(q*p)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN ~ RAVEN

Carly thumbed through her issue of Crimson. As if to taunt her the next page was a spread on wedding gowns but then, on the next page, she spotted a lovely dress that would perfectly suit the Best Person. Maybe she could get used to the idea of Jason with Elizabeth… maybe. Doubtful.

Samantha would be perfect for Jason, if she weren't her husband's sloppy leftover already. Easy for Carly to manipulate, gets the business, and so in love with Jason she'd stay home on the couch waiting for him like a puppy. Carly didn't underestimate McCall. She knew Sam could be a force to reckon with but Jason was her kryptonite.

Smiling, Carly loved how good she was at reading people. If Jason could just see it as Carly did he'd know she had his best interests at heart.

Her cell rang. She answered, "Speak of the devil."

"Carly," it was Damien Spinelli, "Hello, it is I, The Jackal. Stone Cold and I need your assistance."

"Where's Jason? My caller ID said he was calling."

"My master is a bit occupied at present. But I assure you he left me his phone so that I could call for help."

"Help? What's wrong? Is Jason ok?"

"Yes. You see he is on foot and I can not follow for my foot is trapped," he nervously giggled fighting off panic while going into shock, "it's my leg actually. It refuses to obey."

"Spinelli tell me what happened. Where are you? Have you called 911? Is Jason OK?"

Voice much weaker, "911 has been dispatched but…"

"SPINELLI!"

"But we need you to send help. The muscle kind of help."

"Me?" That was Sonny's job.

"Forgive me... " The hacker drifted.

"I'll send help, I'm sorry, tell me where you are!"

"Stone Cold doesn't store any numbers in his phone. I only have yours committed to memory… "

"Where are you?"!

With his last conscious breath Damien told Carly where they were. Sort of.

Jason ran as fast as he could. He felt bad for leaving Spinelli behind but there wasn't anything more he could do. He tried to flip the SUV upright again but couldn't do it. The kid would be ok, Jason assured himself. It was fear paralyzing the hacker more than any injury.

Pumping his arms, Jason kept up his pace. He found the dirt lane and cut down it staying close to the tree line. He flipped between wanting to slow down and be careful so he could have the element of surprise and wanting to barrel down on the house like a one-man army.

…

...

Elizabeth turned and ran. She ran passed the Rover. She ran passed the little garden. She ran and ran dodging trees as they came up and the forest grew wilder. She ran on. Twigs snared her hair, rough ground threatened to unsteady her step but Elizabeth ran on.

Claudia was right behind her.

Without warning there was a loud snap when a dry root snapped under Elizabeth's foot. A rush of leaves and tumbling dirt exploded as the earth abruptly crumbled sucking her and Claudia down into it.

To Elizabeth it felt like she was falling as far as she'd run till, with a thud and crack, both women hit bottom. A shaft of light followed Claudia like a spotlight. Dust swirled around her in a silvery cloud. Like Elizabeth, Claudia was desperately trying to catch her breath from having it knocked out.

When Claudia did have air the first sound she made was a loud cry as pain seared through her arm. She raised her limb into the light to see it bent and twisted. Blood seeped down her sleeve and dripped off her fingertips.

Crying, "I think it's broken."

That voice! Panic! Elizabeth struggled to get distance between her and the Raven. There wasn't far to crawl. The space was cramped.

"You!" Elizabeth accused.

Wet, dark eyes looked at the nurse, "help me." She cried in pain. Most of the falling dirt seemed to have landed on Claudia like a blanket warming her calves.

"Fu…" Elizabeth felt her oath like commandment putting a break on the profanity at the tip of her tongue. The nurse forced out, "Why would I help you?"

Elizabeth watched the blood dripping from the Raven's hand and thought to examine her own body. She was banged up, there was a knot on her head, but she was ok. Elizabeth stood and looked for a way to climb out. The arched walls were loose and dissolved with her touch.

With tears streaming, "Don't leave me here…" Claudia tried to stand but couldn't. The pain made her dizzy.

"Don't come near me!" Elizabeth tugged a root to test its strength. It snapped.

"I don't want to hurt you. Please. Help me."

Elizabeth remembered pleading with her once. "Like you helped me?"

