Chapter 2: We Meet Again

Sam POV:

November, 2002

I wondered how much more of the Texas heat I could take before I passed out. We had been working on the latest motor failure for a few hours, and even though it's November, and it's almost winter, it's still hot in Texas. Or maybe it was the fact that I hadn't left the maintenance room for a few hours and the steam radiated at such a high temperature. Whatever the case may be, I was hot, I was sweaty, and some guy named Ron wouldn't stop staring at my boobs.

Salvage boats were about as honest as I could get these days. It always felt nice to lose my thoughts while working at sea. When I was on land I always had the desire to go see Danny, and he currently was being cared for in Hawaii. I couldn't leave a trail that led to him; I never slept well or was confident that my past cons wouldn't come back to haunt me.

After a year in Greece, I found that my foster mother and foster brother were in South Carolina. I tracked them down, and what I found would haunt me forever.

While I was sunning it up in Greece, Danny was being held in the basement by his mother. I thought Cody was bad, but leaving a mentally disabled person locked in a basement was lower than trying to make a child con people so you wouldn't have to get a real job.

I had planned to break Danny out, and before I could, he accidentally set the fire that would kill his mother. We hid in Florida and I used the one favor I had. I cashed in my 'woe is me' long lost daughter card, and told Alexis if she would just get Danny out of this situation I would never ask for anything else.

She pays the bill for his housing and care in Hawaii, and even though she got me out of the legal predicament created by confessing to a crime I didn't commit, she still said she would be there if I ever needed her. I did what I knew how; I ran.

I decided I had enough of this steam and motor and didn't even bother putting my t-shirt back over my tank top as I climbed on the dock. I was staying at a local hotel anyway, and it wasn't very far away. A cold shower and a beer sounded great to me right now. I wasn't sure if I was receiving stares because of the jean shorts and tank, or from the grease stains all over my clothes and body. Whichever it was, I didn't care. People would always judge. They'd always look. I learned that a long time ago.

As I came to room 408, my room, I noticed the key card got stuck a little. Hmm…that's weird.

I finally got it to open, and closed the door behind me before locking three locks. Sometimes I would put a chair underneath the doorknob to buy time in case of an attack, I wore a knife under long pants. I slept with a gun under my pillow. It was the small things that I did out of paranoia that would buy me a few hours of sleep at night.

I turned and thought I saw a shadow, but then again I was always thinking that before finding that it was just my imagination. The cold shower called, and before long I turned the warm water on while I washed and conditioned my hair.

I was out of the shower, towel wrapped around my body with a toothbrush in hand when I heard banging at the door. Panic flooded my senses, and I quickly grabbed my phone, the gun and tip toed to the door. A guy had his back to me, but I could see a black leather jacket covering massive muscles underneath. I was calculating the time it would take to at least grab a robe and gun and go out the balcony for a quick escape when he turned around.

Through the peep hole I saw him, and I must be tired. He looked too familiar.

He beat on the door again. A sound harsher and louder now that I was standing behind it.

"Sam McCall?"

Shit. Who was he and how had he found me?

"Sam McCall, I know you're in there. I need to speak with you. It's a matter of life and death."

What?

I heard him mumble something about 'Sonny,' and then I heard a name I'd know anywhere.

"Sam, I need to speak with you about Alexis Davis."

Shit.

I opened the door quickly to fully take in the man before me. He was gorgeous. He was ..he was…

"Juicy Fruit?"

"What?"

He looked at me like I was insane. Maybe this wasn't the same guy I met years ago.

"Sorry. What about Alexis? Who are you?"

He barged into the room quickly, and I didn't like how he thought he could run the place already.

"Excuse me. I didn't say you could come in."

"Look. I don't have time for games. My name is Jason Morgan. I work for Sonny and Alexis needs you. She needs a marrow donor to save her baby. "

"What? What baby? Do you have i.d.?"

This guy was insane. Alexis couldn't be having another child. She had told me she didn't think she ever give birth for a second time after her past with me.

"Look. I can explain it all on the jet. We have to get back to Port Charles. Now."

"First of all, learn some respect. Secondly, I need to call and verify. No one knows about me, why would she tell you?"

"Call her. Here use my phone if you want."

