A/N: Okay this is my update. It's a little long, lol. Longer than I thought it would be, but enjoy!
Chapter 10
"Dr. Julian!" Jason shouted as he walked past him not at all stopping to explain Spinelli's condition.
"Oh I'm sorry, Mr. Morgan," Leo turned to him, "How can I help you?"
"Well um Spinelli, is he going to be okay?" He thought Dr. Julian knew he was going to ask him this, but the doctor just seem flustered.
"Yes," Leo nodded, "His artery will make a full recovery, but I'm afraid I can't say the same for his arm."
"What do you mean?" Jason looked at him concern.
"I mean the bullet tore the rotator cuff tendon completely, now I'm not a arthroscopic surgeon, Dr. Bayard is and he'll be in with Spinelli later to explain more specifically his condition, I just touched based on his notes, but the rotator cuff is connected to many muscles in the arm, the neck and the spine. Some patients take six months to recover full range of use," he explained as best he could.
Jason put his hands on his hips, "But…"
"Mr. Morgan I really don't have time to chat about this, you'll have to talk to Dr. Bayard." Dr. Leo walked away from a distraught Jason who felt like he had just been punched in the gut.
He turned away from the doctor's direction where he saw Claudia Zacchara walking towards him, "Jason…" She smiled, but he frowned.
"Is it that bad?" Claudia asked in concern.
"Is it that bad?" He mocked her, "Yes! He almost died last night and from what he just told me Spinelli might never fully recover."
"We'll pay for everything," Claudia immediately suggested but Jason nodded no, "I'm taking care of it."
"Jason I'm sorry," she crossed her arms, "I'm sorry, but I fixed things didn't I?" She implied her father's death.
Jason eyed her like she just didn't get it, "And that's supposed to make it better? You cost this kid his happiness, he'll never be the same Claudia! Do you understand that?"
"Jason I'm sorry, I don't know what else to say," she looked at him wanting a little compassion, it's not like she wanted Spinelli to get hurt.
"Maybe a simple truce would be nice and once I'm through getting Johnny and Lulu out of lock up, believe me you will never touch my business again and if you do," he leaned in wanting to make his words extremely clear, "So help me I will kill him and I'll make you watch before I kill you."
She could tell his threat was definitely genuine, "I promise you Jase, you'll never have any trouble from the Zacchara family ever again."
"I better not," he looked away from Claudia trying to calm himself down, "He's not allowed any visitors until this afternoon so if you want to apologize for the world of pain he's about to go through you'll have to do it later."
Claudia nodded with tears in her eyes, "Okay."
"I really am sorry and if there's anything I can do for him, please let me know," she hesitantly touched his shoulder trying to sympathize with his loss.
He reluctantly looked into her eyes, "Tha-thank you."
"Of course," she frowned before turning away from him and walking to main floor where she entered the elevator and took out her phone, "Yes, we need to dissolve this issue right now Trevor…I don't care what you're doing, I want to fix this before it can potentially hurt us."
-
Maxie rested her cheek against his after the kiss they shared proved to be too intoxicating for her to continue, "Spinelli…" She wanted to convince him to let her stay, to ignore what the doctors say, she could be of use to him.
"The Jackal will be alright by himself," he began to rub his hand along her back, a gentle soothe that he knew would help her over come her possessive emotions.
"Spinelli I'll just sit, I'll watch you fall asleep, I'll…" She stopped as she felt his hand come up over her shoulder, his thumb rubbing her neck, "Please Maximista."
She loosened up her shoulders in disappointment where she wiped a tear from her eye, "I just…"
"You're not going to miss anything believe me," he insisted before realizing that maybe the only way to get her to leave was to suggest she go and get something for him, "You want to help me?"
She glanced up at him, "Anything…" Her hands grasped his arms, both of them by accident.
He cringed with a smile on his face as she instantly took her hand off his arm and apologized, "Spinelli I'm sorry, I had a blonde moment and forgot."
He laughed as he felt the pain arch up into his shoulder, "Now you owe me." He gently wrapped his fingers around her neck a brought her closer to him, "Now you must bring the Jackal nectar of the gods."
She smiled that he wasn't angry, she was thankful that he turned the moment into light hearted humor, "And would you like barbeque chips with that?"
His hazy smile gave the answer away, "Alright Mr. Jackal." She teased his lips as she moved passed them to whisper into his ear, "Anything else I can do for you?"
"Hmmm," he playfully moaned, "Well…" He smiled at how clever his idea was.
She leaned away from his ear seeing his grin like he was up to something, "Spinelli…"
"Could you please…" He raised his hand to his cheek, "Right here…"
She goofily laughed, "I suppose," she kissed his cheek.
"And right here," he pointed to his forehead.
She nodded in playful disbelief, he was going to milk this for everything it was worth, she kissed his forehead, "Anywhere else I can kiss the pain away?"
"Um yes," he looked up into her eyes and pulled her into a kiss.
Now she definitely didn't want to leave him, spontaneous Spinelli was driving her hormones up the wall, "Spin…" She couldn't finish the other syllable without his lips piercing hers, "Sp…" She tried to shout how surprised she was but his lips were like suction cups, she couldn't pull away and to be honest, she didn't want to.
Running her fingers through his hair while her other hand cupped his cheek she kissed him back with her body pressed up against the left side of his chest. Entangled in his lips she wrapped her arms around his neck feeling the heat of both their bodies hot for each other.
"Spinelli I…" Jason stood in the doorway, damn it! Not again!
