Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 893 Location: In Hell... i.e. Pennsylvania Karma: 6
My Slumbering Heart « Thread Started on Feb 17, 2009, 2:42pm »
A/N: So, this was not the original story I had planned, but my frustration over the whole Lucky/Elizabeth kiss put this idea in to my head. I hope you all like my version of what should have happened during the evacuation. Enjoy!
Jules
My Slumbering Heart
He was running; he was running so fast that it felt like his lungs were going to burst right out of his chest. Up the stairs he sprinted, his quadriceps burning from the pain. Yet, nothing would or even could keep him from reaching his destination; he was that determined.
The smoke around him was blinding. His cerulean blue eyes beginning to tear, but the mobster knew it wasn't due to the smoke filled stairwell that was causing the salty liquid to fall from his eyes. It was the thought that he wouldn't get there in time. He had to get there. For once, he wasn't going to be too late. Not this time.
He was almost there. He could feel his heart rate begin to increase even more, the constant pounding reverberating in his ears. His goal in sight, Jason burst through the doors, entering the rooftop deck of General Hospital.
And, as his lungs took in the clearer air and his eyes adjusted to his surroundings, he felt his labored breathing start to slow, but his heart continued to pick up pace. He surveyed the crowd trying to find the one person he sought. The enforcer kept searching. He caught a glimpse of Carly, Patrick, Nadine, Olivia, Kate, Claudia, Sam, Sonny, everyone he didn’t want to see, and, then, finally, his eyes focused on the one person he desired to find. There she was looking more beautiful to him than ever before. However, the relief he felt didn’t last long, because, the next thing he knew, Jason was reigning in his jealousy as he watched another man hold her tight, giving her the comfort and strength she so needed and deserved.
She was going to be evacuated; his Elizabeth was going to be safe, and the joy he felt over that fact was overwhelming. The longing to just touch her was unbearable; it was aching away at him and paralyzing his movements. She hadn't seen him yet, but he hoped that the woman he loved could sense his presence. He needed her to know that he was there and ready to finally fight for her and their family.
But, then, everything around him just stopped, and Jason lost all control over his breathing as he observed what was happening before his very eyes. Lucky was bending down to kiss Elizabeth. It was then that it hit him like a lightning bolt. He was too late. She was already lost to him, and he had no one to blame but himself.
It felt like an anvil had just fallen onto his chest. The pain was unbearable. How could he fight for her now? Consumed with the loss he felt, Jason turned to go, but, as he shifted to leave, he saw out of the corner of his eye Elizabeth gently but firmly place her delicate hands on Lucky's chest and push him away. It was all Jason needed to spur him in to action.
Before being sensible or selfless could even enter his mind, Jason yelled with all the strength his smoked filled lungs could muster, hoping beyond hope she would hear him. "ELIZABETH!" The sound that came out of his mouth was guttural, desperate, chilling in its sheer intensity.
He watched as her gaze moved from Lucky's towards his own, and his already elevated heart rate increased tenfold. He observed her beautiful, sapphire orbs open wide in recognition, each of them seeing the love they felt for one another, the love that was now openly showcased for all on the roof top deck to witness.
Then, without hesitation, Jason watched as the blanket that had been wrapped around her petite frame cascaded down to the ground as she broke free of Lucky's grasp and began running towards him. Needing no encouragement, Jason sprinted to meet her. And, in the instant they came together, they embraced so forcefully, it was as if they both feared that one moment in each other’s arms could very well be the last time they would ever be together. Neither of them ever wanted to let go.
His strong, muscular arms wrapped around her tiny waist as her trim, toned, slender arms encircled around his neck. Pulling her flush with his body, Jason wasn't sure how either of them were capable of breathing, for they were holding each other so tightly, yet, the mob king knew that, no matter what happened next, he was truly happy in that one, blissful moment in time. Elizabeth was alive and in his arms, and, to him, everything was perfect. There was no biotoxin threat, no FBI agent breathing down his neck, no fire; just him and Elizabeth, the way it was supposed to be, the way it always should have been, and, if he had anything to say about it, the way it would be from that moment on. It – she - was all he needed.
Slightly pulling away so he could see her beautiful face, Jason took his large, calloused hands and began running them through her silky, chestnut hair, and touching her beautiful, angelic face. Then he cupped her now glowing cheeks and raised her cornflower blue eyes to meet his own, tenderly stroking his thumbs back and forth along her cheekbones.
There was no noise around them; all they heard was their own labored breathing that engulfed the two formerly separated lovers and held them so close together. Ever so slowly, their faces leaned towards one another, and their lips met in a kiss that very well could have melted the blizzarding snow falling around them if given the chance to progress any farther. There was nothing sweet or gentle about their embrace; it was forceful, hard, and all consuming, passionate and fiery as they both craved the others lips, welcoming the taste that they never thought they would experience again.
Jason ravaged Elizabeth's plump, delicious mouth, plunging his tongue to tangle with hers, and Elizabeth met him stroke for stroke, yearning for more and relishing in the feel and taste of the man that held her heart in his powerful yet capable and deserving hands. Jason was there, with her. She could feel his strength and knew everything was going to be alright.
Breaking free of their kiss for some much needed air, Jason continued to tenderly stroke her cheeks, and, even though the smarting smoke from the fire had filled his lungs earlier, leaving him with little ability to speak, he couldn't hold back with words any longer.
"I love you, Elizabeth,” he rasped out, his tone deeper, rougher, and scratchy from the smoke he had been inhaling all evening. “I love you so much. I am never, ever going to let you go. Never again," the mobster promised her as if he was seeking to reassure the both of them.
Finding her own voice, Elizabeth, still affected by the symptoms of the biotoxin, whispered, her voice grating under the strain on her vocal chords and tender throat, "I love you, too, Jason.” After a brief coughing spell, she admitted earnestly, “all I want - all I have ever wanted - is to be with you."
After the injured nurse’s declaration, their lips met in another ardent, violently intense kiss, neither caring who was around to witness the love the two of them shared, because all they had, in the moment, were eyes for each other.
Pulling away slowly from their kiss, Jason brought Elizabeth's body to his in a very protective yet possessive embrace, whispering into her ear and sending shivers down her spine, "I promise you, when this is over, we will be a family. Nothing is going to keep us apart ever again."
And, then, he tenderly kissed her forehead and felt her relax and sink further into his embrace.
The two reunited lovers then watched as Jax successfully landed the police helicopter onto the roof of General Hospital for the second time. After successfully delivering Monica, Tracy, and Edward to the medical personal waiting below on the ground to escort all the injured and poisoned to nearby Mercy Hospital, the international entrepreneur had returned for another rescue mission.
Not able to release her just yet, Jason escorted Elizabeth to the helicopter, and, as the couple passed Lucky, Jason gave him a ‘stone cold’ glare, daring him to challenge his rightful position by Elizabeth's side. Waiting as first Claudia entered and then Kate, for they, too, had been exposed to the toxin and needed medical attention, Jason then assisted Elizabeth up into the awaiting helicopter, buckling her in. After making sure that she was safe and secure, he placed his lips to hers in a sweet, gentle caress, pulling back before either could deepen the kiss and whispered softly, "we'll be together soon." Then, he entwined their fingers and kissed both of her hands, lingering his lips on the ring finger of her left hand as he gazed into her eyes, leaving no doubt of his intentions. "I promise."
Elizabeth quickly took her shaking hands and soothingly cupped his cheeks between them. Staring into Jason's now watering eyes, Elizabeth felt the tears begin to pool in her own midnight orbs and firmly told him, "we will be waiting; your family will be waiting for you."
Stepping back so that the helicopter could take off, Jason released their hands only when it was absolutely necessary, neither yet able to break either the smoldering gaze the two held with the other or the connection they felt in that moment. And, as the helicopter took off, the couple simultaneously mouthed 'I love you' to each other.
Despite the fact that the helicopter had taken off, that Elizabeth was just mere seconds from safety, and despite the fact that they had finally agreed to be together as a family, the danger and complications be damned, Jason suddenly felt as though something was wrong. Turning back around to follow the descending airborne vehicle with his eyes, he watched in horror as the helicopter began to spin dangerously out of control, caught in the raging wind that was brought on by the late winter blizzard assaulting their waterside town. Before he could react, before he could move, before he could even scream in either warning or fright, the mob boss, father, and soon-to-be husband watched as both the helicopter and the woman he loved who was inside of the aircraft plummeted to the ground below, crashing into intense and powerful flames.
The blonde wasn't sure, but he thought he heard Carly scream out for Jax, but his own world had just turned to black, so, really, even if she had, it just didn’t matter anymore. Nothing did, and, as he slumped down into the rapidly accumulating snow, he wondered if anything ever would again.
Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 893 Location: In Hell... i.e. Pennsylvania Karma: 6
Re: My Slumbering Heart « Reply #1 on Feb 24, 2009, 11:16am »
My Slumbering Heart - Chapter Two
It was silent. No one said a word. Suddenly, everyone was lost in their own thoughts. Realization had finally hit. The helicopter had crashed, four people were most likely dead, and their only mode of transportation to escape the deadly toxin and fire blazing below was gone. And the one person, the only person, who usually took charge when disasters like this happened, was lost like everyone else, slumped against the concrete wall, unable to focus, unable to move.
At first, no one dared to approach him. All had witnessed his uncharacteristic display of emotion towards the petite brunette who, most likely, was now lost to him forever. But, as silent as Jason was, none of that curtailed the tempestuous thoughts swirling rapid through the minds of the other participants on the roof. Patrick, Nadine, Olivia, Sam, Sonny, Carly and Lucky were all processing what had just happened and how it personally affected them.
Patrick, who had worked so diligently to save everyone since the horrific events had started, began to cry quietly, privately, not only for the loss of a very good friend, but because he was thankful for the fact that Robin and Emma had not been the ones on that helicopter. It was selfish, he knew that, but Patrick's family was still here and alive, and he could not be sorry for that. And, in some way, he thought maybe Elizabeth was better off, because, if she had lived, then her life would constantly have been in danger as a target to get to Jason. Why such a beautiful, caring person would align herself with mobster, he didn't know, but, again, in some ways, maybe, he couldn’t help but wonder, that this was somewhat of a fitting end for the mother of two.
Nadine was trying to keep it together, to hold on to the fact that she was still here and that Nikolas had not been on that helicopter. Nikolas… Who was she kidding? It was becoming painfully clear during the disastrous events of that evening that he would never give himself to her completely. He was still stuck in the past with a memory. And, while the young nurse didn't belittle her heart's desire’s emotions, she couldn't be burdened with them any longer. She may not be perfect, but she deserved better than that, and, with great sadness, she thought that the one person who probably could have helped her get a handle on her conflicting feelings was gone. And it was then that the sadness she felt was not for a lost love but for a lost friend who was very special and dear to her.
Olivia stood in shock, her eyes caught like a deer in headlights, tears starting to form in her big, brown eyes. After everything they had been through, for her cousin to die like that was unthinkable. If only Connie hadn't come to Port Charles; if only she hadn't found Sonny Corinthos again. She wouldn't have been there at the benefit, rambling on and on about some stupid thing she had to tell Sonny. Was it really worth it to lose her life over yet another secret? Granted, no one could have predicted what would happen that evening, but Olivia couldn't help blame a part of it on Sonny. But, as much as she mourned the loss of her cousin, a part of her was also revealed that her secret concerning Dante would never be revealed. Sonny would never know that he had a son, and, for that, she was very thankful. Her thoughts then turned to Elizabeth Webber. Such a sweet young woman, to lose her life at such an early age and for her two young sons to lose a mother… But, really, what kind of life would she have had if she survived? Giving herself and her sons to Jason Morgan and the life he lead was not a healthy choice. Regretfully, Olivia found herself believing that the children would be better off as far away from the mobster as possible.
As the shock wore off for Sam, the con artist continued to transition her gaze from Jason to Lucky and then back to Jason again. She watched carefully, observing as the two men that were both linked to her and Elizabeth processed what has just happened. And, as she scrutinized their reactions, a big part of her just knew that she was relieved the little waif was gone. As much as Sam tried to ‘play nice’ with Elizabeth, she would never forget how it was Elizabeth who had ruined her life, how, if the manipulative, seemingly innocent girl hadn't of slept with Jason and gotten pregnant, he would still be hers, and she would never have had turned to Lucky as a pathetic substitution. Inserting herself in Jason's life again had been the smartest decision she had made in months, and, now, with Elizabeth gone, he would realize, once again, how good they were together and turn to her for comfort.
Sonny kept looking to Jason to get up and start taking action. What was wrong with him? Kate was on that helicopter. It may have seemed like the weather had played a factor in the crash, but Sonny would bet everything he owned on the fact that someone had tampered with the helicopter. He knew deep down that this was Anthony's attempt, once again, to control him. The crazy old man wouldn't care that his own daughter was on board; he just wanted to get to Sonny through Kate, and, if there were other, collateral casualties, who cared. The man was sick, and he needed to be stopped. Jason needed to step up and take care of Anthony Zacchara NOW! No matter what deal he made to help that foolish, socially inept computer hacker, the crazy old man had to be dealt with, and someone needed to remind Jason of just that.
Carly, she didn't know what to do. Jax, he was her life. She was finally going to get him back, and, now, he was gone. It was that stupid Princess Purity’s fault, too. She had distracted Jason, delayed the helicopter from taking off by clinging to him like some pathetic, needy child, and, now, her husband was gone. What was she going to do without Jax, and how was she going to get Jason to realize that he was better off without his little, waifish angel? Oh my god. And then there was Jake. She would need to help Jason get Jake; he needed to claim his son. With the Elizabeth gone, her best friend could finally have everything he wanted, to be a father to his little boy, and, with Jax gone, Carly needed to focus on something, and helping Jason raise his only child was the best possible solution for everyone.
Lucky was angry, so angry, angry enough to punch someone or, really, angry enough to go down to the hospital pharmacy, if it hadn't already burnt down, and dull the pain he was now feeling with just a few pills. How could she? How, after everything they had been through together, after everything he had been through because of that brain damaged thug, how could she turn to him in her last moments of life? Why did all the women of Port Charles rejoice him a hero? He was a nothing, a nobody, a mobster who would have gotten her killed anyway if she had gone back to him. Well, at least now Lucky would finally be able to get the best of Jason Morgan, because there was no way he was going to allow the criminal to take his son from away from him. Jake would be raised a Spencer, and, for once, Jason Morgan was going to lose.
And then there was Jason who still hadn't moved. His expression was the same, one of loss and despair. It was probably the most emotion anyone had ever actually witnessed on the stoic mob king. He was usually cold and ruthless, but, in that moment, he just didn't care. Nothing really mattered anymore. It wasn't until he heard a new helicopter approaching that he looked up, but, even then, he didn't really see his surroundings. He knew people were talking, but, again, it – they - didn't matter. Elizabeth was gone, and there was no bringing her back. All he wanted now was to claim her body and give her the burial she deserved. If he couldn't honor her while she was living, he sure as hell would honor her in death.
It was then that Jason felt something touch his shoulder. He shifted to see what it was, and then, all of a sudden, he finally woke out of his stupor. He stood up, knocking the object down that had drawn his attention from his melancholy thoughts in the first place, and screamed, "DON'T TOUCH ME!"
Taking a deep breath, Jason tried to calm down, but his despair was now turning to anger. "Don't you ever touch me!"
He then walked away from Sam, to wait for the helicopter alone, leaving her on her bottom on the snow covered deck, watching him stagger away without even attempting or offering to help her up.
Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 893 Location: In Hell... i.e. Pennsylvania Karma: 6
Re: My Slumbering Heart « Reply #2 on Mar 1, 2009, 6:52pm »
My Slumbering Heart - Chapter Three (PG-13)
"Damn it," Jason cursed as he vainly tried to button his dress shirt. The mob boss had been attempting this one simple task for the past fifteen minutes. He couldn't seem to stop his hands from shaking, and the more he tried, the worse it got. It had been one week since the helicopter crash, and not even the simplest of tasks had gotten easier. Jason had always prided himself on being calm and methodical under pressure, but the stoic blond had been anything but during and in the days following the hospital crisis.
The mob kingpin hadn't been able to recall one detail of how they had gotten off General Hospital's roof that night, nor how he had made it to the crash site, but the blonde hadn't nor would he ever be able to erase the memory of what he saw once he arrived. Jason closed his eyes now and could still recall every detail as if he was standing there again in that moment. The smell of smoke and burning flesh had permeated through the air, but no sound had emanated. It had been eerily silent.
The rescue workers had efficiently and quickly found Jax’s dead body still strapped in his seat. Then, Kate had been found just outside the wreckage, still alive but barely. The Fashionista had immediately been transported to Mercy Hospital, but, due to the severity of her injuries, once the storm had lifted, she was transferred to St Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan for continued treatment. Mercy had not been equipped to handle the magnitude of Kate's injuries nor were they prepared to offer the medical care that was necessary for her survival. Olivia had returned to Manhattan as well, to tend to her cousin. Claudia had been found an hour later, underneath the helicopter's tail which had been severed off when the helicopter had hit the ground. Her neck had been broken from the impact, and she had died immediately.
Elizabeth's body was never recovered. People searched for hours without success. Jason, himself, had been relentless to find her, never giving up hope. But, as the minutes turned into hours and the hours turned into days, hope had wavered. And then Mac Scorpio, two days after the fatal accident, had called off the search, stating most likely that her body had either been burned beyond recognition or she, if by some miracle, had managed to survive was now dead due to the lack of medical attention she would have most likely needed to remain alive.
It was only then that Jason finally succumbed to the grief he had been harboring for days. The blonde had taken his motorcycle out for a ride to nowhere, pushing his bike and his body to extremes, willing the pain to go away, but it never did. It just continued to overtake his entire being, and it blanketed his soul with no end in sight. And, now, because no body had been found, Elizabeth couldn't even have the proper burial she so deserved, only a Memorial Service for her friends and family to grieve their terrible loss.
And, as he futilely attempted to get ready for the service, Jason couldn't help but recall how Elizabeth had helped him through his previous times of grief. After Alan had died, the brunette had been the one to help him get ready for the funeral. God, how he wished she was there right now, helping to button his shirt and straighten his tie. Jason knew there was no way he was even going to be able to knot a tie around his collar today. So, blowing out a deep breath, he once again began his attempt to finish getting dressed, but, just as he was about to start, he heard a pounding at the door.
