Do not own General Hospital or any of the characters.
Do not own It's a Wonderful Life...just kinda borrowing the idea.
So, I got this idea in my head from watching the movie It's a Wonderful Life and with what's going on with the current storyline with Jason and his anger. I hope you all enjoy my little twist on this classic film. I meant for this to be up before Christmas but I hope you don't mind that it's a couple of days late!
Enjoy!
It's a Wonderful Life
The room was silent for a brief second as his eyes continued to pour over the screen that had now gone blank. The video had ended. The only noise that could be heard was a faint humming noise coming from the fan of the laptop that Jason was sitting in front of.
His eyes were ice cold as he sat there frozen in his seat. His hand slowly closing into a fist as a hot fit of rage was bubbling within.
Then all the sudden, like a ticking time bomb, he snapped. Screaming out with rage, he threw the laptop against the wall. Cracking the screen of it. He had just watched the last message that Franco had sent him. Or really had sent Sam but she had hidden the DVD from him, until he had found it buried deep in the back of her lingerie draw. He had been putting away laundry when he had discovered the DVD case marked with Franco's newest graffiti tag. He figured that this had been left in the trash can, that Sam had told him had Franco's marking on it but had been empty. He knew that Franco had left a clue. He knew that Sam had left something out of her story when she had told him about going with Michael to follow Franco's clue. She had been hiding something from him for a reason. He now knew why. She had wanted to prevent him from acting out and adding to his already burning rage.
Just like he had just done.
His mind fogged as he replayed the video in his mind. Franco's sick words filling his thoughts. "A still life in cement. The broad strokes of hurt with carefully shaded tones of torture...Come on give us a smile! I can't be positive, but I'm guessing congratulations are in order by now. I'm just honoured to be allowed to be a part of the team. Now I know one child can not replace another but I believe we have achieved the ultimate conceptual art...We're going to be a Daddy! "
His mind quickly flashed to an image of Jake before being replaced with the image of Franco catching Sam falling from the shower and carrying her into the bedroom. He was lost in thoughts for another moment as that night came flooding back to him.
Swearing angrily under his breath, he suddenly stood up causing the chair he had been seating on to immediately lean back and fall to the floor. Ignoring the loud crashing noise, Jason walked out of the office.
He had discovered the DVD that morning and had left the Penthouse so he could watch it. He knew that Sam had not wanted him to see it. And he had not wanted to cause any more trouble between them than what was already there. Also it was Christmas Eve and Sam was planning on having friends over to celebrate. Over the past couple of days, her spirits had uplifted with the upcoming holiday. It was the happiest he had seen her, since the wedding. So instead he had left the Penthouse and come done to the abandon P.I. office. Sam had not gone back to work since returning from the honeymoon and Spinelli had not yet recovered his computer skills. So the office now remained unused for the time being.
The Penthouse was filled with holiday spirit as Jason opened the front door and entered into his home. Christmas music was blaring from the stereo. The whole penthouse smelled like bake goods. Every inch of the place was covered in garland and tinsel. Candles covered the mantel of the fireplace.
"Stone Cold," spoke Spinelli has he turned around from the small tree which was set up in the middle of the coffee table and looked over at Jason, "you're home!" Spinelli smiled a broad smile at the mobster who just stared back blankly at him. Jason had been against this whole Christmas party from the beginning but Sam has been determined to have it. She wanted their first Christmas has a married couple to be a joyful one. And she wanted to make up for Thanksgiving to the Quartermaines. Christmas would be different, she had convinced herself. It was going to be perfect.
Jason however, was in no mood to celebrate, especially with just after hearing Franco's left message. There was no way he would be able to get through an entire evening with his family, pretending everything was fine. When it wasn't. But he knew he would have to try. For Sam's sake he would. He would put all his anger and rage aside for one night. But he knew it wouldn't be that easy. Even now, just standing there, he wished he were somewhere else.
Just then Sam entered the room, she was all dressed up and had an apron wrapped around her waist "you're home," stated Sam as met Jason's eye.
Jason just nodded his head in reply. He was too busy studying her face and thinking again about what Franco left message had been about. It was the last thought he wanted to think about, but he couldn't control it from coming back. Just the idea of it made his blood boil. That Sam could be pregnant with Franco's child. He had thought about the idea earlier but had quickly brushed it away. Not allowing himself to draw that conclusion. At the beginning, he had not even been sure if Franco had even done anything to Sam. But now he knew that Franco had indeed raped her. Every day he was more and more determined to hunt down the artist and kill him.
