Spinelli panicked when he woke up and saw the IV in his arm.
"No, he cried in terror. "No! No! The Jackal's cyber strength is being sucked from his corporeal form! All his wisdom will be kept in tiny vials and sold to the highest bidder!"
"Spinelli," Elizabeth said, rushing to him. "Shsh, calm down. You're in General Hospital; you have a fever."
He looked at her in confusion.
"But that's not right. It was- it was The Blonde One who contracted the deadly Ague."
"Lulu's OK now."
"What about Kendra?" he asked, suddenly afraid he'd lost her, that she'd caught the virus while he was out of it with the fever and he'd abandoned her when it counted most. "And Georgie, are they-"
"Kendra's fine; she and Georgie didn't get sick."
"Thank the Gods and Goddesses," he sighed, relaxing. "Can I see them?"
"Georgie and Lulu, yes, and Jason's here, too, but Kendra's too young. Nadine's watching her at your place."
"I brought this from your night stand at home," Georgie said, placing a framed photo on his bedside table. "I figured you'd feel better if you could at least see Kendra since you couldn't have her here."
"Thank you, Lovely One."
"Georgie?" someone called, running toward Spinelli's cubical.
Mack came rushing in, looking frantic.
"Dad, what are you doing here?"
"Lucky heard the call over the radio for paramedics to go to Spinelli's place."
"I'm fine; Kendra and I didn't get sick. Lulu did, but she's better. Spinelli's fever spiked and we had to rush him here."
"Do you have any sense in your head?" Mack demanded, glaring furiously at Spinelli. "You have a child and you expose her, and my daughter, not to mention Lulu, to some weird virus? I didn't think you were like Jason and Sonny; I thought my daughter would be safe with you! I see now that I was dead wrong and I never should have trusted you!"
"Sir, I-"
"Mack, stop it! All we did was order a pizza, which, by the way, was my idea. How were we supposed to know the delivery guy would have Asian Ague of all things?"
"You should be brought up on charges of child endangerment," Mack spat at Spinelli.
"Mack!" Georgie said furiously.
"No! I almost lost you! From now on you stay away from my daughter!"
"Commissioner Scorpio," Epiphany said sternly, stepping into the cubical. "The only person who should be in here with Mr. Spinelli is your daughter; he's only allowed one visitor at a time. Step out, and I won't have you upsetting my patient. You're gonna have to continue this conversation when he's better."
"You and I are gonna have a very long talk when I get home," Georgie promised Mack, "and it's not gonna be pretty! Go away, Mack; Spinelli needs his rest."
"Where is your child?" Mack asked, his voice dripping with venom. "Maybe I should have Social services pick her up."
Spinelli's emotions were all over the place. He'd been surprised by Mack's anger, but part of him understood it. Mack had lost one daughter and had been in danger of losing the other. But Spinelli had also been in danger of losing Kendra, and all because of a random encounter with a stranger who had had no idea he was sick and had passed it on to Spinelli and everyone with him. It was a miracle that Lulu and Spinelli were the only ones afflicted. He felt guilty for putting all their lies in danger, even though he knew it wasn't his fault. But at the threat of Social Services, all those feelings, except the guilt, were replaced with fear. Spinelli could still lose Kendra.
"She's safe at home with Nadine; now get out of here and leave him alone!"
Before leaving, Mack made one final threat.
"If any harm ever comes to Georgie because of you, I will personally break every bone in your hand and see to it that you never get near a computer again."
He glared at him, completely ignoring Georgie's horrified protests, then stormed away from the cubical.
"I'm sorry," Georgie began, but Spinelli's fear made him interrupt her before she could get any further.
"He- He can't really do that, can he? I mean, none of us could have known the delivery man would be sick! He can't- he can't take Kendra, can he? Can he bring up-"
"Hey," Jason said. "How are you feeling?"
"I think you better call a lawyer to set his mind at ease," Georgie said. "Mack's got him scared Kendra's gonna be taken away from him because of the exposure; he won't get any rest and he won't get better if he's worried sick over Mack's threats."
"Why would Mack threaten to take Kendra?"
"I exposed her and Georgie to the Ague; he's angry with me for putting Georgie in danger. Please, Stone Cold, I need to know I'm not gonna lose my Innocent One over a thirty second encounter with a random delivery boy. Would you please call The Brusk Lady of Justice?"
They knew it wasn't likely; even as scared as he was, Spinelli also knew that on some level, but he was sick and his worst fear had just been voiced by someone powerful enough to make it happen. If Mack wanted to, he could find a way to take Kendra. Georgie and Jason knew that calling Diane was the quickest and most effective way to ease Spinelli's concerns so he could get the rest he needed to recover.
"Yeah, I'll be right back. Just try to relax; don't worry."
When Lulu came in to see him, Georgie went to go call Robin and check on her. Kelly had put her on bed rest after she'd collapsed.
