Fic: Saints & Martyrs

[csi_sanders1129]

Title: Saints & Martyrs
Chapters: 3/4
Author: csi_sanders1129
Genre: AU. Drama. Romance.
Ratings: M, for language, and probably violence, too.
Word Count: ~4300
Pairings/Characters: Jason/Spinelli. Conner, Murphy, Smecker present.
Synopsis: The Saints of South Boston move on to Port Charles, New York to take out the rivaling mob organizations.
Comments: Okay, couple things. One: lots and lots of character death. It's the Saints, what did you expect, puppies and - you know what? Let's stay away from the Saints and animals. Just to be safe. Two: Ugh, also, this fic takes place in kind of an AU where the Zacchara's aren't around. Three: OC's are mine. LJ seems decidedly opposed to a 5000 word chapter, so, therefore, there is now going to be an epilogue of sorts. It’ll be up tomorrow sometime. I don’t feel like fighting with my computer anymore tonight. Enjoy the cliffhanger?

Jason still doesn’t have a cast on his arm, but he could really care less when he hears that sound over the phone. He jumps up, and dodges out of the room and through the gaggle of people milling about the ER. He sees Commissioner Scorpio with Lucky Spencer and the same unfamiliar man in an FBI windbreaker he’d seen on the docks earlier during the investigation of Peter Doyle’s death, and stealthily manages to avoid them.

 

Recalling that he doesn’t have a car, and his bike is still back at the Penthouse, and that he probably couldn’t drive even if he had either of those, he stops when he catches sight of Robin.

 

“I need your car.” He says, with no further explanation.

 

She blinks at him in clear surprise. “You expect me to just… give you my car? You need to get your arm casted, Jason. You’re in no condition to be driving.”

 

Jason refuses to explain the situation to her, because he knows that she’ll tell Mac, which is the last thing he needs. If Spinelli is…. He can’t even bring himself to think that. But, if he has so much as a bruise on him, Jason is going to need to not be on police radar. “It’s an emergency, and I need to get back to the Penthouse.” He says, and levels her with his Stone Cold stare, though it seldom actually works on her. “Can you give me a ride? Please.”

 

“My keys are in the locker room.” She sighs.

 

***

 

“Tha’ was a very fuckin’ bad idea.” Conner informs Spinelli, who is currently rolling on the ground clutching his wounded knee, howling in pain. The shot Conner fired undoubtedly shattered his kneecap, but it feels much more like his leg was simply severed at the knee. There’s blood covering his hands and shorts, staining the floor and the blankets of Jason’s bed.

 

“Aye, now stop yer squirmin’. It e’nt that bad.” Murphy agrees, as he hauls Spinelli back onto the bed, despite his wound.

 

Still clutching his knee, and curled into himself quite compactly, Spinelli clenches his teeth and attempts to regain the ability to speak, or curse, or glare enough to make his captors spontaneously burst into flame – really, he’s not picky. Instead, he grabs the barrel of Conner’s gun with his free hand and presses it to his own head.

 

“Th’ fuck are ye doin’?” The elder brother demands, and easily manages to pull it away given Spinelli’s blood slicked hand.

 

“The Ace of Cyberspace… pleads that the Brotherly Butchers do not harm Stone Cold. He does not fit the mould of the ones you so mercilessly hunt. He has only killed in self-defense, or in defense of innocents, like yourselves.” Spinelli pauses, fighting for breath as he struggles against the pain to get the words out, which he is doing at a rather insane speed. “However, if you insist on breaking your well-established pattern and slaying an innocent one, I ask that you kill the Jackal first, for I will not see Stone Cold be murdered by your hands.”

 

***

 

Jason comes bursting into the penthouse prepared to see Spinelli… well, he’s not sure he’s prepared for that, actually.

 

Nothing seems amiss in the living room, except for the door, which has been kicked open. Nothing in any other room on the first floor. Upstairs, he finds no trace of Spinelli or the murderous brothers, at least until he reaches his own room.