Maxie sighed in annoyance turning to him, "Jason can't you just knock on the door before you come in?"
His eyes looked horrified, no one had ever told him to knock on the door, but he realized if he did that then these awkward interruptions like this would stop occurring, "Uh yeah." He quickly closed the door feeling like an idiot, "I need to go to work, I need to forget what I just saw, I need nectar of the gods…" He paused wondering why he was so flustered, speaking Spinelli was just another sign that he needed to get out of here.
Maxie couldn't help but laugh, "Did you see the look on his face?"
"Yes the Jackal believes we might have disturbed the master," he glanced away from the door to her face that was still fixated on the door.
"I'll say I think he's finally going to start locking his own door," she turned to him where she saw him grinning, "What are you so happy about?"
"Oh well, just that in six hours I'm going to wake up to a dazzling bottle of the greatest beverage ever made and the tastiest snack the Jackal has ever set eyes on."
"Well," she gently got off the bed grabbing her purse, "I will try to be back as soon as possible with orange soda and barbeque chips."
"Who said I was talking about barbeque chips?" He playfully teased her raising his eyebrows.
"Spinelli if you haven't noticed I'm trying to leave and when you say things like that it makes it impossible…"
"For what?" He pondered her thoughts reaching for her hand and then pulling her towards him, "It makes it impossible for the blonde one to what…"
She evilly eyed him, "I'm not playing into this Spinelli." She laughed as he continued to pull her towards him.
"Oh, alright," he teased her with a playful grin on her face before pulling her into a kiss.
"Spin…" She stomped her foot on the ground as she found herself unable to resist him.
He leaned away from her seeing he had flustered her, he proudly smiled at himself, the confidence he had after they together that one evening a week ago, was back.
She put her fingers over her mouth, trying to pull herself together while feeling giddy at the same time, he had no kidding rocked her world, "Spin-elli."
He happily grinned with a laugh, "There is something that the Jackal would really like you to do."
She looked up at him dropping her hand from lips, "Yeah?"
"The handicapped patient would very much appreciate it if you visited the fugitive ones and updated them on my condition," he knew that might be a touchy subject, but he wanted Lulu and even Johnny to know that he was okay whether they cared or not.
"Spinelli," she sighed definitely having a problem with this.
"Please if you have time after you've checked in with the Fashionista, could you just tell the blonde one that the Jackal is okay and for her not to blame herself," he could see she was about to explode for Lulu and Johnny were to blame for this.
"I'll make it worth your wild," he teased her.
"And how are you going to do that, you're in a hospital bed and let me remind you that you have no use of your other arm," she didn't mean to bring up bad news, but it went along with their back and forth tug of war sarcasm game.
"The Jackal is used to thinking outside of the box for his blonde one," he insisted that he had to approach situations differently with her which she got the implication that it meant she was high maintenance.
"Hey," she glared at him.
"Maximista," he smiled to imply that he didn't mean anything by his words, "Please do what the Jackal asks of you."
"Okay Spinelli I'll tell that twit you're going to be fine," she sighed with an ongoing grunt.
"Thank you, now go and be the brilliant assistant to the fashionista."
"Alright," she tenderly touched his hand and then leaned into kiss his cheek.
Standing at his bedside now, "Get better and don't push yourself." She looked at him not wanting to leave his side, "Are you sure…"
"Yes," he persisted, "Maximista the Jackal will be fine without your presence for a few hours." He sincerely smiled for her to leave, giving her the okay.
"Fine," she rolled her eyes, "I'll see you later…" She hesitantly let go of his hand and walked out of the room closing the door behind her.
Spinelli watched as she walked passed the window and left his sight. He quietly sighed as he glanced at his fingers that he tried to move, but pain shot up through his arm to his shoulder and he looked away at his other hand balled into a fist trying to contain the rage that he wanted to scream, "The Jackal will be fine.
-
Kate walked out of her office with Clarice when they heard the ding, "Clarice are we expecting Mr. Jacks?"
"Um no," she looked at Kate where they both looked at the elevator doors that opened.
"Hey guys," Maxie smiled walking onto the floor with jeans and a black blouse on.
Kate grinned, "Clarice why don't you get me this months numbers for the magazine."
"Alright!" Clarice pretended to be her usual self.
"Wow she's perky this morning," Maxie slightly laughed as she walked to her desk, "Oh shoot," she turned around to Kate, "I'll be right back with your coffee."
"No Maxie," Kate kindly smiled, "That's okay." She walked over to Maxie placing her hand gently on her back, "Why don't you come with me into my office."
Maxie nervously looked up at her wondering if she was about to get fired so she thought if she made a last minute confession that maybe she'd save her job, "I deleted the email to make Lulu look bad."
Kate laughed, "Oh Maxie I know you did. Sometimes you have to get messy, but I'm not firing you come on." She walked away from her to open the doors to her office where she took a seat at her desk.
"Maxie sit down," she motioned her to take a seat.
"Um," Maxie nervously walked further into the office, "If you're not firing me then…"
"Maxie, stop worrying, just sit down," Kate looked away from her to the papers on her desk, straightening up the area.
"Okay," Maxie sat down, "What do you want to talk about?"
"Good question," Kate finished up with her desk and looked up at her.
Maxie looked at her confused, "Um I don't understand."
"Neither do I frankly," Kate looked at her very serious.
Maxie continued to stare at her clueless as to what issue Kate was dancing around about.
"Maxie," Kate scooted her chair in and then crossed her arms on her desk, "Hun, what are you doing here?"
