Chapter 10
A/N: This chapter takes place on the same day as the last chapter, September 22, 2022. It is mostly comprised of real time events and flashbacks.

Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation. ~ Gibran

September 22, 2022
Port Charles, New York

Morgan Industries Towers
Diane Miller's Office

Mid-Afternoon, approx. 3:00 PM EST

She had just accompanied a shaken Spinelli from Bernie's offices. Although never thought to be a pussycat, she did feel badly for the young man. He had grown up so much since Jason left and Jason's "indenture to the justice seekers" as Spinelli like to put it continued to weigh heavily on the young man. Plus, she knew how much he missed his master. Just thinking about the dichotomy the two very different men posed was enough to make her smile and God knows she needed a smile - it had been a difficult day and it wasn't over anytime soon.

She dialed Carly, and in just seconds she heard, "Hey, Diane! What's up?"

"Hello, Carly. I need to ask a favor . . ."

"Okay, what can I do for you?"

"I need you to talk to Spinelli," she could feel Carly smile through the phone, "before you say anything, let me tell you why." And Diane proceeded to fill Carly in on what Spinelli overheard earlier and that it seemed to shake him up. Diane further explained that they really needed him to stay focused and in the game.

"And you think I'm the best person to get him focused?" Carly asked.

"Well, Carly, I think this is a job for the Valkyrie, for the Best Friend Forever to Stone Cold, Zen Master to Spinelli's Grasshopper . . . you know, Carly, the man has grown up a lot, he's married, he has two kids, but he carries a lot of guilt where Jason is concerned. And I know he misses him terribly. I think YOU are the person he needs to talk to."

"You got it, Diane, the Valkyrie is on her way!"

"Good, he's at the penthouse."

"Okay, I'm off," as Carly hung up she signaled Martin, her assistant, to get her a car.

General Hospital
Doctor's & Nurse's Lounge

Late Afternoon, approx. 4:40 PM EST

She was distracted by Nik's request. As she changed out of her scrubs she didn't even hear Robin come in or ask her about meeting her later until she felt someone tap her shoulder.

"Hey, Robin."

"Where were you just now . . . I was having a conversation by myself."

"I'm just, I don't know . . . distracted. Nik asked me to meet him tonight."

"Yeah, I thought you were meeting him and Nadine about fundraising for Emily's clinic?"

"Yeah . . . no, he asked me to meet him at his office at Morgan Industries."

"Really?"

"He's never asked me to meet him there before . . . it sounds important . . . I don't know, I have a bad feeling. Plus, I've never been to the building before except for fundraisers . . ."

"I'm sure it's just more convenient for him to meet with you there."

"Yeah . . ."

Twenty minutes later she approached the front of Morgan Industries, a valet came up to her car. She was about to wave him off when he opened the car door, "Ms. Webber, Mr. Cassadine is expecting you. I'll take care of your car."

Carly Jack's Car
En route to HarborView Towers
Late Afternoon, approx. 4:00 PM EST

As Lewis pulled away from the MetroCourt, so she could go see Spinelli, she was lost in her own thoughts about Jason.

I could hear that Diane was scared about Jason and scared for Spinelli. I don't know how long I'll be able to hide my own fears. I didn't say anything at the last meeting with the powers that be of Morgan Industries when everyone around me was deciding how to look for Jason.

I remained quiet while they all decided what their next moves should be to find my best friend in the whole world. To find the one and only person I could always count on to be there when I fell. And now the only thing I can do for him is keep a promise. She shook her head in despair and tried to keep her emotions in check.

She shifted in her seat and couldn't help worrying the silk scarf she was wearing, I knew these years that he was gone would be hard. When he could make it back to Port Charles, he always made time to see me and Morgan and then the new babies.

I knew he had been genuinely happy for me and Jax when Cari Jane and then Jamie were born, even though he desperately missed being with the boys he thought of as his own. He always asked for Michael, before we, he and I, decided to let Michael, finally, rest in peace. I wish I could get him to stop feeling guilty about what happened to my son, our son - his first son.

How will I tell - no, I'm not going to even think about telling Morgan and Cari Jane that Uncle Jason wasn't coming home. And, I can't even think that Jamie will never know him. I have to trust that he will be okay - just like he always tells me he will be . . .

"Jase, what did you want to talk to me about?" I had come over to the penthouse before he left for his last assignment. It was Michael's birthday. He told me about the research grant he had established with Monica and Edward in honor of Michael. As if he hadn't already established enough grants and foundations for Michael. But I knew it was something he needed to do.

I also knew he was avoiding talking about the real reason I was here. I could always tell when he was hiding something.

"What is it, Jason?"

"It's Spinelli, Carly." He got up from the sofa and paced in front of the fireplace. He had changed a lot over the past several years. For the first time I noticed that he was older, we all were, but he looked - tired.

He finally turned to me, and explained, "I know he's not the same kid I took in ten years ago, well more than that. He's not even the same kid he was when I started this thing seven years ago . . . he's married, he's got kids, but Carly . . ." he hesitated, still.

"Jason, just tell me . . . what about Spinelli?"

