The Trip - Chapter 9

The two drove directly to the hospital, first thing. There was no point delaying the reunion any longer. It was clear to Alison that Rafe wasn't going to budge on his feelings for her. She missed Jamal and a part of her really wanted to see him and be held by him. Knowing deep down that if Rafe stopped her she would probably not go inside, she felt very guilty. It was time to finally forget all about their trip.

"Excuse me," Alison asked the front desk nurse, "Which room is Gabriela Garza's?"

"216"

"Thanks!"

Exiting the elevator, they turned the corner and in the middle of the hallway Jamal stood. Alison was about to call his name but something made her stop. As they walked closer, Alison could see that he was embracing Valerie. No, he wasn't just embracing her…he was kissing her. Alison froze in mid step, stood there for a second in shock, turned and ran in the opposite.

"Jamal! What are you doing, man?" Rafe asked harshly. Never thinking poorly of Jamal, he could not believe that he would do something like that.

"Rafe?" Jamal questioned, turning his back and noticing the boy standing in the hallway. Not knowing when they were to arrive, exactly, he was surprised by their sudden presence. "Alison?" he said to himself as he saw the blond girl running away from him, turning a corner. He did not have time to explain himself to Rafe. He quickly ran after Alison. Rafe was left in the hall with Valerie, who had a very content smile on her face.

"What are you thinking?" Rafe asked her bluntly. "You're just hurting them."

"Oh…come on, I was doing you a favor. It's not like you didn't do the exact same thing with Alison. You are just as guilty as I am." Val said smugly. "Admit it Rafe, you want Alison. It's ok…Jamal and Alison aren't very good together."

"They love each other!"

"That was the past…they don't know how they feel about each other any more."

"How do you know that?"

"I just know."

Rafe didn't like hearing the truth. Flashing her a nasty glare he turned and walked in the direction Ali and Jamal.

***********

"Alison!" Jamal called. Hearing her name, she stopped. Jamal ran up behind her and turned her around to face him. She had tears in her eyes and didn't know what to say. "That wasn't what you thought, babygirl." He admitted.

"Yea, then what was it Jamal?"

"Val…she was crying and, "Jamal tried to regain composure, "I don't know how it happened…she was upset and suddenly her lips were locked to mine. It happened so fast I didn't have time to stop it before you showed up. I'm so glad to see you." He embraced her. Alison allowed the hug, but did not hold him back. At that moment Rafe had caught up to them. Keeping his distance, not to be seen, he watched from afar.

"It was nothing?"

"Of course! You're my baby…you know that. Valerie was just upset. You know I'd never do anything to hurt you Ali."

"Aren't you even going to ask how the trip was?" she asked, upset.

"How was the trip?" he smiled.

"It was awful, Jamal!" she ran her hand through her long, thick hair. "Didn't you see Rafe's face?"

"Yea…I did but I came running after you. What happened?"

"He got into a fight…protecting me!"

"Are you ok?"

"I'm fine…this guy was bothering me and Rafe…it doesn't matter." She shook her head, "We got into a car crash and we had to get a new rental car. That actually turned out all right…but then we got stuck in this snowstorm too…it was awful Jamal! We went through a lot to get here and the first thing I see is you all over her." Alison started to cry.

"I'm sorry." He whispered, sincerely, "I didn't know Rafe was coming with you."

"Well, thank God he did...it was a really hard trip, Jamal."

"I'll have to thank him...for protecting you."

"How's Gabby and Hope?" she asked, changing the subject.

"They're great! I think things are going to be fine."

"And the parental rights of Hope?"

"I signed my rights away, Ali. That's why Val was so upset."

"Oh…is that what you wanted Jamal?"

"Hope will have a good life with the Hartman's. I have no doubt about that. I made the right choice."

"I just want to go back to Port Charles…Jamal. When can we go home?"

"Soon…babygirl…real soon." He held her again. From afar Rafe's heart sank. Watching Jamal hold her, he couldn't help but feel a little jealous. He knew it was for the best, though and it was what he had been brought back to accomplish. Rafe smiled. As he turned to walk back towards Gabby's room, Valerie was standing right behind him.

"What are you doing?" she asked mischievously.

"Nothing…what are you doing?" he asked, awkwardly bumping into her.

"You are watching them aren't you?" she asked as she peered down the hallway seeing Jamal and Alison hold one another.

"So? I was seeing if Ali was ok."

"You are in love with her…aren't you?"

"Though Valerie…it's really none of your business…we're just friends."

"Rafe…you are so transparent! Don't try to give me that friends crap. It's ok to admit it." Rafe had little patience for Valerie's games and he refused to comment. Trying to get away from her, he nudged her out of his way. "Listen!" Val turned to him walking away,"I want Jamal… and I am going to get him. You can help…if you want Alison." She smiled.

Rafe turned back, getting in Valerie's face. "I want Alison to be happy. If you try to jeopardize that I will stop you. You got that?" Rafe desperatly wanted to know why Jamal was kissing her. He felt there was more to the story, than Jamal's explanation. Val did seem very confident, but it wasn't worth playing her games to find out the truth. He would have to do it on his own.

"Whatever, I don't need your help." She said sarcastically.