I'm glad so many of you are excited about this story...it makes me feel good. I'm going to try and update every Wednesday and sometime during the weekend as well, hopefully. We'll see how that goes.

Enjoy! And please review if you have some time. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Chapter 2

Coughing uncontrollably, Maxie crawled along the ground as she tried to find a way out. The smoke was so thick she could barely see. Her eyes and throat burned and the heat…the heat was nearly too much to handle.

After crawling for a few more feet, she collapsed on the ground and called out for help again. She was sure there was no one around, but she wasn't going to give up hope.

Jason heard her cries again and headed in the direction of her voice…

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"Those flowers seem to get more and more beautiful each time I see them." The nurse, who Maxie had found out went by the name Janie, came into her room with a grin on her face.

Maxie managed to laugh softly and returned the older woman's smile. It seemed like she was always smiling, but Maxie had to admit that it helped her own attitude. "Yeah, they do, don't they?"

"You are one lucky, lucky girl, Miss Jones." She grabbed the clipboard and started making notes like she did every morning. "Flowers, handsome visitors…" Janie giggled slightly.

"It is nice to have some company, even if it's someone I'm not exactly friends with." Maxie appreciated Jason's visit, even if it was just out of curiosity. It didn't go beyond that, she was sure of it. He just wanted to be able to give Spinelli some news, not that he probably even cared.

Janie gave her a look. "The drugs they have you on must be screwing with your head, honey." She laughed and waved her hand. "Never mind that. I won't keep butting into your life."

"Oh, it's fine, really. Most people in Port Charles usually know what's going on with everyone anyway." Maxie shrugged before another bout of coughs consumed her. Janie quickly poured a glass of water and handed it to Maxie. She drank it down before laying back and closing her eyes. "Thank you."

"It's my job, dear. The coughing should calm down in a few days as long as you have plenty of rest." She informed the younger blonde. "Until then, just keep some water handy and you should make it out okay. It's more annoying than anything, really."

"Yeah, tell me about it." Maxie sighed and pulled the blankets up. "Do you know when I'll be able to get out of here?" She asked, coughing a little once more.

Janie shook her head. "Doctor Montgomery should be in soon and he'd be able to give more information than I can." She finished updating Maxie's chart before placing it back in its place at the end of the bed. "Until then, you should fill me in on the hunk." She suggested with a grin.

Maxie rolled her eyes and smiled. "His name is Jason Morgan, maybe you've heard of him? He's in the mob, so I'm sure you have. I didn't really know him before I became friends with Spinelli. Anyway, Spinelli lives with Jason, so I spent a lot of time there. Normally he wasn't too thrilled to have me around." She explained.

"Well, he is showing some interest now, isn't he?" Janie pulled over the chair and sat down, making herself comfortable. Maxie was sure she had some other patients to see, but she enjoyed her company.

"I don't know if I'd say that. He was just checking on me so he could let Spinelli know how I was doing. Our friendship is going through a rough patch right now, so he's not around. I don't know…" She sighed and tucked her hair behind her ear. "He's just thinking of Spinelli."

"He must be a very good friend to come all the way to the hospital to check up on you." She observed, smiling a little.

Maxie shook her head. "He has some friends and family here too from the fire. It's not like he came just to see me. That's something Jason's wouldn't do on his own."

"Sorry to interrupt ladies, but I believe Janie has someplace to be." Doctor Montgomery walked in and gave Janie a playful glare before grabbing Maxie's chart.

She let out a soft laugh and stood up, patting Maxie's arm gently. "I'll be back later on to check on you, honey. Get some rest."

Maxie smiled and nodded before Janie left and the doctor started his examination. He asked Maxie a few questions which she answered the best she could. She was still having difficulties with remembering all that had happened the night of the fire.

"Don't work your brain too much, Miss Jones. Give it time and it will all come together." He assured her. "For now, just try and rest up. Your stats are looking much better."

"So when can I be released?" She asked, praying the answer was sometime soon. The last thing she wanted was to be stuck in the hospital for much longer.

Doctor Montgomery took a deep breath and reviewed her chart for a moment. "I'd say you can get out of here tomorrow if you keep improving like you are."

Maxie breathed a sigh of relief and smiled a little. "Okay, that sounds great."

His pager beeped a few times and he looked at it briefly. "I need to go take this. I will be back later this afternoon to review your charts again and see how you are."

"Thank you." She said softly and laid back as he quickly left the room. It was only a few moments before another face appeared in the doorway.

Jason.

Maxie sat up once again, not sure what to say. "Hi." She said after a moment of slightly awkward silence.

"Hi." He walked in a little closer before he spoke again. "I told Spinelli that you were okay."

"Oh…okay." She replied softly, not sure how to respond to that. She missed Spinelli and she had hoped he would come visit her himself, but it looked like that wouldn't be happening. "And is he okay?"

"Yeah, he's taking it easy at home. The FBI decided to not press charges, so it looks like he's in the clear with everything."

Maxie smiled a little, glad to hear that. There was no way Spinelli would make it in prison. "That's really good news."

Jason nodded and laced his fingers together in front of him. "So, you're looking better." He commented.

"Thanks…" Maxie said softly and looked away a little. "But I'm not exactly looking good." She laughed softly and ran her hand over her face.

"You look beautiful." He said, before quickly speaking again. "I mean, after all you've been through, you look good." Jason sighed quietly and then laughed a little, rubbing his jaw.

Maxie looked up at him, shocked from the compliment and completely surprised by his laughter. She smiled a little in return.

"I'm not so good at that." He shook his head and smiled, a little embarrassed. "So never mind. I should go."

"Uh…okay, yeah." She wasn't sure how to react. If she wasn't mistaken, Jason had flirted with her in his own little way. "Thanks for stopping by…"

He nodded and turned to leave. Maxie thought he might turn around and say something, but he kept walking.

Maxie laid down and laughed, not believing what had just happened. Jason Morgan told her she was beautiful, which he obviously hadn't meant to say, not to mention a complete lie. But nonetheless, it made her feel good. She actually felt a little beautiful.

:)