“Are you all right?” Jason asked as she walked
into the studio. Her eyes were downcast
and her muscles tense. He hated to see
her so torn. “Do you want me to leave?”
Elizabeth looked up at Jason. He was always so sensitive to what she
needed. His thoughts were only for her
feelings - even when it hurt him. She
smiled softly. “No,” Elizabeth
whispered. “It’s over and done with
anyway.”
“I’m sorry you had to ask Nicholas to leave,”
Jason apologized. “I just…”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No, I understand. It’s just sometimes they don’t.”
She paused, biting her lip while her thoughts swirled silently within
her. Looking up at Jason again,
Elizabeth shrugged. “Or they don’t want
to.”
Jason nodded.
He understood what she was trying to say. Nicholas, Lucky and the rest of Port Charles, who continued the
onslaught of warnings, were capable of understanding why Elizabeth would
befriend him, but they chose not to.
Taking a controlled breath, Jason glanced around at the studio, which
had been a temporary port of rest for him.
It hadn’t changed much. Elizabeth had a few new works on her easel. Pieces of Italian artwork and trinkets now
decorated the plain plastered walls, giving it a kind of minimalist flare. It was as if it wasn’t quite lived in, or
that someone just didn’t have the patience to care that there was a certain
place for each piece and article in the room.
“So Jason,” Elizabeth said softly, studying him
as he observed each niche and corner of her studio. “What is Nam doing? I
mean how can he just let Rosco go?”
Jason turned to face Elizabeth, who looked
aggravated at the deal Nam had made.
“Well it’s mostly because of Jaime.”
She frowned.
“Why does she keep doing this?” Elizabeth cried out in frustration. “He could come after her again. Hasn’t she learned anything?”
Elizabeth couldn’t see what good Jaime saw in
keeping Rosco out of jail. From what
had happened in the past few days, Rosco had proved untrustworthy. He had followed her to Port Charles for
heaven’s sake!
Jason watched Elizabeth’s smooth face silently
run a through a gambit of emotions. He
loved watching her feel things so suddenly and ferociously, and then as quick
as a wink, become calm again – regaining control of herself. “It’s more like if Rosco didn’t make this
deal with Nam, he would have most likely…well, none of us would have seen him
again – permanently.”
Elizabeth took a moment to process the idea. She knew that Nam could be ruthless; she
remembered the fear that filled her as she watched the plane in Italy
explode. Her lips formed the word ‘oh’
without speaking the word out loud.
“Nam and Jaime have been…estranged for a long
time. Rosco reminded him of this,” Jason
explained. “And Nam knew this action
would forever sever his relationship with Jaime. So he let him go with the warning that if he was ever seen by any
of his men, he would be fair game.”
The idea somehow made sense to Elizabeth. It surprised her how calm she could be when
Jason had just told her that Nam had the ability to kill Rosco. A lot had changed in her. She seemed to have found some kind of center
over the past few years. She was sure
of herself and that gave her the ability to trust others to know what they were
doing. It was nice to have that kind of
freedom, instead of worrying all the time.
“I guess,” she finally replied to Jason’s answer
to her unspoken question.
Elizabeth looked up at Jason and smiled. She wanted to change the subject. The shooting and Rosco were so disheartening
and depressing that she couldn’t wallow in it one more second. “So you’re staying at Jakes’ again?”
Jason nodded.
“It suits my needs, and I didn’t want to inconvenience you.”
Elizabeth shrugged. “No inconvenience,” she quipped.
“It would be nice to have a roommate again.”
His eyes met hers and searched for her
meaning. “It’s not exactly the best
idea, when we both know how I feel about you.”
Her eyes didn’t dart away from his when he said the words. It was an unusual reaction. She had always been uncomfortable talking
about his feelings about her.
His reply made her breath catch in her
throat. Part of her screamed at her to
change the subject, but she had done that one too many times. Her eyes remained locked with his. Elizabeth cared about him, and she would no
longer deny that.
