The Last Goodbye

by SpixieIsTrueLove2289

Maxie & Spinelli went their separate ways after the explosion at GH. 6 years later they meet again only to find out one is getting married, will the other let them go or can true love resurface? Will they get a second chance to make things right?

21. Secrets

Chapter 21

She was a complete wreck. Maxie entered the apartment complex without her usual friendly words to the bellman and rushed into the elevator. She hit the 9th floor button four times and pressed the door close button another 6 times. The last time she remembered being this impatient was when Lulu called her about the wedding and she couldn't wait to see how much had changed and was the same about him. When she did arrive on her level, she didn't waist a single second closing the door after she opened it. She sprinted into the kitchen and looked around for her pocket calendar book. Sliding a drawer open near the refrigerator she found it and flipped to the month of April. She slept with him April 1st, it was now April 30th, there were two pills left – one from today and one from that Wednesday. At this moment, she was so panicked about whether she was pregnant that she couldn't even remember when she last had her period. Luckily or perhaps unluckily, there was someone waiting in the doorway to her Penthouse.

Knock. Knock.

"Damn it," she shoved the calendar and white bag into the drawer, "Coming." She closed the drawer and looked at the small mirror on the fridge. She pouted at how horrible she looked and then fixed her hair once more.

Knock. Knock.

"I'll be right there."

Knock. Knock.

She rolled her eyes, screw how bad she looked, perhaps she could scare off whoever was at the door.

"Look pal," she left the kitchen, "I don't know who you," she looked up and was found speechless, "think you are..." And leaning against the doorframe was the Jackal aka Damian Spinelli.

"Did you know that it's only a forty minute drive from Port Charles to New York City?"

There was a small bandage just above his right eyebrow, a purple bruise under his left eye and a red cut on his lower right cheek. In the middle of his left hand, a thin white bandage was wrapped around like he had sliced his hand open. His white dress shirt and black pants and jacket hid any of his other injuries, but Maxie hardly wanted to think there was more.

"I mean that must be a land speed record," he slowly curved the ends of his mouth into a warm welcoming smile. He hoped this would loosen up the moment of his return, but instead she stood there, frozen with eyes that took away the humor in him.

"Maxie."

His voice, serious in those brief seconds, was just what broke her. She needed to know that if she looked at him long enough that he would drop the act. He did and she ran to him, ran to him like she dreamed she would if she ever saw him again.

"Careful," he stiffened as her arms wrapped around him. He had to admit not even Winifred had ever given him a hug like this before. The feeling was unsettling to him. The kiss she planted on his neck sent a shiver down his back. He caught a whiff of her perfume and his senses grew alerted. God she smelled good. Her hand slid down his chest and she pulled away. Tears of what? He didn't know, but they were there and it made it hard to look at her.

She sniffled and then wiped her tears, "You know it actually takes an hour to get here and the last time I checked time travel hasn't been discovered yet."

"Well I thought since I was charged with Treason, Espionage, and Murder that what's a speeding ticket added to the list?"

Maxie giggled, "Mr. Jackal, a force to be reckoned with."

"Damn straight," he reciprocated the same laughter and together they created a silence that only began to bother him because he wanted her closer to him.

"Um, can we sit?"

"Oh yeah," she rolled her eyes and stood near the door.

"Thanks," he limped forward, holding his side.

"Hold on," she closed the door as soon her stepped out of the way, "Here let me help you."

"Maxie," he tried to protest, but she interrupted, "Which arm hurts less?"

"This one," he grunted and she grabbed his right arm and helped him to the couch.

"I think you need a closer couch, just suggesting."

"Well I think you need to stop getting hurt." She looked at him and he bobbled his head, "I didn't intentionally do this to myself. Here, this is good, I can walk the rest," he let go within three feet of the couch.

"I can help you."

"I got it," he limped onwards.

"Are you're limping for sympathy or did you really hurt yourself like they said you did?"

