Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. The powers that be at General Hospital do. They just don't use them very well. There are some original characters in here as well.

Feedback: Is greatly appreciated. If you like it tell me why, if you don't, please tell me what you don't like. It's how I learn.

Author's notes: A lot of the characters on GH will be in this fic, if you don't see them right away give me time. I like fic's with a lot of characters in them, so that is how I write them.

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What If…

Chapter 22

~Docks~

Emily looked at her watch 11:50 a.m. and still no Rory. She hadn't liked the look in Jason's eyes when he'd left the warehouse. He was worried, and what was so strange was how easy it was for her to read the worry on his face. She knew she was closer to him than most anyone else besides, Sonny, Carly and now Rory, but normally even she couldn't read him that well. For him to show that, he must really be concerned.

She got up from the bench to move closer to the water. 11:52. "Rory I hope you just got lost somewhere." Emily whispered, if it was something else, she didn't know how her brother would handle it.

~GH~

Jason got off the elevator on 4 the Intensive Care Unit floor, where Bobbie worked. He had wasted five agonizing minutes searching E.R. for Rory or Bobbie only to find out that Bobbie was here. He didn't see anyone at the nurses station and was about to go behind it to try to find the records himself when he heard her behind him.

"Jason."

Jason turned around. "Where is she Bobbie?"

"She's still in X-ray." Bobbie moved past him and pulled a handwritten chart off the desk. "They are doing a series of cat scans as well as regular X-rays to check for broken bones in her left shoulder."

"How serious is it?" He demanded his voice rough. The long bike ride over here and his frustration of trying to find her had fueled an impatience in him that he didn't know he had. Now that he was here he didn't know what to expect.

"I don't know everything, I didn't work on her when she came in." Bobbie admitted. "I recognized her and called you. What information I have so far is sketchy. Apparently she was in a car accident and she's been unconscious since she's been here."

"Is there anything that is..." He paused. "Life-threatening?"

"No." Bobbie patted his hand. "From what I've found out from one of the nurses, she had a separated shoulder and a head injury. It's the head injury that is causing us some concern." She broke off calling to someone behind Jason. "Karen can you come here?"

"Yes Bobbie?" Dr. Karen Wexler asked walking up to stand beside Jason.

"You worked on the Jane Doe who was in a car accident right?"

"Early twenties brown hair, drove her car off a cliff?" Karen asked tiredly. She was coming off a double shift and it was getting hard to keep her patients straight in her head.

"Yes. Can you give us some details on her condition?" Bobbie asked. "She's his girlfriend."

For the first time Karen focused on the man in the leather jacket beside her, belatedly recognizing the man who had been her first boyfriend and good friend. She blinked in surprise when she saw the cold assessing look in his icy blue eyes. She reminded herself that the Jason she knew and had dated no longer existed.

"Jason overall she is very lucky. The paramedic set her separated shoulder on-scene, she had been conscious but not lucid until that point." She glanced at her watch. "She's been unconscious now for well over an hour. She has a head wound and a concussion, we're trying to check the severity of the injury with the MRI to see if there is any pressure on the brain."

"Which section of the brain are you particularly concerned with? The frontal or temporal lobe?" Jason asked.

Karen hid her surprise, he still had some of the medical knowledge that he used to have so long ago. "There is a slight indention on her left side, so we are checking the temporal lobe."

"Dr. Wexler to E.R., Dr. Wexler to E.R."

"I have to go Jason." Karen said apologetically. "She should be out of X-ray soon, Dr. Jones is treating her himself, and he's the best."

Jason nodded focusing on Bobbie again. "Dr. Jones?"

"He's back on staff here Jason." Bobbie explained. "He's not the head of neurology anymore but he is still a brilliant doctor."

Jason pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to battle back the anger he felt over the fact that Tony Jones was the one working on Rory.

"Jason." Bobbie said seeing the anger in his eyes. "She is in good hands, he's better now, and she will get the best care, I promise you."

"Even when he finds out about her connection to me?" Jason questioned. "Dr. Jones hates me, he's made no secret of that fact, so can you honestly guarantee me that he won't take it out on Rory?"

"Jason I realize that there is a lot of anger between the two of you, but he won't do anything to jeopardize his patients or his job."

"Really? You once thought he was incapable of kidnapping a baby or withholding medicine from an H.I.V. patient." Jason pressed. "He did that largely because of me. You can't tell me that you know for sure what he will or won't do."