He came back to sit beside me on the sofa, "I know you two have become good friends and I'm really glad about that. I just need you, if something happens to me . . . I need you to be a friend to him, Carly, because Spinelli, he's going to blame himself. He already does. He still thinks it's his fault that I'm working for the government because of something he did."

He rubbed at the tension building in the back of his neck, "No matter how many times I tell him that I don't blame him and that he isn't responsible, he won't let it go."

"Carly, I'm going to be okay, don't worry . . ." leaning toward me he asked as only Jason could, "I'm just asking you, please . . . IF anything happens, just be there for him . . . get Spinelli focused on what's important, Maxie and his kids."

I could only nod, but he wanted more.

"Carly, please," he took my hand in his, "promise me . . ."

I couldn't keep the tears from falling. Moving closer to him on the sofa I laid my head on his shoulder as I had done so many times before, and as always he immediately comforted me. Here he was facing what he's telling me is a dangerous assignment and he's spending his last few hours worrying about Spinelli, me and, no doubt, Elizabeth and his boys and everyone else he cared about.

Brushing away my tears, I choked out, "I promise." Then I squeezed him in the tightest hug I could and reassured him, "You take care of yourself . . . I'll look out for Spinelli."

Morgan Industries Towers
Late Afternoon, approx. 5:00 PM EST

As she stepped out of the car another young man approached and explained that he would escort her to Mr. Cassadine's office.

Walking through the lobby she noticed that there were even more awards on display for building designs, crop enhancements, philanthropic works. She shook her head in wonder - she couldn't help remembering that this business enterprise existed because of one man. A man she could have had but let slip away from her so many times.

As she came into Nik's office, his assistant had already announced her, she was a bit surprised to find Jason's attorney, or rather the Chief Counsel for Morgan Industries there.

"Elizabeth," Nik exclaimed, coming to greet her, "you're earlier than I expected. Please, take a seat," and he moved her over to the seating area where Diane was already waiting.

"Diane?" Elizabeth sat in the chair opposite her, "I didn't expect to see you. How are you?"

"It's nice to see you, too, Elizabeth. It's been, what? Since the summer's Lila M. Quartermaine Annual Garden Ball."

"Yes, I guess it has."

She was nervous, and really didn't want to make small talk, so turning to Nik, "Is Nadine coming, are we going to plan the clinic fundraiser here?"

"Nadine is not coming, Elizabeth . . . we can still meet her later. Diane and I need to talk to you about . . ." he hesitated, in his heart he was still unsure that he wanted to tell her about this.

Diane, understanding his reticence, took over saying gently, "Elizabeth, Nik and I need to talk to you about Jason."

"What about Jason? I haven't seen Jason in years, as far as I know no one has."

"Actually, Liz," Nik explained, "Spinelli has been keeping tabs on Jason for the past two, three years, but now there's reason to believe that something may have happened to him."

"What do you mean . . . happened? And what does it have to do with me?" She looked down at her hands and then back up at Nik, "You know I haven't had anything to do with him for years, now," her voice cracked just a bit.

Nik came and sat on the coffee table in front of her and taking her hands in his, he explained, "Elizabeth . . . I know how much Jason loved you . . . and I know how much you loved him. And I wouldn't be talking to you about this if it wasn't necessary, but it is. You don't know where Jason has been all these years, do you?" Elizabeth shook her head.

Nik continued, "Unfortunately, it's much too involved to discuss right now and it's not critical to what you do need to know."

"What do I need to know . . . is he . . . is he dead?" Her voice cracked audibly now and tears started to pool in her eyes.

Nikolas squeezed her hand, as Diane said, "Elizabeth, Jason was on an assignment for the United Nations Organized Crime Task Force and he missed three pre-arranged check-in times with Spinelli, the first two the agency assured Spinelli that Jason was alright and just could not make the check-in, after Jason missed the third check-in his contact confirmed that Jason was off their grid. That is, basically, a euphemism for saying that they lost contact with him, the idiots."

Diane looked at Elizabeth to make sure she was listening, when Elizabeth nodded Diane continued. "Now, we have several people looking for Jason and I am confident that he will be found."

Elizabeth looked at Nik and he squeezed her hand again to indicate his agreement. And he continued, "We wanted you to know what is going on because while we are confident that we will find Jason and he will be alright, there is always the possibility that it could go the other way. Liz, Jason left seventy-five percent of his estate and that includes all his commercial holdings to Cam and Jake, equally. This means that the boys would be inheriting an estate valued in the hundreds of millions, and I wanted you to be prepared."

She looked from Nik to Diane several times before she finally said, "Thank you for telling me . . ." she looked back and forth to each of them, and then finally said to Nik, "What should I do . . . what do you want me to do . . . is there something I should be doing, now, Diane?"

"No, there's nothing you have to do. I know this has been a shock to you," she turned to Nik, "why don't you take her home. We can talk more tomorrow, if needed."

"Come on, Liz. Let me take you home," he gently coaxed her out of the chair and walked her out of the office.

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No copyright infringement intended. Character's identities are merely borrowed for fun.