Thanks for the response! I plan to continue it just might be some distance between posts....in the future. But here's the next bit, Hope you enjoy, your reviews are always appreciated!
Typo's and other mistakes are all my fault, I'm human?!
"You really shouldn't be out here by yourself." Jason said coming down the stairs, leading to the Elm Street Pier. Maxie was standing by the edge looking out towards Spoon Island. Over the past few months with the power changing through the hands of Karpov and the Zaccarhs, and even between Sonny and himself, the pier had become a place of many unsavory incidents.
"Well, I needed somewhere quiet to think, don't worry I have my pepper spray." Maxie responded keeping her focus on the water. "And I wanted to be away from people right now."
"So go to your apartment, I'm sure there are safer, better lit places you can go to think." Jason said moving to stand a step behind her. He was close enough that he could smell her perfume wafting through the crisp air. "And that pepper spray really isn't going to do anything if it's a bullet."
"Everything is so screwed up." Maxie started, ignoring his sarcastic comment. "First everything with Spinelli and then with Lulu, and now with Robin—"
"What happened with Robin?" Jason asked quickly his concern apparent. Robin would always have a special place in his heart regardless of how far apart their lives took them.
"Patrick called an intervention. I was supposed to—I tried to tell Robin that I thought she needed help and she just snapped and listed off all the horrible things I've done over the past few years; about Lucky and the pills and faking the pregnancy. I mean really I can't judge her as a mother with all the horrible things that I've done."
"Maxie, you know Robin didn't mean the things she said. She just reacted defensively." Jason tried to explain away. He had known Robin was struggling, she had come to speak to him herself, and he had seen firsthand through Carly, what Post Partum Depression could do to a person.
"She's right. I did do all the horrible things she said. To Elizabeth to Lucky, to Lulu, maybe Spinelli dodged a bullet, maybe he found out who I really am before it was too late." Maxie said a lone tear making its way down her smooth porcelain cheek.
"I don't think Spinelli would feel that way about you. I'm pretty sure that he wouldn't wish you out of his life. Regardless of how things are now."
"Thanks for the pep-talk but it's really not necessary. Robin's right, I have been a horrible person, but Spinelli I want to be a better person for him. I'm just afraid without his friendship, I'm going to go and do something stupid." Maxie said taking a step forward to distance herself from him after her mini confession. She didn't mean to say it but once she started the words just spilled out. "You don't need to worry about me Jason; I promise I won't stay out here much longer." She said wiping her cheek, hoping he would leave.
"Why don't you let me walk you home?" Jason offered, moving his calloused hand to the small of her back.
"I'm fine, Jason. I just want to stand here and look at the water for a little bit longer." Maxie said stepping out of his touch her gaze focused on the small crest the waves were creating. "Have you been to Spoon Island since—?"
"No, I have no reason to go there, ever again."
"It's like the park. I haven't been to that entrance since—well I ran there when I was running away from the Russians but—" Maxie spoke her voice growing softer as she did. "Do you ever want to just pick up and disappear? Find a place with a little less drama?"
"I used to, just pick up and leave" Jason started, he moved back from where Maxie stood and sat on the bench. "After things with Robin ended for good, I left town for awhile. Took my bike and just drove away. When I got tired of that, I flew to Italy."
"Why Italy?" Maxie asked keeping her gaze on the water.
"When Michael was little, when I was his—I would read him travel books."
"Really?" Maxie smiled turning and slowly moving to sit next to him. She didn't want to say too much for fear of his silence. This was probably the most consecutive speaking she had ever heard from Jason, and it was a small insight to who Jason Morgan was; other than the cold-mob enforcer exterior.
"Really, he didn't know what I was reading, but I read him all these sites in foreign countries and when I got the opportunity I went." He'd had this conversation many years ago with Elizabeth at her studio. Back before anything had actually happened.
"I could never do that." Maxie commented bring Jason out of his memory. Maxie had always dreamed of going and seeing the world, but other than visiting her grandmother in Texas she hadn't seen much of the world.
"Why not?" Jason asked quickly.
"Mac, after Georgie died, I'm all he has left. With the exception of Robin, but she has her own family to take care of now. I need to be the daughter Georgie never got to be. Give him the opportunity to walk me down the aisle if I can find a boyfriend and keep him alive long enough, give him grandchildren."
"Who says you can't do both?"