He settled on the armrest of the couch, "A bit of both."

"Spinelli!"

"Shh," he laughed and then wrapped his arm around her lower waist and pushed her closer, "Come here." He took hold of both her hands, "I need you to answer me something."

"Alright."

Spinelli looked at their hands, "Are you..."

Knock. Knock.

Spinelli looked at the door and then up at Maxie who looked clueless as to who it was.

"Maxie its Winifred."

Maxie bit her lip, she wanted more time with Spin and she was sure this was going to end with him leaving with her.

"I called your office they said you were here. Are you?"

"It's ok," he whispered, motioning with his hand for to answer it.

"Coming," Maxie backed away to the door hoping Spinelli would change his mind but he didn't. Spinelli adjusted to a cushion on the couch and braced himself.

"Hey," Maxie creaked the door open, "What's up?"

"This won't take long, can I come in?"

"Um," Maxie looked back at Spinelli who nodded, "Sure." Maxie swung the door open and four steps later, Winifred stood in place.

"Hi," Spinelli stood up.

"I don't have anything to say to you," she looked over to Maxie, "I was just wondering about photo shoot and..."

"Photo shoot?" Spinelli interrupted and Winifred stuck her head out, "Oh yeah Maxie was kind enough to feature us in her magazine, but you screwed it up." Winifred looked back at Maxie, "Obviously the dates will have to changed because of the trial."

"Yeah," Maxie nodded.

"Look," Spinelli raised his voice, "Let me explain."

"Which part? The photos of you kissing some MI-6 agent in Monte Carlo, an assignment you weren't even given or that you slept with Bridget."

Maxie jerked her head at Spinelli, wanting an explanation as well.

"First," Spinelli walked around the coffee table and approached them, "The thing in Monte Carlo was an act. She pretended to be my wife. We were there for the same reasons and thought to work together. Nothing else happened. It was work. I didn't kill her. She and the other agent were following me to find Bridget. Bridget! Winifred she's alive. You should be..."

"Thanking you? I could lose my career because of you! Because you went rogue and decided to play James Bond."

"Did you not see the news today? Equinox factories are being investigated today!"

"Yeah I read it and you know what's a little odd? The WSB were there first. I wonder who tipped them off?"

Anytime the WSB were mentioned Maxie always thought of her parents and hearing it mentioned for the first time in years, made her wonder if it was just a coincidence or if Spinelli was a double agent. If he was, had he made contact with Frisco and Felicia?

"The CIA and MI-6 were too. It was joint effort."

"Well the FBI sure missed it and why is that?"

"I don't know, maybe because someone thought my work was untrustworthy and who do you think had a hand in that?"

"If you say my father..."

"You know what," Spinelli pointed at Maxie, "Maxie's father never liked me."

"Actually," Maxie interrupted, but they ignored her.

"But he welcomed me with open arms today. Hell I didn't even have to where cuffs in the interrogation room."

"Yeah now that you're on the same side of the law that he is, but he never respected you when you were in the mob, which I have to ask since you involved Jason in this escapade, are you working in the mob again? I know all about you using Johnny Zacchara for your South America contacts."

Just the mention of the brooding mobster reminded her of that night and it made think twice about their encounter, was it by chance or did Johnny Zacchara seek her out because of the help he was giving to Spinelli.

"Again..."

"You can explain? When? When I catch you? When you've been arrested or fired? You should be able to tell me these things."

"And I will one day."

"Yeah one day, some day off in the future, well you know what we don't have a future."

Was this what she had been waiting for Maxie asked herself. Lulu told her at the beginning that something would come between them and it looked like for the first time it wasn't her.

"What?" Spinelli looked at Winifred, shocked that she would threaten such, "You have to believe me!"

"I have to believe you?" She slapped him and the second he began to look at her she slapped him again. "You lied to me! And don't say it was to protect me or to not worry me! Those are such bullshit excuses that allow you to get away with! Maybe Lulu or Maxie or Sam or the dozen other women you're friends with accept it, but I sure as hell don't."

