Chapter Fourteen
A/N: Hey, my life has been hectic lately, but I finally got some free time, so here's the next chapter. I hope its okay as it is the product of extreme boredom due to being without T.V. or Internet for a week. That also explains why it's so long as I had nothing else to do and this was my main form of entertainment. Plus, I also developed a massive case of writer's block, which is gone now, yay! So, enjoy and please review.
******
"Hey, Spinelli, how you doing?"
Spinelli looked up from his laptop and smiled.
"Stone Cold, please come in, what brings you to the Jackal's room in the middle of the afternoon?"
Jason entered the room and sat in the chair beside his bed. He sighed.
"Spinelli, I've been avoiding bringing this up because I didn't want to slow down your recovery or cause you to have a setback, but now that you're doing better, I think it's time we address some things."
He gave Jason a look of concern as he slowly closed his computer, drumming his fingers on top of it nervously.
"You know about the joint, don't you?"
Jason nodded.
"Sam found it in your room, what were you thinking, Spinelli, I thought you gave that crap up a long time ago?"
He sighed.
"I did, but Maximista and I had a fight after I caught her in the arms of the Mob Prince and I was so heartbroken, I had an err in judgment, got high and drove under the influence and now I have to pay for it for the rest of my life."
"I'm not going to lecture you, alright? You made a mistake but I honestly believe you've learned your lesson from it, so if you promise me it'll never happen again, I'll never bring it up again, but if you're gonna make a habit of this and be getting high all the time like you used to, then you're gonna have to find somewhere else to live, I'm sorry, but that's just the way it has to be. I won't have drugs in my house, Spinelli."
He nodded.
"I understand, you have my word, it'll never happen again, my use of recreational herb is truly a thing of the past."
Jason nodded and they shook on it.
"So," Jason asked, as he leaned back in his chair and placed his hands behind his head, lacing his fingers together. "any idea when they're springing you?"
Spinelli shook his head.
"Not yet; they said possibly Monday, but they think I should have a session with Dr. Winters first. I, of course, deemed it unnecessary, but the medical ones insisted, so alas, The Jackal must succumb to having his innermost thoughts and feelings pried out of him by this fine institution's resident head-shrinker, who shall no doubt deem him Shady Brook material and condemn him to a life of straight jackets and padded cells."
Jason laughed.
"Boy, you certainly have a flair for the dramatic, don't you? Trust me when I say that I doubt Lainey Winters is gonna condemn you to the likes of Shady Brook, she probably just wants to see how you're adjusting since your accident."
Spinelli nodded.
"The Jackal prays that Stone Cold is correct in his assessment concerning the fine doctor's motives toward him, for he most adamantly refuses to return to that place for any reason, I'll kill myself first."
Upon hearing his friend's dire pronouncement, Jason crossed his arms over his chest and gave Spinelli a stern look, shaking his head in denial.
"No you won't and don't you ever let me hear you say anything like that again, do you understand me? Suicide isn't something to joke about, ever."
Spinelli glared at him.
"Who's joking, I meant every word I just said, now if you don't mind, the Jackal isn't feeling well and wishes to lie down and rest now, goodbye, Stone Cold."
He parked his chair beside the bed and started to transfer himself onto the mattress, when he suddenly lost his balance and fell, landing on the floor, in a heap.
"Owwwwww, damn it!" he cursed, as he struggled to pull himself up onto the bed, ignoring his mentor's outstretched hand.
"Spinelli let me help you."
"I don't need help from you or anyone else for that matter, now please just leave and let me sleep."
After managing to pull himself up onto the bed, he collapsed against the pillow, gasping for breath, sweat pouring down his face from the exertion. Jason poured a glass of water from the pitcher sitting on the table and handed it to him. He took it and downed it in one gulp, trying not to wince as pain shot up his spine like fire. Holding the now empty cup, Spinelli glared at Jason.
"Why are you still here? I could've gotten my own water; I don't need you for that. I may be crippled, but I'm not completely helpless you know, I am still capable of getting a fucking glass of water for myself."
"I'm sorry; I was just trying to help."
"Well, maybe I don't want your help, why don't you go shoot somebody, that seems to be what you do best, who knows, maybe you can manage to start a mob war, perhaps get some more innocent children shot."
Jason just stared at Spinelli sadly before turning and walking out without a backward glance. As soon as his master was gone, the grasshopper picked up the empty cup and threw it at the door as hard as he could, before curling into a ball and sobbing as he realized that with the utterance of those hateful, hurtful words, he'd probably driven his best friend away, forevermore, never to return.