"Not all of us have unlimited resources Jason. The clothing in my closest probably cost more than then my salary from Kate. Which is fine, I love my job. And maybe someday it'll afford some travel."
"Where would you go?" Jason asked.
"Oh, there are so many places."
"So pick one, if you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?" Jason continued.
"Once upon a time I would saw Chicago, but we're thinking the world now. Somewhere in Europe, I'd love to go to Paris during fashion week, or somewhere in Italy, Spinelli made this book for me, to bring a little culture to me life but—"
She started to say, she still was hurt by Spinelli's distance. She was trying not to push but that was the main reason she was on the pier. She wanted to run to Spinelli after the intervention gone wrong, but she knew she couldn't, it wouldn't be fair to Spinelli's feelings. A true sign that Maxie was growing as a person.
"But what?"
"What's keeping you here?" Maxie countered, she didn't want to try and explain her relationship with Spinelli anymore. "What's keeping you in Port Charles other than all this mob business?"
When Jason didn't answer right away, Maxie assumed that she had pressed her luck a little too far. It wasn't like Jason to be this open around people, especially her. She honestly didn't expect him to answer which is why she was floored when he did.
"Nothing really. I mean—"
"So why not when this next mob thing is over, and you find out who ordered the hit on Michael, why not tell Sonny you need to get out of town for a while and leave." She said quickly before she lost her nerve.
"It's not that simple."
"Are you happy Jason? Or are you faking it?" Maxie said harshly. "You say it's not that simple, make it that simple. You tell me not to fake it, and you completely ignore your own advice? That kind of makes you a hypocrite."
"There's so much you don't know." Jason said standing and moving back towards the water. He didn't have the energy or the desire to fight with Maxie. He didn't care to explain to her that he was almost certain that Claudia was responsible for putting Michael in a coma. He didn't want to explain that he was scared to death of making the wrong decision when it came to Michael's surgery, and that every day he woke up hoping and praying that there was some way he could be a part of Jakes life.
"Well then. Sorry to bother you, looks like you'll be the one out here thinking for a while. I'm gonna walk home now." Maxie said slowly standing from the bench. She didn't wait for Jason to respond or move before moving towards the stairs.
Maxie walked up the steps onto the landing waiting for some kind of response from Jason. She didn't know if she wanted him to stop her or to leave with her but she knew she was hoping for something.
Maxie knew better than to hope. Because when you had hope you had expectations.
And expectations just lead to disappointment.
~*~*~
A few blocks from her and Lulu's apartment a familiar face caught her attention. Although this is a face that was linked to many painful memories. It was the face of James Craig, or Jerry Jaxs, whichever he was going by at that given moment. The only good thing about meeting Jerry Jaxs, was meeting Cooper Barrett, the first man who accepted her for all her faults.
It wasn't just Jerry's shear presence that startled her, more the fact that he was supposed to be dead and she knew for a fact that Jason had been looking for him. Jason was with him when he was brought into the hospital, and then mysteriously vanished.
"Mr. Jaxs." Maxie called as she walked across the deserted street.
"Miss Jones?" He asked stepping away from his companion, who instantly turned towards the dark wall, hiding his face. "What has you out so late on this evening?"
"Just on my way home, it's such a beautiful night I couldn't help myself." Maxie said gesturing to the air around her, "For someone who supposedly died in an explosion a few months ago you look remarkably well."
"Well thank you for your concern. How have you been getting along now these days? It's been some time since our dear Mr. Barrett was killed."
Any mention of Cooper reminded her of Diego which instantly brought up Georgie. "It's been a while. I should probably get home," She said quickly trying to get herself out of the situation she had put herself in; she knew she should have waited for Jason to walk her home. But she had to go and push his buttons and leave him in a funk, forgetting about her own safety. "Goodnight Mr. Jaxs."
Maxie quickly made her way back across the street and pulled her phone out of her purse quickly scrolling down to Jason's cell number. Jason finally picked up on the 3rd ring, "Jason thank god. Jerry Jaxs is at the corner of 3rd and Main. Hurry, he's meeting with someone—" before Maxie had a chance to finish her sentence a force from behind her sent her falling forward unto her hands and knees, and her phone flying a few feet in front of her. The sting in her hands and knees was enough to distract her from the fact that the skirt she was wearing had ripped, creating a slit up her thigh almost too high to be considered appropriate.
Before she had a chance to turn around another hit came and soon darkness followed.
