Chapter 1 ~ Should she fight?
The sun shone off the water reflecting in her eyes as she set sail that morning. It was a brisk fall day and she was glad to be out on the water again. She was beginning to feel finally free. Like she was home, comfortable and capable. She hadn't felt that in a long time. Not knowing where she was headed, she just navigated her way out of the Port. Leaving would be hard, but she was leaving things that she just didn't want to face anymore. Her ex-lover in love with another woman who despised her, her overbearing mother who would do and did everything in her power to make sure that she was never with him again. She thought about the last words that he said to her…
"If you do anything to hurt her or my son again, I will KILL you." Thinking back to that day, she knew that was the day that she died. She would never again view life the same. This man that claimed he would give HIS life for hers just threatened to kill her. She knew that her life was now over. Never again would she hear the birds sing a soft lullaby, never again would she see the sky blue, but just a bleak grey. Some things were just not meant to be and some people were just not meant to be happy. Her phone buzzed in her pocket.
"YEAH." She spat out.
"Where are you?"
"I am on my boat."
"Are you leaving?"
"Yep."
"You can't do this. We can work this out Sam."
"No, Alexis, we can't." She knew that her mom hated when she called her Alexis, but she just didn't care.
"Come on Sam. Where are you going to go? You don't have any money… you have nowhere to live." Sam could tell that she was grasping at any straw that would keep Sam in town.
"Alexis, if I stay, I will only be reminded of everything that I lost and everyone's lives that I have destroyed. I can't face that." Sam was beginning to cry and she didn't want Alexis to see her weak.
"We can get through it together Sam. Molly and Krissy NEED you Sam. Please, if you don't stay for me, please stay for them. They will be devastated if you leave now." Alexis was desperate. She just found Sam, she didn't want to lose her now.
"Alexis, I will come back, if and only if, you do not meddle in my life anymore… I will come back for Molly and Kristina. I will keep my apartment and NOT live with you. You will have to follow some ground rules too." Sam knew that she needed her new family. She knew that she needed them as much as they needed her.
"Anything you want Sam. Just come home."
"I really haven't gotten too far. I still see the Port." Sam answered sheepishly.
"I know Sam… I see your boat!" Alexis admitted. "I was coming down here to talk to you because I know this is where you come when you are upset. I saw you leave."
Sam didn't know what she was going to do for a job if she stayed in town, but she would find one. She wondered if Carly… Wait… Carly give her anything? Whatever. Still, she wasn't above begging. Maybe she could get her job back with Alexis too… she did still have some money in savings and her condo was paid for… so she really didn't HAVE to go back to work right away, she just wanted to feel responsible for something… feel worthwhile… feel anything.
Sam walked into the Metro Court… She may as well start here…
"What are you doing here?" She heard the whiny voice behind her. Rolling her eyes she turned around to see mousy, little Elizabeth standing behind her with her hands on her hips.
"Not that it is ANY of your business, but I am looking for a job and I came to see Jax."
"HA! Carly will see to it that that will NEVER happen." Elizabeth spat out.
"Not so fast Elizabeth." Sam and Liz, spun around to see Carly standing in the lobby glaring at them. "Jax and I will decide together WHO works here at the Metro Court and I don't know, Sam… you were pretty good worker when you worked here before... What do you say? Wanna job?"
Sam looked at Carly with big eyes… "Are you kidding me? Yeah… for sure… what do you need me to do?"
Carly looked at Liz and then back at Sam and smiled. "Jax needs an Executive Assistant. The pay is GREAT… probably better than your little show that you were on, and if you need a room here, that will be included."
"No, that is alright… I still have my condo… but are you sure that Jax will want me as his Personal Assistant?" Sam asked, completely forgetting that Liz was still standing there and oblivious that Jason had joined her.
"Don't you worry about Jax." Carly said. "I will make sure that you have the job it you want it."
"YES!!" Sam almost screamed. "I want the job! It sure beats having to ask Alexis for my old job at the PCPD back. Not that they would ever let me have it back after…Well you know…"
Carly touched Sam's arm and smiled. "I will see you in here Monday morning 7 AM sharp. Oh Sam, by the way… you get a 60% discount at the boutique…Buy something pretty!"