When Jason had been willing to finally voice his
feelings for her almost a year ago, Elizabeth walked away. She wasn’t willing to do that again. For once she was ready to move forward,
rather than live in the past. As she
slowly moved closer to Jason, Elizabeth hoped that he could see that. “Maybe you could tell me again,” she
whispered softly.
Jason felt his heart skip a beat. This was exactly what he didn’t want to
happen. Staring into her eyes, he could
get lost forever. He had known that for
the past couple of years, but he couldn’t do that again. Jason couldn’t allow himself to need her
like he had in the past. Elizabeth was
like the wind - changing direction, changing course at the drop of a hat.
She had closed the distance between them and was
only a few inches away from him. Jason
instinctively reached out and touched her face, his thumb caressing the silky
arch of her cheekbone. Her eyes peered
into his, as if urging him to search her soul.
Jason closed his eyes and tried to swallow the lump that had developed
in this throat. “I…”
Elizabeth longed for him to tell her that he
needed her. She didn’t know how many
times in Italy, when they had been alone, for Jason to tell her the words he
had said to her in that park that fateful night. Her heart was racing, expecting the same words, the same feelings
to fill her ears and heart, as they did that night. Except this time, Elizabeth would reiterate those feelings.
Jason sighed, pulling away from this woman who
drew him to her with such intensity.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.”
Elizabeth lowered her head and licked her
lips. Rejection stung. She closed her eyes and tried to stifle
those emotions, those feelings, which she had been so ready to express. Swallowing hard, Elizabeth plastered a smile
on her lips and shook her head. “Nn-o,”
she said trying to be casual, though the catch in her throat gave her away.
Jason was about to explain when his cell phone
rang. He pulled out the small compact
phone out of his back pocket and flipped it open. “Yeah, Morgan here.”
Elizabeth watched intently as Jason had a curt
conversation on the phone with an unknown source. He turned to her and looked apologetic. He had to go.
Elizabeth sighed.
“I’m sorry, but Sonny needs me,” Jason explained
quickly, knowing the words didn’t resolve the awkwardness of the previous
moment.
Elizabeth nodded and walked him to the door. “It’s fine,” she lied. Can’t you just stay this one time?
she thought to herself. Can’t Sonny
deal with this without you?
“I’ll talk to you later,” Jason paused, his eyes
flickered, wanting to stay.
Elizabeth bit the inside of her cheek and nodded,
folding her arms across her chest.
“Yeah,” she replied uncomfortably, trying to hide the disappointment in
her eyes.
As he left, Elizabeth rested her head on the
door. Why did things always seem to
get in the way?
At this rate they would never get together.
~~~
“W-what are you doing here?” Jaime’s voice
cracked in anxiety and shock, unsettled by the surprise appearance of her
former kidnapper.
Rosco peered out from under the small crack left
by the blind hanging over the window of the door. “I’ve tried to see you a couple of times, but your father wasn’t
too keen on the idea,” he said sarcastically, while scoping out the hallway
access.
Jaime didn’t know whether to scream or to remain
quiet. As her mouth couldn’t form any
words, she chose to remain silent. She
began chewing on her bottom lip out of nervousness. It was a habit she had formed during her childhood. As Jaime grew older, she realized what she
was doing, but ever so often she would do it unconsciously. Finally she managed to find her voice
again. “No, really. What are you doing here?” This time a little
more perturbed than anything.
Rosco turned to see Jaime resting uncomfortably
in her hospital bed, her brow creased as she seemed irritated at this
interruption in her recovery process.
His lips instinctively curled into a slight smirk. Even after getting shot she’s got that
spark in her eyes.
“You miss me?” he asked, putting on a façade of
arrogance.
Jaime rolled her eyes. “Do you know my Dad has a guard standing watch outside my door?”
Rosco nodded.
“I waited till he and your father were occupied.”
She shook her head. “That’s not the point. My
Dad will kill you when he finds you in here.”
Such an ingrate.
After all she had done for him, running interference
so he could get away, and then getting shot…now he has the audacity to stand in
her hospital room where he was sure to be caught? Jaime slid down against her nurse-fluffed pillow and frowned.
“You know you look good even when you pout?” Rosco
commented wryly.
