A/N: I have no rights or affiliation with the characters presented within this piece

What Happens in the Penthouse Stays in the Penthouse

Chapter One-The First

Spinelli walked into the Penthouse singing "The Way You Look Tonight". He loved the standards; he had found his great grandfather's collection of pristinely preserved 33 rpm records in the attic when he was ten and had never looked back. He loved them all Frank, Cole, Ella, Judy, and of course Sassy-the divine Sarah Vaughn. He sang along with them learning all the words and dancing through the house much to his grandmother's disgust.

She herself was a product of her time and place and had the kitchen radio perpetually tuned to country and bluegrass stations. Neither ever won the war because Spinelli could out sing her but she could make him turn the record player off-"her house, her rules". So, he mostly indulged himself when she wasn't home and later by joining the school choir; one of the few places in the community and school where he felt truly happy and valued.

Since coming to Port Charles he had tamped down his tendency towards spontaneously singing some evocative classic. He knew instinctively that he wouldn't like the expression on Stone Cold's face if he ever heard him expressing himself via song; certainly it wouldn't aid him in his ongoing search for "manly prowess".

Occasionally, he couldn't control himself and he still sang in the shower; what his regrettably pink bedroom lacked in aesthetics, the bathroom more than made up for in amazing acoustics. Some days he had really let loose and on those mornings when he came downstairs, he didn't dare look Stone Cold in the eye. If he had looked he would have seen a mixture of bemusement, pride, and humor; but Jason knew how embarrassed Spinelli would be if he said anything and he held his peace. Still, those mornings were the same ones Jason often went to work unaware that he was humming…

Tonight was different though, he had a date with Maxie. While he wasn't sure exactly what she would be wearing; he knew that the way she would look and everything she would do would be eminently memorable-exactly as the song said. He was just, well…HAPPY!! It was wonderful to have this simple, uncomplicated joy welling up inside him. The only truly real and appropriate way he wanted to express it was through the words and tunes of a time when people seemed to be able to articulate romantic love…

Singing, twirling, bouncing and hopping he made his way up to his fuchsia room and into the bathroom. He was going to sing his lungs out, one tune after another. Stone Cold was out on business and he needed to get ready before Maxie came by with the outfit she wanted him to wear tonight. He fervently hoped that she wasn't going to want him to dress up in an animal costume or (and here he shuddered!) tights. Still, even if she bought him a bright pink bunny costume to wear, he would squelch his pride and put it on.

Tonight was doubly important to Maximista; it was the launch of the first annual Crimson Halloween Gala and much more importantly-Maximista's birthday!! Last year everyone had been running around Wyndemere being chased by crazy Anthony Zacchara and the even crazier text message killer. Emily Quartermaine had died and Stone Cold still carried that loss in his eyes. So, for everyone's sake, but most importantly for Maximista's, Spinelli wanted this to be a night of fun and frolic-a bubbly evening that they could both carry forward into the future as a special memory.

As he stood in front of the bathroom mirror brushing his teeth, there was a creaking noise and the bathroom door began to swing closed. Openmouthed, with toothpaste dribbling down his chin, he tried to make sense of what he was seeing reversed and reflected in the mirror. He closed his eyes and shook his head; he COULD NOT be seeing this. Slowly, he cracked open one eye and then the next-it was still there…Spinelli swiveled around convinced that he had been hallucinating and when he looked at the door directly he-it would be gone. No such luck, hanging on the bathroom door hook was an extremely large, extremely dead, well, there was no kinder way to say it-goon!

Spinelli, toothbrush in hand, started sidling up to the man. He was large but due to what appeared to be musculature rather than adipose tissue. He was dressed in a cheap grey suit with an unattractive blue waffle tie that was stained and frayed. His iron grey hair was cut short and his large spherical head seemed to be attached directly to his shoulders. Spinelli automatically dubbed him "No Neck Decedent" as he continued his appraisal. The man's eyes were bloodshot and bulging and his tongue was protruding unattractively from the side of his mouth. If the man had printed up business cards proclaiming Joe E. Mobster, it couldn't have been any clearer the line of work he had pursued. From the look of things, Spinelli was pretty sure there was a ligature mark somewhere on that nonexistent neck-he had been strangled.