"Hold on," Jason hollered as he came bounding down the stairs, the incessant pounding refusing to stop.
Looking through the peep hole, the blonde couldn't help but exhale an extremely frustrated sigh.
Throwing the door open, he scowled at his visitor asking, "what do you want?"
Ignoring his glare and waltzing past where he was standing, the visitor in question plopped down on his couch, not waiting for an invitation to enter.
"Jason, is that really how you should be talking to me?"
Exasperated, Jason ran a hand down his face and turned to his guest and, again, asked, "Carly. What. Do. You. Want?"
Whining, the bleach blonde answered, "Come on, Jason, where else would I be? I'm your best friend, and you need me right now." Then, all of a sudden, Carly took in Jason's appearance, the black dress pants, the unbuttoned black dress shirt, and realization hit her.
"Oh my god, you can't seriously be thinking about going to her Memorial Service, are you?"
His frustration growing, Jason just ignored the blonde and attempted to finish getting dressed.
Carly, becoming annoyed by Jason's lack of attention, promptly rose from her seated position and planted herself right in front of the mourning man, daring him to ignore her now. Placing her hands on his shoulders, attempting to look compassionate, the hotel owner asked, "come on Jason, you can't possibly think anyone will want you there?"
Brushing off her attempt at comfort, the mobster stepped back glaring at his friend. "It doesn't matter what other people want, Carly. This is about Elizabeth, and I am GOING. So, if you don't mind…” Allowing his words to trail off, Jason grabbed Carly's arm in his hand, briskly walking her back to his front door, opened it, and gently but forcefully guided her out in to the hallway. "It’s time for you to go."
Stomping her foot and glaring at him, Carly started to complain, "Jason...."
"NOW, Carly, just go!" And, without waiting for a response, the mobster slammed the door closed.
Sighing in relief to have his friend gone, Jason, again, began to tackle the task of getting dressed. But, as his continued attempts to secure the buttons on his shirt proved futile, the blonde's frustration escalated, and he grabbed the first thing he could find - A Corinthos-Morgan coffee mug, of all things, on his desk - and hurled it at the wall, splattering coffee everywhere and shattering the mug into a million, tiny, fractured pieces.
Realizing that hearing the noise downstairs would bring Spinelli running, the kingpin struggled to get his emotions in check, not wanting to have his housemate attempt to engage him in a discussion about his feelings. Not that Jason minded that the computer hacker cared and he was thankful to have his roommate around right now, it was just that Jason had no idea how or what he was feelings except for a sense of great loss, a loss that only one person could fill, and that person was gone to him forever.
So, taking a deep breath inward, Jason turned to face his roommate as he came barreling down the stairs.
"Stone Cold, are you okay? I heard a most distressing noise emanating from the lower level of our humble abode."
Jason quickly answered the young man, "I'm fine Spinelli."
"Unfortunately, as I look around and see caffeine laced liquid on our walls and Stone Cold's state of undress, I must disagree with my master’s assessment. He is far from fine. May the grasshopper be of some respectful assistance?"
Sighing and rubbing his hand across his face as he had just minutes ago with Carly, Jason mumbled, "Spinelli, it's fine. Just go back upstairs and rest."
Spinelli, tilting his head, noting the mob king's obvious distress over the loss of his beloved Maternal One, tried a different approach. Beseechingly, the Jackal benevolently replied, "Jason...., let me help you."
Jerking his head at the use of his given name coming from Spinelli's lips, the stoic blonde just stared at his close friend. And, without a word, Spinelli walked over and finished the task of buttoning Jason's shirt, leaving the top two buttons open.
All Jason could do at that point was look at his friend, nod his head, and quietly say, "thank you," before heading out the door.
~~~
Jason had decided to drive his SUV to the service at the Queen of Angels church, saving the motorcycle ride for later after he had said his goodbyes to Elizabeth. Therefore, no one had heard his approach as he entered the church. The service hadn't yet started, and the extra time gave the mob boss the ability to study his surroundings and prepare for what was yet to come.
The hospital workers that had survived the bio-toxin crisis and fire had congregated to the right side of the church, near the back. Jason spotted Patrick, Robin, Epiphany, Nadine, Lainey, Matt, and Kelly all sitting quietly, whispering amongst themselves on how sad they were for the loss of a dear friend and co-worker and how much they were going to miss her. Then on the left, close to the center of the church, were Monica and Edward. It actually gave Jason a sense of relief to see that his family, however strained their relationship may be, had come to honor the woman he loved. Although they didn't know how close he and Elizabeth were or how much she had meant to him, it was a comfort nonetheless.
But, as Jason drew his gaze to the front of the church, the calmness he had just experienced quickly faded. First, he saw Ric. Jason could feel his fists start to clench by his side, and then his fury increased as the blonde noticed Lucky, Nicolas, and Sam all standing in a circle talking between themselves, ignoring everyone else around them, Audrey seated in the front pew, holding Jake as he slept soundly. What had angered Jason the most, though,, was seeing little Cameron Webber, alone, standing in front of his mommy's picture, trying to understand what was happening and trying to be brave all at the same time. It broke the mob kingpin's heart, and all he wanted to do, in that moment, was take Elizabeth's son in his arms and comfort him like he knew his mother would have had she still been there with them to do so.
Then, for unexplained reasons, the toddler turned and looked towards the back of the church and recognition immediately hit him as he saw who had entered. Without hesitation, the little boy began to run down the center aisle, yelling Jason's name as he leapt into the waiting man's arms. It was then that all the guests turned to see Elizabeth's son being held and comforted by one Jason Morgan. Lucky, quickly angered by the new arrival, hurriedly walked down the aisle and immediately removed Cameron from Jason's grasp.
With no respect for the child or their surroundings in a church, Lucky bitterly yelled at the mobster, "you have a lot of nerve, Morgan, showing up here. You need to go. NOW! You aren't welcomed… will NEVER be welcomed around me or my children again, and, if I ever catch you coming near either of my sons again, I will charge you for harassment and possibly endangering a minor, for we all know what happens to people who get too close to the great Jason Morgan."
Jason just stared at Lucky as he spouted out his hateful words, amazed at the younger man's arrogance. But, in all honesty, he shouldn't have been surprised. Lucky had always been selfish. Why would Elizabeth's Memorial Service be any different?
The mobster then watched as Lucky turned and carried a crying Cameron towards the front of the church. It was enough to spur him into action. but, before he could take a step, both Nicolas and Patrick were in front of him, blocking his way.
Patrick spoke first. "Look, we are all upset, but don't you think staying here would make a bad situation worse?"
Nikolas’ words followed. "Patrick's right. Just go. I will call you when the service is over so you can come back and say your goodbyes in private. Please, Jason, just this once, do as I ask."
Jason wanted to argue. He was so angry, but this wasn't about him. It was about Elizabeth and saying goodbye to the woman he loved.
"Just make sure you call me."
But, before the blonde left, the occupants watched as the mob boss of Port Charles, ignoring all those around him, walked to the front of the church and kneeled before a now seated Cameron, taking the young boy in his arms once again, challenging Lucky with his icy gaze to stop him. Trying to keep his tears from falling, Jason gently kissed Cameron on his forehead and whispered softly so only the little boy could hear. Using the same sweet, loving voice he had always used with his mother, he said, "Cameron, remember I am always here for you."
And, as he rose, he gave a long glance towards Jake, reaching out and brushing his hand along his soft, spiky, matching blond hair. Looking at Audrey, Elizabeth's grandmother and only family present, Jason addressed the elderly woman. "I am very sorry for your loss."
After turning to gaze at Elizabeth's picture for more seconds than most had wished him to, the mobster promptly left the church, glancing at no one as he left.
~~~
Much later that day, Ric entered his home Martha’s Vineyard, exhausted from the day’s events. Going to Elizabeth's Memorial Service had been tough. No matter what people believed, Ric had truly loved the petite brunette with all of his heart and grieving for her had been a trying experience. His greatest satisfaction had been watching Jason Morgan pretty much get forced out of Elizabeth's service. It probably wasn't proper for him to be so happy during such a sad occasion, but, when it came to the onetime enforcer and now mob boss, Ric only held ill will for the other man.
Immediately putting away his thoughts of the day, Ric began to think of his life to come, and, as he opened the door to the upstairs bedroom, Ric couldn't help but smile inwardly at the sight before him.
Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 893 Location: In Hell... i.e. Pennsylvania Karma: 6
Re: My Slumbering Heart « Reply #3 on Apr 13, 2009, 12:25pm »
Chapter 4 (PG-13)
People were always underestimating Ric Lansing. That was their biggest mistake. For what people didn't realize was that Ric was smart… very smart. He always had a backup plan, one that would always benefit him. The mob lawyer was always thinking ahead, and, now, all his forethought had paid off. Not that finding Elizabeth Webber had been his original plan, but, once this unexpected turn of events landed almost literally in his lap, Ric was intelligent enough not to turn down a gold mine opportunity when he saw it.
Oh, the man had no illusions of the nurse's feelings for him. Yet, even knowing Elizabeth's true feelings didn't deter the lawyer from thinking of 'what could have been.' The misguided female had always harbored an unhealthy, insane devotion to that brain damaged thug, one Ric would never understand or want to try, but what the plotting male did know was that, in the right situation, any one's feelings could be manipulated and redirected. And Ric knew there were times when he could be very persuasive.
Although even if he couldn't sway the petite brunette to see the error of her ways, it truly didn't change anything for Ric. He was determined and driven to receive the power and respect that had always eluded him, and this time no one was going to stand in his way - not his father, not Sonny, and especially not Jason Morgan, for as much as the two 'more than friends' tried to hide their connection, Ric knew it was there, and he was definitely going to use it to his advantage.
The plan initially had been simple at first. Ric knew his life was in danger due to Claudia's betrayal, so the mob consigliere planned to flee the hospital during the commotion, transfer funds into an offshore account, and escape to parts unknown as expediently as possible. Yeah, he would have regrets, especially about leaving Molly, but, at that point, it was all about survival.
The first part had been simple. The ever thinking male had easily escaped the hospital before the fire had spread to the stairwells making them impassable. But then the helicopter crash occurred. Ric hadn't planned on assisting anyone; he was solely focused on putting as much distance between Port Charles and himself as quickly as possible. Yet, during his departure, the lawyer came upon Elizabeth, unconscious in the snow. It would have been so easy to leave her there to possibly die, but, as heartless as Ric was, he couldn't do it. Elizabeth didn't deserve to die.
So, once he made the decision to help the single mother, he realized she was a solution to all of his problems. Having Elizabeth gave him power over his one true enemy: Jason Morgan. First, though, he had to get her medical attention and then out of Port Charles. Initially taking her back to his place, Ric had made a call to a doctor he knew from his many mob dealings, one who could easily be paid off to keep his mouth shut.
Once the physician had been procured, Ric had left a message for Alexis letting her know he was going out of town to grieve his father's death and would call her upon his return. Using his family's home in Martha's Vineyard seemed like the perfect solution. No one would question Ric going there after his father's untimely demise. Plus, it gave him the privacy he needed to keep Elizabeth out of sight.
The doctor had met Ric on the island and, after completing a thorough examine of the brunette, deemed the young woman uncharacteristically well considering the plane crash the lawyer had described to the medical professional. Elizabeth had no internal injuries, just a concussion and some bruised ribs that would heal with rest. The physician wrote out a prescription for pain and informed Ric to call if the patient started to spike a fever. The doctor then left, taking his fee, never once asking for the patient's name.
Everything had been going well except for the fact that Elizabeth had yet to wake up. The doctor had assured the lawyer that her body was just healing and she would wake when ready. It had been a week, and, again, Ric was growing concerned. Ric demanded that the physician return and examine her once more. Upon the doctor's arrived, Ric informed the man that he had to go out for a couple of hours and he would pay him generously to stay with the patient once he completed his examine and until Ric returned. The greedy physician readily accepted, for he had three children in college. The doctor would not turn away any sufficient payment, especially one that was tax free.
The once mob lawyer hated to leave Elizabeth alone with a stranger, fearing she would wake up, but he needed to make an appearance at the young mother's Memorial Service. It would have looked suspicious, in Ric's mind, if he had not been there to pay his respects. As it was, it had been well worth the trip to watch one Jason Morgan get, in his mind 'thrown out' of Elizabeth's service. Then, as he was heading back, Ric got the call he had been waiting for: the brunette had awakened. She was still groggy and unsure of her surroundings, but she was awake. The physician assured Ric he had told her nothing and had asked nothing from the patient. The doctor was greedy but not stupid. He knew of the lawyer's mob connections, and he did not want to get involved. Once the man had returned, the doctor was to make a hasty exit and never to speak of his association with Ric ever again.
Yet, once Ric returned, things started to spiral out of control. Well, not at first. Elizabeth, initially, was extremely grateful for Ric's help. Hell, she was thankful and kind, knowing it was because of him she had survived the helicopter crash, but, once the young mother realized her ex-husband was not allowing her to leave, things began to unravel. He remembered her pleas.
"Ric, please just let me go home to my children. They need their mother."
The ex-husband had tried to reason with the young mother, promising her that she would be reunited with her children in due time, but the stupid girl wouldn't listen. Ric attempted to alleviate her fears by saying, once it was safe, he would bring them and then they could be the family that had once dreamed of with Cameron, Jake, and even Molly. He took her hands, caressing them, trying to soothe her, but it only seemed to make her madder. So, he had lifted his hands to caress her beautiful, angelic cheeks and leaned in to kiss her, and she spat in his face.
"Don't ever touch me like that!"
Elizabeth had yelled with more fury then he had known her to posses, and then she said the words he always loathed to hear.
"Only Jason touches me that way. There will never be a you and me, Ric, NEVER!"
It had taken all the Ric's control to not slap her at that moment, to teach her a lesson, but he wouldn't, couldn't lose control, not now, not when he was so close to getting what he wanted. But the lawyer couldn't control his tongue and he lashed out with a fury he, too, could possess.
"It doesn't matter anymore, Elizabeth, about your children, because they and everyone else in Port Charles thinks you are dead. Did you hear me? DEAD! No one is coming to find you. There will be no white knight coming to your rescue, so, 'Beautiful,' you better get acquainted with you accommodations really good, because you are going to be here for a long time. We could have been good together, Elizabeth, but you've ruined it, and, now, you are going to have to live with the consequences of your actions."
Ric watched as the Elizabeth paled with the knowledge that everyone thought she was dead. He saw the fear behind those gorgeous, sapphire eyes, and he found great joy in that emotion. Fear. She needed to fear him now. Ric had all the power and it was about time EVERYONE started to realize it.
Ric had, though, underestimated the determination of a mother, a mistake the lawyer would not make again. He had caught Elizabeth venturing out of bed to escape. Luckily, she hadn't hurt herself during her unsuccessful attempt to flee, for Ric needed her healthy, but he also realized he needed to contain her as well, and, to do so, drastic measures needed to be taken. Knowing she would drink and eat if only to sustain life in the hope that she would one day be reunited with her children, her ex-husband drugged her drink and, as she slept, he handcuffed her to the bed.
Now, aligned with the knowledge that, for the moment, Elizabeth was contained and going to sleep for hours, Ric decided it was time to make another visit back to Port Charles to begin the second phase of his plan.
~~~
"Diane, there has to be something we can do!"
Jason couldn't contain his fury. The need to break something was becoming so intense. His hands were balled into fists by his sides, his nails digging into his palms from how tightly he held them closed. The mobster was itching to grab something, anything, just to hear it shatter into a million pieces. The sound would hopefully ease the anger that continued to well up inside of him. But, in his heart, he knew it wouldn't change anything. In fact, all it would do was bring Spinelli scurrying out of his room to come and inspect what damage his employer had now created.
After the Memorial Service, the don had come home, planning to tear his penthouse apart. Saying goodbye to Elizabeth had been one of the hardest things the onetime enforcer had ever done. How could he say goodbye to her? The man had never been good with words when she was alive, and, now, ironically, he found himself pouring his heart out to a picture. A picture! The woman he had loved longer then he could remember deserved better than that. Elizabeth had warranted more from him. All she had ever done was support, listen, and trust him. And what did he do? He kept pushing her away. The only comfort Jason had felt was that, at least, before her death she had known, without a doubt, how Jason felt about her, that finally he was ready to take responsibility for his actions and have a life with her, have a family with her.
But, when he got home, Spinelli had been waiting, knowing 'his master' would be in agony, and immediately sent him upstairs to his gym to pour out his frustrations on his punching bag. And Jason had. He keep hitting, and hitting, and hitting until his knuckles bled, until he dropped down to the floor from exhaustion and wept. Jason Morgan, tears pouring down his face, mourned his loss, and, when he could cry no more, the man got up to take a shower to start his life again with a heavy heart, without his Elizabeth.
The next day Jason received the call from his lawyer, reluctantly informing him that he was not mentioned in Elizabeth's will and should not appear at the reading. Jason wasn't surprised. He and Elizabeth had been apart up until the last moments of her life. Her last will and testament wouldn't have had him mentioned, for they were apart, agreeing it would have been too dangerous for him to have been a part of her life and her young children's lives as well. Yet, it still tore him up inside to know that Lucky had been given guardianship of Cameron and Jake. He wasn't angry with Elizabeth. The mobster was angry at himself for all the poor choices he had made since learning the truth about Jake's paternity. It should have been then that he declared his love for Elizabeth and made her realize that a marriage to him wouldn't be one of convenience but one of love. But he hadn't, and, now, he was paying the consequences.
Jason realized that, for a man who had always preached you can't look back and think of the 'what ifs,' that was all he had done since Elizabeth's death. Yet, knowing he was responsible for the fate that had now been instilled upon Jake and Cameron only angered him further.
The past week, since Elizabeth's will reading, Jason had been checking up on Cameron and Jake, and what he found infuriated the mob king only further, for every time he had received a report or witnessed himself the actions of the supposed 'great' father Lucky Spencer, he found the young man lacking in every way. Lucky was either ignoring the two young boys or pawning them off on whoever would watch them. Jason himself witnessed him drop them off at his grandmother Leslie's house on Monday, then at Bobbie's on Tuesday, then at Audrey's on Wednesday and, on Thursday, the guard he had tailing the kids reported that the father had deemed them worthy of his company only to take them to Sam's apartment and have them watch videos while he and his 'girlfriend' engaged in other activities in a locked bedroom not fifteen feet from where they were.
