It's been a long, long time. I'm sorry. I'll try to update regularly from now on.
Chapter 8
The beep in his ear was annoying, and he tried lifting his hand to swat the fly away when he noticed the pain radiating through his arm and shoulder. When he listened again, he realized that the beep wasn't a fly, but something else. He was in the hospital, even though he didn't remember what happened to bring him there. ''Damn,'' he whispered, and he heard a chair being pushed back and someone grabbed his hand.
''Jase – I'm going to call mom ok?'' he heard his sister say, and he nodded. He tried opening his eyes but the light was blinding, and he closed them again. Sam. She came in his head and he tried to sit up, but the pain in his head was unbearable. He needed some water, but he knew Emily was long gone to get his mother, Monica Quartermaine. He looked around and suddenly he remembered the warehouse, and Manny. He'd shot at Manny but missed, and Manny had his him in the shoulder. Because he'd been shot in his leg before he had felt like he didn't have any blood left at that moment, and he had collapsed.
''Jason, I'm glad you're awake,'' he heard, and he opened his eyes again and looked at his mother. She moved closer and smiled at him, and he couldn't help but smile back. ''I'm going to look if everything is ok, and then I'll give you something for the pain,'' she said, and he nodded. He didn't want anything for the pain, but he knew if he didn't take it he wouldn't be better soon.
''Hey, thank you – I know you don't like seeing me like this but I appreciate it,'' he said softly, and she just nodded as she took his vitals.
''Everything looks ok, you've been shot in your leg and shoulder, and they had to get them out in surgery, but they didn't do any damage,'' she told him, and he nodded. ''You will have to stay here for a couple of days but you should be out of here by the end of the week,'' she added, and he growled.
''I can't stay here, Monica. I promised…'' he stopped talking when she shot him a glare, and he knew he couldn't say anything to make her change her mind about him staying. He would just have to sneak out later, he thought. ''How long have I been out?'' he asked, looking at Monica and his sister.
''A day, with surgery included,'' Monica replied, and he closed his eyes and sighed. He'd been out a day, and he had promised Sam he would come to her when she called. She probably would be angry with him right now, because he broke his promise.
''How's Max? Did he get out alright?'' he asked, and Monica nodded. He didn't remember it, but he knew the place had been wired to explode, and Max had been in there with him. He knew the other men had been out after they had shot the goon, because that had been the plan.
''He has a concussion, but everything is fine,'' Monica replied, and Jason nodded.
''Thanks Monica,'' he said softly, and she smiled at him again. Both Monica and Emily left, and he was surprised when Max walked in looking around for anyone. ''Max, what are you doing?'' he asked, and Max smiled.
''Listen, I know you and I know you want to get out of here – so I called Stan for you and got Sam's location. If you still want to go I'll get someone to drive us there,'' Max whispered, and Jason felt relieved that he wasn't the only one going to Sam.
''You're going with me to see Sam?'' he asked just to be sure, and Max nodded. ''We're sneaking out of here at midnight after the last rounds,'' he said, and Max nodded and grinned.
''I'll come and get you then – I'll pack some things for you because I don't think we'll be getting home soon,'' Max said, and he left without giving Jason the chance to reply. Jason figured he should use the time until midnight to rest, so he could be awake when he arrived at Sam. He was really looking forward to seeing her again, and he fell asleep with a smile on his face thinking about her.
##########
Sam knew she had to go and take a nap, because she hadn't been able to sleep all night, and she was worried about Jason. He hadn't even called to let her know he was ok, and with his job he could be dead and she didn't even have anyone to contact. Max hadn't been answering his phone all day, and she knew something had happened.
''Sweetie, why don't you go sleep for a little while, and I'll wake you when your phone rings,'' Kirsten said, and Sam sighed and shook her head.
''I couldn't fall asleep anyway,'' she replied, and Kirsten sighed. ''I know you're worried about me Nan, but don't do it. You have you're daughter to worry about and I wont do anything stupid,'' she said, and Kirsten nodded.
''I know, and I wont be leaving until this man of yours shows up, so don't worry. Dave also said he would wait with you,'' Kirsten told her, and she smiled.