His head was spinning-there was a dead man hanging on his bathroom door!! Then a thought came to him, "Could Stone Cold have started bringing his work home with him?" As soon as the thought passed through his brain he dismissed it-this wasn't Stone Cold's style. Even if he had done such a thing, which he hadn't, he would never have put the body in the Jackal's bathroom, not where he performed his intimate ablutions. Or if he had, which he hadn't, he would have at least TOLD the Jackal. Stone Cold would have left a voice mail or an e-mail (well, maybe not that…) or at least a note on the coffee table. Something along the lines of, "Hey, Spinelli things have been hectic lately and I had to store some "files"-wink, wink, nudge, nudge-upstairs in your bathroom. I'll take care of it-them when I get a chance, Jason."

Spinelli shook his head in disbelief, not possible, there had to be another explanation… Well, the first thing he better do was call his master; this was much more than a poor little grasshopper should ever be expected to deal with AND he had a date!

Just then the doorbell rang causing him to jump, lose his balance and fall forward into the stiff embrace of his uninvited guest. The collision caused a balance shift and the No Neck Decedent was pulled off the hook and collapsed onto a squirming Spinelli, who immediately tried in vain to push the literal dead weight up off of him. "Ugh! Ugh! Get off, Get off!" he pleaded in a muffled voice as he tried to get out from under this undesired, intimate bodily contact. He was starting to hyperventilate when, with a huge push of adrenalin fueled energy, he managed to roll out from under the corpse. He immediately jumped up, quivers of disgust running up and down his muscles as he swayed back and forth and decided if he could keep from vomiting. Shrilly and impatiently the doorbell sounded again.

He turned and ran frantically out of the bathroom because he KNEW the front door was unlocked and if anyone walked in and found the dead intruder, there would be unimaginable consequences for both Stone Cold and himself. He skidded onto the landing and threw himself down the stairs just reaching the front door as the handle began to turn. With cat like reflexes that he never even knew he possessed, he grabbed the handle on his side and opened the door just wide enough so that he could look out at whoever was on the other side. Ordinarily, the sight of his visitor would have brought a goofy grin to his face and an immediate invitation to enter the humble abode he shared with Stone Cold-not this time though.

"Ah Maximista!" he sidled out through a crack in the door and folding his arms and legs attempted to appear nonchalant as he formed a living barricade. "To what do I owe the honor of a visit from your gracious loveliness?" he panted as he tried to recover from his recent trials and exertions.

"Spinelli!" Maxie said glaring at him through narrowed eyes, "What's up with you? I've been standing out her for like the last ten minutes waiting for someone to answer the door. Why are you breathing like that?" She continued suspiciously, "What is going on in there?" as she tried to reach past him and grab the door handle to enter into the penthouse. "Let me in Spinelli, this stuff is HEAVY!" she said getting more irritated by the moment as he continued to block her entrance.

Spinelli tried frantically to think of some reason to keep her from coming in, "Um, now is not a good time Maximista, the Jackal, well, he's busy and cannot be interrupted…"

"Not a good time!" she said her voice raising several octaves. "Damian Spinelli is there someone in there you don't want me to see?" She renewed her attempts to get through the door and he had to keep moving around to block her.

"Well," he started to say sheepishly until one look at her face caused him to back up against the door in fear as to what she was contemplating. Suddenly, inspiration struck and he tried to laugh offhandedly though it came out more as a nervous cough. "Actually, has Maximista forgotten what day this is?"

Maxie stopped her frontal assault on both Spinelli and the door and cocked her head at him, doubt still radiating out of her eyes. "Sure, it's Halloween, that's why I'm here to deliver your costume," she held up a garment bag and toed a hat box sitting on the floor.

"Oh, my heavens!" he thought to himself. He had entirely forgotten about the Crimson party; his earlier concerns about what his costume might entail seemed a distant and pleasant memory. If the unwanted upstairs visitor would simply vanish, he would gladly wear a codpiece, tutu and papier mache frog's head and call it a worthwhile exchange. He realized that Maxie was growing impatient again and so he quickly said, "Yes, of course the costume party, but that isn't what the Jackal was referring to. No, he was speaking as to the much more prominent and vital meaning of this date-it is Maximista's natal day!"

For a moment puzzlement reigned on Maxie's face as she deciphered what he had just said; then a shy smile slowly curved up her lips. "Spinelli, you remembered!"

"Of course the Jackal remembered; it is a date circled in red on his calendar." Now that he knew how to keep her out of the penthouse he proceeded more confidently, "The Jackal was preparing a birthday treat for Maximista and it is out in plain view in the living room and that is why you cannot enter."

