Chapter 4 – Future
A/N: Thank you for the reviews everyone and for taking the time to read this story. I want to give a little context after a few comments regarding Lucky's involvement with Sam. In my opinion Lucky still carries a tremendous guilt for casting Sam out into the night and leaving her at the hands of the TMK. Keeping with the original storyline he saved her at the bridge and Monica was responsible for the hit and run of am. I think Lucky has struggled with a deep inner battle between being a father to the boys the way he always wished he had and giving into his darker side of adventure and danger. I have a few options for the story in terms of the ultimate outcome and part of me is torn so I might not take it to the happily ever-after. Without further delay, here is chapter 4 and as always I will continue if I hear there is a need.
Sam and Lucky sat in the interrogation room of the PCPD utterly shocked and even more confused with Rodriguez's reveal that Elizabeth's prints were found on the metal lighter. Sam was the first to break the silence "Why would Elizabeth have a lighter and what would it have to do with me?" Sam sunk her head in her hands wishing this day would just end and she could rid her life of this insipid wretch – Elizabeth Webber.
Lucky strained to think of the correlation between Elizabeth and this lighter and how it all tied together to involve Sam. Lucky looked to Sam seeing her hunched over in the table obviously feeling defeated and exhausted. He wondered if there would truly be peace in their lives and how much further either of them could take with the secrets and lies. Lucky sighed and put an arm around Sam trying his best to comfort her wishing he had the answers and a solution, but all he could think about was that Elizabeth was keeping yet another secret. Lucky leaned into Sam and said softly "Sam, I don't know what all this means, but WE are going to figure it out together. Look Rodriguez if you find anything else on this stuff let us know, but right now we have to get back to the hospital and I need to get Sam home." Lucky stood up and put his hand out for Sam to take lifting her up.
Sam stood feeling yet another weight had been placed on her shoulders. How was she going to try and explain to Lucky that there were some residual feelings for Jason roaming around in her head and not come across as if she was trying to find an excuse to push him away. It was days like today that Sam had wished she had left after she found out about the paternity of Jake and never looked back. It seemed the more time she spent in Port Charles the more complicated her life became. She told herself time and time again that she finally had the family she wanted and regardless of the status of her love life she needed to be there for her sisters and her mom. Well considering all of the crap with Jerry Jaxx she was leaning her need more for her sisters.
Rodriguez led Lucky and Sam out of the interrogation room and said "I'm sorry I didn't have more information for you both, I'll be in touch if anything else comes up."
Lucky turned to Sam seeing how down she was "Sam" as he lifted her chin with his fingers to face his eyes "I know you must be feeling confused right now and so am I, but please believe me when I say that I'm going to do everything I can to protect you." Lucky took Sam into his arms for a deep hug and they both sighed knowing this was not the end to their night.
Lucky and Sam first stopped off at the daycare at the hospital to check on Cameron before making their way to the waiting room. Cameron bolted to Lucky when he saw him come through the door it made Sam see how much he meant to that little boy and made her ache to feel that bond and need from a child. Lucky told Cameron that they were going to check on Jake and would be back soon to go home. Just as they were turning away to leave Cameron screamed out in joy "Wait Sam!" the little boy barreled towards her catching her by the knees and squeezing and then thrusting his arms up for Sam to bend down. When she bent down he melted her heart with another strong hug and kiss on the cheek "Bye, Sam see you later alligator." Sam blinked back the tears that forming in her eyes and caught Lucky looking at her beaming with the biggest smile. Sam felt a deep ping in her heart and responded "After while crocodile – chomp!" At that moment Sam felt she too could have a family of her own, maybe not biological but what did that matter and she knew those two boys had creeped into her life and heart.
Sam and Lucky walked hand in hand quickly to the waiting area hoping they would see Elizabeth and Jason getting some answers to Jake's condition. As they approached Sam saw Robin hugging Elizabeth and her heart sank hoping this was not bad news. Sam had tried to reconcile all that transpired with getting Jake back from the Russians and was wondering if there was something she could have done differently as to not hurt this precious little boy again. Sam noticed that Jason was not physically shaken which gave her a bit of relief, but she was still concerned.