"Um I work here at least I thought I did," she looked at her swearing that Kate just told her she wasn't about to get fired.
"You do Maxie, I said I wasn't firing you and I'm not." She sighed at the where the conversation was going, "I guess I'm not making myself clear. Maxie, you were almost killed yesterday and your very dear friend Mr. Spinelli is in the hospital so my question is why are you here?"
"Um well," Maxie sighed at having to explain, "The doctors won't allow him to see visitors until 3pm and he doesn't want me hanging around the hospital, he got some bad news and…"
"Is he going to be okay?" Kate asked in immediate concern for the man had always been very polite, helpful and kind to her.
"Yeah," she spoke with enthusiasm, "He's going to be fine, it's just his shoulder they're worried about, the doctors say he'll never make a full recovery that he'll be in pain for the rest of his life and he's just devastated by the news."
"Oh," Kate frowned, "Well Maxie if you ever need to take any days off, you've earned them so."
"Well how about I make you a deal?" Maxie smiled and Kate of course was intrigued.
"Spinelli is going to be in the hospital for about another two weeks so what if I work my usual hours seven to four except for when I need to leave for his physical therapy and then when he gets released I'll take a few days off and…"
"And," Kate grinned folding her hands together, "Sounds like a thought out plan, you're taking care of Spinelli I presume?"
"Yeah," she slowly nodded yes, "He saved my life, it's the least I can do." She looked away from Kate thinking of the bullets that flew past her yesterday, "He was so brave Kate," she looked up at her with unexpected tears in her eyes, "He was bleeding in my arms, barely breathing and yet he never gave up," Maxie looked at Kate like she didn't understand where his determination came from, "He should have died and he lived."
Kate gently got up from her desk and grabbed the box of tissues where she held them out in front her, "I'm sorry you went through that."
Maxie grabbed a Kleenex where Kate joined her in the chair nearby, not at all minding to give up a few minutes of her time.
"I see him in the hospital and today is just the beginning Kate, he is in so much pain and he is so afraid to hurt me, he's terrified and I…I don't know how to make it better." She looked up at Kate who acted as if she had gone through something like this before.
"Sometimes you can't make it better," she set the Kleenex's on the desk, "Sometimes you'll never be able to make it better no matter how hard you try."
"How do you know?" Maxie looked up at her wondering where this advice was coming from.
"People change Maxie, I think you know that better than anyone, people change in great tragedies, they either become the person they always wanted to be or they become the person they swore they would never become." She sighed, it wasn't a good idea for her to bring up the past she realized.
"Maxie take as much time as you need, maybe by the time you have to leave, Lulu will decide she doesn't want to be a fugitive anymore."
Maxie looked at her defensively, "She's not a fugitive, Johnny kidnapped her."
Kate looked at her like the gig was up, "Maxie you don't have to cover for her, I'll hire someone else, someone who is like you."
Maxie laughed, "And then I'll have to work extra hard to make them look bad so I can keep my job."
"Well," Kate laughed, "So you're saying that Lulu is the innocent one in all this?" Kate looked at her to be honest.
Lulu would owe her big time, "Yes, she's innocent."
"Well then," Kate found it funny that Maxie was defending her. "If you don't mind working for a few hours there are definitely things to do."
"Please, work would give me something to take me mind off," it sounded bad, but this thing with Spinelli was stressing her out.
"Alright," she got up from her chair, "I'm going out for a bit, Clarice will give you a list of things that need to be done."
Maxie got up from her chair taking a deep sigh, "Thanks for that, I know you said keep our personal lives separate but…"
"Maxie, it's okay to show a little compassion once and a while in this field," she softly smile, "If I was kind to you all the time then you wouldn't respect me."
"Oh you're wrong, I'd still respect you and work my butt off because I need this job, this and Spinelli are probably the best things that have ever happened to me since my sister and boy friend died."
"Well I see something great in you Maxie, expect to be working here for a long time," Kate motioned to hug her, "And if you ever need to talk, I don't mind a few minutes here and there."
Perhaps Kate befriended her because she didn't have a female role model in her life, but something within her told her it was because she could relate to Maxie's young age that was filled with drama, sure Kate had been much younger, but she saw herself in Maxie and never wanted her nor any other young girl to go through what she did.
-
Sam walked onto the floor of the hospital with a bag in her hand where she saw Elizabeth standing at the nurse's station, "Elizabeth…"
"Hey, are you looking for Lucky?" Elizabeth poked her nose into the public break up Sam had with her ex just a few days ago.
"Um no, I'm here for Spinelli, can he see any visitors?" Sam had a pile of newspapers that she wanted to excite him about.
"Let me check," she looked at his chart, "Hmm it's 2pm, he's not supposed to have visitors till 3, but Epiphany and Dr. Ford aren't around, so I'll let you sneak in."
"Really?" Sam asked surprised, lately she and Elizabeth had found a way to coexist through all the lies and heartaches brought on between the four of them.
"Yeah," she looked around and then stepped off the nurse's station and walked her to the room, "He might be sleeping."
"Well I'll just slip these in and he'll never know I was here," she grinned as they walked down the hall where they saw that he was watching TV in the dark.
"Spinelli," Elizabeth opened the door, "Sam is here to visit you."
"But it's only…"
"It'll be our little secret," Elizabeth winked at him turning the light on.
"Alright," he grinned, finally someone to talk to.
"Hey," Sam walked in closing the door behind her, "How are you?"
