am with Emily’s return to Port Charles in March of that year. Natalia Livingston joined the cast, and for the first few months — it was like she and Elizabeth were complete strangers. I honestly could not tell you what scenes they shared between March and August 2003 (Elizabeth got more involved when Emily’s cancer was revealed to the rest of the world.)
And one of the most truly strange turns of Emily’s first few months was the way she supported Jason and Courtney’s relationship, despite Emily’s friendship with Elizabeth and Courtney being AJ’s ex-wife.
When Emily was first rumored to come home, a lot of us who were still holding out Liason hope thought she might kick start their reunion. (HOW COULD LIASON NOT BE THE STORY WE KEPT SCREAMING INTO THE VOID).
And then, uh, she didn’t. Anyway, I wrote this as an episode tag to one of Emily’s first episodes.
Timeline
Emily has returned home from California to find that Jason and Courtney are dating, and that Elizabeth isn’t even friends with Jason anymore. She’s not satisfied with the first round of answers.
Banner
April 3, 2003
Emily Quartermaine studied her best friend working silently behind the counter. She hadn’t spoken to Elizabeth in a few weeks, not since…that didn’t matter anyway. What mattered was the strange sharp retort Elizabeth had thrown out a few moments ago.
“Excuse me a minute,” Emily said, interrupting Courtney.
“Uh, yeah sure.”
Emily stood and crossed the room. “Elizabeth, can we talk for a minute?”
“I’m busy,” Elizabeth replied in a clipped tone.
Stung, Emily frowned. “What’s wrong? Did I do something to offend you?”
Elizabeth looked up at her friend and Emily was taken aback at the coldness in the normally warm blue eyes. “I can’t believe you’d just turn your back like that.”
“What?” Emily shook her head. “Elizabeth, I thought we discussed this yesterday. You are over Jason, right? I mean you were talking about Ric so much…and Jason just seems like he’s moved on…”
“He’s moved on all right,” Elizabeth muttered. “I just didn’t realize you loved Jason more than you loved AJ.”
“AJ?” Emily repeated. “What does AJ have to do with anything?”
“Didn’t it tip you off when you heard her last name?” Elizabeth asked pointedly.
“Matthews, right?” Emily asked, completely mystified by the entire situation.
Elizabeth stared at her for a moment. “That’s her maiden name.”
“Maiden name.” Emily’s eyes widened. “Oh my God! Jason’s Courtney is…holy hell, AJ’s wife?”
“You mean you didn’t know?” Elizabeth asked surprised. “I didn’t mention it?”
“No, I guess not.” Emily glanced over her shoulder at the blonde at the table. “Are she and AJ even divorced?”
“Nope.” Elizabeth sighed. “Look, Em, I’m sorry I came off like such a bitch. It’s just…I thought Courtney was my friend. I confided in her after I left Jason…and I trusted her. She lied to me. Every time she was ducking out on a shift or late for another, she was with Jason. And she lied about it. This has nothing to do with Jason.”
“Nothing?” Emily prompted, a smile on her lips.
“Almost nothing,” Elizabeth allowed. “I don’t really know what happened between AJ and Courtney. I know AJ did something stupid out of his insecurities about Jason. He was worried Courtney liked Jason more or something and I guess…well, I guess he had a reason to be afraid. Because not more than two months after Jason and I…ended…and a month after AJ moved out, they started seeing each other. I guess AJ and I were right all along.”
“Whoa, whoa…” Emily stared at her. “You don’t think…you don’t think my brother was interested in Courtney while he was with you?”
“I don’t want to think that,” Elizabeth said softly. “But the evidence is hard to ignore. I wanted to be with him, I was willing to do just about anything. Keep it hidden, whatever he wanted. And Jason didn’t want to do any of it. I constantly saw them together…and then…” Elizabeth shrugged. “They got together. What am I supposed to think?”
Emily slid off the stool. “I think…I need…I’ll see you later, okay?”
She found her brother at the hospital.
He was sitting in the waiting room like before and smiled when he saw her. “Hey. You’re back.”
“When I asked you about the woman you were in love with, why did you fail to mention that she was still legally married to AJ?” Emily demanded. “And that she left AJ for you?”
Jason’s face fell and he looked away. “Em—”
“I went to Kelly’s to talk to her. To tell her I was glad she made you happy.” Emily’s brown eyes bore into the top of his head as she glared at him. “And when Elizabeth seemed upset that I so readily approved of Courtney, I was curious. Because Elizabeth isn’t like that.”
“And she told you about AJ,” Jason said quietly.
“She told me about that,” Emily nodded. “She told me that Courtney lied to her time and time again about leaving work to sneak out to be with you. She told me that you were seeing Courtney while the two of you were together.”
Instantly, Jason leapt to his feet. “That is not true!”
“Well, I guess Elizabeth didn’t get that memo. Can’t blame her I guess. From what she tells me, you and Courtney got together pretty quickly.” Emily sighed. “You know…I never…I never wanted to see the way she felt about you. I thought it was wrong, I thought it was betraying her perfect relationship with Lucky. But anyone who had eyes saw the way Elizabeth felt about you. And I knew how you felt about her.”
“Emily, I don’t—”
“What I want to know is how you turned those feelings so off so quickly? How were you able to give up on Elizabeth, someone you’d been in love with for years…for Courtney, your brother’s wife?”
“AJ is not my brother!” Jason replied, defensively. “And I never said I was in love with Elizabeth.”
“You didn’t have to.” Emily folded her arms. “I love you, Jason. You’re my brother. But so is AJ. And Elizabeth is like my sister. I’m having a little troubled deciding where my loyalties lie.”
“I don’t want you to take sides,” Jason replied. “This is a difficult situation—”
“Yeah, it is. Jesus, Jason, she’s still married to him, for Christ’s sake. What were you thinking?”
“Emily, I don’t—”
“How could you do this to Elizabeth?” Emily asked, switching tacks. “You know, I thought she was over you. So I thought I could be okay with you moving on. But either one of you is lying to yourself or you both are. But with what Elizabeth told me about the way it ended, I don’t think either one of you has a freaking clue.”
“You’re taking her word over mine?” Jason demanded.
“I only have her word, Jason. And if you remember, Elizabeth is not exactly a liar. Not about you. She’s made mistakes with you, she readily admits that. But she never lied about you.” Emily glanced around. “Look, this is not the place for this conversation. Let’s go somewhere. Because god help me, I’m getting the story out of you if it kills us both.”
“I can’t leave—”
“Why?” Emily demanded, arching her eyebrow. “Carly’s going to be fine, right? Courtney told me.”
“Yeah, but—”
“No buts,” Emily replied. “Let’s go.”
Courtney pressed her hands against the counter and glared at Elizabeth. “What did you tell her?” she demanded.
Elizabeth smirked. “That you’re married to one of her brothers and sleeping with the other. You know, nothing that’s not common knowledge.”
“You’re such a pathetic little bitch,” Courtney spat out hatefully. “You just hate that Jason and I are happy together, don’t you?”
“I hate that you decided you wanted him and stomped everyone who got in your way,” Elizabeth tossed back “Now if you don’t excuse me—”
“AJ and I have been separated for months! What does it matter?”
“It matters to Emily that you’re messing with the people she cares about—”
“So, I take it my sister found out about my wonderful slut of a wife.”
Courtney sighed and turned. “Go away, AJ,” she said scornfully.
AJ smirked and slid onto a stool. “Can I have a coffee to go?” he asked Elizabeth.
“Don’t serve him!” Courtney snarled.
Elizabeth tossed her hair over her shoulder and turned a hundred watt smile on AJ. “Hey. Black?”
“Nah. Two creams and one sugar,” AJ replied. “So, Courtney, how’s life screwing Jason?”
“Bite me!” Courtney retorted.
“Oooh, how mature,” Elizabeth murmured, handing AJ his coffee. “Do you have any leads on Kristina yet?”
AJ sighed. “No. Not yet.”
Courtney snorted. “Like either of you care. God, you’re both pathetic. AJ with his stupid insecurity about Jason and Elizabeth with her little puppy love for him. You’re both ridiculous.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” AJ replied, shrugging. “I figured since you know, you actually left me for Jason, that my insecurities weren’t that far off.”
“You were using me!” Courtney shot back.
“Hey, be fair,” AJ replied, irritated. “You used me, too. You wanted out from under Sonny’s thumb. What better way than to marry his mortal enemy?”
Courtney shifted and looked away. “That’s not true.”
“Oh, please. You’re just as manipulative as I am,” AJ replied. “I was a perfect catch. I mean, eventually my family would take me back, right? But then you saw Jason and figured well, the Quartermaine golden boy and Sonny’s little stooge. What better way to get everything you ever wanted?”