Samantha furiously packed. She shoved toys in one duffle bag. No way they were going to take them all. Her sister had gone nuts thinking she'd have to buy her long lost son's love. A few clothes went into another bag. Running out of the cabin, she tossed them into the trunk of Claudia's car and went back in for another load. They would need water and food, blankets…

Sam stopped. Jason sat on the couch with young Leo on his lap.

Her heart dropped. "Don't hurt him." Thankfully she didn't see a weapon.

"Where's Elizabeth?" Sweat seeped down from his temples, but he seemed calm.

The boy wasn't afraid of Jason. The man seemed nice. He was there looking for that lady. Leo thought they were waiting for her and his mom to come back. Why was Aunt Sammy so scared? Leo started to fidget.

"I don't know where she is, I swear. Leo, baby, come here."

"Leo is fine."

"Aunt Sammy, where did mommy go?"

Jason felt the energy from the boy change. The enforcer relaxed his body more so the boy wouldn't sense danger in him. But Leo was picking up the fear in Sam not Jason.

Swallowing, "I think she went to get Jason's friend."

Jason kept his voice as friendly as he could muster, "Samantha, why don't you have a seat and explain what you mean- 'get' Elizabeth?"

Samantha did as told, taking her time. Jason watched her. The boy wiggled out of Jason's lap and went to his aunt. She picked him up and snuggled her nephew.

Realizing Sam wasn't going to talk in front of the boy Jason asked, "Leo, can you get me some water?"

"Are you thirsty? Do you want a juice box?"

"Get Jason some water honey. Thank you." Leo started to slide off Samantha's knee. "But Leo, I'll take a juice box please. Thank you. And you can have one too. Put the straw in it for me if you can."

"Ok." He was eager.

When Leo was gone, "that should take him sometime. He likes to poke the straw in the box but it usually takes him awhile. He's a sweet boy Jason. He doesn't deserve this."

"Nothing will happen to Leo."

"You promise?"

Jason tapped his fingers on the arm of the couch. "Where are they?"

"I really don't know Jason. It happened so fast. We thought Elizabeth left but suddenly she was there again. I forgot my phone in her car. It was an accident she saw Claudia. Elizabeth ran off so quick we couldn't explain. My sister went after her. She won't hurt Elizabeth. She just wants to bring her back here, tell her the story, make her understand."

Dear God Samantha hope he believed her. It was true, most of it. But Claudia was fully capable of murdering Elizabeth and, in her mind, had reason to so she probably would. She'd tried once already. It was self preservation.

Best case, Claudia doesn't find Elizabeth.

"If they don't walk through that door in a few minutes I'm going to have find them. You know that right?"

"Yes. I can show you which way they ran. We can go with you and help."

"We'll wait a little longer."

Jason didn't want to wait at all. He wanted to be out there looking but the boy, he did change things. Jason could tie Sam up, but not the boy. He could shove Sam in the trunk of her car, but not the boy. Hopefully reinforcements would come soon so he wouldn't have to resort to any of those options.

Keep talking Sam, she nudged herself, "Do you know about Claudia's son?" Not waiting for his answer, "She thought she'd have to get Leo to love her again. They were separated for so long. But she didn't. The monsters he'd been placed with kept him locked up most of the time. They made sure he knew he was a bastard and told him his mother abandoned him." She looked at her nails and smiled because she could relate, "Leo dreamed about his mother coming back to get him. So when Claudia did it was a dream come true for Leo. He can't lose her now."

As was Jason's forte, he remained silent. The quieter he was the faster Samantha talked.

"It would kill Leo to be abandoned again. Of course I helped my sister. She doesn't want any trouble. Claudia did what she had to get Leo back. What was I suppose to do when she came to me, turn her in to the police? Turn her in to you, a cold blooded killer?"

Jason's answer was a cold stare.

"Jason you need to know I had nothing to do with the- with what happened to Elizabeth. You have to believe me. I didn't know at he time. But she's my sister."

Whether she did or didn't know, Sam harbored his enemy. Jason looked up at the clock.

"Jason, I know you. You have such a big heart I know you wouldn't hurt a mother. If it weren't for you I don't know what I would have done after my baby died." Tears came to Sam's eyes, "A mother who loses a child can be very desperate."

A man who loses the woman he loves can be desperate too, Jason thought as he balled his fists. Tic tock.