 

“Drop the gun.” Jason demands, his sights immediately set upon the man whose weapon is trained on Spinelli. With his left hand, he levels his gun at the blonde and draws his finger to the trigger. Spinelli is lying on the bed with something tied around his knee. There is an alarming amount of red staining various items around the room, as well as Spinelli himself. “Damn it, what the hell did you do to him?” He gapes, nearly sickened by the sight of Spinelli’s injury. “Drop the gun now, or I swear to God, I will shoot you.”

 

A movement from behind him interrupts his confidence as the bedroom door slams closed. He then finds himself tackled quite roughly to the ground. He lands on his injured arm and ends up without his gun as a result of the subsequent struggle.

 

“Ya should really get tha’ looked at, Morgan.” Murphy grins, as he empties the mobster’s weapon and dismantles it before pocketing the gun.

 

Despite his now unarmed state, and the pain flaring in his arm, he stands and lunges back at his attacker landing a satisfying punch with his good hand before he hears Spinelli whimper, which effectively stops him in his attack. The blonde one’s finger is hovering perilously close to the trigger, with the barrel pressed harder against Spinelli’s head.

 

“Easy, Morgan.” He warns, nodding towards the leg wound. “Don’ go tryin’ anythin’ stupid like yer boy there did.”

 

“Aye, ya prolly shoulda listen’d to that warnin’ he gave ya. S’what got him shot.” The one who disarmed him says, his own gun now aimed at Jason. “Now. Where can we find yer boss?”

 

Jason steels himself for the conversation to come, tearing his eyes away from the injured Spinelli. “I’m not telling you a damn thing until you let Spinelli go.”

 

“Oh, I think yer gonna tell us anythin’ we wanna know. Eh, Conn?” The brunette one prompts, nodding to his brother in some sort of silent message.

 

In response, Conner tugs at mercilessly at the tie on Spinelli’s knee, which makes the hacker cry out in agony. “Don’ make us ask again, yeah?”

 

“Spinelli’s never killed anyone!” He growls out, furious as he helplessly watches Spinelli’s pain. “He’s never hurt anyone! He shouldn’t be on your hit-list. “

 

“Oi, he’s gotten ‘imself on some pretty importan’ lists already.” The other one, presumably Murphy counters. “Hasn’t he?”

 

Realizing what list the man is talking about, Jason is quick to respond. “The FBI only used him as a pawn to get to me. He only hacks if someone close to him is in danger; most of the time he works legitimately as a P.I. You have no reason to touch Spinelli.”

 

Speaking of Spinelli, the bleeding boy is shaking where he lies; his head has been turned away from the three of them, mostly away from the gun, as he clutches at his knee. But, now, for the first time since Jason’s arrival, he finally attempts to talk. “Stone Cold, it is a futile argument. There is no reasoning with the infamous Saints on the issue at hand.”

 

“Aye, listen to yer boy.” Conner agrees. “We’re gonna kill ya both. Just as soon as ya get on with tellin’ us where yer boss is hidin’ out.”

 

“Let Spinelli go, and I will tell you anything you want to know.” Jason attempts to compromise again.

                          

Again, Conner shakes his head at the effort. “Look, Morgan. We don’ need ya to tell us. It jus’ saves us a bit o’ time if ya do. Ya don’ have anythin’ to bargain with here.”

 

A Jason existing in a pre-Spinelli era would not even be able to comprehend what he is about to say, but this is not a Jason living in a pre-Spinelli world. “Let him go, and I will take you directly to Sonny’s hideout.” This is a Jason living in a world where Spinelli is quite possibly the most important person in his life.

 

That gets everyone’s attention. The brother’s trade dubiously inclined looks, just as an utterly mortified Spinelli exclaims his protest.

 

“No, Stone Cold! Betraying Mr. Sir will not escape us from this situation.” He insists, quite vehemently.

 

“I’m not trying to save both of us, Spinelli. I’m trying to save you.” Jason answers, as the brothers seem to silently debate their target’s proposition. 

