A/N: This was an intense project but I am reasonably satisfied with the outcome. Thank you Mr. Dickens for you inspiration and thanks GH for letting me borrow your characters and create my own fused fantasy world with them. Most of all thanks for taking the time to read this story, it is appreciated more than you know!
Christmas II
Jason was cutting across the park, heading toward Carly's when he heard the distinctive sounds of a fight somewhere off to his left. There was a series of muffled grunts and the sickening crunching noise of a fist landing on some bony, less tender area, of the face. It was either the jaw or nose Jason surmised as he made his way through dense undergrowth toward the invisible combatants.
He stepped out into a small clearing, a hidden glade that was probably a shady retreat for lovers in the summer. Yet, on this cold day in early winter it was simply a circular swathe of trampled snow speckled red with far flung droplets of blood from the bleeding and broken nose of Keifer Bauer, Kristina Davis' boyfriend. His opponent, standing across from the dazed Keifer who was attempting to staunch the heavy flow of crimson fluid from his damaged nose, was one Michael Corinthos. He was glaring balefully at his sister's boyfriend, shaking out his right hand in reaction to the pain which coursed through it when it connected solidly with the other boy's nose.
Suddenly, without any warning, Michael clenched his injured fist tightly, pulling his right arm back tautly against his shoulder to create coiled force, he prepared to once again strike out at the injured youth. Standing unseen behind him, Jason read his body language and just as Michael released his contracted muscles enabling his arm sail out powerfully he found it inextricably restrained, bound down by his side by an unexpected grip of inflexible iron.
"Stop it, Michael," Jason hissed into his ear, "That's enough, it's over."
Keifer stumbled backward, only belatedly realizing how narrowly he had escaped a second attack. He glared balefully at Michael and turning to Jason said, "He assaulted me, for no good reason. I was just minding my own business on my way home when out of nowhere he pulled me in here and started hitting me." His voice was muffled by his swollen nose. He swallowed convulsively several times as blood and mucus slipped down his throat. His expression was disgusted as he once more swiped at his injured extremity and stared in repugnance at the resultant red fluid coating his hand. "Look what he did to me," he held out his hand as incontrovertible proof. "He broke my nose. He's going to pay for this. My family will make sure he pays." Keifer was almost hysterical with rage and pain, his chest heaving with agitation and fury.
Michael was struggling ineffectually against Jason's relentless grip. "Let me go," he snarled, his eyes narrow slits of wrath as he tried to break away from his uncle and once more attack Keifer.
"Why were you fighting?" Jason's voice was calm, measured as he attempted to quell images from his experiences of the night before. This violent encounter was occurring all too soon. He needed time to reach Michael, to turn him from his destructive path and this savage eruption indicated that he might be farther gone than any of them had previously thought.
"I have no absolutely no idea!" Keifer said indignantly as he spat a large globule of blood onto the snow by Michael's feet. "He's crazy, I didn't do anything to cause this. It's all him, he's just like his father, a mobster!"
"Bullshit!" Michael had stopped trying to free himself and instead he was eerily calm as he stared at Keifer, his eyes cold and flatly reptilian.
Jason felt a shiver run down his spine at the change in his nephew's demeanor. He realized with a sinking heart that Michael looked uncannily like Jason used to when he was almost the same age and just starting to revel in the intoxicating power that physical might and intimidation brought him.
"He's been hitting Kristina." The accusation was made without any overt show of emotion.
"What?" Jason asked him, startled, "How do you know?" It was a serious charge and if it was true something would have to be done about it just not by Michael, never again by him if Jason could possibly prevent it.
"He's lying!" Keifer spat the words out instantly but a shadow of fear flared briefly in his eyes and Jason knew without a doubt that Michael was telling the truth.
"I'm not," Michael was still calm, the only indication of his temper was in the rigidity of the body being restrained by Jason's hands. "I've seen the bruises. I've seen him grab her. He deserves to die for laying his filthy hands on her."
Jason closed his eyes as desolation washed over him, for a brief moment the world receded and all he could feel was pain and fear. Claudia had been right, regardless of what did or didn't happen to him, it was imperative that he save the people he loved. Michael must be pulled back from the brink of corruption, somehow his moral compass needed to be reset while the wondrous light that was Spinelli's soul must never be allowed to go dark. They were all that mattered and he would do whatever he needed to make sure that the inconceivable future he was permitted to glimpse would never come to pass.
He didn't really know how he was going to accomplish this monumental task but it was clear that he was starting with Michael, right here and right now. He released his hold on the boy and stepped in front of him. "Michael," he said his name without inflection, "Look at me."
Unwillingly, Michael tore his eyes away from Keifer and stared at Jason, his jaw clenched and his eyes sullen but still he obeyed. His respect for Jason was a tattered entity, no longer tinged with awe but it held for the time being and Jason relied upon it.
"If you go after him again, I'll cold cock you myself. Are we clear?"
Again, somehow he managed to keep the panic he felt under control. Jason was awash in overwhelming guilt that he was responsible for altering his bright, beloved boy into this brooding, unfamiliar bully who thought taking what you wanted by force was the only way of the world. Yet, he quenched his fear, keeping it from brimming over, from spilling out of his eyes, coloring his voice and causing his hands to shake. Yet, extraordinarily, none of that showed and instead all Michael saw was Jason, serious and composed, someone who always did what he said without fail.
He nodded his head, his fists clenched as he resisted the restriction, "Yeah," his voice was rough with anger.