“That’s not fair, AJ! You stalked me!” Courtney cried.
“And I have apologized!” AJ shot back. “Over and over again. I know it was a stupid move. I know it was ridiculous and all that. I just wanted to scare you a little. Just so once, I’d be the hero instead of my damn brother.” AJ snorted. “But you called Jason anyway. You always called Jason.”
Courtney looked away. “AJ, look…I…things…”
AJ shrugged. “Doesn’t matter anyway. You didn’t love me. I see that now. You think you did. And you probably think you love Jason. But eventually, Prince Charming is going to going to fall of his high white horse and you’ll realize it was just another hero worship. He’s not perfect Courtney. He’s got his good points, but he’s got his bad and the longer you think he’s perfect, the more it’s going to hurt in the end.” AJ slapped a five on the counter. “Keep the change, Liz. And steer clear of the succubus over here. She’ll suck you dry.”
AJ left the diner then, leaving a speechless Courtney in his wake.
“You know, he may be an idiot,” Elizabeth murmured thoughtfully, “but I think he’s finally growing up.”
Emily sat across from her brother at Jake’s, nursing a soda. “Okay, go.”
Jason sighed and took a sip of his beer. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Emily.”
“Fine, I’ll start.” She took a deep breath and sat straight in her chair. “I talked to Elizabeth a lot of the summer. In fact, I had a call from her sometime in August. She was crying her eyes out about how she’d betrayed me, betrayed you and all that.” Emily studied him. “She told me about Zander.”
Jason shifted in his seat. “Didn’t think she would,” he finally said.
“She wasn’t going to at first. But she decided she wanted me to find out from her.” Emily took a deep breath. “It was hard to hear about it at first, but her explanation, it helped me to understand. Did she ever explain to you?”
“Yeah. She told me it was a mistake,” Jason answered.
“But did she tell you why?” Emily asked.
“I didn’t want to hear it,” Jason admitted. “She tried…but…”
“She was scared to death,” Emily jumped in. “The lights went out in her building and she was trapped in the stairwell. Apparently, she had a panic attack because of the kidnapping—”
“You know about that?” Jason asked, his brow furrowed.
“She told me after it happened. Anyway, she was panicking, banging on doors trying to get out and Zander got her out. They went back to her studio and Elizabeth told me that she was still shaking. She was scared and she wanted to feel anything but the fear. So when he kissed her, she let him.”
“I didn’t…I didn’t know about any of that,” Jason said slowly.
“No, I guess not. I bet you thought she was choosing Zander over you, just like she chose Lucky over you,” Emily replied. “But anyway, Elizabeth came to her senses, she managed to convince you to be with her, she was living in the penthouse. What happened?”
“Elizabeth told you, so you already know,” Jason told her stubbornly.
“I know Elizabeth’s reasons for leaving yes,” Emily allowed. “Reasons, by the way, I totally agree with. So, what I want to know is…why do you think she left?”
“Because I lied to her,” Jason said simply.
Emily stared at her brother for a moment. “You really are a sad person, Jase. You used to know her so well. You knew her better than anyone else in her life. You saw right through her when she tried to lie, you made her light up with life when no one else could. How could you think that Elizabeth…after everything you’ve been through together…would leave you because of a lie?”
“I…Wait…” Jason frowned. “She didn’t?”
“She left because you never came home. Never called. Never let her know you needed her. From what Elizabeth tells me, she stayed in the penthouse for days without seeing you or hearing from you. Half the time, she was worried sick that you were hurt or even worse. She got tired of coming in dead last on your list of priorities.”
“She told you all this.”
“I told you, Liz and I are sisters. I got her back, she’s got mine. I just wish she’d told me more about Courtney earlier or I might have been home sooner.” Liar, her mind chanted but she silenced that pretty quickly. “Well, I guess it doesn’t matter why Elizabeth did what she did. You obviously didn’t care about her half as much as everyone figured or you wouldn’t have moved on so quickly.” Emily sipped her soda. “So, have you traveled to anywhere that I don’t know about?”
Jason stared at her for a moment. “Emily, I cared about Elizabeth. A lot. You know that.”
“I thought I did,” Emily replied. “I thought I knew how much your friendship meant to each other. But I guess I was wrong.”
“She meant a lot to me Emily,” Jason argued. “She was important to me.”
“Did you ever tell her that?” Emily asked pointedly.
“Em—”
“Jason, look, it’s obvious that whatever you felt for Elizabeth is in the past. I mean, you’d never start with Courtney if you weren’t over with Elizabeth, so don’t worry about it. Elizabeth is strong, she’ll bounce back. I guess she can’t forget as easily.”
“I didn’t forget!”
Emily smirked. “Really.”
“She won’t talk to me.”
“Have you tried lately?” Emily asked.
“Well, no…but…” Jason trailed off. “Emily—”
“Just answer me one question honestly,” Emily said, “and I swear I’ll shut up.”
Jason sighed. “Okay.”
“Are you over Elizabeth?”
Jason stared at her for a moment, looked away, his eyes falling on the pool table where he’d taught Elizabeth to play. He remembered the way she felt in his arms, how sweet her hair smelled. He remembered that day upstairs when she’d come to him all dressed up and he’d washed her face.
He’d wanted to kiss her so badly back then. All the time, every time he saw her, he’d had to fight himself not to pull her to him.
He remembered the look on her face when he’d entered the penthouse that fateful night. The dull and glazed look in her eyes. The dried tearstains on her cheeks. He remembered the way her eyes had glimmered with tears that day in Kelly’s when Elizabeth had told them both to go to hell.
He took a deep breath, looked his sister straight in the eye and answered her question. “No. I guess I’m not.”
The door swung open and Elizabeth turned to look at him. “We’re closed,” she said quietly. “Courtney left hours ago.”
“I know.” Jason swallowed hard. “I need to talk to you.”
“I’m not in the mood,” Elizabeth said shortly as she turned another chair over and put it on the table.
“I talked to Emily today.”
“That’s nice.”
“She’s very loyal to you.”
Elizabeth sighed and looked at him. “Jason, do you have a point?”
He exhaled slowly. “She asked me if I was over you and I told her the truth.” He studied her face for a moment before continuing. “That I wasn’t.”
She just stared him, a little dumbfounded. “What?”
“I’m not very proud of what’s happened to our friendship,” Jason told her. He moved away from her, towards the door a little. “I think we’re both to blame. We both ran, and neither of us listened to each other.”
“I guess that’s true,” Elizabeth murmured. She watched Jason fish in his jacket pocket. “What do you think we should do about that?”
He withdrew a handful of change. “What’s your favorite song?” he asked.
She frowned. “What?”
“Your favorite song,” he repeated. “On the jukebox.”
“Oh. Um…” she thought for a moment. “I’m With You. Avril Lavigne.”
Jason scanned the machine and punched it in. As the first chords of music washed over the room, he extended a hand to her. “Dance with me.”
Her eyebrows shot up, even as she took his hand and he pulled her close. They formed the traditional dance pose, her other hand on his shoulder, his hand around her waist. “Why?”
I’m standing on a bridge
I’m waiting in the dark
I thought that you’d be here by now
“I guess I’m trying to recreate one of my favorite memories,” Jason told her.
Elizabeth smiled as she remembered the night in question. “You really didn’t mind it?”
There’s nothing but the rain
No footsteps on the ground
I’m listening but there’s no sound
“Nope.” Jason chuckled. “Do me a favor this time, though?”
“What?” Elizabeth asked, tilting her head back to look at him.
“Don’t pretend I’m Lucky.”
Isn’t anyone tryin to find me?
Won’t somebody come take me home
It’s a damn cold night
Trying to figure out this life
Elizabeth didn’t laugh until she saw the amusement in his eyes. “I never could pretend you were anyone else but who you are,” she told him, her eyes showing her honesty.
“Good,” Jason decided.
Wont you take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don’t know who you are
But I… I’m with you
I’m with you
Emily peered in through the window to see her best friend and brother dancing like old friends again. She smiled, glad that she’d righted that wrong. It’d taken her mind off of…other things. She sobered and stepped away from the window, fading into the night.
Inside, the song was winding to a close and Elizabeth was marveling at how comfortable she and Jason suddenly seemed to be. Almost like old times. Maybe…
Maybe they couldn’t go back. And maybe they would never be more than friends. But Elizabeth figured it was better than nothing.
Take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don’t know who you are
But I… I’m with you
I’m with you
I’m with you…
I just want to feel safe in my own skin
I just want to be happy again
They were somewhere in Arizona now, a small town just off the highway. As far as they knew, no one had any idea where they were.
But Elizabeth still didn’t sleep at night.