"What's wrong?" Lulu asked with concern. "Did the doctor give you bad news? Are you-"
"I could lose Kendra."
"What?"
"Commissioner Scorpio has threatened to have Social Services take her and to have me brought up on charges of child endangerment because of the virus."
"That's crazy!"
"Diane's on her way," Jason said. "Don't worry, Spinelli; we're gonna make sure you don't lose Kendra. This wasn't your fault and anyone with a brain is gonna see that."
Diane looked irritated when she arrived at the hospital. Spinelli had been moved to a room by then, so that was where she met with him and Jason. Georgie stayed, which seemed to annoy Diane even further. Spinelli was too upset to wonder why, but later supposed Diane had thought Georgie shouldn't be in on something that had to do with the business. Jason, always a man of few words, had told her only to come to the hospital, but not what the situation was.
"Not that you care, Jason, but when you called me, Kate Howard was showing me the latest in summer fashions."
"You're right, Diane. I don't care; we got a problem."
"Did Mr. Grasshopper shoot himself again? Kate can't fit me in again until next week, Spinelli; if you've caused me to miss out on the opportunity to wear the latest couture to the benefit at the museum I'll charge Jason so much for-"
"Not that I don't appreciate your efforts, Stone Cold," Spinelli said, fear and his fever causing his voice to rise with panic and irritability, "but maybe I should find a lawyer who cares more about my baby than she does about her fashion accessories!"
"Baby?" Diane asked, looking confused.
Jason lifted Kendra's photo off the table and handed it to Diane.
"This little girl is Kendra Jolene Spinelli, OK? That's who you need to focus on right now. The only thing I want you talking about in this room right now is how to keep Spinelli from losing his daughter. Mack Scorpio told him he was gonna send Social Services to pick her up because Spinelli and his friends ordered a pizza and the delivery man was exposed to Asian Ague. Lulu and Spinelli caught it; Georgie and Kendra did not. Does Mack have a case?"
"He's mad because I got exposed," Georgie said, smoothing Spinelli's hair, trying to calm him down. "He couldn't do anything for me during the quarantine and now he thinks threatening Spinelli is gonna make him feel like he did something to protect me. I'm Spinelli's girlfriend."
Diane nodded during Jason and Georgie's speeches, looking intently at the baby in the photo.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Spinelli; I didn't mean to be so shallow. I had no idea you had a child."
Spinelli's tone was desperate.
"Please, Ms. Miller, I can't lose my child over a pizza delivery!"
"You won't. Commissioner Scorpio doesn't have a leg to stand on; no one is going to take your daughter from you."
Spinelli and Georgie sighed.
"Thank you," he said, "and please accept my humble apology for snapping. The last twenty-four hours have been most distressing."
"Apology accepted. Kendra's beautiful."
He smiled.
"Now, there is the matter of the Commissioner."
"What do you mean?" Spinelli asked, tensing again. "I- I thought you said-"
Diane had been feeling strangely since Michael had been shot, as if she could have done something to prevent it years ago. It wasn't like her to feel guilty about a client's situation, but she felt guilty over Sonny's. Also, Father's Day had brought up her issues with her own father. She was grateful to see such a devoted father as Mr. Grasshopper. She would not allow his relationship with his daughter to be threatened if she could help it.
"You and Ms. Jones intend on continuing your relationship, do you not?"
"Yes," Spinelli and Georgie said together.
"Well, then, we can't have her father threatening to take your child every time he wants to keep Georgie away from you."
Georgie gave Spinelli a stricken look.
"She's right; he can't abuse his power like that, and he will if he thinks- Spinelli, I don't wanna lose you, but I don't want you to lose Kendra either! If keeping her with you means giving you up-"
"You won't have to do that, Ms. Jones. With your permission as my client, Mr. Spinelli, I would like to speak to him on your behalf."
"And tell him what?"
"I wanna threaten him with a harassment suit."
"He's Georgie's father; I don't-"
"He's been acting like a maniac lately," Georgie said heatedly. "Do you know he arrested Patrick on suspicion of stalking Robin just because he happened to be at her apartment when she was on bed rest? He was taking care of her and Mack hired Epiphany and then arrested Patrick when Robin wanted him there. I don't wanna hurt my dad, Spinelli, but I'm not gonna let him dictate our lives or terrorize you with the threat of losing your daughter either."
Spinelli stared, not sure what to make of this news.
"You won't actually bring charges?" he asked Diane. "You'll just talk to him privately?"
Diane nodded.
"OK, as long as it won't cause trouble between him and Georgie."
"I'd like to go with you," Georgie said. "I wanna be there, and Spinelli should get some sleep."
"She's right," Jason said. "The sooner you get outa here the sooner you can hold Kendra."
Spinelli nodded. Georgie kissed him, Jason patted his shoulder and Diane smiled at him as she put the photo back on his table.