Bobbie reluctantly saw the truth in Jason's words, and although she believed that Tony had changed, it was true that Jason seemed to set him off even more than Carly did. "I'll go up and stay with her whenever she needs treatment."

Jason sighed in relief. "Can you check on her now?"

"Yes." She pulled out some forms. "Can you fill these out regarding Rory's medical history and insurance information?" She paused for a minute before going on. "If it turns out that she needs surgery or a decision made regarding her treatment, are you qualified to make it?"

The pencil Jason had picked up snapped in his hand. He dimly heard Bobbie explaining how it was only procedure and Rory more than likely wouldn't need it, but the thought of her undergoing surgery rocked him. "Yes." He said finally. "I have her medical power of attorney."

"Good." Bobbie said. "I'll go up now."

"When can I see her?"

"As soon as she is brought back down I'll try to get you in." Bobbie patted his hand again and hurried off.

Jason moved slowly over to the lounge and sat, staring blindly at the forms for a long time.

"What's this?" Rory asked taking the paper he held out to her.

"It's a medical power of attorney." Jason explained sitting carefully on the overflowing bed.

"A power of attorney? Why do I need that?" Rory asked looking at the paper again. "Wait this has your name on it."

"Yes. I'll have one naming you, and you'll have one naming me." He gestured to the clothes strewn over the bed and the half packed suitcases. "Just in case something happens to one of us while were traveling the other one can make decisions."

"Well that's a cheery thought." She muttered setting the paper on the dresser.

"We probably will never need them, but just in case we do, we'll have them."

Rory crossed over to him and straddled his lap, sending a suitcase that was perched precariously on the bed crashing to the floor. "I never knew you were so practical." She said kissing him lightly on the mouth. 'It's kind of sexy." She whispered before moving to trail kisses on his jaw line.

"I have my moments." He said slipping his hand under her shirt to move it in lazy circles over her bare back. She had just gotten out of the shower and her skin was still soft and warm, she smelled of vanilla. He arched his head giving her mouth better access.

"So." She said moving her mouth to his ear. "In that case, don't you think that I should know…" She took his earlobe between her teeth and nipped it lightly before letting it go. "Where the pink slip to the bike is just in case something happens to you?"

With his free hand, he reached up and tangled it in her hair, pulling on it softly until he could see her face. "No."

"Now Jason this is all about trust." She replied humor dancing in her eyes. She leaned forward and his hand moved as well until it cupped the back of her head, while she kissed him again, this time the pressure was longer and deeper, when she finally pulled back, both of them were breathing heavily. "Don't you trust me?"

"I trust you with my health decisions." He smiled at her catching her bottom lip in his teeth for a minute, causing her eyes to flash in response. "But I don't trust you with my bike."

"Morgan." She snapped smothering a laugh when he fell back on the bed, and rolled her over so he covered her body with his. He supported his upper body on his elbow, while his hand slipped around to cup her breast. "I'll get that bike yet." She warned him before dragging his mouth back down to hers.

Jason blinked back the memory and focused on the forms in his hand again. Date of Birth, he wrote in November 3, 1980.

~Warehouse~

"Johnny I said I didn't want to be disturbed." Sonny snapped when the door opened.

"It's Detective Taggert." Johnny said.

Taggert brushed past Johnny into the room. "Lieutenant."

Johnny looked at Sonny who nodded at him in dismissal, and Johnny backed out of the room closing the door behind him.

Sonny flipped the file he was looking at closed and leaned back in his chair to focus on Taggert. "Do you need some coffee Lieutenant? Because we have some Bavarian Roast on sale now that is to die for."

"Cut the act Corinthos." Taggert snapped. "Where's your flunky the mute?"

"I don't remembering hiring a mute." Sonny commented moving another file over the police folder on Elizabeth Webber's death that he had been looking at. He flipped the new file open and ran his finger down the page. "Nope not a single mute on the list."

"That's right make jokes." Taggert snapped. "You make jokes and sit in your comfortable office while the people around you pay the price. You disgust me Corinthos."

"Careful Taggert that sounds an awful lot like an insult." Sonny warned him. "How many more reprimands can your jacket take?"

"Oh I'll be around long enough to see you and anger boy behind bars where you belong." Taggert taunted resting his hands on the desk to lean on it facing Sonny. "The only question is how many more innocent people will you and Morgan kill before I do?"

