Chapter 6: Perplexing Encounters

Sam walked into the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee. Alexis walked in shortly after, "Hey."

"Hey mom," Sam briefly looked up to acknowledge her mother. She'd managed to completely avoid seeing anyone in the house yesterday and hadn't seen her mom since the family dinner. It felt kind of awkward.

Alexis walked towards the breakfast nook and sat down at the table, "You and Danny had a nice day together? How is he doing?"

Sam started the machine and sat across from her mother, "Yeah we had a great day! We went to the book store, nature museum and Jump zone. He had a blast. I think he really needed that, just be away from all the drama you know?"

"He did or you did?" Alexis questioned.

Sam thought for a second, "both."

Alexis gave her a small smile, "you can talk to me you know, I'm 100% on your side. "

"Mom you don't have to say that, I know it's difficult for you. You practically raised Nik with Stefan."

"Honey, I'm not just saying that, I mean it. I am furious with Nik for betraying you & Danny. I don't understand the choices my nephew has made. His reasoning, 'to protect & provide for the family' just seems very much Stefan. You never met him but he was very 'family first' and sometimes did things he felt were necessary regardless of my feelings. But Nik has never been like that and this feels a little different to me. No matter what Stefan did, I knew he did it because he loved me and he cared. I just don't think Nik cares anymore, there's this coldness in his eyes, I just― I don't know." Alexis sighed.

Sam poured herself and her mother a cup of coffee and sat back down. "I don't know either mom." She paused to sip her coffee. "Danny and I ran into Laura yesterday." She put her hand up, "Actually, no, Laura bombarded Danny & I at dinner!"

Alexis rolled her eyes, "what did she say?"

"I don't know ―a bunch of self-important bullshit like she warned Nik to tell the truth but somehow it failed to leave her lips. I was trying to concentrate on not losing my cool while Danny was there, again."

"Of all people I can't believe she would be complacent in that lie especially given her history with Lucky!"

"Oh she wasn't just complacent, she actively covered for them when I confronted her about my suspicions that Liz knew all along!"

Julian walked into the kitchen, "Oh good morning!" he walked over and placed a kiss on Alexis's forehead. "How are you doing Sam?"

"I'm fine and would be even better if you guys would stop asking me!" She plastered a quick smile.

"Oh, Sorry."

"No, I'm sorry dad that wasn't fair."

"Ooh coffee! Anyone up for eggs and bacon?" Julian asked.

"I'm sure Danny would love some!" Alexis spoke up.

Julian's phone he'd set on the table began to buzz and caught Sam & Alexis's eye. Olivia's name popped up on the screen and they exchanged a look. Alexis and Julian still hadn't gotten a chance to discuss the loud mouth, overbearing Italian elephant in their relationship since the dinner the other night.

Alexis and Sam watched as Julian picked up his phone, read the text, typed out a reply, put it in his back pocket and then began pulling out the ingredients for breakfast. "Danny just likes plain eggs?" he looked back at Sam.

"Yes, he's not up yet though."

"Okay, I'll fix his last then."

Julian's cluelessness really stumped Sam sometimes, "I gotta find a new place, this is going to drive me insane." She spoke mostly for her own benefit.

Alexis closed her eyes. She was annoyed mostly with Julian's lack of regard for her and his inability to actually draw boundaries. Jealousy was never an issue nor was Leo. She never doubted Julian's love for her and especially not favor of Olivia. She also loved Leo because he was a part of the man she loved. She was at a point in her life that Julian's child with someone else wasn't an issue. Hell all of her children have different fathers and she'd always had to balance that. She needed him to figure out that balance but he either chose to ignore it or find ways to disappear leaving Alexis to just deal with it. They were supposed to be partners and she refused to start a marriage with those issues lingering. That was another conversation she needed to have and soon. Although her focus today would be going to Spoon Island.