They’d been in this motel room for three days, by far the longest amount of time they’d spent anywhere. They only spoke when necessary.
She’d bought a book at a convenience store somewhere in Southern California and she sat at the small table near the window, reading it.
The shades were drawn, and she’d unplugged the lamp from the nightstand between the double beds. She’d set it up on the table and tried to convince herself she was back in her room at her grandmother’s instead of some small unknown town in the southwest.
I just want to feel deep in my own world
But I’m so lonely
I don’t even want to be with myself anymore
She sighed and set the book on the table, rubbing her eyes. She didn’t feel comfortable sitting in here by herself while Jason was getting something to eat. It was like she expected another hit man to jump out of the corner.
She separated the curtains to peer out to the street. When she saw Jason crossing the street, a pizza box and a six pack of soda in his hands, she let out a relieved breath and let the curtains fall back into place.
A few moments later, Jason entered. He set the food down and sat across from her. In the two weeks they’d been on the road, he’d never mentioned Carly, though Elizabeth knew he must be upset about it. He also never mentioned Courtney or Sonny and the only time they’d talked about Ric had been the day he’d told her husband was dead.
“You want a soda?” Jason asked. She nodded and after he handed it to her, she opened her book again and began reading. Immersing herself in a bad convenience store novel seemed a more enjoyable prospect than making conversation.
The sound of his cell phone shattered the silence and she glanced up sharply. His phone never rang. Of course she knew he was in contact with someone in Port Charles, but…was it really a good idea for someone to have his cell number?
On a different day
if I was safe in my own skin
then I wouldn’t feel lost and so frightened
He met her eyes briefly before taking the phone from his jeans pocket and answering it. “Yeah.”
“We’ve got a problem,” Johnny said in a hushed voice. He ducked into an unused office at the warehouse. “Baldwin can’t pin Lansing’s murder on Sonny, so he’s going a different route.”
Jason stood and turned away from Elizabeth’s eyes. “What does that mean?”
“It means that he’s using your disappearance to his advantage,” Johnny replied.
“That doesn’t surprise me.” Jason held his breath, knowing there was more.
“But his theory and how uh…people are reacting is why I’m calling.” Johnny hesitated. “He’s saying you and Elizabeth committed it together and then ran off.” There was another pause. “Jason–“
“They’re saying she’s guilty?” Jason cut in sharply, glancing at Elizabeth briefly who sat up and looked at him oddly.
“That’s not all,” Johnny continued. “The press is eating it up and they’re doing all these stories about you two. They found pictures of that warehouse fire on Valentine’s Day. They’re bringing up the kidnapping, the explosion and the shooting…Jase, it gets worse.”
He muttered something under his breath. “I can’t imagine how.”
“Courtney’s publicly ended the engagement.”
He couldn’t speak for a moment. He reached out his with free hand and braced it against the wall, an action that alarmed Elizabeth. She closed her book and stood up.
“Jason?” Johnny asked. “Are you okay?”
“You mean…she actually believes this?” Jason asked finally.
“I’m sorry, man. Listen, your sister has been defending you in the press and Lucky Spencer and Audrey Hardy are defending Liz, but it’s not doing much good.”
“What about Sonny?” Jason asked.
There was another pause. “He hasn’t said much,” the guard hedged.
“But?” Jason pressed.
“Look, Jase, the longer you two stay gone…the more time Baldwin’s got to spread this story. I know you don’t give a damn about yourself, but what about Elizabeth? She’s innocent in this.”
“Yeah…I know that.” Jason closed his eyes and dragged a hand through his hair. “Listen…I need to think about this. Talk it over with Elizabeth. I’ll call you back.”
“Okay.”
“Thanks for calling.” Jason hung up and leaned against the wall. “We’ve got a problem.”
But this is today
and I’m lost in my own skin
“I gathered as much from your side of the conversation,” Elizabeth said cautiously. “What’s wrong?”
“Scott Baldwin…I guess he didn’t have any luck prosecuting Sonny for Ric’s murder,” Jason told her carefully. “And he jumped on a new theory.”
“He thinks I did it,” Elizabeth said, slowly.
“He thinks we both did it and then ran off together,” Jason corrected.
Elizabeth widened her eyes. “And the people back home? What do they think?”
“I got the impression that it was pretty much accepted. Emily, Lucky and Audrey seem to think different but it’s not enough.” Jason sat on the edge of the bed, his mind already perusing their different options.
And I’m so lonely
I don’t even want to be with myself anymore
Elizabeth noticed the absence of Courtney’s name in that list and suddenly felt a sharp streak of sorrow for Jason. She remembered all too well what it was like when the person you loved didn’t trust you. “We have an alibi,” she pointed out. “At least a dozen people would put us on the flight to Seattle.”
“That’s true, but I bought those tickets under a different name. As far as anyone else is concerned, we vanished as soon as we left Port Charles. There’s no paper trail of either of us anywhere,” Jason told her. “We’re each other’s alibi and it won’t hold up in court.”
“But there’s no other evidence,” Elizabeth said, almost desperate. “There’s nothing linking either of us except the fact we left town.”
“And for Scott Baldwin, it’s enough. He’s corrupt, Elizabeth. He wants me in jail and he nearly succeeded last winter,” he reminded her.
“So…what? We run for the rest of our lives?” she asked, nearly panicked now.
He shook his head. “The longer we’re gone, the worse it’ll be.”
“But I thought it wasn’t safe to go to Port Charles. Especially since Sonny wants you dead.” Elizabeth crossed her arms tightly and studied him. After a moment of silence, she looked at the ground. “What should we do?”
“We have to go back,” Jason said after some hesitation. “Not right this second. Not even tomorrow, but sometime in the near future.”
“What about Sonny?”
Jason stood and shook his head. “Let me worry about Sonny.”
Elizabeth hesitated, her doubt in Jason showing again. He sighed, disappointed but understanding all at the same time.
And I just say oh, oh
I feel, oh, oh
“Elizabeth, I know what happened in Seattle upset you but you have to trust me. Once we’re back in Port Charles, on our own ground…I can protect you more.”
“I know,” she sighed. “I just…how are we supposed to get out of this without telling them Sonny put a hit on my life and then one on you?” she asked.
Jason frowned and sat back on the edge of the bed, deep in thought. She sat back at the small table and flipped the lid of the pizza box open. Her stomach had started to rumble a little and it was obvious Jason would need some time to come up with a plan.
And I’m so lonely
I don’t even want to be with myself anymore
She was halfway through a slice of plain when he stood and joined her at the table. “They already know we’re together,” Jason began. “I mean…that wherever we are…” he fumbled.
She nodded. “Right.”
“And the press has the idea that we killed your husband and then ran off somewhere together.” When he said together this time, she knew what he meant.
“We’re not going to be able to change their minds about that, you know that right?” Jason continued. “Once people get an idea in their head like that…”
“Yeah, I know. So how are we supposed to convince Scott Baldwin and the police that it’s not?”
I just say oh, oh
And I’m so lonely
“We don’t have to convince them of anything,” Jason replied. “We have time working with us. No one saw either of us after I took you to the warehouse, right?”
“Right,” Elizabeth said slowly. “But we didn’t leave until after midnight.”
“I can arrange to have records show we were on a flight to London before Ric’s murder,” Jason told her.
“Basically…we’re going to take their idea that we killed him and ran off together and just remove the kill part,” Elizabeth clarified.
“Yeah.” He shifted. “I know it’s not the best thing…but it’s the only believable explanation.”
“But what about Courtney?” Elizabeth asked, finally voicing the name that he hadn’t in two weeks.
I feel oh, oh
I don’t even want to be with myself anymore
He hesitated then and looked away. “She, ah…she believes what the papers say. And she broke off the engagement.”
“Oh, Jason,” she sighed. “I’m so sorry.”
He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter right now. When we get back to Port Charles, I’ll talk to her. Straighten it out. But Elizabeth, this is the best and simplest explanation for what’s been going on.”
“And if we go back…you’re sure you can keep me safe from Sonny?” Elizabeth asked.
“Yes,” Jason said firmly. “I’m sure.”
“Okay then,” Elizabeth agreed. “Let’s go.”
I just want to feel safe in my own skin
I just want to be happy again
I had a friend, he liked to test me
And disregard the rest of me
At 12:06 am the night Sonny Corinthos ordered Jason Morgan to kill Elizabeth Lansing in retaliation for his wife’s kidnapping, Carly Corinthos was left unconscious at General hospital with a message that said Sonny should come through on his end of the bargain.
By the time Sonny got the message and understood that Ric had just been moments late fulfilling Sonny’s demands, he’d been relieved to be able to make the phone call to Jason rescinding his order.
