Note: Apparently it was fanfiction.net itself which was having the problem
and that was why I had to branch off into another story. Regardless, I'm
going to keep going with the second story just in case it happens again...
better safe than sorry. Also, this is, counting both stories, the 150th
chapter! Let us celebrate by... I don't know, doing stuff. I would like to
thank ya'll for continuing to support my opus as you have. I always feared,
as a relative newbie to the world of General Hospital, that my idea
wouldn't come out the way I wanted it because of my inexperience with the
characters, but as I approach my first year of hopefully many more to come
enjoying the drama of the citizens of Port Charles, I am awed by how much
people support my characterization, and even more shocked at how much
people enjoy my character. I do not believe that the story will reach 200
chapters, but I don't think that it was a bad run, do you?
Joy- My Sonny good, Sonny on show bad. Got it. I agree, though. Sonny's becoming a very dislikable character, which isn't something that people really want to have happen to the person who is essentially the star of the show. Say what you will about Tony Geary, but at least Maurice doesn't go on Summer and Winter breaks thus cutting off any story for his character for months at a time. I remember the first time I watched an episode, I saw Luke and then I didn't see Luke until at least October. Aside from Sonny, I actually like the storyline... don't ask why. I think it had something to do with Sam calling Michael 'the world's littlest mobster.' That line had me laughing very much.
Story-
Hours later, General Hospital-
It was dwindling into the wee hours of the morning. Aside from Ric and Elizabeth, no one had left. They were all tired. Not only because it was late at night, but because the raw emotions that came from the event were beginning to drain them all. The teens were huddled in a corner, not really wanting to associate with the adults that were waiting around as well. Maxie had stopped crying, but that didn't mean that she stopped worrying. Every hour that passed was another hour that she thought he could be slipping away from her. Every hour was another hour that she wished that Damian would just walk up and say that everything was going to be okay. She wanted to hear that so much.
Carly was worried about Sonny more than anything. He hadn't come out even once since Monica had given him the okay to stay with his son. What was he doing in there? At least with Ric gone, she could rest a little easier. He hadn't come back, so she didn't think he was going to come back that late at night. She had checked in at the house a couple of times, being made aware of the fact that Jason was watching over Michael. Carly was happy that Jase was there. As much as she trusted Leticia, as much as she knew that Michael trusted Leticia, she also knew that Michael didn't admire the nanny in the same way that he admired his Uncle Jason.
Bobbie didn't have as hard of a time as she thought she was going to have explaining what had happened and what she had observed to the people that were waiting around. The only one that wasn't aware of anything was Mike. Monica had told them all the possibilities and given them her opinions. Bobbie echoed those opinions almost to the letter. She was thankful that he was still hanging onto life as strongly as he was, but she knew that it didn't mean he was out of danger.
Courtney had seen her fill of watching Maxie suffer while waiting. She knew what it was like to spend hours waiting in agony for someone that was loved to just come back, to know that they were all right and alive. Jason and Sonny had done that to her sop many times in the past. Courtney got up and walked over, putting a hand on Maxie's shoulder, "Maxie, maybe you should go home."
Maxie looked up, "I don't want to leave."
Courtney nodded, "I know you don't want to leave, but it might be the best thing for you to do right now. It's late, we're all tired, but you've been here all day. You need to get some rest."
"How can I rest when Damian is in the emergency room, hooked up to a bunch of machines that I don't even know the names of?" Maxie was angry that Courtney was seemingly pushing her out of the hospital. "I may not be family like you, Courtney, but I still love him."
"I know you do," Courtney's voice was soft but firm. "But would he want you standing here and waiting for him? There's no telling how long this is going to take. He wouldn't want you to spend every moment agonizing over what could be happening to him. He would want you to try and get some rest."
"How can I sleep?"
"You'll find a way," Courtney smiled. "Just because you go home to get some rest doesn't mean that you don't care about him any more or any less. He wouldn't hold it against you, it's what he would want."
