A Fight For Family

[Gabriel Morgan]

Gabriel William Thompson Morgan slung his backpack over one shoulder and stepped out of the school, heading over to the side entrance where the guards would wait for him and his best friend Adelina Corinthos with the car to pick them up.

It was a route that he had taken so many times, the path behind the football bleachers that led straight to the road. He had never had any trouble before, so he never had any reason to expect anything to happen. Certainly not what was about to happen.

Less than a minute as he stepped onto the path, 4 figures blocked his way. Gabe stopped, eyes looking over the 4 boys that he recognized who are football players at the school. They were also bullies who always made a point to shove Gabe whenever they saw him. He usually just brushed them off, not wanting to get into a fight. He had thought the same of this time, he wasn't interested in fighting with them.

Gabe took a step to the side to avoid them, but one of them blocked his way again and soon Gabe found himself blocked on all sides as they boxed him in. He had a feeling he knew what was coming, he just had to stay calm.

"You need to be taught a lesson, mobster boy." The obvious leader who's name Gabe remembered as Roger spoke with a sneer.

"Yeah, we don't like brats like you hanging around." Another boy, Benjamin joined in.

"Not interested..." Gabe said as he went to push past Roger so he can walk away.

But he never got that far as Roger shoved Gabe harshly towards Benjamin's waiting arms, causing Gabe to loose hold on his backpack as Benjamin had him in a choke hold and Roger sucker punched him in the gut, sending Gabe to his knees. And not a second later as Gabe lands on his knees, his left arm is pulled behind him with such force that it snapped, dislocating the shoulder and Gabe gasped to catch his breath, but not before a kick to his back plummets him face down to the ground.

He knew that he could still win and fight back, but then he could seriously hurt someone and he couldn't live with that on his conscience, even bullies like these four, they were just stupid kids, they weren't killers or murderers, just misguided kids.

So Gabe endured, he held silent and laid there as the four jocks viciously kicked and stomped on his body, he could feel blood running down the side of his head, no doubt a concussion. It wasn't until harsh kicks snapped some of his ribs and sharp pain coursed through him did he released a cry in agony, causing the four boys to laugh and jeer at him.

"Look at the whimp."

"What a loser"

"Coward..."

They didn't stop, Gabe wondered if they would ever stop, or were they trying to actually kill him? But at this point, with his labored breathing and pain-filled body, he could already tell his mind was getting foggy and that he was fading out. Another harsh stomp on his right leg caused another snap that Gabe responded with a gasp, already straining his breathing.

And then, next thing he knew, a hand had tightly grasped his hair, pulling his head up from the ground, and he could feel someone breathing close to him.

"Beg for me loser....beg.. I wanna hear you beg..." It was Roger's voice whispering in Gabe's ear.

Before Gabe's muddled mind could form a response, he felt another harsh pull on his already dislocated arm. Suddenly unimaginable pain coursing through his body, Gabe this time let out a long shout of agony as he struggled to break free from Roger's harsh hold, agony combined with a sob breaking through and echoed along the path as he desperately tried to hold back the pain and breath, he just wanted to pain to stop.

[Adelina Corinthos]

Adelina pulled her bag over her shoulder as she exited the high school, closing the flap after placing her heavy math text book inside of it. Jumping off the step, she hurried away from that place as quickly as she could. Adelina hated school, and for good reason. Everyone in this building seemed to fear her, and they all showed it in different ways. They seemed to either suck up to her, or whisper about her in the hallways. The feisty young girl had been sent to the principals office on numerous occasions for fighting - or at least trying to before a teacher would step in - with her fellow classmates, and no, they weren't all female. Her father wasn't happy about getting called in, but she wasn't going to apologize for standing up for the Corinthos name.

Adelina skipped down the path behind the football bleachers, that was until she froze. Ahead, she spotted four boys beating on another boy, another boy who she then realized was her best friend, Gabriel Morgan. Anger began bubbling in the young girl, and she quickly tore the bag off her shoulder and threw it to the ground, not wanting it to slow her down. Adelina was fast, and she sprinted over to where they were. "Get the fuck away from him!" She shouted. Not wasting time at all, she grabbed one of them by the front of his shirt, pulling him towards her where she punched him hard in the face. She shook her hand in the air; it hurt, but as she glanced down towards where her best friend lied, she knew it wasn't anything like the pain he was going through. She extended her leg, kicking another one of them hard in the shins. The boys were surprised by her, and instead of getting the shit kicked out of them by a girl, not to mention the fact that people were slowly starting to pay attention to the situation, they bolted. "Don't think this is over!"

Kneeling down next to her best friend, Addy's anger slowly faded into fear and sadness. "Oh Gabe," She whispered quietly, feeling tears rush to her eyes. He was in serious trouble. "Someone call an ambulance!" She screamed, flinging her head around to look at the people she knew where just standing and watching, including a few teachers who were just now walking over. "Don't just stand there! Call for help!" She yelled. More than one of them then pulled out their cell phones and dialed the number, and she quickly returned her attention to her best friend. "We're getting you help, okay? Just hang in there. You're going to be okay." She whispered to him, surveying all of his injuries. Oh god, why hadn't she gotten here sooner?

