Johnny waited impatiently for Jason Morgan to arrive. As he paced back and forth along the dust covered concrete, trying to calm his already frazzled nerves, the mob boss to be scanned his surroundings, shaking his head, chastising himself, because he had been deluded enough to think that this would be his way out of the mob. Initially, this old garage had seemed like the perfect solution to change his career path, but, once Claudia died, the young Zacchara knew that this 'dream' would never come to fruition.

The brooding brunette knew where his place laid and that was as the head of the Zacchara organization. It was his legacy to bear, and Sonny Corinthos was not going to stand in his way. Johnny knew that the true force behind the Corinthos-Morgan organization was one very no nonsense blond. Now, to convince Jason Morgan he was up for the task at hand. And, as the young Zacchara continued with his musings on how to convince Sonny's ex-enforcer that he should join forces with him, he heard the roar of a very loud, very powerful motorcycle approach. Hearing no other sounds, he assumed the mob boss had abided by his wishes and came alone. Johnny checked for his gun that was resting snugly within his jeans, burning a figurative hole in his lower back.

Taking a deep breath, the young man waited for his…. What was Jason Morgan? His adversary? His ally? Well, at that point, he was the man that held the young Zacchara's future in his hand. Hearing the crunching of gravel as the older man approached, Johnny decided to sit on the tool bench positioned in the back of the garage, his back to the wall so as to give him some feeling of control, however fleeting it might have been.

Jason Morgan entered through the side door to the right of the larger garage opening meant for cars in need of repair, his gun drawn, surveying the room for any 'unwelcoming' visitors. Quickly, finding no one else there, the mob boss turned his attention to the young man in the back of the room. Nodding in recognition, the ex-enforcer checked the safety on his weapon, engaged it, and returned it to its place in the back of his jeans. Once his weapon was secured, the blond crossed his arms over his chest, raising his eyebrow in question, implying to the young man before him that he should speak.

Clearing his throat and raising his chin to look the stoic man before him in the eye, appearing more confident than he felt, Johnny said, "Look, Jason, I don't know what you think about me, but I do believe that we can help each other out."

Continuing to stare at the younger man, Jason kept his face impassive, not saying a word.

Standing up, waiting for the mob boss to say something and, after waiting several minutes, realizing the older gentleman was going to remain silent, Johnny continued, "it's no secret that I don't like Sonny. Hell, I despise him. He's erratic, unpredictable, a loose cannon just like my father. I don't trust him, and a part of me believes that you don't trust him anymore either. So, that begs the question, Jason: do you still trust Sonny Corinthos?"

Still the blond remained silent.

Johnny now crossed his arms across his chest, spreading his legs into a power stance, staring at the voiceless man before him, challenging the older gentleman to finally utter a word. And, as he continued to remain silent, the young Zacchara shrugged his shoulders and said, "you know, I would say your silence meant that maybe you don't trust Sonny, but, knowing your penchant for using as few of words as possible, I am not sure what you are thinking."

Finally, Jason spoke. "What I am thinking doesn't really matter right now. What I do want to know is what your intentions are concerning my territory, the Zacchara organization, and Sonny."

Johnny nodded his head in recognition of the mob boss's statement but did not reply right away. Wanting to choose his words carefully, the young Zacchara started to pace, mindful to never turn his back on the ex-enforcer. Taking a deep breath, the brunette stopped pacing and moved to stand directly in front of the stoic blond.

"First, you should know that I don't want a mob war. I have never liked the violence that surrounds the mob. I do realize that it is not always possible, but what I can tell you is that, if I was to run the Zacchara organization, hopefully, with your help, I would try to keep peace as best as possible."

Jason continued to eye the younger man cautiously. Needing more answers, Jason decided it was time to get more specific with his questions. Keeping his protective stance, the mob boss asked, "why me?" Pausing, uncrossing his arms, and taking his right finger to his chest, Jason asked again, "why do you trust me to help you?"

"I know, if it wasn't for you, I would most likely be dead," the young Zacchara answered. "I can tell you are a man of integrity. You think with your head, you're calm, and, for the most part, in control of both your actions and your territory. I was born into a life I never wanted, but it's one I can't escape, and, since it is my cross to bear, I want to do it the best way I know how and the most peaceful way possible. I think with your guidance and support that may be possible, but, without it, I will most likely crash and burn. What you should know is this: whether you help me or not, I am going to get my legacy back from Sonny, and, if that means a mob war, well, then, so be it."

Jason nodded to the brunette, voicing, without words, that he understood.

