A/N: I have no business starting another story...I know that. But they are so much more fun to start than they are to finish! Not so much an alternate universe as it is a revisionist history...eh...hope you don't hate it.
PROBATION
Chapter 1
She studied her reflection in the polished steel of the elevator. She looked okay. She'd managed to get her clothes washed and a shower yesterday. She'd heard the news last week. Stone was sick. Real sick. He had been staying with some rich guy…but now he was in General Hospital. This would be her last chance to see him. The elevator doors sprang open and she stepped slowly out.
The floor looked identical to the one on the first floor, but busier, people were dashing about left and right. She didn't know what room he was in and would have to ask. She didn't want to.
"Can I help you?"
She jumped.
"I didn't mean to startle you Sweetie. You look a little lost."
"I'm looking for my…my brother."
"I can help you with that." The redhead smiled. "Patient or staff?"
"Huh?"
"Is your brother staying in the hospital?"
"Oh, yeah…"
"Name?"
"Why do you need my name?" She challenged.
"I need your brother's name. To help you find him."
She relaxed slightly. "Stone."
The redhead cocked her head to the side. "Stone Cates?"
She nodded quickly. "What room is he in?"
"You're Stone's sister?"
She didn't like the disbelief in the woman's voice. Somehow this woman knew Stone…she hadn't expected that. "Yes." She answered keeping eye contact and maintaining a steady tone.
"You're Gina?"
She bit her lower lip. "Yes." She lied. How the hell did this woman know about Gina?
"Well, Stone's not really up for visitors, but I know he'd be glad to see you. Let me check"
"I'd like to surprise him!" She interjected.
The woman shook her head, "I'm sorry Gina, Stone's very sick, as nice a surprise as you'd be…"
Her heart sank. She needed to see him, to tell him goodbye. "Don't cry Honey, we'll get you in somehow…are your parents with you?"
She looked up in confusion. She hadn't realized she was crying, she didn't cry. And parents? Stone's parents were long gone…so how would Gina have parents?
"Stone?" Bobbie popped her head in.
"Hey Bobbie, what's up?" He whispered. Robin lifted her head and smiled.
"You have a visitor."
"You announcing my visitors now? Wow how much is Sonny giving you for that?"
Bobbie laughed. "Just this one. She says she's your sister, but it's not Gina. She's very anxious about seeing you, and I hate to turn her away."
"I don't know Bobbie, his white count is down and he just had another blood draw." Robin answered.
"I want to see her, I'll be okay."
"He'll see you now." The nurse smiled. "but it will have to be a short visit."
She bit her lip again. "Is he alone?"
"No, Robin doesn't leave her side unless she's forced too."
"Who's Robin?"
"His girlfriend."
"The bitch that gave him this?"
The nurse's eyes widened. "No, Robin met Stone after he was infected."
The girl calmed down noticeably. "Oh…oh…okay."
"You can go in now." The redhead put her hand on the door, but the teen made no move. "Would it help if I went in with you?"
"No, I'm fine…but thanks."
She walked slowly to the door and slipped in to the darkened room. "Hey, Gina how are ya?"
For the second time in less than an hour she found herself fighting tears. The young woman beside the bed looked from her to Stone and back. "Stone, don't tease." She admonished.
Relief flooded her body as Stone smiled in response. "Come on Sam, give your big brother a hug."
She resisted the urge to fling herself at him, instead she approached him carefully and wrapped her arms around the frighteningly thin body. "Stone."
"How are things with your dad?" Stone asked after updating her on his life.
"Awesome. We have an apartment and I've got my own room. Dad's got a regular job, working days. He even helps me with my homework and we get pizza every Friday."
"That's good…I'm glad it worked out." Stone said slowly.
She shifted uncomfortably. "You're tired, I guess I should go now."
"Look Sam if you ever need anything."
"I'm fine Stone. I should go, Dad'll worry. I love you." She hugged him again and split before he could give her Sonny's name and address.
Stones smile faded as soon as the door closed.
"You two seem pretty close." Robin said after a short silence. "You're worried about her."
"We were in the same foster home for about 2 years, she was just a kid. The Mason's were good people for the most part. Older. They really helped us, made us feel like a family, but Mr. Mason had a stroke and we ended up in a group homes. I hated it and it was a horrible place for a kid like Sam."
"But she's back with her dad…that's good. Things sound good."
Stone looked wearily at Robin. "She's lying Robin. She's really good at it, but she's lying. Her dad is a loser, a con man, he never gave a damn about her and never will. I'm sure the only reason he got her back was to train her in the family business. If he's still in the picture at all, which I doubt, he isn't working a regular job and he sure as hell isn't helping her with her homework."
"I'm sorry Stone."
"Me too. I should have told her about the Ward house. Told her about Sonny…helped her. I don't…I don't want her to end up like me Robin…and that's where she's headed."
Sam sat on the pier trying to not be cold. It wasn't working. She needed more blankets and a better coat. She didn't have a lot of options. Well, no she didn't have any options. The folks at the soup kitchen were starting to ask questions and the college campus where she usually 'found' her clothes had just closed for winter break. Christmas was only a week away. She wondered if Stone would live that long. She shook the thought from her head, she had cried more today than she had in the last 5 years. She didn't have time for this.
She saw her mark. It was almost too easy. The woman was walking alone on the dock, one hand digging in her briefcase, the other holding one of those cellular phone things to her ear. Sam would kill for the woman's coat, it went down to her ankles and looked so warm. But this had to be quick and painless. "Accidentally" bump into her, slip her hand and out of the Gucci purse, make off with her wallet.
Judging from her designer clothes and the length of her conversation, this woman was good for at least 100 dollars in cash. Sam didn't mess with checks or credit cards. Not that she didn't know how to, but because no one trusted a scruffy teenager with plastic. Sam hated pick pocketing, but it beat the hell out of hooking, something she just couldn't bring herself to do. She knew kids that did it…she also knew that her Dad…nah…he's gone…he wouldn't have let her do that…She stood up to make her move.