A scream was heard from the back and Danny cried out. All three rushed to the back with Sam leading the way. Danny had tears streaking his face as he was getting out of the bed. "Danny!" Sam rushed over and examined him physically to make sure he wasn't hurt. Alexis stood right behind Sam and Julian stopped at the door. Sam realized he probably had a bad dream. 'You're okay, sweetie. Did you have a bad dream?" Danny nodded and laid his head on her shoulder as she picked him up.

Alexis rubbed his head and back as Sam turned and sat on the bed. Alexis sat to her. She hated seeing her grandson distressed.

Julian started to smell the burning pan, "Oh! My eggs!" He ran back to the kitchen.

"Baby, do you want to talk about it?" Alexis asked.

"Sometimes it helps to talk it through so you know it's not real." Sam added.

Danny wiped his eyes, "everybody left."

"Nobody is leaving! You see we're all here! Me, grandma, grandpa, auntie Kris and Molly are here too they're just sleepyheads!" Sam reassured him as she kissed his cheek.

Danny cracked a small smile as he nodded. "There he is!" Alexis cooed "Do you want to watch cartoons with grandma while grandpa fixes us some eggs―well while he tries not to burn the eggs!" She wiggled her finger in his tummy and he let out a laugh.

Sam smiled "That sounds like fun!"

"Okay" Danny agreed.

Jason sat on the couch anxiously waiting for Sam and Danny to arrive. He didn't really know what to do with himself while he waited. He needed to talk to Sam. Things had changed so drastically between them. She used to be his friend and he just wanted to go back to that. She was always so brief with him. He needed to make things right, for Danny's sake and his. He missed her friendship. She was easy to be around and she had been there for him even when he didn't deserve it.

Sam awkwardly knocked on the Penthouse door, she couldn't remember the last time she had knocked on that door. In many ways it still felt like her home. The door swung open faster than she had expected revealing a slightly disheveled Jason.

"Hi, I'm sorry are we early?"

"No, no come in. Gimme five Danny!" Jason put his open hand in the little boy's reach who enthusiastically slapped it.

Sam hesitated to enter, "Actually I'm meeting my sister, I was just going to drop him off." She lied. She handed Jason Danny's overnight bag and turned to leave.

"Sam, wait!"

Sam turned back slowly, "I―I was actually hoping I could talk to you for a minute…" Jason stammered.

Sam nodded and crossed the entry. She immediately felt a knot in her gut. This was the first time she, Jason and Danny had been in the penthouse together since the night they brought Danny home and he was taken from her. Thoughts, memories and emotions swirled throughout her head and heart.

"Umm, can I get you something to drink?" Jason was nervous and didn't know where to start.

"No, I'm okay. What did you want to talk about?" She lied again. Her mouth felt like a desert.

"Things―they haven't been the same since we found out who I was. We used to be friends and now it seems like you can't stand to be around me more than five minutes and I don't want that… for Danny. I…I missed you as my friend and I just wanted to make things right between us." Jason finished unsure if that came out how he wanted it. He'd practiced it in his head many times while he was waiting for them to arrive but somehow he didn't think it came out the way he wanted. He studied Sam's reaction and then he knew it came out wrong.

Sam couldn't help but feel slightly ambushed. She wasn't prepared for this conversation. "Danny can you go play upstairs for a little bit?"

"Don't leave mommy!"

"I'm not leaving yet, I just want to talk to your dad."

"Ok," Danny grabbed his toys and walked up the stairs.

Sam waited until Danny was out of earshot. "Jason, I don't know what you want me to say. When I walked in here I was hit with a thousand different emotions and the many memories we created in this home. I remembered all the times I fell asleep on that couch and you covered me up so I wouldn't get cold, playing pool with you, hugging over there when you comforted me after my daughter died. I remember the night we brought Danny home. We were so happy and excited about the future! I mean we practically fought over who was going to get him when he cried. I remember all of that, you don't! So you'll have to excuse me if I can't be your buddy anymore. I found out you are my husband. Of course things are different!"

"I'm sorry, Sam I didn't think about it like that."

"You don't remember me or the son we created. I'm sorry but things will never be right between us as long as that's the case."

"I just wanted to find a way to be friends again but I understand you might not be able to do that yet and that's okay."

