Spinelli watched as Georgie stared at the Christmas tree, looking pale and scared. Her breaths were shallow and she was trembling slightly.
"Are you all right?" he asked gently. "Are you reacting to what happened with Diego, or to whatever it is Jack wanted you to tell me? If that's the case, you have nothing to fear. We're friends, Georgie; nothing you tell me is gonna change that."
She looked into his eyes and Spinelli thought she might cry. She didn't speak; she couldn't make the words come. He prompted her gently.
"What did he mean, Wise One? Tell me how you feel about what? Why would you be afraid to tell me? I'm your friend; you can tell me anything."
"That's just it, Spinelli; I- I-"
She swallowed.
"I want us to be more than friends," she said, barely above a whisper.
Spinelli's eyes went wide with surprise and something else Georgie couldn't place. She wanted to look away from him, but couldn't. He looked deeply into her sad, scared eyes and wished he could look away, knowing he'd been the one to put that look there.
He couldn't believe it. Stone Cold had been right; Georgie had chosen him. Why hadn't he seen it? How long had she felt this way and had to listen to him go on and on about Lulu, a girl who sometimes acted as if she didn't even want his friendship, never mind anything more. How long had Spinelli been the cause of Gentle Georgie's secret pain?
Georgie couldn't read his expression; she thought he was confused, that he didn't understand what she meant, so she went on.
"I love you, Spinelli; I have for months. I've wanted to tell you for so long; I just couldn't. I always lost my nerve. Spinelli, I never meant to lie to you; I told you once that I wanted to vent to you about Maxie, Logan and lulu. Later I told you the real reason I was there was to find out about Lulu and Johnny, that I was worried about the whole Zacchara situation. I told you I couldn't figure out that web site you gave me and you were wondering why I was having trouble. They were all excuses; I wanted to see you. I love you and I've wanted to tell you so many times; I came close so many times, but-"
"I was too focused on Lulu, and when I wasn't fixating on her I was distracted by whatever I was doing at the time."
She nodded slowly, wishing she could read his mind.
"I'm sorry," he said, pulling her into his arms. "Georgie, I can't believe I didn't see it; I can't believe you've chosen me! I'm sorry you couldn't tell me. I understand why you couldn't. I'm so sorry I made you feel the way The Blonde One made me feel every time she chose The Crabby Commando! She never wanted me; I know that now. I can't believe you do! No girl has ever chosen me before! I've always been too weird, as Mr. Corinthos, Sir, once called me, a freak of nature."
"You're not!" she said passionately, putting her arms around him.
"You're the only one, besides Stone cold, who truly understands me, either as The Jackal or Spinelli. It should have been you; I should have seen your feelings. I'm sorry; I never wanted to hurt you!"
"It's OK, she said, rubbing his back. "You don't have to apologize. You needed to work through your feelings for Lulu. I don't think she meant to hurt you either, but she did. You're not a machine; you can't just flip a switch and turn on and off your emotions because Lulu, or anyone else, decides you should feel a certain way; no one has the right to expect that. But I need to know."
She pulled back slightly, holding him at arms length, and looked again into his eyes.
"Do you choose me?"
To Georgie, his answer seemed to take forever, but it really took no time at all. She felt as if she were hanging by her fingers on the edge of a cliff and only Spinelli could save her.
"I would be honored to have you as my girlfriend," he said softly, "if you still choose the brainless genius-" he pointed at himself, "to be your boyfriend."
Georgie felt him pull her off the cliff and back to safety.
"You're not brainless, she said happily, hugging him again, "and I still choose you!"
They kissed. Everything seemed to intensify. Sounds were louder; the world was brighter. Time seemed to stand still and speed up at the same time. Neither had ever felt anything so intense and wonderful in their lives.
At the same time, the two of them sent a mental thanks to Jack, along with a prayer that wherever he was, whatever he was doing, he was safe and happy. The mystery of his connection to Spinelli and the disturbing and puzzling phrases, both in the note and the things he'd said to Georgie, were put on hold. This moment on the night that would have been the worst night of Spinelli's life, and the night of Georgie's death, if it hadn't been for Jack, was theirs alone. Jack had given them both an early Christmas, and a new future.