Hey everyone here's the next chapter...I'm not sure how I feel about it so I might pull it and change some of it, I just feel like it jumps a lot....let me know what you think!

It had been almost 2 weeks since Maxie's tumble down the stairs, and she still lay in the hospital unconscious. During Maxie's fall she had hit her head in multiple locations nearly on each step along the way. After viewing her CAT SCAN and her EKG records Maxie had several contusions and a severe concussion, but other than that the only injury was a fractured wrist. The doctor's had no understanding of why she hadn't regained consciousness yet.

Jason had stayed in Maxie's hospital room as long as he could; which wasn't long. Robin had been on duty so Jason explained why he was the first one to find Maxie. She had been with Spinelli up on the roof and ran after him, only to fall down the steps. It was the truth, minus the reason she chased after Spinelli. With Maxie's constant train of visitors it made it increasingly hard for Jason to spend time with his unconscious girlfriend. He'd taken to sneaking into her room after hours, and crawling into bed beside her just praying and hoping that his presence was enough to wake her up.

Spinelli wasn't one of her frequent visitors. After Maxie had been stabilized Jason raced back to the penthouse to try and talk things out with Spinelli. Instead of finding his eccentric roommate he found a note on the desk saying that he had moved out and was going to spend time with his grandmother in Tennessee. Jason tried calling but it wasn't something he wanted to leave on his voicemail. So he waited and hoped that Spinelli would call him, and soon. But still after two weeks there had been no word.

So here Jason sat, sitting in the chair next to Maxie's bed, it was well into the night shift and the only light in the room was the glow from the bathroom; at least it was until someone entered the room turning on the lights first and then stepping through. It was none other than Nurse Elizabeth Webber, former girlfriend of Jason, and enemy of the girl in the bed.

"Jason—" Elizabeth said surprised by his presence.

"I was just sitting with her." Jason explained quietly, his gaze drifting back to the blonde-haired beauty. "More like pleading with her to wake up." It was nice not having to cover his tracks, Elizabeth already knew that he and Maxie had been—whatever they had been, were doing.

"I'm just here to check her vitals." Elizabeth said holding up Maxie's chart and moving towards the monitors. "Have you been here long?"

"Every night since." Jason didn't feel like getting into another fight with Elizabeth. He just didn't have the energy to fight with her about his relationship with Maxie, and he didn't want that to be the atmosphere Maxie slept it. "How's she doing?"

"No change. Jason I don't want you to give up hope but—"

"Then don't say whatever you're about to say." Jason said cutting her off. "Maxie is a fighter, she's been through worse she can make it through this too."

Elizabeth wordlessly finished filling out the chart before placing it on the rack at the end of Maxie's bed. "Jason I-can I at least know why? Why Maxie, why couldn't we work things out?"

"Elizabeth we've been through this before. You're the one who asked me to stay away. And I can't very well be a part of your life and not a part of Jakes. There's so much history between us Elizabeth, with Maxie it's just easy."

"Well she does sleep with everyone so yeah she's easy." Elizabeth said under her breath, but just loud enough for Jason to hear.

"For the record, I haven't slept with Maxie yet, not that it's any of your business." Jason bit back. He didn't enjoy talking about his romantic relationships, but Elizabeth was wearing on his last nerve. It took most of his energy not to yell at the doctor's for not finding a way to help Maxie more.

"Well at least answer me this, if it weren't for the boys, would we still have a shot?" Elizabeth asked. She loved her boys more than life itself but she needed to know.

"Elizabeth that's never going to be the case. You will always have a place in my heart, because you're Jake's mother, but we can never be. With Maxie; I don't have to try to be perfect because we're both on the same page. There's no expectation of forever, and she was a part of my lifestyle before she got involved with me, Spinelli was her link into my lifestyle and once she was there she refused to leave."

"Speaking of Spinelli, where is he?" Elizabeth asked trying for a safe subject change. She didn't want to hear more about how Maxie's lifestyle was perfect for Jason any longer. "I expected to see him posted at her bedside morning, noon and night."

Jason just released a deep sigh at the mention of Spinelli's whereabouts. "I was here to visit Edward, Spinelli got the message from Monica and had Maxie's help in tracking me down. We were on the roof when Spinelli showed up. Maxie tired to cover and say that she kissed me out of the blue, and that's when Spinelli went off on her."

"Maxie feel down the stairs running after Spinelli." Elizabeth supplied.

