Thank you all for the feedback and your patience as this story rolls along. I promise there will be answers... we are so close and there is more history to tell, a lot more. As things go along you will also find out that the history is much different all the way back to the beginning. I already have mentioned in another chap that it was Jason that found Liz after the rape, that changes a lot from that point on. Just give us a few more chapters and the full backstory will be out!

Chapter 7

"Are you ok?" Neil asked, stuck in a hug with Elizabeth that she obviously needed.

She didn't speak her reply but he felt her head shake .

"I just saw him. I stopped at the hospital on my way here."

Elizabeth immediately backed out of the hug and looked up at Neil with a shocked expression, "You saw him? Is he ok?"

"He was fine, you were right, the bullet just grazed him. He has other things to worry about besides the minor damage to his perfect hairline."

"Does he know everything that happened?"

"He knows it was an accident, we both do. What we both can't figure out, Liz, where did you get the gun?" Neil sighed. "Jason said he didn't give it to you."

Elizabeth turned and walked to the other side of the room, "The sporting goods store." She explained as she busied herself picking up the puzzle Cameron had been working on.

"Why?"

Elizabeth grunted then fell onto the couch. After looking over her shoulder to make sure the boys were still in the other room with Audrey, Elizabeth explained, "I had someone that was… a stalker."

"What! Tell me."

She nodded, "It really was just some text messages and some flowers."

"That explains your new number." Neil said, walking to sit beside her on the couch.

"But that didn't stop it, Neil. It only took a few days for the messages to start again so he managed to get my new number. And sometimes I could feel him following me."

"Why didn't you tell me, you could've called me."

She shook her head, "You were across the ocean, there was nothing you could've done."

"Why didn't you tell Jason?"

"No, I couldn't."

Neil nodded, "Yes you could've. I know Jason and no matter what is going on he would've stopped everything to help you. As much as he is an asshole and has completely been a fuck up when it comes to you, he would do anything to protect you. After all, that is his twisted reasoning for staying away." Neil was quiet for a few seconds before he continued. "So you just bought a gun, huh?"

"Yea, I had actually just gotten it, then…" she paused before deciding to just tell him the rest, "Then I was meeting a friend for a drink after work last night. He was there."

"The stalker?"

She nodded, "He was following me. I could hear the footsteps getting closer and I started running but I just wasn't fast enough. I ended up in the alley and it was dark, I was disoriented after I kind of stumbled into the wall of a building."

"That's how you got that cut on your head?"

"Yup. His voice was everywhere and taunting me. So I just freaked out fired the gun but I screwed up, I was facing the wrong direction. Oh god, Neil, I shot Jason." Elizabeth nearly whimpered. "He must have heard me screaming and came running."

Neil's arm came to rest over her shoulders, "It's ok, he is ok. We will take care of you. But… whoever was following you, he had to have seen what happened."

Her eyes widened at the revelation, "Oh my god, I didn't even think of that."

"Don't worry about it, we will find out who he is and something tells me he won't be running to the police to tell them what happened."

Elizabeth's brows pulled together, "What do you mean?"

Neil's hand tensed on her shoulder, "You said Sam was there with Jason, well she didn't tell the cops that you were the one that shot him, she said she didn't see who it was… so the PCPD aren't looking for you."

"Wh-why would… because… Claudia?"

Neil nodded. "Jason is going to deal with Claudia but in the meantime we need to get you out of here and somewhere safer. Joey has a house just outside of town, or should I say, a compound. We are going to head over there as soon as you are ready."

Elizabeth nodded, still trying to process everything that happened.

"I'm going to step outside and make a few phone calls while you get everyone ready." He explained as he stood from the couch.

Elizabeth sighed and leaned forward to rest her elbows on her knees. Her head fell forward and she covered her face with her hands.

Neil pat her head before walking away, "Don't worry kid, it's going to be ok."


"What the hell is going on?" Sonny snapped as he entered Jason's hospital room, closing the door behind him. As always, Jason was silent and let Sonny continue. "I'm back in town for five minutes and I find out that you have been short and Claudia has ordered a hit on Elizabeth Webber. Aren't you kind of friends with her?"

"Something like that." Jason answered.

"What happened?"

Jason shrugged, "I don't know but I don't think it was Elizabeth's fault."

"Are you saying you want Claudia to call off the hit?" Sonny asked.

"Look, I know she is just trying to prove a point Sonny-" Before Jason could continue his thought, the phone on the table beside his bed rang. "Morgan." Jason snapped, confused that anyone would call his hospital room.

"Are you alone?"

"No." Jason replied.

"Ok, I only have a minute, she had a… or has a stalker. He was following her last night and chased her into that alley. He most likely saw everything that happened so I need help finding him and taking care of him." Neil explained.

"I'll handle it… but why…" Jason's voice trailed off.

"Why didn't she come to you?" Neil asked, knowing Jason's question. "Obviously because she didn't have faith that you'd help her, asshole. I'm taking her somewhere safe now, I'll contact you later."

The line went dead and Jason hung up the phone. Elizabeth had been in danger for who knows how long and she hadn't come to him. The thought sent a dagger into his heart.

"Who was that?" Sonny asked.

Jason shook his head brushing off the question which immediately annoyed Sonny. "I need to get out of here." Jason mumbled.

"Are they going to release you today?" Sonny asked.

"Supposedly. I tried to just leave about an hour ago but that head nurse, Epiphany or something, she caught me and threatened to call security if I didn't get back in bed."

"And you listened?"

Jason shrugged, "She blocked the doorway."

Sonny smiled, "Ok well I will go try to find a doctor to get you released. Then I will go talk to Claudia but I don't think I will change her mind, she is trying to prove a point and when she sets her mind to something, its hard to stop her. I may have to let her win this battle though, to let her think she has some sort of control." Sonny explained, shrugging of Elizabeth's life as though it meant nothing. Jason did not feel the same way though and would stop Claudia no matter how he had to.

"Well, see what you can do." Jason said, trying to sound calm. Sonny, like most of the rest of town, knew nothing about Jason's history with Elizabeth. It was common knowledge that they were friends but anything beyond that was kept to a strict few that protected the secret or were blackmailed to keep the secret.

"Is there more going on here then you are telling me?" Sonny asked but Jason didn't answer. "Jason, we don't need to be on the cops radar any more then we already have been lately. If there is something else going on then you need to tell me."

"There is nothing else that would effect the business." Jason carefully explained.

Sonny accepted his answer with a nod then turned on his heels, "I'll be in touch."


Edited 1 time by RTNAdmin1 05/23/10 4:01 PM.