"No. Don't do that. Don't put this all on me! As if I'm the reason we can't be friends. It doesn't stir anything inside of you knowing you were my husband and you've been intown an entire year and didn't know? You told me before you wondered if you had a wife and kid out there somewhere looking for you. Well, I searched and we grieved for you. So now you know. And you want to be friends. I just can't do that. I would never keep Danny away from you and I think it's great you want to be active in his life, I will support that in every way. And we can co-parent for his sake but if it makes you uncomfortable that I can't be around you for long because it's painful then that's something you need to work out on your own."

Jason was confused, he thought he'd extended an olive branch for her to take whenever she was ready but somehow he'd offended her and he didn't really know how to respond. He didn't think anything he said would make it better so he chose to say nothing and just nodded.

"So you're just going to stand there and stare at me? I―I can't do this right now. I need to go." Sam was overwhelmed.

"Danny!" Sam called up the stairs and Danny came bounding down.

"Whoa, slow down before you fall! I'm going to leave now sweetie." She stooped to his eye level.

"Do you have to?" Sam glanced in Jason's direction and then looked back at Danny, "Yes I do, you're gonna be okay."

Danny lowered his voice so only his mom could hear, he enjoyed playing with Jason but he hadn't become fully comfortable with him yet. "But what if I have another bad dream?"

"You know you can always call me but your dad is here and he can help you too."

"But.." Danny protested.

"I'm going to call you at bed time and wish you only sweet dreams okay!"

"Okay." Danny hugged and kissed her on the cheek.

Jason admired the way Sam was with their son and the relationship they shared as mother and son. He could tell the little boy believed she hung the moon and the stars. He always talked about her and he noticed how Danny would light up when his mother entered the room. He hoped one day Danny would come to depend on him in the same way.

"That's my Junebug!" she kissed him atop the head before heading out the door.

Following Sam's departure Jason saw a flash of her holding Danny walking into the penthouse.

I think our son is gonna be really happy here.

He slipped the ring on her finger, I love you forever.

Jason felt like he was watching a movie of his life, only this time he felt included because he could feel the love they shared, his love for her. He finally understood. It had only been a 20 second flash but in that moment it felt like he'd loved her his entire life. He wanted that feeling again.

Alexis used the launch ride over to the island to gather her thoughts. She needed to have a long put off conversation with her nephew.

"Aunt, it's lovely to see you!" Nik greeted Alexis. "I hadn't expected a visit."

"Well, I thought it was passed time we chat." Alexis invited herself to sit on the sofa.

"Can Alfred get you anything?" Nik offered.

"No. Thank you Alfred." She watched the elderly butler leave. "You should probably give him a nice pension. That poor man has been in this hell hole half his life."

"You speak so lovely of my home." Nik poured himself a drink.

"Why you continue to live here is one of the many decisions you've made that I question."

"And here I though you just missed me." he retorted.

"That's actually exactly why I'm here, nephew. I do miss you. I miss the old you, the generous, humble, honest, funny prince that Stefan and I helped to raise. What happened to him?"

"He got played for a fool one too many times. I made a business decision to benefit this family. I'm sorry that Sam got hurt but this will all blow over and she'll get over it." He sat down next to her.

Alexis narrowed her eyes as she attempted to see beyond the surface. "See that's what gets me. Business has never come before family for you. This… ruthlessness, it's disingenuous to who you are."

"I'm a Cassadine, Alexis. Ruthlessness of the most vicious kind runs through my veins. You should know better than anyone how quickly that flip can be switched."

"You're right. I've stared down evil in the flesh. That's how I know this isn't you. You aren't evil nor are you this cold. There's something else…" She placed her hands on the sides of his face and pulled him close. "There's something else going on and I'm damn well going to figure it out. I won't let it destroy you, Sam or this family." She kissed him softly on the cheek and stood to leave.

"I'm not who I once was Alexis. My hands are dirty. The sooner you all accept that, the sooner we can all move on." He rose from the couch.