It was after this last report that had Jason contacted Diane to start taking action, but his lawyer was not producing any viable solutions to the problem at hand.
"Look, Jason, we can petition the courts to take a paternity test on Jake, proving to the courts that you are his biological father. Once that is proven, you can make claim to Jake, but you have no claim to Cameron. He would have to remain with Lucky, and we both know Elizabeth would never want her boys separated."
"Damn it, Diane, I know this. I don't need a dissertation on what can't be done; I need to know what can be done."
And, then, not being able to reign his anger in any longer, Jason, who had been standing by the bar, the bar where he had grabbed two shot glasses for him and Elizabeth so long ago, took what was probably one of those same shot glasses and sailed it across the room towards his fireplace, hearing it smash into those million pieces he had been craving so much. The sound eerily calmed him. But, then, Jason heard Spinelli's racing footsteps and watched as Diane moved slowly towards his front door, readying herself to flee at any moment, never witnessing her employer lose control that way, and, immediately, he regretted his actions.
Moving slowly towards Diane, placing both hands in the front pockets of his jeans, Jason calmly spoke. "I'm sorry, Diane. I didn't mean to lose my temper and sca… startle you," for Jason knew very little scared his attorney.
But, before Diane could respond, Spinelli came bounding down the stairs, his computer attached at his side, ready to take flight from the disturbance he had heard below. Realizing it was just his master releasing obvious tension tightly wound within his body, the Jackal decided to see if he could be of some assistance. Calmly he asked, "Stone Cold, what now has caused you this most obvious, grievous distress?"
"It's nothing for you to worry about, Spinelli. I am sorry to have lost my temper again."
As Jason turned to head to the kitchen to retrieve a brush and dustpan to clean up his mess, he missed his attorney mouth to his employee "again?," and all Spinelli could do was raise his eyebrows and shrug his shoulders saying 'well, what did you expect?'
Before the mobster could make it in to the kitchen, however, he heard Spinelli call out to him, "Stone Cold, is there not something I, the Jackal, can do to help, say something that the most law abiding one could not?"
Yet, before Jason could say anything, he heard Diane very pointedly respond to Spinelli, "No sir, Mr. Grasshopper, are you to do any hacking. Do you have any idea the lengths to which Jason has gone to keep you out of Federal Prison? No more!"
"Oh, come on Brusque Lady of Justice, I know I can help if only you tell me what the problem may be."
This time it was Jason to speak first. "No, Spinelli, Diane is right. You shouldn't be hacking into anything. Plus, this isn't something you can help me with. The only thing that could help me was if some way Cameron Webber was my biological child and not Zander Smith's."
And before the words were out Jason's mouth, he knew he had said too much, because, as he looked at Spinelli, the mobster could already bear witness to the wheels turning in the hacker's head.
"Spinelli, no, do not even think about doing whatever you are thinking of doing." And, as Jason was talking, he moved to reach for Spinelli's laptop. But, for once, the computer geek outwitted his employer and moved before he could reach his intended target.
"Stone Cold, it would be so easy for me to change said history, for I can only assume that you and the Fair Elizabeth were close back then. It wouldn't be hard for me to hack into the hospital's main frame and add a paternity test stating you were Cameron's father."
As Spinelli spoke he saw a sadness gleam over his master's eyes, "Stone Cold...?"
Before Jason responded, the two roommates heard their feared legal eagle speak up yet again. "Enough, you two! I do not want to be privy to any 'alleged' hacking of any kind. Even though I have no doubt it would be in the best interest of Elizabeth's children to be under Jason's care, there is nothing we can do at this time. But you don't pay me the big bucks for nothing. I didn't earn every pair of Jimmy Choos in my closet by wringing my fingers and taking the easy road. If there is something..."
Yet, before Diane could finish what she was about to say, Jason's front door opened, and Sonny walked in. "Jason, we need to talk." Then Sonny took in Diane and Spinelli's presences in the room and asked, "am I interrupting something, because, if I'm not, I really need to talk to Jason. Alone."
Diane, knowing the implications from Sonny's statement, grabbed her briefcase off Jason's desk and gave her one time employer a heated glare and said, "I no longer take orders from you, but Jason and I were finished... for the time being." Looking pointedly at her new employer and his employee, she cautiously implored them, "remember what I said. Jason, I will take care of this. Just give me a little more time." And, with that, she was gone.
After watching Diane hastily exit Jason's penthouse, Sonny, for a moment, wondered why she had been there, but quickly put that out of his mind and turned to Spinelli to roughly bark, "you're still here? Go! I need to talk to Jason. ALONE!"
With that, Spinelli quickly retrieved his coat and messenger bag from the coffee table and swiftly departed.
Once Spinelli was gone, Sonny turned to Jason and said, "we need to discuss business."
Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 893 Location: In Hell... i.e. Pennsylvania Karma: 6
Re: My Slumbering Heart « Reply #4 on Apr 13, 2009, 12:26pm »
Chapter Five (PG)
"Jason, we need to talk business."
And, with those six words, Jason could, again, feel the anger start to build up inside of him - words, which used to hold so much meaning, so much importance, now just seemed empty and pointless, words, which made him cringe with regret. His hands, once more, started to curl into fists by his sides, his knuckles turning white from the intensity of his emotions. 'Business.' It always came down to that. Why it took Jason so long to see and hear the emptiness of that one word, he didn't know.
Reigning in his anger and contempt for what those words inspired, Jason shrugged his shoulders and raised his arms to his one time partner and said, "Sonny, I don't have time for this right now."
Surprised by his ex-enforcer's response, Sonny looked at him in shock. "Jason, come on man. We need to figure out what our next move should be."
Exasperated, Jason ran a hand down his face and, raising his eyebrows, stared at his on and off again rival waiting for him to continue. And Sonny didn't disappoint.
"With Zacharra gone and Claudia dead, this is the perfect time for us to pull our resources together. Think of all the power we could now have if we join the 'businesses' together."
And there is was: Sonny's true motive. Power. It was always about the power. Jason never wanted the power or the 'business.' When did things start to get so out of control? Jason didn't even recognize his life anymore. Elizabeth was dead - DEAD, and all Sonny cared about was the business. Hell, his 'wife' was dead and the supposed 'love of his life' was fighting to stay alive back down New York City, but here Sonny stood before him, thinking about how to work things to his advantage. He could have the business back for all Jason cared, but what would that accomplish? Sonny still was a hot head, making rash decisions, and this was not what Jason needed to be concentrating on right then and there.
"Sonny, I can't think about the business right now. Elizabeth is dead. Do you understand? She is dead! Her children are being raised by Lucky Spencer, Luke Spencer's kid. I just can't focus on anything else right now."
Sonny, still not getting it, continued to press the issue, "Jason, what does that have to do with anything right now? It was your decision a long time ago not to claim Jake as your son. You always said the child would be better off away from your life. Why are you suddenly changing your mind now? Because Elizabeth's dead? How does that really change anything? Your life is still the same. You were the one who had me sign away my rights to my own kids. What makes you think I'd understand why, all of a sudden, you want to claim your own? Let it go. We have more important things to discuss."
Knowing he was going to get nowhere with Sonny when it came to Elizabeth and her boys, Jason took a step back and began to think of the best way to proceed at this point. Because even though Sonny was right, Jason wasn't going to let it go, not this time, not ever again. Taking a deep breath and counting to ten like Jason had always told Carly to do, he looked at his ex-boss and decided on a different tactic. "Sonny, have you forgotten that I need to find Anthony Zacharra, that without him the Feds are going to start coming after you?"
Sonny started to lash out like he always did. "Don't you mean, if you don't find Zacharra, then that computer geek you love so much will go to prison?"
God, Jason didn't need this right now. He didn't want to have to think about Sonny and the business, or Spinelli and the FBI; all the mob boss wanted to do was think about how to get Elizabeth's children away from that bastard Lucky Spencer. The mobster knew that his current predicament was his own fault, and he knew he should let Diane do her job, but how could he? He wanted his children with him, Jake and Cameron. Shaking his head in defeat, he knew he was going to have to take care of everything else before that could happen.
Releasing a frustrated breath, the ex-enforcer looked pointedly at the man that used to mean so much to him and said, "look, Sonny, you help me find Anthony, and then we'll talk about the businesses. But honestly, don't you think John Zacharra is going to want to start having a say in things? I know the kid said he wasn't interested, but, with his father gone and his sister dead, he may have had a change of heart."
Sonny relaxed slightly, believing he had gotten Jason back on track. "Don't worry. I'll handle John."
Fully knowing that would be a very bad thing, Jason countered by saying to Sonny, "wait, the kid has become friends with Spinelli and Maxie. How about I handle John, and you just work on finding Anthony for me?"
Before answering, Sonny rubbed his forefinger and thumb across his chin, contemplating Jason's idea, concluding it was fine. Sonny nodded to his ex-enforcer and stated, "Fine, we'll do it that way, but, Jason, don't take too long on this. If we want things to happen, we need to move fast."
Just as Sonny turned and opened Jason's front door, Diane came waltzing back in. Sonny just looked at his onetime attorney, shaking his head and left, gently closing the door behind him.
Diane went from looking at the door to looking at Jason, raising her eyebrows in question. "I didn't scare him away, did I?"
Jason, starting to feel very exhausted, ran his hand again, like only moments ago when Sonny was there, down his face and asked his lawyer, "uh, did you forget something?"
"Indeed I did."
And with that statement, Diane moved towards Jason's desk, picked up the forgotten file, quickly placed it back in her briefcase, and shifted to leave. But, before she could go, the ever efficient female turned to her employer and said, "look, Jason, I don't know what transpired between you and Sonny, and I assure you I don't want to know, but I feel, not only as your attorney but also, dare I say, your friend, that getting mixed up with Sonny again can only lead to disaster."
"Diane..."
"Wait, let me finish. You are a very efficient, methodical, level headed boss, but, when it comes to that man that just left, you are blinded by loyalty. And I know I am most likely speaking out of line and could possibly lose the best retainer I have ever had, leaving me with a hole in my income for my shoe shopping, but, no matter what, this must be said. Jason, you are not happy, and I warned you this would happen. You had that chance not so long ago to grab everything you ever wanted but let it go because of your misguided loyalty. Now, you and only you are paying the consequences. I want you to think long and hard about that before you ever think of going back into an alliance with Sonny Corinthos."
Before the mob boss could answer, his attorney swiftly turned and exited his penthouse, leaving Jason alone.
~~~
As Sonny returned home from his visit with Jason, he entered his living area only to find Ric sitting on his couch, waiting for him. Already frustrated from his meeting with his ex-partner, the don walked right past his brother, not sparing him a glance, and headed straight to the bar. After pouring himself a generous amount of scotch and downing a pretty hefty sip, Sonny finally turned and addressed his guest.
"What do you want, Ric?"
Ric just smiled at his brother with a gleam in his eyes that even Sonny was surprised to see.
"Nice to see you, too, brother."
Then Ric rose from his position on the couch, and he, too, headed for the bar, pouring himself a drink. After rotating to face the older man, he said, "thanks, don't mind if I do have a drink as well."
Sonny, shaking his head at Ric's uncharacteristic smugness, moved away from the bar and sat down in the armchair facing him. "Look, Ric, I don't have time for your games, so, if you have something to say, then just say it and leave."
Looking straight at Sonny, Ric again gave him a big smile with a gleam in his eyes and took another sip of his drink. "Ah, Sonny, what's the rush? Can't I just come by to see how my brother is doing since losing his wife?"
Sonny already was getting tired of Ric. "Don't you mean your ex-lover?"
Smirking at Sonny's statement, Ric just took yet another sip of his drink and said, "Really are you so surprised I slept with Claudia? And, by the way, I don't think that bothered you for even one minute."
Rapidly growing impatient and fully knowing Ric always had an agenda, Sonny sighed. "Come on, Ric. We both know you don't come over here for friendly, brotherly chats. I don't have time to deal with you. So, tell me what it is you want so you can leave already."
"Sonny, I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss me, for I can be the answer to all your problems."
Not believing him, Sonny asked, "Oh yeah, and what would those problems be?"
"How to get your business back from Jason."
Slightly surprised but not really caring, Sonny quickly tried to dismiss Ric and told him straight out, "Ric, you don't need to worry about my business. What you should be worried about is that, if I find out in any way that you knew of Anthony's plans to shoot Kate or that you knew he could walk, then there will be trouble."
Laughing now at his brother, Ric said, "Oh, come on, Sonny. You know you won't kill me. If that was the case, you would have done it a long time ago. Remember, we're blood; I'm Adela's son, and I know it eats away at you, but, because of that, you will never kill me. "
Finishing his drink, Ric placed the used glass on the bar, shifted back to face his brother, and said, "I wouldn't dismiss me so quickly, Sonny, I have information that could be very vital to you and your business. Maybe you should..."
Before Ric could finish, Carly came rushing in screeching, "Sonny, I need to talk to…" Stopping abruptly when she noticed Ric standing there, the blonde demanded, "Ric what are you doing here?"
"Nice to see you, too, Carly." Without waiting to be asked, Ric grabbed his coat off the back of the couch, draping it over his arm, preparing to make his exit, but, before he did, the attorney turned towards his brother one more time. "I'll get back to you on the information I had." Rotating to face his ex-sister-in-law, Ric nodded his head and said, "Carly." Then he left.
Carly, watching Ric retreat with a scowl on her face, turned towards Sonny, placing her hands on her hips. "What was that all about?"
Sonny, initially recalling how smug Ric had been, quickly dismissed it and shrugged his shoulders at his ex-wife. "I don't' know."
Heading back to the bar for another drink, Carly hastily grabbed his arm, stopping him from his intended destination. "Sonny, we have to do something about Jason."
"Carly..."
"No, seriously, Sonny, I'm worried about him. He's our best friend and he's hurting."
Turning towards the blonde, the Cuban forcefully spat out, "and we're not? Carly, you lost your husband. I lost a wife and an ex-fiancée. Don't you think we're hurting, too? Is Jason concerned about that?"
"Well,… I don't know. He's been wrapped up in so many things. I just wanted to be there for him."
"Has he called to see how you were doing? Told you how sorry he was about Jax's death?" As Sonny watched Carly come to the realization that Jason hadn't been there for her, he placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eye. "How about we be there for each other right now? I know it's asking a lot, but I could really use some company tonight. What do you say?"
Meeting Sonny's gaze, she looked into his dark brown eyes and saw in them what her own eyes reflected: loneliness. At that moment, to Carly, that was all that mattered, so, without hesitating, she nodded her head yes, assenting to her ex-husband's request.
Sonny gave her one of his famous, dimpled smiles, wrapped an arm around her shoulder and guided her towards the kitchen, prepared to make them one of his best home cooked meals ever, and, as they headed that direction, Sonny decided finding Anthony Zacharra could wait until tomorrow.
Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 893 Location: In Hell... i.e. Pennsylvania Karma: 6
Re: My Slumbering Heart « Reply #5 on Apr 13, 2009, 12:26pm »
Chapter Six
As Jason headed into Sonny's home, the stoic blond continued to think about what Diane had said to him the night before. When did everything change? For so long, all Jason knew was his loyalty to Sonny. The ex-enforcer owed him everything for many years of his life, but, now, he just wasn't sure what to do. Jason wasn't someone who looked back with regrets, but, since Elizabeth's death, that's all he had been doing. Should he just give the business back to the Latino and return to being Sonny's enforcer? Really, would it be that bad? Jason just shook his head, knowing he wasn't going to make any decisions right now, not until Anthony was caught, Spinelli was cleared, and Elizabeth's children were with him forever. Letting out a big sigh, Jason took a deep breath and opened the door to Sonny's living room.
"Sonny..."
But before the blond could even finish his sentence, his mouth stopped moving and his legs stopped working. Very little surprised Jason Morgan, but entering Sonny's home and seeing Carly and her former husband sharing a breakfast or, more like it, sharing food off the same plate on his living room couch stopped the mob king right in his tracks.
The former married couple glanced up from their meal, realizing they were caught in a very intimate moment. Turning towards each other and smiling, they swallowed their food and turned their attention towards their best friend.
Carly, immediately jumped off the couch and ran to Jason, wrapping her arms around him in a ferocious hug. "Jason, I'm so glad you're here."
Quickly taking his large, calloused hands and raising them to pull Carly's arms from around his neck, Jason looked at Sonny, raising his eyebrow and, without words, questioning what was going on there.
Sonny, on cue, rose from the couch, smiling big, showing off his famous dimples, shrugged his shoulders at his ex-enforcer as if silently saying, 'if it's what you're thinking, then that's what happened,' and then extended his hand in greeting. "Jason, glad to see you man."
Jason, still a little unsure of what was going on, accepted the handshake and got right down to business. "We need to talk."
Sonny, not wanting to allow Jason to take control of the situation, immediately rotated to again face the couch and gestured towards his and Carly's dishes. "Can I offer you breakfast?"
Not being deterred, Jason pointedly looked at Sonny and repeated, "No. We. Need. To. Talk." Then, after glancing briefly at Carly, he added, "business."
Carly, desperately wanting Jason and Sonny to mend the bridge between them that had crumbled since Michael's shooting, decided to, for once, make things easier and, after glancing between her ex-husband and best friend, she knew exactly what she was going to do. Proud of her ingenuity, the blond smiled. Jason and Sonny, seeing Carly's mind start to work, both groaned in frustration.
"Carly…," the two ex-friends said in unison.
But she didn't even flinch at either of their reprimands. The previous Mrs. Jax just quickly maneuvered herself around to the back of Sonny's couch, reaching for her coat and draping it over her arm as she replied, "Oh, don't worry, you two. I know when I am supposed to leave the room. The word business is Carly's cue to exit." With that statement, both men raised their eyebrows in question towards the blond. "Okay, well not always, but this time I do. But..." Now pointedly looking at Jason, she said, "I will only go if Jason promises to come to Kelly's reopening later this afternoon."
Jason just visibly sighed, and, meeting Carly's stare, he said, "Carly, you know why that's not a good idea."