"But it's already my birthday," she coyly pouted, "let me see what it is…"

"No, no," Spinelli responded a tad desperately, "the time isn't right, you'll receive your surprise at the appointed hour and not a millisecond sooner." He hoped the simple pendant with her birthstone-an opal-was enough of a gift to satisfy all this intrigue and suspense he was creating. Spinelli was pretty sure he wasn't going to have any free time this evening to find anything more extravagant.

"That is so sweet!" Maxie seemed to accept his explanation and handed him the garment bag and the hat box. "I hope you like your costume," she giggled, "I picked it out just for you…"

"The Jackal knows he will be entranced by anything personally chosen for him by the fair one." He responded gallantly as he relieved her of her burden. "When and where shall we meet to embark upon the evening's festivities?"

"Nine o'clock on the dot at the Metro Court Sky Lounge. And Spinelli?" the sharp toned Maxie had returned, "Don't be late, I want this evening to be perfect."

"Your wish is the Jackal's command!" He watched her enter the elevator; then as the adrenalin faded from his system his legs gave way and he slid to the floor with his back to the door. Groaning, he crossed his arms on his knees and cradled his head in his hands, "How on earth was he ever going to get through this night?"


Jason's "business" for the evening involved a cold bottle of beer and a cue stick. He was whiling away the evening at Jake's; playing a desultory game of pool with Coleman. Every time someone needed a refill or more to the point, an unescorted woman entered the bar, Coleman would leave to tend to his bartending duties. Then five, ten or fifteen minutes later, he would wander back and the game would start again.

Jason considered what he was really doing here. After all, he could have played a faster game with himself at home; and the beer in hand would have been better quality and cheaper than the stuff Coleman was palming off as an imported Belgian brew. "It was more likely imported from a beer making kit in the filthy back bathroom!" Jason snorted to himself with irritation.

No, if he were to be honest with himself, he was at Jake's because he was hiding out. Sometimes he just needed a break from all things Spinelli, or at least the new Spinelli that seemed to come prepackaged with Maxie Jones. Ruefully, Jason admitted to himself that if Spinelli wasn't so constantly either with Maxie, talking about Maxie or clearly thinking about Maxie-he would have been happier.

Don't get him wrong, he saw how much the kid loved that snippy blonde and God help her if she broke his heart the way Lulu had-or even how Georgie had by dying and leaving him in misery. He didn't want to have to pick up the pieces of Spinelli's heart one more time, he wasn't sure his own heart could take it. Besides, he knew enough to see that what Spinelli felt for Maxie was on a scale exponentially greater than he had felt for either of the other girls. The only thing that enabled him to keep quiet and not issue a warning to Spinelli to watch himself around the little minx, was the fact that he was pretty sure Maxie felt everything that Spinelli did and in spades. He guessed she was petrified of admitting those feelings, even to herself, given her lousy relationship track record. Jason couldn't really be judgmental about Maxie hiding how she felt since he had been doing the same thing with regard to Elizabeth. Still, he found it nerve wracking to watch Spinelli constantly hand his heart up on a platter to only have it returned on a skewer dripping blood…

Spinelli had been in a great state of excitement in the days leading up to tonight's events. He had been more hyperactive and talkative than Jason could ever remember. It was Maxie's birthday this and the Crimson party that, until Jason's eyes had glazed over and his ears had shut down. It was only the fact that he never made more than minimal responses to Spinelli's conversational gambits, which had prevented the young man from recognizing that his mentor's presence was only physical. Thus, he didn't realize that every detail he was so eagerly relaying was evaporating unheard into the ether.

So, Jason had decided to absent himself from the penthouse tonight; allowing Spinelli to get ready for his special evening with his "Maximista" without Stone Cold around to act as a wet blanket. He recognized that the unsettled sensations he was currently feeling were a peculiar mix of guilt and regret. He felt badly that he hadn't been there for Spinelli the way he should have been; the way Spinelli absolutely would have been there for Jason if their situations were reversed. In addition, part of him was actually wondering about the costume Maxie would pick for him, wanted to see him dressed and ready to go off with his lady for the evening, maybe (and this was worst of all) take a picture of him as a keepsake…

Sighing, Jason put down his unfinished beer on the edge of the pool table; he knew when the battle was lost. He tossed down enough money to meet his tab along with a tip for Coleman. Nodding at the bartender, who was obliviously chatting up a pneumatic blonde, he headed out the door. He would go home, check in with Spinelli, perhaps help him with his cufflinks or something but there would be NO picture! Already he felt better; he had made the right decision.

