Jason was walking along the docks, heading toward the hospital. He'd just gotten back from Tennessee with Lulu and Spinnelli, and he'd been cleared of the charges against him. It was his first opportunity to go see Elizabeth. He hadn't seen her since he left the studio, and he hadn't had a chance to let her know he was leaving. He realized while he was on the road how much he missed her. He thought he would miss Sam a lot more than he did, but his thoughts always moved to the brunette with dark blue eyes who saved his life and cared for him; the woman who has never judged him or tried to change him.
He was passing the steps when he heard raised voices near the pier. Turning his head, he saw Sam screaming and pointing her finger at someone. Stopping and turning around, he stood by the steps, out of sight to see who she was fighting with. He heard Sam's voice bellow through the air.
"Boy, you know I just don't get it. Seems that half the men of Port Charles just can't get enough of you. You've got Lucky wanting to work things out, and psycho Ric trying to pursue you too. Seems your plate is kind of full. So why don't you stay the hell away from Jason?"
Jason closed his eyes and groaned silently. He knew exactly who she was talking to. He hated that he was the reason the two women were at odds. After a moment of silence, he then heard Elizabeth's voice.
"I told you before, Sam, and I'll tell you again. Jason and I will always be there for each other. I will not stop being his friend just because you can't handle it. Like I have told Carly many, many times, you are just going to have to deal. I'm not going anywhere."
Jason smiled softly. She always defended their relationship. As many times as Carly had told her to stay away from him, she always stood up to her.
He saw Sam moving closer to Elizabeth, and tensed. Elizabeth was pregnant, and he didn't know how volatile Sam was. She was still going to trial for Diego's murder, and her mother was still going through chemo. He was worried she would try to take all her stress out on Elizabeth.
"Let's just make one thing very clear. I'm Jason's girlfriend. I'm the one he loves. I'm the one he will be coming home to. You are just the one who was convenient for one night."
He saw Elizabeth cock her head to the side, eyeing the other brunette.
"And you, Sam, you will always be the one who slept with her mother's husband. You are the one who decided that spreading her legs for her fiancé's mortal enemy was a way to fix her problems. I didn't go to Jason that night to sleep with him. That just happened." She walked even closer to Sam, getting right in her face. "Let me tell you something. I don't regret it. I'm not sorry it happened. I'm glad it happened. It would have happened a long time ago if I had my wish."
Sam's face turned red, and her eyes were full of hate. "What you two had was cheap meaningless sex. It meant nothing. Just like you mean nothing to Jason. Why don't you just go back to your baby's daddy and leave my man alone."
Elizabeth's mouth curved in an icy grin. "You know what, Sam, that is exactly what I need to do. I need to go to my baby's father. Thank you for setting me straight."
With a cold stare, Jason saw Elizabeth turn and walk up the other steps, leaving a confused and infuriated Sam standing there. He slipped away unnoticed by Sam, following Elizabeth.
He caught up with her as she was walking into Kelly's.
"Elizabeth." His voice was soft, but she heard him. When she turned around and saw him, she ran into his arms, like she always did whenever he returned from wherever he had to go.
"Jason, you're okay. Thank God, you're okay." She held onto him tightly.
He hugged her tightly, closing his eyes, enjoying the feel of her in his arms. This is what he missed. He thought once he got home and hugged Sam, he would be alright, that his thoughts of Elizabeth would dissipate some, but when he saw Sam upon his return, the hug she gave him just left him cold. This hug filled him with warmth.
She stepped back from the embrace, her arms still circling his neck, and looked up at him. In her eyes, he saw tenderness and a bit of fear.
"Do..do you have somewhere you need to be? I have to talk to you, and it's really important."
"I have some time. Do you want to go to the penthouse?"
"No. Let's go to the studio. There's less of a risk of interruptions there."
Jason gave a small smile and gestured with his hand for her to walk ahead of him. They walked in silence to the studio, all the while with her wringing her hands and nibbling her lip nervously.
As they passed the church where she found him, Jason stopped. He got a flash of the night he was shot. He saw Elizabeth leaning over him, saying something. He couldn't hear her at first. In his mind she kept repeating herself, over and over.
Lucky's not the father, Jason. This baby is ours.
Her voice kept getting louder and louder in his head. He closed his eyes and opened them again, not really sure if it was real, or just something he dreamed. He looked over at Elizabeth, and noticed the look in her eyes. She knew what he was remembering. His breathing became heavy. He couldn't form words for a few moments. Finally he found his voice again.
"This baby is ours."