*~*~*
Jason knew that he should have gone after her. He should have walked her home as soon as he saw her on the pier. But instead he let her pull him into a conversation. Like she had done many times before. No matter how hard he tried he always ended up in a conversation and this one had led to a truth that Jason didn't want to realize just yet.
That he wasn't happy with the life he lived.
And now she had walked herself into another dangerous situation. Jerry Jaxs connected to the hit that put Michael into his coma. And now with Jerry in her proximity Maxie wasn't answering her phone.
Once he had reached the corner of 3rd and Main, he wasn't able to find any sign of Maxie or Jerry. Although he was able to find Maxie's cell phone lying on the ground, probably where Maxie had dropped it. Making his way down the alley, Jason pulled the gun out of his waistband, preparing to enter the dead end. Behind a dumpster he found her crumpled body, a small amount of blood apparent at the top of her head.
Giving her a quick once over, Jason concluded that other than the small head wound there didn't appear to be any other injuries, or than scrapes and the demise of her outfit. But with Maxie's past heart problems he wasn't going to take any chances. "Just hang on Maxie; I'll get you to a hospital." He said scooping her into his arms, lifting her with ease.
Not long after, he started back towards the pier, where he had left his vehicle; Maxie began to move, coming back to consciousness.
"Maxie you're okay. I'm taking you to the hospital." Jason said softly as he held her closer trying to keep her in his arms.
"No, if you do that they'll call the cops, and Mac, and that will just make Jerry go into hiding." Maxie pleaded using the little strength she had to push off Jason's chest trying to get him to put her down.
"Maxie you could have a concussion." Jason said his grip tightening around her legs, the spilt in her rumbled skirt had moved with her movements causing it to reveal more and more skin. "You're health is more important that finding Jerry right now."
"Just take me to my apartment I'll be fine." Maxie said as she stopped pushing against him, her wrists sore from the impact when she was hit.
"Is Lulu there?"
"I don't know we aren't really on speaking terms at the moment." Maxie confessed.
"I'm taking you back to the penthouse." Jason said as he began to walk again. Maxie knowing she wasn't going to win this fight stopped trying to move and just leaned her head against Jason's shoulder trying to relax as much as possible, even noticing when Jason grasp turned from firm to gentle in just a few moments.
"My purse." Maxie exclaimed completely forgetting about her designer clutch.
"I didn't see it; I'll give Cody a call and have him check the alley." Jason said finally reaching the SUV that was parked by the dock. Carefully placing her in the passenger seat, Jason moved around the car to start the drive back to Harborview Towers. Throughout the drive his gaze kept drifting to the small blonde whose eyes kept drifting closed.
"Maxie you stay awake, or I will take you to the hospital." Jason said loud enough to make the girls eyes spring open.
"I'm awake I promise." Maxie said softly turning her head to look at him. You could see the blood sticking to her bangs, and a few dried drops on her cheek.
"We're almost there." Jason said stepping on the gas with a little more force. They were nearing the parking garage where he could pull in and go in the elevator keeping people from seeing the scene. Stopping the car Jason quickly went around stopping Maxie from extracting herself. Without too much argument Jason lifted her into his arms, and headed for the elevator hitting the button for the penthouse.
"I can walk you know?" Maxie said her arm draped around his shoulders her head resting against his chest. Jason kept his eyes forward well aware of the slit in her skirt reaching increasingly higher up her legs.
"You can walk as much as you want after I check out your head, and after you take of those damn shoes. I don't need you hurting your ankles on top of everything else." Jason said as they reached the penthouse floor. With little difficulty Jason was able to get the keys out of his jacket pocket and slip it into the lock with Maxie still securely in his arms, until he deposited her on the couch. "Stay there I'll be back in a minute with a first aid kit." Jason said leaving Maxie's side for the first time since he had found her.
Before making his way out to her again he had to take a second to calm his aggravated nerves. Between another missed attempt at finding Jerry and another person under his protection hurt it was turning out to be a bad night. Despite how often Jason threw Maxie out of his office the blondes attentiveness to his roommate was something he respected above all.
So her safety was also of concern to him, had been for the last 2 years, and not just for Spinelli. Jason couldn't help himself. He cared about Maxie Jones. Clearly there had to be some feelings there if he had kissed her the way he had.
But it wasn't just for Spinelli's benefit, Jason genuinely felt for Maxie.
"When the hell did that start?"
~*~*~