"Taggert is there a point? I thought Alexis made it clear to your superiors and they made it clear to you, that these little harassment visits, wouldn't be tolerated anymore."

"You want me gone? Give me Morgan."

"I didn't know he was your type Taggert, no wonder you and Hannah broke up." Sonny said with a smirk.

"Give me Morgan now." Taggert snapped.

Sonny looked around the room. "He doesn't seem to be here Taggert, maybe it's time to get your eyes checked again."

"Where is he?" Taggert demanded.

"Not here."

"How convenient, his girlfriend's in the hospital and he's missing." Taggert smirked at Sonny. "You taught him well Corinthos."

Sonny lurched to his feet amusement gone. "What do you mean his girlfriend is in the hospital?"

Taggert was happy that he finally rattled Sonny. "Rory Nichols. I warned her less than 24 hours ago what would happen if she stayed with Morgan." He headed for the door. "Too bad for her she didn't listen."

Sonny followed him out of the office. "Taggert what the hell happened to Rory?"

"The same thing that happens to anyone who is around you Corinthos." Taggert turned to face his nemesis. His hatred of Corinthos ran deep and the longer it took to nail him the deeper it ran. "They die."

"Rory's dead?"

Taggert turned around to face a pale Emily Quartermaine he could see the fear in her face and the tears forming in her eyes. "Is she dead?"

Taggert cursed himself for letting his temper get the better of him. "No she's not dead."

"But you said…"

"She's at the hospital." Taggert explained focusing on Sonny who had come up to stand beside Emily. "Apparently her car went over a cliff."

"Is she okay?" Sonny asked slipping his arm around Emily to support her.

"She's in the hospital, no doubt, thanks to her association with Morgan and you." Taggert snapped.

"Jason wouldn't hurt her." Emily retorted.

"Others would, to get to him, so it's just like he hurt her himself." Taggert replied.

"Enough Taggert get out." Sonny snapped.

Taggert arched a brow at Sonny.

"Unless you have a warrant get the hell out."

"Fine." Taggert said with a smirk. "I'll just go find anger boy."

"Sonny." She turned to him when Taggert left. "You can't let Taggert tell Jason."

"I won't." He hugged her briefly. He turned around, to yell for Johnny, but he was already there with his coat. Sonny took it from him and pulled his cell phone out of the pocket. "I'll call him on the way to the hospital."

"Let's go then." Emily said heading for the door.

Sonny started to follow her when the phone in his hand rang. "Yeah?"

"Sonny it's me."

"Jason I was just about to call you." Sonny stopped just outside the door. "I have to tell you."

"Later." Jason interrupted. "I found Rory she's in the hospital."

"I know."

"What?" Jason asked. "How?"

"Taggert was just here looking for you, he's probably heading for the hospital now." Sonny warned him.

"I don't care about Taggert." Jason said rubbing the back of his neck. "I need you to get someone over to Jakes. There is a green file in the top drawer of the desk. I need you to get that to me at the hospital."

"I'll get it." Sonny paused by the door to the limo. "What's in it?"

"Power of attorneys."

Sonny heard the worry in Jason's voice. "How bad is she hurt?"

"She has a head injury." Jason looked back towards the nurse's station. "Here comes Bobbie, I've got to go." He said abruptly hanging up the payphone.

"Johnny" Sonny said closing his phone. "Get someone over to Jakes and pick up a green folder from his desk and get it over to GH."

"Right away."

"Johnny have them hurry." Sonny said getting in the limo.

~GH 5th Floor~

"Nikolas this is ridiculous, I swallowed some water. How much longer are they going to keep me here?" Lucky asked with a groan. "I've been here for hours already."

Nikolas shook his head. "It's only a little after noon, you've only been here for about an hour and a half."

"It feels like hours." Lucky snapped. "I have things to do. I'm ready to leave."

"Lucky you swallowed the water that is in the Port Charles River, the mere fact that you did that and are still alive means you are a medical miracle." Nikolas teased. "They need to test that."

"Don't remind me, I still have that god awful taste in my mouth." Lucky grimaced.

"So you ready to tell me what happened?" Nikolas asked sitting on a stool.

"Someone shoved me in the water and threw a net over me trying to drown me." Lucky shrugged. "If it hadn't been for Alexis I would have died."

"You mean it was deliberate?"

"Yes."

"Did you see who it was?" Nikolas asked.

"No but I've got a pretty good idea." Lucky said getting off the bed to look out the window. "Too bad for him it didn't work."