Instead, Jason’s cell phone was off. Sonny called Marco who said that Jason had told him to go home. That it was over.
And Sonny wondered if maybe he’d gone too far this time.
He sat by Carly’s hospital bed all night, waiting for her to wake up. Waiting for word from Jason. But Jason never called. And Carly never woke up.
Sonny had sent men to take care of Ric and other men to find Jason. With no confirmation of the order, Sonny knew what had happened. He’d ordered Jason to do the one thing he could never do. And Jason had refused in his own way.
He’d taken Elizabeth somewhere safe and secure, Sonny surmised, and he knew that if Jason didn’t want to be found, he wouldn’t.
And another who though she loved me
She could not help one night but do me wrong
She fell asleep shortly after they took off and didn’t wake until Jason was lifting her from her seat.
“Where are we going?” Elizabeth murmured sleepily. She didn’t open her eyes, didn’t struggle as she felt her body moving. She was so tired…so tired that she just fell asleep again before Jason could answer her question.
He rented a car under an assumed name with the help of the girl behind the counter who understood he didn’t want to wake his wife–which is what Jason told her–by sitting her down.
She’d called it romantic and all he’d said was to charge it to the first credit card she found in his wallet.
By the time he got her situated in the car and on the road, he himself felt the fatigue slipping in. It was early morning here, the middle of the morning back home. He’d taken her clear across the country and planned to disappear in Seattle for a day or two before he called someone back home to gauge the situation.
He knew he’d made the right decision–that he could no more kill Elizabeth than Sonny could kill Brenda. And since he felt responsible for her being in this situation, it was up to him to get her out.
He found a motel and registered them under the same names he’d used to get the car. He put her inside and just laid her on top of the covers. She hadn’t even woken slightly since the airplane and that worried Jason. She was a light sleeper. A creak in the floor, the sound of a coffee machine two floors down, just about anything woke her up.
But her breathing was deep, her color good and he didn’t let himself worry to long before sitting in a chair and falling asleep himself.
Goodbye, I’m leavin now
I’ll see you sometime
She was still sleeping when he woke a few hours later. He looked out the windows of the cramped room and found a diner across the street. He didn’t want to leave her alone but he knew she hadn’t eaten in nearly a day so he locked the door tightly behind him.
When he came back, the bed was empty but he could hear the shower so he set her order on the small table near the window before retreating to a corner of the room with his coffee.
Elizabeth emerged, still looking a little sleepy, towel-drying her hair. She wore her clothes from the day before and Jason made a mental note to find a store. There was no telling how long before he could take her back to Port Charles.
“Thanks,” she said quietly as she sat down and pulled the bagel out of the bag. It was toasted and she found some strawberry cream cheese in the bag as well. “You remembered,” she remarked with a tiny smile.
He shrugged and she just used the plastic knife to spread the topping. He’d gotten her an orange juice and she finished eating without saying anything.
When she was done, she threw out her trash before sitting on the bed and staring out the window. “Where are we?” she asked.
“Seattle,” Jason answered. He tossed his coffee cup into the trash. “I want to stay out of sight until I get in touch with someone back home. To make sure the situation’s cleared up.”
Elizabeth nodded. She was silent a few moments, staring at her hands. “Thanks.” He crossed to the window, slid the curtain shut so that no one could see in. “I mean that, Jason. I know you’d rather be looking for Carly.”
“We know Ric has her,” Jason said simply. “Any competent man would find her with that information and there are other people in the organization who can take care of it.”
“I figured that, but I still know you’d rather be back home helping them,” Elizabeth said again. “I know how much you love Carly.”
“If I’d left you in Port Charles,” Jason began, choosing his words carefully, “there are other men that Sonny would have given this order to. Men who don’t know you, who never guarded you. Who never knew that…” his eyes met hers briefly before looking away. “Who never knew that we were friends. Men who are looking for the chance to prove their loyalty. I know that Carly will be found, but I couldn’t know that you’d safe.”
She nodded and let it go, preferring not to think about those men that Sonny could send after them. He could see the brief flicker of fear in her eyes before she masked it. “What’s wrong?”
Elizabeth hesitated. “How do you know Sonny doesn’t already know where we are?” she asked quietly.
“Because I know more about disappearing than he does,” Jason answered. “I have a dozen different sets of ID that I can use that Sonny doesn’t know about and each of those Ids has a few credits cards to it with offshore accounts attached. He can’t find us if he doesn’t know what name we’re using.”
Elizabeth nodded and trusted her instinct that Jason knew what he was doing. After all, this was his line of work and he was completely sure they were safe, who was she to continue questioning?
Goodbye, I’m leavin now
I’ll see you sometime
He found a Kmart a few blocks from their hotel and against her arguments, gave her a credit card and told her to buy whatever she needed. Elizabeth stared at the credit card in some wonder as she realized it was in her name. Well not her name exactly. She certainly wasn’t Caley Fitzsimmons.
He saw the question in her eyes and just said he’d called someone before they got on the plane and a package with IDs to match his was waiting. Telling herself she’d pay him back when they got home, she grabbed some jeans and tank tops and some undergarments before meeting him outside with her purchases.
They went straight back but he went in the room first to make sure no one had been in there in their absence. Satisfied, he told her to go in and he stayed outside to make a call.
He’d originally planned to wait two days before calling, but he had to know the immediate situation and so he called one of the few men in the organization he trusted.
“Johnny?”
Johnny O’Brien was standing guard outside the Corinthos penthouse despite the fact that the floor was empty and Sonny was at the hospital with Carly. He was free to talk and did so. “Morgan, were the fuck are you?”
“Don’t worry about that. What’s going on there?”
“Three minutes after Sonny called you and I mean three minutes, Sonny got a call from GH. Lansing had dumped Carly there. She’s asleep right now. The doctors say she’s in shock.” Johnny hesitated. “Morgan, you didn’t…”
“No,” Jason snapped. “She’s with me. I’m not bringing her back until I know it’s safe. What about Lansing?”
“Sonny had him taken care of already. He’s not sure whether you took her and ran or if you did it and took off yourself. Either way, he’s been in a black mood since the news came.”
“Has he called down to the island?” Jason asked.
“No. I don’t know that he’s gonna. You’d better stay out sight for a bit. He’s…” Johnny hesitated for the second time. “Carly’s case of shock is a little more extreme than the doctors would like, so nothing’s guaranteed yet.”
“Okay. You’ve got the number of the Fitzsimmons cell. That’s the one we’re using here,” Jason told him. “Call me if anything changes.”
“What if you ditch the ID?”
“I’ll call you the first chance I get,” Jason answered.
“Do you have IDs for her?” Johnny asked. “Because I know a guy–“
“I got them already. Don’t worry.” He hung up then and took a moment before going inside.
Now watch me stand outside
I’m waiting for my shotgun ride
She was sitting at the table, with a small sketchpad and a pencil. She’d grabbed them at the store to keep her from going insane here. When Jason entered, she looked up. “Did you call home?” she asked.
He nodded and took a seat on the bed, rubbing the back of his neck. Sonny had had Ric taken care of and he wondered if it was a good idea to tell her. “Elizabeth, a few minutes after Sonny called me, he got a call from the hospital. Ric had left Carly there.”
Some of the tension lifted from her shoulders and she set the pad on the table. “That’s good, right?” she asked. “She’s okay, then.”
“She was in shock and I guess with the pregnancy, the doctors are worried,” Jason told her. “Uh…Ric…well…he…”
“He’s been taken care of,” Elizabeth finished softly. She was surprised to find her hands shaking a little and she realized she was still wearing her engagement and wedding rings. She was dismayed to find tears in her eyes. Her husband had been a kidnapper. “Did he, ah, did he know what would happen if he hadn’t returned Carly by midnight?”
“Yeah. He knew.”
She closed her eyes. He’d waited too long, it’d gotten too close. He knew Sonny would order Jason to kill her if he hadn’t returned Carly by midnight and he’d waited anyway.
Elizabeth stood abruptly and went into the bathroom. She shut the door behind her and turned the sink on to mask any other sounds coming from the room.
She took her rings off and stared at them for a little while, remembering the pure streak of happiness that had gone through her the night of their wedding. She’d thought that he loved her. That when he told her he’d love her first, last and always that he’d meant it.
Just another person in a long line of people who had lied to her.
She slid to the floor, and started to cry.
Two days I’m crossing the Kansas plains
I know my life won’t ever be the same
When Jason heard the water, he knew she’d gone in there to cry and he didn’t begrudge her that right. She hadn’t known until yesterday exactly who she’d married and she had a right to grieve for him.
She came out ten minutes later and set her rings on the table. “I want to get rid of these,” Elizabeth said softly. “I don’t care how or when. I just don’t want to see them anymore.”
