A/N: I have no rights or affiliation with the characters presented within this piece
The Ripple Effect
Chapter 4: Christmas Eve II
It was about an hour later when they returned from the carol service to the penthouse. Jason's mind was still reeling with the revelation of Spinelli's amazing singing ability. He wondered how many more hidden talents he had and thought that it would be an interesting journey of discovery to find out. He hadn't commented on it because he knew that Spinelli would just get embarrassed or say something disparaging. It was clear he had obviously greatly enjoyed himself and Jason didn't want to do anything to ruin the effect.
His mind was so preoccupied with dwelling on what had occurred over the last several hours that when he flipped the light switch by the door he was just as startled as Spinelli by the roar of "Surprise!" which emanated from the large group of people gathered in the living room of the penthouse. "What the…" he was almost disgruntled about the intrusion. Then he remembered what he had requested Carly to do. "Well," he thought to himself dryly, "she certainly delivered!"
Spinelli was just standing there stupefied as he gazed around the room. It would appear that practically every person he had gotten to know during his residence in Port Charles was standing in Stone Cold's living room. He had no idea why, until it hit him after glancing at the bemused expression on Jason's face.
"It's a surprise party for Stone Cold!" he thought to himself happy that for once Jason would be acknowledged in a way he deserved.
"Well, aren't you going to greet your guests, Stone Cold," he urged him. Spinelli knew that between the two of them, he was the one that possessed a better sense of etiquette.
"My guests?" Jason looked at him in puzzlement. "They're not here for me Spinelli."
"Then why? It's Christmas Eve a time to be spent with family and friends."
"Exactly," Jason began, trying to get through to his boneheaded brother.
Fortunately he didn't need to continue and run the risk of undoing all the progress he had achieved earlier. Maxie was heading across the room towards them and she flung her arms around Spinelli in a bone crushing hug that was nothing short of amazing coming from someone so tiny and fragile looking.
"Spinelli!" she cried excitedly, "He found you! Jason found you!"
"The uh Jackal was uh unaware he uh was missing…" he was happy to see his Maximista but could barely breathe entwined as he was in the coils of a small boa constrictor.
"Let him go, Maxie, he's turning blue!" Lulu Spencer had come up to join them and Spinelli gave her a grateful glance for rescuing him.
Glaring resentfully at Lulu, Maxie gave Spinelli one final industrial strength hug before releasing him and stepping back. Spinelli stood there gasping for air, spots had actually started to appear across his vision.
Jason gave one last glance at Spinelli and his friends before heading across the room to Carly who was standing by the fireplace. He tapped her on the shoulder and when she turned he enclosed her in a hug of his own. "Thank you," he whispered into her ear, more grateful than he had words to communicate.
"Is it what you wanted?" She stepped back and looked up at him anxiously.
"It's perfect," he assured her as he looked around the living room.
Indeed all of Carly's expert interior decorating skills were on full display. Dominating the room was a large fresh Christmas tree strung with lights but no ornaments. There were garlands of evergreens draped across the mantel and rimming the French doors, white lights twinkled decorously from all the greenery. Centerpieces with candles were situated on the desk, the coffee table, even the pool table. Spinelli's I-pod had once more been commandeered and was quietly playing carols as background music. A long table covered with a white cloth was set up against one wall. Sitting on it was a complete buffet of holiday foodstuffs-ham, turkey, stuffing, pies and cookies, while a large punch bowl held pride of place in the table's center.
Jason knew that he couldn't have done a tenth of what Carly had accomplished in one short afternoon. He looked back at her, his admiration clearly showing in his eyes. He watched in wonder as a slow moving flush started moving up her cheeks eventually coloring her entire face. "Carly, you're blushing!" he was laughing at her.
"Jason, you're laughing!" she retorted trying to act offended but she couldn't pull it off because she was too happy that she had pleased him. "Listen mister, before you find this all too amusing. This," she gestured around the room, "All of this, it's your Christmas present and not just for this year." She reflected for a moment before continuing, "I think it should cover this Christmas and the next four. The things I had to do, the people I had to make nice to. You have no idea, Jason!" She rolled her eyes at him, "What I agree to do for you…"
"Deal," Jason said once again startling her by pulling her into another hug, "You did good Carly," he said softly.
This time when he let her go, he started to look around the room for signs of the catastrophe that had occurred the night before. The only reminder seemed to be the gouge in the wall where the knife had been embedded. The sight of it sobered Jason as he winced and once again thought how he could have injured or killed Spinelli. Even now he had no idea how he could have been so casually callous. He shivered at the memory, determined never to allow himself to do anything remotely like that again.
"Jason," it was Carly standing at his shoulder as she followed his stare to the scarred wall. "What happened here?" She had been intensely curious and concerned all afternoon long as she had worked to pull the party together.
"How did you get everything cleaned up? Jason asked her, deliberately ignoring her question.
Carly sighed, she knew him well enough to understand his non-answer as all the response she would ever get. "I didn't," she said frankly, "You can't get burn marks out of a carpet and was that resin? Anyway, you'll have to replace the carpet, for now I just put down some throw rugs."
Jason looked down and realized that was indeed what Carly had done. He made a mental resolution to replace the carpet someday when Spinelli was out. He knew how guilty he would feel if he saw that the damage was still there, he would want to pay for it or even offer to do the work himself. Either option was unacceptable to Jason who felt that the onus for the whole situation was squarely on him. Besides the thought of Spinelli trying to lay carpet caused him to shudder as he thought of cut fingers and uneven edging.
"Jason," Carly was nudging him gently, trying to bring him back from whatever place he had mentally wandered to. "I couldn't do anything about the wall. You'll have to patch the drywall and then match the paint."