''Thank you – I appreciate it,'' Sam said, and she closed her eyes. She was really tired, but she just couldn't sleep. When she closed her eyes and seemed to drift off, all she could see was Jason. Jason's body, or Jason wounded, and she would shoot up and feel the fear grip around her heart. ''You know, maybe he's just busy and he didn't hear I called him – and he didn't check his voicemail,'' she suddenly said, and Kirsten grabbed her hand.
''He's coming here, I just know it,'' she said, and Sam nodded. She looked at the garden and suddenly she felt the need to get out, and she did.
''I'm going to go and go to the city for a while – I need something to do with my time,'' she said, and Kirsten just nodded. Sam got up and walked over to her bedroom where she grabbed her purse and keys and she walked back to the living room where Kirsten was still cleaning. ''I'll see you in a bit – and then I'll help you,'' she said, and before Kirsten could reply she was out of the cottage and in her car. She drove slowly, and felt calmer every second. She just had to have her mind on something else.
##########
Jason groaned with frustrating when he woke up and it still wasn't midnight. He wanted to go to Sam and he wanted to be there early, so he grabbed the hospital phone and dialed Max' number. His cell phone went straight to voicemail, so Jason tried his landline and then he picked up. ''Max, we're going to sneak out when my family is off shift, so that's in about an hour,'' Jason said, and Max chuckled.
''Ok, you want to see Sam I get it. I'll be there in an hour and I'll bring Milo – he is off this week so he can bring us there,'' Max replied, and Jason sighed in relief. ''I'm almost done here so see you later,'' Max added and then he disconnected the line. Jason closed his eyes and smiled. Even though he was in pain from two gunshot wounds he was still able to go and sit in a car. He wanted and needed to go to Sam because he didn't want her to think he didn't want to see her, but he couldn't call her. He didn't know her number out of his head yet, because he didn't have the chance to remember it, and his cell phone had been burned – as he realized just like Max' cell phone.
''Jason,'' he heard someone whisper, and when he looked up he saw it was Sonny. ''I heard Max say you were going to see Sam – when were you planning on telling me?'' he asked, and Jason shrugged.
''When I was there? I don't know Sonny, I need to go see her because I promised I would come when she called, and she did – even though I didn't get the change to call her back I'll go there,'' he told Sonny, and Sonny nodded.
''Well, I can fix you a phone so you can call her now, but I don't like you leaving without telling me,'' Sonny said, and Jason frowned and opened his mouth to say something when Sonny cut him off, ''it's just that we are friends and even though you work for me – or we work together – I want to know where you're going. I was thinking of maybe getting a car to pick you up, if you want,'' Sonny said, and Jason smiled.
''Thank you Sonny, but I already have a ride. I didn't want to bother you and Max made sure we had a ride to go there – it'll only be a couple of hours – the drive over there,'' Jason said, and Sonny nodded.
''When are you leaving? I'm sure they wont release you and I'm sure you're going to sneak out, so when?'' Sonny asked with a smile, and Jason looked at the clock and realized the time went by quicker than he thought right now.
''In about half an hour Max will be here,'' Jason said, and Sonny nodded.
''I'll help you sneak out if you want – it's the least I can do. Hey, I'm sorry about you getting shot,'' Sonny said, and Jason shrugged. Pain shot through his shoulder but he didn't say anything. ''Well, I'll see you in half an hour,'' Sonny said, and he left the room. Jason got out of bed and he realized it was going to be hard, because his leg was killing him and every movement with his upper body caused his shoulder to feel like it was on fire. But he didn't care, so he clenched his teeth and stepped in a sweat pants, and when he had it on he was panting like he had been running a marathon. But he didn't give up, and he put on one of his many black shirts and sighed of relief when he was done. Then he slowly got in his bed again, because he didn't want Monica walk in and see him standing up. She would throw a fit and he didn't need that right now. He closed his eyes and waited for Max and Sonny to get him out of here.
##########
Sam relaxed when she got out of the car. All she could think about was Jason, and she didn't feel very good. What if he decided he didn't want to be with her after all? She knew it was the better thing – opposite as him being dead – and she took a deep breath. She walked around aimlessly until she found a little place where she could get something to eat, and she decided to go in. It was small and cozy, and she smiled when she saw the man behind the counter. She knew him – she had been in his bar a couple of times. ''Danny, what are you doing working here?'' she asked him, and he looked up and frowned before his eyes widened in recognition.