“Why?” Jason had to ask.
“Because he gave these to me the night we said our vows,” Elizabeth replied. She’d shut down. There was no emotion in her voice, no feeling. A cold recitation of the facts. “He promised to put me first and he didn’t. I don’t want a reminder of another broken promise.”
Jason nodded. “We passed a pawnshop,” he told her. “I’ll take you there tomorrow.”
“I want you to have the money I get from it,” Elizabeth told him. “To pay for any food or–”
Jason shook his head. “I’m not taking money from you,” he said firmly. “I don’t care what you do with it, but I won’t take it.”
“Jason–” she protested.
“It’s not open for discussion.” Out of habit, he stood and crossed to the window, peering out of the curtains. “It’s my fault you’re here.”
“It’s because of you I’m still alive,” Elizabeth corrected. “I believe you when you say there are men who would have carried out that order.”
“It’s my life that did this,” Jason said instead. “I probably trained the men you’re talking about. Taught them that loyalty to Sonny was absolute. That there was never any exceptions. That loyalty came before personal feelings and objections.”
Elizabeth accepted that without argument. She’d known that about his job. Instead, she asked, “Then why didn’t you kill me?”
Goodbye, I’m leavin now
I’ll see you sometime
He frowned at her. “What?”
She shrugged. “If part of your job is putting loyalty to Sonny before personal objections, then what made you decide not to kill me?”
He hesitated for a moment before answering. “Because there are some lines I won’t cross. Not for Sonny. You were innocent in this, Elizabeth. Your only mistake was marrying him and you shouldn’t have to pay for that with your life.” He was agitated now. Felt like his loyalty was being questioned. He was loyal to Sonny, there was no argument about that. But who was he more loyal to? Sonny…or himself?
Elizabeth frowned. “I’m not saying you’re not loyal,” she said quietly. “I just wanted to know–”
“I know,” Jason interrupted. “And you have a right to ask. I just…I couldn’t kill you anymore than I could kill Brenda. Or Carly. Or Emily. Because I guess I’m more loyal to myself than to Sonny.”
The conversation lapsed after that and she returned to her half-hearted sketching and he went back to peering out the window.
Goodbye, I’m leavin now
I’ll see you sometime
The stress of the last month inside the panic room had worn on Carly’s pregnant body and with her body in shock, her heart had simply been unable to keep going. She died less than twenty-four hours after she’d been found.
Sonny received the news quietly and returned to his penthouse. He said only one thing before sealing himself inside. He told Johnny and another guard who was there, a newer guard who unlike the rest of the men had more loyalty to Sonny than to Jason. “Jason Morgan is my enemy,” Sonny told them in a low hissing voice. “He is the reason my wife is dead. I want him found and I want him dead.”
Johnny was prepared to tell the other guard to hold off on the order once Sonny had gone inside, but the guard, Peter, was already heading for the elevator. Johnny followed him, but the doors slid shut first.
Cursing, Johnny went into his stairwell to call Jason. He wanted to him to move now. It didn’t matter Sonny or any of the other guards didn’t have the slightest clue where to look for him. Jason needed move and take on a new identity.
He left a message, despite how dangerous he knew that’d be and went back to his post. He only hoped Jason got the message and hadn’t slipped up.
Goodbye, I’m leavin now
I’ll see you sometime
Unfortunately, Peter talked to one person who mentioned that Jason used a particular guy for his IDs. With a few threats and relatively little trouble, Peter got the names of Jason’s aliases and the fact that the forger had sent a matching set to the Seattle Airport. It wasn’t hard to see that Jason was on the run with Elizabeth in tow.
Peter had worked for the organization only a few months, he’d been hired during that terrible time when Jason and Sonny were at each other’s throats. He took his job seriously and when they told him he was to be loyal to Sonny above anyone else, Peter had listened.
He was in the air twenty minutes later.
Well as I try then I begin to see
The lazy trade their dignity
It was getting dark and Elizabeth was about to go out of her mind with boredom. She’d done a few sketches, but didn’t have a lot of motivation to continue. She almost wished there was a television here so she could distract herself with some mindless reality show.
Jason was still stationed at the window. He’d left once since they went to the store. He’d gotten dinner and gone to the pawnshop. Elizabeth had refused to take the money, but he tucked it in her purse when she wasn’t looking.
He’d gone back to the store to get a few more essentials. He’d gotten Johnny’s phone call and knew they’d have to try and lay a little bit lower than he’d planned. He’d gotten some hats, sunglasses. They were going to travel light and he’d bought a cheap crappy car. They were going to leave in the morning and toss the Fitzsimmons IDs.
He hadn’t told Elizabeth any of this yet. He was worried about her, worried that she wasn’t going to be able to keep up. Jason didn’t know how long before they could go home, now that Sonny’s grief had moved him to take action against them.
Elizabeth glanced at him, saw the pensive look on his face and frowned. “Jason?”
“Yeah?”
“Is there something wrong?” she asked softly. “You looked…upset when you came in.”
“I got a call from Johnny while I was gone,” Jason said after a moment. “Carly died in the hospital.” He heard her inhale sharply and went on. “Sonny gave the order to find me and kill me. He holds me responsible.”
But the root of the conspiracy
Is the corporate claim on all our needs
“What?” Elizabeth demanded. She stood. “Why?”
Jason shrugged, trying not to let it show how much Sonny’s newfound hatred affected him. “Maybe he thinks I should have found Carly sooner or that I should have stayed. I don’t know what he’s thinking.”
“I’m sorry, Jason. I know how much you love Sonny and Carly,” Elizabeth told him. She crossed the room, standing next to him at the window. “I–”
“We’re leaving in the morning,” Jason cut in. “I got a car so we don’t have to leave a credit trail. There’s a backpack for you to use so that we don’t look like we’re moving from town to town. We’re leaving in the morning.”
Stung by his brusque tone, Elizabeth just nodded and went into the bathroom to change for bed. If he didn’t want to talk about it, that his problem not hers. She didn’t care anymore.
She sighed and glanced in the mirror before she left. Like hell she didn’t.
Down goes the small man dream
The franchise rise and provide
She was still sleeping when he woke up the next morning, so he left a note that he was getting breakfast and they’d leave when they finished eating. He locked and shut the door tightly behind him.
It took twenty minutes to get a bagel, an orange juice and a coffee to go. The diner was busy and he’d had to wait in line most of those twenty minutes.
As he approached the door to their motel room, he slowed, his eyes trained on the slightly ajar door. He told Elizabeth never to open the door unless he was with her and he knew he’d locked the door behind him.
He set the food on the hood of their car and stepped up next to the door. Glancing around him, he pulled his gun the waistband of his jeans and kicked the door open.
A man had Elizabeth with a gun to her throat. He had one arm around her waist and he was poking the barrel of the gun upwards, digging it into the soft skin of her chin.
“Well, well, Morgan. I didn’t think I’d catch you off guard this easily,” the man taunted.
Jason’s eyes narrowed as he recognized him. A guard…Peter. “Let her go or I’ll kill you,” Jason threatened.
“Put the gun down,” Peter snarled. “We’ll make this nice and easy. I’ll even lock the little slut in the bathroom so she doesn’t have to see you die. Corinthos wants her back in PC anyway.”
Jason ignored him and cocked the hammer back on his gun. “Let her go,” he repeated.
“No. Corinthos wants you dead,” Peter replied. “Unlike you, I know how to follow orders.” His hand on her waist tightened. “Though I can’t blame you for running off. She might be small but she’s cute.”
Elizabeth’s eyes met Jason’s in horror as the guard’s hand started to slide up her rib cage. When his hand closed over her breast, Jason was about to try and get a shot off but Elizabeth rammed her elbow in Peter’s gut, knocking him off balance and getting the gun away from her throat.
America how do you like it
This is what we will be
She whirled around and leapt on him, kicking and punching. He went flying to the ground, his gun thrown out of his hand. She was crying as she attacked him. No man was going to touch like that again–not ever again.
Jason grabbed her by the waist and hauled her off him, planting her firmly on her feet behind him. He reached for the guard’s gun because it had the silence and he shot the man twice, one in each knee.
He would have killed him but he wouldn’t have been able to get rid of the body and right now all he wanted was to get them both out of here.
“Get your things,” he ordered her. Mutely Elizabeth grabbed her sandals from the floor and the backpack she’d been in the middle of packing when Peter had grabbed her. She shoved the rest of her clothes into it and darted out the door behind Jason, not eager to look back to see the moaning guard behind them.
She tossed her things in the back of the car and managed to grab their food from the hood before she got in the car. Jason started the ignition and they tore out of the parking lot.
