Lerdo123
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(2/4/04 1:41 pm)
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Surfacing (Flash Fic #66) [Liason]
A/N: This was written in response to a flash fic prompt at The Canvas. The prompt was: "Why me?"
Ric Lansing kept a vigil beside his wife's hospital bed and prayed that she wouldn't remember the last thing she'd seen before she'd collapsed—Carly in the panic room. If she just forgot that tiny detail, his plan could still succeed. On the other hand, if she happened to remember, well, it could ruin everything he'd worked so hard for. Much as he loved Elizabeth, he couldn't let that happen. Sonny had to pay; if other people were caught in the crossfire, that was a price Ric was willing to pay.
“Elizabeth, honey, you're going to be fine,” he murmured, smoothing her hair back from her forehead. “You just need to concentrate on getting better. Please open those beautiful blue eyes and look at me. If you do that, I know everything will be just fine.”
He watched her carefully for signs that she was regaining consciousness, but her breathing stayed slow and even, and when he squeezed her hand, she didn't respond. Sighing, he looked at his watch. He'd better go and check on Carly. Given what had almost happened that very day, he didn't want to take any chances.
After pressing a soft kiss to Elizabeth's pale cheek, he said goodbye and left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.
****
Once she was sure Ric had really left her room, Elizabeth sat up gingerly. Her head felt like it was swathed in layers of thick cotton, and it nearly hurt to think. It had taken every bit of self-control she possessed to lie still while that monster had touched her. But there was too much at stake. She shuddered involuntarily at the thought of the man she'd married—the man she'd trusted with her body, mind, and heart. The urge to cry was nearly overwhelming, but she shoved it back mercilessly. There would be time enough for that later. For now, she knew what she had to do.
Elizabeth pressed the call button and waited impatiently for a nurse to arrive. A young auburn-haired nurse stepped into her room five minute later.
“Mrs. Lansing, you're awake. Your husband will be so relieved to hear that. He asked us to call him immediately if there was any change in your condition.” She smiled and approached Elizabeth. “Let me take your vitals and then call him. A doctor will be in to see you shortly.”
When the nurse reached for Elizabeth's wrist in order to take her pulse, she yanked her hand away. “Please don't call my husband. I need you to page my grandmother, Audrey Hardy. It's an emergency; I have to talk to her immediately.” Her voice was low and urgent. She grabbed the nurse's arm and looked directly into her green eyes, trying to impress upon her the importance of doing what she'd asked. “Please page my grandmother. It's a matter of life and death. I have to see her right now.”
The nurse stepped back, startled. “Ok, Mrs. Lansing. I'll page her. Please try to stay calm. You've had an embolism, and it won't do you any good to get excited.”
Elizabeth shook her head in frustration. There was no telling how much time they had left.“Go. Now.” The tone of her voice brooked no argument.
The nurse nodded and left her room.
Now that that was done, the burst of adrenaline that had been keeping her up started to fade, and sitting upright became too much of an effort. She slid down until she was lying on her back again and waited for her grandmother to arrive.
Fortunately, she didn't have to wait long. The door to her room swung open and her grandmother bustled into the room. “Oh, Elizabeth, my darling girl, you're awake! I was so worried.” She wrapped her thin arms around her in a gentle hug that had Elizabeth fighting tears again.
Elizabeth sniffed and cleared her throat. Her grandmother's face looked drawn and tired, and she felt a pang of sadness for having been the cause of that. “I'm sorry I worried you, Grams. But I need you to do something for me. I'm going to give you Jason's number. Please call him right now and tell him I have to see him. Tell him...Tell him it's about Carly.”
“Now Elizabeth, I'm sure you don't need to be mixed up with that young man again. Here, let me call Ric; I'm sure he'll want to be here right away now that you're awake.”
Mustering her strength, Elizabeth raised her voice. “Grandmother, listen to me. Please.” She reached for Audrey's hands and squeezed them tightly. “Do not, under any circumstance, call Ric. I promise I'll explain later, but now isn't the right time for that. Please, you have to call Jason.”
Audrey shook her head and sighed, but she finally met Elizabeth's gaze. Squeezing her hands, she said, “Oh, all right, dear. I'll call Jason for you.”
“Thank you, Grams. Thank you.”
****
Her eyes were just drifting shut when the door to her room opened, jarring her awake. She sat up and rubbed her eyes.
Jason stepped inside, with Audrey right behind him.
“Grams, I need to speak to Jason alone, please.” Her voice was calm but firm.
Her grandmother frowned and looked as if she was about to argue.
“Please. I'll be fine. I promise.” Holding the call button up, she said, “I'll buzz if I need anything.”
Audrey nodded and left.
Jason sat down in the chair that Ric had vacated. His hair was tousled and messy, like it had been in the days when they'd first become friends. In recent days it seemed gelled straight with military precision. She had to admit she preferred it messy. They hadn't been friends in a long time, but she couldn't suppress the pang of concern and sadness she felt when she noted the shadows under his eyes and lines around his mouth.
Jason returned her silent appraisal openly. Her skin had always been polished alabaster, but against the stark white hospital linens, she looked wan and ill. The bed swallowed her tiny frame, and she looked infinitely breakable. It was too little too late, but there was a part of him that still wanted to protect her. She had walked out of his penthouse and his life, but she had never walked out of his heart. She was always there, though he tried hard to live as if she wasn't.
He clenched his fists tightly and forced himself to breathe. Bile rose in his throat at the thought that Ric was somehow responsible for her being in the hospital. Jason was a man who trusted his instincts. They'd proved to be right more times than he could count, and his instincts told him that Ric had put Elizabeth in the hospital...and Ric had Carly.
“Audrey said you needed to see me.”
Elizabeth nodded and squared her shoulders. “Ric has Carly. I...I saw her, right before I collapsed.” She bowed her head and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “He chained her to the wall in a panic room. It's hidden in the left side of the living room.”
She blew out a shaky breath. “I know you can't stay. I just...I'm sorry, Jason. I didn't know. I really thought that he didn't have anything to do with it.” Her voice broke.
Jason's stomach clenched at the defeated note in her voice. He knew she was doubting herself, questioning her judgment. But it wasn't her fault. Her only crime was loving a man who was psychotic.
Leaning forward, he tilted her chin until he could look directly into her eyes. They were swimming with tears but still so beautiful that it hurt to look at them. “It's not your fault, Elizabeth.”
She shook her head. “Why me? I ruined what we had, and I knew Ric was obsessed with Sonny. Why did I take him back?”
“Hey. Listen to me. This is not your fault. And what happened with us, it wasn't your fault either.” He leaned back in his chair and rubbed the back of his neck. The familiar motion made Elizabeth's heart constrict. “You were right. I should have trusted you. I should have told you the truth about Sonny. And I shouldn't have let you walk out. I'll always...”
Shaking his head, he rose from the chair.
“You'll always what, Jason?” Elizabeth asked, holding her breath, afraid to hope.
“Thank you for telling me about Carly. I have to find her now,” he replied, already striding toward the door. “She's already been waiting too long.”
The tiny spark of hope in Elizabeth was extinguished by his words.
At the last second he turned and looked at her. “But this isn't finished. I'll be back.”
Elizabeth smiled, believing he meant it. But then the smile disappeared and she picked at the coarse sheet covering her. “About Ric—do what you have to do.”
The words hung between them, echoing in the silence. Jason nodded and left.
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