"It was."

"Oh, but being notified by secret service that I need to be heavily protected because my fiancée just got into the worst accident of his life and is dying in some Paris Hospital. Yeah I really enjoyed that. That was FUN."

"I'M SORRY ALRIGHT!" He shrieked so loud it nearly startled Maxie, but Winifred appeared familiar with this temper, "Okay!" He approached her and she got up in his face and yelled at him, "SORRY? And that's supposed to make it better? How could you do this to us? If you're in prison you my as well be dead to me." She turned her back from him, trying to grasp the conversation she was having with him. His actions were just unbelievable to her.

Spinelli took this time to breathe. He let the silence boil down the arguing, which as he glanced over to Maxie had made her uncomfortable yet almost enticed to see the truth behind their relationship.

"Look," Spinelli spoke soft, "That's not going to happen. Diane is going to get me out of this."

She snapped at him, "And I suppose you're expecting me to go on the stand and defend you?"

"We are so close to getting these guys Winifred! How could you not want me to finish this?"

"Because you're not doing it for the FBI. You're doing it for revenge. You've become obsessed over this. It's not healthy."

"Oh so I'm crazy? Thanks. Nice to know I can count on you," he turned away from her and saw Maxie who just looked at him like she hardly believed he was crazy. "You know what's amazing Winifred?" He looked at his priestess, "That I can go six years without seeing Maxie and know she is loyal to me to no matter what I do."

"Well it's a lot easier to be a fan of the person when you're not directly involved with them!"

"Maxie always supported me."

"As a friend! But nothing else, don't forget that."

"HEY!" Maxie had to be heard, this back and forth back talking without her and about her was driving her nuts.

"I don't mean to be disrespectful Maxie," Winifred looked at her and then glanced at Spinelli, "She should try being your girlfriend being the person you made promises to! Then I bet she'd have a hell of problem with your actions."

"Uh, do I have a say in this?" Maxie again tried to put herself in the conversation and they refused to hear her.

"Maxie," Spinelli pointed to her, "Had my back. Yeah she didn't like it when I ran away from the feds and she didn't like it when I came back and was on all these missions to destroy evidence, but she didn't stop me. She didn't threaten to end us or give me an ultimatum."

"She didn't? I must remember it differently than you because I remember you clearly telling me that you only agreed to come back to Port Charles to stop her from sleeping with Johnny and ruining Lulu's relationship. And she did that anyway so..."

"Alright that's it!" Maxie shouted, "Either take it outside or leave. I will not be trashed in my own home."

"I was simply stating the facts."

"Those aren't the facts! Johnny and Lulu broke up because of Johnny! Because he was torn between the life his sister wanted for him and the dream he desperately wanted to live with Lulu. I got forced in."

"Right, let's be honest here."

"No why don't you be honest and admit you had your eyes on Spinelli from the moment you met him. You made no secret to getting him all to yourself and I wish to god I had more confidence in my relationship with him than to have played into my superficial feelings for Johnny."

"Well I'll be damned, I knew you were too good to be true. You want him back don't you?"

"Spinelli needs us," Maxie was no way going to admit that here, "You can argue about trust and lies later, but right now he needs people around him that he can count on and if you're not one of them, which no disrespect to you is your right, then you need to leave and let me help him."

Spinelli during their bickering had sat on the coffee table and rested his face in the palm of his hands. He was trying to gather his thoughts and understandings from Maxie's confessions and Winifred's betrayal and what he himself was going to do about his life.

"Spinelli?" Maxie looked at him.

He didn't answer and Winifred walked over to him, softer in her tone of voice, "Look at you. Whatever you know it's driving you into the ground."

"So your solution is to send me to some hospital like shadybrooke?" He looked at her like she made no sense.

"Well-no. But if I get called up to the stand like I know I will. I'm going to say that while you are the best agent I know for this, you have a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and are not able to think clearly and objectively on this anymore."