Not about to be deterred by her best friend, Carly countered, "Oh, come on, Jason. What could possibly happen? Sonny and I have talked." Jason just glared at her, not really believing that last night his former two best friends had actually done any talking. He knew them both all too well. Carly stomped her foot in frustration, wanting her best friend to believe and understand what she was saying, and continued, "I mean really talked, and we have agreed that both of us have made our fair share of mistakes, ones that those closest to us have paid dearly for, but we want to make an effort to correct our past mistakes. We are going to try and see where this takes us. Sonny and I have agreed to take things slow." Realizing, though, that what Jason walked in on did not paint the picture of slow, Carly hastily tried to continue to explain, "Well... slow for Sonny and I, and let's just leave it at that."
Wanting to come to his ex-wife's rescue, Sonny walked over to Carly, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, bringing her close to him, and decided to take over. "We aren't going to take undue risks, we will have guards with us, and we're just starting with going to Kelly's." Shrugging his shoulders again and glancing at Carly before turning his attention back to Jason, Sonny said, "from there, who knows what will happen."
Stepping over to Jason, Carly gave him a quick hug. "Jason, we want you to be there with us. It would mean a lot to Morgan and to Sonny and me. Besides," smiling up at him, she added, "I am sure my Mom wouldn't mind seeing you. And who knows. Maybe Cameron and Jake will be there, too. I did hear that Mama was babysitting last night." And, with that last statement for Jason to think about even after she was gone, Carly exited the room.
Both men watched and waited for the blond to leave, visibly relaxing as they heard the front door close.
Knowing Jason wanted to get down to business immediately, the present head of the Zacchara organization strode over to his bar and glanced back at his former enforcer, asking while offering him a bottle of water, "so, what's so important?"
Shaking his head at the offer for a drink, Jason responded, "I spoke with John Zacchara last night. We've set up a meeting at an old run down garage on the outskirts of town later today."
Sonny dipped his head forward, acknowledging that he had heard Jason's statement, and said, "okay, let me know what happens." Then the mob kingpin began to rub his forehead, stating, "I… uh... didn't get much done last night." Looking up and smiling at Jason, the Latino's dimples flashed. All the while, Jason remained silent, staring at his former boss while waiting for him to continue. "I promise to look into Anthony's whereabouts this morning. I will hopefully have something before your meeting."
Jason nodded in recognition and moved to leave, but, as he went to open the door, he stopped, hearing Sonny call out to him.
"Jason, it really would be great if you could meet Carly, Morgan, and myself at Kelly's. I think it would do us all some good."
The blond mob king paused for just a second, didn't look back, and then left the room.
Sonny sighed, not sure what Jason would do, but hoped he would show up later.
~~~
Elizabeth woke up disoriented and confused. At first, the brunette was unsure of where she was, but then, like a tidal wave knocking her down, it instantly came flooding back. She was in Ric's family home on Martha's Vineyard Island, and, not only was she in his home, but the young mother was also handcuffed to a bed in said home with no foreseeable escape. She didn't even want to think about why the ex-DA had handcuffs on hand. No doubt not for making arrests… right?
Thinking back to when she woke up, it probably hadn't been the smartest idea to antagonize her ex-husband, but, when she thought about the way he touched her, caressed her hands, and stroked her face like Jason would, her inner 'Lizzie Webber' just couldn't stay dormant. She had to fight back. Whether it was the right or wrong thing to do, well... looking at her cuffed hand and shaking her head, Elizabeth came to the conclusion that it really wasn't the right thing to do.
She knew Ric though, knew what the man was capable of. The young nurse just had to be smarter than him. His smugness was his greatest weakness, but the fact that the lawyer had cuffed her to the bed also told his ex-wife that he was scared. Oh, he was definitely scared of the possibility she would escape. Now, all Elizabeth needed to do was start to play Ric's little game, no matter how repulsive. She had to make him believe he was winning. It was the only way she could think of to get back to her boys and back to Jason.
Jason… Oh, how she missed him - being in his arms and feeling safe from the whole world. It had been too long, and, right when she thought that yearning and pain of missing him would finally be gone, her whole world was ripped apart once again. The young mother could only imagine what he and her boys were going through.
Unconsciously, as she began to think of the man she loved, the brunette raised her graceful index finger to her mouth, stroking her full bottom lip back and forth with her digit, remembering vividly the last kiss they shared. Elizabeth then recalled how the usually stoic blond took her left hand and oh so gently and sweetly kissed her ring finger, with a promise that was yet to come. And then, again without conscious thought, the young woman began to stroke her left ring finger as it hung limply in the handcuff, secured to the bed's headboard.
Gathering all of her strength, cognizant of what she had to live for, Elizabeth made a resolution to herself that she would get out of this alive and return to her family, and the one thing Ric had done was underestimate 'Lizzie Webber.' Oh, Elizabeth Webber could be manipulated and fooled but not 'Lizzie.' No, she was a force to be reckoned with, one Mr. Ric Lansing never saw coming.
Then, suddenly, Elizabeth heard a door open and close. Realizing that Ric must be home, the brunette tried to control her racing heart rate and rapid breathing. She wasn't ready yet. Elizabeth still needed to formulate a reasonable and obtainable plan, so, preferring not to have to think on her feet, especially since she knew most likely that she had been drugged the night before, the young nurse decided to feign sleep for the time being until she was more prepared to deal with her ex-husband.
~~~
Ric entered his home tired. His meeting with Sonny had not gone as planned, but it didn't matter. He still had the upper hand. He still had his ace in the hole, and, hopefully, that little jewel that was stashed away upstairs was still resting quietly. Poor Elizabeth. She still hadn't fully begun to appreciate who was in control, who held all of the power. Ric sighed, thinking of the pretty brunette. They could have been so good together, but, again, her misguided loyalty and love to that thug Jason Morgan ruined everything.
The lawyer had wanted to return the prior night so as not to give his ex-wife the possibility of escaping, but Ric knew it would be suspicious, even for him, not to visit Molly since he had driven into Port Charles for his meeting with Sonny. So, Ric took a chance, knowing that the drug he had given Elizabeth would most likely keep her unconscious throughout the night, and he decided to spend the evening in the little town that he soon would control. Now that he was home, though, he needed to check on his insurance plan.
However, as Ric turned to head up the stairs to her bedroom, he was startled by a noise off to the left in the living room. Stepping down onto the landing, Ric jumped back, his surprise evident upon his face as he saw what had made the noise. The ex-mob lawyer had a guest, a very uninvited guest, and his new company was sitting on his couch with a gun pointed right between the attorney's eyes. Ric, trying to hide his displeasure at this unexpected event, went to speak, but the intruder stopped him before the young man could get a word to pass through his lips by cocking his revolver.
Using the gun to gesture his host further into the living room, the intruder said, "hello, Ric. We have a lot to talk about."
Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 893 Location: In Hell... i.e. Pennsylvania Karma: 6
Re: My Slumbering Heart « Reply #6 on Apr 13, 2009, 12:27pm »
My Slumbering Heart - Chapter Seven
Ric, startled, at first, by his unexpected guest but more especially by the revolver that was so precariously pointed towards his head, recovered quickly and proceeded to offer the intruder one of his most devious, full on smiles. White teeth glaring, the lawyer tepidly made his way down the foyer landing and into the living room, casually seating himself on the couch. Turning to look at his visitor, Ric, with all the control and confidence he could muster with the open ended barrel of a gun glaring in his vision, waited for the gentleman to speak. When he didn't, the lawyer decided to start.
Trying not to sound nervous but not particularly succeeding, Ric, with a smile still on his handsome face, shakily greeted, "Anthony, it’s nice to see you. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
Joggling the gun back and forth, relishing in Ric's unease, Anthony, in return, gave Ric one of his own devilish smiles and responded, "Ah, Ric, you foolish man. I think you know exactly why I am here."
Crossing his legs, Ric leaned back, draping his arm along the edge of the top of the sofa. "Well, so there is no misunderstanding, why don't you enlighten me?"
Anthony, enjoying this cat and mouse game, laughed at his onetime lawyer. "Ric, you amuse me so, you really do. Trying so hard to play it cool, but you were never one to play the game well. You betrayed me, and, now, you will have to pay the price."
Ric, still grinning but starting to sweat underneath his suit, removed his arm from the back of the couch and lowered it to smooth his tie down his chest and stomach. He then uncrossed his legs and rested both elbows on his knees, biding his time before he spoke, contemplating his words carefully. He had to figure out a way to hold off Anthony from killing him and then somehow kill him first. Ric was not going to let some crazy old man ruin what was finally within his grasp.
"Anthony, it wasn't really me who betrayed you, was it? No, it was your conniving, backstabbing daughter who did that. So, if you are to blame anyone, it really should be Claudia. Lucky for us, she's dead.” Pausing and taking a deep breath in an attempt to gauge the older man's reaction, Ric continued, “unless… you are actually morning her death?"
When Anthony remained silent, Ric, knowing his life was on the line, kept talking. "Yeah, I didn't think so. Ever since I met you, you have wanted to be rid of your first born."
"Enough!" Anthony yelled, quickly silencing the younger man. "Ric, you betrayed me by sharing confidences with Claudia. Now, Corinthos wants me dead. That is a most regrettable thing. So, I am now forced to leave my home and my business to save my life, but, before I leave to escape my fate, and, yes, Ric, I will escape, it is your turn to die."
As Anthony cocked the gun, readying it to fire, Ric jumped up, bringing his arms forward as he yelled at the man. "Stop! Just stop, Anthony, before you do something foolish!" Starting to breathe heavily, Ric tried to quickly let the man know he had the upper hand on Sonny and Jason. "I have something that can solve all our problems, something that will see to it that you won't have to flee town, something that will both regain control of your organization from Sonny but also give you Jason's as well. Just let me show you. I promise you that won't be disappointed. It is the answer to both of our problems."
Keeping the revolver fixed right between the lawyer's eyes, the Zacharra head responded, "how do I know you're not lying, trying to bide your time so you can try to kill a crippled old man?"
Nervously laughing, slightly confident the crazy don wasn't going to fire, at least not yet, Ric lowered his arms and said, "come on, Anthony. We both know you aren't crippled or weak. Why would I lie now when my life is on the line?"
"Why indeed. If I knew how your mind worked, Ric, we wouldn't be in this situation now, would we? You were fooled by a woman, and that makes you weak. I don't trust weak men." But the older gentleman had become intrigued by Ric's statement nevertheless, so, wanting to gain more information before killing the lawyer, the mob king disengaged the gun and lowered it to his side. "Alright, Lansing, tell me what it is that is so valuable that it will save your life."
Ric, letting out a deep breath in relief, said to the older man, "not it… but who. I have the one person that can bring Jason Morgan to his knees. You wanted to know the enforcer’s weakness. Well, I have it, and, with it, we can force the thug to finally turn on Sonny and soon be rid of both men for good, leaving the territory to us."
The lawyer's smugness intrigued Anthony. "Alright, Ric, let's see what it is you have to show me. Just remember the fate of your life is in the hands of this mystery person. I hope they don't let you down."
Ric nodded at the older gentleman, turning to lead him up the stairs to Elizabeth's room, thinking I hope she doesn't let me down either.
~~~
Elizabeth finally heard footsteps coming up the stairs. The brunette wasn't sure how long she had lounged there waiting for Ric to enter her bedroom. Anticipating his arrival had been torture on the young woman. She knew, at this point, that her ex-husband was unstable and preventing him from going over the edge would take all of the acting skills she possessed. But, then, the young mother heard something she didn't expect; she heard more than one pair of footsteps heading down the hallway towards her prison, and the brunette couldn't help but begin to feel hope that someone had followed the lawyer to his Martha Vineyard's home. That someone, hopefully, would discover she was alive, and they would help her escape so that she could return to the life waiting for her in Port Charles.
Deciding it was best to still pretend to be asleep, the young mother stayed in her fetal position, underneath the covers, her arm restraints making it difficult to get comfortable. However, the ruse was enough so that it appeared she was still unconscious. Working hard to even out her breathing, Elizabeth heard the door start to open, and her heart started to beat rapidly. She began to pray that Ric wouldn't hear the telltale sign of edgy alertness.
Then she heard Ric whispering to the other person, and she was shocked when she heard Anthony Zacharra's voice. Of all the people that would find her, why did it have to be that crazy loon? Silently sighing at her bad luck, Elizabeth began to try and think of how she could use this to her advantage. She was a woman; the man hated women. Plus, she foiled his plans at the Black and White ball. That was certainly not a good thing. He had also previously approached her at the hospital, and she was less then welcoming. Inwardly groaning, the brunette kept trying to come up with anything that might help her. She then realized they were talking, and it would probably prove her well if she tried to listen to what they were saying. Closing off her mind, Elizabeth tried to just focus on what the two men were discussing just outside her door. She could feel their gaze on her body. Her skin began to crawl, but she still remained motionless, not giving anything away to the men.
As Anthony peeked into the room Ric had started to enter, the Zacharra head couldn't believe his eyes. There, tied up, was the pretty brunette nurse from General Hospital. Hmmm, he thought to himself smugly. This might be a good thing after all, a very good thing. But Anthony knew how to play his cards close to the vest, so he would wait and see how Ric played this out before showing his own hand.
Whispering to his onetime lawyer he wondered out loud, "so, Ric, what does some nurse from General Hospital have to do with Jason Morgan?"
Elizabeth silently gasped, thinking that Ric was somehow going to have Anthony hurt Jason because of her. But, then, Elizabeth realized that Anthony not remembering her and Jason from the Black and White ball could be a good thing. When she heard Ric's sneering voice, her skin began to crawl all over again.
Ric, glad that Elizabeth still hadn't woken up from the drug he had given her the night before, turned to his former employer and whispered, "Ah, Anthony. What you don't realize is that Elizabeth Webber is Jason Morgan's one true weakness."
"What would this pretty young thing have to do with a mob enforcer turned mob king, and doesn't the woman have two small children from other men? Explain, Lansing, make me understand. I’m losing my patience with you very quickly." Waving his gun maniacally towards the younger man, he threatened, “and that doesn’t make me very happy.”
"Anthony, all you need to know is that the brainless thug would do anything for her. He thinks she's dead. We use that to our advantage, and the rest will fall into place."
It took every ounce of Elizabeth's self control not to scream at the man she once called her husband. How dare he! He would be sorry for the day he ever thought he could manipulate her. Wait it out, just wait it out, she started chanting in her mind. Ric was overly smug. He was going to make a mistake. Elizabeth only hoped that she could hold out until that point. Clearing her mind again, she tried to focus on the conversation that was going on just a few feet away.
"Lansing, you still haven't told me what your plan is."
Ric then motioned Anthony with his head out into the hallway, gently closing the door behind them.
"It’s simple, Anthony. We use Sonny's need for power and control to our advantage. We bring him into the fold. No matter what Jason thinks… Well, the brain damaged thug really can't think, and that is our edge. "
Anthony was quickly getting bored with Ric, so he took his gun and pressed it right up into the lawyer's nostrils. Allowing the man to smell death, having him fear what may happen at any moment, he warned, "Ricky, old boy…” Flailing the gun back and forth only to then return to rest it against the lawyer's nose once again, he mob boss said, "I am getting impatient with you, and, when I get impatient, my hand starts to twitch. We wouldn't want me to accidentally set the gun off now, would we? After all, this is a nice place you have here. I’d feel downright terrible if your blood were to stain these beautiful hardwood floors."
Swallowing, Ric quickly finished explaining, at least enough to appease the old man. "Jason thinks Sonny forgives him for forcing him to sign his kids away and turn over the business. If I know Sonny, and I do, that is the one thing he will never forgive. We need to use the animosity that still festers between the two of them, and, by using Elizabeth, we can make that happen."
Before Anthony could respond Ric's cell phone went off. Ric, eyeing the older gentleman, raised his eyebrow, questioning where he could pull the phone out from his breast pocket to answer it or not.
Anthony, nodding his head in acquiescence, shoved his revolver one more time against the lawyer's face and forcibly whispered, "no funny business or bye-bye pretty boy Lansing."
Ric, fumbling around his coat pocket, the sweat again starting to trickle down his trunk, found his phone and quickly answered it. "Lansing." After a few minutes, Ric hung up, replacing the phone back in his pocket and whispered to Anthony, "Elizabeth's probably going to be sleeping for a while longer. Let's go downstairs, have a drink, and finish this conversation."
As they made their way downstairs, Anthony took a quick glance at the door that hid a most precious treasure indeed, only Ric didn't realize that the treasure was going to be suited for a much bigger purpose. The Zacharra don now knew exactly how he was going to escape, and he had Lansing to thank for it. It was sad really. Without knowing it, the attorney truly had become an asset to the mob king. Too bad he wasn't going to live long enough to realize it.
Ric, reaching the living room before Anthony, started to fix him a drink at the bar. Once the old man had sat down in the chair the lawyer had only just a short time ago found him in, he handed him the drink. Then fixing one for himself, Ric toasted to their new and improved alliance. Turning to face the mob king, Ric raised his glass and said, "To the start of the Lansing/Zacharra Empire!"
Simultaneously, the two took a sip. Once Anthony had lowered his glass, Ric began to speak once again. "That phone call was from my father's lawyer. I need to return to Port Charles for the reading of his will. I trust that you will keep an eye on our precious jewel upstairs."
Anthony, taking another sip of his drink, nodded in agreement. “I’ll tend to her more carefully than I ever did Maria’s roses.”
Ric waited for a few moments as he watched the old man’s eyelids start to flutter close. Once assured that the drug he had administered in the man's drink had taken effect, the lawyer removed the gun from Anthony’s grasp as well as the glass, dumping out the rest of its contents. Although he placed the glass on the bar, he kept the gun with him as he headed to the door. He then turned to face his adversary, knowing he didn't have time to kill him and efficiently dispose of the body. Ric contemplated whether he should tie him up or not. The lawyer came to the conclusion that most likely Zacharra would still be asleep by the time he returned, and, then, he would finish the job of eliminating yet another obstacle in his quest for the power he had craved his whole life.
Glancing towards the stairs, Ric knew he would have to leave his safe haven here and take Elizabeth to a new location. His home has been compromised, and that was not a good thing, for, if Anthony had found him so easily, so could someone else.
With one last look, he left to go meet with his father's lawyer.
Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 893 Location: In Hell... i.e. Pennsylvania Karma: 6
Re: My Slumbering Heart « Reply #7 on Apr 15, 2009, 1:56pm »
My Slumbering Heart - Chapter Eight
As Jason entered Kelly's, he quickly surveyed the room. Not seeing Sonny and Carly, concluding that the couple was expectantly running late, the mob king took a more thorough examination of the diner. The blond quickly realized that nothing had been changed. The eating establishment looked exactly the same as it always had. The only thing missing was Elizabeth. It was as his mind lead to thoughts of the pretty, petite brunette that had the blond closed his eyes and envisioned the version of Elizabeth who once stood behind the counter, waiting to give him one of her signature smiles and offering him a cup of coffee. Jason quickly suppressed the emotions that were starting to well up within his body as well as the tears that were slowly starting to shine on the edges of his lids and took a deep breath. Once calm, the blond put on his best stoic expression and re-opened his clear, blue eyes.
Once opened, the ex-enforcer noticed that off to his right were Maxie and Spinelli, discussing god knows what. That little blond could go on for hours, talking about absolutely nothing, and Jason could never understand a word the girl said. Spinelli, possibly seeing Jason's entrance, looked up at his roommate, giving him one of his silly grins, letting his friend know how happy he was with the company he now kept. Jason nodded at the young man, acknowledging his presence, but his gaze quickly went towards the counter straight in front of him.
It was where he heard the all too familiar laughter of Elizabeth's first born son, Cameron. Seeing the little boy sitting in one of the bar stools tugged at the man's heart. Then his eyes veered slightly to the right where, beside the young boy, was an even smaller child who was being held by Bobbie Spencer. Jason's breath caught in his throat as he saw his son so close before him. Not wanting to cause a scene, the mob king considered making a hasty exit, but, before Jason could move, Cameron had turned in his seat, hearing the jingle above the door, and saw his friend standing no more than ten feet away.
Seeing the blond, Cameron hastily jumped down from his perch and, with his little legs running as fast as they could, barreled into the man who held out his arms, waiting for the little boy who was screaming, "Jaaaaasoooon!"
Once within Jason's grasp, the blond picked up the toddler, bringing him up close to his chest, squeezing just enough so the little boy would know how much the older man had missed him. Jason, then releasing the boy just slightly from his grasp, gave the young man a kiss on his forehead as he whispered hello into his ear. And as Jason held Cameron close, he took in the little boy's scent which still to him signified Elizabeth. Sighing at how good it felt to have the child in his arms, Jason started to walk the both of them back to the counter where Cameron had been just moments before. As he reached Bobbie, the blond gently placed the little boy back on his perch and nodded to the red head before him.
Addressing her quietly, Jason said, "Bobbie, how are you?"
The older nurse eyed Jason precariously, not really wanting to offend the young man but also clearly not comfortable with the mob presence he brought to her family’s establishment. "I'm fine, Jason. How are you?"
Clearing noticing the woman's unease, Jason quickly tried to alleviate her fears. "Uh... Carly asked me to stop by. If it’s a problem, I can go."
Cameron, hearing Jason's words, started to get upset. "But, Jason, you just got here. Can't you stay for a little while longer? Pleeeassse."
Bobbie, seeing Cameron's distress and knowing the boy had been having such a hard time since his Mom's death, said, "No, it's fine, Jason. It's not a problem for you to stay."
The young boy, quickly excited at the thought his friend was now staying, clapped his hands in delight, smiling at the two adults. All the while, the little blond baby with the big blue eyes kept eyeing the new grown up before him. Curious as to who the man with the spiky hair was, Jake tried to reach for the new arrival.
Bobbie, trying to keep the young boy from falling, attempted to rapidly pull him back within her grasp. "I'm sorry, Jason. Jake's just at that very curious age where all people and new things fascinate him."
Swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, Jason tried to speak calmly. "It's okay. I understand."
As Jason spoke, both he and Bobbie heard Mike call out for the redhead, needing her assistance in the kitchen. Looking towards the kitchen doors and then down at Jake and then at Jason, Bobbie did the only thing she thought she could do. Knowing how good the blond was with children, after seeing how well he had been with Michael as a baby, the nurse turned fully to face the mob king and, holding the baby boy out to the man, asked, "Jason, would you mind?"
Again swallowing another lump that had formed in his throat, Jason barely got his next words out. "No, its fine." Hastily, the man held out his arms to accept the most wonderful gift he could have received. Bobbie, not realizing the impact of her actions, quickly handed the boy off to Jason and headed into the diner's kitchen to see what Mike needed.
Now alone with Jake and Cameron, Jason’s eyes again began to water once more. Lifting the boy up to hold him closely within his grasp, Jason gently gave the baby a warm hug, tenderly kissing him on the forehead, taking in his scent, just as he had done with Cameron only moments prior. This time, though, he closed his eyes so that the feel of his son within his arms and the smell that he emulated would be forever etched in his mind until he could one day claim both boys as his own and experience these moments without fear of them ever ending.
Spinelli watched from afar as him mentor and friend got to enjoy the company of his two sons without any interruption, but, unfortunately, those thoughts couldn't be sustained, because, almost immediately as Jason took his son in his arms, the door to Kelly's once again opened, and a loud booming voice could be heard disrupting every ones’ meals and conversations within the small restaurant.
"What the hell is going on here?"
Jason looked up and saw Lucky angrily approaching with Sam eagerly in tow close behind him.
Inwardly sighing, knowing that his moment alone with his sons was ending before it had even really started, Jason was even more determined to end this ridiculous situation they all currently found themselves in regarding Cameron and Jake’s custody arrangement as quickly as possible. Eyeing the younger man as he continued his path towards them, Jason heard Bobbie emerge from the kitchen.
Exasperated, the redhead looked at her nephew. Trying to keep her voice low, she angrily asked, "what is going on here? Lucky, why are you yelling? Could you please lower your voice? We have customers, and, since this is our reopening we really don't want to scare them away."
Looking only slightly contrite, Lucky eyed Jason and then Bobbie, demanding to know, "what is this thug doing holding my son?"
Noticing Cameron's obvious distress at his father's ranting, Jason, not wishing to make a scene in front of the two young boys, looked at Bobbie for assistance, pleading with his eyes to resolve this as quickly as possible.
Bobbie, understanding, retrieved Jake from Jason's arms and then proceeded to hand the little boy back to Lucky, stating, "Lucky, it is no big deal. Jason was just helping me out for a quick minute while I had to run into the kitchen to help Mike. Would you just calm down, please? The boy isn't hurt. Nothing happened."
Pointedly staring at his aunt, Lucky said, "yeah, well, people get killed standing too close to Jason." The older man’s came off the cop’s lips as a sneer. "The next time, wait for me or find someone else who can do it. Come on, Cameron, we're going to go find a table." And, with that, the man walked off, taking the two little boys with him.
Before Cameron walked away, though, sad to say goodbye to his friend, he slid down the stool, too quickly for his Dad could say anything, and gave the older man a quick hug. "I’m glad you were here, Jason. I miss you." With that whispered as only an innocent child can, the toddler hurried to join his Dad and younger brother at the booth near the jukebox towards the back of the restaurant before he could get in trouble.
Sam still stood there close to Jason, not immediately following the three to their table, and, as she watched her ex-boyfriend try to keep the anguish from his face, the brunette couldn't help but once again try to forge some kind of friendship or relationship with the blond. So, without thinking, wanting to provide the comfort the man surely needed, Sam placed her hand on Jason's forearm and squeezed it, letting him know she was offering whatever support she could give.
Jason glanced down at the hand that was now touching him. Cringing at the feelings Sam's contact elicited within him, the blond quietly but just as ruthlessly as before murmured so only his ex-girlfriend could hear him, not wishing to make any more of a scene than they already had. "I told you once before, and this is the last time I will tell you. Don't you ever touch me again."
With that, the ex-enforcer nodded to Bobbie and said, "I'm going to go. Tell Carly and Sonny for me please that I will talk to them later." Turning to exit Kelly's, he left Sam standing there alone, not sparing her another look. And, as he reached the door, it swung open to reveal Carly, Sonny, Morgan, and Lulu all entering the diner. Before saying a word to his best friends, Jason knelt down and gave his namesake a hug, telling him he had to go but would see him soon.
As he stood, Jason heard both Carly and Lulu speaking - Lulu screeching about how it was his fault that her boyfriend had broken up with her, and Carly yelling how he couldn't leave, he needed to spend time with his family. Ignoring both blondes, Jason turned his attention towards Sonny and quickly said, "I will meet you later at Bernie's office." Then he left to keep his appointment with Johnny Zacchara.
Sonny, seeing Spencer eying the crowd, nodded to his ex-enforcer and watched him head out the door. Then the Latino stared at Carly, tilting his head towards Lucky and said, "just let him go." Carly nodded, for once understanding as she watched Sonny pick up their son, thankful for the time they could spend together, and headed for a table so they could enjoy their lunch. As Carly followed and Lulu went to join Maxie and Spinelli at their table on the opposite side of the room, she knew exactly why Jason had left in such a hurry, and it had nothing to do with business.
~~~
Elizabeth, after a while, realized that no one was coming back. Pushing herself up into a sitting position to rest her back against the headboard of the bed, the brunette sighed, thankful for whatever was keeping those two vile men downstairs and away from her. Now, with the silence upon her, the young mother began to try and assess her situation.
Keeping calm was the most important thing. She couldn't let her temper take control and ruin whatever chances she might have for escape. The thought of allowing Ric to put his filthy hands on her, even for just a caress of her skin, made bile rise up in her throat, but, if that is what the young woman had to do, then that is what she would do. Nothing was more important than getting back to Jason and their boys.
Her resolve in place, Elizabeth nodded her head, convincing herself this was the only way. So, if Ric wanted to play nice, so would she… well, as nice as 'Lizzie' Webber could play. The brunette would not give her ex-husband that much power over her. For that, she was very sure about. First, though, she had to convince the lawyer to release her from the handcuffs, and, once that was accomplished, 'Lizzie' could move forward with her plan.
Hearing footsteps making their way upstairs, Elizabeth decided it was now time to put her plan in motion. No more feigning sleep; she was now ready to meet Ric and Anthony, if she must, head on. But, even though her mind was ready, she needed to get her body to catch up, because, even with all the courage she possessed in place, it couldn't prevent her heart from starting to beat rapidly and her breathing to become shallower. Damn her body’s innate way of inflicting its 'fight or flight' mechanisms even if she didn't want it to. Concentrating on taking slow, deep breaths, the brunette smoothed out the blankets that remained covering her petite legs, raised her chin, and eyed the door awaiting its visitor.
As the sound got louder, Elizabeth's breathing seemed to quicken no matter how hard she tried to slow it down. Thinking it was best to stop fighting it, the young nurse took a big deep breath and watched as the door to the bedroom started to open. Gripping the sheets with her fists, Elizabeth, about to speak, opened her mouth, but, as quickly as she opened it, she shut it when she saw who had entered her room.
Rapidly recovering, the brunette, attempting to keep the contempt out of her voice, said, "Mr. Zacchara, what are you doing here?"
Fully entering the room, the older gentleman replied, "ah, Ms. Webber. You don't seem so surprised to see me which makes me believe you were already awake when your ex-husband and I were up here earlier."
Initially attempting to cross her arms over her chest and then realizing her mistake as her restraints wouldn't allow for such movement, the brunette tried to recover by again smoothing the blanket over her legs. Then the young woman raised her eyes to her guest’s, quirked a finely plucked brow upward, challenging the man, and said without words, so what if I was?
Anthony started to laugh, a very sinister laugh. The petite brunette, once again, began to curl her fists into the blankets which surrounded her in an attempt to prevent the older gentleman from visibly witnessing how nervous she truly was.
Recovering from his outburst, the Zacchara head started to continue his progression further into the room as he spoke. "You amuse me, Ms. Webber. You're a pretty little thing and trying to be so brave." Unable to contain himself, the older man began to laugh again, slapping his hands on his thighs before he resumed speaking. "I can see how Morgan and Lansing would be so enamored with you. You look sweet and innocent but underneath is a fire just waiting to be ignited… which is what makes you very dangerous."
Finally reaching his destination, Anthony sat next to Elizabeth on the bed. The young mother used all of her self control not flinch at his nearness or to shudder when he brought his hand to her face and forcefully grabbed her cheeks within his grasp. Talking more loudly, he yanked her face to look directly in his eyes. "You are a woman, and women betray, but, right now, I am willing to overlook your unfortunate sex, because you are going to help me."
Jerking herself free from his grasp, the brunette questioned, sarcasm dripping from her voice, "and why would I want to help you?" Chiding herself for quickly losing her control, Elizabeth decided to try again, taking a deep breath and displaying one of her sweetest smiles. With fluttering eyelashes, she replied, "Mr. Zacchara, I really don't see how I can be of any assistance to you."
Unable to contain his amusement, the older gentleman began to laugh again, so hard tears started to stream down his wrinkled cheeks, and, once again, he began banging his hand on his knee. "Stop, Ms. Webber. Continuing to maniacally, illogically cackle, he repeated himself, "stop it, please. An old man like me really shouldn't get so excited."
Rising from the bed to stand next to the woman who had the power to save his life, Anthony continued to speak. "Let me refresh your memory with a little bit of entertainment. Unlike you, I was smart enough to trick Ric into thinking that I drank his lame attempt to drug me. I may be crazy, but I sure as hell am not stupid or a fool." Shaking his head from side to side, he relented, "but, since you were drugged, I will give you the benefit of the doubt."
Raising his hands and using them as puppets, he proceeded to put on a modest show for Elizabeth, looking back and forth between his left and right hand as he spoke.
The right hand started to speak first. "Awww, you love her."
Then the left hand said, "Okay, you can watch her die, or you can die for love. Your choice."
Back to the right hand, he raised the pitch of his voice to resemble a woman’s. "Jason, no!"
Returning back to himself, his hands falling back carelessly to his sides, Anthony taunted, "so, you see, Ms Webber, I remember what happened on the parapet over a year ago. I know what you mean to Morgan. That foolish boy is in love with you. Well, I am going to use that love to escape death, and you, little lady, are going to help me. Like I said, I'm no fool."
Starting to pace before her, tilting his head to one side, he continued, "now, your ex-husband, he's a fool.” Grinning, the wizened crime lord added, “a smart fool, but a fool none the less."
Sighing, for she realized that the insane man before her presently offered her the best chance to get back to Jason and the boys, Elizabeth dejectedly asked, "what do I have to do?"
Turning to face his company directly, the Zacchara head smiled at the petite woman. "It’s simple, really. All you have to do is tell me things that only you and Mr. Morgan would know. You see, Ms. Webber, I am not taking you with me. Oh no, that would guarantee my death. Mr. Morgan would fire and ask questions later." Shaking his head back and forth, whether in disapproval of Jason’s impetuosity or his own current unreliable position in life, he said, "no, that won't work, so, you see, I need to convince your one true love that you are still very much alive, a genuine, modern day princess in a tower, so to speak, just waiting for him to ride in on his white horse and save you from the evil, vindictive Consigliere Lansing."
Elizabeth just stared at the man, wide eyed. Before she realized what she was saying, she blurted out, "are you out of your mind? That's your plan! What if Ric comes back and moves me or, worse yet, decides to kill me?"
Eyeing the girl, Anthony shrugged his shoulders and said, "well, that would be most unfortunate... for you, but it's going to be your job to control your ex-husband. My concern is to stay alive, and telling your lover that you haven't met your maker yet is my best chance to do so."
Returning to his perch beside the brunette on the bed, the Zacchara head, once again, forcefully took Elizabeth's face within his grasp, harder this time, most likely leaving bruises on her delicate, smooth skin. "So, let's stop with all the idle chit chat, shall we? Tell me what I need to know. Once Morgan is convinced you are alive, he will need to assist with my escape from the FBI. Once that is accomplished, I will tell him where you are. So, for now, my prickly little rosebud, you are more useful to me alive than dead. But don't overestimate your worth. If you betray me with misinformation, I will guarantee you that no one will find you and that would be most unfortunate. After all, think of how devastated Morgan will be without you, and your children…” Allowing his voice to trail off, Anthony then elevated his tone and yelled, “now, tell me what I need to know!"
Outwardly sighing, Elizabeth took a deep breath and asked the older gentleman to release her face. Once he had done so, she began to tell him everything he needed to know.
Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 893 Location: In Hell... i.e. Pennsylvania Karma: 6
Re: My Slumbering Heart « Reply #8 on Apr 28, 2009, 7:04pm »
My Slumbering Heart - Chapter Nine
Johnny waited impatiently for Jason Morgan to arrive. As he paced back and forth along the dust covered concrete, trying to calm his already frazzled nerves, the mob boss to be scanned his surroundings, shaking his head, chastising himself, because he had been deluded enough to think that this would be his way out of the mob. Initially, this old garage had seemed like the perfect solution to change his career path, but, once Claudia died, the young Zacchara knew that this 'dream' would never come to fruition.
The brooding brunette knew where his place laid and that was as the head of the Zacchara organization. It was his legacy to bear, and Sonny Corinthos was not going to stand in his way. Johnny knew that the true force behind the Corinthos-Morgan organization was one very no nonsense blond. Now, to convince Jason Morgan he was up for the task at hand. And, as the young Zacchara continued with his musings on how to convince Sonny's ex-enforcer that he should join forces with him, he heard the roar of a very loud, very powerful motorcycle approach. Hearing no other sounds, he assumed the mob boss had abided by his wishes and came alone. Johnny checked for his gun that was resting snugly within his jeans, burning a figurative hole in his lower back.
Taking a deep breath, the young man waited for his…. What was Jason Morgan? His adversary? His ally? Well, at that point, he was the man that held the young Zacchara’s future in his hand. Hearing the crunching of gravel as the older man approached, Johnny decided to sit on the tool bench positioned in the back of the garage, his back to the wall so as to give him some feeling of control, however fleeting it might have been.
Jason Morgan entered through the side door to the right of the larger garage opening meant for cars in need of repair, his gun drawn, surveying the room for any 'unwelcoming' visitors. Quickly, finding no one else there, the mob boss turned his attention to the young man in the back of the room. Nodding in recognition, the ex-enforcer checked the safety on his weapon, engaged it, and returned it to its place in the back of his jeans. Once his weapon was secured, the blond crossed his arms over his chest, raising his eyebrow in question, implying to the young man before him that he should speak.
