Author's Note: So I left it at a bad place...and I know, dramatic much? Anyway, I think you'll like the outcome of this chapter much better...Review, please!


Jason had just shut the door of penthouse two when he heard his name being called from across the hall. Opening the door again, he saw Elizabeth standing in the doorway across the hall, looking frantic. "What's wrong?"He asked, concerned.

Shaking her head, she made her way towards him. "I..I don't know. I said good night to you, and when I went into the house, things were..scattered. Pictures...on the floor-"She said, shaking her head as tears spilled from her eyes. "Jason..."

His eyes grew cold, holding her back as he stepped inside the penthouse. Scanning the room, he saw toys crashed on the floor, picture frames broken. Stepping over a chair that had been toppled over, he turned back towards her. "Stay there. Actually...go across the hall. I'll be back in a minute..."

"Who did this?"Elizabeth asked, voicing the question on his mind.

"Just go over there, Elizabeth. Whoever it was might be here still."Jason said, eyes softening as he walked back towards her. He placed his hands on her shoulders, nodding. "You'll be okay."

"I'm...sorry. I'm-"

"Shh-Just...I'll be back."He warned, turning to head up the stairs. His hand bracing himself on the wall, he didn't hear any sign of commotion. As Jason made his way down the hallway, he came to Cameron's room, to find it completely in order. Frowning, he made his way down the hall further until he came to Elizabeth's room. Hesitating at the door, he opened it, hand on his holster.

The room for the most part appeared to be in order. But the window was open, curtains blowing in the night breeze. Walking over to shut it, he saw no sign of forced entry-or exit for that matter. The closet was open, boxes pulled down from shelves. The dresser was pretty much the same, save for the bottom drawer in which Elizabeth kept important things-papers, documents, extra money. He'd been the only one to know that fact. Still as he looked through it, an envelope marked "Lucky" was found empty. He figured it must have included some of his things, but it has been ripped open.

Jason's worried went to Lucky at that moment. He knew he was still in rehab, but the idea that it could have possibly been about him sent anger through him. It was Elizabeth's house. Her ties to him had been cut, as far as either of them knew. Still, Jason had to speak with the guards before jumping to any conclusions.


Elizabeth was sitting in the chair of Jason's living room, trying to ignore how much time had passed. Every couple of minutes, she'd turn her head to look at the door, searching for a sign that Jason would come back through. She hated the fact that he had to go in there because of her. Still, the vision of her living room being completely disheveled kept repeating in her mind.

Hearing the door click open, she stood. When she saw Jason shutting the door, she stared at him, confused. "Do you know..."

"I don't know."He said, taking off his jacket. "I talked to Francis, talked to Doug. Neither of them saw anything. Of course, they could have been doing a sweep at the time. But still, I'm...sorry that it happened."

Elizabeth shook her head. "No, Jason. It wasn't your fault."

"Maybe not, but I live in the building. It very well could have been because of me."Jason said, the interaction with Carly coming to mind. He knew to keep his mouth shut, what with two choices in his mind.

"You can't say that...you don't know that. I just don't understand why anyone would do this..."Elizbabeth said as he wrapped his arms around her. She wanted to stay there in his arms, close to him. Because it was there that she felt the most safe. "I'm just glad Cam and I weren't there when it happened."

"Me, too."Jason reassured, rubbing circles on her back. It felt good to hold her close, making sure that she was safe.

Pulling back from Jason, Elizabeth dabbed at her eyes, sighing. "I should probably get over there and start cleaning up. I've got to get to sleep sometime..."She said, fear laced through her voice. When she tried to move past him, Jason stopped her.

"Stay here."Jason said. It seemed more like an order than a suggestion, because Jason knew she wouldn't be able to sleep. "You can clean it up in the morning."

"But what about Cam? I have to get him in the morning from Alexis', if he finds out..."

"He won't have to."Jason assured. "We can clean it up before he gets back."

Elizabeth stared back at him, laughing a little. "I just don't understand why..."

"Which is exactly why you should stay here, Elizabeth. I won't..."Jason paused, realizing what he was about to say.

"You won't what?"Elizabeth asked, curious.