"I think," he replied slowly, considering. "I might just leave it as a reminder…"
"A reminder of what?" she was dying to ask but knew better.
Suddenly, their attention was called to the center of the room where Diane Miller was standing with a champagne glass that she was tapping with a knife. "Everyone," she spoke in her crystal clear voice that was a match to the goblet in her hand, "Now that the guest of honor has arrived, I thought we might begin."
Everyone present turned to look at Spinelli who was looking expectantly at Jason. It took a moment for it to register that everyone was staring at him instead and an expression of intense confusion came over his face. "This gathering, this convocation is for the Jackal?" He couldn't seem to accept what was literally staring him in the face as multiple pairs of eyes focused only on him.
"Exactly Mr. Grasshopper," Diane said to him in her crisp manner. "Carly called all us and asked us to come this evening. It seems that Jason told her that you were in trouble and needed all the support and caring of your friends and so here we are." She motioned at the occupants in the room, each one of whom was smiling at Spinelli.
Spinelli knew it was incumbent on him to make a speech in order to acknowledge the generosity of all who had come to Jason's for him. "The Jackal is quite overcome. He has never before been the recipient of a surprise celebration. He feels honored indeed to be the beneficiary of such an enterprise. It is particularly remarkable to see so many present on this particular night when he is sure that all the participants had more pressing matters to attend to. Many grateful and humble thanks."
Everyone clapped spontaneously as he finished his speech. Diane again spoke, "Mr. Grasshopper we were each instructed to bring a very particular item to this shindig. So, to get the formal ceremony out of the way I suggest that I begin." Without further ado, she picked up a small white box from the coffee table and handed it to Spinelli.
Curiously, he opened it and gasped. Inside, lying on a bed of white velvet was a miniature crystal grasshopper. He looked up at Diane in delighted wonder. She laughed at his expression, "I bought it on a trip to Germany and was always planning to give it to you this Christmas, this party was just the right occasion."
"Thank you, tender hearted lady of justice," he said modifying his usual nickname for her. He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. "Will you kindly help me find a prominent and appropriate spot on the tree for the crystalline arthropod?"
"My pleasure," Diane said as she put down her champagne glass and moved towards the tree. After they hung the ornament, she turned and asked, "Who wants to go next?"
"I do," it was Claudia Zacchara Corinthos.
Spinelli hadn't even noticed her, she had been standing off in a corner, feeling awkward and out of place at this gathering where she could only count Johnny and Spinelli as friendly faces. Claudia had been astonished to receive a phone call from Carly that afternoon but when she had understood that there was to be a party to honor Spinelli she had said she would be there. Sonny had groused at her for going out on Christmas Eve but she wasn't sure that it was more a case of his being disgruntled that he was being left out of the loop. Still, no one in their right minds would invite Sonny Corinthos to an event being held for Damian Spinelli or vice versa for that matter.
Claudia pulled a tissue wrapped object out of her purse and handed it to Spinelli. "Merry Christmas, Spinelli," she said as she kissed him on his cheek leaving a dark red smear of lipstick. Maxie was glaring daggers at her she noticed with satisfaction.
Spinelli pulled back the tissue paper to reveal a hand blown glass ornament. It was a beautiful red fox with a detailed and expressive face and even the tip of the tail was painted black. Spinelli looked at Claudia and grinned happily. "Vixenella!" He exclaimed. "It tis entirely appropriate, the Jackal is most impressed with your resourcefulness."
"I was too," Claudia told him thrilled that he liked it. "I just happened to find it this afternoon, in a little store that was just getting ready to close. I had to beg the owner to let me in and look around. I was so lucky to find it."
"Serendipitous indeed," Spinelli agreed as he escorted her over to the tree to hang the little fox not far from Diane's grasshopper.
Once he was done, he turned back to the room at large. "The Jackal is beginning to get into the spirit of things. He is starting to perceive a theme pervading the evening." He looked over at Jason with a raised eyebrow but he just stared back at Spinelli expressionlessly as though nothing going on had anything to do with him. Spinelli nodded his head as though to say, "I'll deal with you later."
"Spinelli," It was Robin Scorpio and Patrick Drake. Their baby daughter Emma was sleeping on the couch in her car seat. "We wanted to give you a symbol of what we are so grateful for this Christmas." Robin handed him another small box.
Spinelli opened it and as soon as he saw what it contained he smiled broadly. He pulled out a fabric picture frame with a photo of Emma inserted in it. "Thank you," he said genuinely touched at the gesture.
He understood that it meant that he was considered to be part of the circle of people that Robin and Patrick felt represented Emma's extended family. He also knew instinctively that Robin also intended to include Jason in the gift and he glanced over at his mentor to see if he had caught the significance of the gesture. Jason had abruptly turned and left the room heading for the kitchen. Spinelli was satisfied, he knew that Jason was close to tears and he had left to hide that fact from everyone.
"We consider you an honorary uncle to Emma," Patrick told him.
"I will endeavor to be worthy of that estimable honor in all ways that are in my power to discharge." He replied to them gravely.
"Babysitting comes to mind," Robin said with a light laugh.
"Better him than me!" Maxie quipped.
"The Jackal will undertake the mission of sharing all things baby related with Maximista. By the time his task is completed she will be worthy of hire as a nanny."
"Baby drool and designer fashions are a bad mix," she rejoined with spirit.
"The Jackal will work his wiles upon her all in good time," he stage whispered to Patrick and Robin. Then he led them to the tree where they found a perfect spot for the pictorial baby Emma to oversee everything that was happening within the room while the three dimensional version slept on unaware of all the fuss.
Next up was Lulu attended by Johnny Zacchara. "I found this and it made me think of you…" Lulu handed him an unwrapped figure of a male deer. "Do you know the significance of the stag?" She quizzed him sure that he did. After all, whenever didn't Spinelli know some obscure piece of information?