A female teacher walked over to the two of them, but out of anger, Adelina ignored her presence as she watched over Gabriel. The teachers at this school did nothing to stop these kids from terrorizing them, and Adelina was pissed off beyond belief. "An ambulance is on its way. Is he alright? Adelina scrunched her hands into fists as she knelt next to her injured best friend in the dirt, now glaring fiercely up at the woman. "No, he's not fucking alright. I swear to god, those kids had better be suspended after this because if this school doesn't deal with it, you can bet your ass I will." Her Corinthos side was showing as she spoke, and the woman not knowing what to do, walked away.

[Gabriel Morgan]

In the midst of the pain and agony, the voice of Adelina Corinthos was like an angel coming to the rescue. Gabe was dropped to the ground and he laid there, for the longest time he just laid there, feeling himself falling away. But something was nagging at him, something as instinctual as breathing, and it was then his mind had caught up with him. Adelina! If she was here, she could be hurt, he couldn't let her be hurt, he had promised.

Steeling himself and holding back the pain, Gabe slowly climbed to his feet but the effort was wasted as he couldn't support himself and fell back down onto the ground again, this time, sharper pains ripped through him, he suddenly found his breathing gone before he could take in the oxygen. Panic filled him, he couldn't breath, he was trying so hard to breath.

He could hear the commotion, he could hear Addy's voice, but all he could focus on was his breathing, he was losing it, he couldn't gain his breath back enough. Was this what dying felt like? Was he going to lose it all? He really tried, he really tried hard to breath but his lungs wouldn't work, they refused to work.

Blue eyes opened a tiny bit and fell upon the worry face of Addy, he didn't want her to be scared, no, she should be safe, she shouldn't be here, he needed to protect her. He willed his right hand to reach out to her, relief when his hand found her soft hand. He wanted to respond to her words, but his strength was already fading, and not before long, his eyes closed and hand fell limp as he turned to unconsciousness.

[Adelina Corinthos]

Adelina squeezed his hand tightly when it found hers, but watched as his eyes slowly closed. The girl who was so angry moments ago was now filled with nothing but absolute panic and fear. He was not dying! He could not die on her! "Don't you dare," She muttered, feeling the tears fill her eyes as she ambulance sirens came closer. "You are not allowed to die, do you hear me? YOU HOLD ON." The ambulance doors slammed, and she heard a stretcher being rolled over towards them. She got up and out of the way and watched as they helped him onto the stretcher. He needed to wake up!

She heard someone yell her name in the distance and she turned to see Max and Milo running over to them. It felt like all commotion; Gabe was now being rolled towards the ambulance as two of her father's bodyguards had now made it over, obviously wondering what happened. She didn't have time for explaining, she just needed to make sure that Gabe was okay. "Max, Milo, get dad and Jason to the hospital now! Can you do that? I need you to do that."

Before getting a response, she climbed into the ambulance with Gabriel. She needed to stay with him. He needed to know that she was there with him. She picked up his hand again and squeezed it. She felt tears streaming down her face at this point, just wanting desperately for him to say something to her, for him to show that he was okay. God, why didn't her stupid teacher let her out sooner? Why hadn't she remembered her locker combination and not had to try it five times? Why had he not fought back?

[Gabriel Morgan]

The medics hovered over the young man that they recognized as Gabriel Morgan as they fiddled with various different machines and instruments to get him stabilized. The IVs now stuck in the boy's hand, feeding him important drugs and blood, and a tube was put down his throat, pumping in oxygen as they felt the broken rib cage, heard his harsh breathing, and assessed that both lungs may be punctured.

Both medics, Ryan and Trish, had run the GH route for years, Gabriel Morgan seemed to be a constant patient what with his family in the mob business, the kid was always being transported for cuts and bruises or after some huge catastrophe or kidnapping attempt. But this vicious beating, and the teary-eyed girl beside him that they recognized as Adelina Corinthos, daughter of Sonny Corinthos, had been a first. The Morgan boy was in a very bad condition, but if both of them had to take a gamble, they would bet that the kid survives. The kid was tough, he was a fighter, and they both knew that well enough from the number of times the kid had been through some injury.

Finally able to stabilize the kid enough, Trish looked over to the girl Adelina and tried to comfort her.

"He's a strong young man, he will pull through this." Trish spoke softly, laying a gentle hand on the young girl's shoulder.

Ryan watched from the side, eyes glancing between Trish and the girl Adelina and Gabriel's machine monitors. He had to believe the kid would survive the ride and get help in time.

----------------------------------------

As soon as his eyes closed, Gabriel felt himself floating, he felt peaceful, he felt comfort. Was this death? Had he passed on? Was he in heaven?

[Adelina Corinthos]

Adelina nodded, now choking back tears. She knew Gabriel was strong; the boy had been through things in his life that no person on this earth should ever see, and he was only sixteen years old. His strength was not the problem in this situation. Adelina knew that bad things happened to good people. With Gabriel not awake, not only did it add to her fear, but it was also this sense that she didn't need to fake strength for him. She was just terrified at this point and full of guilt. She couldn't help but feel bad for not being with him, for not getting an ambulance to him sooner. If he didn't get through this, she didn't think she would be able to live with herself; she wouldn't want to live without Gabriel period. He was her best friend, the only one who understood her life and didn't judge her at all. He was the one who kept her in check; made sure that she didn't act too much like a mini-Sonny, as Aunt Robin would say. Addy couldn't help but remember one of the fights she had nearly gotten into that would have surely gotten her expelled, because Adelina didn't have a whole lot of chances left.