…

Sonny dispatched Max and his goons but what if the situation needed a woman's touch? Carly had the address after all, she reasoned.

It wasn't long before Carly and Sonny caught up to a train of black SUVs heading out to Woodrow Canyon.

…

...

Elizabeth tucked a stand of hair behind her ear, "You can't believe I'd lift a finger to help you? Not after what you did to me. Jason will find me, he always does- then you can get whatever help he wants to give."

Hunched over into a ball of pain, Claudia tucked her arm in but putting pressure on the bleeding limb seared. "You were right, you know." Claudia's voice shook as she whimpered.

Elizabeth looked back at the woman on the ground. Her hair muted by a film of dirt, Claudia didn't look so much like a raven now. No, she looked like a frail bird with a broken wing.

"Right about what?"

"I'm a mother. My son's name is Leo." Claudia's voice shook.

"Congratulations. You never asked my son's name. No thanks to you he still has his mother."

"No, no thanks to me. I am sorry…"

Elizabeth doubted there was an ounce of sincerity in the Raven's apology.

"But," Claudia continued, "thanks to you I have him back."

She wasn't going to take the bait. Elizabeth looked around for a sturdy place to try climbing but there weren't any prospects. By the shape of the place they weren't in a pit or well. The more Elizabeth looked at what was left of the structure she felt they were in a tunnel. Maybe an old mine?

"Leo's father sent him away. That's who actually had you kidnapped you know?" Claudia whimpered as she shifted. "All I wanted was my son back. So I played the dutiful daughter- I did whatever daddy wanted me to and I did it well. He was starting to trust me…."

It was all bullshit, "you mean your son's father?"

"That's what I said."

"You said your father."

Claudia's voice didn't waver, "I did." The two women stared at each other letting it sink in. "My father, Anthony, is my son's father. Ahhh!" Claudia nearly passed out trying to stand again. She slumped back against the rough wall.

Could it be true, was that little boy a product of a horrific unholy union?

Elizabeth looked back at the woman studying her. The Raven was now half in and half out of the light. The light was shifting. How long had they been down there? Elizabeth hated the woman she was trapped with but couldn't help seeing the broken bird as well.

"He's not my biological father." Claudia's breathing thinned. "Thank God."

Elizabeth felt some relief letting go the thought of incest. "There's not much I can do for your arm."

The Raven looked up at Elizabeth hopeful. The nurse approached cautiously and started examining the twisted limb of an abused and twisted woman. It was bad but could be reset. The cut went deep but putting more pressure on it would torment the bone.

"I'm worried if I try to stop the bleeding it'll hurt you too badly. It looks like the flow is slowing; should stop on its own. I'm more concerned with infection than the bleeding."

Ready to cry again, "I'm worried about getting out of here."

Elizabeth looked up past the dark walls, the twisted roots to a bright sky. Time seemed to be standing still.

...

"Oh my god! Spinelli! Are you alright?" Carly looked over the door's window down into the flipped SUV.

Milo and a few other guys crawled over the wreck looking for a place to hook the wench to.

"I am for I cannot feel a thing." He smiled.

Milo leaned over whispering to Carly, "We gave him a shot of morphine. He's not feeling any pain."

"Tell the soldiers not to worry. I think I am floating out of here…" Damian eye's lifted to the sky.

"Spinelli! Did you tell them where Jason went?"

Milo appeared again. "We're ready. Carly you'll have to move away."

"Where's Jason?"

"The kid gave us Jason's phone. Max is following the GPS signal to Elizabeth's car." He pointed, "That way."

Carly scrambled off the SUV and stood a safe distance away. She looked at her shoes. If she wandered into the woods her Cavalli's would get ruined!

The revving of an engine and whining of the wench produced a satisfying thud when the three intact tires hit the dirt. The SUV was righted. Carly ran to Damian's side. She spoke to him through broken glass while Milo and another man worked to free him.

"You're going to be ok. Everything is going to be fine."

The hacker's wet eyes drifted to her voice. "Don't kill her…"

"What? Don't kill who?"

"Don't kill her… she's not alone…he needs her… I know what it is to grow up without a mother…"

"Why would Jason kill Elizabeth?" But Spinelli was gone to dreamland.