Just then Jason caught out of the corner of his eye the dark-haired beauty that owned his heart and dreams. Jason put out his arm to embrace her when he watched Sam pull in deeper to Lucky's arms which brought a wave of sadness and jealousy. Lucky and Sam looked to one another and silently decided now was not the time to confront Elizabeth and that Jake was the first priority and Sam let Lucky release from their embrace. Sam nudged him to go to the nurse's station and see if there was any news. As Lucky made his way to the nurse's station Sam came to stand between Robin and Elizabeth on one side and Jason on the other. Wow the stories all of us could tell of Jason Morgan. Sam instantly felt lesser than Elizabeth and Robin because one had been his first love and the other had given him the child she never could. Sam decided it would be better to ask her question to the one person least involved in this mess – Robin. "Robin has there been any news on Jake?"
Robin shook her head no at Sam and said "I was actually just telling Elizabeth and Jason I hadn't been given any new information on Jake. From the sounds of it you all have been out here awhile so I'm going to go see if I can find out anything. Stay here and I'll be back as soon as I can and hopefully with some news." They all watched as Robin walked away. The tension was deafening and it was as though all four of them were frozen in time.
Jason could see all of them were not really sure what to say to one another and only wanted to talk to Sam. Jason glanced to Sam finding her dark orbs filled with sadness and hurt or at least that's what it felt like around her. Jason knew now was not the time to proclaim his love to Sam, but he also knew she needed comfort. "I'm glad you made it back safe and sound" only referring to Sam.
Sam could feel herself being swept away by Jason's words and she needed to abort that mission quickly to avoid the least amount of collateral damage. "Yeah all in one piece and managed to get a comfort food meal in and avoid exploding ships, buildings and garbage cans" Sam chuckled a bit to try and ease the tension. Jason knew she was trying to avoid him or them specifically and it was cute to see her squirm a bit when she was nervous.
Jason was going to remind the cop that he too could take care of Sam and satisfy her needs. "Did you happen to get some curly fries and a chocolate milkshake from Kelly's?" Jason wanted to be subtle at first and then go in for the kill. "I know how much you loved those, they always seemed to hit just the right spot." Jason's eyebrow raised a bit on the ending.
Sam's mouth parted a bit and she was shocked that Jason was directly engaging her in front of his precious Elizabeth and her boyfriend and not just that he was flirting with her. I mean it's been awhile since either of them were like that, but she remembered Jason Morgan's sexual overtones and that was body shaking. "Yeah it was just what I needed" Sam said it hoping it wouldn't further Jason's mission of flirting.
"Are you sure you're full? I've seen you hungry and it is a power to be reckoned with." Jason was set on seeing how far Sam would let him go and if he had his way he would take her right now.
Sam's breath caught a bit hanging onto his every word. Before Sam could answer Patrick approached the four panting a bit out of breath. "Hey everyone I'm sorry this has taken so long we wanted to be as thorough as possible to rule out anything dangerous. With that being said we couldn't find any foreign objects in his system and the only thing that seemed a little low were his iron levels" Patrick hoped this news would free them from immediate worry.
Everyone sighed together relieved that Jake didn't have anything injected into him. Elizabeth immediately leapt to Patrick saying "That's great news Patrick, thank you so very much for doing all of this. Does this mean we can take him home?" Elizabeth knew if they went any further with the questions she might not want the answer.
Patrick looked at his patient file and shyly said "Liz, I know you want to get him home safely tucked in, but I'd really like to keep him over night just to make sure his cough has subsided." Patrick knew that he was pushing it with having Jake stay overnight, but there was something about all of this that wasn't adding up.
Lucky and Elizabeth both stepped forward asking in unison pleading for their son to come home. Patrick looked back and forth between the two parents that he knew had been through hell and back with their son and all they wanted was to have him home. His heart broke hearing their desperation to be with their son and Patrick couldn't deny them any longer. He took a deep breath and agreed that he could go home tonight.
Elizabeth and Lucky hugged deeply and it was then that Sam glanced over to Jason both feeling on the outside, yet it mirrored that they are left for one another. Sam couldn't stop herself from moving towards Jason and then putting her hand on his upper arm looking into his eyes "I'm really happy for you Jason, I hope you can finally be a part of your son's life." Sam felt Jason's arm snake around her side and pull her a little closer than what they were standing before.