--

"Why isn't her dad in prison yet? Isn't he like, a known criminal?"

"Do you two have anything you want to say to my face?" Addy turned from her locker where she stood with Gabriel, walking over to the two girls. "Do you have a problem?"

They looked nervous at first that she had heard them, but the braver of the two quickly adjusted. "Yeah, I do. Your dad is a murderer and he's walking the streets. He deserves to be in prison."

Adelina got up in the girls face, glaring fiercely into her eyes. "Prove it."

She could already feel Gabriel putting his hands on her waist, predicting the events that were up and coming.

"Oh, I don't need to prove it. He's going to get what's coming to him, just you watch."

Addy got one good push in before Gabriel moved his arms and wrapped them tightly around her so she couldn't move. He then pulled her around the corner, and made her stand there. "Take a deep breath." He told her, now beginning to laugh.

"Did you have to pull me away? I wanted to shut her up."

"Addy, I let you push her onto the floor. I really don't want you getting expelled."

She nodded. The two understood each other. If one went, they were alone. They needed to stick together if they were going to survive this place

--

She needed Gabe to survive life in general. Why were the men in her life always in such danger? She felt the ambulance pull to a stop, and Addy had never been so glad that Port Charles was a small town. The paramedics got the stretcher out of the back and immediately wheeled him into the hospital. Quickly followed behind, she wiped one of the tears from her face. She followed the stretcher until it reached the hub and a doctor came out to stop her. "We've got to take him into surgery now. You'll have to wait out here." Alex opened her mouth to protest, but was cut off. "I promise we'll let you know what's going on as soon as we can." And with that, he turned on his heel and followed the stretcher down the long hallway.

Adelina walked as if she was a ghost to the lounge before she felt her knees buckle beneath her. Her head found her hands and she began to sob uncontrollably. The pain she felt inside hurt so much more than the hand she had probably done damage to. Her knuckle was bloody, and a tad swollen. She literally decked that boy in the face as hard as she could, and if she could go back in time she would do a hell of a lot worse to them than they got. She kept replaying the situation in her head, seeing Gabriel's broken body lying there as they continued to beat him. She felt her heart beating fast in her chest, but it also felt like it was slowly breaking into a million pieces until she just felt nothing. Emotions were a dangerous thing for a Corinthos.

[Sonny Corinthos]

Max must have broken all of the rules of the road but I didn't care about any of that. My primary concern was getting to the hospital. Getting to the hospital was all that I was concerned about. God have mercy on whoever tried to pull us over right now. I wasn't going to stop until I got to my little girl's side. I could feel my heart race inside of my chest, feeling as if it was going to burst out any second. I always had these heart attacks with her. I got one when she first fell down after taking her first few steps. I got another when she fell off her bike and swing, scraping her knee. It was like I fell too in a way but nothing could ever hold her down for long, before I knew it she was back up and running. Nothing could ever keep her down but I could feel her pain and I hated seeing her in pain. I wished there was a way that I could take away all of her pain and make it go away. I always wanted to be behind her to catch her when she fell. I knew I wouldn't always be there for her but I would be watching her every step of the way. "Max..can you make this thing go any faster? You are at a crawl!" I snapped at him, watching as we flew right pass a red light leaving everyone else in our dust. I reached into my pocket for my phone, pulling it out. "Get to the hospital now. Gabe got into a fight at school and got admitted into the hospital. Addy's there with him. They need us" I said before hanging up the phone. Milo, Shawn or Johnny probably have already called Jason and he was probably on his way there already

Once Max pulled into the parking lot of General Hospital and drove the car up to the front of the hospital, I opened the door before Max had even stopped the car. I got out of the car rather quickly before starting to rush inside of the hospital. I practically ran over to the nurses station, nearly colliding into Epiphany on the way. She opened her mouth before shutting it, coming to the right conclusion that now wasn't the time for her snark. I made my way over to the counter. "Where's my daughter? Where's Adelina? Where's Gabe? Are they ok?" I asked, talking fast, the words rolling right off my tongue and fitting into one breath that I didn't feel as if I had. I didn't feel like I was breathing since I got the call from Max. Where the fuck was Shawn when this was happening? Where was Gabe's guard. I'm going to have their heads for this but first things first, I had to make sure the kids were ok. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a figure slumped down on the ground. I turned my head, feeling my heart drop in my chest at the sight of my little girl on the ground, upset. Her quiet sobs brought tears to my eyes. I blinked them back, knowing I had to be strong for her. She needed me to be strong for her. I began making my way over toward her, not waiting to get a response out of the nurse behind the counter. I rushed over to her before wrapping my arm around her small frame

"It's going to be ok sweetheart" I said, wrapping my other arm around her. I reached out brushing her dark, wavy hair out of her face. "It's going to be ok, I promise" I said to her, trying my best to reassure her. I glanced down, noticing her bloody fist. I gulped slightly. "Your hand...we have to get that looked at, ok?" I said pulling myself up off the ground before helping her up gently. Now wasn't the time for me to scold her over getting into a fight. I would do that later but right now she didn't need me to discipline her