''Sammie, I didn't know you were at Kirsten's!'' he exclaimed, and she smiled at him. ''My bar was closed down and I needed a job – but then I realized how much I love working here and I just clung,'' he said with a wink, answering her question. She smiled at him and he sighed. ''What can I get you, pretty lady? You want some coffee or something?'' he asked, and she frowned.
''Do I look that bad, Danny? I can't drink any coffee but I'll take a milkshake – chocolate flavor – oh, and one of those burgers you got here – are they any good?'' she asked him, and he nodded with s big grin on his face.
''So, our Sammie is pregnant huh?'' he asked, and she widened her eyes in surprise. ''What, did you think I wouldn't notice? I have four kids myself and I was there with every pregnancy,'' he said, and she smiled.
''I'm sorry – I didn't realize – but yes, I'm pregnant,'' she replied, and he came around the counter and hugged her.
''Congratulations. Now I'm going to make you that burger and milkshake and I'll be there in a minute,'' he said, and she nodded. She made her way to one of the free tables and sat down. She realized this place was similar to Kelly's, and she closed her eyes and sighed when her thoughts went from Kelly's to Jason.
''I heard Kirsten's daughter is sick – can you tell her we're praying for her here?'' Danny asked as he placed her order in front of her. She nodded and smiled at him.
''I will, Danny – thank you,'' she replied, and he nodded. He made his way back to the counter when another costumer stood there, and she started eating. The burger was delicious, and her milkshake – she couldn't remember when she had a milkshake like this ever, and she loved it. She dropped some money on the table and waved at Danny when she was done eating, and she made her way to her car. She was going home, and she hoped she could get some sleep after helping Kirsten with cleaning.
##########
''You know, Jenna left town this morning,'' Max said suddenly, and Jason looked up. He had been trying to get some sleep for what seemed like the whole ride, and they were almost there, but Max hadn't stopped talking with Milo and he had been trying to get Jason to talk.
'I didn't – but thanks for telling me. I'll sleep much better tonight,'' Jason said sarcastically. Max laughed, and Milo chuckled, but Jason didn't feel so good.
''Milo, did you get the address? Or did you just typed in what you thought it was?'' Max asked, and Milo scoffed.
''What do you think I am? I'm not stupid you know, and yeah I typed in the address, because Stan gave it to me,'' Milo snapped, and Jason shook his head with a smile. They were brothers, and he had never had a relationship like this with his brother. He blinked when his vision started blurring, and he closed his eyes when it didn't help. Maybe he could get some sleep after all.
##########
Sam walked in and looked around for Kirsten, but when she didn't find her she made her way to her room and threw her purse on the desk. Her keys were in her purse so she wouldn't forget where she put then, and after letting go of her purse she walked outside to the garden. Kirsten was sitting outside, and Sam looked at her for a moment before saying, ''hi,'' very softly, not to scare Kirsten. She looked up and smiled at Sam.
''Dave told me Stan called him. I don't know Stan, but Dave wanted me to tell you Jason had someone ask for the address of where you're staying and he thought that Jason was on his way here,'' Kirsten told her, and Sam nodded. It felt good to know Jason was still alive, and it felt really good – great actually – to know Jason would be on his way here. Something about the thought of seeing Jason again brought tears to her eyes and she blinked them away. ''Come on, it's getting cold – let's go inside,'' Kirsten said, and Sam nodded.
''Thanks for telling me. I saw Danny from the bar at that small diner,'' Sam said, and Kirsten nodded. ''He told me to tell you he will be thinking about you – and keep you in his prayers for your daughter,'' she added, and Kirsten smiled.
''Thank you sweetie,'' she replied, and they walked inside. Sam sat down on the couch next to Kirsten, and she smiled at the older woman. She was strong, and in the past Sam used to think she was just as strong as Kirsten, but the last week she proved herself wrong. Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Sam got up to open it. She gasped when she saw Jason standing in front of her, and she looked at him and noticed he was very pale.
''Surprise,'' he brought out, just before falling over and knocking Sam off her feet in the process. He fell right on top of her, and Max and Milo stood there with wide eyes, behind them. What happened to Jason?