Maxie was pondering the situation. She was tired. She was more than just emotionally drained, she was physically tapped out. All those hours that she had spent doing extra work just to preoccupy her mind had begun to take a toll on her. She was finding herself going to sleep earlier and earlier. She was fighting to stay up as it was, using every single ounce of willpower to be there.
Georgie knew the ordeal had been harsh on Maxie. She knew that Maxie couldn't take very much more of the waiting, the wondering. "Courtney's right, Maxie. You're tired, we're all tired, we should all get some rest. You and I both know that you're going to be back here first thing in the morning. And, if anything changes, someone will tell you."
"I'll do it personally," Courtney offered. "I promise, if he gets any better... or any worse... you'll be the first to know."
Maxie knew that Courtney would go through with her word. She was one of the nicest people that Maxie had ever met, someone that didn't have a bone in her body that would hurt someone. It wasn't hard to see why Courtney and Damian had bonded as quickly as they did. With Courtney and Georgie fighting her, or rather trying to help her, there wasn't much that she could have done to beat them. "I wish I could see him..."
"Maybe you'll be able to tomorrow," Bobbie said. "You know how much we try to limit visitors when patients are just checked in for something this drastic, Maxie. Give him a few hours of recovery and then you'll surely be able to see him."
"He'll know that you're thinking about him, Maxie," Mike added. "He'll feel the concern and the love that you're giving him, and it will make him stronger." Mike got out of his seat, "Why don't I take you kids home? I'm going to go crazy just sitting around here doing nothing, at least taking you back would help me get my mind off of everything."
Dillon panicked inside his mind, but didn't show it at all. "You know, I think I'll just stick around for a little while longer. Monica offered me a ride home earlier anyway, Mike. No reason for you to drive me all the way to the mansion if the trip can be spared."
Bobbie thought that it was odd that Dillon was waiting for a ride from Monica, who had already finished her shift. There wasn't anything big that would have forced Monica to work after hours. She had done everything that she could for Damian and there were still a handful of capable doctors that were on call. She didn't say anything to everyone, she'd find out on her own time.
"If that's what you want to do, Dillon, I've got no problem with it." Mike grabbed his jacket. "Come on, girls."
Georgie turned to Dillon and gave him a brief kiss on the lips, "Love you."
"I love you, too," Dillon hugged her. "Maxie," He began, "it's going to be all right. Just remember that, okay?"
Maxie nodded, "I'll try."
Dillon shook his head, "Don't try, do." Dillon watched the three of them walk into the elevator and heard the door close. He knew that he was alone with people that he knew, but didn't really have any particular closeness towards. It was strange enough when he had Maxie and Georgie with him, now that they were gone, he felt even more excluded.
"How much longer till Monica's shift ends?" Courtney asked. "I'm not trying to get all of you out or anything, I just don't want you to be staying up all night if you don't have to."
"Maybe an hour or so," Dillon lied. "And its fine, Courtney. I've been to so many all night movie festivals in my life that I'm preprogrammed to stay up all night if I need to." That part wasn't a lie. Being the film buff that he was, Dillon had indeed found himself staying up all night watching old black and white movies. He enjoyed it when he got to stay up for such things, but he wasn't enjoying staying up for this.
"You want to go on another coffee run?" Carly asked her best friend, looking for something, anything, to bide her time.
"Is it my turn to buy?" Courtney asked.
"Yeah," Carly said. "I think we've increased profits a hundred fold in the coffee department tonight."
"It's still not helping very much," Courtney said softly. "I still feel extremely tired. No amount of caffeine is going to change that."
"I know, but it will help us stay up until Sonny comes back." Carly looked at Dillon and Bobbie, "You guys want anything?"
"No, I'm fine, Carly," Bobbie responded.
"Yeah, I don't need anything either, thanks," Dillon echoed Bobbie.
When the girls were gone, Bobbie eyed Dillon. She sat down in the chair next to him, which had previously been reserved for Georgie. "You know what I find odd, Dillon?"
