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So yay! Update! And it's only three months late! I'm just going to say I'm SO sorry and leave it at that. With classes starting up again and work I'm going to try and write when possible, hopefully I don't hit the block like I did before! I hope you all enjoy this latest update, I have to admit the characters got away from me so I'm interested to hear what you all have to say. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed and to those who don't let me give up…it is you guys who truly keep this story going. THANKS!
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or General Hospital.
"This is totally ridiculous Epiphany!" Sam grumbles with a resigned sigh and slumping in the chair as the nurse wheels Sam out of the elevator towards the exit. "I can walk just fine." But her words fall on deaf ears.
"Both Dr. Drake and Dr. Scorpio are being very generous in my opinion to be releasing you only hours after being admitted for a hit and run…"
"Almost hit and run…the car barely clipped me!" Sam interjects.
"It's my opinion that we should be strapping you down into a bed for the time being until you and Mr. Morgan can learn that you are not indestructible, perhaps than we wouldn't keep meeting like this."
"Oh Epiphany you say it, but you don't mean it." Sam chuckles, enjoying her time spent with her favorite nurse. "You would miss Jason and I if we weren't around as much…you know it."
"Mmhmm." Is Epiphany's only response as she comes to a stop at the nurses station and asks for Sam's release papers as she hands her chart to one of the aids. "Be sure to file this somewhere easily accessible. I'm sure we will be needing it again soon since Ms. McCall can't seem to take better care of herself."
"Oh Epiphany it's not all that that Sam can't take care of herself, she just loves the constant attention she gets whenever she is admitted." Elizabeth says standing at the other end of the counter filling out her own charts. "The way everyone caters to her…who could blame her."
"Is that so nurse Webber?" Epiphany asks clearly annoyed with the other woman and her lack of professionalism lately. "And what would suggest we do instead?"
"We would all be wise to just ignore her and then maybe she would learn her lesson." She says icily, staring at Sam with a smug expression.
"And what lesson would that be?" Sam asks glaring at the nurse, surprised at how hostile she was being publicly. It was very unlike the nurse's usual style and saintly act.
"That your irresponsible behavior won't be accepted in this hospital anymore."
"Are you suggesting we deny our patients treatment?" Epiphany asks coolly.
"Only the ones who don't deserve it." Elizabeth shrugs, ignorant of how callous she was being and the shocked expressions of everyone around her.
"Nurse Webber!" Epiphany snaps at the same time she rests a hand down on Sam's shoulders when she started to rise up from the chair. "I think it might be wise if you took your charts and removed yourself from my sight. You don't even belong on this floor."
"I was just…" Elizabeth tries to defend, but one look from Epiphany has her shutting up.
"You were just going to gather up your charts and get back to the fourth floor where I assigned you and stay there. And if I catch you down here again this shift you, Nurse Webber, will regret it."
Head down Elizabeth avoids contact with her coworkers, knowing she had made a huge error in judgment. "Sorry Epiphany." She murmurs gathering her charts.
"And Nurse Webber!" Epiphany calls only after she was sure the other nurse was going to leave without a part shot. "If I hear you talking about a patient like that again or acting in any way other than a professional I won't hesitate to yank you off the floor and put you on probation."
Elizabeth looks ready to protest, but snaps her mouth shut and just nods her head instead. Casting a quick glare in Sam's direction she walks stiffly away towards the elevator. Slamming her hand on the button is the only outward sign of anger she shows until the doors open and Maxie Jones appears on the other side. "Get out of my way!" She practically shouts aware all eyes were on her.
"What don't feel like taking the stairs? And here I thought they were your specialty?" Maxie asks smirking.
"Oh just shut up Maxie!" Elizabeth seethes brushing past her, practically shoving the blonde out of her way. Once in the elevator she presses the door closed button repeatedly until they finally close. Aware of the others on the elevator Elizabeth silently curses Sam McCall and Maxie Jones until the doors open and she hurries off, unaware of the person that was following her. Entering an empty stairway Elizabeth shrieks and slams down all the charts she was holding in a fit of rage. She finally realizes she's not alone from the sound of someone making a tsking noise behind her. Turning around she recognizes who was following her immediately and resists the urge to scream for help. Instead she clears her throat and presses her hands into tight fist at her sides. "What do you want?" Her voice wavering.
"Don't act that way…I'm here to make your day. All I need is your help."
Shaking her head at the crazy nurse Maxie makes her way to Sam and Epiphany. "What was that all about? Has the final screw come loose in her head or something?"
Epiphany just stares at the young blonde for a moment before shaking her head. "I won't accept that behavior from my nurse Ms. Jones and I won't accept it from you either." Patting Sam on the shoulder Epiphany draws her attention. "I'm going to see what happened to those release papers, you stay right here and don't let what Nurse Webber said get to you. She walking a very thin line around here with everyone."