*****
Maxie sat at her desk at Crimson, bored out of her mind. It wasn't fair that Kate got to jet off to France to party on a yacht for two weeks while she was stuck here answering phones and running endless errands, but she figured that was one of the perks of being the boss, you could take a vacation pretty much whenever you felt like it. She was jolted out of her thoughts by the sound of Britney Spear's 'Circus' playing, she briefly wondered who in the building had the radio up so loud she could hear it all the way in here, when she realized the music was coming from her cell phone. Shaking her head in annoyance at her own stupidity, she picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Maximista, is everything alright, I was just about to leave a message, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, sweetheart, sorry, I had a bit of a blonde moment and didn't recognize my ring tone, I guess I was off in la la land for awhile. How are you doing?"
He sighed.
"The Jackal fears he may have alienated Stone Cold forever or at the very least pissed him off royally. You have to help me fix this."
Maxie snorted. So what else was new, Jason was always mad about something.
"Well, why don't you just call him and apologize for whatever it was and I'm sure he'll forgive you; he is your best friend, after all. He can never stay mad at you, baby, you know that."
Spinelli laughed sarcastically.
"Gee, why didn't I think of that? Oh, wait, I did, he's not answering the house phone or his cell phone."
Maxie sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Let me guess, you want me to go talk to him and smooth things over, right?"
"Would you, please? I'll owe you big-time."
"You're right about that. Alright, I'll go talk to Jason and try to straighten this out, but you owe me, Spinelli."
"Anything you want, my love; name it and it's yours."
"A romantic evening once you're home; just the two of us."
"Done, I do have one request, however."
"What might that be?"
"You remember the dress you wore to the Campbell's benefit for women's heart health?"
"The red one with the gloves and the black shawl?"
"Uh-huh, do you still have it?"
"Unfortunately, no, that dress was just on loan for that event, but I promise I'll find something you'll like."
"Okay, I'll let you surprise me then."
Maxie smiled as she picked up her purse and left the building.
"Trust me, babe, it'll knock your socks off."
"I'm looking forward to it, call me after you talk to Stone Cold, okay?"
"Okay, I'm on my way over there now, I love you."
"I love you, too, bye."
"Bye."
Maxie hung up and slipped the phone into her purse as she got into her car and drove toward the penthouse. She had moved her stuff into Mac's place after Spinelli caught her with Johnny when she was positive he was gonna break up with her. After she got this mess between the guys straightened out, she'd have to ask Jason to let her move back in or maybe she'd convince Spinelli it was time to get their own place. She pulled into the parking lot of Jason's building and rode the elevator up to the penthouse. She knocked on the door, no answer. She knocked again, impatiently.
"Come on, Jason, I know you're in there, answer the door already. Fine, I'm coming in, ready or not, if you're naked or doing some mob-related thing you don't want me to know about, speak now or forever hold your peace."
Maxie opened the door and walked into the living room, it was empty.
"Hello, Jason, are you here? It's Maxie, look I know Spinelli said some really mean and rude things to you at the hospital, but he didn't mean any of it, I promise." She sighed impatiently, hands on her hips. Where was he, anyway? She had just made up her mind he wasn't home and was about to leave, when she heard laughter coming from the kitchen; feminine laughter at that. Frowning in bewilderment as to the identity of Jason's lady friend, Maxie strode forward, pushed open the kitchen door and burst out laughing at the sight before her. The kitchen looked as if a bomb had gone off in it. There was flour everywhere, including all over Jason and Sam who were sitting on the counter eating chocolate icing directly from the can with spoons and laughing hysterically. They looked up as Maxie entered and smiled sheepishly. She stood with her arms crossed, shaking her head as Jason hopped off the counter, wiping his hands on his jeans.
"What do you need, Maxie?"
"I came to talk to you about Spinelli, but first, what happened in here? It looks like a bakery exploded and you look like the Pillsbury Dough Boy."
Sam jumped down from the counter and came to stand beside Jason trying unsuccessfully to wipe some of the flour off of him.
"He was trying to help me make a cake for Molly's birthday and well, we had a little mishap with the flour. I'm gonna get a broom and clean this up."
Maxie nodded.
"I have a better idea, why not just sweep it all into that gigantic trashcan over there, then carry it outside to the balcony, dump it over the railing and let the wind blow it away."
Sam raised an eyebrow, skeptically.
"Gee, that sounds like a great idea, except I doubt the people in the street would appreciate having a huge tub of flour dumped on their heads from the top floor of a building."
Maxie shrugged.
"True, they probably wouldn't like it very much, but do you have a better idea of how to get rid of it, 'cause I'm tapped. Why couldn't you just buy Molly a birthday cake like a normal person, why did you have to go all Betty Crocker and try to bake one?"
Sam shrugged as she walked into the living room and returned with a dust buster in her hand.