"I'm reporting him," it was Keifer, the cause of it all yet momentarily forgotten. Jason turned and sent him an ice cold glance of appraisal as he tilted his head and considered the boy.
He stalked toward him, all leonine grace and threat, Keifer stepped back in an inadvertent move of self preservation. "No, you won't." Jason was absolute, "I think you might have forgotten who Kristina is or more to the point who her parents are. Alexis is the District Attorney and Sonny, well, he's a man that you really don't want to be angry with you."
"You're threatening me," Keifer swallowed as he attempted to test Jason's statement, to see if he was bluffing. "What he said," he jerked his head toward an incensed but stationary Michael. "It's all a lie but this," he pointed to his nose, "I have proof of what he did, they'll arrest him."
Jason shook his head as he moved closer to Keifer who found when he tried to back up he couldn't, the dry brittle branches of the shrubbery surrounding the clearing blocked his way. "I don't think you understand." He was speaking slowly as though the boy were deaf or stupid or both, "When I go to Alexis and tell her what Michael said, she will get the story out of Kristina and when she does she'll come after you." He reached up and brushed away the snow which had fallen onto Keifer's jacket from the bushes. "It doesn't really matter what Alexis decides to do within the confines of the law though because she won't have the opportunity to act. Once Sonny hears about it you'll disappear and not Alexis, not your family, absolutely no one will be able to find you." Then he smiled casually, the expression full of cold certainty, "Anyway, I doubt Alexis will encourage the police to look very hard either when your parents file a missing person's report."
Keifer's face drained of color except for the dried glaze of blood below his misshapen nose. "You wouldn't dare…" His voice was a hoarse whisper and his eyes were huge with fright.
Jason just looked at him for a minute, the passing seconds echoing in the silence which held all three in its temporary thrall. Finally, he said, his tone measured but unconditional, "As of this minute, you never see or call Kristina again. You take that," he flicked his fingers ominously at the boy's injured nose, "As the least price you can expect to pay for laying hands on someone who weighs seventy pounds less then you and who did nothing wrong except make the mistake of caring about you. Now, get the fuck out of here!"
There was no change in the volume or the tenor of his voice but as Jason spoke his last words of command, Keifer turned away as though released from a binding spell. He moved with a shambling gait toward the break in the leafless growth surrounding the thicket. He felt bruised and battered, embittered and humiliated but he was above all a pragmatist. Keifer was a bully and like most people of that type, it meant he was also a coward and he had recognized the undeniable truth in Jason's eyes. What he threatened would unerringly come to pass unless he stayed away from Kristina and left Michael alone.
"Keifer!" The single word caused him to freeze in mid-stride, he didn't turn around, just stood there waiting apprehensively, his shoulders hunched as though to ward off a blow. "I'll be keeping an eye on you. Just because Kristina has people to look out for her doesn't mean you get a free pass on going after some other less connected girl. If I ever find out that you raised your hand to another woman I will pay you a personal visit that will make this little meeting seem like a picnic. Do you understand me?"
Keifer nodded his head and stood silently for another moment, waiting. When Jason didn't say anything further he ducked through the opening and vanished from sight though they could still hear the crunch of his shoes on the snow.
"That was righteous!" Michael exclaimed, his cheeks flushed and his eyes glittering as he grinned at Jason, his gaze warm with approval for the vanquishing of his enemy. It was clear he once again felt Jason was worthy of his regard.
Jason looked at him, his face grim. "No it wasn't, Michael. It was a mess. That kid could have made all kinds of trouble for you. You don't fix things by going around and pounding on people."
"You do," he retorted.
Jason sighed and rubbed at his neck, "Yeah, I do but that doesn't make me right either. Lots of people, the majority of them go through life without using their fists or guns to settle conflicts. It's our fault-Sonny's and mine-that you were raised to think that was the normal way to behave when in fact it's not."
"Oh, so it's a case of do as I say, not as I do." Michael sneered at him.
Jason nodded and gave a little humorless laugh. "Up until today you'd be exactly right saying that is how it is but things have changed and I'm hoping it's more a case of do as I do now and not as I used to do."
"Why? What's so special about today?" Michael was puzzled, he didn't like the sound of what he was hearing.
"I've quit the organization," Jason said simply, "I'm going to try and join McCall and Jackal and work as a Private Investigator from now on out."
"You working with Sam and Spinelli?" Michael was incredulous. "That's just wrong. You'll be bored out of your skull in a week."
"No, Michael, I won't be." He hoped it was true, he thought it might be. "Actually for the first time in as long as I can remember I feel totally good about a decision, about the direction in which I am taking my life. I feel…" he hesitated as he searched for the perfect word, "Free."
"Well," Michael said deprecatingly, trying to hide his dismay at Jason's sudden change of heart, "Hope that works out for you. Me, I'm sticking with my Dad's line of work."
Jason shook his head adamantly, "No, you're not, Michael."
Michael looked away for a moment and then turning back to Jason locked stares with him and said defiantly, "Says who? You-Port Charles' newest dick?" The word hung on the chilly air, intentionally crude and insulting."
Jason didn't react as he replied calmly, "Sonny, Carly, me-we all are in agreement, Michael. You aren't going to be allowed to throw your life away on violence and poor choices."
Michael laughed, it was a harsh sound, devoid of humor, "That's rich coming from someone who is always preaching that everyone needs to make their own decisions and choices in life. Anyway, I'm eighteen in a few days then none of you will have a thing to say about what I want to do."