Jaime involuntarily blushed. She swallowed, trying to relieve the sudden
dryness of her throat. “Apparently you
still don’t take warnings very well.”
Her eyes flashed brazenly at her persistent guest.
Rosco tugged lightly on the putrid green blind
and walked over to her bedside. He
shrugged as he sat down on the nearby chair.
“Never was a good listener. Ask
my kindergarten teacher,” he said dryly.
The ease of each of their returns of witty
sarcastic remarks unsettled him. She looked
so small in lying in that hospital bed.
His eyes locked intently on her.
This seemed to make her shift in her bed.
Jaime licked her lips and pulled herself into a
more upright position on her bed.
“What?” she asked, running her hand over her disheveled hair.
He smiled and shrugged. “Nothing.”
She narrowed her eyes and pointed at him with her
good arm. “Then stop staring at me.”
“Why?”
Jaime rolled her eyes at the turn focus. “How about you let me ask the questions?”
she glared.
Rosco leaned back in the chair and waved his
hands outward. “Go ahead.”
He sat there with an ease, which irritated her,
as if he hadn’t a care in the world. How
could he not be worried about her father?
Jaime cleared her throat and tilted her head to
the side. “Why are you here?”
Rosco’s face seemed to change from a carefree
nature to a slightly more solemn expression.
“I’m here to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye?” Jaime repeated. “Why?”
Rosco leaned forward, clasping his hands together
as he rested his elbows on his knees.
“I made a deal with your father.
I leave and never bother you again and I get to live.”
Jaime swallowed, part of her somewhat relieved
that her father had decided against hunting him down. “Why would he make a deal like that?”
He paused at her question. This is more than you deserve Nam. Rosco cleared his voice. “Because he loves you.”
The answer was not quite what Jaime
expected. “What do you mean?” she shook
her head in confusion.
Rosco sighed.
“I just reminded him how much you would hate him if he killed me.”
“Really?” she said skeptically. “And that’s all?”
“Well you would have been devastated by my death,
and we also know how much you hate the ‘mob’ business.”
Jaime opened her mouth and then closed it –
nothing said. Her mind was confused -
she both resented and agreed with his statement – but was unsure which one she
should address first.
Rosco grinned like a Cheshire cat. “I knew you did kid,” he chuckled.
Jaime rolled her eyes and groaned. “Oh give me a break.”
Low male voices approached from the hallway,
getting louder with every step.
Rosco snapped his gaze towards the door. He couldn’t be seen here. The mutter of conversation was being held
just outside the door. He got up, his
muscles tense and alert, ready for a quick retreat.
Jaime sat up, painful as it was, and waved Rosco
over to the door. The tall tanned
muscular man ducked behind the door just as her father’s bodyguard peeked in to
check on her. She plastered a smile on
her face, using all her will power not to glance behind the door. “Yes,” she said breathlessly.
“Just wanting to know if I can get you
anything?” The large oversized minion
of her father’s smiled politely. He
looked new. His head was shaved with
less than a half an inch of hair, shadowing his round skull and his eyes were
small and beady. Jaime looked at the
expensive Gucci suit and rolled her eyes.
Her father’s men were always well dressed.
“No,” she sighed. “Unless you can convince my father that I meant it when I told
him I didn’t want any guards.”
The large oaf stared at her blankly. “He’s just trying to keep you safe from
Rosco, Ms. Nam.”
Jaime did her best to look annoyed. “Well tell him I don’t need it!” With that she slumped down on her uninjured
side, signaling to the guard that the conversation was finished.
Once the door closed, Rosco let out a sigh of
relief. “You’re pretty good at
diversion,” he whispered.
“Well, I better be if you’re going to get out of here.”
“There’s always the window,” Rosco winked as he
gestured to the small double hung window.
Jaime stifled the urge to laugh out loud as she
glanced at the window Rosco had just mentioned. The window was wide enough that she could possibly fit through,
but not the broad 6’4” muscle man.
“You’ve got to be kidding right?” she said,
lowering her voice so the guard would have no reason to check in on her again.
Rosco frowned.
