For the Love of Jason
Part 9
Jason paced around the small confines of the hospital room, full of nervous energy. A small sound from the bed captures his attention, and he rushes over to the side of the bed. "Abbie, Abbie, can you hear me? Wake up Abbie, come on," he whispers in a heartfelt voice. Carly walked and to find Jason hovering over the bed and smiled. "Well, it finally happened," she said.
"What? What happened?"
"The mighty Jason Morgan has fallen in love."
"What are you talking about Carly, I loved Robin, you know that."
"Right, you loved Miss Goody Two Shoes like I loved A.J. Get real Jase, that wasn't love and you know it."
"Carly," he said running his hand through his hair. "What are you doing here?"
Carly held up a small overnight bag and smiled. "I brought over a few of her things. Lord knows those hospital gowns are pretty uncomfortable. So I grabbed a nightshirt of hers, and a skirt and blouse to come home in. Sonny said she hurt her leg, so I didn't think she'd want to struggle too much trying to get back into the jeans she had on this morning."
"You saw her this morning?" Jason asked. "I didn't know that."
"Ah, that's cause you weren't home," Carly said in a how stupid can you be voice. "I bumped into her on her way to the carnival."
"Sorry," said Jason. "I'm just on edge. I can't believe this happened to her when both Sonny and I were so close."
"Jason, will you relax, it was probably just a regular mugging, and she fought back and got knocked out. Now, I want you to go get a cup of coffee or something, and I'll sit here until you get back."
"You won't leave?"
"I promise, I won't leave, no go," she said shoving him out of the room.
Carly sat in a chair next to Abbie's bedside and began to chat. "Yeah, I think this time, he really has fallen," she said to the unconscious woman beside her. "Jason's pretty cool. He's like my best friend, ya know? Every time I screw up, and believe me, I screw up a lot, Jason, well, he's there to straighten everything out." She stood up and walked over to the window and looked down. "I really haven't ever wanted to see Jason with anybody. I always kind of figured that nobody was too good for him. But you, I don't know. You certainly aren't a Pollyanna like that witch Robin Scorpio. I don't know if I like you yet, but I will say, you have guts, and that's ok. Now look, just do us all a favor and wake up because everybody's pretty miserable about this."
Carly was just about to sit back down when Ned Ashton walked into the room. "What are you doing here," Carly asked in a snotty voice.
"I just heard about Abbie, is she going to be alright?" he asked. "Monica was telling us over dinner that Jason was back and what had happened."
"Oh great, violating doctor patient confidentiality," snapped Carly. "Sounds like grounds for a lawsuit to me."
"Will you shut up," he said to Carly. "Monica didn't violate anybody's confidentiality. Number one, she's not Abbie's doctor, and number two, she never said her name. I knew that Abbie was staying with Jason, so it was only a matter of deduction."
"Well, score one for logic boy," said Carly. "Well, you've done your good deed, so why don't you just leave."
"That's enough Carly," said Jason from the doorway. "Sonny's waiting outside to take you home. Thanks for bringing Abbie's stuff, but maybe it would be better if you came by later on."
"Sure Jase," Carly said. "Whatever you want. Just call if you need us," she said as she walked out the door.
"What happened to her?" asked Ned. "Was this because of you and Sonny?"
"We don't know what happened?" said Jason wearily. "She was at the Charles Street Carnival, and she had bought some balloons to give out to the kids. She took off to do that, and the next thing I know, all the balloons were floating up in the air. I took off looking for her and found her unconscious."
"What's her prognosis," said Ned worriedly.
"She should be ok. She regained consciousness briefly in the emergency room, but not since then. Her leg is hut pretty bad though."
"Ok, look, I'm going to head out, but if she needs anything, call me," said Ned "And tell her to take as much time as she needs to get back on her feet. She is a much needed asset to L&B, and I don't want her to come back to soon and suffer a relapse."
"Yeah, Ned, about that," said Jason. "Abbie's kind of strapped for cash, so keep sending her a paycheck for as long as she's out. I'll give you the money for it."
Ned looked at Jason strangely, and shook his head. "Not necessary Jason. I meant what I said. She's incredible, and I'm going to do what it takes to keep her, including paying her a salary while she's out."
"Well, the offer stands," said Jason, walking Ned to the door.
"Ok, I'll keep it in mind, and listen. Stop by and see Grandmother. She got so excited when Monica told her you were back in town."
"I will, as soon as Abbie's awake. I have a few things Emily made in rehab to give her."
"You've seen Emily then?"
"Yeah, about a week before I got back into town."