"It's true, we can't physically stop you if you are stupid enough to keep following such a destructive pathway. Still, I'd like to think that you would take your mother's feelings into consideration and that you might think about what kind of example you'd be setting for Morgan, Kristina, Molly and Josslyn." Jason paused, his eyes shadowed with worry and fear as he thought about what else he might say to sway Michael from his immature judgment, his false perception of Sonny and Jason's lives. He knew this conversation was more than likely futile, much too little coming much too late. Yet, he had to try, he would keep trying until he succeeded or he was dead. "Understand this though, Michael, you're only an arrogant boy trying to break into a very dangerous world full of ruthless men who would kill you as much as look at you."
Michael's lips curled up into a feral smile which Jason couldn't bear to see. "They wouldn't dare. I am Sonny Corinthos' son. Anyone who thought about coming after me would be dead."
"You're Sonny's son, Carly's son, my nephew. You have a brother, sisters, cousins, and grandparents, so many people who love you and want a good, fulfilling life for you. Yet, the one thing you absolutely won't be allowed to do is trade on Sonny's name and my reputation anymore. Milo and Max aren't going to run around and intimidate people for you. If you choose to get into fights, try to get alcohol, or go out and buy a gun and get into trouble for it, you'll suffer the consequences of your actions."
"Dad would never stand for it," Michael scoffed though Jason was pleased to see the smallest flicker of doubt cross his face. "He'd never let me spend a night in jail."
"You might be right about that, Michael." Jason actually thought he might be.
Though Sonny had agreed in theory to the tough love approach with Michael Jason possessed strong doubts that he would be able to hold firm whenever such a very probable scenario occurred. He wouldn't be able to stand by and see his first born in the clutches of the law or even worse, injured or beaten by some thug, without retaliating. Jason would force him to do so though. It would rip him apart as well to stand passively by and not fix things or seek vengeance. Still, he would make Sonny abide by their accord because it was the only way to save Michael and that was all that was important. Jason wanted Michael to have the opportunity of an untainted future and he would do anything, no matter how unpalatable, in the present to make that achievement possible.
"I told you so," Michael's egotistical cockiness, his inherited but unearned confidence was back and emitting forcefully from him at full wattage.
It was at times like these that Jason felt vaguely traitorous for not always liking the boy although he always loved him. He reminded him too much of his father-of AJ-which was a painful association of memories and experiences. Not for the first time he pondered the extremely toxic genetic combination that was involved in forming Michael. There was AJ's self-indulgent weakness merged with Carly's stubbornness and her wild streak. Then the effects of both were further exacerbated by the influences of the violent, amoral world in which he had been raised. Really, if you looked at the situation in that light, it wasn't particularly surprising that they were having such problems with Michael's behavior and choices. Maybe they should consider themselves lucky that it hadn't been worse then it could have been, then it still conceivably might be. Just the mere thought of such increased potential havoc sent a shudder of fear through Jason's body.
"Yeah," Jason said mildly, "Sonny might try to help you out but that is where you're out of luck because Carly and I won't let him. We'll block him every way we know how. Don't forget, Michael, he's not your biological father. The Quartermaines, Carly and me-we'll have more influence when it comes to a legal issue, to deciding which way it goes with you. Especially since your father is known to have affiliations with the criminal world of Port Charles, he won't do well in a legal battle where we match him step for step and dollar for dollar. I guarantee you we'll win this one and you'll be sitting on your butt in a jail cell or occupying a hospital bed somewhere and there won't be a finger lifted in retribution on your behalf."
Michael's arrogance collapsed, he deflated before Jason's eyes, shrinking in on himself, looking like a lost and abandoned child years younger than his actual age. Jason sighed, he wished he could have just swept Michael up and taken him home to Carly for them all to share Christmas together. It simply wasn't possible, from this fraught moment forth the only viable option was damage control.
"Why would you do that?" The question was half pleading, half whining as Michael stared disbelievingly at Jason, his injured feelings on full display. "Do you hate me or something?"
Something inside Jason snapped and he crossed the few feet of snow filled distance between them in an instant. Reaching out he wrapped his arms around the boy, pulling him close in a hug the likes of which they hadn't shared since Michael was years younger. Michael didn't respond for a moment, his body stiff and unyielding and then he let go and leaned into the embrace his arms coming up and wrapping around Jason's back.
"I could never hate you, Michael, never," Jason's eyes were glazed with unshed tears as he stared unseeingly into the distance. "A lot of this is our fault. We let you get away with things, overindulged you sometimes and let you experience things no child should at other times. You were raised in a world with the wrong rules and somehow we expected that you would figure that out on your own. We were totally mistaken in most of our choices concerning you and we all owe you an apology. We didn't intentionally do any of it but I think in some ways that makes it worse. We had lots of opportunities to correct you, to rein you in but we didn't. Then when you shot Kate," He could feel shivers coursing through Michael's body as he mentioned the watershed event of violence. Jason tightened his grip on the boy attempting to reassure him with physical closeness. "That was the point when we should have told the truth, made you accept the blame for what you did, even though it was an accident. That was the point we should have seen where things needed to be fixed before they went too far, before we lost you. You've been allowed to grow up in a world where breaking the law is ignored but worse then that so is hurting and killing people. It's not right, Michael-attacking Keifer, killing Claudia-those are serious acts and we should have made sure you understood that not to punish you but to teach you, to save you. You don't want the life your father and I have lived. I promise you that you don't. It's littered with dead bodies and lost chances and loneliness and regret…most of all regret." Jason murmured that last more to himself then to his nephew, his cascade of words finished.