"Ok so now I'm really curious…what did I miss?" Maxie asks looking at Sam once Epiphany walks away. "Has Nurse Muffet finally fallen from grace?"
Sam, still slightly shocked at Elizabeth's behavior and Epiphany's unwavering support, just shakes her head to clear her thoughts. "I don't know what happened really, but Elizabeth made a complete fool of herself trying to get a rise out of me and Epiphany didn't hesitate to call her on it."
"And I missed it!" Maxie says disappointed.
"I'm sorry to say you did, but don't worry I'm sure you can hear all about it from a number of sources since it was a very public display on her part. I wonder what she was thinking."
"Well thinking has never been Nurse Lizzy's strong suit, we both know that. And I'm sure she thought the hospital was her territory, she just didn't account for the fact how well liked you are around here."
"I guess I didn't realize either." Sam says feeling a lot of gratitude towards Epiphany and the rest of the hospital staff.
"Sam when are you going to realize that we're all happy to have you back?"
"I guess it's just hard to remember when I have the constant reminder from both Alexis and Kristina at how poor a job I've been doing as a daughter and a sister."
"Please don't let them get to you! Kristina is a spoiled, childish…"
"She's my sister Maxie." Sam warns softly.
Sighing Maxie nods her head. "You're right, but she also is completely misguided and wrong. You can't deny that Sam. Kristina is just lashing out like any girl her age would when they want attention. Take it from a girl who went down that road and practically wrote the book on it. It is very typical teenager angst that you just have to ignore. And please don't even get me started on Alexis! I know she's your mother, but that woman is a poor excuse for the word. And if you let her get to you I'm going to have to reconsider our friendship, because I just don't have friends that are that foolish."
Smiling and shaking her head Sam reaches out to squeeze one of Maxie's hands. "You are something else, you know that?"
"Oh I know." Maxie smirks and shrugs her shoulders. "And you would be lost without me, you don't have to tell me that."
"What are you doing here Maxie?" Sam asks remember Jason had said he had sent Spinelli back to the penthouse to pack up, she had assumed Maxie went with him.
"Oh you mean why am I here instead of with Spinelli at the penthouse comforting him after you and Jason practically kicked us out onto the street?" Maxie asks, her harsh words lightened by the smile on her lips.
Shaking her head at Maxie's melodramatic attitude Sam nudges the blonde with the wheelchair she was forced to sit in. "You are not out on the street…you have a perfectly good apartment to go home to, not to mention you'll be leaving for your honeymoon in less than a week. Or have you forgotten your wedding is on Saturday?"
"Ugh! Don't remind me! I only have three days to make sure every last detail is in order, especially my dress which I still haven't made it in for my last fitting. Not to mention Kate has been riding me this whole week knowing that she won't be able to for a whole month. Have I mentioned how shocked I was when Jason offered to pay for the honeymoon? I know we could've had a fabulous one without his help, but with it…I'm going to get to see Paris! The fashion capital of the world!"
"Well I know Jason wanted to help in some way for the wedding." Sam says, not mentioning the fact that having Maxie out of his hair for a month was added incentive. "How are the rest of the plans going?"
Maxie was all ready to gush about the upcoming nuptials and honeymoon and everything she had planned, but stopped mid ramble realizing what Sam was trying to do. "You aren't going to distract me that easily!" Maxie says shaking her head.
"Maxie please don't argue with me on this." Sam sighs.
"Sam you couldn't honestly expect Spinelli and I to quietly accept your and Jason's decision to kick us out of the penthouse. If Spinelli weren't so busy trying to find anything on Jerry, not to mention he would never stand up to you and Jason, he would be here himself to argue with you."
"We aren't kicking you out Maxie!" Sam insists.
"Really? Because that's not the impression Jason gave when he told Spinelli and I we had to be out of the penthouse before you returned."
"He did not say it like that!" Sam says in shock, her jaw dropping. Wishing she hadn't been stuck in the bed while Jason went to talk with everyone and make the necessary phone calls to tighten security.
"Oh yes he did!"
"Well that's not what we're doing."
"Then why don't you explain it, since Jason can't seem to. Where is he by the way? I figured after today he wouldn't leave your side."
"He had to leave with Sonny to get his SUV, but he left two of his men with me." Sam says feeling their eyes on her, but still not feeling as protected as she did with Jason.
"He did? Where…I don't see them." Maxie says looking around curiously, unable to pick either of them out of the crowd.
"That's sort of the point. Jason hopes to draw Jerry in with the belief that I'm an easy target."