"Purity?" he queried, wondering if he had picked the one she had in mind.
"Got it in one!" She said clapping her hands in delight. "I told Johnny you would figure it out."
"It is a beautiful and delicate piece but I don't comprehend the allusion that fair Lulu is making."
"You Spinelli," Lulu smiled at him, "You have the purest soul of anyone I know."
Suddenly Maxie was at Spinelli's elbow, she stood there fuming and shooting disapproving looks at Lulu. "What do you know about his soul anyway?" She asked in a dangerously low tone of voice that was just begging for Lulu to say something, anything at all. "Then I'll show her some soul ass kicking!" Maxie thought heatedly, realizing somewhat sheepishly that what she had just said to herself made absolutely no sense.
Johnny spoke quickly, trying to diffuse the situation. "I didn't get you an ornament Spinelli but my boss let me have the tree for free."
"A lovely example of seasonal foliage it is," Spinelli said darting nervous glances at the two blondes. "Perhaps you would like to accompany the Jackal over to choose a location for fair Lulu's Christmas offering?"
Johnny didn't have to be asked twice. "Absolutely, great idea."
The two men moved away slowly afraid that any sudden movements on their part might precipitate a more physical altercation between Lulu and Maxie. When they felt that there was a safe enough buffer space between them and the imminent outbreak of warfare they breathed simultaneous sighs of relief.
Sam McCall had observed the tension that was evident between the two blondes standing in the middle of the living room oblivious to everything except each other. She walked over to Maxie and whispered in her ear. "I'm sure whatever ornament you got Spinelli will be far more valued by him than anything Lulu gave him."
Maxie turned to look at Sam as she considered what she had intimated. A sly smile crossed her face as she looked over at a defiant Lulu. She nodded her head in agreement with Sam as she glanced speculatively at Spinelli. Sam was right she could win this battle and prove her superior claim on Spinelli all without pulling one hair out of her roommate's bleached blonde scalp.
"Nice ornament Lulu," she said switching tactics as she smiled sweetly at her sometimes ally and full time rival. "Purity, that's true, Spinelli radiates purity." With that she turned on her heel and headed towards the tree leaving in her wake a very confused and suspicious Lulu.
"Spinelli," Maxie said almost purring in her confidence, assured of her victory over Lulu. "Open mine next." She handed him yet another box.
Spinelli flicked a glance at Johnny who was looking with trepidation at Lulu standing glowering right where Maxie had left her. Sighing, he decided to do the manful thing and accepted the out thrust box from Maxie. "Many grateful thanks," he began automatically feeling the stress of the last several days start to creep up on him. His eyes widened when he saw what lay within the box and he looked at Maxie his entire face a question mark.
"Maximista, your heart…I...I mean," he stammered, unsure what exactly to say, "a crystal heart. The Jackal is beyond privileged. He will indeed treasure it and care for it with the same vigilance that he would bestow upon the actual organ were it ever to be entrusted to his custody."
Spinelli looked down at the beautiful little crystalline object unsure if he was embodying it with more or less significance than it deserved. He earnestly searched Maxie's face trying to discern a clue as to what she might be indicating with her gift.
"Don't you know, Spinelli," she murmured in his ear as she pulled his head down and kissed him fully and completely on the lips. "You already possess it. You have for quite a while now." With a flounce and a smirk in Lulu's direction she was gone, headed for the buffet table. Winning always made her ravenous.
Spinelli just stood there looking dazed and unsure as to what had just happened. Sam appeared next to him and took the box out of his unresisting hand. "How about I help you hang this on the tree Spinelli." Suiting her action to her words she placed it in a location where the lights hit it in such a way that it sparkled and glowed, catching Spinelli's eye and mesmerizing him.
Sam couldn't help smiling at the expression on his face, he looked shell-shocked. "Here is mine," she said hoping to jolt him back to reality. She held up a tiny little laptop computer. "I couldn't resist when I saw this. I would've have gotten it for you, party or no."
Spinelli looked at the tiny facsimile of his most prized possession as tears sprang to his eyes. He couldn't believe that all these people had not only shown up to a party for him on what seemed to be extremely short notice but to have brought gifts as well. He knew that Carly had organized the party but that it was Jason who had instigated it. Spinelli understood that the ornament theme was his way of apologizing for what he had done the previous night.
He felt overwhelmed. He had never before been the center of attention in such a positive sense. Spinelli wasn't equipped to handle so much undiluted kindness, he had no idea why all these people were being so thoughtful, so considerate. He was beyond astounded at the careful thought that had gone into each object set before him this evening. These decorations were even more precious to him than his Mother's had been because they had been chosen specifically for him. He would treasure each and every one forever…
"The Jackal is eternally grateful to the Goddess for her thoughtfulness." He turned to the tree pretending to look for just the right place to hang the little laptop while he surreptitiously wiped at the tell tale tears coursing down his cheeks. Sam looked away tactfully until he was more in control of himself.
When he turned back to her, she hugged him tightly and said, "You deserve every single thing that is happening tonight and I won't let anyone else tell you differently. Not even if that someone is you…" Spinelli didn't think he had ever received so many kisses before as he had bestowed upon him in this one short space of time.
"Spinelli, I think it's my turn now." The voice was familiar
Spinelli looked over Sam's shoulder and saw Mike Corbin standing there smiling at him. "Mister Sir's most esteemed father is cordially welcomed to this impromptu soiree." He replied pleased to see him. "Is the bountiful repast under which yonder table is groaning due to your good auspices?"