"My mom suggested that but I thought it would be more fun to bake it myself. It's not my fault I can't cook, I've always sucked in the kitchen, but I thought I'd do something nice for my little sister and at least make the attempt, sue me."
Maxie watched as Sam sucked up the flour with the dust buster. Once the kitchen was clean, they walked into the living room and sat on the couch.
"So," Sam asked, as she turned toward her friend, tucking her legs under her on the couch. "What's the deal between Jason and Spinelli, anyway? Did they have a fight or something? Jason looked pretty angry when I got here."
Maxie nodded.
"Apparently, Spinelli called me just as I was about to leave work and he sounded really upset, like he'd been crying and said that he said something that made Jason really mad and begged me to come over here and talk to him, so here I am."
Sam's brow creased in confusion.
"Wow, those two never fight, I wonder what happened?"
Maxie shrugged.
I dunno, Spinelli didn't say, I'll ask Jason though as soon as he comes down."
"Ask me what?"
As if on cue, Jason came downstairs, dressed in clean clothes, his hair wet and slicked back. He spun his black desk chair around and sat down; resting his hands on his legs and looked at Maxie expectantly.
"What exactly happened at the hospital? Spinelli called me freaking out, he was really upset."
Jason sighed, rubbing a hand wearily over his face.
"He was sitting in his wheelchair working on the computer and he tried to transfer himself on to the bed. He lost his balance and fell and when I tried to help him, he started yelling at me; told me he didn't need help from me or anyone else and that I should go start a mob war and get some more innocent children shot 'cause that's what I do best."
He looked up to find both women staring at him, their mouths hanging open in shock. Sam shook her head in disbelief.
"Spinelli said that to you? That doesn't sound like him, he hero worships you."
Jason nodded.
"Under normal circumstances, yeah, but he's been through a lot lately with the accident and well, to be perfectly honest, I don't think he's handling it as well as he's trying to make everyone believe he is."
Maxie nodded, blushing slightly.
"Yeah, I've noticed that too, lately and something happened between us the other day that didn't really help improve his self-esteem either."
Jason stood up.
"Hold that thought, I'll be right back."
He disappeared into the kitchen and came back with three cans of Coke. He handed two of them to Maxie and Sam before resuming his previous position in the chair, gesturing for Maxie to continue with her story.
"So, what happened?" He asked, popping the top on his soda and taking a drink.
She fiddled nervously with her soda can, bending the tab back and forth until it popped off.
"What I'm about to say, cannot, under any circumstances leave this room, Spinelli would feel completely betrayed and humiliated if he knew I'd told anyone what I'm about to say, so he can never find out you know, promise?"
They nodded in unison.
"Of course we promise, we won't say a word, what happened?"
"We were taking a shower together and he wanted to make love to me, but he couldn't manage to get um, you know…and afterward we were lying on his bed and he told me that I would be better off with Johnny or someone who could give me what he no longer can."
Sam reached over and tenderly brushed the hair off her friend's forehead.
"Poor guy, what'd you tell him?"
"I told him that just because he's in that chair it doesn't make him any less of a man in my eyes and that there's more than one way for people to express their love for each other and that he would always have my love, no matter what. I'm not gonna stop loving him just because he can't walk anymore. I'm not that shallow or that heartless, he's stuck with me forever whether he likes it or not."
Sam grinned and stood up.
"Somehow, I don't think he's complaining, trust me. I have to go to the mall to get a birthday present for Molly, you wanna come?"
Maxie smiled and grabbed her purse.
"Sure, Spinelli and I have a romantic evening planned once he's out of the hospital and I wanna get a new dress."
"Okay, let's go. Bye, Jason."
"Bye," He called, as he picked up his cell phone and noticed the eight missed calls from his best friend. He paced back and forth across the room as he listened to it ring on the other end.
"C'mon, Spinelli, pick up."
"Hello, you've reached The Jackal, sorry I can't come to the phone right now, but if you'll leave a message, I'll get back to you ASAP. Thanks."
Jason sighed as the voicemail picked up and hung up without leaving a message. What he needed to say would be better face to face, anyway so he grabbed his keys and headed toward the hospital. Spinelli wasn't in his room when Jason got there, so he walked to the nurse's station.
"Hey, Liz, I'm looking for Spinelli, I really need to talk to him, but he's not in his room, have you seen him?"
She looked up from the patient chart she was reading and smiled.
"Jason, hi, yeah he went down to the cafeteria for some ice cream after his P.T. session."
"Okay, I'll look for him there, thanks."
She smiled.
"You're welcome."
