Chapter 10

Jason backed out of their hug, brought his hand to Sean's shoulder and led them to the bench a few feet away for some privacy. "How did you get here?"

Sean tipped his head toward the crowd standing by the elevator. "I didn't really give Aunt Ella and Uncle Harry much of a choice. I told them that I was going to go online and buy my own ticket to fly here."

Jason shook his head, "You didn't have to come all the way here, you could've called. I hate that you are missing school."

"Well we have a week off for mid-semester break. I had to see you myself to make sure you were ok. You know how Aunt Ella can be, mom too. They'd both be all 'Oh he's just fine' and in the meantime you'd be laying in ICU."

"I'm not in the ICU." Jason reminded him.

Sean rolled his eyes, "I realize that dad, you don't get my point. I guess I'm like you in the fact that I had to see for myself that you were ok."

Jason couldn't argue with that. "I understand."

Sean leaned in slightly, "And I don't know the story of what happened or any of that. But, I do know that mom loves you… probably more then you know… and there is no way she did this on purpose."

Jason nodded his head and pat his oldest son's leg, "Don't you worry about that, ok? I know." There was a long pause before Jason spoke again, "You have gotten taller again. You are going to be as tall as me by the time you are fifteen and taller then me before you head off to college."

Sean laughed, "That's ok, I'll still let you think you can catch me when I'm bigger then you."

Jason smiled, "Well, you're a good kid, we've never had to chase after you."

"What the hell is going on here?" Sam snapped as she grew impatient waiting for Jason to finish with this boy who had called him dad.

Two guards immediately stepped in front of Carly and Sam, keeping them away from the reunion. Jason distantly could hear the women throwing a fit but the sound was just background noise to his conversation with his son.

"Jason…" Neil said finally approaching them. "We should get Sean out of here."

Jason nodded his agreement.

"Seaaaannnnnieeeee!"

They all turned when Emily's voice screached down the hallway. Sean smiled and deviously looked at her, "Aunt Emmy."

She rolled her eyes knowing he hated the nickname she had for him as much as she hated being called Emmy. Her eyes momentarily flashed to Jason and she could see the alarm and worry. "How did you… Uncle Neil! What is going on here?" Emily asked as she pushed past Carly, Sam and the guards to hug her nephew. "What are you guys all doing here?"

"Hey Em." Neil said, patting her shoulder.

"Emily we need to get out of here." Jason mumbled.

The two guards accompanied by Harry and Ella approached them. "Jason, we're taking him to his mother." The larger guard said.

Jason looked at them and knew Elizabeth was not at her house nor anywhere he would be able to find her. "I'm coming with you."

Harry shook his head, "Jason, give her some time. You have something else to take care of before you two can discuss what happened. Joey and his men are making sure she and the boys are safe in the meantime."

"Where are they at?" Jason asked.

Neil shook his head and nodded for Jason to step away from the crowd to speak. They stepped across the hall, "Can't tell you that until we know everything has been called off."

Jason shook his head, "I need to see her."

"And I know that Jason but you also have to understand that Joey is involved. He is the one that called me when he got word of the hit Claudia ordered. He looks at Elizabeth like a daughter and because of that he is very protective."

"Dad." Sean said slowly approaching. "It's ok, go take care of whatever you need to do, I'll call you later. I promise."

Jason nodded and turned back to Neil, "Is she ok?"

"She is scared, she probably thinks you hate her and she is tired, very tired. But before I go, in case you haven't thought about this already… your girly over there saw the whole thing, Elizabeth talked to her before she ran. She basically told Elizabeth that she was going to pay for the accident. It's a little fishy that she didn't tell the cops who fired the shot so most likely she is in on this with Claudia." Neil said in a very low voice that Jason barely heard but he nodded his acknowledgement.

Jason turned to look at Sean and Emily, "Sean go ahead but please call me when you get there and get settled in." Sam and Carly stared in shock at everything happening in front of them.

"I promise I will dad." Sean assured him and approached him to give him one more hug. "I missed you." He mumbled.

"I missed you too."

When Sean turned back around, Emily winked at him, "Text me later Seanie."

Sean rolled his eyes at his aunt but nodded and the crowd all moved to the elevator with the exception of Jason, Emily, Sam and Carly. Jason's stomach was in knots and his mind was traveling a mile a minute. How had he let things get so out of hand. He should be with Elizabeth, he should have been with her all along-while she raised Sean, Cameron, and Jake. While she grew as a mother and a woman-he should have been by her side. Instead he let the fear take over and make his choices for him. When they had gotten together after Cameron was born it was Elizabeth that ran when there was an attempt on Carly's life. Then after Jake was born she had made her decision, she trusted Jason to protect her and their three boys. They were going to go public with their family but then it was him that ran at the last minute, afraid when there was a new threat. He doubted his ability to protect them and would not have been able to live with the guilt if something ever happened to one of them. It was the most selfish and at the same time unselfish thing he'd ever done.

As he watched Sean walking away he knew that fate had made his decision for him. He missed his sons every day and the few times he'd get away to see them was never enough. He missed Elizabeth every minute and the few times they'd manage to be on the same page over the years did nothing but add fuel to the flame he carried for her.

Looking over at Sam he knew what an ass he'd been. Yes, over the years they each had their share of flings, Courtney and Sam for him and Elizabeth had married Lucky for a year. They were both just looking for someone to fill the void, the spot they each belonged in but it never worked out no matter how hard they tried.

"What in god's name is going on here?"

"Grandfather, what are you doing here?" Emily asked.

"Board meeting." He said as he nodded toward the elevator. "Sean is here? And what the hell is my brother doing here?"

"They came for a visit." Emily said matter-of-factly.


"Claudia!" Sonny, slowly walking down the hallway that led to the bedrooms in his house.

"What!" She called from the second room on the left. Sonny followed her voice and found her running on the elliptical machine in the workout room.

"You need to cancel the hit. You started something that I don't want to finish for you. Elizabeth Webber is under the protection of Joey Albieto."

Her legs stopped moving on the machine and she gulped down half of the bottle of water that was sitting on the ledge of the machine. "What are you talking about Sonny?"

"I mean, unless you want a mob war on your hands and a target on your back, cancel your orders." He snapped, throwing his hands in the air.

Claudia shook her head matter-of-factly. "I'm not going to do it."

"Claudia I run this organization. Don't make me call them myself and undermine you."

She stepped down from the machine and tossed a small hand towel over her shoulder, "Do what you need to do. I stand by my decision."


"Mom?"

"Oh my gosh, Sean. Where the hell are you?" Elizabeth quickly asked.

"Don't worry mom, we are on our way there now."

Elizabeth frowned, "What do you mean now? Where did you stop?"

The phone was silent for a second. He knew she was not going to like his answer. "The hospital. I had to see dad first."

Her voice was low as she spoke, "How was he?"

"He was fine, ma."

She sighed, "Ok, just get here ok?"

"We'll be there in fifteen minutes."


Edited 1 time by RTNAdmin1 06/14/10 8:47 PM.