"By the time Maxie was stabilized and I got back to the penthouse, Spinelli had already left for his grandmothers. He's not answering my calls." Jason said taking hold of Maxie's hand being careful not to touch the IV. "I'd give anything for her to just wake up right now."

"I'll leave you alone now." Elizabeth said moving towards the door and turning off the light. "She's strong Jason. It's like you said she's been through worse she'll make it through this."

~*~

"McCall and Jackal PI, this is Sam how can I help you." Sam said answering the office phone.

"Greetings, it is I the Jackal."

"Spinelli where have you been?" Sam said quickly. She had left a few messages for him, but hadn't been able to communicate yet.

"I'm visiting my dear Granny. Sorry for the haste in my departure." Spinelli said cryptically, he knew that Maxie and Jason's romantic affair was a secret and though he was angry beyond belief at the two he didn't want to cause a ruckus.

"Spinelli I have been trying to get a hold of you for two weeks now. There's something you need to know about Maxie." Sam started. She didn't want to tell him over the phone about Maxie but it was the only option she had at the moment.

"Fair Samantha if you're going to tell me of the tryst between Maxie and Stone cold, the Jackal is already aware. I actually caught them in an illustrious kiss."

Sam caught off guard by Spinelli's idea of what was going on faltered for a moment before pressing on with her news. "Spinelli that's not what this is about. I had no idea that you saw Jason and Maxie kissing. What I was going to tell you is that Maxie is in the hospital, has been for the last two weeks. She fell down the stairs, she's in a coma. The doctor's don't know why she hasn't woken up yet." Sam finished. She didn't mean to say it all at once, but knowing Spinelli she had to say it before he started rambling.

"The Jackal will be on the first flight back to Port Charles." Spinelli said before hanging up. Leaving Sam with the news of Jason and Maxie's secret relationship, if there was one. Spinelli had been known to confuse his imaginary cyber world with reality. But with Spinelli's sudden disappearance it was a possibility. The only way to truly find the answer was to go to the source. And since Maxie was currently unable to speak for herself, it was up to Jason to tell her the truth.

~*~

Sam checked with the nurse's station to make sure Maxie hadn't been moved to a different room before heading the direction she knew well. She had taken it upon herself as one of Maxie's few friends to visit her as much as possible. Although Sam didn't remember anything from her time in a medically induced coma she knew afterwards that she hoped people had visited her. Opening the door slowly she saw a figure laying next to Maxie's unconscious form, an arm draped around her stomach pulling her closer to his body in their sleep.

Even before Sam turned on the light, or even stepped into the room the sleeping figure noticed the change in the room and quickly removed himself for the blonde's side. "Sam?" Jason voice said from the darkened room, with the extra light from the open door Jason was able to make out who stood in the door jam.

"Yep it's me." She said smiling and turning the light on, illuminating Jason's scruffy appearance as if he hadn't slept in a few weeks. "So I guess it's true. Spinelli told me that he found you and Maxie kissing."

"You talked with Spinelli?" Jason asked.

"I told him about Maxie, he's on his way back to Port Charles. Is that why Maxie was running after Spinelli when she fell?"

"Yeah." Jason said rubbing a hand across his face, at least one problem was solved. Spinelli was on his way home, so he could begin to patch up their friendship. "And if you want to fight with me about it, can we at least go get some coffee. I don't think I'm up for another round of this right now."

Sam looked at how worn down Jason seemed. "I have no right to dictate your love life Jason. But I just want to say, and hope that you know that Maxie being in this bed isn't your fault." She knew how Jason was constantly blaming himself for the injuries and misfortunes of others, but this wasn't one that he was even remotely guilty of. "Even the fact that she was running after Spinelli, it wasn't your fault."

"I know that Sam. It still shouldn't have happened. We should have just been up front with Spinelli from the beginning."

"Beginning? You mean this has been going on for a while?"

"Over a month. Elizabeth of all people was the only person who knew before now." Jason laughed. "She walked in on us making out on my couch."

"She's going to make it through this Jason." Sam said strongly. She needed to believe that for herself and she knew that Jason would start to doubt the longer time went on.

"I know that Sam. I just wish she would wake up already."

Not knowing what else to say, Sam gave Jason a squeeze on the shoulder before walking out of the room. Knowing that Spinelli was now on his way back to Port Charles, just gave a quick kiss to Maxie's forehead before whispering "I'll see you soon, babe. If it happens to fit into your busy schedule to wake up while I'm gone. I'll let you redo my wardrobe."