They stood entwined together while the post-solstice sun steadily marked its downward decline in the winter sky. "Jason?" The voice was muffled against his chest, "I am scared you and Dad won't be proud of me, that I need to measure up."
Jason pushed him back, looking down into reddened eyes and tear stained cheeks. "We'll always be proud of you, Michael. You're have such an amazing spirit, it was obvious even when you were a baby. You love so freely and so strongly. You're smart and caring. You just need to use those abilities in a good way, a positive way. Let your Dad, your Mom and me, let us be happy that we didn't screw everything up that something good managed to come out of all the bad times and the dark times. You're our hope." Jason knew it was a lot to put on such young shoulders but it was the unvarnished truth and he needed to take advantage of the chink in Michael's defensive armor.
Michael nodded and bent his head as though he were embarrassed to meet his uncle's penetrating gaze. "I'll think about it…" he said haltingly unable to make a more concrete assurance at the moment.
"That's good enough for now," Jason gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. He changed the subject in an effort to diffuse the intensity of the situation. "I'm on my way to visit your mom. Spinelli and I are throwing a Christmas party at Kelly's in a couple of hours. You and your family are all invited. Do you want to come with me when I go talk to her?"
"A Christmas party! Wow, you are changing," there was a vertical crease between Michael's eyes as he looked at Jason appraisingly, attempting to read his thoughts and discern what was different about him. It was a wasted effort, his uncle's face was perpetually inscrutable to him but his words and actions were always crystal clear and ultimately that was all that mattered. "Ummh, I think I'll take a walk, clear my head, think about some stuff. I'll see you at Kelly's later though, okay?"
Jason stepped back, gifting them both with a more comfortable personal space. "All right, I'll see you there. Merry Christmas, Michael."
He stayed behind watching the boy leave, his pace slow and deliberate as he placed his feet carefully in the snow. Jason fervently hoped that their discussion, fight whatever it had been was the beginning of getting Michael back on track to some type of normalcy. He didn't exactly know what that was but he sure as hell recognized that it in no way shape or form involved an association with the mob.
"Jason!" Carly was staring at him in amazement. "What are you doing here?"
Jason grinned at her, "What a way to greet someone, Carly. Can I come in?
Carly realized she was blocking the door and while still not sure as to why he was here, she stepped back and let him in. "It's just you usually aren't anywhere to be found on Christmas. Honestly, I didn't expect to see you from last night until sometime after New Year's."
"Yeah," Jason couldn't fault her startled response. After all, she was entirely correct about his habits. "The best way I can describe it is that I had a change of perspective between yesterday and today and now I guess I don't hide away on Christmas anymore."
He knew he was being enigmatic but he couldn't possibly tell Carly, or anyone else for that matter, what had happened to him. If he couldn't really be certain what he had experienced was anything more than a dream, even with all the physical remnants on his body, it was certain that other people would just think he was crazy or had consumed too much alcohol. So, while Jason was determined to treat the revelations of the night with full seriousness and implement life altering changes as a result of them, he felt no compulsion to share what had occurred with anyone else. It was simply enough that he was convinced about the need for change, everyone else would believe it when it happened.
Carly stared intensely at him for a moment as though she could see into his heart, his mind, perhaps his very soul and Jason wasn't entirely sure she couldn't. Then she smiled at him, her face glowing with happiness. "Well, why ever it happened I am glad you're going to celebrate Christmas with us. Come see your goddaughter," she urged him pulling him over to the bassinet by the couch.
Carly carefully lifted Josslyn up and handed her to Jason. He held her in his veteran arms, cradling her lovingly while she stared up at him from wide blue eyes filled with her mother's inquisitiveness. "Hey, Josslyn," he whispered, "Merry Christmas."
"Doesn't she look adorable," Carly crooned, gazing down at her daughter, "How do you like her special Christmas outfit?" She prompted Jason, wrinkling her nose at him.
He looked askance at the red and green striped footsie the baby was wearing which was topped off with a red and green cap complete with a red pom pom. "She looks like a cross between a candy cane and an elf," he replied not mincing his words.
Carly punched him in the arm and glowered at him. "She's wearing festive seasonal attire," she told him firmly just as Jax and Morgan descended the stairs together.
"Jason! Merry Christmas!" Morgan ran over to him and wrapping his arms around his waist hugged him fiercely.
Jason handed Josslyn back to her mother and returned Morgan's embrace. "Merry Christmas, Morgan." He replied, pleased to see the sweet tempered boy.
"Mom didn't tell us you were going to come over today," he said looking up at his godfather, his eyes shining with delight.
"That's because Mom didn't know," Carly gave Jason a pointed glance as she returned Josslyn to the bassinet.
"Merry Christmas, Jason," Jax was standing by Carly, his hand around her waist and a pleasant expression on his face. "Are you eating with us today?" He inquired politely.
Jason had to give the Australian credit for good manners. Jax didn't like Jason much and the feeling was mutual but for the sake of Carly and the children they observed a civil détente. Over time, he had even come to grudgingly admit that Jax was a decent stepfather to both Michael and Morgan.
He shook his head, "Actually," he began, "I'm here to ask you to eat with us-with Spinelli and me-and a lot of other people. We're hosting a Christmas party at Kelly's in a few hours and I really hope you can join us."
"Get out of here!" Morgan was grinning from ear to ear, "That is so cool, you're throwing a Christmas party, wow! We can go can't we, Mom?" Morgan turned on his best imitation of a beseeching puppy dog and looked toward his mother who just laughed at him.
"Of course we're going! I wouldn't miss this for the world. Jason Morgan putting on a party without being under duress, it's an historic occasion." Her eyes gleamed mischievously as she teased her oldest friend.