Jason was done waiting.

The boy was like a nail in his foot. No matter what plan Jason thought up it always went back around to the boy. What to do with the boy!

"Come here."

Samantha's eyes widened. Who, me? She gulped, accidentally knocking over her juice box.

Jason waited for the woman to stand and join him. He took her by the arm and led Samantha outside.

"But Leo, what are you going to do with Leo? You told him to get a toy. Are we going somewhere?"

They reached Claudia's car. Jason popped the trunk. "Get in."

Despite her fear, Samantha cooperated. "What about Leo?" She looked up from the inside of the trunk and kept looking after the lid when down and everything went black.

Leo came outside carrying his stuffed monkey. "Where's Aunt Sammy?"

"Come with me. We're going to look for your mom."

With some hesitancy Leo approached Jason. The mobster didn't ask for the child's hand but the boy trustingly put his inside Jason's solid palm.

"Ok."

...

Claudia started screaming.

"What?"! Elizabeth couldn't tell what wrong.

"Spider!"

Ready to not believe her Elizabeth checked. At first she didn't see anything but then a furry leg moved near the Raven's shoulder.

Elizabeth screamed! They both screamed. Then Elizabeth laughed. She couldn't help it. It baffled Claudia who wiggled, despite the pain, trying to get away from the arachnid. "Get it away from me! Dear Lord, get it away!" Adrenaline wiped out her pain.

Still giggling. "It's just that you are scarier that that ugly thing." With the toe of her boot Elizabeth flicked the spider away.

Claudia composed herself. The pain settled into a steady throbbing she tried shoving it toward the back of her mind. "Aren't you going to kill it?"!

"No,"

With all that had recently coursed in her veins like a cocktail: anxiety, fear, panic, numbing pain, Claudia still had the good sense to kept her mouth shut and not make any demands of Elizabeth. She bit her tongue and watched the creature crawl into shadow.

Looking up at the light, the nurse complained, "There has to be away out of here."

"You've looked." The more she ignored the pain the dizzier Claudia got. She felt loopy.

The light seemed to be fading. Who knows what kind of insects would show themselves when the light was gone?

"How do you know Samantha McCall? Was she in on it all along?"

"Sam was never a part of anything. She's my sister."

"You're sister? Is Anthony her father too?"

"No. Sam and I were separated when our parents died. I knew Sam had been adopted by a couple with the last name McCall. We only recently found each other again. I saw her daughter's obituary and realized she was here. Amazing how much of the paper you'll read when you're in hiding out…"

Elizabeth didn't want to give up. She started piling up some dirt and rock to see if at a higher perch she could get a better grip on a solid root.

"… I never wanted to hurt you Elizabeth. I swear. I was getting so close to finding my son. Daddy, Anthony, was letting his guard down and trusting me. I'd brainwashed my own head into doing unspeakable things but it was in the name of rescuing my son."

"He would hurt his own flesh and blood?"

"Johnny is his son, his first born with his wife. But Johnny doesn't want anything to do with the business. Daddy thought I'd try to use Leo to take over his empire so he shipped off his own son to protect it while he worked on Johnny. The man is sick." Using all her energy to talk, Claudia paused to catch her breath. "It took sickness to out smart him. You have to understand, I did it for Leo." Eyes filled with tears again. "I had to turn myself into the child worthy of Daddy's territory. I had to pretend I didn't care where my son was or who he was with. I had to pretend I loved Anthony. But there is no pretending with him. You either do or you don't…" Claudia's eyes glazed over the more she sunk into the ruins of her life. "He started to believe me… I started to believe me. He left me alone in his office…. Eventually I found out where my son was… Then Anthony decided to start a war with Corinthos…"

"And I got caught in the crossfire."

"No." Claudia looked up at Elizabeth. Her black eyes looked dead serious, "you were targeted. You were a way to weaken Sonny by diverting Jason's attention." Claudia's gaze drifted as she remembered her father ranting in the archway of the burning mansion, "I guess that backfired." She smiled. "Literally." Looking at Elizabeth again, "He was going to kill you. I thought I could stall by saying we'd have you trafficked. I knew you were a mom too."

Raising her auburn brow in doubt, "So you were trying to save me?"