"Eh, the jackal is doing as well as expected." He yawned for he was still tired after almost sleeping for the past five hours.
"I won't be here long," she walked towards him showing her bag as she stopped at his bedside.
She sat down in one of the chairs near his bedside and then took out the newspapers, "I wanted you to have something for your scrap book." She placed them on his lap.
"You're a hero Spinelli," she pointed to the headlines, "Port Charles Herald is especially holding you responsible for Anthony Zacchara's death."
"The…The Brutal Mob boss is dead?" Spinelli looked at her confused and then back at the headline.
"Yup, they said that with his son's impending conviction and his men being revealed to be the ones that came after you and Maxie, they said he felt guilty and killed himself." She didn't care how the newspapers or the police or how anyone wanted to spin it, he was dead and the town was better for it.
"Wow," he looked up at Sam.
"I know," she grinned, "Spinelli you saved Maxie's life and you killed three professionally trained killers, Spin you are a stud!" She gave him a high five.
He high fived her, "Well." He sighed in doubt with a smile, "I don't know about a stud, but Maximista and I are…"
"Together?" She interrupted with a squeal of excitement.
"Um, no," he actually didn't know, "I mean the Jackal and Maximista have shared many intimate kisses and she slept next to me last night and…"
"But…" Sam lingered to every word of his trying to detect a problem.
"But I think she's just scared, you know, like she was when she and I slept together," he bit his lip thinking that all this might be more things she'd regret later.
"Whoa, hold up," Sam looked at him wondering when this happened, "You and Maxie…" Sam made a gesture with her fingers, "Got together?"
"Yes." He smiled proudly even if Maxie regretted it, he never would.
"Are you sure?" She remembered him coming to her and him rambling about 'six times'.
"Uh the Jackal would definitely remember sex with the blonde one," he giddily grinned, "And seeing that the mob boss is dead and you're a trusted friend," he figured he could somewhat explain what happened, "Well Maximista was scared one evening because the brutal mob boss believed she had something to do with the death of the unhinged one and the wanted ones and so she was scared and…"
"She came to you for comfort and…" One thing led to another and you two hooked up, this wasn't that hard to figure out.
"Yes," Spinelli caught on to her hints, "but…"
"But you thought it meant that the two of you were going to be together?" When she saw his expression she couldn't help, but feel for the guy. He finally got the girl, but for one evening, a few hours, poor guy.
"Yes and later she told me that she regretted it and that she didn't want to hurt the friendship," he frowned beginning to feel that soon all of this would be another regret too.
"Oh well I definitely don't think that's the case," she grinned knowing what she was about to tell him would give him hope, "At least not anymore for last night Spinelli she was worried sick about you and when I say worried I mean like she might have finally realized something about you."
She didn't want to spoil it, she didn't want to say much of anything else just enough to prevent him from giving up hope.
"Really," Spinelli pointed to himself, "Something about mwah the Jackal?"
Sam nodded, "Yup."
"Wow," he sensed what she was heading towards, "I love the Maximista too."
"Well then you should tell her," she thought now was a better time then ever for Maxie would put all her energy and attention on him so she'd be less susceptible to interrupt him during his confession.
"I did I think I did," he put his hand to his head and closed his eyes.
"Any last words?" He remembered the henchman saying as he drilled the gun into his head.
Yes, he remembered looking up into her blue eyes, blood dripping down his chin, sweat rolling down his face, not once blinking, completely fixated on her, smiling and saying the words he had wanted to say for weeks if not months, "I love you."
Sam watched his face change emotions as he explained what he could barely remember, "So she knows then."
Spinelli vaguely nodded, "I guess she does, but…but what bothers me I guess is that when I said it, I mean Samantha I was dying, the Jackal was on his last breaths of fresh air and she didn't say anything in return."
As he explained, Sam had an evil smile forming in the corner of her mouth, oh Spinelli you'll find out soon enough.
"I mean I guess it would have been like a typical movie that Film Guy talks of," he was implying Dillon, "But I just thought…"
"Spinelli," Sam interrupted his thoughts, "Why don't you tell her again?"
He looked up at her, "I can't tell her now, here, in the hospital while I'm handicapped." He looked at his shoulder where he fell into a silence.
"They gave you bad news didn't they?" She could see it on his face, his once lit up face was no more.
"Yeah well," he looked away not wanting to get into it, the longer he dreaded the news the stronger the stinging feeling grew in his shoulder.
"Hey you'll get through it, doctors are wrong all the time," she had enough life experiences to tell her that sometimes doctors were literally idiots at times.
"That's what Maximista says, she told me she's going to be here everyday to help me through physical therapy, but…"
"But what?" She thought he'd be happy to have her company.
"Fair Samantha the Jackal is in a lot of pain, the drugs help for a bit and then well I just don't want to do something or say something that will turn her away from me." He frowned looking away from her to the bed sheets.
"Spinelli," Sam curled her lips in a frown, such a fragile young man.
He wandered his eyes to the newspaper, Mobster saves Commissioner's Daughter.
"Mobster?" He chuckled, "I am not."
"Well you work for Jason so they assume," she smiled before joining him in a laugh.
He reached for another newspaper reading the headline, Unlikely hero saves the day, he looked at the pictures below from security footage, "The Jackal is going to need a copy of this video so he can remind himself of the man he used to be."
"Hey stop talking like that," Sam raised her voice, "You are going to leave here as the same man who entered."
He looked back down at the papers looking at another headline, Hero says no to organized crime.