"Yeah, Carly asked me to cater the food tonight. She also mentioned bringing an ornament and surprisingly I already had something on hand. I ordered it from a catalogue earlier this fall. It seemed just the thing for a certain young man of my acquaintance." With a flourish, Mike held out his decoration, dangling it from his hand so that Spinelli could get a good look at it.
Spinelli and Sam both laughed as they realized what it was. "That's perfect Mike," Sam said as she giggled in approval.
Spinelli reached out to take the tiny bottle of orange soda from Mike and perused the tree for a fitting spot to hang a miniature duplicate of the true nectar of the gods. "Now all the Jackal requires is a replica of a bag of a barbecued potato chips and he can happily expire."
"I'm fresh out son, looks like you'll have to stay with us a while longer." Mike was gratified that Spinelli had liked his choice. He had been worried that it might have appeared silly when compared against all the fancier and more symbolic ornaments that had been presented to him tonight.
"Hey, Spinelli," Carly had come over accompanied by Morgan and Jax. "It looks like most everyone has given you their decorations and so we thought it was time to give you our gift." She nudged Morgan towards Spinelli. "Go ahead and give the box to Spinelli, sweetie."
Morgan held up a box to Spinelli, it was much larger than any of the other boxes he had received this evening. "I helped Momma pick it out. It's from Mom and me and Michael. Open it!"
Spinelli did as commanded. He removed the lid and pulled out an angel. It was simple and abstract made from a framework of silver wires that merely outlined the shape of a winged form blowing a trumpet. It breathed elegance and sophistication and Spinelli handled it with reverence.
"It's exquisite, the Jackal and Stone Cold will be sure to cherish and care for it. Thank you Morgan. You, your Mother, and Michael all have excellent taste." Spinelli bent down and ruffled Morgan's hair eliciting a smile from the often serious little boy. "Would you like to help me put it on the tree?" He asked him.
Morgan nodded shyly and he and Spinelli went off hand in hand in search of a step ladder. When they returned everyone was crowded around the tree, chatting and looking at the ornaments while they waited for the angel to be put in place and complete the decorating portion of the evening.
Spinelli stood on the step ladder and held the sturdy little boy as he put the angel on the top of the tree. It was a little crooked but Spinelli didn't touch it. Instead he stepped off the ladder still holding Morgan and pointed to the angel. "Look, you did that, it finishes the tree, the angel is always the last thing to go up."
"Not tonight," it was Jason. He had come up behind them. "There's one more…" He held a tissue wrapped shape out to Spinelli who unwrapped it. He was struck silent by what was revealed.
A full minute passed where no one said anything and all eyes, including the concerned ones of Jason, were centered on Spinelli's bowed head. Finally, he looked up, seeing only Jason, "Stone Cold, how…where…." He shook his head in wonder as he again stared down at the colorful object held in his hand. It was almost identical to the multihued stained glass ornament that had been crushed the evening before. It was the same shape and glowed with similar gem tone colors. "Thank you," he said quietly, "the Jackal lacks the knowledge of how to show his appreciation."
Jason stepped towards him and said into his ear, "You don't need to show 'appreciation', this and much more was owed to you. I was only glad that I could replace at least one small part of what was destroyed."
"Would you find a place for it on the tree, Jason?" Spinelli handed the prized decoration to his mentor, trying to communicate by his request that Jason had indeed earned the forgiveness he had so ardently sought.
Jason nodded at him and with a slight smile carried the ornament over to the Christmas tree. Jax, sensing the undercurrents that had passed between the two men, tried to redirect Spinelli's attention.
"It's not an ornament Spinelli, but I hope you like it." Jax held out the only gift wrapped package Spinelli had received all evening. Curious as to what Jax might have possibly brought him, Spinelli tore the paper off and upon realizing what he was holding, immediately tried to hand it back to Jax.
"You don't want it then?" Jax's lips quirked in a smile as he refused to take back his gift.
"Want it!" Spinelli squeaked as though he were short of breath. "The Jackal has seldom felt the pulse of avarice race through his bloodstream as heatedly as it does at this moment. It is simply that he cannot accept it. It is too precious and costly a boon for one as unworthy as I."
"Well, Spinelli," Jax drawled enjoying the effect his gift was having on the young man. "It seems that you aren't only insulting yourself by saying that you don't deserve my gift to you. You're also impugning me by implying that I should know better then to have bought this for you. In other words, you're in danger of hurting my feelings and on Christmas Eve too…" Jax's speech was accompanied by his assuming a sad expression of rejection that was entirely belied by the twinkle in his eyes.
Spinelli was still holding the item out towards Jax who was steadfastly ignoring it while he kept his eyes trained on the boy's face, quietly delighting in his discomfiture. Flustered by Jax's statement, Spinelli didn't know how to respond. "The Jackal intended no offense towards the White Knight. He simply meant to say that he has never, not ever, been in possession or even thought to be in a position to be in possession of…" Even Spinelli was getting confused at his own verbal convolutions.
"Spinelli," Jax tried to reason with him. "Look around this room." Spinelli complied, a perplexed expression on his face. "Do you see one person here besides you and I that would even care to receive this?"
"Uh, perhaps the tender hearted lady of justice," he suggested tentatively. He hated the thought of losing what Jax had presented him with, but he was still unconvinced that he could really deserve the custody of such a magnificent treasure.
"Diane," Jax turned towards her urbanely, "Are you at all interested in the peregrinations of one Percy Bysshe Shelley around nineteenth century Europe?" He looked at her with an aspect of gentle inquiry upon his visage.
"Um, were there any shoe stores involved?" she responded weakly not exactly sure how or why she had been roped into this argument.
"Shoe stores!" Spinelli howled indignantly, clutching the object-the book-to his chest protectively. "It most certainly cannot be handed over to a Philistine such as her!" He turned to Jax in appeal, petrified that he might be forced to give the book back or worse yet, give it to Diane. "What had the Jackal been thinking?" he moaned inwardly. If only he had just accepted the gift graciously in the spirit it had been tendered.