[Adelina Corinthos]

Adelina buried her head into her father's chest, attempting to hide like she would as a child when she thought there were monsters - or her father's enemies, to be exact - in her closet. She listened to Sonny try to assure her that everything was alright. In the safety of his arms, she began to let go and cry harder than before. She had been trying so hard to hold together and be strong, she was a Corinthos after all. She just couldn't do it anymore, however. What would she do without her best friend? "Dad.. he looks so bad. He wasn't awake anymore.. I should have left school sooner, I should have made sure he got help sooner." Adelina's fingers then clenched hard on the arms of her father's suit. "I am going to make them pay. I swear to god, I am going to make them pay." She winced in pain as she tightened her fists too hard, remembering that the hand she had punched one of the idiots with might be broken. She bit her lip to keep herself from attracting his attention to it, but it was too late. He saw it, and she already knew he would shift part of his concern onto his daughter.

"No. I have to stay here. The doctor promised he'd come find me here if Gabe is alright. I need to know that he's alright." She proceeded to ramble, her sobbing now only hushed tears. Looking up at her father, she spoke what she knew he was thinking about. "I'm not going to apologize for fighting this time. These weren't those prissy girls I go to school with, Dad. Gabe was outnumbered. There were four boys beating him on the ground. I had to help him, and I would do it again." Adelina sat down on the soft couch of the lounge, displaying that she had meant what she said to her father. She was stubborn, and she was staying here. She could get her hand checked out later. It really was the least of her worries right now. "Is Jason on his way?" Adelina then asked, realizing that he hadn't come in with her father. "He knows, right?" Addy felt true sadness for Jason. If she thought she was torn up about this, she knew that Jason would be worse.

Jason had always been afraid of bringing kids into the life that her father and him led, but Addy always knew that she and Gabe were the exception. He loved them both incredibly much, Gabe especially seeing as he was his adoptive son. That said a lot to Adelina, because she knew how much Jason adored her. People would always tell her what monsters they thought her father and Jason were, but she saw the complete opposite. She got all the love in the world from them, so much that it didn't even matter that she didn't have a mother. Well, it did, but it certainly lessened the pain of it all. She knew that their hearts would break if something were to happen to them.

[Shawn Butler]

I had taken a quicker route to arrive at Adelina and Gabriel's high school so I could pick then up and return them safely home. I was running late as it was, but only by a few minutes. On the way there, the traffic had come to a dead stop. There was a four car accident, which really figured. "God dammit." I mumbled to myself, sighing annoyingly at the time thing decided to occur. I had places to be. After about eight minutes in the parking lot of a route, I was considering just getting out of the car and running to the school. I sure as hell would have been able to get there faster. That was a big if, though. I honked, frustrated. I had ten minutes before their school got out, I always liked to be their early just in case. Nothing had ever happened to them before since I've been working for Sonny Corinthos, but I wasn't wanting to risk today being the day that something did happen. The traffic finally started clearing, and I was hoping that I would be there just on time. Unfortunately the twenty miles an hour we were doing didn't look promising. Hopefully Gabriel's guard was there, I didn't want them waiting there alone.

I got back on track the minute the school bell should have rung, and I silently cursed to myself. Today had decided to be the biggest pain in the ass. I arrived to the school, and the first time I noticed were the police cars. "Son of a bitch." I got out of the car and asked what happened to someone who was standing by. Thankfully he told me everything that happened, and I got the information I needed. I quickly got back in my car and sped to the hospital. I couldn't believe that the first time I was late, was the first time something decided to go down. Apparently Gabe was hurt, and Adelina went with him to the hospital in an ambulance. That's what I assumed from the description of the kids the man gave me and also his knowledge from what happened. I hoped that they were both alright, and if I had to go... talk to some teenagers, I would. That's the thing about being a mercenary. I didn't like that part of my job as much, but it was my job. I did what I had to do if it wasn't outrageous. Otherwise, I'd have to decline. Mercenary's are not suppose to have an opinion, they aren't suppose to disagree. But that wasn't me, there are just some times that aren't worth the money. I'd do anything for these kids though, they were good kids.

I arrived at the hospital, and hurried out of my car and into the lobby. I was in for it, I knew. I failed at my job, and from what it looked like, Gabriel's life was at stake. I didn't approach Sonny or Adelina, I stood back. My arms were at my sides and I stood very straight, blame all of those years in the military. While Adelina looked very upset, she didn't seem hurt. The only injury I spotted was on her hand, her knuckles looked bloody and swollen. I expected she had punched someone, or something. I was betting on someone. I would wait until Sonny noticed me, and at the very least I expected to be fired. If I wasn't, I would be considerably surprised.

[Gabriel Morgan]

The doctors frantically tried to save the only son of mob hitman Jason Morgan, half of them knew the boy, the other half feared just what retribution Morgan would seek should his son die, but most of all, all of them just wanted to save the life of a child. Mobster's kid at stake here or not, they were doctors, they had a duty to save lives.

The heart monitor soon began erratically beeping out of control, indicating the boy's weakening heart giving out as the doctors moved to do whatever they can to keep the child breathing and alive.