Clearing his throat and raising his chin to look the stoic man before him in the eye, appearing more confident than he felt, Johnny said, "Look, Jason, I don't know what you think about me, but I do believe that we can help each other out."
Continuing to stare at the younger man, Jason kept his face impassive, not saying a word.
Standing up, waiting for the mob boss to say something and, after waiting several minutes, realizing the older gentleman was going to remain silent, Johnny continued, "it’s no secret that I don't like Sonny. Hell, I despise him. He's erratic, unpredictable, a loose cannon just like my father. I don't trust him, and a part of me believes that you don't trust him anymore either. So, that begs the question, Jason: do you still trust Sonny Corinthos?"
Still the blond remained silent.
Johnny now crossed his arms across his chest, spreading his legs into a power stance, staring at the voiceless man before him, challenging the older gentleman to finally utter a word. And, as he continued to remain silent, the young Zacchara shrugged his shoulders and said, "you know, I would say your silence meant that maybe you don't trust Sonny, but, knowing your penchant for using as few of words as possible, I am not sure what you are thinking."
Finally, Jason spoke. "What I am thinking doesn't really matter right now. What I do want to know is what your intentions are concerning my territory, the Zacchara organization, and Sonny."
Johnny nodded his head in recognition of the mob boss's statement but did not reply right away. Wanting to choose his words carefully, the young Zacchara started to pace, mindful to never turn his back on the ex-enforcer. Taking a deep breath, the brunette stopped pacing and moved to stand directly in front of the stoic blond.
"First, you should know that I don't want a mob war. I have never liked the violence that surrounds the mob. I do realize that it is not always possible, but what I can tell you is that, if I was to run the Zacchara organization, hopefully, with your help, I would try to keep peace as best as possible."
Jason continued to eye the younger man cautiously. Needing more answers, Jason decided it was time to get more specific with his questions. Keeping his protective stance, the mob boss asked, "why me?” Pausing, uncrossing his arms, and taking his right finger to his chest, Jason asked again, "why do you trust me to help you?"
"I know, if it wasn't for you, I would most likely be dead," the young Zacchara answered. "I can tell you are a man of integrity. You think with your head, you’re calm, and, for the most part, in control of both your actions and your territory. I was born into a life I never wanted, but it's one I can't escape, and, since it is my cross to bear, I want to do it the best way I know how and the most peaceful way possible. I think with your guidance and support that may be possible, but, without it, I will most likely crash and burn. What you should know is this: whether you help me or not, I am going to get my legacy back from Sonny, and, if that means a mob war, well, then, so be it."
Jason nodded to the brunette, voicing, without words, that he understood.
Johnny realized he had to divulge more information in order to gain the mob boss' support. The younger man took another deep breath and, for the first time, turned to face away from the ex-enforcer. Bending his head downward and walking away from Jason, Johnny took another deep breath and said, "look, Jason, I will admit I need you, and I know you don't know whether to trust me or not. So, I will share with you a burden I have been carrying around for a long time. What you do with this information is up to you. I am only hoping that, if I share this secret with you, you will realize that you can trust me to make things right.”
Taking a deep breath, he plunged on. “After I came home from being kidnapped, Claudia was consumed with wanting revenge on Sonny. I tried to get her to let it go, but she wouldn't. So, she ordered the hit at the warehouse, and, before you ask, yes, I knew about the hit, but what neither of us knew was that Michael was going to be there." Pausing, the young Zacchara turned to face the mob boss.
Johnny saw the older man's jaw clenched and his hands start to curl into fists along his sides, so tight that the knuckles were turning white. Still knowing this could mean his ultimate death, the brunette forged on. "We didn't know until after Michael was shot that he had been there, and we were consumed with guilt."
The ex-enforcer continued to remain silent, not able to speak, the rage boiling up within his soul; yet, he stood still, trying to hold his temper in check and fight the urge to pound the boy to death or even reach for his gun and shoot him on sight.
Visibly swallowing, turning his gaze away from Jason, Johnny attempted to quickly finish what he had to say. "After Michael had been shot, Claudia explained why it had been Ian Devlin to do the hit. See, my sister and the Doctor knew each other in Italy. Using their connection, they wanted to start running drugs threw the territory. They knew it wouldn't be possible with Sonny… and you… to do that. At first, Claudia had asked Jerry Jacks, but he wouldn't do it because of Jax, so Dr. Devlin volunteered. Only the good doctor wasn't smart enough to not shoot a gun with a kid around. Then everything went to hell." Pausing, the young man turned to again face the blond. "Look, Jason, I'm not telling you this because I want a death wish; I am telling you this because I want to stop the violence I want things to change. I want 'the danger' that surrounds the mob to lessen. I want to know that kids can be raised around us without dire consequences. Think about if you had a son knowing what you know. Wouldn't you want things to be better? That's what I want, and I think, if the two of us work together, we can do just that."
Finally finishing everything he had to say, Johnny waited, hoping that his confession did not mean his death. Yet, even if it did, the young Zacchara stood his ground, feeling good about finally unburdening himself with the secrets from his past. The brunette knew the outcome now could go either way - his demise or the ex-enforcers trust.
Jason didn't react at first. The fury he was feeling at that moment was bubbling up within him, looking to be released. But the mob boss didn't want to be rash; he needed to think, and the only way to do that was to get out of the old garage as soon as possible.
So, eyeing the younger man, Jason nodded his head and tersely said, "I'll be in touch," and, with those parting words, the mob boss quickly left before he could do something he just might end up regretting for the rest of his life.
~~~
Sonny entered Bernie's office with an air of confidence. The mob boss knew it was only a matter of time before Jason agreed that Sonny running the business again was in the best interest of everyone involved. Surveying the surroundings, knowing that once he took over the business once more, his old offices would need to be rebuilt, the Latino acknowledged the older gentleman who had just stood to greet him.
Eying the accountant as he came forward, Sonny began to wonder where Bernie's loyalty would rest: with him or with Jason. Shaking his head, realizing Bernie would too realize the practicality of Sonny running things again, the brunette extended his hand to the older gentleman before him.
"Bernie, it’s good to see you," Sonny smiled, displaying his signature dimples that would make many women swoon.
Bernie, nervous with the Zacchara head in his offices, accepted the handshake and said, "Mr. Corinthos, how can I help you?"
Sonny was surprised by the accountant’s response and replied, "didn't Jason tell you? He's meeting me here so we can discuss some business."
"Uh, Mr. Morgan didn't mention it, but, if you don't mind, I will call him just to confirm."
Sonny was now getting a little annoyed with the older gentleman and brusquely said, "Bernie, it's me - Sonny Corinthos. If I tell you Jason and I have a meeting, then we have a meeting."
Bernie, not wishing for a confrontation with the Latino replied, "Uh, Mr. Corinthos, I meant no disrespect. It's just you do head up Mr. Morgan's rival organization. Let me just step out into the room next door and call him." Holding up his forefinger to the younger man, the accountant headed towards the door and said, "I'll be right back."
Bernie had been gone for only a few minutes when Sonny heard a knock on the door.
Taking control, the brunette said, "come in."
As the door opened, Sonny observed an elder gentleman nervously make his way into the office.
Curious, Sonny asked, "can I help you?"
The man started to fidget, adjusting his simple yet functional tie. "Uh, I was told I could find a Mr. Jason Morgan here."
Puzzled, because Sonny did not recognize the male before him, the mob boss decided to question who this person was. "Well, I'm Mr. Morgan's partner." Extending his hand to the jittery male, he continued, "whatever you need to tell him, you can tell me."
Wiping the sweat that was starting to form on his forehead, the man said, "Well, I was told to talk to Mr. Morgan."
"It's alright, I promise. Whatever you tell me, I will relay to Jas… to Mr. Morgan."
The older gentleman, just wanting to retreat from the office as quickly as possible, decided just to tell the Latino before him his plight and be done with the whole mess. "Well, my name is Dr. Goldsmith. I am a physician in a small little hospital about forty minutes from here. I just recently returned from vacation, and, upon my return, I read a certain obituary in the paper." Pausing, the Doctor swallowed and licked his lips, trying to wet his very dry mouth.
When he didn't continue right away, Sonny became impatient. Trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice, he gently remarked, "and...."
Realizing he had stopped talking, the doctor continued, "Oh, sorry. Yes.... Where was I? Right, the obituary." Pulling the article from his sport coat's breast pocket, he handed it to Sonny. "Well, this woman in the picture… she's not dead."
Shocked by the doctor's admission, for the picture he was looking at was one, Elizabeth Webber, Sonny asked, pointing to the face on the paper, "what do you mean she's not dead?”
"Exactly what I said - she's not dead. Look, I am a simple man, trying to put three children through college. I got a call about two weeks ago to meet this man at a home in Martha's Vineyard. I had met this gentleman before. Knowing he had mob ties and could most likely pay me handsomely for my assistance, I met him on the island. There, he asked me to attend to this woman," the doctor reached out and pointed to the picture Sonny was holding once more. "Then, I arrived home to see this," and he continued to nervously rap on the small obituary.
"Well, I might need money, but no family should mourn a person's death if they are not dead. So, I asked around on who might be able to protect me if I came forward with this information, and everyone I talked to said to go to one Mr. Jason Morgan." Taking a deep breath after feeling light headed from his outburst, the doctor eyed the man before him.
Sonny was annoyed with the idea that people would go to Jason over him, but, realizing this information was very useful in reclaiming his business, the Zacchara head calmly said, "thank you, sir, for this information. I promise to relay this message to Mr. Morgan. So if that's all....” And, with that, he ushered the older gentleman to the door.
Frightened the man spoke up. "Wait, what about my family? If the man I helped finds out I betrayed his trust, I am scared what will happen to us."
The Zacchara head, wanting the man to leave before Jason arrived, assured the gentleman before him, "don't worry, sir. I promise nothing will happen to you or your family. Again, thank you for coming forward with this information."
And, with that, Sonny opened the door and led the man out into the hall. Watching as the man left, the Latino rubbed his hand along his chin, thinking to himself that he really needed to find out if the information was true before he told Jason. If Elizabeth was actually alive, her ‘resurrection’ could be the key he needed to reclaim what was rightfully his: the organization he had built with his own two hands from the ground up. Lost in thought, Sonny did not initially hear his ex-enforcer enter the office.
Jason nodded to Sonny once his ex-boss acknowledged his presence. Flicking his head towards the door, the blond asked, "who was that just leaving? I saw someone leave as I was talking to Bernie."
Sonny, not ready to reveal who the visitor was, waved his hand in the air and said, "no one you need to worry about right now." Changing the subject, he continued, "how did things go with Johnny?"
Wishing to leave as soon as possible, Jason's reply was short and to the point. "He wants in. He seems to trust me. That could be to our advantage. I told him I would get back to him in a couple days."
Nodding to his ex-enforcer, Sonny walked over to the desk, sitting on its edge, and turned to face his former best friend. "Sounds good,” he smoothly covered. “I'm still working on finding Anthony, but it shouldn't be too much longer now. His people are still a little leery to trust me, but I'm making head way. Give me another day or two, and I should have something."
Needing to be alone to process what he had learned from Johnny Zacchara, Jason nodded to Sonny and headed towards the door, stopping when he heard Sonny's voice ask, "hey, man, you okay?"
Jason didn’t turn around. With his back towards the Latino, he replied, "yeah, I just have things to do. Call me when you have news on Anthony." He then proceeded to exit the building.
Sonny watched as his ex-enforcer left, thinking he needed to talk to him about Bernie, but, knowing there were more pressing matters at hand, the Zacchara head went around to sit in Bernie's chair. He needed to make some very important phone calls.
Joined: Jun 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 893 Location: In Hell... i.e. Pennsylvania Karma: 6
Re: My Slumbering Heart « Reply #9 on May 5, 2009, 9:56am »
My Slumbering Heart - Chapter Ten
Jason hurried across the piers, heading towards his motorcycle, needing to find an outlet for the rage that continued to boil within him, fighting to be unleashed. Ever since his conversation with Johnny Zacchara, the feeling had not subsided, but, as the stoic blond crossed the wooden planks, a voice, one that only caused his fury to escalate, stopped him in his tracks.
"Jason, where are you off to in such a hurry," the younger man heard Ric sneer. "It's not as if you have a family to rush home to. Oh wait… Yes, you do, only it's really Sonny's family not yours. It must be hard to know that Elizabeth's children are with their father, Lucky Spencer. What I wouldn't have given to be the father to those two boys."
Rubbing his chin, the lawyer continued, oblivious to the turbulent storm that was building within the ex-enforcer's body. "That was the one thing I will truly regret about my marriage to Elizabeth - that we never had the child we were destined to have together."
And that was all the older gentleman had to say to cause Jason to snap. Before Ric could react, the stoic blond had pounced on the brunette. Quickly and without forethought, Jason pinned him against the pier, his muscular forearm bulging from the force, crushing the other man's throat.
Ric, fearing for his life, continued to attempt to remain smug. The lawyer saw the pure hatred in the blonde's pale blue eyes as they darkened black with fury. It wasn't the 'typical' Jason Morgan temper, and it caused Ric to pause and think that maybe he shouldn't have goaded his nemesis to that extreme, but the brunette knew he had the upper hand, and he wasn't going to back down, not now - not when he was so close to his ultimate goal. If he had to, the lawyer would play his trump card, but, for now, he would just continue to wait. So the pinned man did the only thing he could think of: he laughed, a very sinister, duplicitous snicker.
Watching Ric laugh only incensed the ex-enforcer even more, causing Jason to fall even deeper into the rage he had left dormant until now. Unable to stop himself, without forethought of the consequences he may be inducing, the blond began to pound on the older gentleman, first with his fists to the face over, and over, and over again. The blood started to trickle down the lawyer's face, and Jason's knuckles started to radiate with pain as he continued to beat the man before him, but, as Jason was about to raise his knee to Ric's groin, the mob boss heard a sound, one that again stopped the younger man in his tracks. It was off in the distance, not close by any means, but its sound resonated as clear as if it was right there in front of him.
It was a child's laughter.
Not a specific child, but the sound was so distinct, a tone that immediately caused the ex-enforcer to abandon his task and exit the piers as rapidly as he had tried only moments ago. Releasing the brunette in disgust, the blond turned and stalked off, never once looking back. If he had, Jason would have seen Ric rub his bruised jaw with his left hand as he used the other to take a handkerchief from his pants pocket and begin to blot away the blood that had run down his face. And, as the man continued his task, his lips began to form another smug smile.
~~~
The sound of the wet soft grass making contact with his well worn motorcycle boots had a very calming effect on Jason. After several hours of riding his bike swiftly along the cliff roads, the stoic blond knew exactly where he needed to go. So, with a purposeful gait, the mob boss made his way, neither slowly nor quickly, to his intended destination. If anyone would have characterized Jason's movements at the time, they would most likely have said that he walked with determination, with purpose.
As he arrived at the spot he had so long ago memorized in his brain, the ex-enforcer knelt down, placing simple yet beautiful wildflowers on the grave before him. He had collected them upon entering the lonely cemetery that housed Elizabeth's marker, her place of burial despite the fact that there had been no body to place there.
Gently caressing the memorial stone that signified the angelic brunette's passing, Jason's cerulean eyes began to shine with unshed tears. Swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, the mob boss released a big breath and began to speak to the only person, except for his grandmother Lila, who had always managed to bring him peace and clarity whenever he needed it.
“God, Elizabeth, I don't know what to do. You always used to call me your safe place, but, really, you were mine. You used to say that I listened and... and I helped you, but did you ever truly realize that you did the same for me? I have never been good with words, but you knew that, and you always accepted me for who I am. I remember just over a year ago going to speak to Emily's grave and thinking the same thing, that there were so many things I wished I had told her, and now I wish the same... with you."
Pausing as the tears continued to build in his eyes but refused to fall, Jason continued, "I know from the life I have lead and the things that I have been taught that I should retaliate against Johnny Zacchara for his role in Michael's shooting.” Swallowing the lump that had once again formed in the back of his throat, Jason pressed on with his spoken thoughts. "But I want to be a better man… for you, but especially for Cameron and Jake. I don’t just want to be their father; I want to be a father, a man that they can be proud of, one who can live and solve problems without always resorting to violence."
Rubbing his hands down his face, the mob boss took a deep breath and continued on. "Should I really blame Johnny for the sins of his father? He was raised in an environment that was filled with violence, a life he didn't choose but one he was born into and forced into nonetheless. I don't want that life for Jake and Cameron. They weren't born into it, and, yes, they are too young to choose, but I want them with me. So what is the choice I should be making? All I can think about is what if Jake had done what Johnny foolishly did. I know I would do everything in my power to protect him. I wish I knew the answer, Elizabeth, but, more than that, I wish you were here to help me find it."
Taking his fingers to his lips and then once again touching the cold stone in a breath of a caress, Jason stood, knowing what needed to be done. And, as the blond turned to leave, the unshed tears began to cascade down his strong, prominent cheeks; yet, the formidable man did not care and did not bother to brush them away. As he started to go, he shifted to look at Elizabeth's gravesite once more and whispered, "I miss you, Elizabeth."
Once he reached his motorcycle and had straddled the bike, Jason, pulled out his cell phone and, as the phone range, the ex-enforcer quickly, with the back of his hand, brushed away the tears that had fallen. As he heard the recipient answer his call, the blond hastily but forcibly said, "meet me in one hour."
But, as Jason hung up his phone and moved to place it in the pocket of his jacket, his senses kicked in, and he heard a noise just off to his right. Reacting instantly, the ex-enforcer drew his weapon and rapidly turned in the direction of the sound he had just heard.
Silently, the blond saw a figure appear behind a tree, and, as the opponent came into view, Jason's jaw started to clench, and his clear blue eyes began to bore down with pure hatred at the man before him, who, in turn, also held a gun that was directly pointed at the mob boss's chest.
Then he heard the man begin to laugh, and, once the laughter had died away, the older gentleman before him spoke with calm assurance. "It’s so nice to see you again, Mr. Morgan. You may want to call back whoever you were talking to and let them know you are going to be a little late."