"What?"
"That you said Monica offered you a ride home to the mansion after her shift ended, but her shift has been over for at least an hour and a half. I know she's not here anymore, I saw her leaving when I changed out of my uniform," Bobbie could see Dillon was shifting uneasily in his chair. "What's wrong? Are you afraid to go home?"
"Why would I be afraid to go home?" Dillon asked, completely on the defensive.
"Dillon, the Quatermaine's would never do anything to physically harm you, but I know how belittling they can get, especially your grandfather and your mother. Are they mentally abusing you?"
"Bobbie..."
"Dillon, please. It's my job to help people who need it. You lied about going home for a reason. I'd like to know what it is."
Dillon was caught. He should have known better than to make up a lie with the head nurse within earshot. But the Quatermaine's weren't abusing him in any way. Sure, his mother could be extremely cold hearted, but Dillon had gotten used to being subjected to the scorn, he had since learned to block it out. "I... don't have a home anymore, Bobbie."
Courtney had forgotten her purse. Her mind was just so unfocused that she didn't even remember to grab it when she and Carly headed towards the cafeteria. She came back and heard Dillon admit that he no longer had a place to live. She stayed hidden behind the wall.
"What do you mean, Dillon?" Bobbie questioned further.
"My mom... she threw me out when I came here," Dillon didn't hide his sadness. "She said that I couldn't come here to be with my friend, my hurt friend. Jason came to the mansion to tell me what had happened and offered to give me a ride. I couldn't let my mom prevent me from being here. She told me that if I left that I shouldn't come back."
"She didn't mean it," Bobbie said. "Your mother may be a cold hearted woman with no shame, but she does love you and Ned very much. She'd never exile you from her life."
"She wouldn't?" Dillon asked with a scoff. "Didn't she drop me off at their doorstep because she wanted some alone time in Europe? Hasn't she done similar things to Ned in her life? Bobbie, I can't help but love my mother, she's the reason that I'm here, but that doesn't mean that I always understand why she does the things that she does."
"You really think that you don't have a home that you can return to now?" Bobbie asked.
"My mom doesn't enjoy making idle threats," Dillon replied. "I think she meant what she said. It's fine, though. I can handle being on my own. She would leave me alone for days at a time when I was old enough. I can take care of myself."
"Did you tell Monica that she had given you that ultimatum?" Bobbie still didn't believe that Tracy could have actually meant that she no longer wanted her son to be living with her simply because Dillon cared about someone other than her. Tracy couldn't be that selfish, could she?
"I try and keep the other members of my family out of my mother's way as much as possible, for their own safety as well as mine."
"Well, what are you going to do now, Dillon?" Bobbie's final question wasn't one that Dillon could just brush off. "You've got no place to go."
"I have some cash on me, I could get a hotel for a few nights before I'd have to really start thinking about what I was going to do."
"If you need any help, you know you can just ask me, right?"
"You're too nice to everyone, Bobbie."
"I like helping people, Dillon. It's why I do what I do." She got up, "I've got something that I need to check up on. If Carly and Courtney come back, just tell them that I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Sure." Dillon watched as she left as well. Finally alone, Dillon's face quickly crushed under the weight of the situation. It was true, his mother had left him alone when he was younger, made him feel like he wasn't important enough to her. Dillon hated feeling that he wasn't worth his mother's time. It was the worst feeling he ever had. On those days he could often sit on the bed and just cry to himself. Even though he wasn't a little boy anymore, it didn't make dealing with his abandonment issues any easier. He wouldn't give Tracy the satisfaction of getting another tear from him, though. If she didn't understand what it was like to care about someone then that was her problem, not his. He was better off without her. He would finally be able to do what he wanted without fear of her belittling ways. The way she would insult him and his friends or his career choices, they would all be behind him as soon as he was out of the mansion for good. He didn't even need all the stuff that was still in the room that he had at the mansion. He could survive with just the clothes on his back.