He was idling the bike at a deserted intersection when his phone vibrated. He checked the screen and with a half smile saw that it was Spinelli. "Hey," he said flipping open the phone.

"Stone Cold! The Jackal is most gratified that his Master is not so preoccupied with his covert activities that he would fail to answer his grasshopper's urgent summons!"

"What's wrong?" Jason asked as he revved up and sped homeward. He could tell that Spinelli was very agitated about something.

"The Jackal dare not speak of it on the open air waves, it is unclear where or when the minions of darkness might be listening to any and all communiqués. Suffice it to say, it is of the utmost urgency that Stone Cold return posthaste to the penthouse. The Jackal can not stress strongly enough the need for speed on the part of his Master in this particular situation."

"I'm already on my way back; I'll be there in a couple of minutes… Are you okay?" Jason asked suddenly concerned that whatever had Spinelli this upset was really serious.

"The Master's grasshopper is not in any physical distress but he finds himself facing a conundrum that requires the cool head and deft hand of his mentor to resolve it."

"I'm here," Jason said as he turned into the parking garage. "I'll see you in a minute." He jumped off of the bike and impatiently hit the elevator button.

Five minutes later he was standing in Spinelli's bathroom looking with disbelief at the large corpse on the floor. "He was hanging on the door hook?" he queried Spinelli incredulously.

"Yes, Stone Cold, and then he fell on top of me and I never thought I would get him off of me…" Spinelli shivered with distaste at the memory. "Then Maximista arrived and…"

"Maxie!" Jason groaned, "Did she see him?"

"No, the Jackal prevented her entrance into Casa de Stone Cold with a contrivance about the fair one's birthday gift." Spinelli responded proudly, still impressed with his quick wittedness.

"Good job," Jason said. Sometimes he was so blinded by all of Spinelli's eccentricities that he forgot about the logical, quick thinking brain hidden under that mop of impossible hair.

At the moment, Jason was desperately trying to preserve his usual unflappable demeanor in front of Spinelli. All the while he was slowly being consumed by a cold, ever growing fury. How DARE anyone bring a dead body, especially such an obviously mob connected one, into his home, his sanctuary! Even worse was leaving it for Spinelli to discover. Jason constantly tried to keep Spinelli away from the darker side of his trade and while he didn't always succeed as well as he would like-he could tell by one look at his friend's face that he had lost some of his innocence tonight. It was unacceptable and somebody would pay; but first he had to dispose of their unanticipated houseguest.

Unfortunately, as much as Jason would have liked to have limited Spinelli's involvement in the situation, he needed his help. This was a time when you needed someone you could trust implicitly and Spinelli was that someone for Jason. He would make it up to the kid later.

Jason's musings were interrupted by Spinelli asking tentatively, "Stone Cold, do you recognize the No Neck Decedent?"

He eyed the body speculatively and realized that no, he didn't know the guy- which was in itself odd. After all, you wouldn't stay alive very long in this business if you couldn't identify the players. It was vital to know the men employed by the opposition and Jason knew that he had never before seen this man lying on the bathroom floor. He did look vaguely Slavic though, and upon simultaneously reaching the same conclusion, Spinelli and Jason both said, "Karpov!"

"Well," Jason thought grimly, "he knew who would be getting a visit from him later this evening, but first things first…"

He turned to Spinelli and said, "Look, I'm going to get together what we need to move this guy. Meanwhile, I need to you to hack into the interior and exterior video feeds for the building-all of them-elevators, garage, front, back…. See if you can tell who brought our deceased friend in here. Then, and this is important…"

"The Jackal knows, Stone Cold," Spinelli broke in, "he should disable the cameras so that the chore you and I are about to embark upon shall not be recorded for posterity or the Port Charles Police Department."

Well, well, the kid was learning! Jason gave him a quick approving pat on the shoulder as he headed down to the storage space in the garage.

Meanwhile, Spinelli headed downstairs to his trusty cyber companion. He knew he had to help Stone Cold, in all ways possible, to resolve this crisis that had descended unlooked for upon their shared abode. He was indeed gratified that for once Jason seemed to be fully confiding in him and even treating him as an equal partner in the escapade. Still, he couldn't help wishing that all this had not taken place on such an important night for his Maximista. He looked at his watch and set to work with determination. If he and Stone Cold worked quickly, he might still be able to meet Maxie at the pre-established time; and she need never know of the events that had transpired this evening.