He glared at her in mock outrage as he suddenly realized that both Jax and Morgan were wearing striped green and red sweaters which coordinated with Josslyn's baby outfit. "Where's yours?" He retorted pointing at her husband and son who were puzzled by his comment. They stood by in mutual incomprehension as the verbal battle waged between Jason and Carly. "Aren't you going to make it a matching set, you and Michael…?" The name slipped from his lips unawares and he immediately regretted it as Carly's smile faded to be replaced by worry lines indented across her brow.
"Michael's out somewhere," she said uncertainly, moving closer to Jax as he tightened his hold on her and looked angrily at Jason, upset that he had distressed Carly.
"I saw him in the park, on my way here." Jason said softly. "He's okay."
"He really is?" Carly searched his face earnestly, making sure he wasn't holding anything back, "Because every time he's out of my sight these days, I worry until he comes back. I worry he won't come back." It was a sign of how stressed she was that Carly would utter such a sentiment in front of Morgan.
"We actually talked about…stuff. He didn't want to hear it at first but after a while he listened. I told him that we-all of us," he glanced at Jax who tilted his head slightly to signify his tacit agreement, "Were going to be together on this and that he couldn't expect to get a pass on poor behavior and a bad attitude anymore. I realize that it'll take a lot more than one conversation to get him back on track but for the first time today I really felt like it's going to be all right, Carly." Jason's voice reflected his inner conviction.
Carly smiled at him, her eyes shimmering with tears, "It's a Christmas miracle," she murmured.
Morgan looked back and forth between his mother and Jax and Jason. He was an intuitive child and had felt the undercurrents of unease and anger which had been floating through the house for months. He didn't understand exactly what had changed today but his slight shoulders felt suddenly lighter as a burden he didn't even know he was carrying was lifted from them.
"Will Michael be at the party?" He asked the question timidly because he felt as though his family's future happiness might rest on Jason's answer.
Jason looked down at him, his eyes a clear brilliant blue, reaching over he ruffled the boy's hair, "He said he would come, Morgan. Your Dad will be there and hopefully Alexis and the girls and well, Spinelli is out inviting all sorts of people right now."
"What about Sam?" Carly asked him, she was fully accepting of their relationship this time around. It was clear to her that the tiny brunette loved him and Jason her. It had taken years but Carly finally had managed to put Jason's desires and needs over her destructive jealously.
"A harbor pilot friend called her a couple of days ago. He had to be in the hospital over the holidays so Sam is down in New York covering his shifts. She'll be back in time to celebrate New Year's." His eyes lit up at the thought and Carly only felt the mildest pang of discontent at the sight.
"That's good," she was surprised to find she actually meant the words, "You must miss her."
"I do." He said simply. "Carly, would you happen to have a blank Christmas card and a pen?"
She arched an eyebrow at his request but didn't ask any questions. She just handed over the required materials and gave him some privacy as he sat on the couch writing in the card. Meanwhile, she and Jax cooed over their daughter who regarded them gravely as she lay placidly on her back.
"See you at Kelly's," Jason was standing up from the couch and heading purposefully toward the door. His errands were completed and he wanted to get to the diner in order to help Mike and Spinelli with the party preparations. He was just turning onto the sidewalk in front of Carly's house when his cell phone rang. He checked the screen to identify the caller, it was Sam.
"Merry Christmas," he greeted her. Speaking to Sam was the final perfect touch of contentment on a special day filled with intentional acts of connection with all the people he cared about.
Everything was pretty much under control at Kelly's when he got there. Dominic had been recruited to help Mike in the kitchen and in trade for his services had been issued a de facto invitation to the party. Spinelli had rounded up Maxie and Lulu to help decorate the diner. The visibly antithetical states of the two couples' relationships were all too painfully obvious to Jason's observant eye upon entering the restaurant.
Dominic kept popping out of the kitchen, reminding Jason of a cuckoo bird in a clock, as he delivered food or deposited drinks on the diner counter which was set up to serve people buffet style. Each time he came out he would catch Lulu's eye and smile at her or make some silly comment that would cause her to giggle and drop something.
On the other hand, Spinelli and Maxie were working in icy silence. They would talk to Lulu but not to each other. If there was a tool or a decoration which needed to be exchanged it was done with immense politeness and a studious avoidance of even the slightest inadvertent contact. Maxie looked miserable as she gazed imploringly at Spinelli's stiff back while she aimlessly placed centerpieces on the diner's tables. He diligently ignored her while attempting to appear fully engrossed in his self-assigned task as he hammered nails and strung garlands and lights throughout the room.
Jason hated seeing the melancholy expression imprinted on Spinelli's face. He glared at the back of Maxie's head wishing Spinelli in service to his ever boundless forgiveness and fair play hadn't been compelled to ask her to the party. He would have preferred not to see her right now, maybe not for a long time and he knew instinctively that it would have been better for Spinelli as well. He missed his roommate's irrepressible humor and good cheer. Jason thought nostalgically of all the times when Spinelli greeted him with high spirit. Then he winced remembering how he always rebuffed his simple overtures with some gruff order to get to work or to leave him alone because he was busy.
So funny, he mused, as he considered the difference between these two young men for whose sakes he would give anything in order to save them from their potentially bleak futures. Michael, so privileged and so loved was full of anger and rage against the world. He felt misused and struck out in fury and frustration as though it were his birthright which in some ways Jason thought it rather was.