And now that the seed had been planted, it was all that Jason could think about as he looked on at his wife, wondering if it was possible that she was carrying the sicko's child. If she was pregnant, they would have to do a DNA test, he thought to himself. Even if there was a possibility that Franco was the father, there was a stronger possibility that he was the father. Him and Sam had not been trying to conceive on the honeymoon but they had not been to protective of not trying either. After about a moment had pasted, he realized that both Sam and Spinelli were looking at him. They had asked him what he thought of the place.
"How do you like it?" asked Spinelli as he placed the star on top of the small tree and stepped back to admire his work.
"It looks great Spinelli," complimented Sam as she smiled at her partner in crime before resting her eyes on Jason, who still remained standing at the door. Her eyes looked on at him with concern. She knew something was bothering. Something new had come up, she knew it. The orbs of his eyes were filled with a darkness which had not been there when he had left the house that morning. "Are you okay?" she asked in a hushed voice, "what happened?"
"You look beautiful," he replied, ignoring her question. "Have you been baking?" he asked, gesturing to her apron. They both knew that Sam wasn't the best of cooks.
Sam couldn't help but smile a little at this. "No, I haven't. That smell is just a candle I lit called Sugar Cookie. But Spinelli has been. I just have been standing by observing," she replied running a hand through her hair. The smile faded from her face as she took in the vacated look on Jason's face. He had zoned out again.
"What's the matter, Jason?" she asked taking a closer step towards him.
He quickly came back to reality at this and snapped coldly at Sam, "Nothings the matter!"
Sam's mouth opened slightly at this. She looked like Jason had just slapped her. Tears immediately filled her eyes but she quickly recovered and blinked them away. She knew that Jason had a lot on his mind at the moment, with Franco and everything. She knew she shouldn't have asked what the matter was when she already knew the answer.
Jason quickly regretted snapping at her, as he saw the hurt look flash across Sam's face. He immediately reached out towards Sam and pulled her towards him. "I'm sorry," he whispered as he leaned down and kissed her gently on the forehead.
"It's okay," she replied as her brown eyes looked up into his icy blue ones. "Is it snowing?" she asked as they pulled apart and she changed the subject. She didn't want the day to be filled with Franco or thinking about him in anyway.
Jason reached up and touched the top of his head, which was now wet with snow. "I guess so," he replied. He had not realized it had been snowing but again his mind had been so preoccupied on the way home, he had not noticed the weather outside.
"Why don't you go upstairs and get dressed, the families are going to be here soon," suggested Sam as she placed a hand on Jason's forearm and pushed him slightly in the direction of the stairs.
He then suddenly pulled away from Sam, "FAMILIES, I don't want the families over here!" His voice rang loud and clear over the music, making Spinelli look up from laying out the table and over at his friend.
"Jason!" she cried in shock. Her eyes quickly glanced over at Spinelli, who quickly looked away, pretending that he had not over heard Jason's outburst.
Jason did not apologize this time. His body was so filled with rage at this point; he did not care about anything. He didn't want anyone over at the Penthouse. He just wanted to the spend the evening alone with Sam.
"Come on into the kitchen with me," she whispered taking his hand and guiding him. She continued to look up at him with worry in her eyes.
"Here," spoke Sam as she placed a cold bottle of beer in front of Jason, who was now seated at the kitchen table. His blue eyes shifted slightly towards the drink but he did not show any interest in drinking it.
"You need to calm down Jason," she continued on as she turned to look on at the kitchen counter, which was filled with different food platters. She was making sure that she had everything she needed to feed everyone. She had not done any cooking. Most of the main course had come from the Metro Court and Spinelli had it in the oven, keeping it warm until it was time to eat, "I understand your upset and want to deal with Franco. But there's nothing you can do. Franco will show his face when he wants too. You know that! You know Franco likes to mess with your head Jason. And you are allowing him to do so!" She whispered this in harsh tones, not wanting Spinelli to over hear them.
"It's not that simple," he argued back, his voice slightly on edge.
"I know that Jason but you a have to try! I just want...after everything I just want to have a normal Christmas Dinner!" cried Sam, holding back the tears. She was frustrated. She knew where Jason was coming from. She wanted more than anything for Franco to pay for what he did. But she also wouldn't let herself go crazy. She was trying her best to make everything seem normal. But she was finding harder and harder to do so, when Jason kept on slashing out at everything and everyone.
He then suddenly picked up the beer bottle that Sam had placed in front of him and threw it with all his might across the kitchen. Beer spilled all across the floor as it flew through the air and smashed against the wall.
There was a brief moment of silence as Jingle Bell Rock played in the background. Sam was literally shaking as she pressed her back up against the counter. She has seen Jason's fits of rage before. But nothing like this. And nothing that was really directed at her, like she felt this has just been. Tears filled her eyes as she stood there. She didn't even dare to look at Jason, whose hands were clenched in fists at the table. His eyes were as dark as coal as he stared out into the distance. He wasn't there.