When Jason reentered the penthouse ten minutes later carrying a blue tarp and some rope; he saw Spinelli sitting staring at his computer screen with a puzzled expression on his face. "What's wrong?" he asked him; he simply wasn't up to anymore bad news tonight…

"It is most peculiar, Stone Cold." Spinelli replied absently, still absorbed by what he wasn't seeing on his computer screen

"Is there a problem disabling the video feeds?" Jason questioned him, unable to believe such a simple task would have caused any issues for the Jackal, the undisputed assassin of the internet.

"The problem is that the feeds have already been disrupted. Not a single video camera in and around this building has been operational since about 3:00 pm this afternoon. We don't have to worry about our movements being recorded but there isn't any record of our guest upstairs being brought here either." Spinelli looked up at Jason with regret. "The grasshopper is sorry that he has failed his Master and the trust he placed in his ability to solve this mystery."

"No," Jason groaned, this was all he needed! Then he looked over at Spinelli hunched miserably on the couch convinced somehow that this was all his fault.

"Hey," Jason said, "Spinelli, look at me." His roommate looked up at him wretchedly, waiting for his mentor to tell him how he had failed him just when he had needed his skills the most. "This is NOT your fault. You have handled everything this evening exactly as I would have. You kept Maxie from finding out, you didn't panic, and you can't be expected to find video footage that doesn't exist. I am extremely proud of you and I wish I could just let you go get ready for your big night with Maxie; but the truth is that I need your help moving that guy. There is no one I trust more to have my back."

Spinelli looked up at Jason, his expression as he listened to him gradually switching from gloom personified to a bright shiny joy and pride that was painful for Jason to observe. It took so little to make Spinelli happy. Yet, he never seemed to make the effort to achieve it. He made a silent vow to himself that after tonight he would make sure he regularly made it clear to the kid how much he did like and even need having him around. For now though, they had work to do…

Even though they didn't have to fear being recorded by deactivated surveillance cameras there was still the potential of running across a nosy neighbor on their way down to the garage. Wrapped up in the tarp, the dead thug held a passing resemblance to an extremely heavy carpet; but from Jason's perspective there was never any need to run any unnecessary risks. It had been a philosophy that kept him alive and out of jail for two decades. The deceased was a very large man and an entirely dead weight. Just moving him down to the living room had been a major exercise in exertion; certainly it was an aspect of the expedition that hadn't crossed Spinelli's consciousness.

So, when Jason decreed that they would take the stairs, rather then the elevator, down to the garage; he couldn't help but protest in a whining tone, "Stone Cold, do you know how many flights that is? Also, the elevator would be quicker…." One look at his mentor's face stilled his protests and he reluctantly bent down to again pick up the head end of the tarp.

Getting to Jason's SUV seemed to take an eternity. There were frequent pauses for Spinelli and even Jason to catch their breath. Once they almost dropped their cargo down the stairs, but Spinelli managed at the last moment to wedge his end in between the railings of the stair well. Jason, a sheen of sweat beading his forehead, looked up at Spinelli and said a brief but heartfelt, "Thanks!" If the corpse had started to roll, it more than likely would have taken Jason with it; and he didn't want to dwell on the outcome of tumbling down a flight of concrete stairs.

Finally, they reached the SUV without seeing another person, and with a final heave they maneuvered the tarp wrapped body into the rear of the vehicle. Jason was now back in control and they were soon speeding north out of town along a dark country road that was unfamiliar to Spinelli. There was a long silence as each man was wrapped in his own thoughts. Jason looked over at Spinelli who had his head turned against the window and was looking unseeingly out into the darkness rushing by. "You doing okay?" he asked him quietly.

"Jason," Spinelli said unexpectedly discarding the usual nicknames he utilized when speaking to his friend. "Do you ever think about death?"

Surprised and a little concerned at the question, Jason thought wryly to himself, "always and never." Responding to Spinelli, though, he just said, "Why do you ask?"

Gesturing to the cargo hold, Spinelli said, "Well, he was somebody earlier today. He had dreams, worries, maybe a family. A long time ago he was somebody's son and now…" He continued, "This is your life, your world, the same thing could happen to you; then I and all the people that care about you might never know what happened. It s..scares me." Suddenly Spinelli sounded like he was almost crying.