"I'll see you later," said Ned. "Take care of yourself, and take care of Abbie."
Jason had just sat down, when a voice from the bed sent him flying across the room.
"Damn, my head hurts," said Abbie.
"Abbie, you're awake. Let me get a nurse," said Jason.
"Jason, wait, I have to tell you something, it's important, I don't want to forget it."
"Look, whatever it is, it can wait until someone checks you out."
"No, it can't, it really can't. I'm supposed to tell you that Mr. Burns wants you to back off the new docks project," she whispered
"Abbie, come on, that's not important now."
"Fine, it's not important, now quick, before the nurse gets here, who is Mr. Burns, and what am I telling that cop who is staring in the window?"
Jason turned and looked out the window to see Taggart standing there menacingly.
He reached for the buzzer that would bring a nurse to the room and softly answered, "Tell them you were mugged, and how did you know he was a cop."
"Way too much experience in a past life. Don't worry Jason, I'll handle it."
Amy Vining walked into the room and smiled. "Jason, I'm going to have to ask you to wait outside, and promise me you'll play nice with Taggart, this is a hospital zone after all."
"Just take care of her Amy," said Jason as he stepped out of the room. He said nothing to Taggart, but fixed a heated stare on the detective."
"I thought you were going to call us when she woke up?" anger boy.
Jason said nothing, but continued to fix Taggart with an unblinking stare.
"That's a cute trick, now if I give you a cookie, will you talk?"
Amy stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her. Jason, Dr. Wexler will be up to see her in a second. I told Abbie you'd wait out here until she was done."
"Thanks Amy," said Jason. "I'll wait."
"Amy, I'm going to need to take her statement," said Taggart.
"After she's seen by her doctor Detective. You know hospital policy."
"I'll wait," said Taggart. Karen Wexler got off the elevator and smiled at Jason.
"Hi Jason, this won't take long, you should be able to go back inside in a minute."
Jason nodded, but said nothing. Taggart walked up to the doctor and said. "I'm going to need to see her to take her statement."
"After I check her out, if she's stable, you can take her statement," said Karen as she went into the room.
She was back in a few minutes, smiling. "Jason, she's going to be fine. Why don't you let Taggart do his thing, and then you can go back in. But don't stay to long, she need her sleep."
"Thanks Karen," said Jason as he reached for a cell phone. He waited until Karen walked away before placing a call to Sonny. Briefly he repeated what Abbie had told him and listened while Sonny swore on the other end of the line.
"So you don't know who it is?" he asked.
"No, not yet, but I will, just give me time. How is she?"
"The doctor says fine. Taggart's in there with her now."
"Damn."
"Don't worry, she said she'd tell him it was a simple mugging. The funny thing is she saw Taggart waiting outside the room, and she made him for a cop right away."
"Hmmm, I wonder what that's all about."
"I don't know but look, I want a guard on her."
"No problem. I'll send Johnny over now."
"Thanks Sonny. I'll see you later," said Jason before he terminated the call.
Taggart opened the door and walked out, and glared at Jason.
"She says she was mugged. Now why don't I believe that anger boy?"
"I don't know, why don't you," said Jason.
"You told her to say that," said Taggart through gritted teeth."
"Oh come on Taggart, get real. When did I do that? Let me guess, you think I whispered subliminal messages to her while she was unconscious."
"I don't know, but I know you got to her first. I'll get to the bottom of this."
Jason just shook his head and walked into the hospital room.
Abbie lay on the bed and watched the entire altercation through the window. "Well, he certainly doesn't like you very much now, does he," she said in a tired voice.
"Don't worry about that," said Jason. "I want you to go back to sleep now. I have to go take care of some things, but Sonny's going to put a guard outside your door."
"Jason," she said sleepily. "It isn't necessary."
"Yeah it is, and Ned stopped by too. He said not to worry about your job, and that you'd still be drawing your salary. Just to take your time and get better. And Carly brought you some of your own things, she thought you'd be more comfortable."
At the mention of her salary, her pale face got even whiter.
"What, what is it?" said Jason. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, it's nothing. I just can't believe Ned would do that. It's so nice."
"Yeah well, he couldn't stop talking about how great you are," he said smiling.
"Ok, um listen," she said thinking fast. "Could you ask Carly to come see me in the morning? I, uh, I want to thank her for bringing me the stuff."
"Yeah," said Jason, puzzled by the change in conversation but too concerned with the mysterious Mr. Burns to give it much thought. "Now you get some rest, and I'll be back tomorrow," he said placing a kiss on he forehead.
"Thanks Jason," she said softly, touching her hand to her forehead. "Thanks a lot."