Notes: Again with the no reviews, so we'll just get straight into the story
we shall.
Story-
Corinthos Household-
Jason walked into Sonny's house. When he saw that Courtney wasn't at their own home across the hall, he had a feeling that she would have instead walked over to Sonny and Carly's. If she wasn't there, then he would call her cell, but for now he wouldn't waste time on the phone unless it was needed. The guards weren't at the door, which wasn't unusual, but at times it could be rather discomforting. He didn't see her anywhere in the living room. "Courtney?" He yelled, in case she was around and heard someone open the door. She could handle herself, but if it came down to it, she would sacrifice her life for Michael and Morgan, and that would mean putting her in unneeded danger just to protect them.
Courtney walked down the stairs, holding Morgan over her shoulder. She was grateful to see her husband. He had business to take care of over the night, so he wasn't with her very much the day before. It was mostly like that for them. She loved Jason, but hated his work. "I tried calling you!"
Jason frowned, "The phone's been acting weird all night, I didn't mean to miss it."
"I'm just glad you're here."
"Why?" Jason asked. "Is everything all right?"
Courtney shook her head softly and sadly, "No, Jason. Everything isn't."
Now, Jason Morgan found himself going through a feeling that he, at times, was accused of never having: worry. Courtney looked to be in perfect health, which filled him with some relief, knowing that the most important person in his life wasn't the one in danger. But that still left the others. "What is it?"
"Michael," She said. "He can't talk."
Jason was confused, "What?"
"If I had more to tell you I would. All I know is that he woke up this morning and couldn't say a word to Sonny and Carly. They thought he was playing around at first, but it became obvious that he wasn't."
"Did they take him to the hospital?"
Courtney nodded, "Yeah, they checked him in, too. Just for examinations, hopefully they'll be able to give us answers soon."
Jason turned away, "I'll go find a specialist if I have to."
"Jason!" Courtney called out, "Don't do this. Don't run away from what you're feeling right now. I know you want to help, but you want to help in a way that doesn't involve you being attached emotionally. You can help a lot more by being there at Michael's side instead of running around looking for a solution."
"I don't like hospitals," Jason muttered. "And I don't like it when they don't have any answers for the questions that I have. Courtney, I've been through that before, and I let it affect me in ways that it shouldn't have. I let them tell me that there was nothing I could do to regain what I lost, and even though it ended up being true for the most part I still carried that doubt in my mind. Michael's got plenty of other people at his side right now. He doesn't need me."
"The last thing we need is your running around the world looking for a specialist, Jason. What if you go into one of the territories ran by Sonny's enemies? What if you end up getting hurt halfway across the world and we don't know how to get in touch with you? We've got enough to worry about right now, worrying about you would only make everything worse." She grabbed Jason's arm, "Are you sure you won't go?"
"I can't," Jason replied. "Not right now."
Courtney handed him the baby, "Fine, if you won't go be with him, then I will. Watch Morgan until someone gets back, please." Courtney walked over and grabbed her purse, "Jason, if you're feeling anything for him right now you need to be open with it. None of us are expecting you to brush something like this off. You raised Michael like he was your son for a bit, and it's easy to see that the attachment is still there."
"I'm not his father, not anymore."
Courtney closed her eyes sadly, "I know. But even if his mind can't remember it, I'm sure his heart does." Courtney opened the door, "If you feel the need to go see him, please call me and I'll watch Morgan again. At least give it some thought, Jason."
"I can't make any promises, Courtney." Jason replied.
"Do you ever?" She closed the door behind her and walked over to the elevator. She wasn't happy with her husband at the moment. She wasn't mad at him, he had strong feelings for Michael, but even stronger feelings that stemmed from the time he spent being helpless and looked down upon like a medical anomaly. She was disappointed that Jason couldn't put away his past for even a minute and just be there for his family. They weren't the Quatermaine's, they were a strong family unit that did function a considerable amount better when they weren't separated. Jason was a part of that family, through marriage and more importantly through love. Courtney took one last look at the door, hoping that he would come out and say that he wanted to go. When the elevator chimed and its doors slid open she gave up all hope. She walked inside the elevator and pressed the button to bring it down to floor level.