"Him?" Nikolas questioned.

Lucky turned around and nodded. "Him."

Nikolas shook his head. "You don't think it was…"

"Jason." Lucky nodded again. "He tried to kill me."

~GH 4th Floor~

"Bobbie how is she?" Jason demanded when he reached her.

"She's still unconscious. She should be back down in a few minutes. We won't get the results from her tests for at least an hour." Bobbie told him. "Tony's on his way down, he can tell you more."

Jason nodded and moved away from her to focus on the elevators. She had to be okay, somehow she had worked her way so deep in his heart he couldn't imagine her not being there.

The elevator doors opened and he watched a blonde nurse push a gurney out of it. He focused on Rory, she was so pale she seemed to melt in the sheets, the only color on her face was the stark bandage on her forehead and a ring of dark bruises that were forming on the left side of her face. He crossed to her to take her right hand in his, it was lax, unresponsive and cold. That surprised him, she was always so warm.

"Excuse me sir." The blonde nurse said. "We need to get the patient settled, you need to move."

"Rory." He said softly.

"Excuse me?"

"Her name is Rory." He told her icily. "Not the patient."

The nurse stepped back slightly. "Fine please move so I can get Rory settled."

"I'll do it Melissa." Bobbie said from behind her. "Rory and I go way back." She explained moving in front of her to move the gurney. "I've got her now."

Jason started to follow Rory in the room.

"Where do you think you're going?"

~GH 5th Floor~

"Lucky you can't think Jason tried to kill you?" Nikolas asked.

"Of course it was Jason he would do anything to hang onto Elizabeth."

"Lucky." Nikolas groaned. "She isn't Elizabeth her name is Rory." How many times would he have to explain that to Lucky before he finally heard him?

Lucky shook off his words. "She is Elizabeth and I'll make her remember that. Jason must be getting worried, so he tried to kill me."

"Lucky think about it." Nikolas argued, keeping his voice even, hoping to get through. He had to nip this thought in the bud, before trouble came from it. "If Jason was concerned about you, why would he have brought Rory to Port Charles in the first place?"

"Well…" Lucky stopped he didn't have an answer for that.

"Also look at what he does for a living. If he wanted you dead you would be dead." Nikolas pressed his point. "And he wouldn't do it on a public dock in the middle of the day."

Lucky was quiet as much as he hated to admit it, Nikolas's argument was making sense.

"Besides up until he came back this time with Rory you two were friends. Last summer when he tracked Emily down after Zander kidnapped her, you two even worked together to get her back. Before that he gave you a job and a place to live when you left home. Do you really think he would try to kill you?"

Lucky sat back down on the bed with a loud sigh. "No he wouldn't. I think I knew that, but thanks for the illustrations."

"That's what big brothers are for." Nikolas said with a straight face. "To keep the younger brothers from making too much of an ass out of themselves, although in your case I have my work cut out for me."

"Watch it Princey." Lucky shot back with a grin.

It was the grin that surprised Nikolas. Emily was right Lucky was back. The shell of the man that had been Lucky for the past two years was gone and his brother was back. He was thrilled and concerned because he knew the reasons for Lucky's return to the living.

"So that leaves one question."

Nikolas focused back on what his brother was saying. "What?"

"Since Jason didn't try to kill me, who did?" Lucky asked.

~Jakes~

Marin paused inside the back door of Jakes, listening for anyone down the hall, but the music from the jukebox was so loud, he couldn't hear anything. He edged down the hall to look in the opening to the main room. He saw Jake behind the counter re-stocking the bar and quickly pulled back out of sight.

"Delivery Jake."

Marin heard the male voice and risked another glance inside the room. Jake had moved out from behind the bar to check in the order. He moved quickly up the stairs and headed down the hall to Jason and Rory's room.

Since it looked like this assignment was going to last longer than he thought, he needed to replace the bug in the phone. He liked to be prepared and the client had also requested to be kept up to date with what Morgan and Rory were up to and this client was one client he didn't want to piss off. He still remembered the ice in the voice when Marin had admitted that he thought he had killed Rory.

Marin shut off the memory and opened the door slipping inside the room, he moved directly to the phone and replaced the bug. A minute later he was back outside the room. He had just turned to walk down the hall, when a man turned the corner heading towards him. Both men looked at each other warily neither one saying a word.

