Back to You (One Shot)
Complete
Rated R
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Author's Note: This one-shot is dedicated to Maddie (HappySouthernGirl) to make up for who Cameron's parents are in Mirrored Destiny. I know that on GH Cameron was not conceived until the second time Elizabeth and Zander were together, but for the purposes of this story I decided to change the first time they were together because that would have changed everything else. Plus the storyline was so much better back then. The second time Elizabeth was with Ric and by then Jason was with Courtney, I'd rather skip that.
Back to
you
It always comes around
Back to you
I tried to forget you
I tried to stay away
But it's too late
Over you
I'm never over
Over you
Something about you… (John Mayer)
Side by side, Elizabeth and Jason rounded the corner of the hallway and walked towards the door to Elizabeth's studio. "I'm so glad to be home from the hospital," Elizabeth smiled at finally being free.
Jason remembered how much he hated hospitals, "I don't blame you."
Elizabeth knew this was yet another thing they had in common, "All those well meaning people poking and prodding you…" Elizabeth's voice trailed off as she stared at the door to her studio momentarily trapped in memories of her recent kidnapping and time locked in the crypt.
Jason spoke softly in tune to her distress, "I had the door changed. I thought you would feel safer."
Elizabeth nodded attempting to banish her thoughts, "Yeah, I'm sure I would. It's just a surprise that's all."
"Are you sure? I can get rid of it. Change it back?" Jason only wanted to banish the fear from her eyes.
"No, no…I'm glad you did it. Thanks," Elizabeth forced a smile.
Jason held out the new key towards her, "You want to open it or should I?"
Elizabeth tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled a little more naturally, "I'll do it. I have to get used to it sometime." Elizabeth took the key from Jason's hand.
Jason nodded and Elizabeth walked to the door. Jason stood with his hands behind his back trying to resist the urge to touch her and distracted himself by looking around to make sure there was no one around to threaten Elizabeth's peace of mind. Elizabeth inserted the key and turned the lock to open the door and cautiously entered her studio.
Elizabeth looked around uncertainly as she fought against the flood of memories of the night she was kidnapped. Jason followed her into the room, "We don't have to be here if you're not ready." The fear grew but she heard Jason's soft voice, "Elizabeth, we can stay or go whatever you want to do."
"I'll be okay. I know I will." Elizabeth met Jason's eyes and saw his concern. The warmth in his eyes filled her with a renewed confidence. Jason's phone rang interrupting the moment.
Reluctantly, Jason answered the phone and listened to Sonny's latest emergency. Elizabeth wandered to the window to give him privacy. After a short exchange, Jason disconnected and followed Elizabeth.
"I'm sorry, Elizabeth. I have to go. Will you be okay?" Jason regretted having to leave her.
Elizabeth turned from the window and smiled reassuringly, "I'll be fine. You don't have to worry about me."
Now it was Jason that tucked one strand of her hair behind her ear, "But I do." Jason pulled away slowly and turned to walk to the door. Turning back to Elizabeth, he admonished her "Please keep this door locked and make sure know who it is before you let them in. Okay?"
Jason pulled the door closed and Elizabeth quickly locked the deadbolt. Nervously, she faced the empty room and immediately wished Jason hadn't needed to leave.
*****
Night had fallen and Elizabeth sat on the floor hiding behind the arm of the sofa. The knock on the door reverberated through the room and shook inside the scared woman. A reassuring voice called out, "Elizabeth?"
Immediately Elizabeth jumped up from her hiding place and ran to unlock the door. She opened the door wide and quickly pulled Jason into the room. "I'm so glad you're here!"
"What's going on?" Jason swiftly checked the small studio searching for signs of trouble or an intruder.
Elizabeth ran to the phone, "I couldn't even call…the phone is dead."
Jason focused back on her face, "What happened? Did someone come after you?"
Elizabeth shook her head, "Some guy knocked on my door by mistake. I completely freaked. I've been jumping at shadows ever since you left. I hate being afraid like this. It's a place I never wanted to be back in again."
"Okay, listen to me. I have men protecting you. If you still don't feel safe maybe you shouldn't be here alone."
"No," Elizabeth whispered and then louder, "No, I won't run. I'm not going to give fear that kind of power over me anymore."
Jason nodded with both hands on his hips. With a sigh he reached behind his back and pulled out his gun and held it out towards Elizabeth, "We can get you one of these and I can show you how to use it."
Apprehension clearly showing on her face, Elizabeth gingerly took the gun and held it. It looked so foreign in her hand. Still fixated on the gun, she began, "A guy knocked on my door today and I got so freaked I grabbed a knife." Elizabeth looked up and met Jason's steady gaze. "If I had a gun I might have shot the guy," she held the gun out to Jason, "that's not a chance I'm comfortable taking."
Jason took the gun from her hand, checked the clip, and returned it to its holster. "Then you shouldn't."
Elizabeth watched him and crossed the room to sit down and then turned back to face him, "Aren't you ever afraid that you're going to make a mistake and hurt some innocent person."
"I don't go for my gun out of fear or anger…it is just work." Jason shrugged off her question and focused on his main concern, "You know it still bothers me that you are afraid."