General Hospital-
He wondered how long he had been in that hospital. He didn't have an answer, the minutes and the hours all seemed to blend together. Not that it mattered, he would stay there for as long as he needed to, if only to help Michael. He was tired, all the stress was beginning to effect him. A part of his mind cried out for the bed at the apartment, but he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
"You look really tired."
Damian spun around, "Maxie? You're still here?"
She smiled, "I do volunteer here."
"I know that, but I wasn't aware that you had such a long shift."
She turned away, "Actually, my shift ended two hours ago."
Damian was surprised, "Why didn't you go home? Do you need a ride?"
"No."
"Is something wrong at home? Are you afraid to go back?"
"No."
"Are you waiting for your sister to end her shift so you can go home together?"
"Georgie got off at the same time I did," Maxie informed Damian.
"Then why are you still here?" Damian asked.
Maxie again faced Damian, her eyes looked at his, "For you." She sat on one of the nearby chairs, "With everything that you're going through with Sonny and Carly, and now Michael's condition as well, I just figured that you might need a friendly shoulder."
"You didn't need to do that, Maxie." Damian sat next to her.
"I know, but I wanted to." Maxie grabbed his hand, "You're not like anyone else that I've ever met, Damian. You don't try and make people shape themselves to your liking. You've turned a horrible personal tragedy into an ongoing quest to help people from going over the same pain over again. You're someone that shouldn't have to feel helpless like this, because you deserve so much better."
"That's very kind of you, Maxie. I really do appreciate it."
"What I'm trying to say is," She stopped herself for a second. "I like you." She laughed at herself, "This is so juvenile. I'm an adult now, I should know how to tell people that I care about them."
Damian chuckled, "You just did."
Maxie blushed, "Yeah, I guess I did."
"You want to know something?" Damian inquired. "When your sister asked me those questions earlier-"
"God, I wanted to slap her so hard!" Maxie declared, still less than happy with Georgie's act in the cafeteria. Her heart was in the right place, though.
"I left because I didn't really know what to say," Damian finished. "Maxie, I never really had any friends, and I certainly didn't have any girlfriends. So, I don't really know how this whole thing goes."
"Let me make it simple for you, then," Maxie said. "Do you like me? And I mean not like me as someone that you can count on as a friend, but someone that you can see as growing close to, closer than you would most people?"
"That wasn't simple," Damian said smugly.
"Just answer the question."
"Yes, Maxie, I like you." Damian shook his head, "You're right, though. This seems like a really bad after-school special. I'm waiting for someone to come up and explain what we're doing."
"That doesn't really happen," Maxie mentioned. "At least, I hope it doesn't really happen. With my luck it would be my dad, and he'd blow his top."
"Would you have stayed here to be with me even if you didn't like me in that strange and complex way?"
"Probably. I mean, you helped me without knowing who I was. I could only return the favor."
"You wouldn't need to return anything, Maxie. What I did that day was what anyone would have done."
She shook her head, "I don't think so. A lot of people really don't like throwing themselves in the middle of other people's problems."
"I was raised to help people when they needed it," Damian stated. "There was nothing else to it." He grabbed his neck and winced.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing," He answered. "Just sore."
"You should go get some rest," Maxie suggested.
"I'm not leaving," Damian said defiantly.
"Well, what about school? I know it's only Saturday, but don't you have things that need to be done before you go back?"
"It can wait."
"Damian, this is your dream that you're talking about."
"I know," Damian said. "But it's early in the semester, I can make up assignments if I need to. I just can't leave him again."
Maxie was astonished by his dedication to a person that he had just met several weeks ago. But a bigger part of her was still worried about his schooling. "Are you sure?"
"Some things are more important than becoming a doctor, Maxie. Michael has to be my top priority right now."
"You amaze me, you know that."
Damian grinned, "With my boyish good looks and guy next door attitude?"
Maxie ignored the joke, "You want me to stick around?"
"You've been here for most of the day, Maxie. Besides, don't you have another shift tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
Damian got out of his chair and helped her up, "Get some rest. If I need someone, I'll call."
"Anytime, okay?" Maxie stated.