Spinelli looked away as if that wasn't satisfying enough, there's a difference in recommending him and saying he should be the one to do it. "If you're going to end it. Do it."

"I don't want to, but..."

"You brought it up!" He stood up in a flash and felt a sting of pain, "I'm not gonna be strung along forcing something to work that doesn't, but just know that if you decide to end us right now then you are leaving me free to do whatever I want."

"Well it wouldn't be the first time!"

"Don't retell the story to make you the only victim! Like it didn't happen to me too!"

"Stop it!" Bridget Sanders yelled from the doorway. "You," she walked in pointing at Spinelli, "Need to be resting and you," she stopped beside Winifred, "Need to leave. You two aren't even supposed to be talking to each other."

"I didn't know he was going to be here."

"Well you should have left," Bridget said and then waited for Winifred to say something, but neither she nor Spinelli did, "Look, you two are pissed at each other and I didn't make things better. I only told you Winifred that I slept with him because..."

"Because," Spinelli interrupted, "When you're away from the people you love and you know it's the end for you, you regret every lie you told."

"Yeah, it wasn't meant to hurt you."

"I know!" Winifred looked at her, "I know it meant nothing. It was two years ago and frankly I don't care," she looked at Spinelli, "I mean I pushed you away," she glanced at Bridget, "and you lost Ryan so it all makes sense, but..." She looked at Spinelli, "It's becoming a reoccurring pattern with you, one lie after another. I have no idea now when you're telling the truth."

"I know you've lost your faith in me, but don't give up on us," he stepped closer to her and touched her shoulders, hoping it would comfort her. "You know what I was thinking in the car wreck? When I was bleeding? When those guys pulled me out and pointed a gun at my face?"

"I don't know Spinelli," she looked away, tears building up in her eyes as she imagined it, "I don't know why we're talking about this."

"I was thinking about how stupid I was," he cupped her cheek and brought her attention to him, "I had everything I could ever want here and I left it to find trouble. I...I love you."

And for some reason Maxie thought that perhaps his close encounter with death had made him realize his feelings about her, not strengthened his feelings for Winifred. The entire moment was nauseating. She walked into the kitchen and leaned over the drawer that secretly had the pregnancy test in it; Robin's words haunting her.

Winifred closed her eyes, "I love you too, but I can't," she opened her eyes, "You lied to me and I can tell that you'll do it again if you're not already doing it now." She pulled away and then looked at Maxie, "I'll call your assistants to schedule whatever we need to" and like that she walked away.

"I'll see you in the car," Bridget told her and Winifred left in the elevator. When she did, Bridget turned to Spinelli and smiled. God bless Damian Spinelli.

"I should probably get going, but," she walked over to him, "I...I never formally thanked you."

"You would have done the same for me," he glanced away to the corner Maxie had been standing in and when he didn't see her there, to say it didn't affect him was a lie, "and you did..." He looked back at Bridget with a smile, "You bandaged me up. So we're even."

"I know it's just that, being back here, it just makes me so grateful to have you in my life and to know you would come for me even with a bullet hole in you."

"Bridget, when I got that call I had to at least try."

"And I'm so happy you did," she gave him a hug. The tears just flowed from her eyes as if she felt safe for the first time since being rescued.

"It's going to be ok," Spinelli gently touched her back. She sobbed even louder and hugged him even tighter. "Shh," he said calmly and she finally eased up. She pulled away from him, her eyes, red and puffy. "Bridget," he raised his thumb and wiped away the hurt. Even she had a special place in his heart and seeing such a sight made his heart ache.

"Anyway I just wanted to thank you, um have you heard from Jason and Sam?"

"Yeah, they got out safely and they're going to help me see the end of this."

"I do to. Those son of bitches that we work for left me for dead and if there is someone on the inside, I want dibs on that trader."

"I don't know if I can do that."