Now Elizabeth was the one being reassuring, "It will pass. I do have experience with this. The memories start to fade, the fear becomes less. I just have to wait it out."
"What about knowing you can protect yourself?" Jason asked.
Elizabeth smiled, "Well, when I'm rational about it. I know I have nothing to worry about because it would take a cannon to get through that door you had installed and IF by some miracle, some body happened to manage to…I have my trusty artist's knife."
"Alright…" Jason laughed, "Let me show you why that won't work. Pretend I'm an intruder."
Elizabeth started laughing, "What?"
Jason tried to keep a straight face, "C'mon…get your little knife over there and come at me with it."
Elizabeth stood up from the couch and walked over to pick up her artist's knife smiling uncertainly.
Jason repeated, "C'mon."
"Okay," Elizabeth was still unsure.
"Do it," Jason encouraged.
Elizabeth grabbed her knife and lunged straight at Jason holding it out straight in front of her, aiming the knife for his stomach. Elizabeth was still laughing as Jason grabbed her wrist changing the direction of her stab and encircled his other arm around her waist immobilizing her. Elizabeth could feel Jason's strength and heat behind her. It didn't frighten her at all. "I'm starting to see your point,"
Jason knew he held on to Elizabeth longer than necessary but he finally let her go. He tried to focus, "Alright try again." Jason mimed her griping the knife in a downward stabbing motion. "Ready?"
"Yeah, ready," Elizabeth changed her grip on the knife to mimic Jason's example.
"Okay," Jason spread his feet and waited for her. Elizabeth charged at him stabbing downward.
This time Jason knocked the knife from her hand and pulled her arm behind her back. The other arm held her tightly around her shoulders and held her to him. Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh in response, "Okay, but if you're trying to convince me that I'm powerless, it's not going to work because I did take self defense classes and I know how to fight."
Jason realized he was still holding her the whole time she was talking and once again had to force himself to release her. "But you still need something better than that thing to defend yourself."
"I already told you I don't like the idea of having a gun." Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest defensively.
Jason smiled and held out his hand, "Come with me."
"Where are we going?" Elizabeth asked.
"Just trust me," Jason answered.
Elizabeth put her hand in his, "No problem," and together they left the studio.
*****
Elizabeth kept looking at Jason over her shoulder as they re-entered the studio laughing. She kicked her sandals into the corner. Jason closed the door behind them and kept one hand behind his back. "You are the most original gift giver I know." Elizabeth started recounting all the unusual gifts he had given her, "Let's see…a piece of red glass, a postcard from Italy, and now this…" Elizabeth lifted both hands in his direction.
Jason kept his hands and gift behind his back, "It's better than…what do you call that thing?" Jason mocked her earlier defense plan.
"Oh, my artist's knife?" Elizabeth supplied.
Jason brought his hands around from behind his back and slapped one palm with the bat he held in his other hand. "A bat gives you more power plus distance from your intruder. Okay?" Jason slid both hands down to the handle of the bat and held it out in a test swing, "Now let me show you how to use it."
Elizabeth crossed her arms and teased, "Oh, I think I can figure that part out for myself. You just bonk the guy on the head, right?"
Jason shook his head, "Big mistake."
"Why?" Elizabeth asked.
"Well, see you are too small. You can't get proper leverage. You need to go for the guy's kneecap. That way you immobilize him and run and that's always the goal. Just to get away. You are not trying to win anything - you just want to put him a down and get the hell out." Jason told her seriously.
Elizabeth couldn't help her smile. "Okay." Jason was so cute when he was so serious.
"Come here. Just stand like this." Jason spread out his stance and planted both feet.
Elizabeth moved towards him and stood in front of him with her back towards him. "Like this?"
"Yeah, here you go…" Jason handed her the bat and tried to help her with her grip. "The grip is good. Just loosen it a little bit, put these two hands right here."
Elizabeth could hear him talking but she was missing all the words because she was more focused on the strong arm that was wrapped around her, the firm hand lining up her small hands, and heat of his hard, male body behind her. There was a pause in his comments and she risked a glance up at him to find him staring at her. She raised her eyebrow, "How am I doing?"
"Okay. I'm going to let you go and you are going to pull back and you are going to swing. Okay?" Jason let go and started to walk away.
Elizabeth nodded, "Okay, I can do it. Okay, swing." She swung hard over her head laughing the whole time.
"Hold on…hold on." Jason quickly returned to her, "Maybe we should try that again."
If he was going to put his arms around her, she was all for trying again, "Okay."
Jason enveloped her again in his arms and helped her grip the bat correctly. "Like this…"
Elizabeth just hummed, "Um hmm."
"And it's going to be more like that…" Jason guided her arms in a correct baseball swing.
"Okay," Elizabeth told herself to focus.
Jason let her go, "You got it?"
"Yep, I'm ready." Elizabeth widened her stance as Jason stepped away. She took a wild swing and spun herself in a circle unable to stop the laughter. "See that was better, wasn't it?"
