FIGHTING FOR LOVE

CHAPTER 2

Author's Note: I want to apologize for the slow burn on this story, but I hope it will be well worth the wait. I wanted to try and include those people that actually fully support Sam and Drew regardless of their paths and I hope I do them justice. So, this chapter will focus on Drew and his inner and external battles. As always please review and let me know if you have any suggestions.

Curtis saw the struggle his friend was going through, but he knew after the confrontation he had on the pier with Jason pushing his friend would not end well. Over the past few weeks he had tried to keep a somewhat low profile while checking up on Drew and keeping tabs a bit on the concrete slab to make sure he wasn't trying to capitalize on Sam's vulnerability.

Curtis thanked his lucky stars that night on the docks that Monica had come by just in time to stop the two from killing one another, she didn't need to lose another son or both.

Flashback

Drew's bandage was hanging on by his thumb and the rest of his hand was a blood-soaked mess, there was no way to decipher where his blood started and the blood spilling from Jason's nose and mouth stopped. The two were drenched in sweat and blood and their skin was starting to swell. Jason stumbled back a bit caught off balance with the last blow Drew connected to his ribs as a crunch and crack echoed through the night air.

"Drew? Jason? What the hell are you two doing?" Monica ran down the steps of the dock as quickly as she could.

Drew turned to face Monica and it was at that moment he saw the immediate disappointment and anguish in her eyes. He still had Jason's memories swirling in his head and he knew the pure sorrow she felt watching AJ and Jason battle over the years and she had hoped that their relationship would be different, but this was far worse because at the epicenter was Sam's heart.

The only thing Drew could say at that moment was "I'm sorry Mon…Mom. I tried to make peace with HIM and to tell myself that we were all victims in this mess, but I can't get past that he refuses to respect the relationship that Sam and I built."

Drew turned to Jason at that moment with a look of more hatred than he had started with when they came to blows "You think you lost everything, you're wrong! You had everything and still do and it's just not enough. You had the unconditional love of that amazing woman your whole life and what have you given her back expect pain and rejection? You call yourself a man? You are a glorified lap dog for Sonny and Carly. Your so-called besties conspired to hide the truth behind AJ's murder and I bet that didn't faze you for a second. Sonny killed OUR brother in cold blood all because he thought he had killed Connie when in fact it was Ava. Yeah that women that busted you out of the Russian clinic yeap she let AJ take the fall and Sonny ate it up hook, line and sinker."

"The clincher of it all is that AJ had finally changed and was starting to build a relationship with Michael and fix his relationship with the other Quatermaines and your pals couldn't stand it. I mean Carly was of course the ring leader to demonize AJ, the irony of judgement that spills off that woman is astonishing."

"Your lack of contempt to anything either of them do is absolutely astonishing, I mean look at Carly's latest plot worked in your favor so of course you won't admonish her for it regardless of the fallout on anyone else. Your best friend set her mind to reuniting you with Sam and she sank to a whole new low by messing with my car considering how Morgan died…you know the kid I chased in the middle of the night pleading to come back from the brink and watched as a car bomb exploded."

Drew chuckled to the irony of the vast sickness involved in her plan considering how many people had been severely injured or killed from tampering with vehicles. "She didn't care what she had to do to get you two alone and you stepped right in there and let it all unfold without a modicum of guilt or shame. So many things could have happened to me that night and neither you nor Carly could care less as long as you got Sam's undivided attention without lifting a finger."

Drew turned back to Monica with tears in his eyes "Did I tell you that I heard THEM? While I was fighting to get back to Sam and the kids Sonny and Carly were trying to convince Sam to pull the plug on me."

Drew whipped around to meet Jason's glare as he wiped his mouth again. "I bet you wished they had succeeded I mean it's not like either of them would ever harbor a bit of shame or punishment?"

Monica took a step near Drew and he sunk to her touch because he was literally crumbling and the weight of it all was weighing him down.

"Drew, I can't imagine the pain you are going through, but this between you two is not going to fix it. Please come with me and let me get you checked out and I will make sure that you are safe at least for tonight." She then turned to face Jason for a moment letting it wash over her the polarity that existed between these two brothers that each held a place in her heart.