"Your suggestion, Spinelli," Jax said implacably. "I'm not taking it back. So, it either goes to someone else here or you keep it."
"The Jackal will reverse his position and eagerly accept the book in the spirit it was given-from one poetry aficionado to another. Jax," his eyes were shining with elation as he smiled in a way that few people ever saw, "I will take most excellent care of it. I will keep it away from light or heat sources, I will never touch it without wearing gloves, I'll…"
"You'll give it back right now!" Jax said glaring at him, holding his hand out and wagging his fingers impatiently, "C'mon, give it here!"
"Why, what did the Jackal do or say to inspire your wrath?" Spinelli was in terrible distress, he felt like crying.
Jason uttered a low growl and stepped forward preparatory to making sure that Spinelli got to keep his book even if it meant decking Jax one. He thought he might even enjoy that part. He had seen the joy on Spinelli's face when he had decided to take Jax's gift after all. He had no idea what the book was and he was surprisingly jealous of the communion that Jax and Spinelli seemed to share. Still, if a stupid book was that important to his brother then Jasper Jax just better be prepared to back off.
Neither man even noticed Jason's approach. They were intent on their verbal duel. "It's a book Spinelli and I gave it to you. I didn't donate it to a museum. It's meant to be read and appreciated and touched. If you can't bring yourself to treat it that way then give it back and I'll find somebody that will." Jax was deadly serious and his eyes were no longer tinged with amusement.
Spinelli swallowed and backed up a few paces, the book still pressed against his chest. "If the Jackal suggests a compromise, will the White Knight see his way clear to letting him retain the sacred object?"
"What compromise?" Jax was beginning to relax a little, he hadn't meant to stress the kid out so badly.
"The Jackal will treat the book as a book but with some differences as to how he usually handles his reading materials. He won't eat or drink in the vicinity of it, he won't dog ear the pages or read while bathing or brushing his teeth or…"
Jax held up his hand to stop the flow of information about the myriad ways in which Spinelli could destroy a book. Laughing now, he said, "That sounds fair. You'll be careful not to damage it but you won't wrap in the book equivalent of cotton wool either. I can live with that."
Spinelli let out a sigh of relief. He looked over at Jason and held up the book. "Stone Cold, did you see it? Did you see what the White Knight got me?"
Jason felt vaguely thwarted that he hadn't had to rescue Spinelli from Jax. Or maybe it was that he really just wanted for once to wipe the self satisfied smirk from Jax's face. Still, he was happy for Spinelli and he walked over to him as several other people also crowded around him to see what all the fuss had been about.
"It's a first edition of a book edited by Mary Shelley, she who authored the classic 'Frankenstein'. Percy Shelley was her husband and in the 1820's they traveled through Italy and other parts of Europe. After he died at a tragically young age, she put together this book of the epistles he had written on that journey." Spinelli stopped to take a breath while his listener's eyes glazed over. Only Jax seemed truly interested in what he was saying. "This book, this actual book was published almost 170 years ago." The reverence and awe in Spinelli's voice communicated itself to his audience and they looked at the book with a little more interest as some individual members of the group thought what it might be worth.
"Maybe a pair of Manolo-Blancos," Diane mused.
"A new stove," Mike pondered dreamily.
"There's the cutest little cocktail dress in the closet," Maxie's eyes gleamed.
"The rent…" Johnny thought wistfully.
"Okay," it was Carly taking charge of the party. "The decorations have all been hung on the tree. Mike has provided us with this great spread. Let's eat everyone."
Spinelli didn't even hear her. He was standing there carefully turning the pages of the book, occasionally stopping to read and reflect upon a passage.
Jax pulled a digital camera out of his pocket and called, "Spinelli!" When he looked up, Jax said, "I wanted a picture of you with your first antique book."
"My first?" Spinelli couldn't envision how he would ever acquire a second.
"You never know," Jax said with a cryptic smile. "Now, hold it up and say cheese!" He looked at his screen, "That'll do. You should go get something to eat but remember our deal about the book."
Spinelli nodded his head solemnly and looked around for some safe haven in which he could temporarily deposit his prized possession. His eyes alighted on Jason. "Stone Cold, would you be agreeable to guarding the Jackal's newest acquisition whilst he gets some sustenance?"
Touched that he trusted him to take care of the book when it was clear he didn't even want to let it out of his hands, Jason nodded. He looked down at the book Spinelli had given him. He couldn't see what all the excitement was about. It just looked like an old book to him.
Jason looked over at Jax and found that he was staring back at him, a quizzical expression on his face. "Jax," God, he didn't want to be indebted to the cocky Australian. "I was wondering," he motioned to the camera that Jax held, "if maybe I could get a copy of that picture you just took. I don't have any pictures of Spinelli." It was so hard admitting his shortcomings to this man who had been Sonny's enemy for so long and therefore, had become a de facto one to Jason as well.
Jax didn't gloat at Jason's confession that he didn't have any photographs of Spinelli. He just nodded his head agreeably and said, "Sure, I'll take some more of him and everyone here at the party and then I'll get copies to you by the New Year. Suit you okay?"
"Yeah, thanks," Jason was surprised to find himself in a civilized conversation with Jax and that it wasn't nearly as difficult as he had imagined it to be.
"Jason," this time Jax was initiating things. "I can suggest some things for you to read."
"Read?" Jason's brow furrowed as he tried to comprehend what Jax was talking about. "What do you mean?" He asked him bluntly.
"I saw the look on your face when Spinelli rattled on about Shelley. I would venture to guess that it's not the first time that you have had no idea what he's talking about."