But soon, horror gripped them as the monitor gave out one long steady beep.

----------------------------

"Gabriel...Wake up Gabriel...."

An incessant voice wouldn't leave Gabriel alone, he tried to ignore it, he wanted to stay this peaceful forever, but the small childish voice continued on calling his name, forcing him to finally open his eyes and wake up.

A set of curious and innocent blue eyes was the first thing Gabriel saw as he awoke from his peaceful slumber. The little girl who couldn't more than 12 years old giggled at his reaction to seeing her.

"Your silly big brother..."

Gabriel thought his heart would stop.....big brother....she called him her big brother.....how? Could it be?

"Grace?" Gabriel asked in shock, could this be? His Gracie that he had lost before he ever got a chance to meet her?

"Who else would it be silly...I missed you!"

Before Gabriel knew it, Grace had embraced him in a tight hug and soon he found himself holding tight onto her as well. His baby sister, the sister he had lost so long ago, the sister who never got a chance to grow up.

Letting her go from the hug, Gabriel's eyes fell on two other figures, two people he would never forget.

"Mom? Dad?" He was stunned, this must be a dream. It was then he remembered the attack, the pain, and falling unconscious. "Am I dead? Is this Heaven?"

His mother stepped up close to him, knelt on the ground and cupped his chin in her hands, "My sweet baby, the choice of life or death is up to you. Only you can decide."

"This is no easy choice, son." His father spoke, "Think of the choice you are making, the effects of others around you. Think hard."

Gabriel looked between his father, his mother, and his beautiful little sister, this is his family, every night he dream of them, of being with them, he could feel the lure and the pull. He wants to be here, in this Heaven, living with them forever.....but....his thoughts turned to Addy, his new family that he had gained...could he leave them? Could he leave Addy to fend for herself? Hadn't he promised that he would never leave her?

"I can't stay..." Gabriel blurted out, filled with worry about Addy and his family. He's a Morgan after all, what kind of Morgan would he be if he left his Corinthos half to be alone? He couldn't go against what was in his blood. Looking up at the smiling faces of his family, Gabriel realized that they must have known that as well.

"Then go, baby boy, go be with them." His mother said in her soft-spoken voice, "We'll be waiting for you here when the time comes. Close your eyes and go be with them."

Gabriel smiled as he went to embrace his whole family before letting go again and closing his eyes, hearing the voice of his baby sister calling out and slowly fading into the background, "Go back big brother....go back....I love you...I love you...."

And then, he knew nothing....

-------------------------

The doctors had froze when the monitor let out a long beep, indicating the heart had stopped and went right back into work to re-start the heart. It didn't work and they thought they had lost the kid.

But just before they were going to announce a time of death, by some miraculous timing, the boy's heart had re-started, steady beeps filled the room as the doctors sighed in relief.

Looks like the child would not be dying today.

--------------------------

Dr. Charles Nash walked out of the OR room and breathed out a sigh of relief and satisfaction. There were more than enough close misses with Gabriel Morgan's surgery, but the kid remained tough and held out, must be that mobster mentality he got from the parents.

At least now he wouldn't be faced with telling Jason Morgan that his son died, at least he won't be facing being killed. That was a very good thing indeed.

Looking around the waiting room, Nash noticed Sonny Corinthos, with his daughter and another whom he assumed to be the bodyguard. No Jason Morgan in sight but anyone in Port Charles knew that Morgan's kid was as good as Corinthos's own.

Still, he should follow protocol, so he stepped into the room and announced, 'Family of Gabriel Morgan?" and waited for the inevitable hurricane to hit.

[Sonny Corinthos]

I felt Addy bury her face in my chest. I wrapped my arms tighter around her, hoping that I was helping. I hated seeing my little girl so upset. I hated it more then anything. Her small frame rocking with sobs. I rubbed her back gently, unsure of how I could help her. I hated not knowing what to do. 'Dad.. he looks so bad. He wasn't awake anymore.. I should have left school sooner, I should have made sure he got help sooner' "This isn't your fault" I whispered to her before leaning back. I slid my hand underneath her chin before gently raising it up. I reached out, gently wiping her hair out of her face. "None of this is your fault" I said to her, my brown eyes remaining locked with hers. "Gabe's strong.....he's going to be ok and he wouldn't want you to blame yourself for this" I said to her. I could feel her tiny hands grasping onto my suit tightly.

'I am going to make them pay. I swear to god, I am going to make them pay'

I shook my head slightly as I stared down at her. Revenge was never a solution. It never ended it or filled the void in a person's soul or lack of. The painful ache just became worst. Revenge just made it become worst in the long run. It was a lot worst than the temporary satisfaction it brought. That satisfaction just didn't last. It didn't cure the pain that only becomes more intense. I didn't want my daughter to travel down that dark road that I knew all to well. "I know....I know you want payback, sweetheart. I don't blame you but it doesn't help in the long run. It only makes things worst. Gabe wouldn't want you traveling down that road. People lose themselves. Forgiveness is the ultimate payback. They have to live with themselves...that's punishment enough" I said to her, giving her a weak smile. Addy was so much like me it was scary. She spent way to much time around me and Jason. We were never anyone's ideal parents but Addy turned out perfectly fine. I couldn't be more proud of the young woman she was becoming. I remembered like it was just yesterday she was taking her first step, giving me a near heart attack each time she fell but nothing could keep her on the ground for long. She was determined and stubborn, a trait she definitely got from me and Brenda. Brenda was the most stubborn person I know...or use to know. I saw so much of Brenda in Adelina that it always surprised me that people didn't connect the dots and just know. Just know that she's Brenda's child but Jason and I came up with a good cover story. Explaining to Addy everything was a bridge I hoped I would never have to cross. I couldn't lie to her but I hoped she would understand that everything I did, every lie I ever made up was for her best interest. Everything I did was for her

