Sam moved through the corridors of General Hospital with the most precious bundle she'd ever held, tucked safely in the span of her arms. She walked purposely towards Jason's room, eager to get back to him, hating to leave his side even for the one hour that it took to grab a shower and pick up their precious baby from her mother's house. She still didn't fully trust things not to change on a dime as soon as she looked away, so she hurried back to keep herself from worrying out of her mind. Jason had tried to convince her to get some sleep at home before coming back but she had merely shook her head at him. That he really thought sleep would come to her in their bed without him, without his arms to hold her close and keep her safe, without his heartbeat drumming in her ear to lull her there…he completely underestimated the power that his presence and his love held over her body and state of mind.
Danny reached his little hand up and touched her lip as he pulled on his stud muffin pacifier, prompting his mother to look down at his adorable little face and grin at the mirth in his vivid blue eyes.
"Ready to see daddy, buddy? He can't wait to see you!" She kissed the top of his head as she walked, strolling past the hateful glare directed her way from the nurses station, completely ignoring the other nurse as she smiled slyly at Epiphany, whom she knew was about to bust her for bringing the infant on her floor.
"Hello, Sam! Well, who do we have here?"
Sam smiled at her baby. "Danny, do you remember Nurse Johnson? She's the very best nurse there is in the entire world - there's no other like her, and she's taking super good care of your Daddy." She shifted the infant in her arms as she continued, "She's gonna make him well again, so he can come home to us. We owe Nurse Johnson big time, huh?"
Epiphany rolled her eyes at the blatant ass kissing but took the toddler's tiny little hand in hers and jiggled as she grinned at him, "Hello there, Danny. Your mother is full of crap but she's right about your Daddy. I know your sweet face will do him a world of good so you have a nice, brief, visit, okay?"
With that, Epiphany raised her chin and glared at Sam, smiled at Danny again and disappeared down the corridor.
Sam's eyes opened wide before she turned to look at her son. "Way to go kiddo, I think you just charmed the pants off our own resident Nurse Ratchet!" She kissed his chubby little cheek as she pushed the door to Jason's room with her shoulder, feeling the daggers stabbing at her back and not caring in the least.
Jason was tired of laying down and was in the middle of forcing through the pain to get himself into a standing position when the sound of the opening door made him look up to the most beautiful sight he'd seen in a long time.
Sam cocked her head at him, "Jason Morgan, really? And when you open your stitches and get your release pushed out even further, what then? Please get back in that bed?"
He eased the one foot he'd managed to get out of the bed back in, then leaned against the pillows in near exhaustion. The slight movements had made him a little breathless and he was completely annoyed by it, but he couldn't help the smile that cut across his face at the sight of his wife holding their beautiful son in her arms…it had been so damn long.
"You with a baby, is still the most breathtaking sight in the world, Sam. And a baby of our own…that's even more beautiful!" His soft words were laced with love and awe.
Sam smiled as she came to a stop at the side of the bed, "Sweet talk will get you everywhere, Morgan!" She looked down at Danny who was already reaching out towards Jason, "Wanna go see Daddy?" Easing Danny down into his outstretched arms, she advised, "Careful, don't strain your back," holding on to the toddler until he was seated on Jason's lap.
Jason couldn't contain the emotions tearing through him. He looked at his little boy and marveled at the enormous surge of love that he felt in that instant, an overwhelming, breath robbing, all encompassing love for the tiny human with the sparkling eyes and the devilish little grin that broke out around the pacifier in his mouth as he looked eagerly at Jason, his hand reaching up to his face in curious exploration. He and Sam had wanted a baby together for so, so long, had thought fate had robbed them of ever seeing it become real, until this little miracle showed up. His little life had been a battle from the very start and his parents came very close to not being that, but things were different now…now they'd raise their son together…and Danny would always know how much he was loved and wanted - they would make sure of it. His biological makeup would never again be an issue, he was loved as if he had sprung from Jason's own DNA and he would never know anything less.