"I like this one," Spinelli softly smiled for it seemed the closest headline that reflected him in a positive light.
"Well, I'll leave you to yourself," Sam could see he wanted to be alone.
He nodded looking up from the article he was reading about himself, "Thank you Fair Samantha, this will surely pass the time by."
She sweetly smiled back at him, "Well I'm glad I could be of help." She waited for him to say something else, but he didn't, he looked back at the article and she let herself out of the room.
Walking down the hall she turned to the main floor where she saw Elizabeth talking with Cruz, "Sam…" Elizabeth turned to her, "How was he?"
"Well," she looked at Cruz, "If you're here to question him on the shooting, I think you need to give it a few days, he's not himself."
Cruz sighed, "So…"
"So I'm saying that he doesn't seem interested in talking with anyone," Sam somewhat snapped at him, "Your investigation can wait."
"Very well then," Cruz nodded at the two before walking back into the elevator where Elizabeth turned to her, "I know what you mean. Lucky was the same way after his accident."
"I just think he needs rest you know? And then I'm sure his mood will get better."
Elizabeth nodded, "Yeah, that's the key. I think if Lucky had rested more instead of rushing to get back to work, if he had just waited, well maybe he wouldn't have gotten addicted to the pain killers." She lightly sighed at how that event had changed her life, pushed her into Jason's arm, created a child and well now it was just a long painful history.
"Did the doctors say when Spinelli might start physical therapy?"
"Well Dr. Julian said three days, but I read Dr. Bayard's notes and it seems like his diagnosis has changed, so I'm thinking they're going to wait a week which makes a lot more sense."
"Yeah," Sam was relieved for three days just seemed crazy, "Well I've got to go babysit Molly and Kristina, Alexis has been up to here in work so…Thanks for letting me see him."
"No problem," she smiled.
Sam politely smiled before walking into the elevator hoping that what happened to Lucky wouldn't happen to Spinelli, "His doctors wouldn't let him down."
-
"You have a visitor," a police officer told Johnny and Lulu whom were wondering why they had been put in the same interrogation room.
He walked out of the doorway where they saw Maxie appear behind him and they looked at her hoping she'd have some news of some sort, not only about Spinelli, but them getting out of here.
She closed the door behind her where Lulu instantly asked, "How is he?"
"How do you think he's doing?" Maxie snapped, hating the fact that she had to be here.
Johnny apologetically glared at Maxie, "I'm sorry for what my father did to you guys."
"Yeah well, it's a little too late." She glanced at Lulu, "What the hell were you thinking bringing a gun in here and going on the run? Huh?"
"Maxie I'm sorry, we both are, just tell me how he's doing," Lulu looked at her begging for some piece of information.
"Well he's going to live…"
"Oh thank god," Lulu turned to Johnny who put his arms around her.
"You didn't let me finish," she looked at them in disgust, a fine man wasted with such a stupid selfish girl at his side, Johnny could do better, but Maxie didn't care about that anymore.
Lulu turned to her, "You said he was okay."
"No Lulu," she set her purse down on the table, "I said that he was going to live…Live for the rest of his life with pain in his shoulder, the doctors say he might never be able to use his arm again." She glared at Lulu knowing she knew what she meant, Assassin of cyberspace no more.
Maxie nodded at her in more disapproval then ever, "I don't know what he sees in you, not just Johnny, but Spinelli…"
"That's enough Maxie," Johnny put his hand up for her stop, "We didn't mean for this to happen."
"Right," she laughed in disbelief, "He kidnapped me, your father, threatened me, but I couldn't do anything about it, no I was safe until you idiots ran off."
"I'm sorry," Johnny looked at her; he didn't know what to tell her or how they could make up for what happened.
Maxie put her hand on her hip while the other rested on her forehead, thinking about that night she came to him, how scared she was and how he made it all go away, in that retrospect she couldn't be sorry that Anthony kidnapped her, "Yeah well I'm just saying it could be a while before Spinelli can get you two out of jail."
"But Jason is working on something right?" Lulu asked not intentionally trying to be insensitive.
"Yah I'm sure he is Lulu, I'm sure that's his number one priority," she huffed looking away from them.
"Maxie, I'm just as much worried about Spinelli as you…"
"Oh bull Lulu," Maxie yelled.
"Hey!" Johnny stood in front of Lulu, "We're sorry about Spinelli. We never meant for anyone to get hurt, but this isn't the time for all of us to start blaming each other for the past."
He looked at Lulu and then Maxie, "It's not. We have to stand together despite what's happened and hope things work themselves out."
For a minute he had her going until he said, "How long do you think it'll be."
Maxie huffed in frustration, "You two deserve each other I'm done."
"That's not how I meant it," Johnny looked at her to understand.
"Yes it is, you're worried about your own neck and that's exactly why I didn't want to come down here."
"Then why did you?" Lulu retorted.
"Because he asked me to," she faintly said, "he asked me to tell you he was doing just dandy and not to worry about him or for you to blame yourself."
Lulu became quiet turning away from her and hiding behind Johnny, "That's just like him."
Maxie watched as she turned her back to them, quietly sobbing.
"Lulu," Johnny walked over to her putting his hand on her shoulder before glancing back at Maxie who looked like she was about to cry.
"Tell Spinelli that we're sorry about what happened that we wish him the best in getting better and that we'll wait as long as it takes for he and Jason to figure something out."
Maxie glanced away from them crossing her arms, "Okay." She slowly grabbed her purse and turned to the door when Lulu said her name.