Marin could tell from the other man's eyes and stance that he was hard and used to violence. His right hand tensed, his wrist angling towards the release that would trigger the hidden stiletto in his sleeve.

"Francis what's taking so long?" A male voice drifted up the stairs.

Francis never took his eyes off the other guy his hand edging closer to his gun. There was something about the other man's eyes that set him off.

"Francis?" The voice called again.

Marin eased the tension in his arm and moved past Francis without a word. He passed the other man coming up the stairs while he went down them. The new man barely even glanced at him, but Marin knew that this Francis had been assessing him, and would remember him. It was too risky to take him out now, but this Francis was now a loose end that would have to be dealt with eventually.

"Why didn't you answer me Francis?"

Francis stared in the direction the man had disappeared in. "Did you recognize that guy Cal?"

"No, but I barely looked at him." Cal answered. "Why?"

"It looked like he was coming out of a room down here."

"So?" Cal asked not really seeing where Francis was taking this, but he was new on the job and was trying not to make a complete ass out of himself. Judging from the looks Francis kept giving him, it wasn't working.

"So, Jake said Jason's is the only room that is rented up here, so he had no business being up here." Francis explained moving towards the door cautiously. "Let's get the file to the hospital and then deal with what that means."

~GH 4th Floor~

Jason turned around slowly saying nothing.

"I said where do you think you're going Jason?" Tony asked again.

"With Rory."

"Rory?" Tony asked. "You mean my patient? What connection do you have with her?"

"She's my girlfriend." Jason said coldly. His face giving away none of the anger he felt over having to explain himself to this man.

"I should have known." Tony cried in disgust. "Someone else that has to pay the price for knowing you."

"Do you have the test results Dr. Jones?" Jason asked refusing to respond to Tony's taunt.

"Are you her husband or next of kin?" Tony asked.

"No."

"Then I'm afraid I can't tell you anything." Tony said with a sneer. "Now move I need to check on my patient."

Jason shifted so he was in Tony's path. "I think you better re-think that."

Tony looked at him and backed off a step. "Are you threatening me? Acting like the good little thug I always knew you were?"

Jason took a step closer causing Tony to take one in retreat.

"Jason." Sonny appeared at his side. "What's going on?"

"He won't tell me about Rory." Jason said never taking his eyes off Tony.

"Hospital regulations." Tony explained with a jeering smile. "I can't discuss the status of a patient with non family."

"But he has her Power of Attorney." Sonny told him.

"Really let's see it." Tony held out his hand. "I didn't think so. So move out of my way before I call security, I have a patient to check."

Tony began to move forward again and Jason moved slightly to let him pass. He had raised his hand to push open the door when Jason's words stopped him cold.

"Robin isn't here this time, so if anything happens to her..."

The words were softly spoken, the threat not even finished, but that didn't diminish the menace they contained or the fear they awoke in him. Tony swallowed hard and walked in the room.

Emily crossed over to Jason once Tony left. "How is she?"

"I don't know." Jason moved to the door to look at her through the window. "She's been unconscious for over an hour and that's not good."

Emily moved to stand beside him, slipping an arm around his waist to offer support. "She's strong, she'll be okay."

"I know." Jason said roughly. "But when I saw her on that stretcher." He paused and when he went on his voice was full of emotion. "I never saw her look so small."

Sonny had moved over to the payphone and dialed a number.

"Alexis Davis."

"Alexis it's Sonny I need you to get to GH, the fourth floor as soon as you can."

Alexis pulled off her glasses. "Are you hurt? Is Michael?"

"No we're fine." Sonny glanced over at Jason who was still by the door. "It's Jason's girlfriend, Rory, she was in a car accident."

"Oh no." Alexis said stuffing some files in her briefcase. "Is she badly injured?"

"I don't know. Jason has her medical power of attorney but Tony still won't tell him anything. Taggert has already been over to the warehouse looking for Jason it's only a matter of time before he shows up here." Sonny sighed. "I need you here when that happens to keep him away from Jason."

"I thought Jason was the cool headed one in your partnership and you were the hothead?"

"Not at the moment."

"I'm on my way." Alexis said.

Sonny hung up the phone and headed for Jason and Emily.

"I'll go find Mom, she'll tell us what is going on with Rory." Emily said giving Jason a hug before moving off.

Sonny moved into her place beside Jason to look in on Rory. Jason was right, at the moment she did look small. "Francis should be here soon. Once you have the paperwork Tony will have to talk to you."

