Chapter Four:
As Maxie and Jesse walked into the waiting room the scene they came upon was unbelievable. There were people everywhere, doctors and nurses running around franticly, and families with looks of pure terror on their faces.
"Jesse, what happened here?" said Maxie.
"I have no idea- let's find your dad- he probably knows" replied Jesse.
They looked around until they spotted Mac standing in a corner with Tracy Quatermaine. This worried Maxie for two reasons- she didn't see Georgie- and she knew that if Mac had a choice he would rather have a root canal the associate with Tracy, especially given her latest gimmick of trying fake her own death after Luke had threatened to kill her. Jesse and Maxie held each other's hands tightly and pushed their way through the chaotic crowd.
"Maxie!" Mac yelled as he grabbed her and pulled her into the tightest hug he had ever given her. When he finally let go, he shook Jesse's hand saying "Beaudry".
"Sir" Jesse replied, returning his firm hand shake.
When they were at work Mac and Jesse's relationship was strictly business. They worked together well- and through Mac would never admit it- that past summer he turned out to be wrong about Jesse. Not only was he innocent- Jesse was an extremely hardworking guy, and a valuable asset to the PCPD. At such a young age, Mac respected him for the work he did. But when it came to his daughter, he had a long way to go. He knew that Jesse loved his daughter more than anything and would protect her no matter what, but Mac wasn't ready to let go of his little girl. He was slowly learning to accept it however, especially since he had seen how Maxie reacted when Jesse had been shot.
"Dad, what's going on"? Maxie interrupted. "Where is Georgie, and why, why are you standing….over here" Maxie whispered trying to not let Tracy overhear.
"Oh you mean why is he standing next to me? Really Mac- teach your kids some manners- but I suppose I can't expect much from her, look who you are letting her date, this so called 'Detective'" snarled Tracy.
"Listen Tracy, I don't think this is the time or the place-or really any of your business for that matter- now if you'll excuse me I need to talk to my daughter and her boyfriend…. In private" snapped Mac. Mac grabbed Maxie and Jesse pulling them away from Tracy's eavesdropping ears, just as Luke Spencer came out of a room and walked over to her.
"Mac you just called Jesse…" started Maxie, shocked.
"Maxie this is not the time, I need to tell you what's going on. Earlier today Luke returned bringing with him a so-called souvenir, a monkey, from the Markam Islands. He claims that it was a gift for Lulu. Hours after Luke's return, the monkey disappeared and Lulu began to feel faint. They took her to the hospital, where she spiked an unusually high temperature. At first they didn't think much about it, until they put her on an IV drip and an hour later she had only gotten worse. Then all of a sudden Dillon got the same symptoms and fever, so he has also been admitted. So far his fever isn't too bad, but Monica is starting to worry. Georgie was with him at the Quatermaines earlier today, along with Lucky, Elizabeth, Skye, and Nikolas.Georgie came with Dillon and then she called me, I came to General Hospital to lend her some support. Monica felt that Georgie should be admitted and monitored given her contact with Lulu and Dillon.
Maxie just stood there holding onto Jesse's hand for a few moments before she spoke. She had to have a few minutes to process what was going on. "Is she okay? What can I do? Can I see her? Do they need help here, they probably need some of their volunteer staff, and I bet Elizabeth needs some help" Maxie said frantically.
"No Maxie, I want you here for observation, I can't risk you having been in contact with Lulu, Dillon and Georgie, especially with your heart condition, they have a room all ready for you and…"
"…NO, Mac, I'm fine, I feel fine, I don't need to be checked out, I need to see Georgie and I need to help!" Maxie yelled.
"Maxie, calm down, at least just let them look at you, and then if you're okay, you can help, and I'm sure they will appreciate it" said Jesse "I'll even come with you".
"Alright, alright, but I'm telling you I'm fine, there is nothing wrong with me' said Maxie.
All of a sudden Lorenzo Alcazar came busting through the doors holding Skye in his arms, demanding that she be looked at immediately. Robin and Patrick ran over to them, trying to asses the situation.
"What happened Skye, have you been in contact with Luke, Lulu, or the monkey at all today"? demanded Robin.
"I feel really weird, I have headache, and I'm really dizzy" said Skye softly.
"She almost fainted on our way to dinner, so I took her here, what is going on" said Lorenzo sternly.
"Several people have come down with the same symptoms, ever since Luke has been back, Lulu is in pretty bad shape, we need to admit Sky immediately" replied Patrick. A nurse then led Lorenzo and Skye towards a room as Robin and Patrick gave each other looks of disbelief at what was happening around them.
"Robin, Patrick, is Skye showing the same symptoms" interrupted Bobbie.
"Yes, we just admitted her and she is being put on an IV….. She was at the Quatermaine mansion earlier as well" said Robin.
"Get someone on the phone and have them call everyone who was at the Quatermaines earlier, I want them all here, NOW" yelled Bobbie.
Maxie and Jesse were sitting down, waiting to hear her test results when she overheard Robin, Patrick, and Bobbie talking.
"It sounds really serious; I bet they're going to need all the help they can get around here… I have to stay and help" said Maxie.
"Maxie, are you crazy, you are absolutely NOT staying here to help, if they give you the OK, I'm taking you home immediately" replied Jesse.
"What? You just said earlier with my dad that I could help" questioned Maxie, her voice slightly raised.
"I know what I said, but I had no idea that it was this serious, you can't risk your heart".
"Since WHEN do you tell me what to do? Why can't you just support one of my decisions for once! When have I ever not given you support? I didn't want you to go into the tunnel when the train wrecked, but you said you needed to help, it was who you are, and I understood, and I stood by you, worried as I was!" shouted Maxie.
"This is a completely different situation Maxie! I knew what I was dealing with…. The doctors don't know what is happening to everyone, AND I don't have a heart condition! You do!" yelled Jesse.
"Are you going to pull the "heart" card every time something happens to me? You have no right to do that! It's MY heart, I will do with it what I want… and no one else is going to tell me otherwise! I'm going to stay here and help and whether or not you support me!" cried Maxie and she jumped up and ran over to the desk where Elizabeth was making phone calls.
"Fine! Be a stubborn brat!" yelled Jesse. Just then his phone rang, it was Lucky. Jesse needed to get down to the PCPD immediately; there had been a break in their case. Jesse grabbed his jacket and without looking back, he left, passing Nikolas on his way.