"I was supposed to have what you and Winifred are having now and those bastards sent my Ryan to a place to die. I want to see whoever was apart of that die just like you want him dead for what he took from you. Don't deny me that right. It's the only thing I have left."

Spinelli took a deep breath and looked down at the floor, "Where are you staying at?"

"A hotel room next to Winifred until the trial."

Spinelli quickly looked up, "You've been called to testify? Of course you would be."

"Damian," she stepped close to him, "You are as good as they come. I'm going to do everything I can to get you off free."

Spinelli nodded, "That means a lot."

"Whether you want to admit it or not, you saved me. You saved me from those men, who did horrible, unspeakable things to me."

"I'm gonna make each and everyone of those men pay."

"I know you will."

"For Ryan."

"For the rest who aren't standing here with me and you."

Spinelli grew as somber as she did in that moment. It all seemed like a long time coming, here at the very end of their journey. Everything they had worked towards that they had suffered for was finally reaching a point.

"Are there guards for you?"

"I don't need anyone to protect me."

"I have a witness in my favor, one who is going to tell the FBI just what she thinks of them, you need protection and I don't trust anyone Winifred's father puts on you." Spinelli reached into his pocket, "I want you to call Johnny Zacchara."

"Johnny?" Maxie walked out of the kitchen, "What does Johnny have to do with this?"

"I assume a mobster friend?" Bridget winked.

Spinelli looked at Maxie, explaining, "He owes me a favor for the trouble I alleviated from him this morning." He then looked back at Bridget, "Yes a mobster contact, tell him to meet you at the hotel. Have dinner in the hotel with Winifred and tell him to be at the bar waiting. Then he can walk by and you are his long lost friend from school."

"But I'm not."

"I don't want it to look obvious that I've put guards on you. Winifred will throw a fit if he just shows up and it looks planned. So you two are long lost friends. Make up some story together. Tell him do it your way or I'll get those cocaine charges re-instated on him."

"Alright, are you done?"

"No, don't be on your own ever. You are either with Winifred, Johnny or guards, understand?"

"Yes. Now for you, you need to sit down, sleep and get some rest. Don't over do it. Take your pills and where are you staying?"

"I'm going back to Port Charles in a few hours to look over the stuff Jason and Sam found."

"And whose going to take care of you?"

"I don't need to be taken care of. I'm fine."

"Yeah right," she laughed, "Why don't you stay with...I'm sorry what's your name I don't think we've been formally introduced."

"Maxie Jones," Maxie warmly smiled, shaking her hand.

"Nice to meet you, Bridget Sanders," she shook her hand, knowing she had heard that name before. "Anyway," she dropped the handshake, "Spinelli why don't you stay with Maxie?"

"I don't want to impose."

"Your not," Maxie smiled, loving the idea.

"See! I have to go, but take care of yourself. You're not superman just because you survived a car twirling 7 times in the air and crashing."

"I'm really quite fine."

"No your not," she looked at Maxie, "Take care of him. He should be at the stage where he can remove his bandages, but if something goes wrong just call me. I'm sure Spinelli forgot to mention, but I'm a doctor so I know this stuff. Don't be afraid to call me or I guess Johnny...what's his name? Zucchini?"

"Zacchara."

"Zucchini."

"Za-cchar-a," Spinelli pronounced until he realized she knew what it was. "Haha. Go on get out of here. I'll see you in a week."

"Likewise," she left the apartment and Spinelli took a deep breath.

"Exhausted yet?"

Spinelli laughed, "Yeah." He slid his hands into his pockets and slowly walked forward, "I hurt you, just now didn't I?"

"No," she rolled her eyes and he knew he did.

"Maxie, I don't know what else to say except that if I've done something, I'm genuinely sorry."

"It's okay."

"Don't look at me like that, it's not. I've hurt you and that's the last thing I want to do so I'm just going to go."

"No."

"Are you really okay with me staying here because I don't have to."

"You don't have to ask."

