On the way home, Georgie drove while Spinelli called Jason.

"But she was guarded," Jason said.

"She managed to avoid them."

Jason sighed.

"She told me to make sure to tell you that it wasn't their fault."

"It wasn't all their fault, but they were supposed to stick to her. They let her get away and she almost got killed; they're as responsible for that as she is. How bad is she hurt?"

"She lost consciousness when she fell and hit her head and she's got some bruises, but she is, thankfully, otherwise unharmed."

Jason put Spinelli on hold when another call came in. When he came back, he told him it was one of Lulu's guards, checking in and telling him they'd lost her. Jason had explained the situation and told them to get over to the hospital and not to let her out of their sight under any circumstances or they would be fired. This was not the time for anyone to mess up; they were at war.

"I will drill the same thing into Lulu's head if I have to keep throwing her past dangerous decisions in her face," Spinelli said angrily. "She needs to grow up and stop acting as if the world owes her complete and total obedience. The world does not revolve around her and if she doesn't realize that soon she really will get herself killed."

In her car seat, Kendra began to squirm uneasily at Spinelli's tone. He reached back and stroked her hair and she relaxed. Daddy wasn't mad at her.

Georgie smiled. Spinelli was finally getting angry with the selfish, thoughtless little brat who used to constantly and cruelly manipulate him. It was time for Lulu to be put in her place and Georgie knew Spinelli was the only one who could do that, and after everything Lulu had done to him he was the only one who really had a right.

How many times had Lulu trashed Maxie for her actions? As far as Georgie was concerned, Lulu was no better. She had treated Spinelli like a game, the same way Logan had treated her. Maxie had played a part in Logan's actions, but Lulu had also contributed. Everyone had tried to warn her away from Logan and Lulu had refused to listen and had gotten involved with him for that reason alone. Now she was being paid back for all her cruelty toward Spinelli and her defiant refusal to do what she knew was right.

"I want you to keep tabs on Sonny," Jason was telling Spinelli. "I want you and TJ to put him under constant surveillance."

"Are we looking for anything specific?"

"I wanna find out who he's working with. He told me today that he was going to the Zacchara's if I didn't' help him take down the Russians."

"But The Zacchara organization is no more."

"Someone took over; Sonny wouldn't tell me who, but he didn't seem happy about it. But he said he'd work with them if I didn't do what he wanted. He wants me to give him back the organization."

"How can he possibly expect you to do that?"

He didn't want to go into the reasons with Georgie there, but Sonny had started this mess. Georgie was only hearing Spinelli's end of the conversation and she new that the less she knew the better.

"Sonny thinks everyone is gonna do exactly what he says exactly how he says it."

Now Jason's tone was angry.

"I can't give him back the organization; he started this mob war. The men won't work for him now and he's not thinking like a leader. He's gonna get innocent people killed so he can get his revenge. We still don't even know that Karpov shot Kate."

Spinelli felt a pang of guilt. He'd been so busy training TJ that he'd had little time for anything else except the basic necessities having to do with the business.

"I'll call TJ and tell him. I wish there had been security cameras at the church; then we'd know who shot The Fashionista without question."

"I don't think it's really about Kate anymore," Jason said thoughtfully. "I think now Sonny just wants revenge on Karpov for coming here in the first place."

"But he facilitated his arrival."

"Sonny doesn't see it that way."

"Why is it that he and Lulu keep revising history to suit their own agendas?" Spinelli asked with frustration.

Georgie grinned. She didn't like the part of her that felt satisfaction at Spinelli's annoyance with Lulu, but Lulu had hurt her more than once. She and Sonny had hurt Spinelli countless times and for no reason. It was time for them both to be smacked down.

"I don't know, but he should know by now that I'm not gonna let him get away with it. We'll still keep trying to find out who shot Kate, but I'm gonna be the one to take care of it. Sonny can't be trusted."

"Not that The Jackal feels that The Fashionista's shooter should go unpunished, but with Mr. Sir no longer in the inner circle, why does Stone Cold wish to avenge The Former Godfather's former fiancé?"