Jason nodded. "She's so still. She's never still, even when she sleeps. Sometimes trying to hold onto her is impossible because she likes to move." He turned to look at Sonny. "But now…"

"Emily's right she's strong she'll be okay." Sonny said trying to reassure him. After a minute more of watching through the window he spoke again. "I'll be right back." Jason gave no sign that he even heard him.

Sonny moved to the payphone again.

"Deception. How may I help you?" Elton's perky voice came over the line.

"I need to speak with Carly."

"I'm so sorry Mr. Corinthos." Elton chirped. "She's in a meeting with Mrs. Spencer and they left instructions not to be disturbed."

"Elton put her on the damn phone now." Sonny snapped.

"Um." Elton paled. "Certainly sir." He placed Sonny on hold. "Well someone got up on the wrong side of the gun today."

Elton crossed over to the closed door to Mrs. Spencer's office. "I'm sorry to interrupt."

"Then don't Elton." Carly snapped. Dealing with Laura had given her a tension headache, a conversation with Elton sure wouldn't improve it.

Maybe she was the one holding the gun, Elton thought nastily, before speaking. "Your husband is on line three he says he has to talk to you."

"Well why didn't you say so." Carly said heading for the phone. "Hey baby."

Some of the tension went out of him when he heard her voice. "Carly I have to tell you something."

"Are you okay? Is Michael?" She could hear the worry in his voice.

"No Michael's fine." Sonny paused. "It's Rory."

"Rory?" Carly asked puzzled. "What's wrong with her? Did her big mouth land her in some trouble?"

"She was in a car accident."

"God is she okay? Was Jason with her?" Carly demanded.

"No she was alone, we're at the hospital waiting for word."

"I'm on my way." Carly said quickly. "How is Jason?"

"He's holding everything in, but he's strung real tight." Sonny rubbed his jaw. "She has a head injury and Tony's the one working on her."

"Him?" Carly cried. "Keep him the hell away from her. I'm on my way."

"Good." Sonny quietly.

"I love you Sonny." She said before hanging up the phone and racing out of the office yelling for Pete.

"Jason?" Dr. Monica Quartermaine stopped a few feet away from her son. Emily had told her he was back in town but she'd never thought she would see him at the hospital.

He turned to face her and her breath caught in her throat, when she saw the bandage on his face and the worry in his eyes. "Monica."

"Are you okay?" Monica closed the distance between them to touch his arm. Concern for her son overriding her common sense at the moment. She knew he didn't like to be touched, but to her surprise he didn't draw away from her.

"I'm okay." He turned back to the window. "It's Rory."

"Rory?" Monica repeated before looking through the window. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"Yes she was in a car accident and no one will tell me how she is." Jason turned to look at her again and for once his expression was easy to read. "Mom they won't tell me."

Monica felt the sting of tears at the back of her eyes and quickly blinked them back. Jason had already turned back to the window, so she knew he wasn't aware that he called her Mom, and that made it so much more special to her. He'd only called her Mom and meant it once, since he had woken up from his coma. "I'll go inside and check on her." She said when she knew she could speak without crying. "I'm a heart surgeon, but I know enough to get by."

"Thanks." Jason backed off and let her in the room.

Sonny intercepted Francis as soon as he stepped off the elevator. "Did you get it?"

Francis held out the file. "There's something else."

"What?" Sonny asked.

"There was a man on the floor near Jason's room. There was no reason for him to be there, Jake said Jason was the only tenant." Francis paused. "Something about the guy didn't feel right."

Sonny nodded and took the file from him. "Alright call Benny have him get a crew over there and check Jason's room for bugs, explosives anything. When they're done have them pack up all of their things and have them brought over to Jason's penthouse." Sonny hesitated. "For now don't say anything to Jason."

"Yes sir." Francis stepped away.

"Francis when you're done come back here, you're on Rory from now on."

Francis nodded and glanced at the payphone then headed for the stairs, pulling out his cell phone to make the call outside in privacy.

Tony and Monica walked out of Rory's room. "Tony he has a right to know the details."

"I'm sorry Monica but the privacy of my patient overrides your son's right to know." Tony said abruptly.

"Then this ought to clear up matters." Sonny interrupted them shoving a paper in Tony's hand.

"What's this?"

"It's Rory's power of attorney giving Jason the right to know."

Tony looked down at the paper. "And I'm supposed to believe that this is worth the paper it is printed on because?"