"It's an hourly occurrence," Jason admitted sardonically much to Jax's amazement. He wouldn't have guessed that Jason thought much about the disparity between his and Spinelli's interests. He knew that Spinelli tried to emulate many aspects of Jason's world but he rather doubted the reverse was true.
"Well, in terms of literature I can give you some titles, some ideas about various books that you could read and perhaps discuss with Spinelli."
"Why don't you do that? Discuss books and poetry with him?" Jason challenged him.
"I would, I can," Jax gave a self-deprecating shrug. "It wouldn't mean as much though. Spinelli doesn't happen to think that the sun only rises and sets because I give it the say so…"
"He doesn't think that about me either." Jason scoffed.
"No?" Jax just let the word dangle in the air between them.
Sighing, Jason ran his hands through his hair in exasperation. Two things were currently happening here that he didn't particularly care for. The first was that he didn't want to like Jax but it was beginning to look like a losing battle. Anyone that looked out for Spinelli's best interests as he appeared to be doing couldn't be all bad. The second seemed to be that Jason was going to have a pile of unwanted books on his nightstand shortly. Even worse was the thought of the tutorials in Spinelli-speak he would get as his roommate ecstatically rambled on about the finer points of some classic tale or piece of poetry. Well, he had asked for penance and it now looked as though he had indeed received penance. He had just never realized the strange form it would take.
Jason said softly, resignation clearly evident in his tone, "Maybe you can include that list with the pictures when you send them over."
Jax grinned wickedly at him. "Will do. I'm feeling a little peckish, I think I'll go get something to eat." He started to move towards the buffet table.
"Jax," Jason called after him.
He stopped and looked back, "Yeah?"
"Thanks…for everything, for what you did for Spinelli. Thank you."
"You're welcome, Jason." He paused and gazed over at Spinelli. "He's a special kid-I mean man. He's worth it."
The doorbell rang and Jason went to answer it since everyone else was busy eating. It was Marty.
"Sorry, I'm later than expected but the fax didn't come in until just a couple of minutes ago." He took off his snow covered coat and handed it to Jason who shook it over a rubber mat before hanging it on the coat rack Carly had found someplace.
"You got it?" Jason put his hand out and Marty put a flat box into it. "Good job, thanks Marty. Did they agree to the other part?"
"Yeah, I think you'll be shelling out a fair amount of cash but they said you could have them if you were really going follow through with what you said."
"Okay, I'll have Bernie contact them after Christmas. Come on in and have something to eat."
"Here's your change." Marty handed him some bills and coins.
"You can keep it. As a matter of fact…" Jason started to reach for his wallet.
"No thanks, Mr. Morgan. I didn't do this for money. I did it as a favor to Spinelli."
Jason had the grace to look abashed as he took the money from Marty and put it into his wallet. "Sorry. Sometimes I don't think. And it's Jason."
Marty nodded his head, not at all sure that he could ever handle calling one of the local mob bosses by his first name. He had no idea how Spinelli managed to both work and live with this man that Marty himself found so intimidating. "Not only live with," he reflected, "Jason actually seems to care about him…" Marty wasn't sure whether than meant he should feel sorry for or be envious of Spinelli.
People chatted and ate. Everyone mingled except for Jason who stood off to the sidelines. Some people came to him-Carly, Sam, and Robin who let him hold baby Emma again. Jason looked down at her as she gurgled up at him happy and content. Ordinarily, holding a baby would make him think of Jake but not tonight.
Instead as he held Emma he looked over at Spinelli who was in the middle of a group consisting of Maxie, Lulu, Johnny and Marty. Everyone, including Spinelli, looked happy and relaxed. Still, Jason knew how many demons, both hidden and not, that Spinelli carried. He wondered what kind of person he would have been if he had been given a safe and secure childhood like little Emma. Jason recognized that realistically he couldn't do anything to change Spinelli's past but he was determined to affect his present and future in the most proactive way he could.
Finally, people began to depart. First went Robin, Patrick and Emma who were followed shortly by Carly, Jax and Morgan. Spinelli stopped Carly as she was putting her coat on.
"The Jackal wishes to express his deepest gratitude to the Valkyrie for all her most diligent and exceptional efforts in creating this memorable evening." He paused and then said with total sincerity, "I have never had anyone do anything remotely so special for me."
"My pleasure, Spinelli." Carly smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek. "Besides, I owe you one."
"What could the Valkyrie possibly be indebted to the Jackal for?" He asked in confusion.
"I don't need to worry about Jason nearly as much now that you're here to take care of him."
"He takes care of me as well," he said truthfully.
"That's how it should be," she said patting his cheek. "Merry Christmas, Spinelli!"
The last to leave was Maxie. "Walk me to my car, Spinelli," she demanded.
"Accompanying you would be the Jackal's delight," he responded gallantly. "Stone Cold," he turned back to Jason who was already clearing off the buffet table. "I will be back after escorting Maximista to her conveyance. At that time the Jackal will assist his Master in restoring the penthouse to its usual pristine state."
"Take your time," Jason waved him off. "Merry Christmas, Maxie."
"Merry Christmas, Jason," Maxie said startled to hear the words come from him. "Let's go, Spinelli."
She started as soon as they were riding down in the elevator. "Are you okay, Spinelli?" She asked studying him with concern.
"Of course, why should Maximista be worried about the Jackal?" He hadn't realized this was the reason she had asked him to go with her. He should have known better, he pitied the mugger that tried to take on Maxie Jones.
"Let me see your hands," she grabbed them before he could protest. She looked at the ugly cuts scoring his palms and looked up at him wide-eyed. "I saw the way you were carefully holding things all night. What happened?"