Claudia's head wobbled like a drunk's," yeah, but I wanted you for my own bargaining chip too. If I got Leo back I would trade you for our safe passage out of Port Charles and away from Daddy."

Elizabeth was reminded again just how demented the Raven is. "You're sick."

Wild eyes looked up, "I know."

She must have suffered a great deal, Elizabeth thought. Something changed in Elizabeth. She felt revulsion still but the hate had dissipated. Sorrow and pity took its place.

"Look, Jason will find me again. You can tell all this to him and see if it makes a difference."

"It won't.

Elizabeth looked at her. She was probably right but Elizabeth didn't feel like agreeing and she wasn't sure what she'd do about it.

"He'll kill me. Leo will be alone." Sudden panic hit Claudia's face, "He'll kill Leo! It's what Anthony would do! He'll kill Leo! He'll kill Leo! Jason will kill Leo!" her ranting grew more frantic. "He'll kill Leo! He'll kill Leo. Daddy. Don't! Don't kill him!"

Elizabeth rushed over. Claudia was going into shock. Pain, blood loss and the thought of her child's murder sent her over the edge. The Raven freed her legs from the dirt. Pain didn't slow her down, Claudia thrashed. Elizabeth was forced to hold her down in an attempt to calm the woman.

"He won't kill him. I promise, your son will be fine… I promise, Jason won't kill him…"

The pair flayed about but slowly Claudia calmed as Elizabeth's words penetrated… "You promise? You promise Leo will be ok?"

"I do."

"On your son's life you promise Leo will be ok?"

"I promise Jason will not hurt your son, on my son's life, I promise he won't."

Claudia's head sunk as she passed out. Elizabeth slapped her cheeks, "Hey, hey, wake up. You, wake up!" She shook her a little. "Whatever your name is, wake up!"

Claudia came to. "Ow," and with it returned the throbbing pain.

Elizabeth continued to hold the Raven. Their breathing calmed to a steady rhythm. Human contact was all they had no matter the circumstance.

"What's your name by the way?"

Then, like honey, a sound dripped down into the cavern as if answering Elizabeth: "Mommy?"

Leo's little face peered over the edge followed by Jason's. The hugging women looked up into the faded light.

To heck with the shoes! Carly ran through the woods. Jason could buy her another pair.

Damian didn't make any sense but it sounded like someone was going to kill Elizabeth and leave her son motherless. Leaving Jason Elizabeth-less was also a concern. She wouldn't give a hoot if the twit left Jason broken hearted but she wouldn't let her leave a martyr to his love! Jason wouldn't survive that!

Carly stumbled upon the lane and followed it to the little cabin. Max already sent the men off searching in different direction. The one lookout left behind greeted her.

"Don't worry Mrs. Corinthos, we'll find them."

"Well, why aren't you out looking?"

"I'm watching the house in case they come back."

"I'll watch the house! You go out there and find Jason and Elizabeth! Now!"

"But ma'am. Max ordered me to stay here."

"Well, do something! Don't just stand here!" He didn't move. "I swear I will tell my husband you refused to help search! I swear I-"

"Yes ma'am!" The guard took a step not knowing which way to go.

"Look for clues!"

The man took a few more tentative steps staying close to the area. Carly watched him ready to give a stern look if he stopped looking. She folded her arms and leaned against the sedan.

"Carly."

The blond jumped. Looking around, there was no one there. The sound was muffled, probably the wind whistling.

"Carly…"

"Who is that?"

"I'm in here. It's Sam. I'm in the trunk."

"What the hell?" Carly looked at the car she'd been propped against. "Why are you in there?"

"Get me out! I didn't know who was out there so I didn't say anything."

Carly went to the driver's side and pulled the lever. The trunk lid lifted. A stiff and sweaty Samantha climbed out and shut the trunk staying low. "Where's the guard?"

Carly put her hands on her hips. "I'm making him be useful. Idiots didn't find you! I knew they'd need me. What were you doing in there?"

"Jason put me in there."

Carly was ready to scream for help. Before she could Sam's hand covered Carly's mouth, "shhhh! I can explain."

"You better." Carly mumbled between Sam's fingers. She didn't understand why he'd do it but if Jason shoved Sam in the trunk it was for a good reason.

Carly took a step away and looked over her shoulder for help. The guard must have moved towards the back of the house.