Jason stepped closer to Tony. Tony recognized the look on the other man's face. It was the same look he had given Tony right before he smashed the butt of a rifle on his hand.

"Let me see that Tony." Alexis called heading over to the tense scene while Sonny backed Jason off. She scanned the document. "It's legitimate, signed before a notary public, and gives Jason the right to make decisions for her in lieu of her incapacity." She looked up at Tony. "So I'd start talking if I were you."

"Do it or I will remove you from her case." Monica warned him.

"You can't."

"I'm still Chief of Staff so start talking."

"Fine. Her separated shoulder was clean, the X-ray showed no broken bones, and the MRI results of that area showed no nerve pressure. She will be in a sling for a week possibly two to immobilize it, but it should heal with no problems. As for the head injury." He glanced at his watch. "She has been unconscious for almost two hours and that is not good, her pupils are sluggish although she does react to outside stimuli."

"So she has a concussion?" Sonny asked.

"Yes but until she wakes up we won't know the severity, whether there is any short term or long term memory loss or any loss of motor functions."

"Did the MRI show any swelling or fluid buildup around the brain?" Jason asked.

"I don't have those results back yet." He was surprised at Jason's pointed question. "There is some bruising around the temporal lobe, more than likely it's from hitting a rock when she jumped out of the car."

"The temporal lobe?" Jason repeated. Pausing for a moment while facts regarding the temporal lobe entered his head. He was always surprised at what he remembered during medical situations. "How are her reflexes then? Is she spasming on her right side?"

Tony blinked in shock. "So far she is in the normal range. I don't have the results back, once I do I will let you know." With that he turned and stepped back inside her room.

"What does that mean about her reflexes?" Sonny asked not really surprised when Jason answered instead of Monica.

"If she has a broken bone or tear in the area of her temporal lobe, fluid can build up on the brain. The temporal lobe controls muscle reflexes in the body. With the pressure the fluid can cause on the brain the muscles tend to spasm more and the reflexes are to broad with no real control." He recited dully.

"What would that mean to her recovery?" Alexis asked.

Jason knew but didn't say it, instead he moved back to the door.

Monica glanced at Jason then explained to Sonny and Alexis, raising her voice when she saw Carly get off the elevator. "It depends on the severity of the tear or break and the amount of fluid on the brain. Best case scenario if she has a tear is a solid two weeks of bed rest, followed by a month or so in a wheelchair while she learns to control her muscles again, then a full recovery."

"And the worst case?" Carly asked slipping her hand in Sonny's.

"If the tear is severe enough she could never regain control of the muscles in her leg, so she would need to be in a wheelchair. Even though her legs would support her, she would have no control over it." Monica explained. "But until we get the MRI results this is all speculation. Like Tony said her reflexes are within the normal range right now." She turned to look at her son. "The most pressing problem is the fact she is still unconscious. The longer she remains so, the worse it can be."

~GH 5th Floor~

Emily walked around a corner and bumped into someone. "Sorry." She said immediately while the person reached out to steady her.

"Emily?" Nikolas said. "What are you doing here?"

Emily jerked her head up when she recognized his voice. "I-I was looking for my mom, her secretary said she had a meeting on this floor."

"Oh." Nikolas said. "Were you going to talk to her about the biopsy?"

"No." She had forgotten about the biopsy appointment with everything else that had happened today. Belatedly she realized that his hands were still on her arms and she stepped back breaking the contact. "It's about something else. Have you seen her?"

"No." Nikolas dropped his hands and studied her closely. "Are you okay?"

"Yes. It's not me." Emily averted her eyes. "I need to go and find her."

"Em." Nikolas said catching hold of her hand before she could move away. "What's wrong?"

She could see the concern in his dark eyes and the familiar feelings she had for him were welling up in her again, and even though she knew she shouldn't she couldn't seem to resist the plea in his eyes. "It's Rory she was in a car accident." She whispered.

"Is she okay?" Nikolas asked pulling her into a hug trying to comfort her.

"I don't know." Emily said softly melting into his arms. "Jason's worried." She pulled back slightly to look in his eyes. "I know I haven't known her for very long, but I really like her and I'm afraid that she's going to die."

"Who's going to die?" Lucky asked from behind Nikolas.

~GH 4th Floor~

Carly walked over to Jason and took her hand in his. He didn't even acknowledge that she was there. "She's a strong person Jason." Carly said finally. "Look she went head to head with me without flinching, so do you really think something like this will stop her?"