"Maxie," Lulu turned to her wiping the tears from her face as she walked towards her, "You and I aren't friends, but thank you for what you're doing and thank you for being there for him when I can't be."
Maxie glanced at her acknowledging her words, but hating them for it made it impossible for her to hate Lulu when she was like this, nice.
-
Around four o' clock a knock came on the door where Jason slowly put his hand on the door knob and then covered his eyes, "I'm coming in."
"Stone Cold?" Spinelli smiled brightly especially when Jason's eyes peeked through his fingers, "She's gone."
"Yes Fair Maximista has left and the Jackal awaits for her return." He smiled grabbing the newspapers on his bed and placing them on the table.
Jason sat by his bedside, "First you did well." He chuckled touching Spinelli's good shoulder, rubbing it like a friend congratulating a friend, "You did really well."
Spinelli's face turned red with nervousness, having Jason compliment him meant a lot.
"You followed all the rules, you didn't hesitate, you fired away, you aimed to kill."
"Well that's what you told me to do Stone Cold," Spinelli nervously smiled, "I only did what you instructed the grasshopper to do."
Jason laughed, "Yeah well." He wasn't exactly proud in that moment that he had taught Spinelli how to use a gun, defend himself yes, but he wasn't a fan of killing people despite what people believed.
"Anyway," Jason sighed with a smile clasping his hands together, "I'm taking care of all your medical bills, the physical therapy, anything you need I'll take care of it."
"Why thank you," he figured Jason would pay for it, but it was nice to know for sure that he would, not like Spinelli couldn't afford it.
"And don't think that I'm going to hire someone else in your place." Jason felt like he couldn't do that, this kid had been loyal to him, he had to show loyalty in return.
"Stone Cold that Jackal will understand," he looked at Jason like his feelings wouldn't be hurt, "I mean I knew what I was getting myself into. You warned me."
"I did, but it wouldn't be right to turn my back on you and to be honest I don't think I can find someone as smart and trust worthy as yourself," he grinned, "So you'll be working for me as long as you want to."
Spinelli's face lit up, why Jason was so good to him remained a mystery to him, but he was thankful to have met this man, this man who had changed his life for the better.
"Also," Jason looked at Spinelli's arm that wasn't moving, "Don't you let those doctors tell you it can not be done."
"But," Spinelli really was too willing to trust the medical professionals here, too gullible to trust them.
"No butts. Spinelli I have had doctors tell me my entire life that I was never going to feel, to survive a brain tumor, to use my hands again," he showed him his hands that looked as if they were never broken in the first place.
"Don't you dare give up because there are a lot of people counting on you Spinelli, but at the same time, take your time in your recovery, I don't want you to push yourself to the point where you make it impossible for yourself to come back to work or you get addicted to pills…"
Spinelli smiled, "Don't worry Stone Cold, I'm not going to take the path of Fair Lulu's brother."
"Speaking of Lulu and I'll add Johnny into the conversation, did you by any chance before all this happen find anything that…" He paused seeing Spinelli's smile that he had found something.
"Yes actually, you know Stone Cold I still have one good hand and…" He was hinting to Jason to get his laptop at the penthouse.
He laughed, "Nice try. Spinelli tell me what you found."
"Well okay," he sighed having a bad case of separation anxiety from his laptop.
"I was looking at different security cameras around the hotel and nearby buildings and I didn't get a chance to watch the videos, but I've looked at the same angles before…Stone Cold we may have the murder right on video or at least footage of what the unhinged one did to Maximista."
"So what are you saying?" Jason looked at him wondering if they were going to have to change the entire story around.
"I'm saying we go with the truth Stone Cold," he knew Jason didn't want to hear that, "Hear me out. If this footage comes out clear then that and with the Crabby Commando's military record and other witnesses to his rage we can prove that it was self defense."
Jason looked at him sheepishly, "I don't know. Scott Baldwin…"
Spinelli interrupted, "Scott Baldwin is just as much too involved in the case as everyone else is. The brusque lady of Justice could prove that the elderly unworthy one is out for his own revenge."
"I don't know Spinelli…"
"Come on Stone Cold," Spinelli whined for him to believe him, "It's not like he and the unworthy one were that close. The history that lies between families could be enough to prove he's just as corrupted as the DA of darkness."
Jason began to consider his theory, "So we have Lulu tell the truth and then what?"
Spinelli smiled beginning to roll off his tongue all the evidence they had, "And then we show the security footage, his military record, the witnesses of his acts of violence in the past and from the day he was killed."
Spinelli then explained another case and point, "Then the brusque lady of justice can prove the special prosecutor is using his bitter history with Fair Lulu's mother to get revenge that he's not really seeking justice for the unworthy one that it's about the father of the blonde one," he explained taking a few minutes to catch his breath for he wondered why he didn't think of all this before.
"And," Spinelli smiled, pointing at Jason with excitement, "What about the fact that he was once believed to be the Text Message Killer and he wanted to frame the mob prince."
Jason nodded like that was a bad idea, "If we bring that up Scott will bring up that Lulu hit him with a wrench, he'll make her look bad."
"But she was scared Stone Cold, she had reasonable doubt to believe he was the TMK. There's enough evidence to show that the unworthy one was self destructive, he went after the mob prince multiple times, the lady of justice could prove that he wanted to set up the mob prince by pushing the mob prince or even fair Lulu into killing him."
Jason looked at him like that theory seemed a little too far-fetched, "We need something more substantial."