"I don't know what you know, but Claudia is my sister. I am not involved with anything she's done but Jason has her son right now. If he does anything to that little boy, I swear- I swear Carly- I'll kill Jason my self! I'm not letting another child die! Can you help me find Jason and Leo? You can talk Jason down. Please. He'll listen to you."

"Wait, so you're say Jason has a little kid with him? Who is Claudia? Your sister?"

Stomping her foot in frustration, she grabbed Carly's arm, "I'll explain again on the way."

After circling the house the scout returned ready to manufacture clues for Carly's sake but he didn't need to. She was gone.

"Leo, baby…. My sweet boy…" Claudia didn't believe he was real. The air around her moved in ripples like heat waves. She was in a dream.

"Jason!" Elizabeth called out.

"Elizabeth, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. But I can't get out!"

"Mommy!" the boy sounded more worried. "Is my mommy in there?"

"She's fine," Elizabeth called up. "She hurt her arm but she's ok."

"Mommy!" The boy started to shake.

Jason watched the boy go into a panic attack. "It's ok," he soothed. Jason sat back on the grass and held the boy's shoulders forcing Leo to look at him. "She said your mom is ok Leo." Tears streamed down his pale little cheeks. "You're mom is fine. Nothing is going to happen to her." For now.

"Mmm, m-mommy. I want my m-mommy."

"Take a breath for me Leo. Can you count with me? Do you know your numbers? One… Two…"

"Mommy!" the boy wept.

Claudia could hear her son crying but it was still a dream to her. "I'm sorry Leo…" she muttered.

"Come on Leo, what comes after two?"

The boy pulled away from Jason but Jason brought him in closer, hugged him. "It's ok. Don't be scared. I'm going to need your help to get your mom out of there, ok?"

The boy tried to gather himself. He needed to help his mom. Nodding, "Three. Three comes after two."

"I think counting to ten only works with me." Carly pulled herself through a hedge. Sam followed. Both women were covered in pine needles and spider webs.

"Carly, what are you doing here? Sam?"

"What's going on up there?" Elizabeth felt like things were turning chaotic. The Raven was still rambling. She needed to get to a hospital. "Jason!"

"Are they down there?" Sam asked urgently. Then she spotted Leo tucked in Jason's arms and froze not wanting to make any sudden moves.

Clueless to the child's panic attacks Carly went right up to him and asked, "Is this Leo? I've been hearing a lot about you. You are one brave little boy." He was too shy to look at the blonde and leaned into Jason instead. "Leo, look who I have. It's your aunt."

Sam knelt in the grass. "Leo honey. Come to me Leo."

Jason held the boy tighter for just a second. He was leverage but the thought was fleeting. The mobster let Leo go.

"Aunt Sammy? Mommy's in the hole."

"Come here baby."

The boy walked slowly to his aunt dragging his stuffed monkey behind him. Samantha scooped Leo up when the boy reached her. She considered running but couldn't abandon Claudia. Leo might be the only thing keeping her sister alive.

"Are they in there? Are they ok?" Carly looked over the edge of the pit.

Jason answered simply, "yes." He stood up. "Where are Max and the guys? We need a rope."

"Out here somewhere. They fanned out. What are we going to do Jason? My phone hasn't got a signal."

"Wait for help." Jason looked over the edge. "Elizabeth, I'm coming down."

"You can't. The walls are too soft."

Jason swung his legs over the lip. He tested a protruding root. It would hold. He lowered himself and felt for another hold. Elizabeth would not have to wait alone trapped with Claudia Zachara.

"Elizabeth, move to the side. Get out from under me."

"If you fall Jason…"

"I won't. I'm coming down." He looked back at Carly while he still could see her. "Call out every 30 seconds so they can find us." Looking for Samantha. "Sam. If anything happens to Carly…"

"I'm not going to do anything Jason! It's ok Leo, Jason is going to save your mommy. Aren't you Jason?"

He found his next footing and a place to hold on to and disappeared into the hole.

Carly turned to Samantha, "Would you die for love?" She folded her arms over her chest.

The brunette's brow lowered in confusion, "why?"

The blonde looked over at the edge of the pit, "because he would."

Samantha assumed it was jealousy that made Carly sound bitter about something so romantic.