Jason felt lost in his gaze with Sam guiding his hand to her face gently tracing her forehead to sweep a flock of hair that had fallen. "Sam, I'm happy and not just for Jake being okay and the possibility of me being in his life" he paused a bit trying to clear his throat. "Sam I want you to be a part of my life too."
Just then both Lucky and Elizabeth turned to see Jason and Sam in a very close conversation and both were boiling with anger. Elizabeth being the first to attack "Sam, get the hell away from him!"
Sam was stunned to hear Elizabeth shouting at her and she didn't know if she could restrain herself from assaulting her. Sam shoved Jason away knowing that she would be the one to get the verbal assault the most. "Look Elizabeth I don't know what you think you saw, but all that was going on was that I was telling Jason how happy I was for him and HIS son. You see I won't let you use his paternity against me anymore. If you want what is best for your son you would let his father be a part of his life and not just under a condition that he must be with you." Sam knew she had virtually opened up a huge can of worms.
"Excuse me?" Elizabeth was not hearing her right "Did she just say I'm using my son as a bargaining chip to force Jason to be with me?" "If you don't recall when Jason found out I was pregnant he instantly proposed to me, even if it wasn't his and you were just a forgotten memory. Jason goes out of his way to be with me, even the night of your hit and run I was on my way to meet him because he couldn't wait to be with me. You see Sam well before you came blowing into town Jason and I were more than friends, we've always had a connection that neither one of us could deny. Unfortunately his loyalty and honor got the best of him and took our time away. The difference between you and I is that I wasn't an obligation, not some leftovers from his boss' selfishness. Jason will always try and protect Jake and I as you well know, right?"
Sam felt like she was punched in the stomach yet another time that Jason fought to be with Elizabeth, but not her and not their future. Sam looked to Jason and then Lucky hoping that one of them would say something anything. Lucky couldn't take it anymore and was done with being Elizabeth's puppet ready to take whatever she gave him that was remaining after her obsession with Jason. Lucky moved forward and placed an arm around Sam knowing that this was his time to take a stand and he was done being a whipping boy to Elizabeth. He had given everything to try and repair his marriage with her and somehow it just wasn't enough he wasn't about to lose Sam in the process. "Enough! Elizabeth, you are out of line. Sam has done everything short of dying to try and make things right for what she did and I'm not going to let you try and twist this around to blaming everything bad that happens being her fault." Lucky paused and looked down to Sam and back to Elizabeth and then to Jason "As for you, all you do is leave a path of destruction in your wake of everyone close to you. My best friend, your own sister, died at the hands of a mad man because of your lifestyle and choices. I've sucked up my pride and tried to be the best father I could be to not one, but two little boys that have no tie biologically to me, but mean the world to me. I stepped up and accepted the role happily putting aside my own happiness and chance for love to try and give them everything I didn't' because of a selfish father who was too stifled by family life to stick around. Jason now you want to play daddy and house with Elizabeth after the Russians are gone and even after hearing from Sasha herself that Jake was at risk because of your relationship with Elizabeth. You like to think you can protect people, but the reality is that everyone you love loses and ends up hurt one way or another." Lucky knew he was hitting way below the belt especially mentioning Emily and Jake, but he was done having his life dictated by whatever the almighty Jason Morgan decided with his life.
Jason's fists were clenched and his eyes were glaring at Lucky and yet inside his heart was breaking because Lucky was right to an extent everyone that he loved ended up tangled in his mob life and they either left broken-hearted or in a body bag and he couldn't bare anymore loss. Jason was exhausted with the night and all of the emotions that were hitting him at once he could barely stand and it took all of him to muster up the words. "Lucky you're right, people close to me have been hurt and many times because of my lifestyle. If I wanted to be honest with myself I didn't even recognize myself these past two years and unfortunately it has taken me losing almost everything and everyone to realize the devastation I've caused. I've said and done things that are unforgivable and I don't know how to repair that, but one thing I do know is that I'm sick of the lies and the secrets." Jason took a step towards Sam and looked into her eyes "I threatened your life and there is no going back from that, no amount apologies can take that away."