 

Spinelli falls eerily silent at that information, just as Conner and Murphy reach some sort of decision on the issue.

 

“Ya take us directly ta Corinthos and yer boy gets ta live.” Conner says. “Any hint that yer betrayin’ us, and we keep ya alive long enough to come right back here and let ya watch.”

 

Jason nods. “I understand.” He motions to their very effective bargaining chip. “I want a minute alone with Spinelli before we go.”

 

The brothers share another look, and seem to be thinking that request over when Jason takes a slow step toward the bed, and watches the twins’ reaction to his move. In wordless response, Conner shifts away from Spinelli.

 

Silently, Conner slides off of the bed as Jason slowly approaches, step for step, though he does keep his gun trained on the injured hacker. “We’re stayin’ in here.” He explains, once they’ve completely traded places in the room.

 

Jason glares, but says nothing to them. “Spinelli,” He tries, and sets his good hand on Spinelli’s still shaking shoulder. “Come on, look at me.”

 

Spinelli’s once again buried head slowly turns. “The Jackal most insistently disagrees with this plan of yours, Stone Cold.”

 

“I know.” Jason answers, and his eyes fall to the blood stained pillow case the Saints must have used to staunch the bleeding from Spinelli’s gunshot wound. “How’s the knee?”

 

“Quite painful, honestly.” He answers, and motions to Jason’s arm. “How’s the shoulder?”

 

“Less painful that yours.” He assures as he assesses Spinelli’s injury as best he can. He should probably get to the hospital quickly. “Don’t talk to anyone except Robin and Diane, okay? Then get out of town once you’re good to go.”

 

“Stone Cold…”

 

“S’enough.” Murphy calls, cutting off their conversation by waving his gun. “Time ta go.”

 

Jason glares quickly over his shoulder and returns his attention to Spinelli for a moment. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to try this out. Love you, too.” He says, and presses their lips together for a few, all too brief, seconds before he finds himself pulled away by one of the Saints.

 

***

 

The bloodshed surrounding them brings their total body count for today up to 13. Five of Donovan’s crew, including Donovan himself, and eight of Corinthos’ men. Mac paces the scene, where the Assistant Coroner – as the regular Coroner is ahead of him dealing with the Irish – tosses a sheet over the body of Max Giambetti and prepares him for transport back to the overflowing morgue.

 

Before the Commissioner can further curse the existence of living in such a mob related community, Lucky jogs up to him with a police radio in hand. “We’ve got another one, just across from Jason’s place.”

 

“Which side?”

 

“ No ID yet.” He explains, and they’re off again to deal with body number fourteen.

 

***

 

Jason sits in silence in the back of the SUV the brothers have somehow obtained, glancing between his watch at the road. “Call an ambulance for Spinelli.”

 

“I think not.” Murphy snorts, sitting beside Jason while his brother drives.

 

“I didn’t agree to this so Spinelli could bleed out on my bedroom floor.” He growls out, flexing his painfully zip-tied hands behind his back. “Call anonymously, whatever. Just call.”

 

Conner nods to his brother in the rearview mirror. “Aye, do that.”

 

 Murphy, in back with Jason, pulls out one of the disposable pre-paid things they use and lose when they need to contact Smecker. “Pull over.” He says, with a nod toward their captive, Morgan doesn’t need to hear this since he doesn’t intend to dial 911.

 

***

 

The new crime scene reveals another mark against the Corinthos-Morgan side of things. This similarly executed body once belonged to Milo Giambetti. Smecker and Commissioner Scorpio are taking in the scene when the FBI Agents cell phone rings and the man promptly excuses himself.

 

“Not a good time, here, boys.” He says, once a good few yards away from the other officers. “Mommy has work to do.”

 

“As we are well aware.” Comes the voice of the younger MacManus brother. “Morgan’s takin’ us ta Corinthos in exchange for the wiz kid.” He explains. “We ‘ad ta blow out his knee, first, though. He’s at Morgan’s. Ya might wanna get ta him b’fore he bleeds to death. Make sure he doesn’ talk till we’re out of town.”