Johnny realized he had to divulge more information in order to gain the mob boss' support. The younger man took another deep breath and, for the first time, turned to face away from the ex-enforcer. Bending his head downward and walking away from Jason, Johnny took another deep breath and said, "look, Jason, I will admit I need you, and I know you don't know whether to trust me or not. So, I will share with you a burden I have been carrying around for a long time. What you do with this information is up to you. I am only hoping that, if I share this secret with you, you will realize that you can trust me to make things right."

Taking a deep breath, he plunged on. "After I came home from being kidnapped, Claudia was consumed with wanting revenge on Sonny. I tried to get her to let it go, but she wouldn't. So, she ordered the hit at the warehouse, and, before you ask, yes, I knew about the hit, but what neither of us knew was that Michael was going to be there." Pausing, the young Zacchara turned to face the mob boss.

Johnny saw the older man's jaw clenched and his hands start to curl into fists along his sides, so tight that the knuckles were turning white. Still knowing this could mean his ultimate death, the brunette forged on. "We didn't know until after Michael was shot that he had been there, and we were consumed with guilt."

The ex-enforcer continued to remain silent, not able to speak, the rage boiling up within his soul; yet, he stood still, trying to hold his temper in check and fight the urge to pound the boy to death or even reach for his gun and shoot him on sight.

Visibly swallowing, turning his gaze away from Jason, Johnny attempted to quickly finish what he had to say. "After Michael had been shot, Claudia explained why it had been Ian Devlin to do the hit. See, my sister and the Doctor knew each other in Italy. Using their connection, they wanted to start running drugs threw the territory. They knew it wouldn't be possible with Sonny… and you… to do that. At first, Claudia had asked Jerry Jacks, but he wouldn't do it because of Jax, so Dr. Devlin volunteered. Only the good doctor wasn't smart enough to not shoot a gun with a kid around. Then everything went to hell." Pausing, the young man turned to again face the blond. "Look, Jason, I'm not telling you this because I want a death wish; I am telling you this because I want to stop the violence I want things to change. I want 'the danger' that surrounds the mob to lessen. I want to know that kids can be raised around us without dire consequences. Think about if you had a son knowing what you know. Wouldn't you want things to be better? That's what I want, and I think, if the two of us work together, we can do just that."

Finally finishing everything he had to say, Johnny waited, hoping that his confession did not mean his death. Yet, even if it did, the young Zacchara stood his ground, feeling good about finally unburdening himself with the secrets from his past. The brunette knew the outcome now could go either way - his demise or the ex-enforcers trust.

Jason didn't react at first. The fury he was feeling at that moment was bubbling up within him, looking to be released. But the mob boss didn't want to be rash; he needed to think, and the only way to do that was to get out of the old garage as soon as possible.

