Part Eight:

Elizabeth's body shook as a cold draught whistled through the wooden walls of the barn. A few hours ago the prospect of attending a ball had filled her with giddy anticipation. Now after fighting with Sam and finding a man stabbed to death, all Elizabeth could think about was getting home to here two boys.

Suddenly a strange noise interrupted her thoughts. Elizabeth's entire body went numb; someone was trying to open the door! Her eyes darted down to the gun which was clutched tightly between her fingers.

"Who is it!?" She called out.

"It is I the Jackal!!"

Elizabeth scrambled to the door and quickly unlocked it. She could barely conceal her surprise when a Soaked Spinelli crossed the threshold with a limp body in his arms.

"Oh my gosh, what happened?"

"She ran out into the night. The jackal perused her but when he found her she collapsed." His voice was cracked with guilt."I shouldn't have… I'm sorry."

Elizabeth quikly led the way into the adjoining room. "You can put her on the bed. I 'ill dry her off. You need to go back into the barn and see if they're any dry logs and start a fire okay."

Spinelli gently placed Maxie on the bed and began to make his way back to the barn.

"Spinelli."

He stopped and turned his head.

"It's not your fault."

Spinelli wanted to believe her but he knew better.

Georgie's eyes snapped open. She tried to look around but seem as though everything was wrapped in a thick dark fog. All she could could discern was that she was in a bed...Her hand reflexively shot up to the neck... What happened to me?

"She's awake."a faint voice called out.

Quite suddenly Georgie's head began to throb.
Where was she?
Where was Johnny?......
What had happend to Nadine?
Why couldn't she see?..... Why couldn't she move?!

With each passing moment the pain in her head intensified. She could feel her self slipping away but was powerless to stop it.

"Her pressure is going up!" "She's codding! We need a doctor in here!"

In a matter of seconds she was gone.

"Are you getting enough sleep? Is that pillow too soft?"

A bemused grin tugged at the corners of Georgie's lips. She knew her sister only wanted to help but her intense concern was quickly beginning to grate Georgie's already worn nerves. "I'm fine Maxie. You seem to be forgetting that you were discharge only a few days ago."

"Yeah, but all I did was pass out!" Maxie countered sharply. "You on the other hand were stabbed by some lunatic and then nearly shot by his deranged son."

Georgie didn't really remember what had happened but from what she'd been told Anthony Zacharra had tried to kill her but instead His son Johnny had put a bullet in his head. " Right but you have a heart condition." She countered.

"My hearts fine, you're the one who nearly died last week."Maxie replied Sharply.

She had a point. "Is there any thing I can do to get you to leave?"

"Nope."

After a few minutes Georgie pretended to fall sleep. Unwilling to leave her sister Maxie moved to a chair in the corner of the room and began to flip through a magazine.

"Hey Maxie."

"What." She asked scrambling out of her chair.

"My memories of the Ball are a bit wonky but didn't you dance with Spinelli?" Georgie watched as her sister's checks changed shades.

"I dunno, I danced with a bunch of people." Maxie replied evasively.

"Right, but you danced with my 'jerk of a friend' Spinelli right?"

"Well, I—"

But before she could utter another denial, the door squeaked open.

"The Jackal hopes that he is not interrupting." Spinelli said peeking his head in.

"Of course not Spinelli, Come in!"

"I hope that the wise one and her sister are fairing well" He stated stealing a quick glance at the blonde.

"I'm bored to death and a bit hungry but other than that I'm okay." Georgie replied.

"The Jackal could procure a decent book and a bag of the finest BBQ chips If it would please you."

"Really?"

"Of course." Spinelli hesitated. "Could I procure something for the blonde one as well?"

"Huh? Oh no I'm good." Maxie replied, speaking for the first time since he'd entered the room.

"Okay." Spinelli said quickly exiting the room "I shall make haste!"

Georgie's eyes travelled from the closed door to her sisters red face."Oh my gosh!! You like Spinelli!!!"

"No I don't!" Maxie exclaimed retreating to her chair. "Why the heck would I like Spinelli Of all people?"

"Well the heart wants what it wants. These are the mysteries which one cannot control, or explain." Georgie murmured jocundly.

Maxie rolled her eye's but choose to ignore her sister. There was no mystery about it. She didn't like Spinelli.

"Wait he didn't call you the 'bad blonde one'" Georgie declared, suggestively.