"He's using you as bait!"
"Calm down Maxie!" Sam urges, not wanting to draw unwanted attention. "It was my idea and Jason grudgingly agreed to it."
"Why would you come up with such a stupid plan Sam? And how could Jason agree to it?"
"Because Jerry is either going to go for a fast, sweeping attack taking out a bunch of people just to get me, or he's going to try and capture me right under Jason's nose. If it's the first no amount of guards will be able to protect me from him and if it's the second we have to believe Jerry would get cocky and act sloppy if he assumes it's an easy grab. We're hoping for the second obviously."
Maxie couldn't really argue with her logic, but she didn't have to like it either. "Sam I why can't Spinelli and I stay with you? At least until the wedding?"
"No Maxie!" Sam says adamantly shaking her head. "It's not safe for either of you to be living with me right now. I wouldn't be able to take it if something were to happen to you, especially right before your wedding."
Taking Sam's words in Maxie fiddles with her purse zipper and sways, before finally speaking what she and Spinelli had been talking about the last couple of days. "Maybe we should postpone the wedding." Maxie says, preparing for Sam's reaction…she wasn't disappointed.
"Are you joking? No! No Maxie, I won't let you do that. Not for me and definitely not because of Jerry! It's your wedding day and I won't have this affect that."
"But it already is Sam!" Maxie argues. "Spinelli and I have been talking and maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea. If we did Spinelli could focus fully on finding Jerry, not to mention he would have more time to work on it. And if we were to wait for this whole mess to be resolved than you wouldn't have to be worried the whole time about protection…plus you'll be all healed by then and we won't need all that make-up to cover your bruises. It makes perfect sense."
"No Maxie." Sam says calmly. "This is yours and Spinelli's big day. I'm not about to let this wreck that for you."
Maxie knew she could try to argue with Sam some more, but she saw Epiphany coming with paperwork and she could tell from the look in Sam's eye that the wedding would go on as planned. "Alright." Maxie gives in.
Sam saw Epiphany coming and released a relieved sigh. A few signatures and she was free to leave, under strict orders to keep it easy, but still…free is free. "Took you long enough!" Sam jokes when Epiphany reaches her and hands over the paperwork.
"Keep it up and I will misplace your paperwork and you won't be out of her until morning." Epiphany says sternly, earning a laugh from Maxie.
"Careful Sam, because she means it."
"Oh I know." Sam agrees, mentally shuddering at the thought of having to stay in the hospital another night. "I'll be good." She assures Epiphany handing back the paperwork.
"Mmhmm." She says rolling her eyes and looking up at Maxie. "If I leave her in your care will you two behave?"
"You can count on me!" Maxie says with a mock salute, giggling when Epiphany turns her back and walks away. "Do you really have to stay in this thing?" She asks once the nurse is out of ear shot, referring to the wheelchair.
"Ugh I would rather ditch it, but I don't want to bring on her wrath if I got caught out of it. So to be on the safe side I'll be a good little patient and stay put." Wheeling herself back and forth Sam looks towards the doors. "Besides, Jason should be here any minute now."
The ride back to Greystone took longer than Jason had expected due to traffic and the fact Sonny insisted that he drove or he wouldn't get in the car. "Sonny Sam is going to be released any minute now." Jason says trying to stop the impatient tapping of his hand on the dash.
"And she won't be going anywhere without you Jason so there is no rush." Sonny says calmly, enjoying the time behind the wheel. He usually sat in the back seat letting Max or Milo drive, but he didn't realize how much he missed it until now.
"You're right, but I also don't want to give Jerry this extra opportunity to grab Sam." He says, cracking his neck in agitation. "She's practically a sitting duck…what was I thinking!"
"That Sam knows what she's doing and you have two of our best men stationed in the hospital with her and another two outside watching. Sam wouldn't be any safer even if you were there."
"But I would feel better if I were there with her."
"Relax Jason, you're half way there." Sonny says pulling into the driveway and before Sonny had the car fully in park Jason's door was open. Before Sonny and Jason could make it to the front door it was opening and one of their many men looked slightly worried. "What is it?"
"Mr. Corinthos I'm sorry to say this, but sometime after leaving Greystone today and her lunch with her brother we lost Mrs. Corinthos."
"What do you mean you lost her?" Sonny asks in outrage.
"Where did you last see Claudia?" Jason asks at the same time.
Eyeing the two of them he answers Jason, since he seemed calmer. "We were at the Metro Court. She said she had to go to the bathroom and when we tried following her she…well she freaked out. So we waited for her in the lobby. Finally after fifteen minutes had passed…"
"You waited fifteen minutes!"
Glancing quickly at Sonny after his outburst Jason sighs. "What happened after that?"