Jason looked away from her, a hint of a smile gracing his face. "...be able to sleep if you aren't safe. I'll sleep on the couch, you can stay upstairs. I'll wake you up in the morning for work if you-"

"Jason, there's no way I'm letting you stay on the couch while I'm upstairs in your bed...I just want to feel safe, if I have to I'll stay with Gram."Elizabeth replied, knowing how it would make him feel. "Keep your bed, I'll be fine."

"Your house was ransacked, Elizabeth. Right now we have no clue as to who did it. I asked you to stay here, I think I'd be okay with sleeping on the couch for a night or two."Jason said, hands making contact with her face. "If it means you're safe."

Nodding, Elizabeth tried to ignore the feeling Jason's hands on her face was giving her. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips as she cleared her throat. "Fine. I'll stay. Tonight...I think I'll be fine tomorrow..."She said. "But you're not sleeping on the couch."

"Elizabeth-"Jason protested, wanting to make sure she was comfortable first. As Elizabeth's finger flew to his lips, he couldn't help but be pleased at the contact.

"We're adults, Jason. And we're friends...clearly we won't get any sleep if we don't find some sort of compromise."Elizabeth said, sighing. "I'm going to grab some clothes, I'll be back."

"Wait-"Jason said, the scene of her bedroom flashing in his mind. He knew that she was a little more settled now, but he was sure that if she saw the scene alone, she'd go over the edge. "The whole..scene thing. I'm sure I've got something you can fit into."

She could tell that he was making excuses, but Elizabeth perked up at the idea of cuddling up in one of his shirts. "I'm not going to talk you out of this, am I?"

"Nope. I'm going to talk to the guards...you can go up and take a shower."Jason said, heading past her.


Elizabeth stared back at herself in the bathroom mirror, wiping the steam off. She saw herself practically swimming in a gray T-shirt and a pair of boxers. She felt a little bare, but knew that it was for the best. The last thing she wanted was to sleep in a place that had been broken into. As the thought crossed her mind, the scent of the shirt she was wearing greeted her. Jason. It was all Jason.

She made her way to the bedroom, sighing as she looked at the bed. It wouldn't be that hard, right? She and Jason were on the verge of something more than friendship, so obviously it would be a little awkward, but the safety of knowing Jason was beside her was worth it.

When Jason returned to the bedroom, he found Elizabeth putting lotion on her legs. He found himself staring at her, admiring the fact that she could stand strong even in the face of fear. The way she sat, wearing his clothes, the way the shirt clung to her shoulders, but seemed to flow freely everywhere else-it was a bit intoxicating.

"Is something wrong?"Elizabeth asked, putting her lotion back in her purse.

"No, No..."Jason said, blinking. "It's just...you're on my side of the bed."

"Oh. Oh, um..."Elizabeth said, scooting over to the other side.

"I didn't mean for you to move. You don't have to."Jason assured her.

Elizabeth stood, walking towards him. "You've done so much for me. In the past few months, you've been a really great person to me. And I love you for it. The least I can do is give you your side of the bed. Even?"

Jason nodded, his lids growing hazy. "Fine with me."

While she wasn't sure why it happened, Elizabeth's lips slowly moved towards his, searching for something, anything. She needed Jason, needed proof that everything would be okay. As Elizabeth felt his tongue gliding against hers, she let out an exhausted moan. His hands moved against the cotton fabric of the shirt she wore, causing shivers to run through her. A dull ache filled her, and she realized what she'd been missing.

It felt like home. Jason pulled her closer, moving his lips carefully over hers. He wanted her safe, secure. And it became clear as they kissed that the only place she'd be safe was with him. He cleared up any space between them as they clumsily collapsed against the bed. All the pain and fear from before temporarily forgotten, his lips moved to her neck, planting kisses down until her collarbone.

"Jason..."Elizabeth whispered, breathless. She'd never felt happier than in that moment as she felt him hovering over her. Her arms linked around his neck as Elizabeth felt him pull her fully up onto the bed. Her lips parted, a signal she needed him. Something to fill a void that she knew existed. Elizabeth knew Jason filled it-it'd been that way all along. She knew her apartment had been broken into-she had no clue who did it. But as she felt Jason's lips again greet hers, she decided she'd never felt more at home.