Chapter 8

Spinelli stepped off the elevator, his eyes quickly scanning the area. Once he spotted Elizabeth, who was at the desk writing notes in a patient's chart, he rushed over to the desk. Watching her for a moment, he leaned in toward her.

"Greetings, Maternal One," he said softly, that awkward smile on his face.

Elizabeth looked up from the notes and saw Spinelli standing in front of her.

"Spinelli, hi."

"Is..Is there somewhere The Jackal could speak with Nightingale?"

Elizabeth looked around to see if anyone was in ear shot and asked, "Did you find something?"

Spinelli nodded, following her lead as she looked around to make sure no one was listening to them.

Elizabeth closed the chart she was working on and, moving around the desk, took him by the wrist and led him behind a pillar off to the side. Once they were there, Spinelli's back against the pillar, she looked around again, before turning toward him.

"Okay, what did you find out?" Elizabeth sounded desperate. Her hands twisted in front of her nervously.

"Well...the Jackal did indeed find something quite interesting in the records."

Elizabeth's eyes grew big," Okay. What is it?"

Spinelli looked down momentarily before returning his eyes to hers, "Well, Nightingale, whoever tampered with the results didn't clean their job up very well."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that The Jackal, expert at all things cyber, was able to access the original records before they were altered."

Elizabeth looked at him expectantly, then gulped and nodded, her stomach fluttering, "What did it say, Spinelli?"

Spinelli fidgeted nervously and looked around again, ever vigilant to his surroundings.

"Well, The Jackal doesn't know how to say this, however, he must: Maternal One, the test that was run against both Count Cassadine and the Law Abiding One both came back negative. Neither one can be the father of young Aidan."

Elizabeth's eyes closed, her head bowed in front of her. She knew deep down what the answer was. To have it voiced as truth, however, was a different story. She looked back up at the young man and took a deep breath, getting her bearings.

"Okay, did you find anything else?"

Spinelli observed the woman in front of him with somewhat awe. She knew what the results were going to be. With nothing more than a mere hunch, she had pieced it together. He admired her. He also felt for her.

Shaking his head, "That is all, Nightingale. Those were the only two samples the lab had to test."

She exhaled slowly, then nodded, "Okay, then we need to have another test run. Can you get something of Jason's to test against?"

Spinelli nodded enthusiastically, "Absolutely. The Jackal will obtain an item post haste."

Elizabeth nodded shortly, her hands landing on her hips. "Okay. Then we can get it done quickly. Although, I already know what the outcome will be."

Spinelli hesitated for a moment before asking softly, "Maternal One, maybe it is best to have Stone Cold himself tested-"

"I don't want him involved until I know for sure, Spinelli."

"Bu-but as you just stated, you are certain that he is, in fact, young Aidan's father. The Jackal believes his Master would willingly-"

"I know, Spinelli!" She said, a bit louder than she intended. Looking around, making sure she didn't cause anyone to look over there, she turned back to him. "I know Jason would jump in and try to help. I need to find this out myself. I can't just go to him with this with just my instincts."

"So, you are planning on telling him, then?" Spinelli's voice was hopeful.

Elizabeth looked away from him, nodding as her eyes filled with tears. "As soon as I have the proof I need, I will tell him. But, Spinelli, I can't rip his life apart by just a hunch right now. You have to promise me that you will not tell him."

Spinelli nodded, happy that she was prepared to tell him. "Of course, Nightingale. My lips are sealed."

Elizabeth let out a relieved sigh, and on instinct, wrapped her arms around the young man's neck, hugging him tightly.

"Thank you, Spinelli. You don't know how much this means to me."

Surprised at first, Spinelli smiled softly, his hands resting softly on her back, "It is The Jackal's pleasure, Fair Elizabeth."

She pulled back and smiled softly, "Okay. You call Carly and let her know what you found out. I have to figure out a way to get a test done without anyone finding out about it."

"I am sure the Valkierie will have some ideas on the subject."

"Okay. I have to get back to work. Tell Carly I will talk to her later."

"I am at your service, Maternal One, "Spinelli said, bowing in his ungraceful way.