"Nikolas are you―Oh. Alexis…" Laura came bounding into the room. "Sorry I didn't realize you were here." She turned to leave.

"Actually Laura, you are just the person I would like to talk to." Alexis called after her.

"Oh, I can't imagine why."

Alexis shifted her eyes, "Okay, I'm not sure if you are being deliberately obtuse but there is plenty for you and I to discuss!"

"If this is about my encounter with Sam yesterday, I just wanted to clear the air with her."

"Nikolas, would you mind giving us a moment." Alexis watched him close the study doors as he left.

"First thing, next time you think of approaching my daughter, especially when she is with her son, don't. Just walk in the other direction. There is so much I don't understand of the last several months but you are definitely a head scratcher."

"I tried to tell Niko-"

"But you didn't say anything." Alexis cut her off.

"Nik is a grown man and it's not my place to go around telling his business." Laura attempted to defend her decision.

"But it wasn't his business. It was Sam's and Danny's… it certainly wasn't his or liz's or yours. Yet you stayed complicit in the lie. Sam told me you went to her. Maybe you were going to tell the truth and for whatever reason you didn't. But tell me Laura… when it was Lucky who was the one ripped from his life― from you because Helena decided to play marionette with the doll pieces was it okay then? When Stefan knew the truth and withheld it from you. Were you not furious with him? Did that not destroy you two?"

"You are absolutely right Alexis, I was livid at Stefan but I also seem to recall you knew as well and didn't say anything either. And why was that Alexis? Because you were trying to protect your brother just as I was trying to protect my son."

"I certainly did but I'm not going to stand here and pretend I wasn't in the wrong. You keep asserting yourself as the protagonist, if only Nik had listened to your 'wise words,' she used air quotes to emphasize her point, "and told the truth we wouldn't be here. Instead of admitting you were wrong for not just keeping the secret but actively preventing it from being uncovered, you keep making your son the scapegoat for your inability to speak up. The same son you claim to want to protect. You are a coward Laura. My daughter and grandson don't deserve to go through the hell they are going through now. And I will protect them from anyone doing them harm. Do me a favor and stay away from them."

Laura nodded though not in agreement. She was trying to process the implications of Alexis's statement―declaration rather, of what? She wasn't sure. "Even Nikolas?"

"Even my beloved nephew." Alexis picked up her belongings and left.

Nik watched from the window of his bed chamber as his Aunt loaded onto the launch to take her back into the city. "Are you pleased now?" he could almost hear the evil grin from the presence behind him in response.

"Coleman, let me get whisky on the rocks, actually I'll have it straight first and then one on the rocks…And keep the bottle near." Sam sat at the bar desperately needing some pain management. She wanted to drown all of the residual feelings and memories that arose during and after her conversation with Jason. It felt like Jason would be an open wound for the rest of her life. She'd almost wished he'd stayed dead because to come back to her like this was cruel and unusual punishment.

"Which one of these Port Charles scum bags pissed you off?" Coleman topped off her drink, and then watched her guzzle it straight back. He started to prepare her second drink, "that bad huh?"

"Does it matter?" Sam shot.

Coleman raised his hands, "I just hate to see my favorite little feisty badass upset that's all!"

"Sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out like that, I just don't want to talk about it." She apologized.

"Aw don't get soft on me now, I prefer the spunk!" Coleman winked and Sam let out a small laugh.

Curtis walked into the The Rib and sat two seats down from Sam. He glanced in her direction and was immediately struck by her gorgeous dark features "What's a fine woman like you doing drinking by herself?"

"Not interested." Sam didn't look at the man but she was in no mood to be hit on by some sexiest asshole. Although if he got out of line, she'd be obligated to kick his ass and that might be therapeutic.

"Wow, I've been in the bar for about two seconds and already shot down. I think that's a record!" Curtis quipped to Coleman. "I'll take whatever is on tap."

"You should probably quit while you're behind man, my money is on Sammy!" Coleman said as he poured the beer into a glass.

Curtis smiled and looked back at Sam, "Mine is too, she'd definitely kick my black ass, right Mrs. Morgan?"