Goodbye, I’m leavin now
I’ll see you sometime
They were on the highway and well out of Seattle before either of them spoke. Her voice was still shaky. “I thought you said they couldn’t find us.”
He didn’t answer at first, concentrated on driving. “I was wrong,” he said finally. “But they’re not going to get that close again.”
This time, she didn’t believe him. She didn’t trust it. He’d told her she was safe with him and she’d practically been molested right in front of his eyes. She was out of trust.
“Are you okay?” Jason asked her after a moment.
“I’m fine,” she answered stiffly.
“I underestimated them. I’m sorry, Elizabeth.”
“Okay.”
“We’re going to have change IDs,” he told her. “Go in my duffle bag. The right side unzips. Grab a new set.”
She leaned in the back and pulled out the envelope he carried them in. “You said you had my set waiting at the airport when we got there.”
“Yeah.”
“How much do you trust the person who shipped them?”
He didn’t answer her at first but his voice was regretful. “More than I should have.”
Goodbye, I’m leavin now
I’ll see you sometime
“We’re not going to be able to go home any time soon, are we?” Elizabeth asked knowingly.
“Probably not. I’m hoping if we can stay off radar long enough, Sonny will calm down and call them off.”
“What if he doesn’t?”
He didn’t have an answer for her and she could somehow guess that. Instead she flipped through the different driver’s licenses, each with her face on it. “Do all of these match yours, name wise?” she asked him. “Like last names?”
“Yeah. It’s just easier that way,” Jason told her. “Which ones do you have?”
“I guess I’ll use Joy Patterson,” Elizabeth remarked. She slipped the license into her purse along with the matching credit cards before pulling out the pile of male licenses. “And you’re John Patterson,” she told him, setting his aside. “Okay?”
“That’s fine.”
Goodbye, I’m leavin now
I’ll see you sometime
After a few more moments, she sighed and put the envelope in the glove compartment. “You don’t think I can do this, do you?” she asked quietly.
“It’s not that, Elizabeth.”
“Then what is it?” she asked pointedly. “Don’t you trust me?”
“Do you trust me?” Jason asked instead.
“I’m not sure,” Elizabeth told him honestly. “I trusted you when you said they couldn’t find us and it barely took twenty-four hours.”
“You’ve never done this before,” he said, ignoring her remark for now. “I have. I’ve always traveled alone. It’s not a matter of not trusting you, it’s just…I’m worried you don’t have the experience.”
“I didn’t know how to take care of a gunshot wound, but I caught on pretty quick, didn’t I?” Elizabeth reminded him. “I’m a quick learner, Jason. I can do this.”
“Okay.”
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said again. He glanced at her before looking back at the road. “For saving my life. I know now what it cost you.”
“This isn’t your fault,” Jason assured her quickly.
“And it’s not yours either.”
I’ll see you sometime
They didn’t stop that night, wanting to put as much distance between them and Seattle as possible. They were well into Oregon when dawn broke the next morning. For once it was a comfortable silence in the car as they both understood that they were only people left to trust. That they were in this thing together.
She convinced him to let her drive for a while about midnight, promising to wake him up if she saw anything suspicious. He was a light sleeper and every time she drove over a pothole, he woke up. But when they stopped for breakfast, he looked better than he had when she’d forced him from the wheel and once he had coffee in him, he was even better.
For better or for worse, for the next few weeks, this was it. It was the two of them running from Sonny Corinthos.
I’ll see you sometime
You only see what your eyes want to see
How can life be what you want it to be
If this was going to be done at all, he was determined to do this his way. He was going to ask her very calmly to come with them. He wasn’t going to put her through what her husband had put his own best friend through.
They might be breaking their number one principle about not going after family, but they were going to do this without violence.
She deserved that much.
She was on the docks, her hands in her pockets, her hair gathered in a loose bun. Pieces of her hair trailed down around her face and she kept brushing it back. The night was hot and she was wearing a tank top and a pair of jean shorts. She looked more sixteen than twenty-two.
He stepped forward and cleared his throat. “Elizabeth.”
She turned and narrowed her eyes. “What do you want?” she demanded.
He indicated for Max and Marco to hang back. “I need you to come with me.”
She eyed him for a moment, eyed the familiar guards behind him and then looked back at him. He looked nervous and almost out of place. She drew her hands out of her shorts and crossed her arms tightly. “No.”
You’re frozen
When your heart’s not open
Jason exhaled slowly. “This is important, Elizabeth. Please.”
She bit her lip and looked down at the wooden planks of the docks. “You lost the right to ask questions like that. Now you either tell me what you want from me or leave me alone.”
“I need you to come with me,” Jason said again. “I’m asking now. But if you refuse again…”
Her eyebrows lifted slightly and she smirked. “What? You’ll make me?” she mocked. “I thought you didn’t attack innocent people.”
“Elizabeth, don’t make this more difficult than it has to be.”
“Yeah, wouldn’t want things to be hard,” she muttered. She let her arms dropped and headed for the stairs.
Jason sighed. “Max, Marco. Go get her.”
The second the words were out of his mouth, Elizabeth whirled around to find the large guards coming near her. She backed up into the railing of the stairs. “Whoa, wait a second–”
“I need you to come with me, Elizabeth. You can come willingly or we’ll take you,” Jason told her.
Her eyes burned with sudden tears. “So basically you’re kidnapping me.”
He looked away, unable to meet her accusing glare. “That’s not what this is.”
“Oh, yeah?” she demanded. “Then let me walk away without sending them after me.”
“I can’t do that, Elizabeth.”
She stared at him, helplessly. “What’s wrong with you?” she demanded in a broken whisper. “Why are you doing this?”
“I…” Jason trailed off, not wanting to explain his actions in front of the guards. “Look, just come with me and I’ll explain.”
She sighed and started forward, bowing her head, unable to look at him and not let the tears slip down her cheeks.
You’re so consumed with how much you get
You waste your time with hate and regret
He took her to the warehouse, into an empty room. “Sit in the chair,” he told her, indicating a bleak wooden chair that sat in the middle of the room. “We have to…” Jason hesitated and looked at Max and Marco. “Leave us alone a minute okay?”
The guards nodded and exited. Jason dragged a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, Elizabeth. This isn’t something I wanted to do, but it’s Sonny’s orders.”
“S-Sonny ordered you to kidnap me?” Elizabeth asked, stunned. “Why? What could it possibly serve?”
“Because he thinks Ric values you above anything else and he’s going to trade you for Carly,” Jason admitted.
“You still believe he has her?” Elizabeth asked, surprised. “You’ve only searched our house a dozen times–”
“I know, but Michael was there when Carly was kidnapped,” Jason informed her. “Whatever Ric did, it traumatized him to the point where he couldn’t tell us what happened. But he’s been remembering pieces…and yesterday, he remembered that he saw Ric.”
The tears hovering in her eyes finally released and soundlessly streamed down her cheeks. What could she say to that? Accuse Michael of lying? Michael, the boy that Jason still considered in some ways his son? Michael, a small boy with no reason for lying?
“What makes you think that Ric would give into this?” she asked softly, her voice almost dead.
“We don’t know, but it’s the best option we’ve come up with so far,” Jason admitted. “We need…We need to tie you up, take a picture to send to him. Let him know we’re serious.”
She nodded and without another word, sat down. She looked at him pointedly. “Will I be tied up the entire time?”
“No,” Jason said immediately. “Just for a minute. But you have to stay here. Until we get Carly back.”
She nodded and stared at the floor. Jason sighed and opened the door to let the guards back in. Marco carried a piece of cloth and a coil of rope, Max had a camera which he set aside.
Marco kneeled behind her. “Ms. Webber,” he said, almost apologetically. “I need your hands.”
She unclasped her hands and brought them behind her back, closing her eyes as she felt the guard begin to tie her hands. Max kneeled in front of her with another set of rope and started to tie her legs to the chair.
When they were done, Marco stared at the piece of cloth which would be used as a gag. He looked at it for a moment before looking to Max. “I…” he faltered for the first time, remembering that he’d once guarded this woman.
Max reached for it and stood next to him, wrapping the gag around Elizabeth’s face. She opened her mouth a little and the tears started again as she felt the material. This was really happening. She was really being tied to a chair by Jason and Sonny’s guards. Her life would be bargained for Carly’s.
Max finished fastening it and the two guards went to the front of the room. Jason wasn’t look at Elizabeth–couldn’t look at her and not think of the previous summer, not think about the fact at this time last year, she’d been kidnapped by his enemy and now…
You’re broken
When your heart’s not open
Max snapped the picture quickly and the two guards set about untying her as fast as possible. “I’m sorry,” Max apologized under his breath. “This…this isn’t right.”