'No. I have to stay here. The doctor promised he'd come find me here if Gabe is alright. I need to know that he's alright'

I helped Addy get in a standing position. I never took my eyes off. She probably didn't like that I was hovering around her....as she would put it but I couldn't help it. "I'll get a doctor to come over here then" I said to her firmly. She was going to get checked out, in a room or in the waiting room....someone was going to attend to her. I watched as she began speaking before making her way over toward the sofa, sitting down. 'I'm not going to apologize for fighting this time. These weren't those prissy girls I go to school with, Dad. Gabe was outnumbered. There were four boys beating him on the ground. I had to help him, and I would do it again' "I know you would" I said sitting down beside her. "And I'm proud of you for defending family" I said to her, resting my hand on her shoulder, patting it gently

'Is Jason on his way'

"Yes he is. I called him on my way over" I said to her, gently rubbing her back. I knew Jason would be a wreck. I frowned at the thought as I glanced down at the ground. I wasn't sure how I could help him but I knew I would do anything to help Jason. I owed him so much and could never repay him for what he did for me and Adelina. He's the brother I always wanted. I trusted Jason more than I trusted anyone else. 'He knows, right' "He knows" I said to her, nodding my head. Jason was probably in his own personal hell right now. Jason loved Gabe. Jason loved Gabe like a son. In every way that counts, Jason is Gabe's father. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a figure standing beside the wall. I turned my head in their direction, ready to bark a order at who I thought might be a doctor doing nothing to earn their payback but it wasn't a doctor. It was another son of a bitch who wasn't doing anything to earn his paycheck either. That son of a bitch was wasting my money. I felt fury pound through me as I bolted up out of my seat. "Where the fuck were you?" I hollered, quickly making my way over to Shawn. "Incompetent bastard....do you have a hard time understanding your job description? How hard is it for you to get? You weren't suppose to let them out of your fucking sight ever" I said through gritted teeth as I punched Shawn in the face. I continued to shoot daggers at him as I shook my throbbing hand. Son of a bitch

'Family of Gabriel Morgan'

I clenched my fist tightly by my side as I continued to glare at Shawn. The voice penetrated my thoughts. I blinked a couple of times before glancing down at the ground. I clenched my jaw tightly before looking away from Shawn. I turned around to face the doctor, loosening my fist. I shook my arm out slightly before heading over to him, nodding my head at him to continue. "How's he doin?" I asked, hoping and praying to God that he was ok. This family couldn't survive losing Gabriel

[Jason Morgan]

I rushed to the hospital, zig zagging through traffic on my motorcycle. I could feel the vibrations of it all over and I couldn't help but feel weightless. I didn't like this feeling. I wasn't use to feeling like this. I felt hollow inside...empty...numb.I was use to feeling that. It seemed like it was taking forever to get to the hospital. I needed to be there. I needed to see Gabe. He needed to feel my presence. Some how that helps. I hated the hospital and I know he hated it as much as I did. We both have been inside the white walls more than we should have. This was the last place he should ever be in. There was something draining about hospitals. They smelled of death, medicine and the complete absence of hope. I don't remember much when I woke up in a hospital. It was the death of Jason Quartermaine and the birth of Jason Morgan. Who I once was happened to be a stranger to me. I hated that my family wanted him. They couldn't accept who he became. They couldn't accept he was dead but now I finally knew what that felt like. I risked losing Gabriel. I couldn't handle losing him. I couldn't handle knowing what it felt like to be Alan and Monica. I couldn't lose him. He is a lot stronger then me anyways. He would survive. He had to. He had a lot of people that needed him. I needed him. I couldn't imagine my life without him. He changed my life..for the better

I pulled into the parking lot of the hospital before parking as close as I could get to the entrance. I got off my motorcycle before running toward the door. I flung it open before racing into the lobby of the hospital. I rushed over to the nurses station before noticing figures out of the corner of my eye. I turned my head noticing Sonny and Shawn who seemed to be in some type of confrontation. I rubbed my forehead with my hand. I knew what was happening and I wasn't in the mood to deal with it. I was to exhausted to deal with it. I did feel angry though. I didn't like that Gabriel was unattended. I'm pissed off too but being angry did Gabriel no good. I was to exhausted to fight right now. All the strength I had, had to go to Gabriel. He needed it more then I needed to fight someone but it was different for Sonny. He handled things differently. He needed to fight someone when he felt helpless or cornered. That was the only thing preventing the current from taking him under. I got it. I understood how he felt

I noticed Adelina sitting down, looking shaken. My heart fell to the pit of my stomach. She looked so small from this distance..fragile. I never wanted to see her in pain. I approached her. "You ok?" I asked her with concern in my voice before glancing over at the doctor, noticing Sonny approach him. I prepared myself. My eyes narrowed on the doctor as I waited for the news that had the potential to make or break my world in an instant

[Gabriel Morgan]

Funny how life just changes in seconds, you would think a doctor like Charles Nash would know after all these years of working at General Hospital, but really, you never get use to it.