"I can't lose her Carly, not now."

"You won't. You had to go through hell to find her, so you won't lose her now." Carly told him. It was true Jason was the best man she knew and he was finally happy. She would be damned if she would let anything or anyone take that away from him. "If you want I'll go pick a fight with her, she'll wake up for that."

Jason turned slightly to smile at her. "Probably."

~Inside~

Bobbie set down the chart and moved towards the bed when she thought she heard a groan coming from Rory. "Rory can you hear me?" She reached down to check her pulse and Rory shifted on the bed, her eyes fluttering. "Tony she's waking up."

Tony moved to the bed, he pulled open her eyelids to check her pupils. They reacted to the light. "Rory can you hear me?"

"Mmmm." Rory moaned softly.

"I need you to open your eyes can you do that?" Tony asked.

Her eyes fluttered again before slowly opening. The light hurt her eyes so she shut them again with a groan. She moved her right hand up to try to cover her eyes, and Tony caught it bringing it back down to the bed.

~Outside~

Jason jerked when he saw them gather around the bed. "She's awake." He said in relief when he saw her hand move.

"Thank God." Carly said.

~Inside~

"Come on open your eyes." Tony ordered.

She opened her eyes slightly waiting until the light wasn't quite as bright before opening them all the way. She blinked bringing the overhead light into focus. She tried to turn her head to look around and let out a groan of pain as the room spun at the movement.

"Take it easy. Just focus on my voice for now."

"Focus on my voice."

"No." She mumbled in a low voice. "No more please."

"Calm down and don't try to move." Tony said.

"Don't move." The words echoed in her head.

She shifted on the bed, turning her head in spite of the pain to focus on the white-coated man beside her. "No." She repeated louder now. She shifted on the bed trying to get off of it on the other side. She let out a scream of pain when her movements jostled her sore shoulder.

Jason stepped inside the room when he heard her scream. He stayed back by the door, but his eyes were trained on the bed and an increasingly agitated Rory. Bobbie saw him come in but didn't have the heart to tell him to leave.

Rory was breathing hard almost hyper-ventilating and she continued her struggle to get off the bed.

Tony tried to keep her on the bed, by pressing on her non-injured shoulder, and she twisted her head trying to bite his hand. Tony let go of her quickly. "Prepare a syringe she's getting violent."

"No shot. No more shots." She cried moving to the edge of the bed.

Jason crossed to the bed. "Rory you're okay. You're safe.'

"Get him the hell out of here." Tony snapped.

Jason ignored him and picked up her hand, keeping a hold of it when she tried to pull away. "You're safe, I'm here."

"No more." She muttered but she didn't try to pull her hand away.

"Talk to her Jason, calm her down." Bobbie ordered she had noticed that Rory had locked on his voice when he spoke.

Jason crouched by the bed so he was eye level with her. Her eyes were unfocused and full of pain and confusion. "You're going to be fine, I'm here for you, you're not alone anymore."

Her eyes snapped to his but he didn't see any recognition in them, she moved again and moaned in pain. "Bobbie?"

"Just talk to her Jason."

Jason took a deep breath. "Did you know that New Zealand is only 269,000 sq. kilometers with a population of about 3.5 million people? Of them 12% of them are Maori's they're the natives of the country."

Her eyes remained locked on his and her struggles to get off the bed stopped. "It was discovered in 950 AD by a Polynesian navigator who named it Aotearoa which means Land of the Long White Cloud."

Her breathing had regulated itself and her eyes were slowly drifting shut. But her hand remained locked on his, so he kept talking to her about New Zealand.

Tony shook his head in disgust but didn't try to interrupt, what Jason was doing was working, she was calming down, with a sigh he checked her vitals, her heart rate was slowing.

~Outside~

"What happened?" Sonny asked.

"She woke up and lost it." Carly told him. "Jason's calming her down even though that bastard Tony tried to kick him out."

"She's awake." Sonny said in relief focusing on Jason.

~Inside~

"In 1769 the British explorer James Cook re-discovered the Island and seized it for the British Empire. It only gained its independence in 1947." He wished she would look at him again, even though he hated seeing the blank look in her eyes, he preferred it to her being unconscious.

She finally opened her eyes again, and blinked bringing him into focus. "Hi Morgan."

Jason grinned in relief. "Hi Rory, are you done sleeping?"

"Did you hit your head or something? You know I can't sleep without you." She said tiredly.