Jason left and headed back to the penthouse to shower, shave check in with Sonny and then if he was lucky; catch a few hours of sleep. It had been hard over the last two weeks.

~*~

Fresh off the plane from Tennessee Spinelli caught a taxi and headed straight for General Hospital. Although he was still utterly devastated by the betrayal of the two people closest to him, Maxie being in a coma overshadowed everything else. He just hoped that Jason wasn't in the room waiting for him. Although he had, had a while to think about Maxie and Jason's situation he still wasn't ready to deal with it up front.

He found the blonde-one sleeping peacefully, her hair framing her face, her body clothed in a hospital gown; much different than the fashion's she was accustomed to. "Fairest blonde one, it saddens me to see you in this state." Spinelli said sitting in the chair next to her bed. "If only the Jackal hadn't been so stubborn he would have called back Stone-Cold and would have been here sooner."

"You're here now." Maxie whispered hoarsely for lack of use.

"Fair Maximista you have awakened!" Spinelli eagerly said jumping up from his seat. Reaching for the call button, Spinelli pressed it knowing that a doctor or nurse would soon arrive. "I hear you've been missing for the last few weeks."

"What, the last thing I remember was running after you down the stairs." Maxie said trying to push herself into a seated position. "And my heel caught on the edge of a step—" it was all coming back to her, she terror she felt as she knew there was nothing she could do to stop herself from falling. But the fact that she had apparently been unconscious for the last few weeks sent her into a whole different tailspin of emotions. "Spinelli how long has it been?"

"It'll be two weeks tomorrow." Spinelli said before the door opened and in came Elizabeth and Patrick Drake.

"You're awake!" Patrick said excitedly. Being a neurosurgeon and Maxie's cousin by marriage he had taken it upon himself to keep an eye on Maxie's condition. "How are you feeling?"

"A little headache, but I've really been asleep for two weeks?" Maxie asked eager for answers.

"Yeah, you gave us all quite a scare. Robin and Mac are going to be through the roof."

"I shall go call the commissionership." Spinelli said before quickly leaving the room, he almost fell backwards when he ran smack into Jason's firm chest. "Stone Cold, you'll be happy to know that your secret desire has finally awoken. It seems the Jackal's presence helped awaken her from her slumber."

"That's great Spinelli." Jason said sitting his hands into jean pockets. With Maxie being awake all he wanted to do was rush towards her, but if she was awake that would mean a parade of doctor's and Mac, meaning his window of opportunity would be closing soon. "Do you know if anyone is in with her right now?"

"Just Fair Elizabeth and Dr. Drake. I'm on my way to call her…Mac." Spinelli informed him.

"Right, which probably means I should leave before they show up." Jason said before quickly leaving. Without making his way towards Maxie's room.

~*~

Patrick had left a few minutes before leaving Maxie and Elizabeth alone while she finished changing her IV.

"So this is awkward." Maxie said sitting up in the bed.

"I'll be out of here in just a minute, Maxie." Elizabeth said moving around her bed doing her nurse duties.

"This might sound weird but do you think you could call Jason?" Maxie asked. "I'm guessing Mac took home my cell phone and I don't have the number memorized."

"Chances are, he'll be by soon. He usually checks in with you about 9 depending on when Mac and Robin are here." Elizabeth said, she didn't really want to have this conversation with Maxie but they needed to move past their troubles if there were going to co-exist. And things with Lucky had come full circle for them so really she didn't want to hold onto the anger and resentment of that any longer. "He's fallen asleep here I don't know how many times but he's been here. So I'm sure he'll turn up eventually."

"Thank you Elizabeth. This can't be easy for you seeing him here with me. This isn't like the Lucky thing, I'm not trying to steal him from you—"

"I know." Elizabeth said stopping her from continuing. "But for the record the sooner you and Jason come clean with your relationship the better it will be in the long run. Secrets just hurt people."

"What about Mac?"

"There comes a time Maxie when every girl needs to tell her father no. It just depends on whether it's worth it to you or not?" Elizabeth finished before leaving Maxie alone in the room, alone for the first time since waking up. Reaching into the table next to her bed she found a hand held mirror to look at her reflection. She hoped she would have a chance to shower and change into more stylish pajamas before Jason arrived; the hospital gown not doing anything to help her pasty pale skin at the moment.