"I do because I'm involved in very serious business," he pointed to the patch above his eye, the cut on his hand and then unbuttoned his shirt to reveal the bandage around his waist.

"Did you really have to unbutton your shirt for that?"

"No, but I knew you'd appreciate it. I mean what woman wouldn't?"

"You are so much more cocky than I remember."

"I'm sorry, it was just the Jackal trying to be funny, but I'm being really selfish actually," he started to re-button his shirt and she walked up to him stopping him, "I think you get to be selfish." She looked down at the buttons and began re-buttoning the shirt, "What you do is dangerous and as much as I hate seeing you like this I'd much rather have you here than worry about you out there."

"What did I say the first time I saw you again?" She stood there, pretending not to remember.

"Maximista," he took her hand, gently, and they walked to the couch. "Look at me," he asked her and she reluctantly looked up at him. "Don't worry about me," he told her once more, "Worry about what me being here is going to do to your career."

"Well that's easy, sell more magazines," she said with a straight face and he did a double take before laughing out loud with her.

It came so easy with her, the laugh, the smile, the feeling of happiness in one simple moment. His fingers filled the gaps in between hers and before he knew it there hands were swinging back and forth. There was always something here.

"Um, when I came here you seemed flustered."

"Oh," she looked at the kitchen, "Just checking the fridge to see if I needed to go grocery shopping."

"And do you?"

"Yes."

"Do you have to go back to work now?"

"No, Jax gave me the rest of the day off and tomorrow and I don't work the weekends."

"Well what if I..." He started to yawn, "Um go shopping with you and come back and make us dinner."

"Spinelli," she giggled, "You have one useable hand and can barely walk."

"Yes, but I need to pay you back for you kind help."

"I have a better idea, how about I comeback with groceries and we make dinner together."

"Well..." He yawned, not wanting to let her go out on her own, "Sorry. Gosh.'

"Spinelli you're tired."

"I'm fine."

"Spinelli..."

"Okay, okay."

"Come on," she motioned for him to stand up, "I'll walk you to my bed."

"Oooh la la," he said as he put his arm around her.

"Shut up," she playfully touched his chest.

"Ow."

"I'm sorry!"

He started laughing and she immediately became offended, "Spinelli! You can walk yourself up there. You're not even limping anymore! Spinelli!"

"Uh...Oh come on! I'm glad to know you'd help and old man like me," he looked at the top of the stairs, "But I see the Bad Blonde One has resurfaced."

"Has not!" She stepped in front of him, "I think the lazy Mr. Jackal has."

"On the contrary! The jackal is not lazy!" Spinelli stepped aside her and slowly walked up the stairs.

"Okay Spinelli you can stop now."

"No I can do it."

With every step though he grew weaker and out of breath and eventually became light headed. Maybe he wasn't as strong as he thought.

"Maxie..." He uttered and she responded back playful, "What happened to the jackal isn't lazy?"

"Well he..." He suddenly grabbed the railing and she hurried to his side, "Spinelli?"

"See this is why I need you," he smiled feverishly, "To pick me up when I fall."

They finished walking up the stairs and into her bedroom. He lied down on the bed and tried to get comfortable.

"You want me to take off your jacket?"

"No this is fine," he snuggled with a pillow.

"Okay, well I'll see you later."

"Yeah," he closed his eyes and soon looked sound asleep.

She walked to the doorway when he suddenly called for her.

"Maxie..." He turned over and opened his eyes.

"Yeah?"

"Be careful ok?"

"Always."

"Call me if you need me."

"I will."

She left knowing if she was going to win back Damian Spinelli that now was perhaps her only chance, but little did she know that Spinelli in his deep sleep was already dreaming about spending the rest of his life with her.

---

Next Chapter

Later that night – Spixie bond while listening to U2 – Think of the movie Brothers when Jake Gyllenhall and Natalie Portman are talking and U2's bad is playing in the background. It'll be a nice moment for these two and revealing and teasing. Review! Happy New Years!