The elevator pinged and they stepped out into the parking garage. Spinelli sighed, he couldn't tell her. What had occurred last night needed to stay between him and Stone Cold. "The Jackal cut his hands on some broken glass that's all."
"When Jason came in to Crimson today he was acting really weird. He was trying to find you and he was especially nice to me-it was strange." She reflected for a moment, remembering how surrealistic the entire encounter had truly been. "Anyway, he said you guys had a fight and that he needed to find you to make things right. Did you cut your hands during the fight?"
Maxie frowned as she looked at him. She sensed that Spinelli was holding something back. That wasn't like him. He told her everything, or at least he did if it wasn't connected to mob business and sometimes even then he did.
"Something like that," Spinelli said evasively. "Stone Cold found the Jackal, our dispute was resolved and all is well." He grinned at her, hoping that she would stop interrogating him.
Maxie cocked her head and stared at him. He wasn't going to tell her, at least not right now. She decided to let it go for the moment. Things seemed good between him and Jason and the party had been fun. It was Christmas Eve and soon it would be New Year's. She intended to have Spinelli all to herself on that evening.
"Okay," she said giving in graciously. "I'm glad things are good between you guys." She leaned in to kiss him chastely on the cheek, "Merry Christmas, Spinelli. I'll see you soon."
Spinelli put his hand on the spot she had kissed. His skin was tingling as it did every time Maximista kissed or even just touched him. "Merry Christmas, Maximista. Drive carefully. The Jackal's enjoyment of this evening was greatly enhanced by your vivacious presence at the festivities."
She giggled at him in reply and waved airily as she climbed behind the wheel. A breezy, "Bye, Spinelli!" and she was gone. He stood there staring after her until he could no longer see her car's tail lights. With a sigh, he turned towards the elevators and home.
When Spinelli returned to the penthouse he found that Jason had efficiently cleaned up all the debris left by the guests. He was sitting on the couch. In front of him was a bowl of water and a variety of other materials.
"Spinelli," he ordered, "Come sit down. I'm going to bandage your hands."
"Stone Cold…" was as far as Spinelli got before he was stopped by the glare in Jason's eyes.
Obediently, he sat down and held out his hands. Jason began with the right hand. He tried to be gentle as he used the warm water from the bowl to irrigate the cuts but Spinelli couldn't help flinching at the stinging sensation.
"Sorry," Jason muttered, he didn't like causing him pain but it had to be done. He thought that talking might keep Spinelli's mind off what he was doing, especially since the next thing was going to be probing with tweezers for any trapped glass fragments. "Where did you sleep last night?" He asked it as casually as he could. He knew it couldn't have been the church, they locked up after a certain hour.
"The…the bus station." Spinelli said in a low voice, certain that Jason wouldn't approve.
He was right. "The bus station!" Jason looked up at him, his jaw muscle clenched. "That wasn't the smartest choice. It's not safe there. Why didn't you get a motel room?"
"The Jackal's wallet was taken from his pocket without his awareness." He mumbled, his face red with embarrassment.
Jason sighed. It could have been much worse he knew. He started in on Spinelli's left hand and worked in silence for a few minutes in order to calm down. "Were you going to catch a bus?" he spoke tentatively, his heart constricted at the thought of Spinelli leaving town and how much harder it would have been to find him. He knew for a fact that he would have tracked him down one way or the other.
Spinelli smiled a little, though Jason didn't see it with his head bowed over the hand he was probing. "The Jackal had determined to stay in Port Charles prior to his wallet being taken. He couldn't leave with things unsettled between Stone Cold and himself. He didn't want to lose the other connections he has established here either and tonight was ample proof that the decision to stay was eminently correct."
Spinelli knew he could never tell Jason about the two young men that had threatened him with a baseball bat at two a.m. They were only scared off by an elderly security guard making his rounds. He knew that the youths would have been facing the wrath of Stone Cold this very night if he told Jason. Still, it might prevent future mayhem at the bus station he thought speculatively. It was a dilemma indeed and he decided to sleep on it.
"I'm very glad you made the choice you did, Spinelli." Jason spoke quietly, but the emotion in his voice was clearly audible.
He proceeded to put antibiotic salve on each of Spinelli's hands. Then he put a combination of steri-strips and band-aids on the cuts. He finished off by covering both hands in a layer of gauze.
"There," he finally looked up at Spinelli, there was a sheen of tears coating his eyes. "I'll look at them tomorrow. If they get any worse, we'll be going to the hospital." His statement was absolute, Spinelli knew better than to argue with him.
"Thank you, Jason," he said simply.
Jason got up and moved over to the desk and came back carrying the flat box he had received from Marty earlier. "This is for you," he handed it to Spinelli.
"Stone Cold," Spinelli didn't want one more material thing. He was overcome, his ego had barely managed to deal with all the attention lavished on it tonight. He needed time to process everything that had happened over the last several days, not another gift. "The Jackal has received more than enough from you today. He doesn't require any further indication of your regard."
"This isn't a Christmas present, Spinelli. It's something that you should have had a long time ago. I just happened to get it today."
Jason saw that Spinelli really didn't want the package so he lifted the lid, and handed what was inside to him. Spinelli looked at what Jason was holding out to him, it was a plain silver picture frame. The picture it held was a black and white photograph. Something about it was familiar but he couldn't quite say what. Reluctantly, he took it from Jason and perused it. It was obviously not the original picture. Spinelli guessed it had come through a fax machine. It depicted a young woman, a teenager, he amended. She was dressed in a white formal gown and a cape or a robe. The kind that high school students used to wear when they were crowned king and queen of this or that dance… He looked more closely at the face of the girl in the photograph, she looked like someone he knew…
Stunned, Spinelli looked up at Jason. "Is this...is she…?" He couldn't get the words out, it was too painful.