"Jason, believe it or not you're not the only one that lost something these past 5 years and everything YOUR BROTHER just said was all the truth and like it or not it's about damn time you take some responsibility for the life you chose to live and how it effects those you claim to love. I never turned by back on you even when I blamed you for Emily's death I still loved you and was fighting to see the good in you, but this where you've taken your life I can not and will not support. You want to sit there and play victim that you lost 5 years well in my opinion you lost a hell of lot more than that before you ever got shot on that pier and kicked in that harbor. You've constantly put Sonny and Carly above everyone else even to your own detriment. Keep this up Jason and you will lose a whole lot more than the time you were away. Sam deserves better, your kids deserve better hell I deserve better than the scraps you've given us. I really hope that one day you realize all of the sacrifices those around you have made to try and embrace who you are and figure out that who you are is an empty shell of a person you could be and what probably really pisses you off is that Drew did all and made all the choices you should have, but you just never had the courage to."

Monica turned back to Drew and took his hand gently looking into his eyes those that were similar to Lila's, but held a different part that made him his own person.

Drew felt the love and tenderness in Monica's voice and slowly looked at Jason seeing the bruising and blood that surrounded his face and his hand twitched a bit making it difficult to not want to completely destroy him.

Drew stepped close enough to speak low with Monica holding on to his arm "This has only just begun and don't think for a moment that I will run and hand my family over to the likes of you. I fought to build the life I have with Sam regardless of the name I carry and not you, not Carly, not Sonny no one will take that away from me."

END OF FLASHBACK

Curtis punched the bag a few times and turned back to Drew clenching his fist in and out "alright man I think you've given that hand enough attention for the night. What do you say about a few beers at the Floating Rib and we try to catch the end of the game?"

Drew deeply appreciated his friend and how he was there for him not only for this past month, but also leading up to this whole mess with Jason. "Thanks man, but I think I just need some time and fresh air and no I won't be wandering the pier tossing beer cans again. The one redeeming factor of this shit show of my life is that it's given me more of an opportunity to bond with Monica and the few other Quartermaines that are left, but I will definitely take a raincheck on the beers and a game soon."

"Alright then be safe and I'll be seeing you soon man" Curtis nodded and shook Drew's good hand.

Drew turned and picked up the towel on the chair near the bag and wiped the remaining sweat off his brow and cracked his neck a few times. A quick shower and then it was time to let his mind be free and open by visiting a place that recently gave him an odd sense of clarity.

An hour later Drew felt this pull to see the people he only knew through Jason's memories his Quartermaine family in the crypt. He made his way through the grounds to the crypt and although this wasn't his first time here he had a new gratitude that he held a piece of their history in this chaos swirling in his head. He approached Lila and Edward's names and wished had had known them and them him. He knew that Lila was close to Jason, but there was something so kindred to this woman and himself.

Monica found Drew and noticed his hand on his grandparent's names with his head down.

"You know I thought there was something familiar about you beyond a name and now I realize that you are more like your grandmother than any other member living or not in this family. I think you have your grandmother's heart and her tenacity and devotion."

"I've had the unique perspective of watching the love Sam has shared for both my sons and you each taught her something different. You see, Jason rescued Sam at a time she was vulnerable and lost and he became her whole world. He broke her heart countless times and she continued to fight even when he gave her barely any reason to do so."

"Now you on the other hand came into her life at a very different time. Yes, Sam still mourned the loss of Jason and she struggled at times, but she was whole and had learned to love again and open herself up you didn't complete her you met her as equals. You showed her that there was the possibility of being loved without losing yourself and that she could truly be first."

"Neither story had an easy road and I know things must feel confusing and chaotic, but in the end, I think you will see that true and complete love endures. The kind of love you share with Sam is one that can be tested and weathers the storms because no matter the path it will always lead you back to one another.""

Drew smirked at his mother and all of weaving of this tragic, yet beautiful love Sam and he share and though each word rang true he found it hard to trust.

"I appreciate the confidence you have in Sam and me, had anyone asked me two months ago if I believed what you said to be true I would have shouted it loudly from the rooftops and now it feels so enormous and I'm not sure how to trust it and rebuild especially if it is alone."

Monica stepped closer to Drew and rubbed his shoulder and leaned her head in "I know you are scared son and you have every reason to doubt, but for every doubt take the chance to believe again."

To be continued?