“You don’t think I could do it?”
“Maybe if the doctors at General dissected you
first,” Jaime retorted.
“Well that was my plan, do you have a better
one?”
Jaime smirked.
“You know, no wonder you never made it in the mob business. If you come up with schemes like that…”
Rosco scowled and pretended to laugh. “Ha. Ha.”
“So you’re going then?”
The question silenced him. He was going. Rosco looked down at Jaime and nodded morosely. “Yeah,” he said clearing his throat. Rosco was trying not to let the unnamed
feelings he had welling up inside make a surprise appearance.
Jaime tucked a lock of her long stringy hair
behind her ear. She really needed to
shower. But turning her attention
to Rosco, who seemed uncomfortable with the silence, Jaime smiled. “Well, then,” she paused, “good luck.” Awkwardly she placed out her good hand to
him.
Rosco stared undecided at what he should do, when
she reached her hand out to him. He
moved towards her and his hand slid comfortably against hers. He squeezed gently and moved towards
her. “I’m sorry about all of this,”
gesturing to her present state.
“It’s not really your fault.”
He shook his head. “Yeah it was,” he said defeated.
“I thought I had this ingenious plan…”
Jaime frowned.
“What?” What had he said?
Rosco quickly covered. “I mean, coming back to Port Charles and all,” he lied. “I shouldn’t have let you get to me.”
Her heart began to race. “Well, it’s over and done with. You can go free and not have to worry about
my Dad tracing your every move.”
His eyes glittered at the reassurance. “I’m pretty sure your father will be tracing
every move I make.”
Jaime thought about it for a second and nodded in
agreement. “Just to make sure you stick
to the deal,” she vocalized her thoughts.
“Yeah,” he laughed.
Her hand was still in his. As she tried to let go, his grasp only
tightened. “You know I didn’t come back
to stalk you or anything obsessive like that,” he remarked, his gaze distant.
Jaime looked up at him. “I know,” she paused awkwardly.
“You’d better get going. You
never know when my Dad might pop in.”
Rosco nodded, his gaze still focused on her dark
eyes. “Well, it’s been an interesting
ride.” He leaned in close to the bed,
her hand still in his. “I really wished
we got the chance to finish our conversation on the docks.”
He didn’t want to say goodbye. The deal he made with Nam had only been to
get himself out of hot water, but now he regretted it. Jaime was the only positive thing he could
think of that had happened to him in the past two years, since Sorel’s demise. Now he had to leave her.
Jaime fidgeted nervously in her hospital
bed. There really was nowhere to
go. She wasn’t healthy enough to even
walk around the hospital room. Staring
at her hand fixed in his, Jaime wished this conversation hadn’t taken this kind
of turn again. It made her extremely
uncomfortable. “I think it’s better we
didn’t,” she stated, slipping her hand out of his.
Rosco knew this fixation with Jaime wasn’t
healthy. And observing her behavior, he
could tell she didn’t seem to feel the same way about him – intrigued and
attracted. “I guess.” Looking toward the door, Rosco cleared his
throat and tried to mask the emotions he had held in check for most of his
life.
“Well it’s time to disappear again,” he
whispered, smiling wistfully at her.
Jaime nodded and silently gestured for him to
hide behind the door again. She wished
things had been different with Rosco.
He was too different though. His
morals and his perspective on life were too dark and she could never have lived
with it. She couldn’t with her father,
how different could it have been with Rosco?
“Guard!” Jaime yelled loudly.
The large Asian man pushed the door opened and
stuck his head in. “What’s wrong?”
Jaime smiled and waved the man in. “I just wanted to apologize for my attitude
before,” she lied, as the unnamed guard was drawn into the conversation. As she offered him the chair, which Rosco
had just previously been sitting, with a brief glance, signaled Rosco to leave.
Rosco nodded his final goodbye as he watched
Jaime engage the stupid lug into an inane dialogue about monkeys. He had to stifle his laughter as he quickly
dashed into the hallway and down the corridor to the elevators. She was definitely quite the woman. And he knew he would regret not being
able to get to know her better as the doors of the elevator closed in front of him.