Sorry for the delay in update: no excuse except for laziness and a slight lack of direction; but i think i've figured it all out. I can't promise I'll have another update yet; I currently work 72 hours a week so my life is often not my own. Hope you enjoy.


Storming back into the bedroom and slamming the door was completely ineffective because of the carpeted floor; and making her seem more like an insolent child instead of the mature twenty-five year old woman she was claiming to be.

A frustrated yell escaped her lips before she fell onto the bed wanting to throw something or yell louder; do anything to make this situation better. She wrestled her way out of her sweater instantly chilled at the choice of top she wore.

She knew there was a chance she would be photographed today when she went to the court house which meant dressing to the nines whenever someone might be watching. The face of Crimson required a bit of attention to detail; but then again that was Maxie's world. But now, she was freezing! Digging into the bottom drawer she soon found the afore mentioned women's clothing. She pulled out a pair of jeans from the bottom holding them at her hip to measure for length. It was obvious whose clothing it was; Elizabeth's. The jeans were well past her bare feet and since Sam was close to the same height that left only Elizabeth as the owner of the clothing; they were too recently fashioned to be Courtney's.

Pulling on the denim jeans she cuffed each leg a few times to ensure she wouldn't be tripping over the extra fabric. She also found a wool knit sweater and v neck t-shirt which she pulled on next. The only issue was that her backless outfit required a certain lack of bra. So she was flying solo without that; even if Elizabeth had left a bra at the house there was no way Maxie could even attempt to fill it out the mother of three's intimates.

Finally grabbing a pair of socks from the pile of clothes Maxie made her way back into the kitchen to hear Jason finishing up a phone call.

"Alright, I'll give you a call when we get to the island." Jason finished before hanging up. Jason turned to see her standing very uncomfortably in the obviously too big clothing. "We'll get you something that fits when we stop."

"Did you find a way to get me my medications?" Maxie asked getting to the thing that mattered most. She knew realistically she had time until she needed to seriously worry but it was better to be prepared for whatever might happen; plus if he was serious about not wanting to kill her he would want to get her the medicine.

"I'm about to talk to Spinelli; have him set up fake identity for you; once were further away we'll stop by a pharmacy and get your medicine." Jason explained moving towards the cabinet off the kitchen to grab a black bag that soon revealed held a laptop computer.

"A computer! Jason that's great!" Maxie said trying to take the laptop from his uninjured arm. "We can order the medication online; I could even order some clothes online! Jason give me your credit card!" She smirked as the laptop was just within grasp.

"Maxie the idea is to not draw attention to ourselves." Jason said moving past her easily and setting the computer down on the tabletop.

Jason went about his business logging into the computer and entering the secure Skype account and before long Spinelli's face appeared on the computer screen.

"Spinelli!" Maxie exclaimed almost landing in Jason's lap to be in front of the small camera.

"Maximista! So it's true you helped the fearless Stonecold escape the clutches of the justice dispensers." Spinelli rambled; Jason pushing back from the table to give Maxie room; that wasn't in his lap.

"I did no such thing; your oaf of an idol abducted me. Spinelli you have to find a way to get me out of here." Maxie pleaded not even acknowledging Jason's presence.

"Maxie I know that Stonecold would never harm you; you are safer in his tender care than you could possibly be back in Port Charles at this given time." Spinelli continued; "Stonecold whatever you need the Jackal is at your disposal."

Jason gently pushed Maxie aside scooting his chair back towards the computer. Jason quickly got down to business arranging for Spinelli to create a fake identity for Maxie along with getting the correct heart medications Maxie would need for an indefinite amount of time.

Maxie just paced back and forth throughout the small room until Jason finally asked her to go into the bedroom to give him an opportunity to speak about business.

"Stonecold please be cautious of uncontrollable one's feelings. She didn't ask to be involved in this and I fear that she may do something drastic and extreme if her delicate feelings aren't addressed with the most utter care." Spinelli rambled on.