Jason was startled and unexpectedly touched. People had often expressed fear and even anger at the risks he took and the fact that he could get hurt or die from them. He had always shrugged such concerns away, he didn't intend to die and if he did, well that would be that. But this youth, this Damien Spinelli, had somehow inserted himself into his life and he hadn't realized until tonight that he worried so about Jason getting hurt.

Jason had always focused on keeping Spinelli safe, he had never thought about how lost or abandoned he would feel if something happened to Jason. Feeling his way, he tried to answer, "Well, Spinelli, I think things through, I don't take unnecessary risks. I have been in this business and this life for a long time and it all comes down to reading people and situations and knowing who to trust."

Spinelli had turned his head and was listening intently, a quick glance showed the green glow of the dashboard lights reflecting off of the unshed tears in his eyes. "Take tonight, for instance," Jason continued. "This was a unique situation and if you notice I didn't call anyone. I didn't need to, my partner was already there and he had my back. I trust YOU Spinelli, and as long as you are there to help me out and listen to me…Well, I am going to be around for a very long time, you'll be sick and tired of me."

He looked over at Spinelli and saw that he was smiling, "The Jackal will always be there for his Master!"

"That's settled then." Jason was surprised at himself, that he would break his own rule about making promises about his longevity. He had never before done so, no matter who had been asking for reassurance. He just couldn't stand to see Spinelli looking so bereft; if he could make him feel more secure by intimating that he would be around for the long haul-then that's exactly what he would do.

He turned his concentration back to the road. Now, he needed to find the turn-off, it wasn't very well marked. He flipped on the brights and saw it up ahead; it was just a little break in the brush lining the road. Once they left the main road, he put the SUV into four wheel drive. It was needed, what they were driving along was little more than a weed covered trail. After about fifteen minutes of crawling along, they reached their destination. The rough track ended at the lip of an old water filled quarry.

Over the years, Jason had seldom used the quarry as a dump site. His preference was to let any extraneous bodies find their final resting place in the depths of the Atlantic; there the denizens of the deep eagerly cooperated in disposing of the evidence once and for all. He also secretly felt that he was being ecologically sound in such cases, that it was a matter of recycling the trash that he was forced to take out.

Tonight though he hadn't had the time or the inclination to make the arrangements that were needed for an ocean run; the fewer people involved the better and so he thought of the quarry.

Ironically, though he didn't remember it, he used to come here as a teenager. For several years it had been the place to spend hot summer nights. Jason once spent an entire night jumping off the cliffs trying like an idiot to impress some college girl that only had eyes for his cousin Ned. A few years later, a boy had split open his skull and died diving off that same cliff. The parental uproar that resulted had caused the quarry to be put off limits and as time went by it was forgotten. Jason had rediscovered it several years ago on one of his solitary motorcycle rides. Once or twice he had come here to perform the same rite he was going to do tonight.

He killed the motor but kept the lights on, there wasn't a moon tonight and they needed to be able to see what they were doing. With Spinelli's help, he securely tied several concret blocks to the tarp wrapped body. Then together they swung the body up and out and released it; they heard a splash as it hit the water.

Jason was turning to get back into the SUV when he saw that Spinelli was still by the edge of the quarry looking down. He was standing there with his head bowed and his eyes closed. Feeling awkward, Jason turned around and did the same. After a moment, Spinelli looked up and smiled shyly at Jason, "I just wanted to commend his soul to the care of those who watch over all of us," he said simply.

Jason felt a mixture of awe and shame as he looked at this young man who always seemed to unerringly know how to be humane, even in the most bizarre of circumstances. If he lived to be a hundred, he would never understand how this changeling had ended up in his care, but he was grateful he had.

When they arrived back at the penthouse, Spinelli hopped out of the SUV and dashed off towards the elevators. Abruptly stopping, he turned back to Jason and said, "If the Master has no further need of his grasshopper's services, it might be possible to still be on time for my date with Maximista."

Jason looked at him waiting politely, but impatiently, for his release. He smiled inwardly at the resilience with which he seemed to be able to let go of the trauma of the night's events.

"Go on up, I'll be there in a few minutes to see what Maxie wanted you to wear… And Spinelli," the younger man turned, eager to be off, "You were great tonight, I couldn't have done it without you."

"Thanks, Stone Cold!" echoed from between the closing elevator doors as the Jackal ascended to get ready for his date with his own personal goddess.

A/N Reviews and perceptions are appreciated