They both sat there for minutes on end suggesting things when suddenly Spinelli remembered something, "There's always black mail."
Jason raised his eyebrows curious as to what he meant, "You have black mail on Scott Baldwin?"
"Remember when you asked me to help Fair Lulu on a project," he thought back to when he first met the blonde.
"Yeah her mother right?" Jason barely remembered.
"Well I still have the information, she asked me to destroy it because if he father ever found out the truth she was afraid it would destroy him, but I had feeling we'd need it someday." Spinelli smiled knowing his gut feeling almost a year ago was spot on.
"Explain." He could be onto something now, Jason thought.
"Well everyone thinks Fair Lulu's mother killed Rick Webber? Right?"
"Yes, are you saying that she didn't?" Jason could feel it was on the tip of his tongue the answer was near.
"I'm saying that not only did she not kill him, not only was the blonde one right when she said her mother was innocent, but that the Special Prosecutor did, Scott Baldwin killed Rick Webber."
Jason looked away from Spinelli trying to take in the realization of what he had discovered, "And you're sure about this?"
"Positive, he forged evidence as well."
"Well yes," Jason grinned beginning to explain how of use this evidence could be, "He would have had to tamper with evidence which means we could make a case for him tampering with evidence in this case and connect it back to his grudge against Luke and Laura…" Jason stopped talking, the black mail was the answer to everything now.
"Spinelli," he grinned back at him, "This is why I pay you the big bucks!"
Spinelli gloated, first good thing to happen him all day, "Well…"
"This evidence is either going to get Baldwin to shut up and drop the charges or Lulu will tell the truth pleading self defense and we'll expose it all there, he'll go to jail for murder, evidence tampering and this will be over…" Jason smiled once more; the kid was virtually a genius even without his computer, thinking like a true detective.
"Where is it, the evidence," he removed his phone getting ready to dial Diane's number.
In a hush tone he spoke incase they were to be disturbed, "I have it stored in two places. My laptop, which you have to hack into to get access or there's the place that you showed me to keep important things in. The folder is called LS-49, it's what the blonde one asked me to label it as when we were working on the case."
Jason smiled, finally a problem lifted off his shoulders. He put the phone to his ear, "Meet me at my penthouse in twenty minutes." He slid the phone into his pocket, "Good work Spinelli. Good work." He got up from his chair, "I'll let you know if Diane thinks she can build a case in the meantime you get rest."
Jason rubbed his shoulder excited as ever, soon he'd have the truce with the Zaccharas and if everything worked out then maybe just maybe he'd be able to have that perfect little family he'd always dreamed of.
"Don't tell anyone about this, not even Maxie, whoever asks you say we're taking care of it," he wanted to make sure that this didn't get leaked.
"My lips are sealed," Spinelli traced his fingers over his mouth.
"Good," Jason smiled before leaving in a flash.
Spinelli pretended to pat himself on the back, despite this mornings bad news today had overall been a great day and it was only going to get better.
"Mr. Spinelli," Leyla smiled as she walked into the room to make her normal rounds for the evening, "How are you doing?"
"The Jackal is a little tired," he yawned before he came to the same conclusion as Leyla did, "really tired I guess." He laughed as did she.
"Well I'll be quick and then you can get some sleep." She walked to the machines and began scrambling notes down.
"Take your time fair one," he smiled before grabbing a newspaper and began reading the same article from earlier.
A light knock came to the door where he heard the voice of the bad Valkeryie, "Spinelli?"
"Come in," he looked up at the doorway the same time as Leyla did.
Leyla could see as she glanced back at Spinelli's pissed face that this was not someone he wanted to see, "Ma'am Spinelli isn't up for any visitors right now."
"Oh well, I won't be long," she glanced away from the nurse to Spinelli.
"Leyla it's okay," he gave her the go ahead to let her come in.
"Are you sure Mr. Spinelli?" Leyla knew the tone of his voice, it was not okay for this lady to be here.
"Yeah can you come back in five?" He politely asked her, "Please Fair Leyla?"
"Of course," she smiled letting herself out the room.
He watched the door close and then turned to her, "Vixenella…" He glared at her.
"Spin," she grinned with enthusiasm.
He looked back down at the newspaper, "So what does the bad Valkeryie want?"
"Spinelli I didn't know my father was going to try to kill Maxie," she walked towards him.
"Right," he looked at her to save it for someone who wants to hear an apology.
"Spinelli I'm not here to upset you, I'm here to say I'm sorry for what happened to you and that I want to make it up to you." She stopped in front of his bed removing an envelope from inside her black jacket.
He looked back down at the article ignoring her pleas, "You know I like to believe the good in everybody, I even like to give people a second chance at times, but the Jackal's patience are no more."
She took a seat in the chair next to his bedside, "Spinelli." She whined his name scooting the chair forward and setting a medium sized brown envelope on his bed.
"What's this?" He scarcely looked at her.
"Well I knew a simple apology wouldn't do it and I know this won't make up for it either, but…" She removed a document from the paper, "I don't want you to get the impression that I think money makes up for this because it doesn't."
He took the paper from her hand and began reading the document, which was really a letter.
"As you'll see," she paused seeing Spinelli's face gawk in amazement, "The document entails everything for you, on the back it explains exactly where you need to go and what you need to do."
"The Jackal is appreciative, amazed, bewildered, but may he ask the," he glanced down at the letter, "May he ask The lady in red," he glanced up at her, "Why she is doing this because it certainly isn't necessary."