"We ah…we went up to the restaurant assuming she met her brother without waiting for us, but she wasn't there."
"And Johnny?" Jason asks feeling he already knew where this was going.
"Well he was there, but he was eating with another woman. We asked him about his sister and he told us…" Reluctant to finish the sentence he sighs, knowing that he would most likely be fired after today. "He said he hadn't seen or spoken to Claudia in over a week and he had no idea what we were talking about."
Cursing Jason rubbed the back of his neck before dropping his hands to his sides. "Where else was Claudia supposed to go today?"
This was the part he knew that would really set Jason off. "That's the thing she didn't really have any other plans for the day except…"
"Except what?" Jason snaps.
"On the drive to lunch she received a call. She didn't talk for long, but she very clearly mentioned the hospital."
Jason and Sonny both looked at each other and could tell they had the same thought. "Get going…I'll call the men at the hospital and tell them to be looking for Claudia to show up."
In the car Jason barely paid attention to the road signs and stop lights. His thoughts on Sam and the fact he still hadn't learned his lesson. He shouldn't have left her. Not with Jerry out there desperate to silence her and not with Claudia being so secretive. Pulling to a screeching stop outside the hospital doors Jason made it there in almost half the time it took Sonny to drive home. Leaving the car running he ran around the car and into the hospital scanning the lobby for Sam. His heart only started beating normal when he saw her laughing with Maxie. Not wanting to alarm Sam unnecessarily Jason waits until he's calmed before joining them. "Ready to go?" He asks reaching out and brushing back Sam's bangs, feeling even calmer with the contact.
"More than ready." Sam sighs nodding her head.
"I'm assuming the wheelchair isn't just for show?" He asks.
"Nope… Epiphany's orders. I go from the bed, to the chair, the chair to your car, and from the car to the bed. At least until the morning."
"And you're actually listening?" Jason asks skeptically, grabbing the handles and pushing Sam towards the exit.
"Of course, you doubt me?"
"Oh come on Sam." Maxie scoffs walking beside.
"Alright, you're both right. As soon as were off hospital grounds and I'm out of Epiphany's hands I will go back to my normal ways."
Laughing Maxie shakes her head when they come to a stop next to Jason's running SUV. "What do you think you're doing?" Maxie asks when Sam starts to rise from the chair.
"Getting in the vehicle?" Sam asks with a confused look on her face, figuring it was kind of obvious.
"Not with Epiphany watching you aren't." Turning to Jason she shrugs her shoulders and nudges him with her elbow. "Jason…" She sighs. "Do something."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Pick Sam up and put her in the vehicle of course!"
"Oh!" Jason says and ducking his head when both Sam and Maxie laugh.
"This is totally unnecessary." Sam grumbles, but she wraps her arms around Jason's shoulders when he bends down to pick her up.
"Oh don't deny you're enjoying this." Maxie smirks when Jason lifts Sam without even blinking.
"Maybe a little." Sam says with a similar smirk and sharing a look with Jason who even cracked a small smile, just for Sam.
Once Sam was settled in the SUV and the wheelchair was returned Maxie turns and frowns at Sam. "I guess this is goodbye until the wedding right?"
Sam shares a look with Jason before nodding her head. "Right."
Maxie knows that look and heard Sam's hesitation and her eyes narrowed. "Don't you dare think I'm going to let you back out Sam McCall! Either promise me right now you'll be at the wedding or I'm going to postpone until it's safe."
"Maxie…" Sam and Jason say at the same time.
"No! I'm serious." She says looking between the two of them. "Promise me right now or I'm calling the caterers and the florists and Spinelli and…"
"Alright! Fine, you win!" Sam says smiling at her friend. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
"Whatever." Maxie rolls her eyes and shuts the door for Sam before turning to Jason. "Keep her safe please." Maxie says casting a quick glance at Sam before staring at Jason again. "I know I don't have to tell you that, because you're going to try anyway, but please…for me and for Spinelli…she's important, you know?"
For the first time that Jason could remember he wasn't annoyed with Maxie, and he actually could sympathize with her. Nodding his head he scratches the back of his neck uncomfortable with the feeling. "I know."
"Good." Maxie says and clears her throat. "Now take her home and protect her from psycho Jerry and please stop him before my wedding, because Sam will be there if I have to drag her there myself. And I don't want my wedding to turn into all the other weddings and special occasions that have taken place. Gunfire and explosions are simply not allowed on my special day."
"I'll see what I can do." Is Jason's only response to her retreating back, before going to the driver's side and climbing in. "Let's get out of here." He says eyeing the hospital and hoping it would be the last time he had to see the building for a long time, but know in his gut it wouldn't be.
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