"It was probably out of respect for you Georgie. You are like he's best friend!"

"Na-ah! He's called you that and many other things in my hearing!Any way, it wasn't just what he said. It was the way he said it; the way his eyes lit up when he dared to actually look at you."

"You know, I really think that you need get some rest cause there is no way on earth that a guy like him and a girl like me would ever get together !"

Georgie merely shrugged off her sisters vehement denials."Its a shame cause from what I hear Spinelli turned out to be you night in shinning armour."

Maxie picked up her hand bag." Look Georgie, I 'ill leave but only if you promise that you'll quit faking it and actually sleep okay?"

She nodded. The blonde rounded the bed and gave her younger sister a gentle hug. "I be back in a few hours."

"bye"

As she made her way down the hall Maxie couldn't shake the nagging feeling that her sister was right...Okay fine, She was right! She didn't know how but ever since that night in the dinner the blinders had been torn off and Maxie had begun to see the hacker in a new light. At first it had been a faint whisper in back of her mind, but after the kiss it had grown louder and louder until it had awakened her soul to the truth that she, Maxie Jones, was in love with Damian Spinelli....But no one would know; She'd make sure of it.

When Spinelli returned he found his friend Still awake.

"Here is your favorite book, Persuasion, Here are your chips, and finally a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and While it is not exactly the Jackals beverage of choice, I have it on good authority that it does posses some nutritive qualities.!" He announced beamingly.

Georgie smiled. "I don't even want to know how you got the juice."

"I merely appraised the cafeteria ladies of you dire condition,... and I might have promised to erase some unpaid parking fines."

"Thanks."

For a moment the pair fell silent. Georgie could tell that Spinelli wanted to say something.

"Um, where is the wise one's sister?" he asked finally.

"She left."

"Oh, I uh, I only wanted to give her this" Spinelli opened his bag and pulled out a magazine. "It the latest issue of Couture." he began nervously." Although I do not presume to know the, uh, blonde ones preferences, I have on occasion noted her in-exceptionable taste when it comes to clothing. In any case I thought that it would be a good diversion for in a time of extreme stress the mind copes by creating--" he stopped himself.
"I believe I am rambling" he added sheepishly.

"It's okay.I know Maxie would have enjoyed it. You know, I haven't thanked you yet for saving her."

Spinelli sighed. he didn't see himself as much of a hero. It fact he knew that it was his thoughtless and unfortunate decision to kiss Maxie that led to her collapse. "your thanks is unnecessary."

"No really thank you."she insisted

"your welcome" he began to fidget with the zipper on his coat. "I think that I, Uh must now make my exit."

"Sure, thanks for everything"

"you are most welcome wise one."

Johnny softly ran his fingers across Georgie's palm. All he wanted was to hold her hand, but he feared that doing so he would wake her. He watched the slight rise and fall of her chest with each breath she drew. It was a miracle that she was alive.
He'd come to sit by her bed nearly every night and it still amazed him that she was had been so much blood; he didn't know what would have happened if Nadine hadn't been there to help.

Suddenly she began to stir. Johnny quickly made his way out the door. As he was shutting it, his movements were arrested by a faint, yet imploring voice.

"Don't go"

He slowly made he was back into the room.

Georgie smoothed a yawn with the back of her hand."Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

He tried to smile but they both knew that it was empty."You were sleeping" he replied.

"You got up when I started to wake up."

"Look, I shouldn't even be here."

"Why not?"

"Your father has a restraining order against me."

"He has no right!"

"Georgie he's only trying to protect you."

"From what?!"

"A known killer !" He exclaimed. "I'm the reason you're lying in that bed."

"It wasn't your fault." She said quietly.

"What is it with you? Why do you always have to apologise for everyone? I made a mistake so let me take responsibility for it! My father came there for me Georgie, For ME! I shouldn't have been there. I was a fool. I told myself that who I was didn't matter. I made myself believe that pretending to be normal was enough. But it isn't."

"Who knows what normal is anyway?"

"Two people are dead because of me. That's NOT Normal!!"he sighed heavily. It was time to close the door. "I have to go." with those words Johnny walked out her room and disappeared down the hall."

Georgie stared at the door in stunned silence. Warm tears began to trickle down her face. "Why is everyone running away from me?"

AN: SO georgie is alive but will she and johnny ever get other chance to be together???? Will Maxie ever have to confront/confess her feelins for the Jackal??? Found out in the next instalment!

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