"...but I believe we have achieved the ultimate conceptual art...We're going to be a Daddy!"
Suddenly than he pushed back his chair loudly and stood up. He then walked out of the kitchen.
Sam listened for the sound of the door opening and closing but instead heard the sound of Jason's motorcycle boots go up the stairs.
"Fair Samantha," whispered Spinelli as he appeared in the kitchen "is everything alright?"
Sam brushed away her tears and looked over at Spinelli. She gave him a small smile and nodded her head. "Everything is fine, Spinelli," she lied. She wasn't ready to tell anybody what had happened in Hawaii.
Spinelli didn't look convinced, but he didn't push it. "Would you like for me to clean up?" he asked gesturing to the smashed bottle. His brown eyes lingered on Sam's face. She looked lost and hurt. She wasn't really sure what she wanted.
She looked over at the mess on the floor and then back at Spinelli. She was biting her bottom lip. But even before she could answer Spinelli, there was a loud knock at the door. The first guest had just arrived.
Seeing that she needed a minute, Spinelli offered to go open the door.
Once Spinelli had left, Sam slowly began to clean up the broken glass. As she did so, she listened at Spinelli greeted Monica and Edward Quartermaine. She had been looking forward to having everyone over for Christmas but now at that moment she was regretting it.
Upstairs, Jason pasted around the bedroom. He was kicking himself for how he had acted downstairs. He had never taken his rage out like that on Sam before. Except from that time when they had been broken up. But that was water under the bridge.
He heard laughter and voices coming from downstairs. He figured that the guests had arrived. He wasn't really sure who was coming that night. But he assumed whoever it was, he didn't want to see. He just wanted to spend the night alone with his wife. He couldn't remember the last time that he had been alone with Sam. She was always pulling away from him. There was a distance between them that he didn't like.
Burying his face into his hands, he signed. He figured that he should get ready and make an appearance. He needed to make it up to Sam.
Five minutes later he was dressed and appeared at the top of the stairs. He had changed into a crisp powder blue button down shirt and a black suit. He walked slowly down the stairs, taking it all in. There was his mother and grandfather there. Sam's mom and sisters were there too. Along with Robin and her family. Maxie and Matt were there. Also Michael, Abby, Carly, Shawn, Josslyne and Morgan were amongst the guests.
No one seemed to notice he was there at first as he stood at the bottom of the stairs. His eyes searched around the crowded Penthouse, looking for the one person he only really cared about at the moment. He then spotted her coming out of the kitchen. The apron she had been wearing earlier was gone, letting him get a better look at the black velvet bodycon long sleeve dress she was wearing. Her hair was pulled back in a low messy ponytail. Her makeup was simple, with winged eyeliner and a red lip.
She looked up and saw him staring at her. But before he could make his way towards her, she was pulled away by her sisters, who she hadn't really seen since the wedding. Jason stood there watching as Sam hugged Molly and Kristina, smiling slightly at something that one of them had said. As he watched the reunion, he did not notice Monica approach him.
"Hello, Jason," spoke the doctor as she placed her hand gently on his arm.
Jason than shifted his attention towards Monica. He didn't really say anything to her in greeting. He just nodded his head, acknowledging her presence.
"I was thinking that I wouldn't be seeing you this holiday season but when Sam came over to the house the other day, inviting us. I was a little taken back. I didn't think Christmas was your cup of tea. But Sam loves Christmas doesn't she?" stated Monica as she took a sip from her wine glass and looked around the room.
"She does," agreed Jason, letting his attention fall on Sam again, who was now helping out Spinelli set up the table. Christmas was always a special time for Sam. She loved the holiday. He never really understood why. It always seemed so commercial and filled with a whole lot of crap, he didn't want to deal with. But too Sam it was something different. She loved everything about it, the tree, the colours, the decorating, and the presents. If she could have it been Christmas all year around, she would.
He stayed talking to his mother for a few minutes longer, before getting dragged into another conversation, this time with his grandfather. He wasn't really making conversation, just nodding and adding a few words now and then. His attention remaining on Sam. He made sure to keep her in the corner of his eye.
After talking with everyone it seemed, he finally was able to get a word in with Sam. By the time he reached her, he was a bit on edge. He was still mad at himself for bursting out at her. And now he was frustrated that it had taken him so long to speak to his wife. It had been nice seeing Morgan and Kristina but everybody it seemed on kept on giving him their concerns on his health, especially Carly and Robin who had been watching him with caution that he would suddenly explode with rage. He knew they thought that his temper was due to a side effect from the surgery. But he knew it was from Franco. He blamed himself for what had happened. And was tired with these games that Franco kept on playing with him. He had never felt more outraged with someone than he did now.