All in all it was Robin and Patrick first followed by Mac who ran into the room followed closely by Spinelli who lingered at the back by the door until Mac yelled for his to leave. He informed her he would be back at the penthouse so she could find him later. And of course he would inform Jason about her recent return to the waking.

The hours had passed and all the visitors had been told to leave due to visiting hours. And as Maxie lay awake in bed Jason still had yet to come and visit. And her hope of his visiting grew less and less as pain meds started to lull her to sleep.

~*~

Spinelli's entrance into the Penthouse startled Jason. After being along for almost two weeks he hadn't expected anyone to walk in. But the fact that he was here, and that he was willing to walk into a place where Jason might actually be meant that there was still hope for their friendship.

"I just came from seeing the fair Maximista." Spinelli said setting his trusty computer bag on the desk. "You would be happy to know that she has awakened from her slumber and is currently thriving in her hospital room."

"That's great Spinelli." Jason said overjoyed by the good news. "How are you doing?" He didn't quite know how to bring up the night on the roof, or even bridge upon the topic.

"It was nice to visit dearest Granny. Although I will admit I missed quaint Port Charles, and you and Maximista."

"It's good to have you back." Jason said not knowing how to show his emotion to the young hacker.

"I presume you'll be heading to see Maxie now that visiting hours are over?"

"I don't think that's a good idea Spinelli." Jason said sitting down on the couch.

"Does this mean that Stone Cold and Maxie's relationship is over?"

"It's so complicated Spinelli. I just don't know what I should be doing right now. Secret relationship's are so hard to maintain." Jason placed his head in his hand letting out a few deep breaths.

"So don't be in secret. I must admit it will be hard for the Jackal to see my love in the arms or another man, but if that man has to be someone I'd prefer it to be someone who I know will protect Maximista with all they have. And I know you will do that."

Spinelli approval of the relationship was bringing a whole new perspective to his relationship with Maxie. When he had first started the relationship almost 2 months prior he never pictured that they would actually thrive as a couple. He'd seen how Maxie's past relationships had gone, whether she had slept with someone else's boyfriend, or backstabbed a friend Maxie had a habit of sabotaging her own relationship. He didn't figure that this would be any different; which it had been.

"Thank you for your approval of my relationship with Maxie. I don't know what is going to become of all this, but knowing that you don't hate me is helping." Jason said somberly.

"So I'll leave you to go visit." Spinelli said grabbing his bag and moving towards the stairs. "Jason don't give up on something that could make you happy just because people are going to stand in your way."

Jason watched Spinelli climb up the stairs and disappear out of view. It only took Jason a few seconds before Jason pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and scrolled through his contacts until his found the number for Maxie's hospital room. Baring that she hadn't been moved due to her waking the number should still work. He figured it would make more sense to call before just showing up for risk of whoever else would find him in the room. He'd already revealed his relationship to Elizabeth and Sam, with any luck he'd run into Mac next time.

The phone rang 3 times before a groggy voice answered, "Hello."

"It's about time you woke up." Jason said with a smile in his voice.

"Jason!" Maxie said the joy that he had finally called thrilled her. "Where are you, why haven't you been by yet?"

"I didn't want to risk running into Mac or Robin or someone else. I'll have you know it was very difficult to sneak in and out of your room every night. I got caught by Elizabeth and Sam. So as you can guess Sam now knows about our relationship." Jason smiled calling it a relationship, it had been a while since he had been in one, and what he had with Elizabeth had been one but being in secret was difficult on both of them. He hoped they could skip over all that this time.

"Well there's no one here right now." Maxie said Jason could clearly hear the flirtation in her voice, making it increasingly hard for him to think straight. "Come on I haven't seen you in two weeks."

"I've seen you everyday Maxie. You need to sleep."

"I've been sleeping nonstop. I want to see my man-friend."

"Is that what I am to you now?"

"Well you're too old to be considered a boy—"

"So man-friend it is?" Jason smiled; it had been a long time since he had found himself smiling so much due to a woman. "You need to rest up, and get back your strength. I promise I'll see you soon."

"Okay, I don't like it but I'll accept it. Just be prepared for some serious cuddling when I see you again."

"You can count on it. Night Maxie." Jason said before hanging up. Not knowing what else to do he quickly checked the locks before turning off the lights and heading up the stairs to get some sleep, in his own bed. Something he hadn't been used to in the last few weeks.