 

Smecker hangs up without a word further and returns to the crime scene. He takes a moment to assess the familiar elements and steps up beside the Commissioner. “Just one quick question.” The Agent says, motioning to the scene. “The guard works for Mr. Morgan, correct? And we are currently but one building away from where he happens to reside. So, has anyone thought to –check- on Mr. Morgan and Mr. Spinelli’s current states of well-being?”

 

Mac glares and the trio of himself, Smecker, and Lucky head in the direction of Harbor View Towers.

 

***

 

“Am I just supposed to trust that you called for help and not to have some friend of yours come along and kill him?” Jason asks, when Murphy climbs back into the SUV.

 

Getting more and more frustrated by their hostage’s continued nitpicking, Conner groans. “Yeah, ya are, actually. S’how things work when yer not the one with a gun.” He motions to the split in the road ahead of them. “Well, then. Which way?”

 

***

 

Spinelli is still curled up on the bed right where Jason and the Saints left him when the officers arrive. He hears them clear the first floor and spread out on the second before one of them reaches him.

 

“Damn it, it’s Spinelli.” Mac notes, upon entering. Maxie isn’t going to like that phone call. He approaches his daughter’s ex-boyfriend and takes quick note of his injuries. “We need the medics up here!” He calls, and he can hear Lucky chattering away on the radio as he and Smecker finish clearing the penthouse.

 

In the meantime, Mac tries to keep Spinelli conscious. “Hey, Spinelli. Do you know who did this to you? Who killed Max and Milo and Cody?” He asks, shaking the kid lightly.

 

All he gets is an unintelligible mumble in reply. Something that sounds almost like a ‘shush’ing noise, followed by a whispered answer of “Stone Cold… is in most perilous danger.” He’s not even surprised that the other’s are all dead at this point.

 

Following where such a statement could lead given what’s been going on, he prods further. “Do you know where he is?”

 

“Mr. Sir’s…” Spinelli answers, just as Lucky and Smecker come barging in.

 

Spinelli’s eyes narrow in confusion at the sight of the familiarly unfamiliar FBI Agent from the docks this morning. Was that really only this morning?

 

“Agent Smecker, could you get some of your men out looking for Morgan? I doubt he’s going to react well to this.” He suggests, with note of Spinelli’s silenced hint. “Keep it quiet, of course, we don’t need him finding out through some other source.”

 

The name rings in Spinelli’s mind as the Agent steps away to make whatever calls are necessary, but Spinelli suspects he already has men with Jason. The name Smecker showed up in several articles involving the Saints’ start in South Boston, and the courthouse vigilantism incident involving a rather big mob trial for a man named Yakavetta. The case was Smecker’s and it was used by Conner and Murphy as their public debut. That, combined with Smecker showing up now, in Port Charles, erases all doubts in Spinelli’s mind that the Agent is in collaboration with the brothers. It certainly explains why they were never caught.

 

“Your Commissionership!” Spinelli calls to Mac’s retreating form, as he doesn’t want to be left alone with the Saint’s third man. If he hasn’t been informed of – or even if he has and this is part of it – then who knows what he might do to cover for Conner and Murphy. His call goes unheard and Smecker just stands there staring at him. “I know you’re in on it, too.”

 

The paramedics interrupt anything Smecker might have said in response.

 

***

 

Sonny is, as Jason expected, all alone in the safe house, he’s sitting on the couch and sipping some amber liquid from a glass when Jason and the Saints arrive. They send him in first, to make sure no guards are lingering about – they’re not particularly worried, because they know that he knows that they can turn around and track down Spinelli if he disobeys them.

 

“Jason,” Sonny says, spotting his second in command as he steps into the room. “Is it all taken care of?”

 

“Not exactly, no.” He says, and now that his hands are finally unzip-tied, he sees that they’re covered in blood. Spinelli’s blood. He feels his stomach roll in protest at the sight.