Claudia nodded in disagreement, "Yes it is necessary. I'm doing this because you're a good person Spinelli and Maxie was right about what she said…"
"About you, you believed me, trusted me even before Sonny and Jason did and what I did to you yesterday was wrong. I should have never confided the things we discussed to her. I'm embarrassed and truly saddened by it and I only hope this won't compromise my brother's freedom or his life in question."
"It won't," he slowly glanced up from her, "We're working on a solution right now."
"Good," she smiled like she really needed to hear such words, "It's just that I don't want him paying for mistakes that I made or my father made, you can understand that right?"
"Yes," he set the paper down, "I understand I just, I mean I don't like to hold grudges against people, hate them, I mean the unworthy one was different, but…" He looked down at the paper, "I can't accept this, it's just too much."
"It's not enough." She simply looked at him before sneaking a smile on her face, "So are we cool?"
"Um," he looked down at the paper and then looked back at her, "I would say so, but this doesn't at all excuse what happened Vixenella."
"I know it doesn't," she touched his hand.
In a fit of anger he dropped the Spinelli-isms, "I mean Maxie, my Maxie could have died and if something had happened to her," he looked up at the ceiling outraged at the thought. "You have no idea the kind of wrath I would have brought down on this town, on the Zaccharas." The shooting had proved many things to him that if he really wanted to he could become Stone Cold in a flash, now that he had been Stone Cold, there wouldn't be much stopping him from being the man again if someone he loved was in danger.
"And I'm not just talking through my hacking skills, the Jackal would have made sure with the help of Stone Cold…"
"I got the lecture from Jason," she interrupted, "Believe me," and she meant it for if something ever happened to someone she loved, she'd want revenge too.
"All we want is to peacefully co-exist, we can do that now with my father out of the way and Sonny no longer running things. Johnny can run the business and be with Lulu no matter how much I protest it," god even the idea of them having a future still bothered her, but she had no choice but to accept it.
"Jason will be assured of a truce which will enforce a bigger truce among all the families on the east coast and he'll get that happy family that I'm sure is waiting for him because he never takes me up on a game of pool," she laughed with annoyance.
"But I can go back to Milan, Italy, back to traveling and being free," she smiled oh how she missed her life.
"And you, Spinelli, you can do whatever you want. Work for Jason, use what I've given you to start a business, do something good and you can hopefully be with," she coughed, "Maxie," she coughed again, really not liking the ladies her young male friend and brother decided to fall in love with.
"You can hopefully be with Maxie, right?" She teased him knowing that's what he really wanted.
He goofily laughed, "We'll see."
"Yeah right, you want to be with her, but I will say, don't change yourself for her and don't let her take all your money, cause you've typed your way to carpel tunnel syndrome to get the money Jason pays you," she joked.
"I mean if she doesn't know what she has right in front of her now then well that nurse I saw you with earlier, she had her eye on you…" And she was nice, smart, had a real career.
"Nah," he rolled his eyes, "My heart pitter patters for one and I'm expecting her any minute now and your presence would definitely upset her."
"And we wouldn't want to upset Ms. Maxie Jones would we?" She grinned getting up from the chair.
"Easy Vixenella, you don't want the Jackal taking back his second chance on you do you?"
"No, I don't," she softly smiled, "I just want everything to go back to the way it was."
"As does the Jackal," he lifted the paper, "And I think this will help tremendously with my…" He hinted his eyes to his shoulder before giving her the answer she was looking for, "So the Jackal and the Valkeryie are cool."
"Alright," she kissed his forehead, "You get better," she backed away to the door, "You hide that too now."
"I will." He motioned to the brown envelope.
"I'll come visit you and if you have any problems with all of that, let me know." She winked, "Ta Ta for now sweetie." She blew a kiss in his direction and left the room.
Spinelli grinned as she left the room and then looked back down at the letter, it didn't make up for what happened, but it almost did, almost as in it was buried under the hatchet.
Dear Mr. Spinelli,
We are very saddened by recent events that were by no accident caused by the once head of the family, Anthony Zacchara. It brings us great sorrow that you were hurt and almost died in your attempt to prevent what we would like to call a potential conflict with our competitor. Your acts of bravery in preventing the Commissioner's daughter from becoming collateral damage in this mess will be rewarded as well. Since Mr. Morgan has agreed to take care of your hospital bills and the necessary treatment for your injuries we have decided the only way to make things right is to grant you one million dollars.
Now we know that this amount can't possibly make up for the heartaches and troubles that you face in the long run, but I give you my word that what happened on Friday July 31st, yesterday to be exact was an act committed by a mad man and that we do not wish to make enemies with you or your boss. To further show how much your forgiveness means to us we have also arranged for you to have a lifetime supply of orange soda and barbeque chips (see bottom of the page for details). In addition to that on the day you are released from the hospital a package will be delivered to you as a final token of our appreciation that you do not retaliate to what we again repeat as a tragic misunderstanding.
With best of luck in your recovery,
The lady in red, Claudia Zacchara
Approved by the following
Head of the family
Johnny Zacchara
Family Lawyers
Ric Lansing
Trevor Lansing
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Hey! So I'm trying to give Claudia more balls then she has on Gh, lol. I love the letter thing I wrote. LOL. Go Claudia! Jason was pretty funny in this chapter. Okay next chapter will definitely be one about SPins physical therapy and they'll be multiple scenes taking place over days at a time. The story will fast forward a week or so. Thanks to everyone who nominated this fic!
Thanks for reading and review! I love the feedback.