A/N: Okay so I was re-reading what I've written so far and I wanted to take a moment to apologize for the time jump in the story. Please before any rocks are thrown my way allow me to explain, in order for me to be able to continue MY story I had to entirely depart from the storyline that is currently on-air. A pattern was starting to emerge where I would begin writing a chapter, watch an episode and then end up trashing all I had wrote. I am hoping a few of my reader would voice their opinions on this matter and let me know what they think about the change. I am still undecided on whether or not this will be a long or short story, sooo I am leaving it up to for you all to decide for me. Thank you for all the comments you've left; they do help my motivation in getting the chapters done in a timely manner. Love and Light Lyllie.

RED – Jason and Samantha

Inspirational Song: Darkest Part - RED

Highland Towers – Penthouse #2 - 4:57 AM

She walked around the table checking the placements of the plates, glasses, silverware, and flowers for what was probably the thousandth time. Jason would be home any minute and this time dinner was going to be perfect. Mainly because she hadn't been the one to cook it but ordered food or not it was going to be perfect none the less. With all that had been going on as of late they needed this, to just be together, only the two of them. Sam looked out over the city surrounding her before glancing up at the clouds above, maybe having it on the roof hadn't been such a bright idea. Hearing footstep she smiled seeing Jason's face before jerking awake to loud crash she'd heard from downstairs. She leaned over the side of her bed and reached for the key taped to the back of her nightstand which unlocked the top draw where she kept a small hand gun hidden. Just as she'd gotten the key in her palm the bedroom door slammed open and 3 men dressed in black tactical gear walked in with the their guns aimed and ready.

"Good you're wearing white that makes this even better." A deep voice said smoothly, stepping up to press the barrel of his gun to her heart. His eyes sweeping over her taking in the white t-shirt that was way to big for her petite body, surely it was at one time her husbands he thought with a smirk.

Sam was frozen in fear for moment before her instincts began racing, she knew there were 3 men here but she could hear things being thrown and smashed downstairs as well, so she had no clue as to how many there were in her home total or why it was they were there. Her best bet would be to play helpless victim for now and just go along with their request until she could either figure out their agenda or make a brake for it. Then he reached out with his free hand to gather a lock of her hair between his thumb and forefinger to rub the silkiness, his eyes never leaving hers as single tear rolled down her face and her mouth fell open unable to make a sound when she felt something embed itself into the left side of her neck.

"You see the thing about white is it's just so easy to get dirty." The familiar voice whispered in her ear as she faded away and everything went black.

Port Charles Courthouse – 8:55 AM

Court was set to start in 5 minutes, Jason and Diane had just gotten into the courtroom when Alexis came striding up to him a stern look fixed on her face.

"Jason, can I speak with you a moment please?" As she pointed and stepped to the side near the wall of the room giving them at least a semi-sense of privacy, nervous to have this conversation at all much less in a courtroom Alexis steadied herself by placing her hand on the banister separating her and the man that was still her daughter's husband.

"Sure." Agreed following her and settling his right shoulder to lean against the wall beside him.

"Look I know that you and Sam are adults and you both are certainly entitled to a night alone every once and awhile. All I ask is that you have Sam turn her phone back on first thing in the morning, okay." She began while ringing her hands and doing her best to avoid looking Jason in the eye, walking in on their sex life once years ago had been more than enough and she preferred to get this conversation over as quickly and painlessly as possible.

"What are you talking about Alexis?" Jason asked with a confused sigh as he stood straight and crossed his arms over his chest. Uncomfortable in the suit and tie he was presently wear Jason was grateful that the hearing was just to hear the verdict, 15 maybe 20 mins tops and he'd be out of these clothes he reminded himself.

"What I am talking about is my grandson got up at 7 this morning to try to call his mother to come get him and his little heart was broken because it went straight to voice mail." She confronted him zealously putting both hands on her hips, a little irritation being brought to the surface as she recalled the big tears that had formed in Danny's blue eyes.

"Why would I have anything to do with that?" He questioned again not only lost but now dealing with a growing worry for his son and his wife.

"Well because you and Sam stayed the night with each other last night."

"No we didn't. I was at Elizabeth's all night, Jake had another scare."

"Oh… well huh."

"Why would Sam's phone be off? She never turns her phone off when Danny's not with her, regardless of if I am there or not."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to…. Oh boy, I'm sure she just forgot to put it on the charger and overslept. She's been having a hard time sleeping lately." Alexis guessed doing her best to make both herself and Jason feel better. Before she'd thought her daughter had just forgotten to turn it back on after a wild night, but now she was starting to worry. Jason was right Sam never turned off her phone if Danny was with her or Monica she was terrified of something happing to her son and not knowing. Glancing to her right she saw her nephew arrive with his lawyer since she had refused to represent him due to conflict of interest, she excused herself from Jason and headed to the other side of the courtroom to embrace him.

The foreboding sense something was awry that had been nagging at Jason all night was now full force, Jason walked back over to the desk where Diane was still seated organizing paperwork for the conclusion of his trail. Quickly pulling out his phone he selected Sam name from it favorites list only to be sent straight to voicemail exactly as Alexis had said his son's calls had done at almost two hours ago. Slipping his phone back in his jacket pocket Jason gripped the back of the wooden chair until it creaked with the pressure of his hands, there was no way Sam would be sleeping this late much less have not at least called to check up on Danny by now. After all their son was her entire world he did have to have his memories to know that; the knot that had been coiling in his stomach threatening him that he had to stop whatever evil thing about to happen was now in his throat and screaming it was too late.

"Hey you, don't look so worried. You know as well as I do that we've got this one in the bag. Finally the TRUTH is actually setting you free." Carly laughed happily as she leaned over and placed a small kiss on her best friend's cheek.