Then there was Spinelli who expected nothing for himself, who thought himself undeserving of any care, any thought or concern. Yet, he was a beacon of goodness and his conscience a guide which Jason unconsciously had grown to rely upon. He gave everything and held nothing back. Jason stared intently at Spinelli as he worked, lost in his chore. The thought slowly dawned upon Jason that perhaps, unbeknownst to himself, someone had finally superseded Michael's place in his affections. This boy standing on a teetering ladder doing his utmost to accomplish the job Jason charged him with, as he always did, was his salvation. Spinelli, he realized in a blinding flash of revelation, was one of the few people who did anything for Jason and expected absolutely nothing in return. How could he have been so blind, so careless with this precious person?
He was across the diner in a flash, both hands wrapped around the ladder, "Don't fall," he called up to him, his voice thick with unexpressed emotion.
"Stone Cold?" Spinelli looked down at him vaguely startled at his proximity, "The Jackal was unaware of your arrival. Is everything all right?" He asked, his glance sharpening and becoming more penetrating as he saw or simply sensed Jason's distress.
Jason nodded reassuringly. He was entirely aware that Spinelli would never comprehend the reason for his sudden flash of panic, his eye-opening contemplation of their relationship and most importantly what it was he could no longer deny that he required Spinelli in his life. Jason had always tried to avoid needing anyone but somehow people kept creeping under his radar regardless of his intentions-Emily, Carly, Sonny, Michael, Alan, Monica, Sam…the list seemed endless. Yet, out of them all, it was this boy, this riddle of a person who was the one to teach him through his own actions that caring, freely showing feelings, and risking everything for love was the only true way to live life to its fullest extent.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied, his voice regaining its usual steadiness. "You almost done up there?" He tried to discreetly urge him down off the ladder and onto to solid ground so Jason's heart could stop thumping so erratically.
"Indeed," Spinelli stretched up one final time, stepping beyond the safe recommended height of the ladder which swayed ominously as Jason reflexively tightened his grip on it. "All done," he announced brightly as he rapidly clambered down entirely unaware of Jason's resurgent alarm.
Jason grabbed the ladder and folding the metal stability strips, closed it with a resounding finality. "Come with me while I put this out back in the alley." He curtly instructed his roommate.
"Stone Cold, what are you doing with Mr. Sirs esteemed father's ladder?" Spinelli's voice was a high pitched yelp of alarm as he watched his mentor casually shove it into one of the dumpsters lining the alley walls.
"It's a piece of crap," Jason said unrepentantly. "You could have broken your neck on it. I'll get him a new one, a sturdier one. By the way," he turned toward the hacker, his face stern, "Don't ever let me catch you going up that high on a ladder again. You ought to know better, Spinelli!" He scolded him with all the familiar fear of a parent for a child who has just managed to escape harm unscathed.
Spinelli lowered his head, his face reddening under the sting of Jason's lecture. "The Jackal was simply caught up in his task, Stone Cold. He was unaware of any danger."
"Yeah, well start being aware, Spinelli, I don't want you ending up in a full body cast. Here, this is for you." Abruptly he pulled the Christmas card Carly had given him out of his jacket pocket.
Spinelli took the unmarked envelope in his hands, an unsettled look on his face, "What is it, Stone Cold?" He asked trying to imagine what could possibly be inside it.
"Your Christmas present," he replied obliquely, "Open it."
"The Jackal didn't expect…" he was muttering as he slipped a finger under the flap and pulled out the card. Opening he read it and after briefly pausing reread it. "Jason, it's…I never…are you sure?" His face was pale and serious, his green eyes glowing as he stared at his friend.
"Yeah," Jason said squarely meeting his look, "I want to do it. I've already traveled to those countries and there might be some spots I could show you. Yet, I know for a fact that there are probably all kinds of places I never went which you'll want to visit." He gave him a crooked half smile, "Educate me," he challenged him.
His reward was found a hundredfold within the transcendent smile that blazed across the boy's face, "Stone Cold! This is my fondest wish come true, to travel to Europe, to all her revered places of antiquity, sacred shrines to science and literature and hallowed halls of history. Thank you, thank you!"
Spinelli dashed forward, his enthusiasm unbounded and Jason, caught off balance, was pushed back against the alley wall under the impact of his assault. A sudden flash of the night before crossed his mind, Spinelli little more than a bundle of rags abandoned and dead lying in another alley, discarded like Mike's ladder, inanimate trash, mourned by no one. Closing his eyes tightly, he banished the awful vision, returning it to a future that would never be for he would make certain of it. For the first time ever in their acquaintance, he relished the opportunity to have physical contact between them. Unashamed of the tears glinting in his eyes, Jason wrapped his arms around the living embodiment of hope he held reverently in his arms. He hugged him back, fiercely grateful beyond words for this second chance which it appeared they each had been miraculously granted.
It was Spinelli who pushed away from Jason and he looked up at him, his hair tousled and his eyes gleaming with joy. "Do you know what the best part about your gift is?"
"No, what?" Jason prompted him, constantly amazed at how simple it was to make Spinelli happy.
"It is that we will be undertaking this marvelous journey of exploration and discovery together, Stone Cold. Oh, I can hardly wait for April…" He vibrated with impatience at the thought of the delay now that the concept of the trip was firmly implanted in his mind.
Jason laughed, "We should go when the weather is decent but not during the height of the tourist season. Beside, you can take the time to plan a precise itinerary so that we can use the two months to our full advantage."
"You will miss Fair Samantha for a trip of such extended duration. Perhaps she could rendezvous with us at some juncture." Spinelli offered magnanimously.