He took the elevator to the first floor and entered the cafeteria where he spotted his friend sitting alone at a table, absently playing with an ice cream sundae, seemingly lost in thought. He walked over and sat down.
"Hey, Spinelli,"
Spinelli looked up from his bowl and smiled weakly.
"Hey, Jason."
Jason stared at him in shock.
"Spinelli, are you sure you're feeling okay?"
He shrugged.
"I guess, why?"
"You called me Jason, not Stone Cold; you never call me by my name, what's wrong?"
He shook his head.
"Nothing, I'm fine, honest."
"Bull, you are not fine, you haven't touched your orange soda and usually you drink that stuff like it's going out of style and your ice cream has melted into soup, now what's the matter with you?"
He sighed and looked Jason square in the eyes.
"The grasshopper fears he has made his master unspeakably angry by the harshness of his words earlier today and he humbly begs said master's pardon."
"I'm not mad at you, okay? I understand that you're frustrated by not being able to do the things that used to come so easily to you; I get that, I really do, it's okay."
He shook his head.
"No, it isn't, I was completely out of line making those comments about young Michael and you starting mob wars, I'm so sorry, Stone Cold."
He lowered his head and began toying with his melted ice cream, stirring it around and around in the bowl. Finally, he licked the spoon and tipped the bowl up and drank the ice cream, then he carried the Styrofoam bowl over to the trashcan and tossed it in. Going back to the table, he grabbed his soda and left the cafeteria, heading for the elevator with Jason walking beside him. Jason pushed the button and they rode in silence to Spinelli's room. When they stepped off the elevator, they met Patrick in the hallway and he was smiling.
"Good news, Spinelli, I have your discharge papers and as soon as you sign them, you're free to go."
He grinned as Patrick handed him the clipboard and he signed the papers, then he turned to Jason, a worried frown on his face.
"Stone Cold, how did you get here?"
Jason looked confused by his friend's question.
"I drove my car, why?"
Spinelli sighed.
"As I feared, my chair won't fit in your car, how am I supposed to get home?"
Jason bit his lip, lost in thought for a moment, then his face lit up and he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.
"Carly, it's me, listen I need a favor, Spinelli was just discharged from the hospital and his wheelchair won't fit in my car, can I borrow Jax's van? Oh wonderful, thanks so much, I owe you one. Okay, see you then, bye."
He hung up and turned to Spinelli, smiling.
"Problem solved, Jax and Carly are going to come pick you up in their van. It's big enough for your chair and I'll follow in my car."
Spinelli smiled and hugged Jason, blinking back the tears that sprung unbidden to his eyes.
"Thank you, Stone Cold for everything you've done for me. I remember when I first showed up at your door with the Blonde One, I was just some weird stoner kid who happened to be good with computers. I knew you didn't like me, but you still let me stay in the regrettably pink room because I was trying to help Lulu prove that her mom didn't kill Rick Webber, but then, after Laura's name was cleared, you still let me stay with you, why exactly did you do that?"
Jason shrugged as he returned his friend's hug.
"I dunno, kid, I guess you kinda grew on me. Besides, you've helped me out more times than I can count with your super cool cyber skills."
Suddenly, Jason stopped in his tracks and rubbed his eyes, wearily.
"Oh God, did I just say super cool cyber skills? I really have been hanging out with you too long, I'm starting to speak Jackal now; I definitely need to start getting more sleep; otherwise, next thing you know, I'm gonna start calling people by nicknames instead of their real names."
Spinelli shook his head.
"Uh-uh, you cannot steal the Jackal's trademark, its copy written."
Jason laughed and slapped him on the shoulder affectionately as they left the building, just as Jax and Max pulled up in the van with Diane in the back.
They got out and Spinelli grinned at Diane.
"Well if it isn't the brusque lady of justice, how are you?"
She returned his smile; she'd always had an undeniable soft spot for the quirky young man.
"I'm fine, Mr. Grasshopper and yourself, how are you holding up since your accident?"
He shrugged.
"It's been tough, but I'm adjusting, although my progress is coming much slower than I'd like for it to."
Jason smiled at them.
"Listen to Mr. Modesty, he's doing great. Where's Carly?" He asked as he helped Spinelli into the van and they loaded his chair into the back.
"She gave Mercedes the day off and took Morgan to the park; I'm meeting them there as soon as we get Spinelli home. I was at the Metro Court when she called saying you needed the van and I ran into Max and Diane having lunch so they opted to tag along for the ride."
Jason nodded and turned to Spinelli.
"I'm gonna go, I'll see you at home, okay?"
He nodded.
"Alright, bye, Stone Cold."
"Bye."
After Jax got back in the van, Spinelli turned to him, a huge grin lighting up his face.
"I have a huge favor to ask of you."