CHAPTER 42
Jason frantically walked around the crypt, pounding on it - he needed to find a way in - he needed Elizabeth to make a noise . . . he heard nothing . . . desperation clutched his heart . . . looking up, he saw the crypt had a small stained glass window. He hoped it was big enough to fit through . . .
Searching the ground, Jason found a large rock. "Elizabeth," he yelled, "I going to throw a rock through this stained glass window, okay? Move out of the way, if you can - don't be scared . . ." He knew she probably couldn't hear him but on the off chance that she could . . .
He threw the rock through the window, smashing it. He took off his leather jacket and used it to clear away the rest of the glass. He placed the jacket on the bottom of the window, to protect him from any remaining glass pieces. Lifting himself up, he squeezed through the window. It was a tight fit, but he managed to get all the way into the crypt.
It was pitch black - the window he had climbed through did not let in any light. Removing a flashlight from the bag he'd brought with him, Jason turned it on with a shaky hand.
"Eliz -Elizabeth?" His voice came out between panting breaths.
There was no answer . . . he did not see her . . . he tried to be methodical with the flashlight, starting in one corner, doing a sweep of the crypt . . .
I don't see her . . . I don't see her . . . where is she . . . I don't see her . . .
Suddenly, Jason was overwhelmed with fear - what if Tom Baker lied? What if Jason killed him too soon? He would never find Elizabeth - he would never know what happened to her!
The flashlight landed on something pale . . . a hand . . . running over to where she was, Jason dropped to his knees . . . Elizabeth was face down, unconscious . . . Jason slowly turned her over . . . her face - oh god, her beautiful face - was black and blue, her lip was split open . . . Jason was struck by the urge to kill Tom again.
He felt for a pulse and cried with relief when he found one. It was weaker than it should be but she had a pulse. He looked her over for other marks - other signs of injury . . . she must have struggled - she had black and blue marks all over her . . . her wrist looked broken . . . she had lost weight . . . her breathing was labored . . .
"Elizabeth," he sobbed out, "please Sweetheart . . . please my love . . . wake up . . . I need you to wake up . . ."
Unable to help himself, he began kissing her face - her cheeks, her eye lids, her chin, her forehead . . .
"Wake up, please! Please, please, please . . ." his tears were dropping onto her as he continued to kiss her.
Elizabeth stirred.
Sobbing with relief, Jason pressed his lips into hers, "Elizabeth," he murmured, "my precious Elizabeth."
Elizabeth opened her eyes, squinting against the light coming from the flashlight. She looked up at him and smiled weakly.
"I finally died . . ." she croaked out, her voice a whisper, her eyes glassy and unfocused.
Jason looked down at her in alarm, "What?! - no Elizabeth . . ."
"I've been . . . I've been waiting to die . . . no more pain . . . no more sadness . . ."
"Elizabeth," Jason petted her hair out of her face, "please . . . hear me . . . please . . ."
"I'll get to see our baby . . . I miss him so much . . ."
Jason froze. His heart stopped beating. He felt time stand still . . . baby - our baby . . .
"He's beautiful," she continued, "I just know it . . . I'm okay to die . . . just let me die . . . let me be with him . . ."
Jason gripped Elizabeth to him tightly, trying to get his warring emotions under control. He needed to focus on getting her out of this hell - he needed to get her to a hospital. He forced himself to push all other concerns - all other questions aside.
Holding Elizabeth to him as she continued to ramble - about heaven, about Jason, about the baby - Jason looked around for a way to get her out of the crypt. Tom had done a good job of blocking her in. There was no way Jason could get her through the window - not in her condition.
Realizing he needed help, he took out his phone. No answer - dammit Sonny! He thought for a second and then tried someone else.
"Corelli."
"Francis!"
"Jason? What - "
"Shut up and listen! I found Elizabeth - she's trapped in a crypt - Alexander Williamson - the graveyard on Churchill Street. She's pretty bad and I can't get her out by myself. I need you to bring a crew here - tear this fucking thing down if you have to but get us out of here!"
"Give me thirty minutes," Francis answered.
Jason looked down at Elizabeth. She had passed out again, her breathing was labored.