He moves through my room, looking through the closet. He grabs a luggage bag and proceeds to throw it on the bed.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"We have to go. I can buy you clothes when we get back to Port Charles, or you can pack some, but we have to go…NOW!"

Alexis' phone is ringing. Some guy answers that I've never spoken to before. I immediately hang up. I haven't really talked to Alexis in two years.

I call Nikolas hoping his number hadn't changed. It's been even longer since I've spoken to him. He answers immediately.

"Nik, it's Sam."

"Thank God. Did Jason find you?"

"Describe him."

"Jason? Muscle guy, probably dressed in a black shirt and jeans. Has no emotion, shows no emotion. Dangerous. He's there because the father of Alexis' baby sent him. Alexis is pregnant. She didn't know how to tell you, and I'm not sure how she'll feel about me spilling my guts about you, but everyone has been tested and no one can save the baby. We just need to test you, and I would let you go to a hospital there, but it's easier if you just come here. Please, Sam, Alexis is in bad shape. She can't lose the baby. "

"See you in a few."

I grab a bra, underwear, a pair of jeans and a black long sleeve top. My hair is still wet, and I slam the bathroom door. Jason stands staring, and when I last left him he was looking at my gun. A million thoughts run through my head, but I just can't decipher them all right now.

"You ready?"

"Yeah."

I grab my bag and put my gun, knife, phone, and the cash I had hid in the tampon box. I saw Jason's face when I grabbed the box. He didn't use words, but you could tell a lot by his facial expressions. He watched me take the cash and leave the box on the bed. He raised his eyebrow, in disbelief or adoration; I wasn't sure which one it was, but didn't have time for his opinions either. Alexis needed me.

%%%

The car ride had been completely silent. He didn't ask about the weather. Didn't turn the radio on. He made a call to someone but spoke so lowly it was hard to eavesdrop. The pilot was waiting for us, and there was a bigger jet than I expected. I couldn't stop myself from looking at the fans on the jet.

I noticed the pilot nod and Jason look at me.

"You coming?"

I play his game of the silent treatment and find a seat. I buckle in and turn my phone off to save battery life. I don't think I brought my charging cord.

"Shit."

"What?"

"Oh sorry, I said that out loud. Left my charging cord for the phone. I'll have to get one in Port Charles."

Jason rolled his eyes.

No one ever called me, but I would call Danny every night. Sometimes we would talk about baseball, sometimes we'd discuss a sunset. It was our routine.

The take off was fine, and since I wasn't flying the plane today, I decided I would just go to sleep for a bit. I didn't realize I had slept with my hand in my bag, holding my gun until I awoke and saw Jason leaning his head back in his chair.

"Are we almost there?"

"Almost. You sleep with your gun in hand all the time?"

"Habit."

"You got that many enemies or are you in trouble?"

"What's it matter to you?"

"You're right. It doesn't."

We share a long look, and it gives me an opportunity to really study the hard features of his face. Not someone you'd want to piss off. I think he knows not to piss me off as well, and for that understanding, I am grateful.

The pilot calls on the intercom that we are landing, I'm still buckled in. I wonder if they'll do a check on weapons and remember that I have a conceal permit, but I don't think it expands to New York.

Standing after sitting so long almost found my jello legs failing me. Jason must have sensed it. He stood behind me closer than before. The pilot lowered the stairs, and a big meaty guy who wasn't as muscular waited at the SUV. The pilot eyed me, copping some line about how I could fly his plane anytime.

I heard Jason pin him against the plane's wall, but didn't turn around to see what was happening. I've heard a lot worse. He was actually kind of polite with his innuendo.

The meaty guy opened the back door for me. "No luggage?"

Jason answered for me. "No. Take us to the hospital."

The ride was silent. I learned the guy's name in the front was Max, and apparently Jason was his boss. Their boss was apparently scary, and criminal organization rang through, loud and clear.

You've got to be kidding me. I couldn't help the sigh, nor the shake of the head in disbelief. Alexis had downplayed who my biological father was, but I had always investigated anything that involved my birth. After she gave me a few details, I knew my father was Julian Jerome. He happened to be in the mob. Alexis had gotten knocked up twice now by mobsters.