Jason caught her in his arms and grabbed the bat before she did any damage and watched as she tucked that wayward strand of hair behind her ear and looked up at him. He couldn't help but grin, "Congratulations, you just knocked out your first bad guy."
Elizabeth got lost looking up into those blue eyes, "Thank you."
Jason couldn't take his eyes off of Elizabeth. Slowly he reached up and smoothed that same lock of her hair behind her ear. Almost to himself Jason spoke quietly, "It always comes around back to you. I tried to forget you. I tried to stay away but it's too late." Jason reached into his pocket and turned off his cell phone. Elizabeth stared up at him inquiringly. Jason's voice was whisper soft as he bent towards her, "I'm tired of us always being interrupted."
Jason's mouth descended slowly…so slowly that Elizabeth had plenty of time to think, but there were no doubts or hesitation this time. The last thing she saw was the ocean blue of Jason's eyes before her lashes fluttered closed. The kiss started soft almost tentative, but when Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his neck Jason almost overwhelmed her with his relief.
Elizabeth felt like she was standing in the middle of storm and Jason was her only anchor. The kiss was hot and passionate and Jason lifted her onto her tiptoes and crushed her against him. Elizabeth's hands wandered to the back of his head to hold him even closer and urge him on. She felt weightless, like she was floating and soon realized that Jason was carrying her across the studio.
Jason couldn't get enough of Elizabeth, her taste, the silk of her skin. He gently lowered her to the couch and followed her down. When Elizabeth arched her body against his, Jason felt every muscle in his body harden in direct response to her softness. Twin moans mingled in the air as the contact both brought relief and fueled the fire. Jason tore his lips from hers and forced himself to slow down. He leaned back to look at Elizabeth. He had to know, "Are you sure?"
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life," Elizabeth's voice was calm even while her heart raced. Wanting to show him just how confident she was, Elizabeth took off her jacket and pulled her shirt off over her head.
Jason's heated gaze dropped down to her chest and with one hand he reached out to cup her breast in his hand over her bra. The flesh swelled and firmed as he kneaded and massaged first one and then the other. Elizabeth impatiently tugged Jason's shirt off over his head so that she too could touch and explore first the wide expanse of his chest and then his ridged abdomen. The feel of her small hands gliding on his skin was lighting fires everywhere she touched. He smoothed his hand around to Elizabeth's back and quickly unhooked her bra to free her breasts. The bra lay on the floor forgotten as Jason bent and took her breast in his mouth.
Elizabeth's hands held Jason's head to her as his mouth drove her wild. There was no turning back now. "Jason please…" Elizabeth's voice was breathless as she pleaded.
Jason's palms smoothed down her body and tugged off her sweatpants and panties in one sweep. Elizabeth's eyes were wide and glazed as she watched him discard his shoes, jeans, and boxer briefs. For a moment they paused and just took in the sight of the other, but all too soon the need to touch and be touch beckoned. Elizabeth grabbed his hand and pulled him back down onto the sofa and her.
With their hands - palms and fingertips, lightly and then firmly, they both explored. With their mouths - lips, teeth, and tongue, they tasted and loved each other. Elizabeth wrapped one leg around him and enticed him to press against her fully. Jason flexed his spine and entered her in one smooth motion. Elizabeth gasped and tightened her hold on him.
For a heartbeat they both lay still enjoying the feeling of being so close. Jason rested his forehead on Elizabeth's and breathed her name, "Elizabeth." His lips took hers, his tongue slipping past her lips. Elizabeth lifted her hips trying to get closer still and then they both began to move. Jason's tongue matched the rhythm of their bodies, faster and faster as passion coiled tighter. Elizabeth stiffened and then shuddered as passion overwhelmed her and Elizabeth's pulsing pushed Jason over the edge as he lost himself in her.
Sanity returned slowly, regretfully. Jason eased to the side and held her relaxed body snug against him. Elizabeth placed her hand over his heart and curled into him. Jason kissed her temple and murmured, "I'm so sorry."
Elizabeth's eyes popped open, "You're sorry! For what?"
"Elizabeth, we didn't use any protection." Jason watched as Elizabeth's eyes widened and understanding dawned.
Jason waited for her reaction and was surprised when a small smile started to bloom, "I have no regrets Jason. I won't worry until I have something to worry about and even then I'm sure we can handle whatever comes our way as long as I have you in my life."
Jason kissed her slow and deep. Elizabeth's eyes opened as Jason ended the kiss and she stared directly into his warm gaze. Jason's voice rumbled, "No regrets."
***** Nine months later *****
"Jason, I'd like you to meet your son…Cameron Alan Morgan." Elizabeth was glowing as she placed the small bundle wrapped in blue into her husband's arms.
"Hey…hi. Hey, Cameron. I'm your father." Jason held back the tears with sheer will but his face was lit up from inside as he turned to his tired wife, "Elizabeth, he's beautiful."
Elizabeth smiled, "I knew we could handle anything together." The last thing she saw before she drifted off to sleep was the smile on Jason's face.
Jason grinned, "Now all he needs is a brother or sister or two," but Elizabeth was already asleep.
"No regrets," he whispered as he rocked his son to sleep.