Elizabeth smiled. She was beginning to see just why Jason keeps him around.

"Be careful, alright. We don't need Helena catching on to what we are doing. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you."

Spinelli smiled, touched that she was worried about him.

"Rest assured, Fair Elizabeth. The Jackal has learned from the best how to keep himself safe. I shall be more than cautious."

Elizabeth nodded shortly, and turned back toward the desk.

Spinelli watched until she was back behind the nurse's station, then turned toward the elevators. He pressed the button and waited a moment before the doors opened, only to have Jason step out of them.

"Spinelli, what are you doing here?"

"Stone Cold...uh..The Jackal could ask you the same."

Jason's eyes looked over at the nurse's station, hoping to see Elizabeth there. He saw her leaning over a chart, her hand pushing that same pesky piece of hair behind her ear. His heart felt peace when he saw her.

As if on cue, she looked up and her eyes locked with his. A jolt of awareness shot through him as her dark blue eyes bore into his light ones.

He then noticed her looking from him to Spinelli, a nervous look crossing her face. She looked down immediately, and taking the chart, closing it and practically running from the desk over to them.

"Spinelli!"

Hearing his name, he turned toward her as she approached them.

"Did you tell him?" Elizabeth looked at him anxiously.

"No, Maternal One. I thought we agreed-"

"Oh I know you said it would be a great surprise, but I think he should know."

Jason's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, his hands resting on his hips.

"Can someone tell me what is going on?"

She turned toward him and her eyes looked up, again catching his. Her lip was being tortured by her teeth.

"Well, I kind of asked Spinelli to come. Jason, I know that we agreed to stay away from each other, and that," she spoke lower, getting closer, feeling the heat of him close to her. It was making her dizzy a bit, "Lucky would be known as Jake's father. Spinelli is helping me with giving both you and I email accounts. They'll be under different names, and Spinelli has assured me that they would be untraceable. I could send you pictures and any artwork and things like that of Jake."

Jason listened as she rambled, loving the sound. She was still thinking of him. She was still trying to give him even the smallest connection to their son.

When he didn't say anything, she continued, "I know that you probably think it isn't safe, but Spinelli assured me-" she looked over at the young man, hoping he would play along.

Immediately jumping in, Spinelli said, "Of Course, Stone Cold. The Jackal could set up encrypted accounts for both you and the Fair Elizabeth to exchange correspondence."

"Please, Jason. Just let me do this."

He heard the plea and the desperation in her voice, and swallowing a lump in his throat, he nodded.

"I would like that, Elizabeth. On one condition."

"What is that?"

"You send me stuff about Cameron and Aidan. I wanna know about both of them too. If that is alright."

It warmed her heart to know that Jason was still so fond of her oldest son, as well as wanting to know more about her youngest child. He didn't even know about the possibility of being his father, yet he was still interested in knowing him.

Her eyes filled with tears as she whispered, "I promise."

He yearned to reach out to her and hold her, but he held himself back, looking around and clearing his throat.

"Okay, I gotta go talk to Monica. I'll see you later?"

Elizabeth nodded, smiling.

"I'll see you later."

He hated to leave, but he reluctantly turned and walked toward Monica's office. Elizabeth's eyes didn't leave his form until he was totally out of site.

Spinelli reached his hand out to touch her shoulder only to pull it back. He saw the proof right there that he needed; they both still loved each other. Now he had to figure out what to do with that information. He would definitely help her find out the truth; but once that happened, whether or not young Aidan was truly Stone Cold's son, the truth was plain as the nose on his face. Those two belonged together.

"Nightingale-"

"Can you do it?" She asked without turning around toward Spinelli.

"Excuse me?"

"Can you set up those email accounts?"

"Absolutely, Fair One. It will be done post haste."

Elizabeth nodded, wiping a fallen tear from her cheek.

"Thank you. And thank you for not saying anything."

"The Maternal One can count on The Jackal."

She turned her head and smiled behind her and nodded, walking away from the young man.

Spinelli looked on at her, then down the hall where Jason walked. He didn't know what would happen next, but he knew that something had to change, and he was determined to help with that.