"Oh, I see." Elizabeth bowed her head in shame and tried to move off the bed, but Jason was quicker and even though he was weak, he was still much stronger.

"Listen Elizabeth, this isn't how I want this to happen. I know you." He sighed, tilting her head so she was forced to look at him. "You want candles and music and little rose peddles on the bed." He touched a soft mahogany curl that fell from her forehead, played with it between his fingers, then brushed it past her ear. Molding his hand to her cheek, his fingers brushed the delicate curve of her jaw. "You want me to speak French, Spanish, Italian softly into your ear," his words mimicked his actions, and she could feel his breath skim the tip of her ear, it sent a shiver down her spine,"but I don't know any other language. You want someone that doesn't have calloused hands and blood on their fingers...someone who isn't a killer. I can't give you what you need."

She attempted to sit up and he loosed his grip to allow it. "Jason, be quiet," she demanded, pressing a finger to his surprisingly soft lips. "Listen to me, and I mean really listen." He nodded in agreement and so she went on. "I love your hands and I know you've done things you're not proud of, but it was all to protect me. Do you know how amazing that feels? To know someone cares. To know that you care. I don't need candles or music or even foreign words, I just need you."

"We have plenty of time then." he smiled and held her close again. "It doesn't have to be this second, when you're still afraid and I'm still hurt."

Elizabeth's face flamed red. "I got a little carried away. I'm sorry if I hurt you."

"Don't worry about it," he said and kissed the top of her head.

Pushing the hospital gown back down, Elizabeth's eyes widened. "Jason, you're bleeding!"

Looking down, Jason surveyed the damage. "It's all right, I probably tore a few stitches."

"Don't act all nonchalant about this, you're probably in pain. I'm going to get the doctor."

"Elizabeth."

"Don't argue with me," she said sternly as she climbed out of bed and went to search out a doctor.

A few minutes later, Elizabeth was back, her face ashen, leading a doctor by the arm into Jason's room.

"Miss Webber tells me you think you may have torn some stitches," the doctor said, as he crossed to Jason and pulled out his suture kit.

"It's not a big deal."

Lifting up the gown, then unwrapping the wound, the doctor looked astonished. "How did this happen?"

Elizabeth looked at Jason guiltily. He smiled wickedly and pointed in her direction. "Ask her." Jason chuckled and then cursed himself when the movement brought a fresh wave of pain.

Elizabeth opened her mouth on a soundless protest, sending him a deadly stare.

"Listen doc, is there any hope of being released today?" Jason asked.

"Son, you've just survived a bullet to the chest, a trip to the E.R. and torn five stitches. Do you really expect me to release you?"

"I could take care of him," Elizabeth piped up. "I'll do everything you tell me, I promise."

"Normally, I wouldn't even think of it, but he does seem remarkably alert for a man in his condition. And given that your family does make quite generous donations, I suppose I could just this one time. But only because you father has been so good to all of us here. Are you sure you'll be able to handle it?"

"I know I can."

"All right then, I'll have the nurse draw up the papers." The doctor scribbled out an unreadable prescription for pain killers with jet black ink over a flesh-pink piece of stationary and handed it over to Elizabeth. "Keep the wound clean and don't let him get up for a few days. The nurse will tell you everything you need to do when she brings the papers for you to sign. He needs to rest and something tells me he's not going to be the easiest of patients. You're going to have you hands full," the pleasantly older doctor said, with a quick wink.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure he's taken care of," she replied just as sweetly.

-

After what seemed like a long car ride, Johnny and Elizabeth helped Jason up the steps, bracing his weight as they went.

"I can stay in my own room," Jason protested as they rounded the corner and entered Elizabeth's bedroom retreat.

"No you can't. You're room is drafty and small and impersonal. My room is-"

"Pink," he interrupted.

Sending Jason a warning look, she continued as if he'd never spoken at all. "Cozy and warm and yeah, it's pink, but if you shut your eyes and be a good little patient, you won't even notice."

Johnny dropped Jason's bag to the floor and lead him over to the bed, dropping him down to the soft mattress with a tired grunt. "You're a lot heavier than you look Morgan."

"Thanks Johnny," Elizabeth chirped.

Jason groaned, rubbing his side. "Johnny, tell her I can stay in my own room."

"Don't you dare Johnny. Come on Morgan, let me take care of you like you promised."

His lips curved up into a cocky smirk. "I wouldn't wan to break a promise." Leaning in for a kiss, his lips were nearly to hers when the sound of Johnny clearing his throat brought him back to reality. "Sorry Johnny, forgot you were there."

--

A few weeks went by and Elizabeth continued to pamper Jason. She tortured him with gallons of soup and flirted until he thought he would spring from the bed and pull her down to make love, not caring if he tore every last stitch in his body. In all reality, he was healed, but Elizabeth insisted that he stay in her room still, while she treated him like an invalid and milked the nurse routine she had going for all it was worth. The truth was, she liked taking care of him. Liked having a purpose. They'd had the best talks of their lives seated on her double bed while she fed him, or read him a travel book. Even the silences were close to her heart, or the times she watched him sleep or curled up beside him, running her fingers through his hair that was made soft without all the sticky gel he usually used. She liked the feel of it, the way it slid through her fingers and more importantly, she liked what it did to him. She could see the goose bumps rise on his skin and felt a sense of power that she could do to him what he'd always done to her. Most of all she felt loved.

"Jason, you're feeling better right?" Elizabeth asked, as she slid onto the bed.

Yawning, he spread his arms out and stretched."Yeah, I'm feeling great."

"Good, then I think we should make love," she told him bluntly.

"What?" he nearly choked, twisting in bed so he could see her face.

"I just thought since you're feeling better and we love each other that maybe we could, you know. You want me, don't you?"

Jason let out a long, harsh breath. "Christ Elizabeth, that's not the point. We can't...we just can't. Not here in your pink room, in your father's house."

Slightly pouting and looking damn sexy doing it, Elizabeth protested, "Why not?

"For one thing, Johnny's right outside that door, do you want him to know what we're doing in here?"

Elizabeth jumped off the bed and went to the door, cracking it open and poking her head out. "Johnny, why don't you go downstairs. I think Max might need some help with...uh surveillance?" When Johnny looked at her skeptically, she smiled sweetly at him. "It's okay, really, Jason's with me."

"Sure, Miss Webber, whatever you want," Johnny agreed and headed down the stairs.

Closing and locking the door, Elizabeth made her way back to the bed.

Jason sat up in bed, sweeping his hand over his face. "Elizabeth, why did you do that?"

"Well, like you said, I don't want him to know what we're doing in here, even though I think he has a pretty good idea."

"This isn't going to happen" Jason said resigned, his eyes flashing dark when she didn't even blink. Apparently Elizabeth Webber was on a mission and that meant she was not going to give up until she got what she wanted. "I don't even have anything."

Crawling over to him, she practically purred. "Jason, it's safe."

"Elizabeth," he said sternly, watching as she settled herself in his lap.

"What?" she said innocently batting her eyelashes at him.

"You, Elizabeth Webber, are going to get me in some serious trouble."

Kissing his neck and playfully tugging on his earlobe, she spoke softly. "Trouble is good sometimes."

Jason rolled his eyes, desperately trying to make her listen to reason. "Not when your father is Sonny Corinthos."

"You really know how to turn a girl off Morgan," Elizabeth huffed mockingly, sitting back so she could look into his eyes, "bring up her father when she's trying to have her way with you, that's a surefire way to ruin the mood."

"I have to do what I have to do Ma'am," he drawled, kissing the tip of her nose.

Smiling, she pulled him closer, whispering, "you think that's cute, don't you?"