I felt Jason look at me through the mirror, but I just couldn't concentrate on him. He was in the mob. Of course they were. Con men, Greek royalty and the mafia. What a fun life that sounds like. I think I'll take my chances on the salvage boat. It sounds the least threatening out of the choices.

We came to a stop, and I followed Jason as he got out of the car. We rode the elevator together and I couldn't help but notice all the people who stared openly at Jason. It was like they were afraid he would shoot them. Some of them had this "oh what a pity" look that I felt anger over. I'm not sure why I wanted to slap the looks off of their faces, but I did. Jason noticed, and I almost thought I saw a smile. Almost.

We arrived on the floor Jason had selected and immediately I felt the air shift. There was a nurse openly undressing Jason with her eyes, and I noticed a brunette man speaking with her; he was clueless that she was completely entranced by Jason Morgan. I'm guessing she was the good girl who secretly wanted the guy from the wrong side of the tracks but was a coward and would marry the clueless and safe brunette instead. I almost turned around to see if Jason was sharing the eye fuckery with her, but I spotted Nikolas walking towards me.

"Sam. It's good to see you. Thanks for coming." He hugged me before adding, " Jason, thank you."

Jason nodded. Apparently I wasn't the only one he didn't talk to. Nice to know.

Just then the nurse came over.

"Who are you?"

She stared me up and down, and I refused to stand any taller or make any movement at all. I wasn't competing in the Port Charles Beauty Contest, no matter how hard she may try to rattle me.

"Obviously someone with better manners than you."

Her mouth had fallen open, and I heard Jason's feet shuffle. I looked over and he was looking down and then away. I almost think he wanted to laugh.

"I knew I'd see you again one day."

I looked at the brunette who had been talking to the nurse.

"Lucky, what are you talking about. How do you know Sam?"

Just then the nurse interjected, "Sam. That's a guy's name."

I saw that Nikolas and blue eyes from the diner were both openly gaping at her.

"Elizabeth," diner boy admonished.

"Not that it's any of your business; Sam is short for Samantha. I guess some people may call you Liz, or Lizzy, perhaps Beth?"

She seethed and Nikolas stepped in.

"Lucky, I was unaware you two had met."

"Never formally." He stuck out his hand for me to shake. "Lucky Spencer."

I shook his hand, as he was the same genuine nice guy now that he was years ago.

"Nice to meet you. How's Ruby?"

That got Elizabeth's attention. "How do you know Ruby? Who is this woman?"

Lucky looked like he was about to be in the doghouse, and I decided I had had enough of her shit.

"Ruby waited on me once, a long time ago. Lucky brought me a milkshake and that is the extent of our communication. So you can relax." She wanted to kill me. I wanted to punch her smug ass face that wore too much makeup. "Nikolas, where is she?"

"Oh. My. Oh... Oh my. You're the bastard child Alexis gave up?"

I wasn't prepared for that one. Nikolas rolled his eyes, Lucky stopped and just looked at her and I was balling my fist so I could punch her. Jason must have known; he grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the group. I was still shocked, but I felt his hand wrap all the way around my upper arm. Definitely didn't want to piss him off.

He led me to a hallway, and in front of the room I saw two men in a heated argument. I heard Jason swear quietly. They stopped as they saw me coming towards them.

"You must be Sam."

Sherlock Holmes puts on a smile that's a little too devious for me, and I notice that he stares at my chest longer than necessary. The guy with slicked back hair smiles a little, and goodness, what a smile with dimples.

Dimples extends his hand. "I'm Sonny."

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to kiss his ring like in some Godfather movie or not, so I shake his hand.

"Sam."

Sherlock places his hand out as well. "I'm Rick Lansing. I'm with Alexis. We're together. If my brother gives you any grief…"

I laugh. I don't know how it slipped, but it just did. "You two are related?"

Sonny looks at the floor. Rick speaks for them like he's winning some contest. "Partially. Half brothers."

"Man, Alexis can pick 'em." I say it before I know it actually came out as spoken word and not just as a thought.

Everyone looks at the ground. A young doctor with curly hair comes to the hallway.

"Are you Alexis' daughter?"

"Yes."

He looks me up and down. "Come with me."

I leave Dimples, Sherlock, and Leather Jacket standing in the hallway as Curly leads me to the testing I'm here for.

Never a dull moment.