My Slumbering Heart - Chapter 11 « Reply #10 on Jun 16, 2009, 6:23pm »
[b]
My Slumbering Heart - Chapter Eleven[
/b]
As Jason stared down the barrel of the gun pointed directly at his chest, the blond so wanted to pull the trigger of his own weapon. The temper he had been straining to keep in check started to bubble back to the surface, but the ex-enforcer knew that Spinelli's life depended on Anthony Zacchara being delivered to the FBI in one piece, so Jason, on the surface, remained calm.
Neither lowered their weapon. The mob boss watched the elder Zacchara make his way toward him, gesturing with his gun towards Jason's cell phone that was still being held in his opposite hand. Eying the gentleman carefully the ex-enforcer shrugged his shoulders and said, "they'll wait."
Laughing at the man before him, Anthony replied, "you're a very cautious man, Mr. Morgan. I like that about you."
Showing no reaction or emotion towards the older gentleman's platitude, Jason's gaze never wavered. "What do you want?"
Smiling as he gently bounced the tip of the gun on his chin, Anthony responded, "what do I want; what do I want...? Hmm...?" Then he quickly directed the gun back towards Jason, the smile vanishing from his face. Calmly but malevolently, he answered, "I want you to help me get out of the country."
Quirking his brow in question while the rest of his face remained cold and impassive, Jason asked, "and why would I do that?"
Laughing once again, Anthony said, "because I have something you want, something you want real baaaaaad."
Continuing his struggle to remain aloof, Jason query, "and what would that be?"
Waving his gun back and forth in time with his head, the elder Zacchara chastised, "uh, uh, uh. I may be crazy, but I am sure as hell not stupid. I'll tell you the answer to your question once my escape is guaranteed."
Jason, again, scrutinized his adversary, trying to read on the man's face what could possibly be that important. Not seeing anything remotely obvious to give him a clue, the mob boss decided to remain silent.
Anthony, not sure how to read the stoic blond, felt a more drastic approach was necessary, "Not feeling very charitable today, huh, Morgan? Well consider this: I just heard your whole little talk with your ex-lover, and we wouldn't want anything to happen to Ms Webber's little boys now, would we?"
And then it happened. The ex-enforcer's temper finally snapped as he heard Anthony's threats against Cameron and Jake. With lightning quick speed, Jason jumped off his motorcycle, ready to beat the living hell out of elder Zacchara, but, then, he heard the click of his opponent's weapon engage, ready to be fired, and Jason rapidly stopped his assault before it even started.
"Now, really, Mr. Morgan, I thought you were the rational one of the Corinthos/Morgan organization, or should I say Morgan organization?" Smiling at how the former best friends were at odds, not realizing that the two had formed a tenuous truce, Anthony warned, "it would not be wise for you to attack me, for then, who would protect those two helpless, little boys from the big bad monsters that go bump in the night?" Then the ex-Zacchara head laughed, an extremely sinister laugh.
Jason, his blood turning cold as he listened to Anthony cackle, realized there was nothing he could do to the crazy old man in that moment. He had to protect Jake and Cameron at all costs. So, for now, he would play the man's games.
When Anthony's laughter died down, Jason looked pointedly at the man before him and asked, "how do I know you won't double cross me and kill me anyway?"
Unable to stop from snickering again, the elder Zacchara started waving his gun back and forth in response, but then instantly stopped and, with his gaze never wavering from the younger criminal's, said, "you don't, but that's the risk you are going to have to take."
Having no choice, Jason nodded to Anthony, and his voice went as cold as ice. "Fine. You want me to help you escape I'll do it, but...." With his voice trailing off, he raised his gun so that the elder Zacchara could see the barrel of the ex-enforcer's weapon right between his eyes. "If you ever touch one hair on those two little boys' heads, I will hunt you down, and there will be nothing... nothing that will save you then!"
And, with that, Jason started to back up towards his motorcycle, never taking his eyes, or gun, off of Anthony.
Anthony smirked, amused at Morgan's threats and theatrics, because the older gentleman knew the gem of a secret he was keeping. "Uh, uh, uh, Morgan." Again, he waved his pistol. "I am not leaving you alone to call your FBI friends, and there is no way I am getting on that motorcycle, so…." Gesturing with his weapon beyond the trees to the location where his automobile was parked, Anthony instructed, "you'll be riding with me."
Still angry from the threats made on his children's lives, Jason, his gun still raised, started to stalk towards Anthony, and, as he drew closer, he heard the older gentleman, as he was holding out his free hand, say, "first things first, I need that gun."
Looking at the older man and then to his weapon, Jason, his glacial gaze now fixed on Anthony, engaged the safety and tucked it back into its usual position, along the small of his back, snugly between his jeans and his skin.
Anthony nodded, saying, "that works... for now. Once we get to the car, you will call that computer geek of yours to meet us at a secure location. His particular skills are definitely needed right now."
The elder Zacchara motioned for Jason to start walking in front of him, the man's gun now pressed against the younger man's back, and, as they trampled through the grass, towards the man's automobile, the sound not as soothing as it had been only a short time ago, Jason heard him say, "come on, Morgan, you'll enjoy the ride in a car. It looks like rain, and I'm sure you don't have an umbrella. Do you know what they say about Uzbekistan? They say that 'it always rains in Uzbekistan whenever you don't have an umbrella.'"
Turning white as a sheet at the words that had just left Anthony's lips, Jason was barely able to remain standing with the shock of what those words might mean. He halted his steps instantly and turned towards his enemy, not flinching as the gun Anthony held became pressed firmly against his chest. The ex-enforcer attempted to remain calm and unaffected, but his words came out forceful anyway. "What? Did? You? Say?!"
Unable to contain his glee, the elder gentleman started to laugh, and, once finished and still smiling he said, "you heard what I said, and we both know what it means. So, let's just say that there is a lot riding on my escape, and don't you forget it. But let's be clear about one thing. I don't have what you want. I didn't take it, but I do know who did and where it is at. And, like I said before, all will be revealed once my escape is guaranteed." And, with that the elder Zacchara had Jason turn and once again start heading towards his vehicle.
The blond nodded and turned, inwardly acknowledging that he needed to play Anthony's game, because, if what he said was true, that would mean that Elizabeth was alive. Only she would know the meaning behind those words. Jason could vividly remember them playing that little game after she had bought the globe for Michael that Christmas in her studio, and, for the first time in a long time, Jason felt hope and joy. His Elizabeth was alive. He just knew it, and, even though he had a gun to his back, his sons' lives were being threatened, and Spinelli's life was on the line, the mob boss was still happy. Lucky for Jason, he was well versed on hiding his feelings, and, as they headed to Anthony's car, the ex-enforcer was already formulating a plan.
Once in the car, Jason in the driver's seat and Anthony next to him, his gun fixed on the blond, he called Spinelli. Once the call was placed, the two gentleman silently waited for the recipient to answer. As Jason heard the call being picked up, he quickly said, "Spinelli, I need your help. You need to meet me at our designated location. It's about Anthony Zacchara." Then Jason hung up without saying another word. Looking over at his passenger, Jason saw Anthony nod, the gesture signaling that the mob boss could start the car and head to their intended destination.
~~~
Elizabeth impatiently waited for someone to return. Her nerves were frayed wondering what was happening outside the four walls of the bedroom where she was being held captive. Questioning for the millionth time whether she should have trusted Anthony Zacchara with personal information concerning her past with Jason, Elizabeth tried to force her mind wander to more relaxing thoughts. Closing her eyes, she remembered the first time Jason took her riding on his motorcycle. All of her worries went away as soon as that bike took off. There was nothing like the noise and the wind to block out every bad thing she was feeling in that moment. Sighing, she only hoped that one day she could experience that sensation again - to be able to wrap her arms around Jason's strong, muscular torso, her thighs firmly pressed to his, or, better yet, to steer and have his arms encased around her body, his thighs snugly pressed to hers. Shaking her head, she realized that all those thoughts were doing was making her wish she could take a cold shower or, at least, be able to get up to take a shower.
Then she heard it - the front door opening, and the sounds of someone rushing around the lower level from room to room looking for something reached her ears. Then she picked up on the rapid race of footsteps up the stairs. Eying the door, hoping beyond hope that it was Jason coming to get her finally, thinking the noise below had been someone searching for something, Elizabeth took a deep breath as the door swung open. Trying to hide her disappointment as Ric opened her door but failing miserably, she realized the person before had been looking for Anthony Zacchara, not her.
The brunette heard her ex-husband laugh. "Not happy to see me, Beautiful?"
Desperately trying not to cringe as she heard the familiar endearment from Ric's mouth, Elizabeth schooled her features as best as possible. Smiling as brightly as conceivable under the circumstances, Elizabeth said, "don't put words in my mouth, Ric. It's not that I'm… not happy to see you. It's just I think I would be a lot more happy if you would untie me and allow me to go to the bathroom to relieve myself and take a shower."
Rubbing his hand across his chin, feeling the stubble that had recently formed from his lack of shaving, the lawyer pondered over her request. Quickly coming to a conclusion, her ex-husband replied, "I'm sorry, Beautiful, but that's just not going to be possible right now. You see, Anthony Zacchara is gone, and our little home has been compromised which means we can't stay here any longer, and we need to vacate as soon as possible. Now, I don't want you to think me cruel, so I brought you a change of clothes and some essential toiletries. You can use the bathroom, but the shower will have to wait until we reach our next destination."
Remembering her resolve to play Ric's game and hopefully stall him in their present location for, at least, a little while longer, Elizabeth asked, "what do you mean Anthony Zacharra is gone? When was he ever here?"
Ric eyed his ex-wife, trying to see if she was lying and had truly not awakened while Anthony had been in his home. Accepting, through keen observation, that it was possible that the pretty brunette had not seen his former employer, Ric said, "Anthony was here, but he's gone now. That, my beautiful ex-wife, does not bode well for you. See, he knows you are here, and I just can't take the chance that he might use that information to his benefit. So, we will be moving to a more secure location, one that no one knows anything about."
Worried that this might mean Jason would never be able to find her, Elizabeth tried to gather more information on where her ex-husband might be taking her. "Well, do I get to have any idea where this new home might be?"
Smiling at the captivating woman before him, Ric answered, "not right now, Beautiful. You see, I don't really trust you at the moment. You are going to have to earn that trust back. So, for now, just know that we will be going on a little trip, and we will be leaving in fifteen minutes. Now, Elizabeth, I am going to untie you. Please, don't try to escape. If you do, you will force me to drug you again and carry you out of here against your will. For your sake and mine, be a good girl, and do what I say."
Nodding at her ex-husband, her chestnut curls falling forward to cover her face in order to hide the anger and contempt she felt for the man before her, she said, "fine, Ric. I will do as you say. Now, please, just untie me, so I can use the bathroom and change."
Acknowledging her acquiesce, Ric moved forward to her side and untied the young mother from her shackles, Elizabeth straining not to tense up as Ric brushed against her. Once released, she began to rub her bruised wrists, sighing at how good it felt for her hands and arms to be free from the very restrictive position. Remaining impassive to Ric's gaze, the brunette heard him say, "be ready in fifteen minutes. We leave whether you are ready or not."
And, with that, Elizabeth watched her ex-husband exit the bedroom.
Fifteen minutes later, the two were in Ric's car heading northwest to an undisclosed destination, and, as Elizabeth sat there, her hands tied in her lap, her ex-husband still not trusting her to not try to escape, she watched the scenery pass by, her gaze remaining on the window and never veering to the man beside her. Sighing, the petite brunette started to pray.
My Slumbering Heart - Chapter 12 « Reply #11 on Jun 16, 2009, 6:28pm »
My Slumbering Heart - Chapter Twelve
After about twenty minutes, Jason and Anthony had finally reached their intended destination. Once the car was parked, the two gentlemen exited the car simultaneously, the elder man keeping his gun fixed on the ex-enforcer. Slowly, they made their way to the old run down building before them, the gravel crunching under the blonde's motorcycle boots. The sound caused Jason to wish that he was making that noise instead with his hands as he broke every bone in the crazy Zacchara's body. Just the knowledge that he had seen Elizabeth alive - and left her, wherever she was being kept captive, for his own selfish needs - caused the blonde's fists to clench, his jaw to clamp down, and his blood to run cold. But Jason also knew there was nothing he could do about it now. The mob boss had a pretty good idea of who might have taken Elizabeth, but he needed to make sure before he made his move.
Anthony surveyed his surroundings as he took notice of the dilapidated shack before him. Snickering at the run down building, the elder Zacchara said to his adversary, "interesting choice for a meeting, Mr. Morgan. Well, I guess I shouldn't complain. It looks like you enjoy doing business with rats."
Jason paused for a moment, but then continued his trek forward and remained quiet as the two entered the premises. Taking a quick glance around, the mob boss assessed that they were the first to arrive. He then turned to face the older gentleman, speaking for the first time. "You can lower your weapon now. No one is here, and no one knows about this place. It is safe... for now, and I give you my word that I will not engage my weapon... unless you give me reason to."
Anthony eyed his opponent carefully and nodded as he lowered his gun, keeping it close to his side. Calmly, he said, "if I have learned anything about you, Mr. Morgan, in the past months, it's that you are true to your word. Okay," he conceded, "I'll play it your way... for now, but I, too, will engage my weapon if you give me reason to do so."
Thus, the two enemies stood, each never wavering their gaze from the other. It was a staring match that neither was willing to break nor one where words were necessary. So, they waited, impatiently, for Spinelli to arrive. Thankfully, the wait was not long, for, only moments after their own arrival, they heard the clamoring of someone rushing to their location.
A gush of wind came through the door as it opened, followed by the scurrying steps of Spinelli, his messenger bag flapping by his side and his computer clasped tightly against his chest, and, as he came running in, he began to yell, "Stone Cold, I have come as quickly as I could...." The young man hastily stopped his ramblings as he regarded his mentor's demeanor before him. The stoic mob boss had crossed his muscular arms over his broad chest, raised an eyebrow, and had begun to slowly shake his head back and forth, instinctively telling his roommate to cease his speech before he blurted out unwanted information. Spinelli then noticed Anthony Zacchara standing on the opposite side of the room and rapidly made his way next to his boss, fearing for his life being so close in the elder Zacchara's presence.
Jason, keeping his eyes fixed on the older gentleman, spoke to the younger man beside him. "Spinelli, it's alright. He is not going to hurt you, but I need you to unfreeze Anthony's accounts right now."
The computer expert warily eyed his master, wondering if he had really finally lost his grasp on reality. "But, Stone Cold, if I release his holdings, then there is no way we can stop the demented one from departing our fair city, and, as much as I would like to impel him out the door to parts unknown, I fear his departure will bring unsavory consequences for me... and for you."
The mob boss briefly released his gaze from his enemy, turned his eyes to the young man he now considered one of his closest friends, and then re-fixed his glare on the elder gentleman across the room. Rubbing his hands across his face, Jason, trying to keep the frustration out of his voice, said, "Spinelli, do you trust me?"
"With my life, Stone Cold, you know that."
"Well, then, trust that I know what I am doing." He then pointed to Anthony. "We have something that he wants, and he...." Jason fixed his finger on himself. "He has something I want."
Spinelli, looking back and forth between the two mob bosses, queried, "what could the evil demented one have that you could possibly want Stone Cold?"
Growing more frustrated by the younger man's questions, Jason barked, unable to calm his voice at this point. "Spinelli, it doesn't matter right now. I need you to do this for me, so hurry up and do it!"
Amused at the interaction between the great, fierce Jason Morgan and his computer geek, the ex-Zacchara head spoke up. "You know, you really should listen to your boss, little man." His voice started to turn into a sneer as he spat out, "defiance and disloyalty among employees leads to unfortunate, accidental incidents.
Jason's annoyance quickly shifted from Spinelli to Anthony. As he spoke, addressing the older gentleman with an obvious chill in his words, Jason said, "you will not address Spinelli in any way. He is my employee, and I will be the one to deal with him. Spinelli knows all about loyalty, and I will not have you doubt him on where his alliances lie."
Spinelli, shocked by his mentor's outburst and nervous with the demented one so close, didn't hear Jason speak in his defense. Rather, he had quickly rushed to the table behind him to lay his laptop down and hastily get to work.
Jason, realizing he had been too harsh with his friend, again rubbed both hands across his face and took a deep breath before speaking. Once calmer, the blond rotated slightly towards Spinelli, but he did not completely turn his back upon Anthony. Such an action would have been a rookie mistake, and he was anything but a rookie. Speaking with less malice in his voice, the blonde said, "look, Spinelli, I am sorry I yelled. It's just... it's just Anthony may have information concerning Elizabeth, and I need to know what it is. The only way to do that is to unfreeze his accounts."
Spinelli turned to his master once again, questioning his boss' faculties. "But, Stone Cold, the maternal one is dead."
Calmly, the ex-enforcer tried to explain to his computer tech that its wasn't true, that Elizabeth was alive, but how could he explain that the only proof the mob boss had was an innocent yet oh so personal memory from his past, A memory that only one other person besides himself would know, but that it had come out of the crazy man's mouth, the same man who stood smugly across the room, taunting him with his very silence? Maybe, the blond thought, he had lost his mind, but he knew, he just knew in his heart, that she was alive, and he was going to find her and bring her back to Port Charles, back to their sons, so they could finally start the family they had been dreaming about for so long. If that was insanity, then he would rather be mad than sane.
Taking a deep breath, Jason chose his words carefully. "Spinelli, I can't explain it to you, but you have to trust me. I know that Elizabeth is alive, so, please, don't question me anymore and just do as I ask. Release the accounts."
Spinelli nodded in acquiesce and began furiously typing away on his keyboard. The clicking sound became the only noise heard in the unseemly quiet room.
Finally, after what seemed like hours but was actually only about ten minutes, the computer tech had effectively made Anthony Zacchara's off shore accounts available for use.
Turning to his mentor, the young man nodded and said, "it's done."
As soon as those words left Spinelli's mouth, the elder Zacchara started to laugh, his gun effectively pointed again at Jason. The blonde eyed the elder gentleman, quirking his brow in question, but his stony gaze never wavered. "Ah, come on, Mr. Morgan, did you really think I would let you live after you helped me? Your love for this nurse, although she is quite beautiful, has not only been your greatest weakness but also your greatest mistake. LOVE! Ha! Nothing good ever comes from it, and it makes men soft, and, well, being soft gets you killed."
Smiling evilly, the ex-mob boss engaged his weapon and said, "say goodbye, lover boy."