Within minutes Jason was able to fall the rest of the way to the bottom. He landed on his feet with a thud. Elizabeth rush to him and Jason wrapped his arms around her. Their embraced put the earth back on its axis.

"Are you sure you're ok?"

"I'm fine. But how are we getting out of here now that you are in here too?"

They heard Carly call out again. It let Jason know she was ok too.

"Max will find us." Nodding to Claudia, "How is she?"

"It's her Jason. She's the one who kidnapped me. Or at least had a part in it. She claims her father did it."

"I know. That's Claudia Zachara."

"You know?"

"Spinelli and I followed a lead and it brought us to her. We were watching the cabin last night. Sam led us to it a few days ago but we never saw who was inside till last night."

"So Samantha really is her sister?"

"Yeah."

"She swears Samantha wasn't in on it." She, the Raven has a name and it's Claudia. Elizabeth was still trying to put a human face on source of her nightmares.

"We can talk about it later." He pulled Elizabeth in closer.

"What are you going to do Jason?"

"What I promised."

Elizabeth pulled away. She wanted to see Jason's face. "Turn her over to the police?"

"Are you sure she's alive?" Jason couldn't see any signs of Claudia breathing.

"She passed out again. She's alive. Do you think you should? Turn her over that is? What will happen to her son?"

"That was our deal."

"But her son."

"Did she have any pity on you?"

"It's not Claudia I'm thinking of, it's Leo I'm concerned with."

Jason brushed a lock of hair away from Elizabeth's face. "Do you want me to let Claudia go?"

"I don't know."

"Jason!" They looked up into the baby face of Max Giambetti. "Heads up." A roped fell in to the pit.

Elizabeth, Carly and Sam all looked at Jason with woeful eyes. They stood around the hole in the ground waiting for Jason to give Max instructions. Would he leave Claudia in the collapsed mining tunnel to die? Carly patted the boys chocolate curls as if reminding Jason why Claudia should live.

Women could be soft, Jason thought, but not when it came to children. All three looked like they would beat him raw if he made the wrong decision.

He turned to Max. "Her arm is broken so be careful when you haul her up."

"You got it boss."

Jason looked back at the women. "I'll work something out." He looked at Leo, "We've got to take your mother to the hospital to fix her arm but you can ride with her, ok?"

Leo nodded and took Sam's hand. "Aunt Sammy too?"

Jason nodded.

~iiOii~

Elizabeth set a bowl of mashed potatoes on the table. Jason followed her with a platter of grilled chicken, steaks and hotdogs then retreated to the backyard for more grilling.

"Come on everybody, time to eat."

The Webber household had become the most lived in and inviting house on the block. As soon as summer hit the grill never seemed to cool off.

Carly picked up her pudgy toddler and went into the kitchen where they gathered around the bowls and plates of food crowding the island counter. She stood next to Elizabeth who cooed at little Morgan. The baby cooed back.

"Has he still not asked you?"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and picked up a hotdog bun. "No Carly, he hasn't."

"It's about damn time don't you think? I mean the man practically lives here, doesn't he?"

Elizabeth's smile couldn't be any cuter, "yes. But so?"

"And he hasn't figured it out?"

"Figured what out?" Sonny entered the room with his arm around Michael.

"That Jason is an idiot." Only Carly could talk that way.

"My brother is an idiot." Emily joined Elizabeth in making a hotdog for Spencer. She looked at Carly, "can you believe he still hasn't asked her?"

Sarah joined them. "Hasn't asked who what?" Carly and Emily gave her 'the look'. "Oh that. Nope, not to my knowledge he hasn't. Has he sis?"

"I'm getting outta here." Sonny made sure he had enough on his plate for him and Michael. "Come on son, we are out numbered. Let's get while the gettin's good." Michael laughed and followed his father back outside.

"He wants to take things slow." Elizabeth put a ready hotdog on Spencer's plate next the one Emily prepared. "Can you take this to Cameron? Thank you Spencer."

The blond little one in his formal BBQ attire dutifully brought his dinner outside to share with his friend.

Elizabeth reached for Morgan. "Let me take this cutie so you can make a plate."

Carly let her son go and put a scoop of potatoes and salad on a plate. "I don't understand. All the legal stuff is done with the Zachara's yeah?"