She nodded and rubbed her wrists. “It’s okay,” she said softly. She looked at Jason. “So, I just sit here and hope this plan works?”
He swallowed hard. “Yeah.”
She nodded and looked down. “Okay.”
He stared at her bowed head for a moment before clearing his throat. “Marco, stay here. Get Elizabeth anything she needs. Food, whatever. If it gets past ten, take her to the closest safe house so she can sleep. Max, come with me.”
If I could melt your heart
We’d never be apart
Give yourself to me
You hold the key
Jason entered the penthouse wordlessly and shut the door. “Where’s Michael?” he asked.
“He’s across the hall at your place, asleep,” Sonny answered. “Is it done?”
“Yeah,” Jason answered. “She’s at the warehouse until ten. I told Marco to take her to the safe house if Ric didn’t contact us by then.”
“Why?” Sonny demanded. “She should just stay in the same place.”
“In the empty room?” Jason asked, incredulously. “It could take days. There’s no reason to make this difficult on her–”
“Do you think Ric cares about Carly?” Sonny interrupted. “Do you think he’s making sure she’s comfortable? Making sure he’s not making it difficult for her?”
“I don’t care what he does, we are not going to punish Elizabeth for the actions of her psychotic husband. It’s bad enough we had to tie her up for even a second, much less locking her in an empty room with no end in sight. We’re better than that, damn it and she deserves more respect from you,” Jason bit out, angrily.
“You don’t agree with this plan, do you?” Sonny challenged. “You think it’s a bad one?”
“Yes, I do,” Jason snapped. “I think involving an innocent woman who had no idea what Ric kidnapped anyone is a bad idea.”
“Especially Elizabeth.”
“Yeah, especially Elizabeth,” Jason confirmed. “She’s not just the wife of your enemy, Sonny. She used to matter to you.”
“She used to matter to you, too,” Sonny pointed out quietly.
Now there’s no point in placing the blame
And you should know I suffer the same
Sounds from outside the penthouse kept Jason from answering. Ric’s loud voice and some fighting broke the tension and Jason pulled the door open. Immediately, Ric was in the penthouse, shoving Jason against the wall.
“Where is she?” he demanded, infuriated.
Sonny called to the two guards outside who entered and pulling Ric away from Jason. Ric struggled, but Max and Francis kept a tight grip on him. “What have you done to Elizabeth?” Ric shouted.
“You return my wife to me and I’ll return yours,” Sonny said calmly.
Ric stared at Sonny in shock. “I-I don’t have Carly,” he stammered.
Sonny smirked. “Yeah, okay. It’s simple, Ric. We get Carly by midnight or Elizabeth…” he shrugged.
Jason stared at Sonny in complete shock. “What?” he sputtered.
Ric narrowed his eyes. “You’ll kill her?” he asked in disbelief.
Sonny said nothing and pointedly avoided Jason’s angry gaze. “Midnight, Ric.” He snapped his fingers. “Escort him out.”
Once Ric was gone, Jason turned to his friend and partner. “Tell me you were bluffing,” he said quietly.
Sonny remained silent.
“You can’t really mean you’ll kill Elizabeth if Ric doesn’t return Carly,” Jason said again. “I know you, Sonny. You’d never hurt an innocent woman, much less Elizabeth.”
“I’ll do anything to get my wife back,” Sonny said calmly.
And in that moment, Jason believed him. Believed Sonny would take any measures, no matter how drastic or unreasonable or unfathomable they may be, he’d do it if he thought it’d bring Carly home.
“I can’t…I won’t let you do it,” Jason told him. “You can’t kill her, Sonny. I don’t care what Ric’s done. Elizabeth is not just his wife. She’s more Sonny, and you know that.”
“It’s an order Jason. If Carly’s not home by midnight, it’ll happen,” Sonny told him. “Whether I give you the order or I give it to someone else. It’ll happen.”
If I lose you
My heart will be broken
He went to the warehouse but didn’t go inside the room. The minutes ticked by slowly and Jason found himself sitting on the floor outside the room, staring at a clock on a wall nearby.
9:20 p.m.
9:45 p.m
10:00 p.m.
10:29 p.m.
10:59 p.m.
His cell phone didn’t ring once. He even checked it a few times to make sure it was working before he realized that Ric wasn’t going to bring Carly back. Whatever reason he’d taken her for, it obviously was more important than his own wife.
His fists clenched as the hands on the clock crawled towards midnight. Last summer, he would have given anything to see her again. He’d gone to the police, to the Quartermaines–he’d begged them for information and for help. He’d barely slept, all that mattered was finding her and bringing her back.
How could her own husband, someone who’d taken vows to love and to cherish her…how could he do any less?
When his phone finally rang, Jason looked at the clock automatically even though he knew what time it was. 12:03 a.m.
He took it out of his pocket slowly and answered it. “Yeah?”
“He didn’t make the deadline,” Sonny said coldly. “Do it.”
“Sonny–”
The phone clicked off and Jason found himself standing. He slipped the phone into his pocket and stared at the door.
Love is a bird, she needs to fly
Let all the hurt inside of you die
You’re frozen
When your heart’s not open
He entered the room and looked at Marco. “Leave us alone for a minute,” he directed quietly. “In fact, you’re relieved. Go home for the night.”
Marco nodded and left quickly. Jason stared at Elizabeth who was sitting on the floor, her knees raised, her arms around around them. “Did Ric bring Carly back?” she asked softly.
Jason shook his head and her heart fell. “Then…why did you send him home?”
“Because Sonny gave me instructions…orders…on what to do if Ric didn’t bring her home by midnight.”
Her heart stopped for a moment before beginning to beat rapidly. “Orders,” she repeated softly. She stared at him, her eyes lush with tears.
“Elizabeth…” He stared at the floor and shook his head. He couldn’t do it. He’d been fooling himself thinking it was possible. Sonny’s orders…he’d questioned them before, but defying this one was different. Sonny had ordered this in retaliation, for revenge. Anyone else, Jason would have still had trouble accepting the order but he had an odd sinking feeling, that in the end he would have gone through with it.
It was a feeling that his stomach lurch and bile rise in his throat. He was what everyone had told him. Sonny’s lapdog, a brain damaged thug with no honor, no decency. He was just…Sonny’s enforcer.
If I could melt your heart
We’d never be apart
Give yourself to me
You hold the key
He stared at her, knowing that if she’d been anyone else, he would have done it already.
But she wasn’t anyone else. She was Elizabeth. And that made the difference. It should have meant something to Sonny, but damn it, it still meant something to him.
He couldn’t take out his gun and shoot the woman who’d found him in the snow, forced him to accept her help and who shoved gallons of soup down his throat. He couldn’t end of the life of someone who hummed when she painted and got so lost in her work that she’d end up covering herself in paint and not remember she did it.
He couldn’t kill someone who’d once trusted him, cared for him and had meant the world to him.
He was violently ashamed that he’d even considered it all.
The silence was scaring her and she swallowed hard. “What were the orders?” she whispered.
“To kill you,” Jason admitted.
She inhaled sharply and began blinking rapidly. She was terrified now, and he could see it in her eyes. He could see that she expected him to do it. And that thought rocked him to his core. They’d drifted so far apart that she believed him capable of ending her life in cold blood.
“I’m not going to do it,” Jason said, finally.
You only see what your eyes want to see
How can life be what you want it to be
You’re frozen
When your heart’s not open
Elizabeth closed her eyes, feeling the rush of relief flood her body. For a moment, she’d been so scared, she’d been so cold. But he wouldn’t do it. He couldn’t and she should have known that.
“I can’t just let you go either,” Jason replied after another moment. “Because if I don’t do it…Sonny will send someone else.”
She nodded and lowered her eyes to the floor. “What do you want me to do?”
He stared at her for a moment, formulating possible solutions. Finally, he held out his hand in an achingly familiar pose. “Come with me.”
If I could melt your heart
We’d never be apart
Give yourself to me
You hold the key
She stared at him, holding her breath for a moment. “What?”
“You can’t stay here,” Jason told her. “And I’m not going to let Sonny touch you. I need to get you out of town.”
Elizabeth pushed herself into a standing position. “Jason, Sonny…he’s just angry. He might not mean it–”
“He meant it,” Jason said flatly. “Elizabeth, just please come with me.”
“Why?” she whispered. “Why would you go against Sonny like this?”
“Because if I did what Sonny ordered me to do this time…I’d be no better than what people say I am,” Jason answered quietly. His hand was still stretched out. “Let me…just let me protect you.”
Scared that he was right about Sonny, Elizabeth slipped her hand into Jason’s. “Let’s go,” she said softly.
Elizabeth opened her eyes and blinked. Christmas morning again.