Dillon's momentary boost in confidence quickly dwindled and his mood was somber again. He couldn't do it. He didn't know the first thing about surviving on his own, not really. Even when Tracy was gone she still provided him with everything that he needed to be healthy and happy. In her own way, it was how she showed her love. Dillon wished that his mother showed her love in a much more traditional way.
Joy- My Sonny good, Sonny on show bad. Got it. I agree, though. Sonny's becoming a very dislikable character, which isn't something that people really want to have happen to the person who is essentially the star of the show. Say what you will about Tony Geary, but at least Maurice doesn't go on Summer and Winter breaks thus cutting off any story for his character for months at a time. I remember the first time I watched an episode, I saw Luke and then I didn't see Luke until at least October. Aside from Sonny, I actually like the storyline... don't ask why. I think it had something to do with Sam calling Michael 'the world's littlest mobster.' That line had me laughing very much.
Story-
Hours later, General Hospital-
It was dwindling into the wee hours of the morning. Aside from Ric and Elizabeth, no one had left. They were all tired. Not only because it was late at night, but because the raw emotions that came from the event were beginning to drain them all. The teens were huddled in a corner, not really wanting to associate with the adults that were waiting around as well. Maxie had stopped crying, but that didn't mean that she stopped worrying. Every hour that passed was another hour that she thought he could be slipping away from her. Every hour was another hour that she wished that Damian would just walk up and say that everything was going to be okay. She wanted to hear that so much.
Carly was worried about Sonny more than anything. He hadn't come out even once since Monica had given him the okay to stay with his son. What was he doing in there? At least with Ric gone, she could rest a little easier. He hadn't come back, so she didn't think he was going to come back that late at night. She had checked in at the house a couple of times, being made aware of the fact that Jason was watching over Michael. Carly was happy that Jase was there. As much as she trusted Leticia, as much as she knew that Michael trusted Leticia, she also knew that Michael didn't admire the nanny in the same way that he admired his Uncle Jason.
Bobbie didn't have as hard of a time as she thought she was going to have explaining what had happened and what she had observed to the people that were waiting around. The only one that wasn't aware of anything was Mike. Monica had told them all the possibilities and given them her opinions. Bobbie echoed those opinions almost to the letter. She was thankful that he was still hanging onto life as strongly as he was, but she knew that it didn't mean he was out of danger.
Courtney had seen her fill of watching Maxie suffer while waiting. She knew what it was like to spend hours waiting in agony for someone that was loved to just come back, to know that they were all right and alive. Jason and Sonny had done that to her sop many times in the past. Courtney got up and walked over, putting a hand on Maxie's shoulder, "Maxie, maybe you should go home."
Maxie looked up, "I don't want to leave."
Courtney nodded, "I know you don't want to leave, but it might be the best thing for you to do right now. It's late, we're all tired, but you've been here all day. You need to get some rest."
"How can I rest when Damian is in the emergency room, hooked up to a bunch of machines that I don't even know the names of?" Maxie was angry that Courtney was seemingly pushing her out of the hospital. "I may not be family like you, Courtney, but I still love him."
"I know you do," Courtney's voice was soft but firm. "But would he want you standing here and waiting for him? There's no telling how long this is going to take. He wouldn't want you to spend every moment agonizing over what could be happening to him. He would want you to try and get some rest."
"How can I sleep?"
"You'll find a way," Courtney smiled. "Just because you go home to get some rest doesn't mean that you don't care about him any more or any less. He wouldn't hold it against you, it's what he would want."
Maxie was pondering the situation. She was tired. She was more than just emotionally drained, she was physically tapped out. All those hours that she had spent doing extra work just to preoccupy her mind had begun to take a toll on her. She was finding herself going to sleep earlier and earlier. She was fighting to stay up as it was, using every single ounce of willpower to be there.
