Chapter 37
After Jason and his family disappeared up the stairs, Francis and Brian eyed the scruffy kid speculatively. Max had filled them in on who the little geek was and what he meant to Jason. They also figured it would be their job to keep him in line, which is what they had been discussing out on the patio.
Jason was going to have his hands full with everyone else, the very least they could do was make sure the kid really understood the facts of mob life 101.
Rule number one KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!
"It's good to meet my Master's uber trusted Protectors of the Night. I was wondering if one of you fine gentleman would mind escorting his devoted Grasshopper to Max's security lair?" Something about the men suddenly looked more menacing. "If it would be no trouble, The Jackal would be most grateful." He added with a shaky voice.
The two men began to move. Slowly. Their eyes sharpened and Spinelli felt like an injured gazelle being stalked by two ferocious lions. He tried to keep very still so as to not provoke their attack.
"Of course if you gentleman are otherwise engaged, maybe the Brusque Lady of Justice might escort me?" He looked to Diane more for a rescue than anything else.
The men got closer.
Amused Diane observed, almost feeling badly for poor Spinelli. Max's accusations had not been kind and they had rendered Spinelli uncharacteristically mute most of the day. It didn't help she'd confirmed Max's observations. The leak could have been a direct result of something he'd said or did. Though she doubted it, it was possibility.
Spinelli jumped when each guard put a hand on his shoulder.
"Let's have a little chat first." Brian said as he shoved. "Get to know one another?"
The red head's amusement and sympathy increased as she watched the big men push Spinelli down on the couch. Each thug sat practically on top of the young geek, squeezing him between them.
"So Spinelli is it?" Francis asked casually "Why don't you tell us about yourself."
Elizabeth was more amazed by and more in love with her husband with each passing second. The boy's rooms were incredibly cute; Cam's was blue and had a transient theme, large train and racing tracks intertwining, winding though out much of the room. Model planes hung from the ceiling and a bed in the shape of a boat. Cam was so excited he practically begged to go to sleep.
Jake's room was just as adorable. It was mostly green with brown trim and had a map of the world covering one of his walls. At the other end there was a jungle theme with his favorite stuffed monkeys climbing over his toddler size bed fashioned to look like a jeep. Elizabeth giggled as Jake climbed into the pretend driver seat that was his footboard and pushed the stuffed monkey seated behind the wheel over to the passenger side and began making va-room noises.
"I.. Um left two of the walls blank in here and in Cams room in case you wanted to paint a mural...or something"
"Jason, this is just so amazing I can't believe you did all of this in just a few weeks."
"I didn't do all that much" he blushed under her enthusiastic praise. "Just gave some of my ideas to Diane and Max, they did the rest."
"It's wonderful, I'm so in awe at how well you already know the boys. I mean their rooms are perfect. You get them, just like you've always gotten me." Her eyes teared up as she was struck once again with regret for all the time she had wasted, all the time her boys could have had such a wonderful loving man for their father. "Thank you," Elizabeth whispered kissing him lightly on the cheek.
"You're welcome" Jason whispered back just as softy, deeply moved by her loving praise.
Working together they settled the boys into their beds quickly. Jason kissed her softly on the mouth as they shut the door to Cams room behind them. Twining their fingers together he kissed them lightly and moved toward the stairs.
Elizabeth dug in her heals refusing to budge. "What?" Jason asked confused by the action.
"I think you forgot a room." Elizabeth demanded.
"Well I was hoping to show you that one when we're alone." He said huskily, raising his brows suggestively. "The sooner we get rid of the people downstairs, the sooner I can show it to you."
"I like that idea" She said. Rising onto her toes Elizabeth brought her mouth with in a breath of his.
Jason groaned resting his forehead against hers, grasping her hips firmly, he pulled her into the cradle of his pelvis. "It just so happens I have another surprise for you as well."
Elizabeth giggled "Really? What could it be?" She said sweetly wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Let's get rid of everyone and then I'll show you." He smiled back.
"Can't they wait a little longer, so I can take a quick peek?" she cajoled.
"If I show you now" Jason said gruffly against her lips "we might not make it back down at all." He reasoned.
"OK, OK" she said pushing him away before she decided to heck with the group of people waiting for them, and drag her husband into the bedroom herself.
Sighing heavily Jason looked at their bedroom door longingly and rubbed his hands aggressively over his face. "Let's get this over with," he grunted taking her hand and dragging her back down the stairs.