Before he had even utter another word, Jason Morgan had popped out of nowhere nearly giving Nash a heart attack and Sonny Corinthos stopped in the midst of trying to murder some poor bodyguard. Maybe he should really work on a novel or something, Nash was pretty sure the stuff he had seen in Port Charles would make for some compelling book reading.

Noticing the attention was finally on him and the room's occupants seemed to have calmed down, Nash spoke, "The surgery was successful, but we did nearly lose him a few times so he's not out of the woods yet. The next 24 hours are crucial, if he can remain stabilized and his conditions not worsen, then he should recover just fine."

Looking to Jason Morgan, Nash remarked, "Your son is a strong kid, Mr. Morgan, I believe he will pull through this one."

Turning to gesture to Nurse Debbie, Nash turned back to the family of Gabriel Morgan, "Nurse Debbie will take you to the ICU where you can visit for a few minutes. He's currently on a ventilator to aid his breathing and the healing of his lungs. He won't be waking up for a while, but it will do him good to know you're with him."

With a nod, Nash left the waiting room as Nurse Debbie lead the Morgan family to the ICU floor and opened the doors to the room of Gabriel Morgan.

[Adelina Corinthos]

"Dad, do you really think they care? This isn't killing someone. They don't have a death on their conscience. The only reason they stopped was because they didn't want to be beaten up by a girl, and at least they have some sense as to not hit back. You should have seen them; the smug looks on their faces. I will never forgive them for this." Adelina was angry, and every time she thought about what had just happened, she felt the anger bubble up inside of her. She wanted to scream, throw things, punch something. Revenge may make things worse, but it was the only thing on her mind other than the most important thing, Gabriel's well-being. She shook her head, "you know they aren't going to do it here, Dad. Maybe if Robin was already a doctor, but otherwise, no." She sat down, and looked her hand. She couldn't describe the pain she was in, but she wasn't going to go anywhere until the doctor let them know about Gabe's condition. She had to be here for him. "God, I hate hospitals." She muttered aloud; must be something she got from all her time spent with Jason.

Adelina looked over to the elevators just in time to see Shawn Butler, her bodyguard, come up. She gave him a small, quick smile; the only thing she could muster. She blamed herself, not him for the events that transpired, and no matter how many times she heard that it wasn't, she wouldn't believe it. She simply shouldn't have not been with him, they needed to stick together at that school. Obviously noticing she was looking elsewhere, her father spotted him as well. Before she could stop it, Sonny was shouting at Shawn and then she watched as he punched him right in the face. "Dad, stop it!" She bellowed, walking over to stand in between the two. She looked up at her father, her face dead serious. He was blaming the wrong people. "Forgiveness, remember." She gave him a sarcastically sweet smile, knowing that he would have to listen to her if he had wanted her to do the same.

After he walked away, Adelina looked up at her bodyguard. "I don't blame you for this, Shawn. I'm sorry he punched you, get it checked out, okay? I'll let you know how Gabe is." She tried to keep a level head, but her emotions were going up and down like a rollercoaster. She quickly removed herself from the conversation, and sat in the corner on another seat. She could feel more tears coming on. God, how was this possible? How did she go between anger and fear so quickly and seamlessly. She stifled back her tears and looked up only to spot Jason in her line of vision. "Jason!" She exclaimed, jumping up to hug him tightly. If she had stopped the tears before, she had no control over them now. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault." She told him, near complete sobs before the doctor made his way over. Releasing herself from Jason, she walked over and stood next to her father.

Adelina didn't need to hear anything but the fact that he was alive, and his location. She didn't need to be told twice about going to visit. She quickly followed the nurse, knowing that Sonny and Jason were going to follow her quickly. Right before she was around the corner, she gave a thumbs up to Shawn to let him know that he was alive. Her dad was still fuming about him, but he'd have to get over it because Adelina didn't want another bodyguard. He was good at what he did, and he was the only one she was going to take, other than Max and Milo, but dad needed them. Once they reached the room, Adelina nodded to the nurse and took a seat next to Gabriel. She touched his hand, but couldn't really do more than that due to the pain she felt every time she tried to move it. "God, Gabe, you had me so worried." She started, looking at him tearfully. She didn't like to see him like this either, but it was a much better alternative to lying on the floor, beaten to a pulp. "You're the one who usually helps me through situations like this.. when Dad or Jason are in the hospital.. They're here though, even though your Dad hates hospitals. You know he'll be here till you wake up; I'll be here till you wake up." Adelina tried to muster up a smile, but failed.