Jason nodded. "Yeah, that's your Mother. Gina Marie Spinelli-homecoming queen-1985. She's pretty. Your grandmother was right-you have her hair and her smile."
Spinelli peered at the photograph. The girl was laughing at something or someone outside the picture. She was wearing a tiara and carrying a bouquet. She did indeed have Spinelli's hair-he had her hair he corrected himself. It was thick and dark and piled high on her head but unruly tendrils had escaped and were cascading down her neck and her cheeks. They made her look young and vulnerable.
"Gina Marie Spinelli," he rolled the syllables around in his mouth-his mother. "How did you find this?" He looked at Jason with incredulity.
He shrugged deprecatingly, "The Oakfield High School Yearbook. Marty helped me. He made a lot of phone calls. It was Christmas Eve and no one was at the school. He had to get the school librarian at home and then she agreed to dig out the yearbook and fax the picture. Good thing it's small town and everyone knows everyone, it made it easier."
"Mrs. Grimble? Mrs. Grimble agreed to leave her home on Christmas Eve and go to the library and find a twenty year old picture and fax it to you? Mrs. Grimble?"
Now Spinelli knew something was off, there was no way. She was known as the biggest misanthrope in three counties. There was absolutely no way she had done this out of the goodness of her heart. It was common knowledge that she possessed no heart and therefore would live forever tormenting countless Oakfield high school students in the process. What had Stone Cold promised to get this single photograph and how was Spinelli ever going to repay him?
"What guarantee did you undertake to get this photograph, Stone Cold?" He could barely tear his eyes from her image but he had to know, he had to.
"It's not important," Jason tried to divert him. "They're going to see if they can find the original negatives and if not they'll send all the yearbooks for every grade that she attended school. So, you'll get this picture and quite a few others."
It was amazing and it was awful all at the same time. "Stone Cold, you must tell the Jackal what surety you have pledged to make this impossibility reality. Please…"
Jason sighed, he knew how tenacious Spinelli could be. "I'm donating the funds for a new computer lab at the high school. It will be called the Gina Marie Spinelli Computer Center."
"Stone Cold!" Spinelli was elated, he was appalled. He was touched, he was despondent. "How will the Jackal ever settle his debt to you? No one has ever done such a thing for the Jackal in his life, no one."
"It's me that owes you Spinelli, not the other way around. I owe you more than I can ever make right. Money doesn't matter. It's only good for doing things like this, for making things happen. It doesn't purchase happiness or joy or family or love or any of the important things in life. It's about time that someone did do something like this for you. Don't you dare think you're not worth it, don't you dare!"
Jason's eyes were blazing as he looked directly at Spinelli. He needed him to hear what he was telling him. Spinelli had to understand how important and worthwhile he was. God! Jason hated whoever had caused him to think so little of himself.
Spinelli looked down at the picture in his hands. He finally had a picture of his Mother and that was important but it really didn't mean anything different in the larger sense. She still had chosen to leave him, she was still missing from his life. He didn't even know if she was dead or alive. No, he realized the truly valuable thing that occurred here tonight had in a way nothing to do with his Mother at all. It had to with the fact that he now had incontrovertible proof that he was loved and cherished. Stone Cold had done all this for him…for Spinelli, for the Jackal. He was his family and always would be. For the first time in his life Damian Spinelli was loved and wanted and belonged. He realized that the alien feeling that was flooding through him at this moment had a name, it was just something he had never experienced before-it was peace.
He walked over to the mantelpiece and put the picture on it right next to all the people that were important to Jason. Jason watching him and thought contentedly that in a few days the photographs would be joined by a new addition-one of Spinelli.
Spinelli walked over to Jason and without asking for permission or hesitating wrapped his arms around him and hugged him. Jason hugged him back, blinking away tears.
"Thank you, Stone Cold for everything. I love you."
"Love you too, Spinelli. We'll always be family to each other. You know that right?"
"Yes, I know that Jason. The Jackal has only one small concern at the moment."
"Which is?" Jason didn't know if he could take anymore emotional drama tonight. He had experienced his year's quota during one very long day.
"The Jackal is ashamed," Spinelli voice was muffled. He was speaking into Jason's shoulder. "He can't believe he never thought to check the back issues of the yearbooks at the very school he attended. What kind of private investigator does that make him?"
"You were too close to it, Spinelli, too emotionally involved. Besides you were a lot younger then."
"Yes, but if the Jackal had simply gone in and scissored out all the relevant pictures those many years ago he would have saved Stone Cold quite a sizeable amount of money." Spinelli had pulled back and was grinning at Jason.
"Are you saying that the students of Oakfield don't deserve a state of the art computer lab?" Jason was teasing him.
"Well, I only wish we had some sort of benefactor like Stone Cold back when I was a student at that less than stellar institution. Still, it is for a good cause. Thank you for naming it after my Mother." Spinelli yawned. He was exhausted he had barely slept during the last forty-eight hours.
"Go to bed, it's late." Jason scolded him, thankful he was back where he belonged.
"The Jackal concurs. Goodnight, Stone Cold. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, Spinelli. Sleep well."
Jason went around turning off lights and dousing the fire just as he had done the night before. This time there was no disturbing echo of double days to distract and confuse him. It looked as though everything was back the way it was meant to be.
He climbed the stairs and went down the hall to Spinelli's room. His brother had just collapsed on the bed and was already asleep. Jason pulled off his shoes and tucked him under the covers. He reached down and pushed his hair out of his face.
"Welcome back home, Spinelli," he murmured.
He left the door ajar and headed down the hall to his room. He knew he would sleep soundly tonight. He left his own door cracked open. Jason wanted to be able to hear his brother if he needed him in the night.