The words rolled over and over in Kristina’s mind as she sat huddled on the hard benches in the surgery waiting area. Sabrina had emerged from the restricted surgical wing of the hospital to relay to the family, but really, to Kristina, what had happened to Ronan since he was taken away by helicopter.
Sabrina had come and spoken to her not as family, but as Dr. DeLane. Calm, measured, clear and concise. She had observed the surgery, keeping tabs on Ronan’s status, reading the charts and speaking to the specialized surgeons.
Faith sat next to Kristina, keeping pace with the vigilant woman-child, listening carefully both to Sabrina and how Kristina took the information in. She kept one arm at Kristina’s back, ready to soothe her by rubbing small circles into her rigid muscles or to clutch her close when Kristina let out a shiver, always ready to issue a murmur of advice or comfort. In turn, Kristina leaned heavily on the wise woman, drawing from her strength and warmth and grace. Tired brown orbs looked at Faith gratefully.
“Thank you for being here with me.”
Faith’s response was interrupted by the quick click of heels against linoleum flooring. Kristina turned abruptly to see her mother sweep into the waiting area, her own features flooded with concern and love.
Kristina, who had fiercely held her emotions in check, she had refused to cry and willed herself to remain focused on the singular objective of doing whatever she could to help Ronan stay alive since the whole ordeal began, seemed to break at the sight of her mother. A mournful wail flew from the depths of her and she stood only to crumple as Alexis’ arms enveloped her in a strong embrace. Jagged sobs wracked Kristina’s body as Alexis squeezed her child, wishing that her embrace could wring the pain from her daughter’s heart.
Faith stood, her hand still at Kristina’s back, tears filling her own eyes. A warm hand pressed up against her cheek. Wordlessly she looked up and nodded as Alexis silently thanked her for being there when Alexis could not. She slowly removed her hand and suddenly felt saddened as she watched mother and child cling together. Her hands folded together, resting at her abdomen, unconsciously aware of what she had lost years earlier. She loved all the Cassadine children equally and welcomed the joy they brought into her life, but nothing had mended the ache in her heart when her own child died before being born. Seeing a mother and child hold together during a time of great stress only reminded Faith of that painful time.
Faith took a quiet step back, wiping the tears from her eyes as Kristina began to quietly tell Alexis what had happened. Not wanting to intrude, she turned and strode towards the vending machines at the end of the hall, hoping to find some strong coffee to propel her and the others, forward. No sooner had she turned the corner that an arm encircled her waist, gently tugging her into a darkened alcove. It only took her a fraction of a moment to realize it was Stefan, appearing from the shadows as he seemed purpose built for. Faith was in his arms, her visage tucked into the crook of his neck and she expelled a long, tired breath as his hands possessively cinched her curves closer to his frame. Her hand rose up, resting against his button down shirt, feeling the subtle rise of his medallion against her fingers and he pressed a kiss to her forehead. She inhaled the scent that she loved, the scent she breathed as though it alone kept her alive, and exhaled as his hand cupped the side of her face, gently tracing her jawline with the pad of his thumb before bringing it down to rest where her own hands had been just moments earlier. Feeling his warmth against her midsection, her breath hitched and she let out a shudder of grief.
“I know.” His reply came soft, a croon of understanding, the wealth of their shared life, and the sorrows that punctuated the joys. He knew without even seeing, without needing to witness her reaction to Alexis and Kristina.
He simply knew her pain and found her and would stay with her, always.
*~*
Hours later, Sabrina peeked around the corner, not surprised to see the waiting room filling with family members. Stefan and Faith dozing lightly together on a cream colored sofa. Adjacent sat Alexis, who for once, was not busying her mind with files and legal pads, but instead curled up next to Marcus. Andresj stood near a window, chatting quietly with Molly while Kristina chewed a fingernail, her eyes tired but firmly open and alert, as she leaned against a wall. Dara and Alazne shared another sofa and a laptop, both brows furrowed as they perused what was on the screen. Sabrina knew that Ronan had been an orphan of sorts, but she was surprised to see no family of his own in the room.