Sam had tears swelling in her eyes at Jason's public confession and she didn't know what to say or how to feel. Part of her felt relief that he felt remorse for those heart-breaking words and yet the other part was still so hurt and confused how this man who she thought she would spend the rest of her life with could threaten to kill her if she did anything further to hurt Elizabeth or her boys. Elizabeth lunged at Sam spatting at her "That's right Sam, he threatened to kill you in your very own apartment if you did ANYTHING to hurt me or my boys and judging by the look on your face right now you and I both know he would have done it. Jason, you don't have to pretend anymore or hide don't you see we can be together now. Sam can be with Lucky if that is the trash he chooses to keep and we can finally have the family we've always wanted and we can take that trip to Italy that we planned before this whole mess with the Russians happened. Don't we deserve to finally have a chance to see it through for at least our son?" Elizabeth grabbed Jason's arm looking up into his eyes pleading with her body and words hoping that his need for his son would overcome any lingering feelings that might have resurfaced for Sam. Jason pulled away from Elizabeth and she knew she had to act fast to cover "Sam, you know how long Jason has wanted to be a father and I know you love Lucky so can't we all just try and finally move on and be happy?" Yeah she was going to use the kid card and she could swear she saw Sam surrender and Jason sank into himself.
Jason turned away from the three of them trying to clear his mind and reconcile his feelings for his son, Elizabeth and most of all Sam. If he was true to his heart he would grab Sam into his arms and never let her go and demand joint custody of Jake, but it was his mind that was overpowering him right now. Lucky's words sinking in deeper and deeper until images of the carnage of his life flashed before him starting with Sam being strapped to a table at the hands of Manny and then holding her in his arms as she was shot and losing her ability to have children. Sam's words from that fateful day in her apartment echoing in his mind "Jason I gave up everything for you. I can't have kids because of you and you go have one with Elizabeth." A single tear fell down his face he had destroyed the one person he held most dear and if he could do that to her, he feared what would happen to his son. Sam had been shot at, stabbed, left for dead in the middle of the road and all because of his life. His own mother was responsible for her hit and run and yet Sam true to form never pressed charges and with grace forgave her and he still wasn't giving her the respect or the gratitude she deserved. He had practically given her orders to come to his office and drill her for answers and didn't even have the decency to thank her for not pressing charges. After everything he had put her through she still was loyal and cared and he had no idea why. The truth was when Jason saw her carrying Jake from the burning building it was then that he knew how loyal and fierce she was and he was so wrong for pushing her away, lying to her and taking her for granted. His heart and mind were at war with one another and he tried to figure out if giving into his heart and asking Sam for another chance would hurt her more or would he finally be placing her happiness first and give her up so that she could finally have a life and a family with Lucky.
While Jason's mind and heart were at war Lucky turned to Sam and lifted her chin up to see her eyes, it was then that he saw the pain and anguish and he recognized that look from the day he came to her apartment and she had been crying. "Sam, did he really threaten you?" Sam dropped her face in shame and shook her head yes. "Sam, why didn't you tell me? I knew something had hurt you deeply before I got there I had no idea that he had threatened you."
Sam felt like burying herself under a rock somewhere and never coming out she felt like all of her insecurities, faults and mistakes were out on public display and there was nowhere to hide. Sam couldn't defend Jason's threat or the way he treated her any longer and she mustered the last bit of courage to stand strong. "Tell me Elizabeth while you scurrying off to meet your lover-boy here in private, did it once cross your mind what danger you were putting your kids in by continuing your affair with Jason? I mean you like to remind me of how much danger I put Jake in and yet you forget conveniently that Jason's in the middle of a mob war with the Russians and it might not be the best time to be having sex." Sam knew she was fighting dirty, but she wasn't about to let this whore guilt her anymore.
"Sam you have no room to judge me after what you've done and mind you I appreciate you saving Jake, but I can't forget that you sat there and watched when Maureen took him. You made Lucky, Jason and I sick with worry about that little boy that is in there yes because there was a threat in Jason's life, but when isn't there one?" Elizabeth knew that she was dangerously close to accepting Jason and his lifestyle if she could have him. "Lucky, this doesn't change how much you mean to the boys and I want you to still be a part of their lives, but I think I now know I want to try to have a family with Jason."
Jason stood there dumbfounded because a part of him wanted that future and family, but the part that was wrong was he wanted Sam not Elizabeth.