Before the elder Zacchara could take his shot, Anthony felt the form of a circular barrel against his neck, pressing firmly against his skin, and then he heard a male voice say, "Not so fast, old man. No one is dying just yet."
~~~
Elizabeth sighed in relief as she and Ric pulled up to the lone cabin before them. Even though they were in a remote location with no apparent neighbors close by, the brunette couldn't help but feel solace in the fact that their journey seemed to have ended and that they had reached their intended destination. Surveying her surroundings, Elizabeth thought to herself that the place actually could have been nice if not for the fact that her deranged ex-husband was holding her captive while allowing all her family and friends to grieve for her death.
Turning to her companion, the young mother asked, "so, Ric, are you now going to tell me where we are?"
Rubbing his jaw in a gesture that was really starting to irritate Elizabeth, the lawyer said, "I really don't see why not. As we don't have any cell service up here and there isn't a working land line, it's not like you will be able to contact any one. We, my beautiful ex-wife, are at my father's hideaway cabin in the Catskills. He bought this place years ago so he would have a special place to bring his mistresses. No one knows about it. In fact, I don't think the old man even knew that I had knowledge of the place before his demise. It wasn't even in his will which, in case you were wondering was very fortunately just read mere hours before we left."
Reaching out to touch his ex-wife's cheek, grazing it with his knuckles, the attorney was not fazed when she flinched at his caress. Ric continued, "so, you see, my darling, there is no knowledge of this cabin, no public record of it. It's a place that no one, not even your beloved Jason, will be able to find. So, you might as well get comfortable, because who knows how long we will be here." As the last words left his sycophantic mouth, he smiled at the brunette, opening his door to exit the car.
Ric then came around to the opposite side to assist Elizabeth out of the luxury vehicle, and, as he opened the door for her, due to the ties around her wrists, the lawyer whispered in her ear as she exited to stand next to him, the sounds of his voice sending chills down her spine. "And, if you think you can run, there are miles and miles of wilderness between here and the next nearest cabin, so, Elizabeth, be a good girl and don't try anything. I wouldn't want anything dreadful to happen to you, especially after everything you've already been through."
Glaring at the man she had naively in the past believed that she had once loved, Elizabeth firmly but sweetly asked, "Ric, if I promise not to run away, will you please untie me? My hands feel like they are about to be severed from my arms any minute now."
Acknowledging his ex-wife's request by looking down at her hands resting limp in front of her, Ric took a pocket knife from the back pocket of his jeans and unceremoniously released her binds. Rubbing her wrists as she had done hours ago to increase the circulation in her hands and digits, Elizabeth began to walk to the entrance the cabin - obediently, submissively, cleverly.
Agreeing with her initial assessment that the cabin did have some charm to it, as she climbed up the steps that lead to a wooden front porch that expanded along the front of the entire cabin, the petite brunette waited for Ric to open up the front door.
Once inside, Elizabeth was happy to see that the cabin was actually quite cozy. It had a stone fireplace, a small kitchen in the back, and, thankfully, two bedrooms. Glancing once again at her captor, Elizabeth asked, "is it alright if I take a shower now?"
"That would be fine," her ex responded as he pointed towards the larger bedroom with the attached bath that she assumed would be her lodgings. "I promise, Elizabeth, to make this as comfortable as possible for you. Once I have what I want, we can talk again about where we go from here. Who knows, you may eventually realize that you like being with me and decide to stay."
Elizabeth just nodded to her ex-husband, acknowledging what he said, masking her emotions as best as she possibly could so that Ric would not know that his pipe dream of a scenario would NEVER happen. Turning, she made her way to her designated bedroom but stopped as she heard Ric speak to her.
"I am going to go out, Elizabeth, to the store to pick up some groceries and clothes. Feel free to make yourself at home, but, like I said before, there is no safe escape, so you would be best to remember that. I alone possess the only means of communication - a two way radio that will contact the park rangers in case of an emergency, and, before you start thinking of how to retrieve it for your own personal use, I will be keeping it with me while I am awake and locked in a safe while I am sleeping, so don't get any crazy ideas that the radio is your ticket to freedom." And then he left, leaving the young mother standing alone in her latest deceptively comfortable prison, contemplating her next move.
My Slumbering Heart - Chapter 13 « Reply #12 on Jun 16, 2009, 6:35pm »
My Slumbering Heart - Chapter Thirteen
Jason eyed the new arrival with renewed respect. He wasn't sure if the young man before him would follow through with the enforcer's silent plea when he had made the call, but the youngest Zacchara proved worthy of the blonde's trust… at least for the moment. The hard part was still yet to come. Nodding at the brunette, Jason addressed the young man calmly. "You understood my phone call, thank you."
Johnny briefly removed his gaze from his father to the stoic blond before him, acknowledging his words before quickly returning his eyes to the older gentleman before him. Smirking slightly, his lips turning upward just a bit, the young Zacchara replied, "yeah, you had me confused for a second, but then I realized you wanted me to contact Spinelli and meet you here." Then, shrugging his shoulders, Johnny continued, "I did assume you wanted me to be here as well."
Jason again nodded in confirmation of the young man's assumption. Now, eying the elder Zacchara, the ex-enforcer, without shifting his gaze, pointed towards the old man and asked the son, "what would you like to do with him now?"
Johnny, without hesitating, said, "I say we let him go..."
Spinelli, who had been observing the interaction up until that point, rapidly jumped from his seat, knocking his chair out from underneath him, the sound of it crashing to the ground reverberating throughout the small, run down garage and garnering the attention of the other three occupants, as he squealed, "what?! No, we cannot let this evil doer go! Why would you even say that? I fear, Stone Cold, you have been taken in by the mob prince, and he soon will get us both killed."
Jason, who had shifted his eyes to Spinelli, now turned back to John Zacchara, his arms casually crossed over his chest. The mob boss then quirked his eyebrow in question at the brunette. Gesturing with his right arm for the young Zacchara to continue, the blond then observed the young man lick his lips and take a deep breath before proceeding.
"What I was trying to say before being interrupted," Johnny then turned his stare from Jason to Spinelli and then back to the blond, "was that we should let him go." Then the man took another deep breath, released it, and continued. "But not before he tells Jason what he needs to know."
And, with that, the young Zacchara reached around his father, keeping his weapon fixed against the man's neck and removed the weapon from his old man's grasp. Once finished with removing the gun from his father's fingers, the brunette shifted to face the elder Zacchara, his gun now against the older man's chest.
"Now, Dad, you will tell Jason what he needs to know to find Ms. Webber, or you can kiss any chance of freedom goodbye." Then Johnny took his gun and cocked it for the whole room to hear.
Anthony, raising both hands in the air, tried to appeal to his son's loyal nature, saying, "John, you wouldn't shoot your old man now, would you?"
His previous smirk now spreading out to a full-fledged smile, the younger Zacchara looked at the man who had raised him and said, "oh, like you weren't going to shoot me when I was a young boy, only you killed my mother instead. You may be my father, old man, and there is truly a part of me that loves you, but I don't respect you, I certainly don't trust you, and I sure as hell don't ever want to become just like you!"
Jason looked on, closely watching and listening to the interaction between father and son, and it brought a burning ache to his heart. The mob boss swore, then and there, that there was no way he was ever going to have Cameron and Jake look or feel that way about him. Once he found Elizabeth, and the ex-enforcer knew he would find her, things were going to change; they were drastically going to change. Shaking his head out of his musings, the stoic blond returned all his well honed attention back to the two men before him.
Johnny's hand was starting to twitch. The young man was either starting to get impatient or very nervous about possibly shooting his father. Jason concluded it was probably a little of both. Wanting to assist the young man who had, in essence, saved his life, the mob boss approached the brunette. Standing beside him, but giving him room so as not to make him feel crowded or out of control, Jason asked, "would you like me to take over?"
Johnny's eyes shifted towards Jason, his head never moving, and the younger man ever so slightly shook his head no, saying, "no, Jason. Anthony is my father, and I will deal with him. Now, Dad, I'm not going to ask you again. Tell Jason what he needs to know to find Ms Webber, or you can die here today, and I promise you that I will never look back."
Sighing dramatically, the elder Zacchara lowered his hands and said, "alright, alright, but I need to know, John, that, once I reveal my information, you will promise to let me leave here and flee as I had planned when I entered the building."
Not lowering his weapon but disengaging the trigger, Anthony's son nodded in acquiesce and said, "I promise. Once you give Jason the information he needs, you may leave here, of your own free will, and head to parts unknown, promising me that we will never have any form of contact again."
Smiling at his son, the elder Zacchara said, "that won't be a problem." Then, directing his attention to the blond, Anthony nodded to Jason and said, "Mr. Morgan, what you are looking for is being held in Martha's Vineyard, and we both know the significance of that place now, don't we?" Then Anthony began to laugh, his evil sinister laugh, and proceeded to wipe away imaginary tears streaming down his face. "But I wouldn't guarantee you that your prize is still there. Most likely it's been moved, where I have no idea, but that's not my problem now, is it?"
Turning to face his son, the man's smile quickly faded from his face, and he said, "may I go now?"
Johnny turned his attention to Jason, asking with his eyes what the mob boss wish to do. Jason nodded to the young man, letting him know this was his decision to make. Johnny then removed the weapon from his father's chest, gesturing with his gun towards the door, lowering his head so as not to look at the man before him as he said, "alright, you can go."
Anthony held out his hand, signaling for his son to return his weapon. Johnny only shook his head and quietly whispered to his father, "not going to happen. Now, go, old man, before Jason changes his mind and most likely kills you."
Lowering his hand, Anthony then shifted to leave. Spinelli, though, wasn't in agreement, and, once again, jumped up. This time, though, he was already standing, so no furniture was in danger, but he himself almost fell on the dust ridden floor, shouting, "Stone Cold, I must protest! To let this man loose on the world would be making a grave error in judgment."
Jason, his arms crossed over his chest, his stance now relaxed, eyed his roommate and said, "Spinelli, I have to trust Johnny on this one. We need to let Anthony go."
And then the three men watched as Anthony Zacchara scurried out the door, heading to parts unknown. Then all of a sudden the three occupants heard a loud voice over a megaphone shout, "STOP! This is the FBI. Don't move, or we will shoot." Another shout came next, and it sounded more like a roar. "JOHNNNNYYYYYY!" And then it was eerily quiet.
Jason and Spinelli then looked at Johnny, both shocked by what had just occurred. Johnny merely smiled at the two gentlemen and shrugged. "So, I made another phone call, after I contacted Spinelli." His smile quickly fading, the young Zacchara explained, "look, Jason, I know my father was a bad man, and he needed to pay for what he has done. Plus, if I got to help Spinelli in the process, so be it."
Spinelli, too excited for words, rushed to hug the mob prince and his mentor. Both men quickly held up their hands to the computer hacker with steely gazes, letting him know not touch either of them.
Then the three saw Agent Raynor with another unknown male enter the garage. Addressing Jason, and ignoring the other men, the agent said, "well done, Mr. Morgan. We now have Anthony Zacchara in custody. Now, it's time to work on Mr. Corinthos.
Jason, his patience wearing thin because there were things he needed to do and do fast, stared at the elder gentleman before him, his hands clenching into tight fists next to his body. He said, "you got Anthony Zacchara. That was the deal. He's been delivered. Now, BACK OFF!"
Agent Raynor just shook his head at the angry mob boss and said, "now, Mr. Morgan, you wouldn't want Mr. Spinelli here to go to federal prison, would you?"
Spinelli, looking back and forth between his mentor and the law abiding one, started to open his mouth, but quickly shut it as he heard Jason speak. "Not a word, Spinelli. Agent Raynor can't send you to prison. We had a deal, and that deal has been delivered, so either I go public that the FBI reneges on their bargains, sending your agency into chaos, or you let the three of us walk out of here right now."
Stepping forward, the other man with Agent Raynor who, since entering the garage, had remained quiet, extended his hand to the stoic blond. "Agent Murphy," he greeted. Jason just looked at the man's hand, neither extending his own nor showing any interest in the other gentleman. Lowering his hand, the man continued, "I just wanted to personally thank you for your assistance in bringing Anthony Zacchara to justice, and I assure you, as Agent Raynor's boss, there will be no more contact concerning this matter. Mr. Spinelli is free to go about his business." Turning to face the young man, Agent Murphy continued, "but keep this in mind, Mr. Spinelli: we hacked in to your computer once; we can do it again." And, with that, the man nodded to the three males and turned to leave, Agent Raynor hurriedly following behind him.
Once Jason heard the federal agents start their cars and drive away, he turned to the two younger men and said, "I am going to Martha's Vineyard..."
Spinelli interrupted, "but, Stone Cold, how do you know where to look?"
Jason, pinching the bridge of his nose, turned to his computer hacker with a steely gaze and said, "Spinelli, Ric has a house on Martha's Vineyard. He's the one who took Elizabeth. I know the house. Anthony is probably right, though, and Ric has most likely moved Elizabeth to a new location, but I need to go check it out. I need you and Johnny…" The enforcer paused, looking at the young Zacchara. Seeing the brunette nod, he knew that the mob heir wanted his continued assistance, so he proceeded to direct the two twenty-some-things. "I need you and Johnny to go back to the penthouse and wait for my call. If Elizabeth isn't there, then I will need the two of you to assist me in finding out where Ric may have now taken her."
Spinelli opened his mouth, about to argue the need for the mob prince's assistance, but Jason quickly held up his hand, causing the hacker to instantly shut his mouth once again.
Sighing, Jason said to his friend, "Spinelli, I just need you to do as I say. Johnny may be able to help us. He has proven to me that he can be trusted, and, right now, the most important thing to me is to find Elizabeth."
Spinelli, his gaze softening, realized that this was his mentor's chance to find his one true love, so he nodded his head in acceptance of his boss's wishes.
Jason then retrieved his cell phone from his pocket and made a call. As the phone was ringing, he brought his index finger to his lips, signaling for the two other occupants to remain quiet while he spoke. When the other line had been picked up, the blond, as calmly as he could, said, "Sonny, I wanted to let you know that the Zacchara matter has been dealt with. Anthony is now in the custody of the FBI." Remaining quiet as Sonny spoke, Jason then took a breath and let it out when his ex-boss was finished and continued, "I also wanted to let you know that I will be going out of town for a couple of days. Once I return, we can talk about the Corinthos/Morgan organization and the Zacchara organization, but we are also going to discuss how we are going to bring John Zacchara into the fold." Nodding his head, finishing his call with Sonny, Jason hung up the phone and looked at the two young men indicating that it was time to go.
Neither Spinelli nor Johnny questioned why Jason had not mentioned Elizabeth in his phone call. Both knew that the ex-enforcer probably had his reasons, and those were his reasons to address. The three men then left the garage with the knowledge that Spinelli was now safe from federal prosecution and that Jason was one step closer to finding Elizabeth.
~~~
Elizabeth had frantically searched for over an hour for something, anything, that might help with her escape. The kitchen knives were not an option. Ric had locked them up, probably when he had come here once before, and the fire place equipment was nowhere to be found. Realizing she needed to take a shower before Ric came home, the brunette decided to cease her search, at least for now, and take pleasure in the simple act of cleansing her body of the filth that had covered her since waking up in her ex-husband's company. Unfortunately, because she had spent so much time hunting for any type of weapon, the young mother did not get to linger under the welcome relief of the water pounding against her silky skin for long. Her hair still wet, curling at the ends, Elizabeth dressed in the clothes Ric had purchased for her. She then wandered into the kitchen, hoping that a cup of tea might calm her nerves. At least her ex remembered her size, and the brunette felt somewhat more relaxed in the well worn blue jeans and soft sweatshirt, but the young nurse needed to think, and a soothing drink was just the thing to help her regroup and map out what her next move might be.
Elizabeth had discovered during her quest that the cabin did have some essentials still stocked in the kitchen. Reaching for the tea kettle that was stationed on the stove, the brunette lifted the lid and went to place it under the kitchen faucet, but, before she could begin to run the water, Elizabeth noticed something in the bottom of the pot's base. Reaching her hand down into the opening, the young nurse discovered a small pouch. Lifting it from its confines, Elizabeth turned it over in her delicate hand. She found it to be a small bag filled with a modest amount of white powder and, written on the pouch, were the letters GHB. Elizabeth gasped in shock. Ric's father, she realized in that moment, used to administer a date rape drug to his mistresses in order to have them more submissive to his desires.
Like father, like son.
The thought made the young mother's stomach churn. Before his death, Trevor had probably never gathered just how alike he and his son truly were. Pocketing the pouch in the front pocket of her jeans, Elizabeth inwardly smiled at her stroke of good luck. Now, she had the ammunition she needed to formulate her escape plan.
Just as she returned to her task of making a hot cup of tea, the petite brunette heard the front door open. Turning to see her ex-husband enter, Elizabeth tried not to look too happy. Wandering over to assist the man with the groceries, Ric eyed her with barely veiled wariness.
"I see your shower has put you in a better mood."
Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders and replied, "it does me no good to fight you, Ric. Do I want to be here? No, but I realized that nothing is going to change anytime soon, so I might as well make the best out of the situation."
Ric scrutinized his ex-wife carefully, trying to decide if she was playing some sort of game. Not really trusting her but knowing there was nothing in the cabin that could assist her with any type of escape, Ric decided to go along with her newfound resolve. Placing the bags he still carried on the counter, Ric turned to the brunette and gently grazed his knuckles over the young woman's cheek. Elizabeth used all her recently discovered determination not to flinch under her ex's touch.
"Well, that is very wise of you, Elizabeth."
Stepping slightly away from Ric's grasp and laying the bag of groceries she had grabbed onto the counter next the others, the young mother then turned to her ex-husband and asked, "would you like me to cook some dinner for us?"
Ric smiled at his ex-wife and said, "that would be wonderful." The man then turned and headed towards his bedroom. "I think I will take a shower myself now. I will look forward to joining you for dinner soon."
As soon as Ric closed the door to his bathroom, Elizabeth released the breath she had been holding. Turning towards the bags on the counter, Elizabeth started to unpack the food, and, as she meticulously continued with her task, her mind systematically picked out the menu you for that evening, she knew that whatever she cooked would most definitely consist of a little extra something that would add some flavor to the meal… at least, to Ric's.
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