Disclaimer: See initial chapter.
A/N: This was written quite possibly a year ago; it does not fit in with current events happening on General Hospital as I stopped watching the show quite some time ago. Even so, I still love Jason and Spinelli, and several other characters. To be honest, I'm not sure if anyone is even interested in reading this anymore, but, for what it's worth, here is this. If there is interest, I will continue writing, if not. I shan't. Thank you.
Belle climbed into her car, following the SUV which carried the boy she'd chosen as replacement for her stillborn baby years ago. Though she had no right to the claim and could not understand it, she felt as though he really was her son now – that he had become so with her admittance of guilt and his forgiveness of the crime.
Mr. Morgan hadn't so much as glanced in her direction since he'd plucked Damian up and carried him down the stairs and out the door. Not that she blamed him for this slight. Had their roles been reversed, she too would be reluctant to bestow her trust on a stranger who'd harmed the young man who was so quick to forgive and she'd wager, love.
She wondered what other gems Spinelli held within him and doubted that she'd be given the opportunity to glimpse more than a few of them before she died, provided that Mr. Morgan ever let her get within close proximity of Damian again that is. It was clear to her that he cared very much for Damian though she knew not in what capacity.
As she trailed the SUV through streets gushing with rainwater, memories assaulted her. She was a teenager, her body aching as she clutched the tiny mewling infant to her chest, frantically trying to quiet him by making gentle shushing sounds and bouncing him as she hid around a corner of the clinic. It was late, but she knew that if she were to have a chance at escaping with the baby, she'd have to be quick. She couldn't afford to be caught by one of the late night nurses or security guards who hung out near the front desk.
If only I had been caught, she thought ruefully as she wended her way through the rain-filled streets.
Jason glanced sideways in the rearview mirror, catching a glimpse of Spinelli's much too pallid face pillowed in Sam's lap. She was lightly caressing his hair, speaking low and soothingly to him. Jason couldn't make out what either of them was saying, but could sense Spinelli's distress in the boy's muted replies to whatever Sam was saying to him.
He gripped the steering wheel tighter as he wove his way through the slick streets. The hospital loomed up ahead, but Jason couldn't seem to shake the feeling of trepidation which had befallen him since he'd first spoken to Belle on the phone. Whoever this woman was, she had hurt Spinelli, and, if just a portion of what Spinelli had been rambling about was true, in more ways than one.
"Damn," Jason swore as he swerved around a tree which had fallen beneath the assault of wind and rain.
"We there yet?" Sam's voice betrayed her concern.
"Almost."
Jason cranked the steering wheel and slid into a screeching halt in front of the double doors of the ER. Belle slammed on the brakes to avoid a collision with the halted SUV.
"Sam," Jason grunted as he threw open his door, leaving the keys in the ignition, "give him to me, you go park the car."
Sam nodded in assent, and, as Jason scooped Spinelli from the back of the SUV, she darted around the front of the vehicle and slid into the driver's seat, waiting until Jason and Spinelli were clear before she shifted into drive, ignoring the impatient honks.
"Dizzy," Spinelli slurred.
"We're almost there, the doctors will fix you up in no time," Jason promised his protégé as he swept through the front doors of the hospital.
"A little help here!" He called out, eyes immediately locking on those of a nurse he knew almost too well, Epiphany Johnson.
Jason ignored the moans and groans and disgruntled cries of, "I need help too," from others in the hospital's emergency waiting room.
Spinelli needed help and he needed it now.
"Here's a wheelchair," an orderly shuffled over to him, but Jason shook his head. He wasn't going to relinquish his hold on the young man until he knew that he was getting help.
Epiphany made her way over to the two, casting censorious looks at the night staff which attempted to pry Spinelli from Jason's hold. She knew that, whatever had happened, Jason was not about to trust that kid to anyone else's care until he knew what was what.
"Go busy yourselves elsewhere," she commanded and the vultures dispersed, much to Jason's relief. He'd never been happier to see the arrogant nurse in his life.
"What happened to your boy?"
"Don't know, bumped his head or something, he's been talking nonsense."