"You have ten," he snapped.
* * * * * * * * *
When Sonny had heard she was trapped in a crypt, he had decided to do something he never did - he made sure an ambulance and paramedics were there. He knew it meant involving the police but Elizabeth's life was too important.
Now, watching his men bust into the crypt, he felt like time was moving at half speed. It took a sledgehammer to bust down the door to the crypt, but the men finally got Jason and Elizabeth out. As Jason carried Elizabeth's unconscious, listless body from inside, Sonny was struck by one terrifying thought - she looked dead.
The paramedics rushed to her, trying to get Jason to put her down. Seeing the look on his face, Sonny was worried that his friend was going to shoot them. He stepped up and tried to help.
"Jase," he said softly, "you did good, Man . . . but now - now you need to let them do their job."
Jason's jaw ticked with anger but he placed Elizabeth on the waiting gurney and stepped back enough for the medics to work.
"What the hell happened to her?" Sonny couldn't help but ask.
"Tom Baker," Jason answered curtly, never taking his eyes off of Elizabeth.
The paramedics were loading her into the ambulance, shouting orders to the driver who was talking to the hospital over the radio, preparing them for her arrival. Jason moved to get into the ambulance with her but was stopped.
"Are you family? Family only," the paramedic said.
Jason grabbed the guy by the shirt and pulled him up. "I am getting in this ambulance - I am riding to the hospital with her - if I have to throw you out of the ambulance to do it, I will!"
"Jason!" Sonny shouted.
Jason didn't even look at him. He let go of the poor paramedic and climbed into the ambulance. Visibly shaking, the paramedic climbed in after him.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
He had thought the ride to the hospital was excruciating . . . but the waiting room - waiting around in the waiting room was worse . . .
"Care to explain what the hell is going on?"
Taggert - shit. Jason wasn't in the mood.
Looking up at the detective, Jason said nothing. Expressed nothing.
"I mean, you've been back in town for what - a week - and already you almost get someone killed."
"Once again," Sonny interjected, placing his body between Jason and Taggert, "you have it all wrong. Elizabeth was missing. Jason came back into town to help find her."
Looking around Sonny at Jason, "Is that right, Anger-Boy? You came back into town to save the day?"
Jason said nothing - just looked away.
"How did you know where to find her? How did she end up in that crypt?" Getting frustrated at Jason, Taggert reached out and grabbed his arm, "Listen to me, Punk, you are going to answer my questions!"
Jason shook him off and looked ready for violence - Johnnie, who had been watching the whole thing from his seat, jumped up and helped Sonny hold Jason back.
"This isn't doing Elizabeth any good, Jason! You need to chill!" Johnnie said, his face in Jason's.
"Get your fucking hands off of me," Jason growled, shaking Johnnie off and walking a few paces away.
"Look, Taggert," Sonny said, as he walked the detective away from Jason, "we're all worried about Elizabeth. We don't know anything - Jason doesn't know anything. Can't this wait until we get some news."
From the look on his face, Taggert was getting ready to say something obnoxious.
"That's fine," Mac interjected - thank god for the Commissioner's voice of reason, "we can talk to all of you tomorrow - just come down to the station first thing in the morning."
With that, Mac grabbed Taggert by the arm and dragged him away.
Sonny turned back to the waiting room . . . Jason was standing, facing a wall, staring at it blankly. Johnnie was sitting with his head in his hands. Francis was pacing madly around the room.
Emily and Nicholas arrived, looking frantic. "What happened? How is she?" Emily asked.
No one answered. What could they say?
Just then, Monica showed up, bringing with her news. Everyone moved towards her, crowding her with their intensity. She held up her hands to stall them.
"I don't have much news, I'm afraid . . . she's still unconscious. She's not breathing on her own. Her pulse rate is low, blood pressure low. She is extremely dehydrated, malnourished. She has a collapsed lung, broken ribs . . . her heart is weak from the strain . . ."
"Mom, what are you trying to say?" Emily pressed.
Monica reached out and grasped her daughter's hand, "I'm trying to say . . . pray . . ." Her voice broke as she said it.