"It's a matter of territory. Besides, you're right; he needs to be punished. Kate was innocent. But he came into my territory and shot someone and he needs to pay. Anyone could have been hit; the shooter could have hurt you, or me, or anyone else. That church was full of innocent people."

"I see your point. OK, we're pulling into my building now. I'll call TJ and we'll begin the surveillance."

"Thank you. Call me as soon as you get something."

They hung up and Spinelli called TJ when they got into the apartment.

"Mr. Corinthos is not gonna be happy that we're watching him."

"We'll do it remotely, using security cameras, as much as possible, but you're right; he won't be happy. But he brought this on himself when he betrayed Stone Cold."

Spinelli had gone into the bedroom to make this call, but Georgie would have been very surprised if she'd heard him. He was through making excuses for people who deliberately caused harm to themselves and others. Stone Cold was a different issue; the harm he was causing himself and Elizabeth was, unfortunately, unavoidable. He was trying to run the organization without violence, but at the moment that was impossible, thanks to Sonny. Lulu and Sonny had no valid reasons for their destructive behavior.

"He's out of prison; The Valkyrie gave him an alibi."

"I'll access their security cameras and see if I can trace his movements from there. You take tonight off and be with Georgie and Kendra. Your Eager Apprentice has everything under control and will inform you of any significant development."

Spinelli smiled affectionately.

"Thank you. I know I leave the subject in capable hands."

He hung up and smiled as he went into the living room, where Georgie was feeding Kendra. Now he could finally discuss his proposal with her. He'd been eagerly waiting for the right time since Mike had asked her about a second job. He hoped the idea would interest her and that she would be as excited about the possibilities as he was.

"I've been thinking about something since our visit to The Senior Sir this morning," he said, sitting next to her on the couch.

Kendra gurgled at him.

"Hi," he said, kissing her cheek, then turning back to Georgie.

"You said you're not in financial trouble, but will blogging for The Fashionista be challenging enough for you? I mean, won't you be bored without a second job?"

"Probably, but the job market is bad right now."

"Well, you could always join Jackal PI. You help me with cases, anyway, and I couldn't ask for a better partner. Why not make it official?"

"Get a PI license?" she asked thoughtfully.

He nodded, then waited eagerly for her response as she considered the idea.

"I wanna show you something," she said suddenly, surprising him.

She took out her laptop, brought up a file and showed it to him.

"Jack Millhouse?" he asked, confused as he looked at the name and the picture.

He was built like Spinelli, but with subtle differences. His hair was less messy and his eyes were a lighter shade of brown. He was also slightly taller, according to Georgie's description.

"He's a PI. He looks a lot like me."

"You're my model."

"I don't understand."

She took the laptop back and brought up another file, then gave it back to him. He read the file, then grinned happily.

"You're thinking about writing a PI novel with a representation of The Jackal as your protagonist!"

She nodded, smiling happily. She could tell he loved the idea.

Kendra laughed and screamed. She didn't understand why, but she knew Daddy and Georgie were happy.

"I've also been thinking about when I told you about the profile of a serial killer. I've been thinking about getting a degree in criminal psychology. I could be your profiler, and having a PI license would increase my credibility."

"I can help you," he said, excited. "I'll set you up with the online course and help you learn the forty-nine sacred steps to crime solving!"

"I can register online for the classes at the university; I can start my psych classes in January!"

They hugged with Kendra babbling happily between them.

"We have so much to look forward to this year," Georgie said.

"A new brother or sister for Kendra, our living arrangements…"

"Plus you'll be out of the mob and you and I will be in business together."

"You'll be writing your book, too."

"I can't wait!"

He laughed and pulled away, taking out his own laptop and accessing the Get Your Man web site. They would sign Georgie up tonight for the course and she could begin her work tomorrow. As Spinelli got her set up on the web site, she began to register for her classes. She'd been taking English classes, as well as working for Mike and Kate, so she didn't have to reenroll. Now she would be completing a dual major; English and psychology.

As they worked, Kendra played in her play pen. During the next two months, tragedy would be very narrowly avoided twice and their strength would again be tested. But tonight was the start of something that would sustain them, even in their darkest moments.