"Maybe so, Spinelli but I want it to be clear, this is our trip-yours and mine. So, we'll see about inviting Sam but the important thing is that you get to do whatever you want."
Spinelli looked overwhelmed at the concept of being totally indulged. Yet, before he could say anything further, Mike poked his head around the diner's back door, "Hey, fellas, people are starting to arrive."
The party was in full swing. Even though the invitations had all been last minute, almost everyone who was asked came. Carly and her family showed up, matching sweaters and all. Alexis arrived with her two girls and Mac in attendance. Maxie ran to her dad and he enfolded her in his arms glowering at a hapless Spinelli, forever unable to alter his almost father-in-law's ill opinion of him. Diane and Max showed up together and Jason almost spit out his eggnog as he caught sight of the reindeer antlers they were each wearing.
Robin came up to give him a brief hug and a kiss on the cheek, "Merry Christmas, Jason! It's about time you did something like this," she said putting her seal of approval on the party while Patrick stood nearby holding a babbling Emma.
Sonny arrived with Olivia who looked awkward at being at this gathering with so many people whom she only knew peripherally. She stayed close by Sonny's side as he moved between his two families. Josslyn helped her out by just being a baby that she could make a fuss over and win smiles from both Jax and Carly in the bargain as she said their daughter was beautiful which they both knew but it was always nice to hear it affirmed again and again.
Then Johnny entered the diner, he was clearly mildly inebriated as he swaggered into the crowded room. Olivia's hard won sang froid quickly evaporated as he proceeded to flirt audaciously with Maxie who responded to his overtures with a kind of desperate gaiety. They staked a proprietary claim to the mistletoe over by the kitchen as Maxie's shrieks of laughter grated on Jason's nerves. He watched as Olivia tried her best to keep her gaze from them but her eyes seemingly of their own volition kept sliding in the direction pf the amorous pair. Every time she looked over it was to find Johnny staring boldly at her. His eyes met hers with a hot defiance as he kissed his way up Maxie's neck, across her cheek and ultimately ended pressing his lips to hers in a lingering and intimate kiss which brought neither of them any pleasure.
Finally, dreading what he might see, he searched for the room for Spinelli. Jason needed to know how he was taking Maxie's and Johnny's blatant attempt at arousing jealousy in their respective erstwhile partners. It appeared they were intent on dealing out a public punishment to Spinelli and Olivia for daring to end their relationships without the consent of their lovers. Spinelli was pretending not to care, not to see as he chatted with Diane and Max. Still, Jason was an expert at reading his roommate's body language and it was clear to him how uncomfortable and wretchedly despondent the hacker felt in the face of such an inappropriate display. Jason's fingers itched to punch Johnny and follow through by picking Maxie up bodily and placing her outside the diner in the snow to cool down her overheated hormones. They had no right to ruin this day for Spinelli or even Olivia. It was Christmas, God damn it!
Molly appeared by Spinelli's side asking him to accompany her to the jukebox across the room and pick out some Christmas music for the party. He smiled down at the little girl as she grabbed his hand and tugged at him, urging him to come with her. Together they went over to the jukebox and soon Ella Fitzgerald singing 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' spilled out into the room adding to the hum of chatter and laughter.
Maxie disentangled herself from Johnny's grasp as soon as she realized that Spinelli was truly ignoring her. Jason was surprised to find he actually had some sympathy for both of them as he saw matching expressions of forlorn loneliness cross their faces at their failed attempt to reignite some spark of passion in either Olivia or Spinelli.
The Quartermaine family and Alice breezed in raising the collective noise level of the gathering several decibels. Jason moved forward to greet Monica who hugged him and gave him a quick kiss. "Thank you so much for thinking of us and including us today, Jason." She said softly, her eyes sparkling with unexpressed emotion.
"You're my family," he said gravely, "I know I don't always do a good job of showing I care but I do. I'm glad you're here."
"Hmmph," was Edward's only comment as he stood next to Monica but his face momentarily softened as he caught sight of her expression of delight. "C'mon my dear," he said patting her on the shoulder, "I want to take full advantage of the fact we for once shan't be eating pizza for our holiday meal. Let's go see what type of spread these hooligans have managed to prepare."
Ethan had accompanied Tracy and Luke and he instantly sought out Dante and Lulu who were now under the mistletoe having supplanted a disinterested Johnny and Maxie. The two tentative lovers teased each other, feinting forward and stepping back, each refusing to be the first one to initiate a kiss.
"Ugh!" It was a shout of disgust emanating from Tracie. "It's only eggnog!" She complained looking down at the creamy drink contained within the plastic cup in her hand.
"It's a Christmas tradition, Miss. Tracy," Alice placidly chastised her for making a scene in public, her voice full of long suffering restraint.
"I know that!" Tracy retorted petulantly, "Eggnog's great when it's made right, with an additional little something added to give it a kick. This…this though is just milk, eggs, and nutmeg," She looked at the cup she was holding and shuddering in distaste, placed it back down in the counter.
"That's just not right!" Luke was taking up her cause and making it his own, "Jason," he appealed to his host, "Can't you do something about this travesty? It's the holidays, they were meant for booze."
Jason shrugged unapologetically. "Afraid not Luke, Kelly's doesn't have a liquor license and besides there are a lot of kids here today." He wasn't sorry in the least. After last night, he was keeping alcohol and Spinelli as separate from one another as he could manage.