"The piers all belong to Sonny now. Johnny Zachara is keeping the motorcycle repair shop. I don't know what Claudia and Samantha kept." Elizabeth was matter of fact. Over the months she'd gotten used to the fact she lived in the same town as the Raven but it never felt normal.

"They kept a house and Claudia got an old cobbler shop. She's going to design shoes."

They all looked at Sarah. How did she know so much?

"Sorry, I accidentally went into her shop when my heel broke." Her expression turned helpless, "she's making me the most fabulous pair of red pumps. I think she's gonna give Jimmy Choo a run for his money." They all stared. "What? I'm serious. I think we should invest."

"What about Samantha?" Emily still couldn't find a way to forgive Jason's former houseguest.

"Isn't she starting up a PI business with Damian?"

"Yes, she is." They all looked at Jason who'd come in without a sound and startled them all. He didn't like the way all four women were staring at him. Had he done something wrong? "Is the chicken not cooked enough?"

"Jason don't you-! Ouch" Carly clammed up when Elizabeth kicked her shin.

"Leave it be Carly," Elizabeth warned.

"The chicken is fine Jason."

"Yes, everything is wonderful Jase. Thanks for grilling again." Em licked ketchup off her finger.

Sarah looked up innocently, "are there any buns… in the oven?" All female heads turned to gawk at her audacity! Sarah looked back at them, "what, I thought I saw garlic bread?"

Elizabeth's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Oh, yes!" She handed Morgan back to his mother flew into the kitchen to retrieve the bread from the oven. It wasn't quite burnt, totally salvageable.

"Can I help?" Jason came up behind her and put his hands on her hips.

"No thanks, I got it. Rescued in the nick of time."

She tingled all over when Jason kissed her neck. "Are those woman giving you a hard time?" He was aware of them all staring from the dining area.

"No, I can handle them. But when are you gonna man up and let them know?"

If Jason could have his way, "Never."

Elizabeth lowered her voice, "I'm going to start showing soon."

"Can't we just tell them you're getting fat?"

Elizabeth laughed and bumped him with her hip. All the bread was cut now and in the basket. She turned under his arms to face her husband. "You big chicken." Elizabeth kissed Jason. He tasted as delicious as ever.

They could hear the faint sound of Carly, Emily and Sarah all emitting a swooning 'awe…'.

He grinned and kissed Elizabeth before whispering in her ear, "I'd rather toss myself on the grill with the steaks than tell Carly we eloped so she can't be Best Person."

Jason palm moved from her hips to Elizabeth's belly. Under his hand grew a miracle. It made Jason want to cry every time he thought about the baby growing in his wife's belly.

"OH MY GOD!" "You already know!" "He knows?"! Sarah, Emily and Carly hollered all at once! That small gesture was all the proof they needed. Carly put Morgan down in his highchair so she put her hands on her hips like the other scolding women.

Elizabeth laughed at the look of shock on Jason's face. She nodded an affirmation towards the pack of women, then winked, "we're married too."

Gawking at his wife's betrayal, "you didn't."

Carly growled, Sarah screamed, Emily blustered and they started to move towards the couple.

"I did. Cat's out of the bag Husband." Elizabeth pushed her husband away and yelled, "RUN!"

Jason took off with all three women chasing him. Cameron came in where they'd gone out.

"Mommy, why awe they chasing Jason?"

She took the bread to the counter and checked on Morgan. Patting her son's head Elizabeth looked at him with pride. "You can call Jason daddy now if you still want to."

"It's not a secwet any more?"

"Nope. If we want to we can shout it to the world how much we love Jason."

He giggled. "Reawy?"

Suddenly Jason ran in from a side door. For the moment he thought he lost the angry mob.

"Hey guys. Hide me?"

"Mommy says it's not a secwet any more."

"Should we tell him then?" Elizabeth asked her son.

"Yeah!" the boy bounced with joy. "We love you daddy!"

"Louder!," Elizabeth demanded and scooped up her boy.

"WE LOVE YOU DADDY!" the said together.

Jason pulled his new family into a hug and told them, "I love you guys too, very much."

/The End/

thank you to iteach who helped so much with the editing and continuity~ and thank you to all the readers who made it all the way through to the end with me! First story I've completed