She smiled and closed her eyes, snuggling to fall asleep again. She relished sleeping in these days.
“I know you’re awake,” Jason murmured in her ear, tightening his arms around her waist.
“I know we’re about to be woken up, so I just want to stay in bed as long as possible,” Elizabeth replied.
“You? Sleep in on Christmas?” Jason replied, amused. Elizabeth laughed softly and rolled onto her back.
“Well, there are certain benefits to staying in bed,” Elizabeth reminded him. He leaned down to kiss her.
“Do you ever think about that Christmas?” Jason asked, propping himself up on an elbow.
What a loaded question. She thought about that day almost all the time. There wasn’t a moment that passed that she didn’t silently thank whoever was responsible for giving her the chance to relive the last three years and make the right choices.
She’d left with Jason shortly after New Year’s. They’d been able to avoid the bomb incident with a simple guard on the door that day. Elizabeth had confided in Emily that she cared for Jason and that she was going to away with him–as friends for now. Emily was a little confused, but happy for her friends. Elizabeth had thought about telling her grandmother and Nikolas, but she left them a letter. She’d also written to the Spencers once she and Jason had left.
They’d gone everywhere–traveled the States first while Jason got the necessary information for Carly to get out of her marriage and gain custody of Michael. Elizabeth wasn’t sure why Jason felt the need to do so, but she also didn’t argue with him.
It was in May when Luke Spencer managed to find Jason and Elizabeth in Scotland to tell Elizabeth about Lucky’s miraculous resurrection. He’d expected her to come right home, but Elizabeth had gently explained she was past Lucky. She was glad he was alive, but she wasn’t going to halt her life and rush right home.
Besides, in April, Jason had told her that he was in love with her and Elizabeth considered that more important.
In June, Elizabeth convinced Jason to invite Emily for a few weeks–just long enough so Emily could avoid the rave. They were staying in a small apartment in France then and Emily jumped at the chance.
Apparently, not much had changed with Elizabeth’s absence. Lucky had returned–he was incredibly angry with everyone except Emily and Nikolas. He seemed to miss Elizabeth at times. Emily was a little curious as to why Elizabeth didn’t come home as soon as she found out Lucky was alive.
Elizabeth told Emily that while she still loved Lucky, he was part of her past. Her first love and she was happy with Jason. Emily could tell that she was telling the truth and it was the last Elizabeth heard of it.
Emily went home in July, and Jason and Elizabeth returned to Port Charles when the Sonny and Carly situation blew up. This time, it was completely different. Sonny and Carly were married–with Elizabeth and Carly still very much at each other’s throats. Since Emily hadn’t gone to the rave, she was still dating Juan–much to Elizabeth’s chagrin.
And then there was Lucky.
Elizabeth went to visit Laura and Lulu and ran into Lucky. Lucky seemed happy to see her, but upset that she was dating Jason. His words?
You belong with Nikolas.
Elizabeth was more used to this than she let on and the words just flew right past her. She calmly told Lucky that she and Jason were together and nothing was going to change her mind.
Elizabeth had subtly let a few things drop to Emily about Lucky’s brainwashing before she and Jason left town again. Since Emily wasn’t kidnapped and never went to the rave, she never met Zander Smith.
Luck worked out — Zander had decided on his own to get his life under control and while Emily was waiting for Lucky outside of Kevin Collins’ office, she met Zander who was visiting a friend. The two struck up a conversation and this time…it worked out.
Nikolas didn’t meet Gia because of her blackmailing–but they came into contact while Gia was testing for the Face of Deception. They instantly clicked, and it worked out for them as well.
Lucky’s brainwashing was quickly done away with the first time around. He reconnected with his parents and became a photographer for Deception. He didn’t have the brainwashing the second time, which meant Nikolas never dropped Gia to go back to the family. Helena eventually went back to Greece. Luke followed and the Cassadine matriarch met her untimely death in a boating accident.
As for Elizabeth…the year 2000 ended a lot better the second time around. On December 25, a year after Elizabeth woke up, she and Jason were married in Italy. Carly, Sonny, and Emily flew to Venice for the ceremony. Elizabeth invited her grandmother and the Spencers, but Audrey flat-out refused to accept her involvement with Jason. The Spencers couldn’t get away, but sent their love.
She invited Nikolas and Lucky, but neither of them could get away either. They sent gifts, which Elizabeth was grateful for.
Elizabeth and Jason returned to Port Charles again in January and hid out in her old studio much like Jason had the first time around. Sonny was the only one who knew they were in town, but after the warehouse fire (which Elizabeth was still uneasy about), news of both their return and marriage leaked out.
They stayed in town until April, just like Jason had the first time. Elizabeth wanted to keep Jason’s comings and goings pretty much the same as to avoid more drastic changes. She did, however, manage to befriend Carly this time around and talked her out of her plan to turn Sonny in.
When Jason left town to track down Sorel’s men, Elizabeth stayed at the penthouse with Carly and Sonny. She found out she was pregnant just after Jason left, but elected to wait until he returned.
Jason came back to collect her, and they left again. This time, they went to Italy immediately and settled into an apartment to await the birth of their child. Caroline Emily Morgan came into the world in late August.
Jason and Elizabeth made a final return in May, but not for Carly’s “funeral.” Carly and Sonny had stayed together and had a child to show for it. Michael got a new little sister in time for Easter. Carly had named her Adella Elizabeth, but tried to explain that Elizabeth was a family name for Sonny. Elizabeth let her get away with it.
Luis Alcazar came to town with Brenda and Elizabeth managed to let Jason know pretty much everything in advance. Sonny was a little suspicious about the way Jason managed to stay ahead of Alcazar the entire time, but it ended the same way.
Alcazar was eventually killed–and Elizabeth still didn’t know who had done it–Brenda or Skye or even Sonny or Jason. She particularly didn’t care since she’d managed to get kidnapped again anyway.
But all had ended well. It was Christmas morning 2002, and Elizabeth couldn’t help but feel that she’d gotten it right this time around.
“I think about it all the time,” she admitted.
“You know…I still wonder if you were hallucinating,” Jason said lightly. “But after this summer, I think I finally believe it.”
“Well, all of my inside knowledge is completely used up,” Elizabeth remarked. She grinned. “As of last night, the future is exactly that…the future.”
“So, out of curiosity…” Jason said, leaning down to brush a soft kiss across her lips. “Which reality do you prefer?”
“Hmm…” Elizabeth pretended to think. It wasn’t really a contest. Living without Jason, watching him with Courtney in no way compared to having spent the last three years being in love with him…being married to him and being the mother to their child. “Definitely this one,” she replied. “Hands down.”
“Good to hear.” Jason wrinkled his nose. “Although…I have to admit…I wonder if you dreamed Sonny’s sister.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Yeah. I wonder why she and Janine never ended up in Port Charles.” She frowned. “Do you think I should tell Sonny?”
“He wouldn’t believe you if you tried,” Jason told her.
“That’s true.”
The sound of Caroline crying interrupted their conversation and Elizabeth looked towards the door. “I’ll get her.”
Jason swung his legs over the other side of the bed. “No, I will.”
Elizabeth smiled and tied her robe. “We’ll both get her.” Jason stopped her just before she reached the door and gave her a good, sound kiss.
“Happy anniversary,” he murmured in her ear.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You know…I’m really glad I got to change my future,” Elizabeth told him. “I think we deserved a second chance.”
“Since I wasn’t exactly there for our first chance, I’ll take your word for it,” Jason replied. He kissed her again before pulling away. “Come on. I think Caroline wants to open her presents.”
Elizabeth followed him down the hall to the nursery, laughing. “Jason, she’s only fourteen months old. She’ll be more interested in the wrapping paper than the presents.”
Jason grinned as he pushed the door open and stood over the crib. He lifted Caroline out and kissed her forehead. “I notice that didn’t stop you from buying out the baby section in Wyndhams.”
Elizabeth laughed and smoothed Caroline’s already unruly blonde curly hair. “She’s my little baby and she deserves the best.”
“Come on,” Jason said, heading for the door. “We’d better get the presents opened before Carly comes over. You know she can’t wait to see what we got her.”
Elizabeth stood in the nursery for a beat after Jason and Caroline went downstairs. Sometimes she was a little nostalgic for pieces of her last life. She and Audrey had never gotten their relationship back on track and she missed her grandmother immensely. She’d become close with Lila through Jason and Caroline and somehow she and Carly had managed to bond. She and Emily were still as close as ever–she’d also forged better friendships with Nikolas, Lucky and even Gia.
“Elizabeth?” Jason called from the downstairs.
“I’m coming!” Elizabeth replied. She looked around the nursery that she, Carly and Emily had decorated for Caroline.