Sam laughed and turned to go and for the first time, noticed Jason standing there with Liz. Her face turned bright red and she lowered her eyes and rushed out of the lobby. Not looking back and trying not to let the unshed tears fall from her chocolate eyes. She also didn't notice Jason turning to watch her rush out or Liz smacking Jason in the chest for watching Sam leave. All Sam wanted was to get away from the love of her life, and yet run back and tell him that she wanted to fight for them. But she kept running. She ran until her lungs burned for oxygen. Only then did she stop running. She was in the park, at the bridge. She closed her eyes and thought back to a night long ago when Jason had found her here after she had left the penthouse one night. She had run to Jakes bar and Carly had seen her there and called Jason. He came running to bring her home and she refused and walked back to Kelly's running into Jason at this bridge. Why did she agree to stay here in Port Charles? Why was she torturing herself? Everywhere she went she was flooded with memories of them together. Everyone she saw looked at her with pity or hatred in their eyes because they knew what she did and yes, they judged her for it. It didn't matter that she had paid for what she did. It didn't matter that even though she had slept with her mother's husband out of pain and anguish of what Jason and her mother had done and said to her. They didn't want to look at that… they just wanted to judge her on her sins. They didn't look at Liz that way. She slept with Jason WHILE she was still married and then lied about it and lied AGAIN about Jakes paternity, but Liz was the saint. Her halo glowed so bright, that it covered all HER wrongs, but Sam, well that was different. Sam didn't have a bright shiny halo, and she knew that others in Port Charles just looked at her like the piece of white trash that she felt that she was. Now all she had to do was get over the memories. Get past the visions of them everywhere and start to live her life for herself. Start to respect herself once again. Try to make people see her in a new light, and working for Carly and Jax was a good start. She was actually looking forward to Monday. She pulled out her phone and dialed Alexis.
"Hey Mom. You wanna meet for dinner?"
"How about the Metro Court. My treat. Bring the girls. We are gonna celebrate! See you at 6."
Sam walked into the Metro Court at 5:40 to get a table for dinner. She saw Carly and Jax standing at the bar. She waved at them and Carly waved her over.
"What are you doing back here?" Carly asked.
"Celebrating with Alexis and the girls. Do you have a table available?"
"Of Course Sam. You will always have a table here." Jax answered. "Carly told me that you are my new assistant. I didn't even know that I was looking for one, but… after she mentioned it… I could use one. I am looking forward to working with you." He smiled.
"Thank you Jax. I will not let you down. I am a hard worker and I will make you proud!" Sam said nervously.
"You already have the job Sam!" Carly laughed.
"I will see to it that your table is ready Sam." Jax said as he walked away leaving Carly and Sam watching him retreat.
"Why are you being so nice to me Carly?" Sam asked guardedly.
"Because I can't stand to see Jason miserable and you made him happy and I can't stand Liz. As much as I hate to admit it, Sam you were good for Jason."
"Well that is over now Carly. You will probably have to resign yourself to the fact that Jason is with Liz and their baby."
"Sam, Please. It will never last. She will not be able to handle what Jason does. First will come the 'Please stay home Jason.' And then the 'Don't you want a better life for Jake?' and then finally the 'If you love me and your son, you will get out of the business.'" Carly rolled her eyes.
"I know that you and Jason had a huge falling out, and things were said and done on both sides that were regrettable, but I think that if you can get past them, you can work, and I am just the person that you will want in your corner to do that." Carly smiled.
Sam looked at Carly unsure of what to even say to this mad woman. Did she know that Jason threatened to KILL her? Did she know that she had watched Jake being stolen from Liz? Did she know that Sam had hired people to scare Liz? Did she know what a horrible person Sam was?
"Don't look at me like that Sam. I know what happened. I know that you watched Jake be taken and put Jason through hell during that time, but, I also know that you probably had hit rock bottom. Being hurt so bad by Liz and Jason… being lied to… Whatever… Jason was not right in threatening you and I think that as soon as it happened and he had walked out of your house, he regretted it. You have to move on Sam. Fight for what is yours! Get Jason back!"
"I don't know if I can Carly. The wounds are still too fresh." Sam smiled sadly.
"Do you still love him Sam?"
"I will always love him Carly."
"Sam, love will always win in the end. Just watch."
"Sam, your table is ready and Alexis is here with the girls." Jax walked up and told her.
Sam looked at Jax and smiled her thanks and then looked at Carly and shrugged. Walking to her table she thought… Was Carly right? Could she fight for Jason? Should she?
