Part Five

It had been over a week since she'd heard from Johnny and she was worried sick. Why did she do this to herself yet again? Why didn't she leave town after Spinelli was released from custody? Agent Raynor had told her that they didn't need her there and yet she decided to stay. Why? It wasn't that she thought there'd be anything with Spinelli, no she knew he only had eyes for Maxie, but she felt she owed it to him to get Jason out of the situation that she had helped put him in.

Her cell phone rang, startling her out of her thoughts. "Johnny?" she asked breathlessly into the phone.

"No this is Maxie."

Winifred felt her cheeks begin to flush with anger. "What are you doing with his phone?"

"Jealous much, Winnie?"

"I've stopped calling you Maximista, so I would appreciate it if you did not call me that."

"Whatever. Anyway, I was just calling you to let you know that Johnny is in the hospital."

"Oh my God," she whispered as she collapsed into the nearest chair. "Is he okay?"

"Yes, yes, he's fine. You don't have to worry about your little Mob Prince."

"Thank God," she replied with a sigh of relief.

"He wants to see you, so I'm on my over to pick you up."

"He wants to see me? Maxie?" When she didn't receive an answer, Winifred grabbed her messenger bag and raced to the door to wait for Maxie.

She locked the door behind her when Maxie pulled up. "I'm very beholden to you," she stated as she got in the passengers seat.

"God, could you and Spinelli be any more alike? You're welcome," Maxie added with a tight grin as she pulled off.

The ride to Mercy was tense.

"You've fallen for him, haven't you?"

Winifred looked at Maxie in shock. "I'm not in love with Spinelli."

"You'd better not be and I'm not talking about my boyfriend. I'm talking about you and Johnny."

"It doesn't matter, it'll never work," she sighed, looking down at her chipped nails.

"Who says it wouldn't work? Listen if anyone thought that a relationship wouldn't work with someone who was different than you it was me, but you see how well things are going for me and Spinelli," Maxie added with a smile.

"Oh yes, you're just a walking advertisement for a wonderful relationship. You've used him on countless occasions."

"And you're using Johnny too. Face it Fred, we're both users and we both have a thing for bad boys."

Winifred frowned at her new nickname. Why couldn't people call her by her given name or the Priestess? "I guess you're right Max."

Maxie laughed out loud and Winifred laughed along with her, as Maxie pulled the car up to the entrance to the hospital. "Just because we shared a laugh, doesn't mean we're friends. I still think you're a walking fashion disaster."

Winifred glanced back at Maxie as she got out of the car. "And I still think you're an uptight whinny bitch," she added with a smile before shutting the car door.

She rushed to the front desk. "I need to see Johnny Zacchara."

"I'm sorry miss, but he's not aloud to have visitors," the little old woman informed her.

Winifred dug through her messenger bag for her badge. "I'm an agent for the F.B.I."

"Oh, well by all means. He's in room 210."

"Thank you."

Winifred walked up to his room only to be stopped by a couple of the PCPD's finest.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but Zacchara isn't allowed visitors," stated one of the young men.

"I'm here on business," she replied holding up her badge.

The two men stepped aside for her to enter.

Winifred shut the door behind her as she looked over at the battered man on the bed. She slowly moved closer to him, coming to stand at his bedside. "Oh John, I'm so sorry. If I hadn't agreed to this, you wouldn't be in this horrible state." She sniffled, running her fingers through his hair.

"My little kitten does not need to worry, because I would be here with or without you. I don't blame you at all."

She looked down into his eyes, expecting to see them filled with pain, but instead they were filled with hope. She removed her bag and sat down on the bed beside him. "What happened?"

He groaned as he made room for her. "I got my father to admit to everything, shooting Kate, and withholding information of the hijacked truck. Do you know he hired that guy to hijack that truck? He even went as far to pay Earl Braggs to swallow the toxic balls. The only thing he didn't count on was being in the same building as the toxin. But I guess all things can't go as planed, can they?" he asked with a chuckle.

Winifred ran her hand over his forehead to calm him when she caught the pain written all over his face. It surprised her that her touch could be calming to this brooding man.

Johnny smiled up at her as he pulled her hand from his forehead to his lips to place a soft kiss on her knuckles. "He's gone Winnie. I'm finally free of him."

"Oh Johnny, did you-"

"No, I didn't kill him. Sonny did that for me. I confronted my father on everything and he jumped up from his wheelchair and tried to kill me. We fought for what seemed like hours. The old bastard would've killed me if Sonny hadn't come in. I told Sonny the truth about Kate's shooting and he shot my father without a second thought."

"Have they arrested Mr. Corinthos?"

"No. I told them that it was self defense. So everything I just told you-"

"Is between us, I know. But why are there police officers guarding your door?" she asked with worry.

He lightly squeezed her small hand. "There are a few of my father's associates that blame me for his death. They're out there to protect me."

"Well I'm so sorry you were put in this position. But at least you're free of everything," she said with a reassuring smile.

"Not everything. My family was involved in the accidental shooting of Michael Corinthos III."

"Were you directly involved?"

"I knew about the plan to kill Sonny. I told Claudia that she was crazy and that it wouldn't work, but she ignored me. I don't think I can let my sister go down for that, once the truth comes out."

Winifred held his hand tighter in hers. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Together?" she added with apprehension. Did he want them to be together?

Johnny's hand moved from hers to her cheek, lightly caressing it. He then gave her pigtail a small tug, brining her down to him. "I would be honored to cross that bridge with you," he whispered against her lips. "I'm a messed up man Winnie, but then again you already knew that. And I'm still not completely over Lulu, but I can tell you this, I want to explore the possibilities of a relationship with you. I'm drawn to you."

"And I you," she replied with a goofy smile. Winifred allowed him to pull her lips down to his. She returned his kiss for a few moments before pulling back. "You need to rest and I need to meet with Agent Raynor," she explained as she pulled her messenger bag back over her head. "Don't worry, I won't say anything."

"I'm not worried."

She smiled. "I'll be back to see you later this evening. I'm glad you're okay Johnny."

He winked at her and she walked out the door with a blush on her cheeks.

"Ma'am, are you okay?"

Winifred looked up at the concerned officer. "I'm prefect. Keep up the good work," she added over her shoulder as she walked down the hall. The Saga of Stone Cold was nothing compared to the Saga of the Mob Prince. She was looking forward to conquering every level of that game.

TBC

One part left. Thanks so much for the encouragement :).