The Dragon and the Phoenix
Samantha Morgan sat in her new living room unpacking the last of the boxes, and watched as Danny played with his trucks. Patrick had taken Emma to her ballet lesson, and then was scheduled on nightshifts at the hospital all week. She would pick up Emma later. It was the second week and she was already the Insta-mom-caregiver for a little girl.
Patrick made her happy, and he was great with Danny. But Sam didn't feel like she fit into this suburban landscape. Not completely. Not yet.
Patrick and Emma were a unit, just like Danny and her were. Danny was younger and warmed up immediately to Patrick. But Emma was older and missed Robin.
She understood that it was probably hard to see her father's friend be his live in girlfriend. Especially so soon after her own mother had come back, and seeing Patrick move onto Sabrina. She knew Emma liked her. But maybe it was all too soon.
Her dad officially moved into the Penthouse yesterday. Molly had decided she wanted to spend more time with Ric, but that was a whole other issue. She was sure her sister would warm up to Julian given more time.
As for the Penthouse, it was still in her name. After a family discussion they had decided to forego any renovations until Sam was ready. You can come back if you change your mind. Her mother's voice echoed in her head.
This house was so sweet. A farmhouse with a big backyard. It was only a few blocks away from Liz and her boys. It was perfect for Danny. When it was warmer they could open up the sandbox. It was never the type of place she imagined with Jason. No high security. The Penthouse had been there castle home. Protecting them from the dangers.
But the dangers were gone. Jason was gone. Sam was a Private Investigator, although she took on less cases since she had become a mother. With her family's support, the Quartermaine's, Sonny's, and even Carly's- there were days where she felt like there wasn't a big hole in her life.
She loved Patrick. She did. He made her laugh and feel happy. But he wasn't Jason. Which was okay- but it wasn't the same. She would always hold onto Jason and she had accepted that hole inside her. He would live on in her memories, and in the stories she would tell Danny.
She had finished unpacking her things and placed the Dragon and the Phoenix figurines up high on the mantle under a picture of Jason and Danny. The only picture she had of them together. She wished Jason could have known Danny was his before he had died. She had placed the picture next to the one of Patrick, Robin, and a baby Emma. They could both move forward and still hold onto where they came from.
"Vroom, vroom," said Danny. He startled her out of her reverie.
He played on the floor with his toy motorcycle. It was his favourite new toy. Sonny had brought it with him on his first visit since he'd been out of Pentonville.
"Yes, Danny. That's a great sound," said Sam, "Daddy used to ride one just like that,"
Danny looked up at her and smiled. She would keep Jason alive.
Sam couldn't help but think of her last motorcycle ride: with Jake. He had been so kind to her. Something about him on that bike reminded her of Jason. The smell of leather and something she couldn't really place. It had brought her back to her first ride with Jason. Grabbing onto Jake had transported her back. Getting off the bike she had felt flushed. She had felt silly to be caught up in the past. She thanked Jake, and stepped straight into this life with Patrick and Emma.
She hadn't told Jake about the connection, she didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable or give him the wrong impression. It had been the first time she had been on a bike since Jason, it was only natural for her to remember Jason. She didn't have feelings for Jake, it was just a memory of Jason. Right?
Her door burst open. Carly, walked right in.
"Sam, I need your help!" said Carly. She came right in, kissed Danny on the forehead and sat in the armchair facing Sam.
"Yes, Carly come right in and make yourself comfortable," said Sam.
"This is important. And if you wanted privacy you would have locked the door,"
"How can I help you Carly?" said Sam. She realized after the years patience was the best option when Carly barged in hot like this. She thought of Jason, and the unlimited patience he had with Carly.
"It's about Jake and this wife of his. I need the full PI powers of both you and Spinelli," said Carly, "And Spinelli is distracted, too distracted, right now trying to repair things with Maxie to do it alone. I know she's a fraud Sam. I know it, deep down inside and I want you to prove it."
"But Hayden had proof, right. Jake said she had scans of his old injuries and documentation-" said Sam.
"You and I both know things can be faked," said Carly.
"Jake believes her,"
"Yes, but Jake is a good, loyal, trusting guy. She has given him no reason to doubt her,"
"So why should we?" said Sam.
"Sam, she shows up six months after the accident alone. Doesn't she have family, don't they have friends in Beachers corner? Her story is they had a fight and he walked away from her. But I don't buy it Jake wouldn't do that. He wouldn't walk away," said Carly, "And isn't it convenient that Jake has no family other than her."
Sam had to admit it was all very neat and unexpected. She had questioned Ric about it when she had heard. But did she really have the right to butt into Jake's life, now that he had just found it again.
"Carly, we should trust Jake's judgement. He wouldn't stay with her if he doubted her," said Sam.
"It's been two weeks of living together above the garage and he remembers nothing about her or his life with her. Nothing. Not a memory. No familiar moments. He told me it's like living with a stranger. But he'll stay Sam. He'll stay because she came with proof, and always hope he will remember loving her. But he never will, because she's a fraud. We have to save him,"
"We have no proof," said Sam.
"We have my gut, which is rarely wrong," said Carly.
"She has documentation, a ring, and she has his trust," said Sam.
"Which is why we have to save him," said Carly.
"I can't do this behind his back-"
"He knows. I told him. I'm nothing but honest with my friends. I agreed that after looking, if I find nothing I will drop it," said Carly.
"He probably figured out you wouldn't give up," said Sam.
Sam wasn't sure Carly completely realized it, but Jake was Carly's best friend. He was slowly filling that space in her heart that Jason left. Maybe not completely, but it was nice seeing Carly find that again. If Carly was wrong they'd find out soon enough, and if Carly was right and this Hayden was a con…. She would be saving her friend Jake too.
"I'm in," said Sam.