"So hey.. I wrote a song for you," She spoke softly, not noticing that Jason and Sonny were now about to enter the room quietly. "How you choose to express yourself, it's all your own and I can tell it comes naturally, it comes naturally. You follow what you feel inside, it's intuitive you don't have to try, it comes naturally, it comes naturally. You are the thunder and I am the lightning, and I love the way you know who you are and to me it's exciting."[/i] Her soft lyrics came to a quiet when she heard someone shuffle behind her and she was now face to face with her father, as well as Jason. Her face blushed, but she hid it as she turned back to her best friend. He was the only one who really knew that she wrote, and sang, and she had never done it in front of anyone before. In fact, if he had been awake this would have been his first time hearing her as well. "I'm going to let Sonny and Jason take their turns now, okay? I'll be right over there though." She knew he wasn't awake, but it felt better for her to think that he could still hear her. Standing up, she made her way to the other side of the room.

[Jason Morgan]

I wrapped my arms gently around Addy's tiny frame, so thankful to see that she is ok. If anything happened to Addy too, I don't know what I would do. 'I'm so sorry. This is all my fault' I shook my head slightly as I stared forward, before gently rubbing her back. "None of this is your fault" I said to her. It is the Corinthos nature to take all blame and tear themselves apart over everything. She is definitely Sonny's daughter. He too is his judge, jury and executioner. I hated when they tore themselves down. They were always to hard on themselves. "He doesn't blame you..I don't blame you. You shouldn't blame yourself" I said to her, hoping that I was helping the young girl. Once the doctor came out, Addy left my side before going over to her father

'The surgery was successful, but we did nearly lose him a few times so he's not out of the woods yet. The next 24 hours are crucial, if he can remain stabilized and his conditions not worsen, then he should recover just fine'

I could feel the heavy burden on my shoulders lift ever so slightly at the doctor's words but I was afraid to trust it, to put to much hope in it. I always expected the worst to come. The worst always did normally follow once the guard was dropped, once you thought you were in the clearing, the floor had a tendency of falling out from underneath your feet. I've been there many times, falling down a dark pit that seemed to be bottomless. I brought my hands together in front of me, wringing them slightly in an effort to control the shaking. I just hoped the shaking wasn't visible. That was a weakness I couldn't afford to show, not now...not ever. I wringed my hands together so tightly that I thought my fingers might break off. That wasn't a concern of mine at the moment. I nodded my head at the doctor, glancing down at the ground before looking back up at him, finally finding my voice. "Thank you" I said to him. I didn't like doctors or trusted them but I owed Charles for saving my son's life. It was a debt that I knew I could never pay completely. He not only saved my son's life but my life as well and Sonny's and Addy's

'Your son is a strong kid, Mr. Morgan, I believe he will pull through this one'

I nodded my head as I stared at the doctor. "Thank you for everything. He is a strong kid" I said. Gabe is one of the strongest people I know. He is a survivor. The doctor excused himself and I stared at the nurse remaining before glancing over at Sonny. Addy was already in motion following quickly after the nurse. I was afraid to see what was waiting in that room. My boy bruised in his big hospital bed, looking small...fragile...hurt being connected to all sorts of machines. I couldn't see that. That was something to hard to see. No parent wanted to see their child like that. I should of done more. I should of done more to protect him. "He's going to be ok. He's strong Jason....he's a fighter" I heard Sonny say, patting me gently on the shoulder, making me come out of my thoughts. Hearing Sonny's voice helped. I nodded my head before starting to follow in the direction that the nurse and Addy had vanished in

I could hear a soft voice in the hallway, knowing that it was Addy's. I followed the voice, entering the room, noticing her sitting beside his bedside. I swallowed the lump in my throat before glancing over at Sonny who nodded his head. I entered the room, remaining silent as I continued to stare at my son who seemed to be at peace. It was almost like he was sleeping. I didn't know that Adelina singed. I doubt Sonny did either. She had a good voice though and I hoped that it helped Gabe somehow. I watched as Addy excused herself before getting up, walking to the other side of the room. Sonny patted me on the shoulder before making his way over toward his daughter. I eyed them for a second, pursing my lips together tightly before making my way over to my son. I bit my lower lip slightly before sitting down on his bed. "Hey" I whispered out, hoping he could hear me. I reached out taking his hand in mine before resting my free hand on top of ours. I hoped he could feel it some how. I tried to remember if I could feel anything after the accident but I couldn't. I remembered some how this helped though. I hope it did. "You gave everyone a scare" I said to him, reaching out brushing strands of his sandy blonde hair out of his eyes, noticing the faint cuts and bruises on his face

I felt fury flood through me. I wanted to kill whoever hurt him like this. Gabe has been through so much in his life. He saw so much that no child should ever see. "You changed my life" I said, feeling tears threaten to spill but I refused to let them spill onto my dry cheeks. I bit the inside of my lip in an effort to keep from crying. I refused to cry. "You helped make my life better..in fact you made this world brighter. This world is brighter because you are in it" I said to him, picturing him laughing and shaking his head at my comment and calling me a sap. Not many would get away with that or have the guts to call me a sap but Gabe is a ballsy kid. "I need you to be ok...a lot of people do and I know you will because you are one of the strongest people I know" I said to him, giving him a small weak smile. "I love you" I added a second later before getting up from my position on the bed, making my way to the other side of the room. I leaned against the counter, folding my arms across my chest before looking up. My eyes met Sonny's dark ones and I nodded my head at Gabe, letting Sonny know that it was his turn now