I've been sitting in this police station for hours. I wonder how many times I've sat in vigil at this jail, watching the cops try to take Jason away from me. This is one of the patterns in my life that I could probably do in my sleep at this point.
As usual, anxiety makes me kind of mouthy. Some words were had with Chase, but I felt it necessary to remind him that good cops don't jump to conclusions before they get all the facts. The slight spat with Brooklyn that followed felt comforting, a release of some of the tension.
Because, I have watched Jason have a lengthy conversation with Agent Cates, where he was actually talking to a fed without Diane. And then do it all over again with Anna. I'm coiled so tight, I actually jump when a hand lands on my shoulder. Looking up, I attempt a smile at Michael.
"I heard Jason turned himself in. How are you doing?" He asks, pulling me into a side hug.
"You know, breathing, counting to ten, sparring verbally with Brooklyn Quartermaine, just trying not to actually go crazy with worry." He gives me a squeeze and kisses the top of my head.
"Jason has come out the other side of tougher spots. And he has us." I can hear the worry in his voice, so I turn towards him, wrapping my arms around him.
"You're right, he's made it out of tough spots before." I reassure us both.
Time seems not to move at all as I sit waiting. I swear I see the second hand on the clock move backwards a couple of times. Michael attempts to distract me, but it's hopeless. All of my attention is focused on the man in the interrogation room. Suddenly, Anna is standing in front of me.
"I'm not leaving." I tell her with a stubborn jut to my chin.
"That's not what I came to tell you," she says with a knowing grin on her face, "I know how immovable you are where Jason is concerned. He has convinced me to let you in to see him. Something about you sleeping on the detective's desk, otherwise."
I'm up before she's finished, closing the door quickly before they can change their mind. He's cuffed to the table, which makes my chest ache. I sit down, leaning forward and taking his hands in mine. "Are you okay?"
I look him over and see an anger he's trying to mask. "What happened?"
He leans towards me and says, "I found out Cates knew Jason Quartermaine. I don't trust that guy. Promise me again that you will be careful around him."
I see the worry and react the only way I have ever been able to when Jason needs me, "I promise. You too. Promise me you will be careful. I can't lose you again."
When a tear slips down my cheek, Jason's hand reaches to wipe it away. His fingers stop just short of my face. Even as he growls in frustration, I am leaning down into his touch. I take comfort at the feel of his hand on my face as he softly wipes away the tears.
"I promise." He says, looking into my eyes. When I nod, he continues, "I need you to do something for me. I need you to go home. You need to go home to Donna and Michael needs to go home to Wiley."
"And Amelia, his new baby girl," I cut in.
"He had a little girl?" He asks, a smile on his face. I know without him saying a word that this man loves and will do anything for my granddaughter he just found out existed the same way he has done for her father.
"Yeah. She's amazing and beautiful. I know the way everything turned out, that I messed it up, but there's a part of my heart that will always consider you Michael's dad. And I know, deep down, there's a part of you that feels that way too. So…" I lean forward and tell him with a grin, "congratulations again, grandpa!"
He has that smile that tells me he thinks I'm ridiculous, but just under that I can see the beam of happiness at the news. "That's amazing, but don't think I didn't notice you trying to change the subject. Thank you for the support, but you both need to go home and get some rest. I hate the thought of you and Michael waiting out there. Diane said the arraignment will be tomorrow morning, and there's nothing you can do here. Please go home."
I know that tone, and I know I'm not going to win against it. So, I nod. "I'll be at the courthouse first thing tomorrow morning. You try to get some rest too. Don't forget you are recovering from a gunshot."
"I'll try," he promises. I lean forward giving him a kiss.
Then, I stand up, but stop when I get to the door. I turn around and tell him, "You are going to get through this. I believe that with all my heart." Placing my hand on my chest, I continue with tears in my voice, "I love you, Jason Morgan."
With matching tears, he tells me, "I love you too."
Leaving the interrogation room, I look over to see Michael walking towards me. He asks, "What did he say? Is he okay?"
I smile what I hope is a reassuring smile. "He is worried about us. He wants us to go home to Donna and Wiley and Amelia. Diana said the arraignment will be tomorrow morning."
With a sigh, Michael nods, "Willow has called a couple times. Are you going home?"
He looks like he's about to argue if I tell him no, so I reassure him, "Yes, I promised Jason. You both get that stubborn look that I know is pointless to argue against. Besides, I want to go snuggle with my little angel, and send up prayers that Dante wakes up and tells everyone Jason didn't do it."
"That sounds like a good idea. I might have to do that too." He gives me a hug, and then adds, "I will be up here tomorrow. Be careful getting home. And, hey, Jason will be proven innocent. Everyone is going to figure out what we already know; Jason would never shoot Dante."
I don't know what I love most about my son at the moment, his unwavering loyalty to Jason or the fact that he said that loud enough that every cop in the station, and probably even Jason, heard him.
With one look back at the interrogation room, I let Michael lead me out of the station.