Georgie knew the ordeal had been harsh on Maxie. She knew that Maxie couldn't take very much more of the waiting, the wondering. "Courtney's right, Maxie. You're tired, we're all tired, we should all get some rest. You and I both know that you're going to be back here first thing in the morning. And, if anything changes, someone will tell you."
"I'll do it personally," Courtney offered. "I promise, if he gets any better... or any worse... you'll be the first to know."
Maxie knew that Courtney would go through with her word. She was one of the nicest people that Maxie had ever met, someone that didn't have a bone in her body that would hurt someone. It wasn't hard to see why Courtney and Damian had bonded as quickly as they did. With Courtney and Georgie fighting her, or rather trying to help her, there wasn't much that she could have done to beat them. "I wish I could see him..."
"Maybe you'll be able to tomorrow," Bobbie said. "You know how much we try to limit visitors when patients are just checked in for something this drastic, Maxie. Give him a few hours of recovery and then you'll surely be able to see him."
"He'll know that you're thinking about him, Maxie," Mike added. "He'll feel the concern and the love that you're giving him, and it will make him stronger." Mike got out of his seat, "Why don't I take you kids home? I'm going to go crazy just sitting around here doing nothing, at least taking you back would help me get my mind off of everything."
Dillon panicked inside his mind, but didn't show it at all. "You know, I think I'll just stick around for a little while longer. Monica offered me a ride home earlier anyway, Mike. No reason for you to drive me all the way to the mansion if the trip can be spared."
Bobbie thought that it was odd that Dillon was waiting for a ride from Monica, who had already finished her shift. There wasn't anything big that would have forced Monica to work after hours. She had done everything that she could for Damian and there were still a handful of capable doctors that were on call. She didn't say anything to everyone, she'd find out on her own time.
"If that's what you want to do, Dillon, I've got no problem with it." Mike grabbed his jacket. "Come on, girls."
Georgie turned to Dillon and gave him a brief kiss on the lips, "Love you."
"I love you, too," Dillon hugged her. "Maxie," He began, "it's going to be all right. Just remember that, okay?"
Maxie nodded, "I'll try."
Dillon shook his head, "Don't try, do." Dillon watched the three of them walk into the elevator and heard the door close. He knew that he was alone with people that he knew, but didn't really have any particular closeness towards. It was strange enough when he had Maxie and Georgie with him, now that they were gone, he felt even more excluded.
"How much longer till Monica's shift ends?" Courtney asked. "I'm not trying to get all of you out or anything, I just don't want you to be staying up all night if you don't have to."
"Maybe an hour or so," Dillon lied. "And its fine, Courtney. I've been to so many all night movie festivals in my life that I'm preprogrammed to stay up all night if I need to." That part wasn't a lie. Being the film buff that he was, Dillon had indeed found himself staying up all night watching old black and white movies. He enjoyed it when he got to stay up for such things, but he wasn't enjoying staying up for this.
"You want to go on another coffee run?" Carly asked her best friend, looking for something, anything, to bide her time.
"Is it my turn to buy?" Courtney asked.
"Yeah," Carly said. "I think we've increased profits a hundred fold in the coffee department tonight."
"It's still not helping very much," Courtney said softly. "I still feel extremely tired. No amount of caffeine is going to change that."
"I know, but it will help us stay up until Sonny comes back." Carly looked at Dillon and Bobbie, "You guys want anything?"
"No, I'm fine, Carly," Bobbie responded.
"Yeah, I don't need anything either, thanks," Dillon echoed Bobbie.
When the girls were gone, Bobbie eyed Dillon. She sat down in the chair next to him, which had previously been reserved for Georgie. "You know what I find odd, Dillon?"
"What?"
"That you said Monica offered you a ride home to the mansion after her shift ended, but her shift has been over for at least an hour and a half. I know she's not here anymore, I saw her leaving when I changed out of my uniform," Bobbie could see Dillon was shifting uneasily in his chair. "What's wrong? Are you afraid to go home?"