As soon as the arrangements were made Spinelli instantly launched into his mini infomercial of why Maxie was an excellent person and how she could truly be of a help to Jason's "quest" to prove his innocence.

Jason listened to the ramble for a few moments before cutting Spinelli off telling him to have the documents ready to go within the next 12 hours.

Shutting the computer down Jason went to stretch his arms over his head only to be reminded by the pull from his gunshot wound. Checking to see that he hadn't started bleeding again Jason proceeded to the bedroom door checking to make sure Maxie ate some food before she went to bed.

"I'm going to make some food, you're eating." Jason said not giving her a choice in the matter.

"I'd rather just go to sleep and when I wake up this will all be a horrible nightmare." Maxie smirked waiting for Jason to close the door and leave again.

Jason finally did leave and then went into the pantry and found a few cans of soup and a box of pasta it would have to do; they weren't going to be at the cottage any longer than they had to be; hopefully Spinelli would have the documents and a new car waiting by the entrance of the deserted road by the time night fall came tomorrow—well actually today, it was well past 2 am; the single act of looking at the clock was enough to make Jason realize just how tired he was. Deciding tomorrow would be soon enough to eat Jason checked the locks and window's making sure the cottage was secure as a fort; he peered in on Maxie who appeared to be sleeping on top of the covers. Softly closing the door Jason moved back towards the small living room area lying down on the couch waiting for sleep to hopefully come.

Maxie jolted awake; taking a few seconds to remember where she was. And instantly the events of the previous day returned to her mind. Going to the courthouse being put in her trunk; being here with Jason; she needed to get away. And now. Walking as quietly as she could to the light switch she turned on the light and quickly moved to the closet to find the sole pair of shoes a pair of Steve Madden flats; at least Elizabeth had good taste.

Shoes on and the last bit of bravery Maxie had left she quickly went to the only window; which she was barely able to look out of. Using the bed as leverage was able to lift herself up and push the window out. For once she was thankful for her small size making it easy for her to squeeze through the small space.

Her feet were dangling above the snow covered ground she was almost home free until the sleeve of the sweater caught on a jagged nail in the window sill. She had to use her feet against the siding of the house making a thudding noise that Maxie knew would alert Jason.

"Shit!" Maxie whispered under her breath pulling on her snagged arm as hard as she could. Pain ran through her arm as it connected with the nail, but she knew that she would have to move and move fast if she wanted to escape Jason; although she truly had no idea where she was going to go.

Her first few minutes of running through the woods she didn't look back, she just wanted to put some distance between herself and the cottage. After the slightly too large shoes slide off her foot she had to stop to find it giving her a chance to look at the bloodstained sweater a sizeable cut ran along her arm.

"Just great Maxie; way to slit your own wrists." She admonished pressing the stained sweater into her wound. She could hear Jason's footsteps somewhere in the distance behind her.

The jeans she was wearing were starting to get wet from the snow she was kneeling in. Snow was finding its way into the flats she wore, there was no way she was going to be able to outrun Jason; she might have a very low percentage of body fat but Maxie was desperately out of shape; the only cardio she participated in was sex.

She needed to stay close to the dirt pathway but far enough away that she wouldn't alert Jason of her location.

"Maxie!" Jason yelled clearly frustrated with Maxie's running. "Maxie this is crazy you're going to freeze to death!" Jason yelled his voice coming from just a short distance from where Maxie was kneeling.

Maxie took another look at the cut on her wrist; blood was still seeping from the gash. Using the tree to brace herself Maxie slowly stood trying not to attract Jason attention.

Maxie's mind was running a mile a minute she had a few options; wait until Jason went back to the cottage and make a run for it; ask Jason to help and trust that he wasn't to leave her to die. Or sulk in the cold snow and probably die. None of them sounded like any good options.

"Jase—" Maxie called out quietly; she was nervous; she knew he was angry with her.