"I thought you were going to leave," she spoke quietly to him. They stood in the far corner, by the window. Jason was helping Sam lay out place cards on the dining room table.
"I know how important this night is for you," he replied trying to meet her eye, which she was avoiding.
And that was all really they could say to one another as they were interrupted by Spinelli brining in the turkey and announcing that dinner was ready to be served. This didn't help but add to his frustration. He then without thinking slammed his fist down onto the table, rattling the dinner ware.
Sam threw him a caution look at this. Immediately making him regret his action. He was trying his best but he couldn't keep his anger at bay.
Sam then, completely ignored Jason and turned her attention onto her guests, whom had just begun to gather around the table and take their seats. Sam, he noticed had seated him at the other end of the table, away from her.
Dinner went off without any problems. Jason had managed to get through the meal without having any burst of rage. He had been able to keep his mind off Franco. However, Sam had kept on shooting concerned looks in his direction. She didn't want him to repeat another incident like he did at thanksgiving.
It wasn't until desert was that things went wrong.
Josslyne had begun to fuss in her highchair. "Out, Out!" she whined as she kicked her legs and tried to push herself up.
"Joss, you have to stay seated," explained Carly gently to her daughter. She then reached out and placed a cookie down in front of her on the tray.
The toddler, just looked at the cookie before crying, "Out, Out!" again.
Carly just signed at this. "Joss, you can't get out," she tried to explain to the little girl again. "Do you want your bottle?" she asked the tot, holding out her sippy cup filled with milk.
"Here, let me take her," offered Sam. She had always felt a special connection to the little girl. Especially since that time in Hawaii when she had been able to get the tot to go to sleep.
Carly looked over at Sam, "are you sure?" she asked. She had been trying to be nicer towards Sam since the wedding. She knew what Sam meant to Jason and felt like as his friend, she should try to make effort with her. And she also knew her daughter adored Sam.
"Yeah," replied Sam as she stood up from her seat, lifted Josslyne out of the highchair. She was seated at the edge of the table, between Sam and Carly.
"Hi Sweetie," whispered Sam to the tot as she placed her on her lap and began to bounce her slightly. AS she did so, Josslyne drank from her sippy cup.
"Your good with her," commented Carly. It wasn't the first time that Carly had told Sam this. Sam always seemed to have such a natural touch with her daughter. "Isn't she?" she asked, looking across the table towards Jason.
Jason agreed hundred percent with this. Sam didn't see it really herself, but he knew that she would be a good mother. She had a natural touch with children, especially with his god- daughter . His blue eyes looked across the table, to where Sam sat with Josslyne. Seeing her with Josslyne, made his immediately think back to Franco's message. And the possibility that Sam could be pregnant...with his child.
Anger, returned suddenly again at the thought of Sam carrying Franco's baby and not his. He then violently slammed his fist down on to the table, making the entire table shake. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their attention on him, including Sam. This was the first time that she had really met his eye during the entire dinner. His eyes were as black as coal.
His thoughts were not there with everyone else. He was again thinking about how he had been forced to watch as the psycho had laid his hands on her. Seeing her naked wet body. His hand gently caressing her sides...
Then something inside of him snapped. Picking up the empty desert plate that sat in front of his, he threw it across the living room. The plate hit the front door and smashed immediately into pieces. Time seemed than to stand still has everyone sat frozen in their seats, in shock.
Both, Josslyne and Emma had begun to cry. As Patrick tried to calm down his daughter, Josslyne continued to wail on. Sam tried to quiet the tot but most of her attention was on Jason.
"Jason," whispered Monica to her son, gently reaching out and placing a hand on his. She could tell that something was wrong with her son. Immediately though as her hand touched his, he pulled his hand back and snapped back slightly to reality. His eyes looked over at Sam. There was a mix of fear, concern and worry in her eyes as she looked into his. He hated seeing that this look was because of him. He knew his temper was becoming out of hand. He knew that soon, Sam would be afraid of him too like she was of Franco. He could tell that she was holding back from crying.
And then without saying anything, he stood up and walked out of the penthouse. He was anger at himself for letting his temper get the better of him in front of everyone he knows and loves. He was anger at himself for letting yet again Franco affect him. He was made at himself for what had happened to Sam. He had promised himself and Sam that he would protect her and he had failed.
His skin felt like it was on fire as a million thoughts raced through his mind as he ran down the flights of stairs to the parking garage. He knew that he had to get away. He needed to get away from everyone. He needed to get away from this life. He almost felt like he should just beat Franco at his own game, by ending his life for himself. Without him, what game was there left for Franco to play.
Okay, So this is part 1. The next part I should have up soon.
I hoped you enjoyed and please review!
Thanks for reading!
Julie