"Why would I be afraid to go home?" Dillon asked, completely on the defensive.
"Dillon, the Quatermaine's would never do anything to physically harm you, but I know how belittling they can get, especially your grandfather and your mother. Are they mentally abusing you?"
"Bobbie..."
"Dillon, please. It's my job to help people who need it. You lied about going home for a reason. I'd like to know what it is."
Dillon was caught. He should have known better than to make up a lie with the head nurse within earshot. But the Quatermaine's weren't abusing him in any way. Sure, his mother could be extremely cold hearted, but Dillon had gotten used to being subjected to the scorn, he had since learned to block it out. "I... don't have a home anymore, Bobbie."
Courtney had forgotten her purse. Her mind was just so unfocused that she didn't even remember to grab it when she and Carly headed towards the cafeteria. She came back and heard Dillon admit that he no longer had a place to live. She stayed hidden behind the wall.
"What do you mean, Dillon?" Bobbie questioned further.
"My mom... she threw me out when I came here," Dillon didn't hide his sadness. "She said that I couldn't come here to be with my friend, my hurt friend. Jason came to the mansion to tell me what had happened and offered to give me a ride. I couldn't let my mom prevent me from being here. She told me that if I left that I shouldn't come back."
"She didn't mean it," Bobbie said. "Your mother may be a cold hearted woman with no shame, but she does love you and Ned very much. She'd never exile you from her life."
"She wouldn't?" Dillon asked with a scoff. "Didn't she drop me off at their doorstep because she wanted some alone time in Europe? Hasn't she done similar things to Ned in her life? Bobbie, I can't help but love my mother, she's the reason that I'm here, but that doesn't mean that I always understand why she does the things that she does."
"You really think that you don't have a home that you can return to now?" Bobbie asked.
"My mom doesn't enjoy making idle threats," Dillon replied. "I think she meant what she said. It's fine, though. I can handle being on my own. She would leave me alone for days at a time when I was old enough. I can take care of myself."
"Did you tell Monica that she had given you that ultimatum?" Bobbie still didn't believe that Tracy could have actually meant that she no longer wanted her son to be living with her simply because Dillon cared about someone other than her. Tracy couldn't be that selfish, could she?
"I try and keep the other members of my family out of my mother's way as much as possible, for their own safety as well as mine."
"Well, what are you going to do now, Dillon?" Bobbie's final question wasn't one that Dillon could just brush off. "You've got no place to go."
"I have some cash on me, I could get a hotel for a few nights before I'd have to really start thinking about what I was going to do."
"If you need any help, you know you can just ask me, right?"
"You're too nice to everyone, Bobbie."
"I like helping people, Dillon. It's why I do what I do." She got up, "I've got something that I need to check up on. If Carly and Courtney come back, just tell them that I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Sure." Dillon watched as she left as well. Finally alone, Dillon's face quickly crushed under the weight of the situation. It was true, his mother had left him alone when he was younger, made him feel like he wasn't important enough to her. Dillon hated feeling that he wasn't worth his mother's time. It was the worst feeling he ever had. On those days he could often sit on the bed and just cry to himself. Even though he wasn't a little boy anymore, it didn't make dealing with his abandonment issues any easier. He wouldn't give Tracy the satisfaction of getting another tear from him, though. If she didn't understand what it was like to care about someone then that was her problem, not his. He was better off without her. He would finally be able to do what he wanted without fear of her belittling ways. The way she would insult him and his friends or his career choices, they would all be behind him as soon as he was out of the mansion for good. He didn't even need all the stuff that was still in the room that he had at the mansion. He could survive with just the clothes on his back.
Dillon's momentary boost in confidence quickly dwindled and his mood was somber again. He couldn't do it. He didn't know the first thing about surviving on his own, not really. Even when Tracy was gone she still provided him with everything that he needed to be healthy and happy. In her own way, it was how she showed her love. Dillon wished that his mother showed her love in a much more traditional way.