Sam quickly whipped her head around to look at the man for the first time, "Who are you?"

"Ahh now she's interested." Curtis sipped on his beer and tipped his head to Coleman.

Coleman furrowed his brow as he looked between Sam and the man, "Aww shit, do yall have me in some kind of kinky 'stranger' role playing game? I feel so cheap, all you had to do was ask! I would've gladly participated in any sex game with Sammy!" Coleman walked away disappointed.

Sam ignored Coleman's statements and repeated her question, "Who are you?"

Curtis flashed a wide smile now that he had her full attention, "I'm your new business partner and the brotha who's going to turn your failing business profitable again!"

Sam laughed, "How do you know who I am?"

"I couldn't very well proposition you for half of your firm without knowing who you are, Sam that wouldn't be very smart! Also, I'm a PI. It's my job to know the players! Although I'm starting to question my decision here."

Sam was annoyed and offended by his arrogance, "My business is doing just fine and I don't need you as a partner. Besides, if I'm so terrible at my job, why don't you just start your own firm?"

"It's easier to fix an already established business than it is to start one from scratch. I've already drawn up the business model. Although it doesn't take a genius to figure out where all of your profits went, ya gotta stop working for free! Ain't nothin' is this world free, neither should your expert services. You're one of the best PI's when you're focused, but clearly that hasn't been the case for a while. Also the prospect of working with you every day is much more exciting." Curtis grinned.

Sam rolled her eyes, "and this is how you expect me to give you a job? By giving me a lecture and insulting me? You have a lot of nerve for someone who's asking me for a favor."

"Sam we both know how this is gonna play out, you'll protest now but when you go home and think about it, you'll realize this is only a win for you. You get a new partner to pick up the slack since your last one flaked on you, McCall & Jackal will be back in black―we'll negotiate a new name later― and since I'll be here you'll still have time to do… whatever it is you've been doin'!"

Sam laughed at his final statement and leaned in slightly towards him, "what did you say your name was again?"

Curtis mimicked her movement, leaned in and looked straight in her eyes, "I didn't," he flashed a smile.

Sam leaned back, annoyed with the cat & mouse this guy was playing, "And how do you suppose I partner with a guy whose name I don't even know?'

"You're a PI, investigate." He winked.

"So you proposition me at a bar when I'm clearly not in a good mood, insult me, want me to investigate who you are and hire you as my business partner?" Sam scoffed, "Clearly you aren't as smart as you think you are in job acquisition."

"Is that a little fire I see in your eyes? You're curious as to who I am and why I'm interested in you."

"No, actually I'm irritated by your mere presence." Sam shot back.

Curtis stood up, "Ouch. That hurt, please excuse me for a minute."

"Gladly!" Sam watched him head for the bathroom and was both exasperated and intrigued by his presence. She couldn't deny the slight spark she felt in her gut getting back to doing what she loved. She couldn't think of a case she'd done in the last 4 years that excited her, well she hadn't had many cases to choose from either. She needed to figure out who the hell this guy was first though and why he was interested in her.

Curtis came back from the bathroom and sat back on the bar stool, "Care for another drink? My treat."

Sam stood, "Actually, I've got to get home but you know you were right earlier."

He tilted his head, "and how so?"

"I am interested," she leaned in as she seductively whispered in his ear, "and if this was another time and place, we'd probably be leaving together." Sam lightly dragged her hand along his arm as she left the bar.

Curtis swallowed hard and turned to watch her leave, "damn!"

Sam walked outside the bar and glanced at the Metro Court key card she'd just picked from his jacket pocket. She was determined to figure out who he was and now had a place to start.

A/N: Sorry for the long break hopefully you guys are still interested! And hopefully you enjoyed this latest installment! If any of my Cassadine history is wrong, sorry. I was probably more into cartoons at the time it was playing out. lol Anyway, thanks for your patience! Comments and reviews are much appreciated! If you haven't gotten a chance to check out my other fic 'Picking up the Pieces', well what are you waiting for!? ;)

~KJ