Jason realized that he didn't have much to offer by way of explanation and glowered at the woman who just so happened to know more than he did as a rain-slicked Belle walked into the room, followed closely by Sam. Jason nodded at Sam and clenched his jaw as Belle inched closer, raising her hand as though to caress Spinelli's hair. He glared; cool blue eyes boring into Belle's hazel irises and she faltered, causing a brief, cruel grin to twist Jason's features.
"Jason," Epiphany spoke softly, "in order for us to treat him, you're going to have to put Spinelli down."
"Not until someone's ready to see him," he stated.
Though some small part of him knew that he was being irrational, a bigger part of him wanted to make sure that nothing worse happened to Spinelli and he didn't know how to do that unless Spinelli was under his immediate purview. He plopped down in one of the uncomfortable ER room chairs and grimaced as it groaned under his weight combined with Spinelli's.
He hoped it wouldn't be a long wait and, though he knew that there were others who were possibly in poorer condition than his roommate, Jason couldn't help the frown he sent a few of the waiting patients, especially those who appeared to have no visible injury. If they were just faking a malady for attention or to get meds for some addiction, he was going to give them a piece of his mind.
"Why don't you tell me what happened." A clipboard in hand, Epiphany lowered herself into a seat across from Jason, disregarding Sam and the bedraggled-looking woman who appeared to be accompanying her as she awaited answers.
It was clear that Jason wouldn't relinquish Spinelli until he was forced to and he wouldn't do that until there was a doctor available to take care of him. Epiphany steadfastly ignored the furtive looks her night crew cast in her direction and focused on the matter at hand.
Though it rankled that she appeared to be pandering to the whimsy of the mob, she pushed it aside for the sake of the pale young man ensconced in the infamous hit man's perilous embrace. She wondered briefly if anyone had been there to hold her Stan as he died and swallowed the acrimonious bile which threatened to add weight to her words.
It wouldn't do Spinelli, fool though the boy was, a bit of good if she got on Morgan's bad side, though, truth was, that wasn't hard to do on a good day let alone when the man was having a bad day. And it was definitely a bad day if the murderous looks the man was gifting those in the lobby were anything to go by.
"Not sure," Jason stated, giving the diminutive woman standing next to Sam a scathing look. "Got a call from her, what fifteen, thirty minutes ago?" He looked to Sam for verification and she nodded, not taking her eyes off the mysterious woman.
"Spinelli was confused, speaking nonsense. Think he's got a concussion," Jason supplied.
"I see," Epiphany pursed her lips as she checked off the appropriate boxes on the admittance papers. "Anything else? Has he vomited?"
Lowering his eyes to his boots, Jason nodded. Epiphany checked off another box.
"Lost consciousness?"
Jason looked at the sopping wet woman next to Sam and his nostrils flared when the woman nodded her head. "He was out, barely a minute."
"Has he been complaining about blurry vision?" Another headshake.
"Had any trouble communicating?"
"Like I said, he isn't making any sense and sometimes he slurs his words," Jason grunted.
"Mr. Morgan," Epiphany expelled an impatient breath, biting her tongue, if anyone knew how many times she held her tongue, they'd be surprised. She had a reputation for speaking the honest, brutal truth no matter what. Truthfully, she only spoke the truth half as much as it needed to be spoken as she chose her words carefully.
"This would go a lot smoother if you stopped trying to glare everyone in the lobby into submission and if you cooperated with me. I am trying to ascertain the severity of your colleague's condition.
Epiphany gave Jason as cold a stare as he was giving her, and raised a single eyebrow. When Jason briefly looked away, she continued, "Additionally, information about any preexisting conditions as well as insurance carrier will need to be obtained. If you are incapable of providing me with this information, you will be delaying care for your grasshopper."
Smiling inwardly when Jason had the grace to look abashed, she continued, "Now, here's how it is going to go. I, Mr. Morgan, will ask the questions, you will provide the answers and if you give me any cheek, I'll call for an orderly and some security to wrestle that young man from you if need be and then call the police and have you arrested. Do you understand?"