 

Sonny spots it, too. “Donovan dead?”

 

“Yeah, but this is… isn’t Donovan’s blood.” Jason answers. “It’s Spinelli’s. They… they shot Spinelli.”

 

Sonny seems unconcerned with that news, waving a dismissive hand. “You should know better than to take that no good kid out with you. He can’t shoot his way out of a paper bag.”

 

Jason shakes his head and levels his employer with a pointed glare. “I didn’t. He was safe, at home, in the Penthouse with Milo. Who is dead. Milo, Max, Cody. All dead.” That revelation seems to get Sonny’s attention, but before he can interrupt, Jason finishes. “The Irish, too. All dead before Max and I even got there.”

 

Sonny’s confusion gives way to something not unlike panic, and Jason hangs his head.

 

“I’m sorry about this, Sonny. But I had no choice. I wasn’t going to let Spinelli die because of us.” Jason moves to open the door he entered through and he steps aside as one of the Saints enters the room, the other having circled around back to use the basement entrance Jason had informed them of.

 

Sonny, still gaping in shock and his eyes burning with anger, finds himself knocked to his knees by the brown haired brother. “You betrayed me for your Freak Boy?” He gapes, as reality sets in on what the intruders – assassains, whatever – intend to do. “I made you, Jason. I turned you into what you are today and you just decided to hand me over to these murderers so some insane hacker kook can live? How can you choose Spinelli over me?”

 

Murphy snorts at their targets arrogance, and answers for Jason. "Prolly has somethin' ta do with the fact tha' he isn' askin' for a minute alone ta make out with you."

 

Jason glares, and Sonny starts on a long string of curses and expletives that end abruptly when the brothers step up behind him, guns pressed against the back of his head.

 

***

 

It’s not until Spinelli’s in the hospital, suitably dosed with pain meds and waiting for an OR that Smecker finally does get the hacker alone. Mac is busy with trying to hunt down Sonny and Jason, and the FBI badge always does wonders for getting him past the doctors.

 

“So, Mr. Spinelli, I do believe you are quite possibly the first person to walk away from the Saints.”

 

Spinelli, even in his drugged state, seems quite discomfited by the FBI Agent’s presence. “The Jackal deduced that you would be well aware of such a thing,” He answers, shifting to sit more upright in the hospital bed. 

 

“The Jackal?” Smecker raises a curious eyebrow at the nickname. “And, as I’ve heard, Morgan is Stone Cold, is that right?”

 

“Affirmative.” Spinelli responds, warily watching the Agent. “The Brotherly Butchers do not kill innocent parties, of which Stone Cold should definitively classify.”

 

Smecker seems uninterested in such an idea. “Jason Morgan is a mobster, a killer. He’s gotten away with his crimes for long enough, and now he’s being brought to justice. You should want that, after all, the only crime he was ever formally charged with was for shooting you.”

 

“Stone Cold did no such thing. In order to keep his Jackal out of the perilous Port Charles prison system, he took the blame after the Ace of Cyberspace shot himself in the foot while training with Stone Cold’s weapon. He was unaware that the Jackal had taken possession of the weapon.” Spinelli explains, even though it could likely get him in trouble, but at this point, he does not care. If Jason’s still alive, and Smecker listens to him, maybe he can save Jason – some jail time would be worth that. “Any crime Stone Cold has committed has been in defense of someone innocent, just as your Brotherly Butchers do, Secret Saint.”

 

“Oh, I get my own nickname, do I? I’m touched. Got any examples for me that prove Morgan is such a,” He snorts, “…well, a Saint?”

 

He takes a moment to consider that this could be a trap. Smecker does work for the FBI. If Spinelli gives him enough, he can have Jason arrested if he does manage to escape being killed.

 

The Agent seems to notice Spinelli’s hesitance, and he spins the chair beside the bed around and sits, leaning against the back of it with his chin propped up on one hand. “Look, kid.” He starts, “I’m just curious. They don’t usually make deals or leave survivors. And I don’t think they’ve ever had anyone try to make a deal to save someone else.” He waves a dismissive hand, “So, off the record.”