There was no news, so she withdrew before being noticed and moved down the hallway, rolling her neck gently from side to side as her own tired muscles groaned with the movement. An echo of footsteps caught her attention and she looked up, to see Jack hurrying down the hallway towards her, his fingers curling as his hands reached for her, closing the gap between them.
“Jack,” she breathed as he cupped her face in his hands before laying a long, soulful kiss against her lips. Sabrina’s hands fell to his hips, her fingers finding purchase in his well worn jeans as she dragged his body to hers, suddenly needing him so badly, she thought she might scream.
“How are you?” he whispered when his lips reluctantly pulled from hers. They sat on a nearby empty gurney, their arms twined around each other, she leaning into his strong physique as though it had been far too long since she felt his hands on her skin.
“Tired, but fine,” she said with a yawn. She looked down at their hands and laced them together, her other hand resting over the inside of his wrist, his pulse flickering against her skin, steady and strong. “How did the meeting with the silver fox go?”
“Got my ass kicked.”
Sabrina turned her head, giving Jack a look of disbelief before letting out a cough of laughter. Jack, getting owned by anyone other than her? Unbelievable.
Sabrina gave her head a rueful shake. “I swear, that man is a Cassadine, he holds grudges just as well as we do.”
Jack tilted his head. “I broke his daughter’s heart,” he reminded her. Losing Heller’s friendship in the aftermath of his breakup with Audrey had been painful for Jack. Never having been close, for good reason, to his own father, Heller had become a mentor, a rugged father figure when Jack didn’t even realize he was craving one.
Sabrina frowned and looked pointedly at Jack. “Yeah, I don’t care about that part. What was he kicking your ass over?”
Jack grimaced. “Thane. The history of Nakia’s death.” He paused as he brought up a hand to rub his forehead. “The real history of Nakia’s death.”
“The real history?” Her question hung in the air as Jack debated his next step.
“Is Faith here?”
Sabrina stiffened. “Yes,” she allowed cautiously, feeling a protective surge clutch at her.
Jack closed his eyes. “Thane is gunning for Jason Morgan. Morgan murdered Nakia because she was undercover,” he confessed.
Sabrina’s stomach churned, having heard the few stories about Nakia Kelly from Jack. Her beauty and kindness and rapid fire intelligence and the way Nakia and Thane had loved each other.
“You would have liked Nakia,” Jack murmured absently, running his thumb along hers. “She was a lot like you.”
“And Jason killed her.”
“He executed her.” Jack’s voice was cool, unwilling to hide the edge in his tone. “Now I have to find him.”
Sabrina sucked in her breath. This was what she had been waiting for. “And you’re worried about Faith?”
“They’re family,” Jack started before Sabrina shook her head at him. “Faith loved Justus. She and Jason are connected through a man who’s been dead for nearly a decade.” She hopped off the gurney and stood before him, her dark eyes sharp with fierce intelligence. “She cares for him, but whatever happens to him, she’d get over it.” The words sounded cold, but Jack found himself relieved that the Faith/Jason relationship was summed up so succinctly. Truthfully, it made his potential choices clearer. “I’d rather find Thane first.”
Sabrina cocked her head to one side and blinked at Jack. “So find him 007,” she chided, pressing a quick kiss to his lips before stepping away. “I need to check on things.”
Jack narrowed his gaze at his wife’s shapely derriere as it sauntered away. “If I’m Bond, are you a Bond girl?” he called after her.
She turned in the hallway and offered a dazzling smile. “Fuck no, I’m M.”
*~*
Kristina issued a sigh, running her fingers through her hair as she pulled the long tresses back into a tight ponytail. Still no word for nearly 3 hours and there were only so many times one could go for a walk, or get a snack or read a magazine before your mind drifted back to the reason you were waiting in deathly silence.
She looked around the waiting area, taking in the family members who had trickled in over the hours and were now waiting with her. Not Ronan’s family, but hers.
Not one of them really knew the man and yet they were eating bad food, bored out of their minds and sitting vigil in uncomfortable surroundings.
For her.
She swallowed hard at the display of their love, their devotion to her. She was grateful.
A figure presented in the doorway and she startled at the sight. She opened her mouth, but no words came out as he fixed his dark eyes on her and her only.
Sonny.
Her father had come.
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