Jason's jaw twitched, Epiphany did not back down as she held his gaze, obstinate glare for obstinate glare. Her lips twitched upward in a half smile when he nodded his acquiesce.
"Good, now, let's see where was I? Has he had any trouble communicating?"
"Yes," Jason ground out as politely as he could. "He…that is he thinks he isn't himself and his words aren't coming out clearly," he amended.
Jason answered the rest of Epiphany's questions through clenched teeth. When the hell was a doctor going to come and help Spinelli? And what the hell is that woman still doing here? Jason turned to glare pointedly at Belle who was hovering just behind the plastic chairs. Her eyes were fastened on Spinelli as though she were concerned for his wellbeing, as though it wasn't her fault that he was in the hospital waiting room to begin with. When Spinelli was finally being seen to, he would be having a little chat with her.
Belle shivered beneath the gimlet glares Mr. Morgan kept sending her. Being on the receiving end of his animosity was definitely not on her top ten list of things to do while in the city of Port Charles. His intense scrutiny made her feel as though she was the very scum of the earth and he was determined to eradicate her. Save the earth, kill Belle. No, she amended, save Damian, kill Belle.
Just what was Mr. Morgan's connection to Damian? The man was almost twice his age, and Belle felt a strange urge to protect the young man she had abandoned so long ago from a potentially damaging, if not illicit, relationship. Though she hadn't known him for long, she sensed that Spinelli was somewhat of an innocent, and, much like his late mother, vulnerable to those who would prey upon him. He was an easy target for those who would wish him harm and Belle found that unsettling.
What kind of life had she abandoned Damian to? She had believed that her mother would be a much better caretaker for the baby, not wanting to return him to where he rightfully belonged out of fear of being imprisoned, and knowing that her mother, for all of her faults had been a good mother overall. She was strict and uncompromising, but she had never abused her. Had she mistreated Damian?
Now, seeing Damian with this man, Belle questioned the wisdom of her decision. Had her mother, with all of her sternness, unwittingly driven Damian to this irascible man's arms? Had she done the wrong thing after all? How badly had she screwed things up for him? Was there any way for her to redeem the situation?
Belle had a lot of questions for Mr. Morgan. Once Damian was being seen to by the hospital staff, she would get to the bottom of things and do what she could to get Damian away from the man who seemed to be holding onto him as though he was some sort of glorified anchor.
Though she had no motherly rights whatsoever where Damian was concerned, Belle would not be leaving Port Charles until she was certain that Mr. Morgan was not taking advantage of Karen's son. She owed the other woman at least that much.
If she found out that Mr. Morgan was hurting Damian or using him, Belle would put a stop to it for the sake of his mother. No matter how intimidating the man may be, Belle would do everything in her power to protect the son she'd stolen from Karen, if it was the last thing she ever did. She wasn't long for this world anyway. She could perform one final service of kindness with the little time she had left.
"Look, Spinelli needs help, I've been cooperative," Jason's voice rose perceptibly with the mounting level of his frustration. He half rose from the plastic chair only to be stopped with a restraining hand on his arm.
"Mr. Morgan, stay put," Ephiphany ordered. "I will send an intern over momentarily to take Mr. Spinelli from you."
He capitulated with a snarl.
"Idiot man's gonna wrench his back if he carries on like that," she mumbled beneath her breath as she stood.
"Not so fast," Jason stuck out his leg, stopping her, "I don't want some fucking intern poking around at Spinelli. Get Patrick or Robin."
"Mr. Morgan," Epiphany was about to lose what little patience she had for the short-tempered man, "General Hospital's interns are all highly qualified. If what you have told me is true, Mr. Spinelli has nothing more than a concussion. Our interns will take very good care of him. It would be a waste of valuable hospital staff to call a surgeon in when it is unnecessary."
"Excuse me," Belle cleared her voice, ignoring the dirty look Mr. Morgan sent her way as she stepped in between the two, "seems to me that Damian needs to be seen to as soon as possible. Maybe some sort of compromise can be reached?"