She saw him stop and waited until he turned in her direction.

"Over here." She said again her voice sounding foreign to her own ears.

Finally Jason stopped and saw her leaning against the tree; stalking over towards her he forcefully pulled her towards him not noticing her wince as he pressed the sweater into the wound.

"Maxie what the hell were you thinking? Are you trying to get yourself killed?" He all but yelled taking hold of her cut arm and dragging her in the direction of the cabin. "I should just leave you in this stupid cabin and send someone to come and get you." He continued to vent; not to her but to the open woods before him. "Ungrateful stupid—"

Maxie just silently attempted to keep up with Jason's much larger strides. She refused to cry because of the pain in her arm; she refused to show Jason that she was freezing; she refused to back down from his wrath.

Once back inside the cabin Jason went to the heater and turned the temperature on the thermostat up; then moving to the fire to restoke the extra heat source.

"Take off the sweater, it's probably soaked from the snow." Jason said already in the process of removing the simple long-sleeved black shirt he wore. Maxie again was stopped by the muscles in his back as they danced in the light of the flickering flame. "Maxie!"

This time it wasn't because she hadn't done what he asked; it was the small pool of blood that was forming below her on the floor. Jason still shirtless moved quickly towards Maxie's frozen form; quickly removing the thick sweater and looking at the damage on her wrist.

"Did you fall?" Jason asked pulling her towards the kitchen to grab a dish towel and place it against her wrist. "Maxie! How did this happen?" Maxie finally looked up to meet Jason's waiting gaze but words didn't come; finally for the first time since this whole ordeal started, tears slowly started trailing down her cheeks soon turning into body shaking sobs; Jason just standing there holding the cloth to her injured wrists.

"I—I want—wan—just please; please just let me go home." Maxie sobbed sinking to her knees Jason sinking to the floor with her. He pulled her awkwardly into his lap adjusting his grip to stabilize her small frame. "please—" her voice trailed off as she finally calmed and slipping off to sleep.


"Alternative solution?" Jason repeated. "What are you referring to?"

"Maxie Jones." Sonny said simply as if her name alone would solve all the problems. "She's managed to connect herself pretty well into your life; without even trying."

"Her and Spinelli are no longer together; Maxie is more trouble than help; in all situations." Jason said flatly. He'd seen her involve herself in his work and nine times out of ten it led to more trouble than he was in before. Mostly because Spinelli didn't know how to keep his mouth shut where Maxie was concerned.

"That's what I'm counting on." Sonny smiled; slowly standing for the chair. "I'll let you know when I know more." He finished before leaving the room; leaving Jason with more questions about his friend and business partners motives and intentions for the young blonde.


Jason shifted Maxie's sleeping form in his arms she he could carry her towards the couch, carefully lying her down he retrieved the first aid kit and got to work bandaging her wrist like she had done his arm hours earlier. The cut was deep and could probably use stitches but that wasn't in the game plan at the moment. As long as he could control the bleeding she should be fine.

Her skin was cooling and unless he did something to warm her soon hypothermia would probably set in. Taking her back into the bedroom Jason laid the her small form on the bed before moving to close the window she had opened in her escape. Maxie would probably kill him for what he was about to do but he needed to get her out of those wet clothes. As quietly and without jostling as he could Jason did his best to remove the wet jeans pulling a blanket over her body trying to rewarm her. Next he removed the shirt and replaced it with one of his own black shirts that would probably hang to her knees.

Pulling another shirt from the drawer Jason redressed needing to warm himself as well. Moving towards the kitchen Jason grabbed a chair dragging it into the room where he set himself up with a blanket; feet propped on the end of the bed. There were only a few hours until daylight so hopefully they would both sleep late enough that Jason wouldn't have to entertain Maxie's crazy antics for much longer.

Jason had been right; Maxie was much more trouble than she was worth; but now her trouble was his trouble.