"Carly, I need you to do something for me." Although he wanted nothing more than to bolt out of this courtroom and over to the penthouse Jason knew that he couldn't.

"Sure anything, name it." She agreed with out questioning him what he wanted her to do, by the look on his face whatever it was meant a lot.

"Sam has her phone turned off and Danny's been trying to call her since 7 this morning." Jason tried to explain simply, he didn't want to waste any more time than he had to before sending Carly on her way to Sam's. He knew he was jumping to conclusions but he needed to know for a fact Sam was okay.

"That doesn't sound like Sam."

"Exactly, could you go over to the penthouse and check on her? I'm not going to be able to get through this hearing otherwise."

"Yeah sure." Carly agree with a smile as she smile loving at her best friend.

"I'm sure she's fine Jason. Most likely she forgot her phone in the truck." Carly stated in comfort as she patted Jason on the back, noticing the tension in his face as the gavel slammed down a couple of time to get everyone ones attention. Carly informed Sonny of her plans softly before she slipped out quickly the moment they asked everyone to all raise for the judge, knowing now deep inside that something had to have happened in order for Sam not to be present at Jason's trail. Because if there was one thing she had learned about Sam over the years it was that Sam had never failed to be there when Jason was concerned whether Jason wanted Sam there or not.

Highland Towers – Penthouse #2 – 9:15 AM

Carly walked out of the elevator and stirred at the door for a minute, there was heaviness in the air and she didn't like it at all. With a sigh Carly shook off the overwhelming sensation advanced up to the door and knocked only to have no one answer. After knocking again with no avail she tried the handle and was stunned to find it unlocked. Again, completely out of Sam's character, anybody who had known Sam for more than a couple of months knew she'd always had issues with feeling safe there was no way Sam would have left the house unlocked like this.

"Sam….. Sam its Carly." She yelled thinking maybe Sam was upstairs and unable to hear her. Still there was nothing, not even so much as a noise was coming from the other side of the door. Glancing at her watch she was shocked to find that she'd already been here 5 minutes it was 9:20 and by now she was sure Jason's verdict had already been delivered, which meant he'd most likely be headed this way soon.

Shrugging Carly finally turned the knob, if Sam was asleep upstairs she was about to get a rude awakening, she thought as she pushed the door open only to cover her mouth in shock at what she saw. The living room was in utter disarray, all of the pictures and nick-knacks on the mantel had been thrown and broken about the room, what had been Jason's desk was turned over with all the draw and the contents in them scattered about as well. Carly knew she should be calling 911 that this was already a crime scene but knowing she'd seen Sam's SUV parked in the garage the urge to find Sam was greater. Praying Sam was just upstairs waiting for help Carly took the steps as quickly as she could.

"Sam answers me, Sam!" Carly called out as she made her way up to the bedroom door seeing immediately that it was left wide open. Her pace slowed as she neared the entrance way the silence around her becoming more intense with every step she took.

"Sam" she said again this time in almost a whisper as she came to the doorway and took a step inside. Unlike downstairs the bedroom was perfect, the bed looked untouched except for the white rose petals thrown all around it and there lying in the middle of it all perfectly still, too still was Sam.

"Sam" Carly breathed again as she advanced a few steps closer to the bed to confirm what her brain was already screaming at her. Her hand came to cover her mouth as her eyes filled with tears instantly when she they focused on the blood soaked shirt Sam was wearing and all of the blood on the bed and flower peddles around her. Carly stumbled back a few step as she fought to choke back her now sobs before turning to ran back downstairs pulling her phone from her jacket pocket and numbly dialing the numbers 911.

"911 Emergency Hot Line this is Gina, what is your emergency?" the ladies voice sounded almost like a recorded message coming through the phone.

"I….I think she's dead…Oh, god…Sam's dead." Carly said out loud with one shaky hand holding the phone to her ear as the other whipped away a few tears.

"Ok, Ma'am we need to know where you are." The woman commanded with emotion this time.

"I'm at Highland Tower, Penthouse #2." She stated as she walked out of the house closing the door behind her. The ding of the elevator had her head snapping up to connect her watery eyes with Jason's, dropping her phone, the woman with 911 on the other end forgotten, Carly instinctively pressed herself against the door praying she would be enough to keep Jason from getting inside.

"Carly where's Sam?" Jason all but quietly demanded. He knew though, he knew the moment he'd seen Carly's face that Sam was inside. It was the state he would find her in that now terrified him. His feet had already carried him to the door where Carly had planted herself in his way.

"Jason No, no… I can't let you go in there." Placing her hands on his chest Carly did her best to push her best friend away from actually living out his worst nightmare. "Jase please listen to me you don't need to see this."

He was conscious to the fact that Carly was pleading with him but he couldn't hear the words she was saying, the only thing that he could focus on now was this need to see Sam, to hold her in his arms. Taking Carly's shoulders in his grasp he picked her up and set her aside before pushing open the door. The moment his eyes took in the mess of what used to be his home, the home Sam had told him they'd shared together had Jason's feet taking the stairs two at a time towards her bedroom as if his body had a memory of its own, until he'd reach her.

The vision of her lying there in what he was sure used to be their bed covered in blood was enough to bring him to his knees beside her, but force of every moment of love they'd shared together from the moment he'd reached down to feel their little Lyla kicking for the first time to the night they had finally brought Danny home was had his heart racing and struggling to take his next breathe. Reaching out with shaky hands he pulled her small limp body into his lap feeling how cold she was he wrapped her in his arms and buried his nose in her hair. He knew now what she had always meant to him, he knew now how much he'd taken every single second with her for granted, and now holding his lifeless wife in his arms it was too late for him to tell her how he couldn't live without her.