The door opened again and Jason watched Carly look over, anticipation and worry mingled on her face as she hoped to see her eldest child. Nicholas and Spencer entered instead and she valiantly hid her disappointment as she went over to greet them. Molly and Morgan claimed the little boy and brought him over to the corner of the diner where Spinelli had hung a Christmas piñata in the shape of a reindeer. All of the children and most of the adults had in their turn worn the obligatory blindfold and taken a swing at the paper mache figure. After so many attempts no one had managed to break it open. Yet, this time, after being spun around several times by his cousins, Spencer gave it a single lucky whack and a cascade of toys and candies spilled onto the floor.
Everyone cheered for him and he took off his blindfold and gave a small gratified smile to the watching crowd. Then he proceeded to gather up the contents of the burst piñata in an empty bowl his grandfather procured for him. With scrupulous politeness, he wandered the room with the bowl proffering the treats to the other guests and forbearing from taking a piece of candy for himself until he made sure that he had given a chance to everyone else. Nicholas stood by Alexis watching Spencer's progress, his face was smooth and unreadable but his eyes gleamed with a quiet pride in his well mannered son.
"Wow, Nicholas, I think I am going to start sending my kids over to Wyndermere for etiquette lessons," Carly said in an awed voice.
"The sooner the better," Alexis murmured sotto voce but Carly had the ears of a lynx and stalked toward her, ready to do battle.
"Are you saying my kids have bad manners?" She hissed at Alexis, her eyes blazing.
"Well, I don't know if bad is the right word exactly," Alexis drawled not intimidated in the least by Carly's show of temper.
"At least I let my kids be kids," Carly rejoined, satisfied as Alexis' eyes widened and her lips narrowed in response to her taunt.
Jason, Jax and Mac were all moving toward the two women, intent on defusing the situation and separating the combatants when a sharp, assured voice cut through the air, "Ladies, ladies, it's neither the time nor the place." Diane Miller sauntered toward them, somehow managing an insouciant air of reason and competence even with the absurd reindeer antlers swaying on her head. "It's Christmas, a time for family and friends and wonderful, wonderful shoes." She looked down with deep satisfaction at the cerise pumps Max had given her that very morning, "Surely, you two can save the bickering and backstabbing for the other three hundred and sixty four days of the year and keep an inviolate truce for this single day?" She waited patiently, while both Carly and Alexis realized that everyone in the room, including their own children, were staring at them, awaiting their response.
Alex was the first to speak. She waggled her hand in a gesture of submission toward Diane and said sheepishly, "She's right, we can fight tomorrow and the day after and…well, Merry Christmas, Carly."
Carly grinned at her, her eyes full of mischief, "Merry Christmas, Alexis, but don't expect me to hug you!"
Alexis's mouth made an instinctive moue of distaste, "Perish the thought!"
The door opened again and this time it was finally Michael. He walked into the room saying excitedly, "It's snowing out!" He brushed the tell tale icy flakes off his coat, his burnished hair blazing in the lights of the diner.
"Michael!" Carly squeaked her happiness as she ran to greet him.
Jason caught Sonny's eye as they silently telegraphed their mutual relief at his arrival. Kristina followed Carly, wanting to be the second in-line to hug her brother. Michael was rapidly surrounded by his family.
Jason was content as he stood off to the side happy in the moment, glad that his two charges, his two boys were safe and secure at least for tonight. He could relax his vigilance, his chosen burden and pick it up once more on the morrow. For now he simply wanted to enjoy this room full of friends and family, the people who mattered to him and he to them. It had been a long time, maybe it had never occurred in his life as Jason Morgan, since he had permitted himself to simply bask in the basic human sensation of caring, of love and he intended to make the most of the sensation.
"If I may?" The voice coming from behind Jason was low pitched and tentative. Still, somehow it penetrated the consciousness of the talkative crowd and one by one they fell silent. Finally everyone was turned toward the slight form standing upon a diner chair, a requisite bottle of orange soda clutched in one hand. Spinelli blushed at being the cynosure of all eyes even though he had intentionally sought the effect. "Um…the Jackal bows to no one in his admiration of all things Stone Cold." As was always the case, once he began the words flowed seamlessly from his lips. "Yet, I think that it is the imperfections we possess which make us both human and worthy of affection as we consistently strive to always be better than we can ever truly hope to be. It is the complete elusiveness of perfection which makes it an aspiration so worthy of our pursuit. Therefore, it would apparently fall to me, Stone Cold's humble acolyte, to use that one skill which he lacks, the trait of verbosity, to welcome you all this evening. We are blessed to be inside on such a cold and blustery night-warm and well fed-as we revel in the simple companionship of one another."
Spinelli paused and Edward hoisted his cup of eggnog saying, "Hear, hear!" Others joined in his toast, lifting their glasses, cups and bottles containing a wide variety of beverages.
Spinelli was no longer shy before the crowd though he took another moment, looking down at the floor as though seeking inspiration in its worn surface, before raising his head and once more addressing the assemblage. "This day is special and it matters not if you celebrate it with religious fervor in your heart or because it is a tradition or merely because you are attracted to the external trappings of lights, music and gifts. It is the one time in the year when people smile genuinely at one another and the word peace is on everyone's lips. Who amongst us would deny that simple virtue to our brethren here and around the world? It is a time for the putting aside of animosities, when families come together and share their love. It is an all too brief annual moment when the hope for a better world seems an eminently attainable goal. So, I raise my cup to you," Spinelli matched the action to his words as he lifted his bottle of orange soda high into the air causing everyone else to once again follow suit, "Merry Christmas to you all and may God bless us everyone!"
A/N: Reviews are appreciated