"So how are our plan's coming along?" The Demented Don asked his enforcer after he had been ushered into the warden's office.
"We might have a problem." Paul said wearily
"Such as?" the lethal man asked silkily.
"Morgan was spotted earlier this evening."
"Damn it!" the old man shouted grabbing a handy knick knack on the desk and heaving it against the wall. "That son of a bitch always did have the worst timing."
Knowing he needed to calm the old man down before he completely lost control, the enforcer said coolly "Don't forget he's still grieving, he's week. This just might be our best chance at eliminating him."
"You have a point." The trembling red-faced man took a calming breath. "What about John?"
"We talked to him today. He's suspicious, but as long as he doesn't perceive a danger to Claudia he's on board."
"Good, good. This could actually work in our favor." The Don reasoned as he paced around the room. "Are our guys still grumbling about Morgan breaking our truce by feeding me to the Feds?"
"Oh yea, the heat is definitely on."
"So between Morgan wondering about Sonny's involvement in his kid's death and Corinthos feeling like he's losing control of his men because of his partner's actions the tensions will be high."
"Yes Sir."
"And Claudia, does she think she's in control?"
He grinned thinking about how dumb, the Zacchara girl was. "Yep, as you already know we moved up the time table this week after her call."
"Excellent, the old mans wrinkled face stretched sharply over his cheek bones in an evil grin. "Yes this may work out even better than our original plan."
"So should I put Lou on Morgan?" asked the enforcer.
"Actually, have him followed. I want to see him bleed for a little while longer.
Put Lou on that other little project we discussed. Tell him to make it brutal. I want to send a message. No one gets away with disrespecting me!" the old man said forcefully.
Descending the stairs Jason noticed his young friend's uncomfortable position between the older men.
"What's going on?" Elizabeth asked irritably of her two very large friends.
Elizabeth nudged Brian away giving the young geek some much needed breathing room.
"F.. Fair Elizabeth." Spinelli sighed in relief at the sight of the luminescent guardian angel. He tried to get up but the gargoyle to his left hadn't moved and still had his shoulder pinned under his huge bulging bicep.
"Hey Elizabeth." France grinned innocently at her scolding tone. "We were just getting to know Spinelli."
Jason waited. A part of him felt amused by his wife. She never could tolerate anyone picking on a friend. Lord knows she had jumped to his defense often enough over the years.
The other part of him was curious what Francis and Brian were up to. But for now he was content to wait and see how things played out.
"Francis." Elizabeth said sternly with her hands on her hips. "Give him a break he's half your size." Grabbing Spinelli's hand she un-wedged him pulling him to his feet.
The young hacker clung to his guarding angle like a drowning man to a life preserver. "Th... Thank you, Fair Elizabeth."
Both Francis and Brian rolled their eyes at the geek's dramatics, while Jason frowned at his young friend clutching his wife.
Standing with the computer whiz, Elizabeth patted his back encouragingly. "It's ok Damian, Brian and Francis may seem like oversized jerks at first, but once you get to know them their very sweet."
Now that he had Elizabeth as his buffer Spinelli tilted his chin in defiance and fought the urge stick out his tongue. "I'm sure your right." Placating her further, "The Jackal feels certain the Guardian Gargoyles and I will become the best of friends... in time.." sarcastically under his breath, "in another era, perhaps."
"Hey," Brian said acting offended, "we just asked, a couple of questions." The man stood. "And frankly, he started spilling his guts. I'm not training in Geek Speak but pretty sure is was about Alcazar, some flash drive, the hostage crises, the 'Demented Don'? Gotta be Corinthos or Zacchara right? I mean the kid wouldn't shut up." Shaking his head he turned to the enforcer. "He seriously needs a muzzle."
Closing his eyes, Jason took a deep calming breath and decided it was time to outline the new ground rule to his young friend. "Francis, why don't you and Brian take the van back and then get your stuff moved into the penthouse. I'll see you tomorrow."
Spinelli's head whipped around, "Pent House?" he asked and then hopefully clarified, "this Pent House?"
Shaking his head, Jason answered, "I'll be living here with Elizabeth and the boys," raising his hand he showed the younger man his ring.
Spinelli gasped in shock turning his head to Elizabeth, he felt her ring under his palm, "I don... When did... I mean how...?" He sputtered.
"Spinelli I'll fill you in, but Francis and Brian are guarding Elizabeth and the boys, so they'll be living with you."