"Anytime," Damian hugged her.
Story-
Corinthos Household-
Jason walked into Sonny's house. When he saw that Courtney wasn't at their own home across the hall, he had a feeling that she would have instead walked over to Sonny and Carly's. If she wasn't there, then he would call her cell, but for now he wouldn't waste time on the phone unless it was needed. The guards weren't at the door, which wasn't unusual, but at times it could be rather discomforting. He didn't see her anywhere in the living room. "Courtney?" He yelled, in case she was around and heard someone open the door. She could handle herself, but if it came down to it, she would sacrifice her life for Michael and Morgan, and that would mean putting her in unneeded danger just to protect them.
Courtney walked down the stairs, holding Morgan over her shoulder. She was grateful to see her husband. He had business to take care of over the night, so he wasn't with her very much the day before. It was mostly like that for them. She loved Jason, but hated his work. "I tried calling you!"
Jason frowned, "The phone's been acting weird all night, I didn't mean to miss it."
"I'm just glad you're here."
"Why?" Jason asked. "Is everything all right?"
Courtney shook her head softly and sadly, "No, Jason. Everything isn't."
Now, Jason Morgan found himself going through a feeling that he, at times, was accused of never having: worry. Courtney looked to be in perfect health, which filled him with some relief, knowing that the most important person in his life wasn't the one in danger. But that still left the others. "What is it?"
"Michael," She said. "He can't talk."
Jason was confused, "What?"
"If I had more to tell you I would. All I know is that he woke up this morning and couldn't say a word to Sonny and Carly. They thought he was playing around at first, but it became obvious that he wasn't."
"Did they take him to the hospital?"
Courtney nodded, "Yeah, they checked him in, too. Just for examinations, hopefully they'll be able to give us answers soon."
Jason turned away, "I'll go find a specialist if I have to."
"Jason!" Courtney called out, "Don't do this. Don't run away from what you're feeling right now. I know you want to help, but you want to help in a way that doesn't involve you being attached emotionally. You can help a lot more by being there at Michael's side instead of running around looking for a solution."
"I don't like hospitals," Jason muttered. "And I don't like it when they don't have any answers for the questions that I have. Courtney, I've been through that before, and I let it affect me in ways that it shouldn't have. I let them tell me that there was nothing I could do to regain what I lost, and even though it ended up being true for the most part I still carried that doubt in my mind. Michael's got plenty of other people at his side right now. He doesn't need me."
"The last thing we need is your running around the world looking for a specialist, Jason. What if you go into one of the territories ran by Sonny's enemies? What if you end up getting hurt halfway across the world and we don't know how to get in touch with you? We've got enough to worry about right now, worrying about you would only make everything worse." She grabbed Jason's arm, "Are you sure you won't go?"
"I can't," Jason replied. "Not right now."
Courtney handed him the baby, "Fine, if you won't go be with him, then I will. Watch Morgan until someone gets back, please." Courtney walked over and grabbed her purse, "Jason, if you're feeling anything for him right now you need to be open with it. None of us are expecting you to brush something like this off. You raised Michael like he was your son for a bit, and it's easy to see that the attachment is still there."
"I'm not his father, not anymore."
Courtney closed her eyes sadly, "I know. But even if his mind can't remember it, I'm sure his heart does." Courtney opened the door, "If you feel the need to go see him, please call me and I'll watch Morgan again. At least give it some thought, Jason."
"I can't make any promises, Courtney." Jason replied.
"Do you ever?" She closed the door behind her and walked over to the elevator. She wasn't happy with her husband at the moment. She wasn't mad at him, he had strong feelings for Michael, but even stronger feelings that stemmed from the time he spent being helpless and looked down upon like a medical anomaly. She was disappointed that Jason couldn't put away his past for even a minute and just be there for his family. They weren't the Quatermaine's, they were a strong family unit that did function a considerable amount better when they weren't separated. Jason was a part of that family, through marriage and more importantly through love. Courtney took one last look at the door, hoping that he would come out and say that he wanted to go. When the elevator chimed and its doors slid open she gave up all hope. She walked inside the elevator and pressed the button to bring it down to floor level.