So, eyeing the younger man, Jason nodded his head and tersely said, "I'll be in touch," and, with those parting words, the mob boss quickly left before he could do something he just might end up regretting for the rest of his life.

~~~

Sonny entered Bernie's office with an air of confidence. The mob boss knew it was only a matter of time before Jason agreed that Sonny running the business again was in the best interest of everyone involved. Surveying the surroundings, knowing that once he took over the business once more, his old offices would need to be rebuilt, the Latino acknowledged the older gentleman who had just stood to greet him.

Eying the accountant as he came forward, Sonny began to wonder where Bernie's loyalty would rest: with him or with Jason. Shaking his head, realizing Bernie would too realize the practicality of Sonny running things again, the brunette extended his hand to the older gentleman before him.

"Bernie, it's good to see you," Sonny smiled, displaying his signature dimples that would make many women swoon.

Bernie, nervous with the Zacchara head in his offices, accepted the handshake and said, "Mr. Corinthos, how can I help you?"

Sonny was surprised by the accountant's response and replied, "didn't Jason tell you? He's meeting me here so we can discuss some business."

"Uh, Mr. Morgan didn't mention it, but, if you don't mind, I will call him just to confirm."

Sonny was now getting a little annoyed with the older gentleman and brusquely said, "Bernie, it's me - Sonny Corinthos. If I tell you Jason and I have a meeting, then we have a meeting."

Bernie, not wishing for a confrontation with the Latino replied, "Uh, Mr. Corinthos, I meant no disrespect. It's just you do head up Mr. Morgan's rival organization. Let me just step out into the room next door and call him." Holding up his forefinger to the younger man, the accountant headed towards the door and said, "I'll be right back."

Bernie had been gone for only a few minutes when Sonny heard a knock on the door.

Taking control, the brunette said, "come in."

As the door opened, Sonny observed an elder gentleman nervously make his way into the office.

Curious, Sonny asked, "can I help you?"

The man started to fidget, adjusting his simple yet functional tie. "Uh, I was told I could find a Mr. Jason Morgan here."

Puzzled, because Sonny did not recognize the male before him, the mob boss decided to question who this person was. "Well, I'm Mr. Morgan's partner." Extending his hand to the jittery male, he continued, "whatever you need to tell him, you can tell me."

Wiping the sweat that was starting to form on his forehead, the man said, "Well, I was told to talk to Mr. Morgan."

"It's alright, I promise. Whatever you tell me, I will relay to Jas… to Mr. Morgan."

The older gentleman, just wanting to retreat from the office as quickly as possible, decided just to tell the Latino before him his plight and be done with the whole mess. "Well, my name is Dr. Goldsmith. I am a physician in a small little hospital about forty minutes from here. I just recently returned from vacation, and, upon my return, I read a certain obituary in the paper." Pausing, the Doctor swallowed and licked his lips, trying to wet his very dry mouth.

When he didn't continue right away, Sonny became impatient. Trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice, he gently remarked, "and...."

Realizing he had stopped talking, the doctor continued, "Oh, sorry. Yes.... Where was I? Right, the obituary." Pulling the article from his sport coat's breast pocket, he handed it to Sonny. "Well, this woman in the picture… she's not dead."

Shocked by the doctor's admission, for the picture he was looking at was one, Elizabeth Webber, Sonny asked, pointing to the face on the paper, "what do you mean she's not dead?"

"Exactly what I said - she's not dead. Look, I am a simple man, trying to put three children through college. I got a call about two weeks ago to meet this man at a home in Martha's Vineyard. I had met this gentleman before. Knowing he had mob ties and could most likely pay me handsomely for my assistance, I met him on the island. There, he asked me to attend to this woman," the doctor reached out and pointed to the picture Sonny was holding once more. "Then, I arrived home to see this," and he continued to nervously rap on the small obituary.

"Well, I might need money, but no family should mourn a person's death if they are not dead. So, I asked around on who might be able to protect me if I came forward with this information, and everyone I talked to said to go to one Mr. Jason Morgan." Taking a deep breath after feeling light headed from his outburst, the doctor eyed the man before him.

Sonny was annoyed with the idea that people would go to Jason over him, but, realizing this information was very useful in reclaiming his business, the Zacchara head calmly said, "thank you, sir, for this information. I promise to relay this message to Mr. Morgan. So if that's all...." And, with that, he ushered the older gentleman to the door.

Frightened the man spoke up. "Wait, what about my family? If the man I helped finds out I betrayed his trust, I am scared what will happen to us."

The Zacchara head, wanting the man to leave before Jason arrived, assured the gentleman before him, "don't worry, sir. I promise nothing will happen to you or your family. Again, thank you for coming forward with this information."

And, with that, Sonny opened the door and led the man out into the hall. Watching as the man left, the Latino rubbed his hand along his chin, thinking to himself that he really needed to find out if the information was true before he told Jason. If Elizabeth was actually alive, her 'resurrection' could be the key he needed to reclaim what was rightfully his: the organization he had built with his own two hands from the ground up. Lost in thought, Sonny did not initially hear his ex-enforcer enter the office.

Jason nodded to Sonny once his ex-boss acknowledged his presence. Flicking his head towards the door, the blond asked, "who was that just leaving? I saw someone leave as I was talking to Bernie."

Sonny, not ready to reveal who the visitor was, waved his hand in the air and said, "no one you need to worry about right now." Changing the subject, he continued, "how did things go with Johnny?"

Wishing to leave as soon as possible, Jason's reply was short and to the point. "He wants in. He seems to trust me. That could be to our advantage. I told him I would get back to him in a couple days."

Nodding to his ex-enforcer, Sonny walked over to the desk, sitting on its edge, and turned to face his former best friend. "Sounds good," he smoothly covered. "I'm still working on finding Anthony, but it shouldn't be too much longer now. His people are still a little leery to trust me, but I'm making head way. Give me another day or two, and I should have something."

Needing to be alone to process what he had learned from Johnny Zacchara, Jason nodded to Sonny and headed towards the door, stopping when he heard Sonny's voice ask, "hey, man, you okay?"

Jason didn't turn around. With his back towards the Latino, he replied, "yeah, I just have things to do. Call me when you have news on Anthony." He then proceeded to exit the building.

Sonny watched as his ex-enforcer left, thinking he needed to talk to him about Bernie, but, knowing there were more pressing matters at hand, the Zacchara head went around to sit in Bernie's chair. He needed to make some very important phone calls.