"See you soon roomy" Brian slapped the geek on the back hard enough to have him pitching forward. Elizabeth struggled to stabilize the younger man before he fell on top of her.
Jason's face darkened even more as he glared at his friend, who wisely decided to make a hasty retreat.
"G' night" Frances muttered to the room in general closing the door behind him.
"Diane, can we pick this up tomorrow?" Jason asked wanting nothing more but to be alone with his wife.
"Actually I need to talk to you and Elizabeth it's important."
Pinching the bridge of his nose he sighed. It was starting already, "OK but we need a few minutes with Spinelli."
"I'll just go and check on Max," she said nodding to Elizabeth, "I won't be long."
Spinelli watched her go knowing Diane was getting to see the electronics he so desperately desired to explore.
Looking over into his wife eyes, Jason took a slow steady breath before, focusing on Spinelli. Walking over to Elizabeth he plucked her hand from the geeks grasp and settled her down with him on the sofa, 'Much better' he thought contentedly.
"Spinelli, we need to talk."
"I'm sorry, Stone Cold." Spinelli rushed out. "I will never forgive myself if it was anything I did that lead to the de- I mean almost.. Um... What did happen exactly?"
For the first time since that horrible night, Jason relayed the nightmare of what had happened stopping several times. His voice choked with the depth of his emotions, as he recalled the events of that night.
Elizabeth soothed him as best she could, stroking his back or resting her head against his shoulder, squeezing his hand firmly in hers as she offered him her strength.
"If it hadn't been for Johnny..."
Elizabeth kissed him softly on the forehead giving him a moment to collect himself. "We owe him."
"Losing them or a least thinking I had lost them, it made me realize all the mistakes I'd made. Then when I found out they were alive..." Gulping in a deep breath into his starving lungs "There's no way I'm ever letting them go again."
"Stone Cold I'm so happy for you." And he really was. Spinelli had never seen his mentor expose so much of his feelings before. A small part of him worried about where he would fit in. If he would fit in, but seeing his Master happy was what was most important. If he had to go, Spinelli would find the strength to leave.
Elizabeth couldn't help but read sadness on the young man's face when his head dropped, "Spinelli," Elizabeth said softly, "Jason loves you and we're friends right?" At his nod of conformation she continued. "You'll always have a place in our family."
"You are most gracious Maternal One." The young hacker choked out moved by her kindness. "I will always be at the service of the Family Morgan. Willingly and eternally."
Jason cleared his throat. "Now that you know Spinelli, I need to lay down some new ground rules."
"Anything. The Jackal is your servant."
Jason's mouth opened but Elizabeth spoke first. "Spinelli, let's get one thing straight right now. You are NOT a servant. You are family. Got it?"
The young apprentice nodded at the overwhelming emotion of being included.
Jason looked at his wife with an expression she didn't quite understand, but she was too preoccupied to care.
Jason noticed her smirk before he continued laying down the law. "First and most important you can't tell anyone about this... I.. I know about what almost happened today. With Sam and I'm telling you right now that can NOT happen again."
"I'm sorry Stone Cold I.. I didn't know what to do and I couldn't get a hold of Max, and I know that she's been helpful...In Mexi.." Spinelli trailed off at the 'Maternal ones' dark look.
Jason's mind drifted. He remembered wanting Elizabeth, of being in pain. Someone screaming…. He tried to focus but Elizabeth's hand running along his bicep brought his mind back to the present.
"I love you." She said quietly.
"Thank you," He breathed kissing her temple.
Focusing his attention back to Spinelli he continued. "We can't talk about any of this at all outside of this building. I don't want to run the risk of anyone finding out the truth until I know where all the threats are coming from."
"I promise, not a word." Spinelli eagerly cross his heart and held up his hand in a solemn vow.
"Lastly NO guests." Jason said firmly "If you want to spend time with Maxie, or work with Sam you'll have to meet them away from the Pent House. OK?" Spin nodded. "Our security's been upgraded. So no one will be given access unless I, Elizabeth or Cody clears them. If you can't or don't want to be so isolated..."
"No. Its fine, I want to stay." His eyes pleaded with his mentor this really was the only home he really ever known and he didn't want to lose it.
"If you're sure you can handle it OK. I could really use your help with a few things."
And that's when it happened. Spinelli's heart finally felt whole. Jason needed him. Elizabeth defended him and called him family. He wasn't a grasshopper or a freeloader or a servant. Spinelli was family.
He would defend them with his life.