 

“Fair enough,” Spinelli supposes, and tries to think of the least incriminatory examples he can, just in case. “The Metro Court Hostage Crisis, for one. Stone Cold and I were the main elements acting to free the hostages held by the decidedly deranged Jerry Jacks, despite demands that we not be involved by the police.” A pause as he thinks of another. “More recently, the son of Nurse Elizabeth, Stone Cold’s long time friend, was kidnapped by the Slavic Seductress, Sasha Donev. In his attempts to rescue young Jake, several of Donev’s men were slain by Stone Cold.” Another instance comes to mind, as well, this one not at all accusatory. “And, whilst Stone Cold was sentenced to work here as community service in punishment for the crime he did not commit, he saved the life of the Charmed One, who would most surely have perished without his involvement.”

 

“Charmed One?” Smecker asks, having followed the rest of Spinelli’s rant rather well up to that point. “Who’s the Charmed one?”

 

“The Charmed One is Baby Rebecca Sloan.” The hacker explains. “Stone Cold and the Jackal were trapped in an elevator with the Maternal One, whilst she was in labor. As she was in dire need of a c-section, Stone Cold was forced to perform an impromptu surgery on her in order to save the baby, with the Jackal’s cyber skills as a guide. Alas, the Charmed One’s mother later died as a result of her medical condition.”

 

“Spinelli, the OR is free now, so we need to take you up.” Robin tells him, materializing in the doorway.

 

Smecker stands and moves aside so the doctor can work on prepping her patient for the move to the OR. “Nice chat.” He says simply, and walks out, leaving Spinelli behind to wonder whether or not he’d done anything in the way of saving Jason.

 

***

 

The last five minutes of Sonny’s life are spent screaming at Jason in absolute rage. He doesn’t even seem to register what the two armed men behind him intend to do. He’s too busy calling Jason out on how stupid and brain damaged he’d have to be to actually want to be with someone as weird and useless as Spinelli.

 

By that time, Jason almost wishes that they would just get on with it. “You two better do this soon or I’m shooting him myself.”

 

The brother’s share a quick look that borders on amusement and begin their recitation of the prayer. “And shepherds we shall be, for Thee my Lord, for Thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, that our feet may swiftly carry out thy command. And we shall flow a river forth to Thee, and teeming with souls shall it ever be. In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.”

 

Jason just watches on as they both squeeze the triggers of their respective guns and suddenly Sonny Corinthos is no more. He thought he would have reacted more to the man’s death, but after hearing how much hatred he was hiding for Spinelli, it almost seemed a small price to pay to ensure his Jackal’s safety.

 

“Christ, is he always tha’ big of a prick?” Conner asks, as he tosses two pennies to Murphy, and trains his own gun on Jason, just in case.

 

“He didn’t like that I trusted Spinelli.” Jason answers, as Conner crosses the room to zip-tie his bloody hands again. “That I brought Spinelli into the organization in the first place.”

 

The brother’s are both ready to end their job in Port Charles, which means ending Jason, as well. They circle around, and Conner nudges him until the man falls to his knees.

 

Jason bites his lip. “Can you do one more thing?”

 

“Wha’s tha’?”

 

“Call the hospital. I want to know that Spinelli’s safe.” Jason requests, and given his cooperation, the brother’s trade sighs and Murphy once again pulls out his phone and dials Smecker. Under the guise of talking to hospital staff – with which Smecker plays along – he asks after Spinelli’s condition.

 

“He’s in surgery.” Murphy reports upon hanging up. “Looks good.”

 

Jason nods and resigns himself to his fate. They’re going to kill him, but Spinelli is alright. Spinelli’s going to live.

 

Conner and Murphy nod to each other in silent signal and raise their guns again. Jason hangs his head and waits.

 

“And shepherds we shall be…”