General Hospital-
He wondered how long he had been in that hospital. He didn't have an answer, the minutes and the hours all seemed to blend together. Not that it mattered, he would stay there for as long as he needed to, if only to help Michael. He was tired, all the stress was beginning to effect him. A part of his mind cried out for the bed at the apartment, but he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
"You look really tired."
Damian spun around, "Maxie? You're still here?"
She smiled, "I do volunteer here."
"I know that, but I wasn't aware that you had such a long shift."
She turned away, "Actually, my shift ended two hours ago."
Damian was surprised, "Why didn't you go home? Do you need a ride?"
"No."
"Is something wrong at home? Are you afraid to go back?"
"No."
"Are you waiting for your sister to end her shift so you can go home together?"
"Georgie got off at the same time I did," Maxie informed Damian.
"Then why are you still here?" Damian asked.
Maxie again faced Damian, her eyes looked at his, "For you." She sat on one of the nearby chairs, "With everything that you're going through with Sonny and Carly, and now Michael's condition as well, I just figured that you might need a friendly shoulder."
"You didn't need to do that, Maxie." Damian sat next to her.
"I know, but I wanted to." Maxie grabbed his hand, "You're not like anyone else that I've ever met, Damian. You don't try and make people shape themselves to your liking. You've turned a horrible personal tragedy into an ongoing quest to help people from going over the same pain over again. You're someone that shouldn't have to feel helpless like this, because you deserve so much better."
"That's very kind of you, Maxie. I really do appreciate it."
"What I'm trying to say is," She stopped herself for a second. "I like you." She laughed at herself, "This is so juvenile. I'm an adult now, I should know how to tell people that I care about them."
Damian chuckled, "You just did."
Maxie blushed, "Yeah, I guess I did."
"You want to know something?" Damian inquired. "When your sister asked me those questions earlier-"
"God, I wanted to slap her so hard!" Maxie declared, still less than happy with Georgie's act in the cafeteria. Her heart was in the right place, though.
"I left because I didn't really know what to say," Damian finished. "Maxie, I never really had any friends, and I certainly didn't have any girlfriends. So, I don't really know how this whole thing goes."
"Let me make it simple for you, then," Maxie said. "Do you like me? And I mean not like me as someone that you can count on as a friend, but someone that you can see as growing close to, closer than you would most people?"
"That wasn't simple," Damian said smugly.
"Just answer the question."
"Yes, Maxie, I like you." Damian shook his head, "You're right, though. This seems like a really bad after-school special. I'm waiting for someone to come up and explain what we're doing."
"That doesn't really happen," Maxie mentioned. "At least, I hope it doesn't really happen. With my luck it would be my dad, and he'd blow his top."
"Would you have stayed here to be with me even if you didn't like me in that strange and complex way?"
"Probably. I mean, you helped me without knowing who I was. I could only return the favor."
"You wouldn't need to return anything, Maxie. What I did that day was what anyone would have done."
She shook her head, "I don't think so. A lot of people really don't like throwing themselves in the middle of other people's problems."
"I was raised to help people when they needed it," Damian stated. "There was nothing else to it." He grabbed his neck and winced.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing," He answered. "Just sore."
"You should go get some rest," Maxie suggested.
"I'm not leaving," Damian said defiantly.
"Well, what about school? I know it's only Saturday, but don't you have things that need to be done before you go back?"
"It can wait."
"Damian, this is your dream that you're talking about."
"I know," Damian said. "But it's early in the semester, I can make up assignments if I need to. I just can't leave him again."
Maxie was astonished by his dedication to a person that he had just met several weeks ago. But a bigger part of her was still worried about his schooling. "Are you sure?"
"Some things are more important than becoming a doctor, Maxie. Michael has to be my top priority right now."
"You amaze me, you know that."
Damian grinned, "With my boyish good looks and guy next door attitude?"
Maxie ignored the joke, "You want me to stick around?"
"You've been here for most of the day, Maxie. Besides, don't you have another shift tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
Damian got out of his chair and helped her up, "Get some rest. If I need someone, I'll call."
"Anytime, okay?" Maxie stated.
"Anytime," Damian hugged her.