He hadn't seen his son since the night he foolishly left them home alone to go to work, and as he held him in his arms for the first time in what felt like forever, his sweet baby scent reminded Jason of what was unquestionably most important in his life. Loving his little boy above himself, putting his needs first above his own and above anyone's, protecting him against all threat to his happiness and well being, that was his responsibility as Danny's parent. He had unwittingly left it all to Sam to do, and though he knew that no-one was more capable and nurturing than his unbelievable wife, it killed him that he had left her unsupported and alone. He would never leave her that way again.
"He has your nose and that's definitely your winning smile, Sam!" Jason stroked his son's head lovingly, his heart clenching when Danny smiled wide again, clapping his little hands together in glee. Kissing the top of his head, Jason choked out almost tearfully, "I love you kiddo - I missed you so much!" Danny gurgled up at him as he added, "It's so good to see you!"
A knock sounded at the door and Steve Webber stuck his head in. "I'm sorry to disturb you guys but I really need to talk to you for a minute."
He opened the door a little wider and entered the room, looking doubtfully at the enforcer, then back at Sam. He really didn't like the man very much - never had - and he wouldn't apologize for it either. Jason Morgan was a reckless killer who took advantage of his little sister's vulnerability, got her pregnant then abandoned her and ditched his responsibility by acting like he was making some grand gesture of staying away to keep them safe. He liked Sam well enough but didn't think much of her inability to see the mobster as he was, instead of how he painted himself. Despite their history however, they had the right to know the truth. Everybody deserved that.
"What do you want?" Jason didn't care at all for the pompous, condescending asshole who always thought he should be judge and jury and moral police, throwing his weight and usually incorrect assumptions around about other people and how he thought they should live their lives. He didn't know what the man could think they had to talk about - he was probably there to lecture them on some perceived irresponsibilities, as usual.
Glaring at Jason before turning his attention over to Sam, Steve turned a folded sheet of paper between his fingers nervously. "I just wanted to apologize for everything my mother put you through. It was a horrible thing to do to someone and I hope you know that at no time would I have ever condoned or assisted her with any of it." He looked over to Jason on the bed and added, "No matter who, it was a despicable thing that she did."
Sam touched the doctor's arm lightly, "Steve, we don't blame you for anything that Heather did. She was a crazy bitch who deserves to spend the rest of her miserable life in a nuthouse. You didn't make her take my…" she looked over to her husband and son and corrected herself, "…our baby. Jason and I know that was all Heather."
Steve bit his lip as he thumped the paper in his hand, "There's more, actually."
Sam and Jason exchanged wondering looks as Danny played with the string attached to Jason's call button. "What? What do you mean, more?"
"More what?" Jason demanded to know.
Steve handed the letter to Sam. "I found this in my mother's things. Sam, I am so sorry that she did this to you."
Looking at Jason confused, Sam unfolded the paper and read its contents quickly, her brows going up further in query. "DNA test results?" She got even more confused when she saw it was her son's DNA test.
"Look at the findings at the bottom," Steve instructed cautiously.
Her eyes fell instantly to the last line on the page. "What the hell?" She handed the paper to a curious Jason as she looked pointedly at the other man in the room. "What is this, Steve?"
The doctor threw his hands open, "It appears that Heather switched your son's DNA results." He looked uncomfortably from Sam to Jason and back. "The results that were given to you were not the right ones, Sam."
Jason's head was suddenly hurting and his heart beat out of his chest. "This says…" He read the fateful words over and over, seeing the same name each time.
"…That you're Danny's father, yes." Steve finished for him, seeing how shocked the couple appeared, and rightfully so. He reached out and touched Sam's hand lightly. "Heather switched the results so that you purposely got the wrong ones. You and Jason are Danny's biological parents."
Sam's hand flew to the base of her throat as her knees weakened and her breath caught in her throat. She accepted Steve's help when he immediately took her arm and assisted her to sit in the armchair by Jason's bed. Looking over at her husband, she saw him have the same unbelieving reaction that she did, even as they both prayed it to be true.
"Is this even possible, Steve? Can this really be true?" She needed confirmation urgently.
The doctor nodded her way, "Yes, I checked it against the results that were recorded in the system - it is one hundred percent accurate."
Sam and Jason locked eyes as they tried to let the stunning news sink in. Their miracle baby, who had been a beautiful dream between them for so many years, who had materialized even after he was thought lost, who sat on his daddy's lap right this minute, playing obliviously with his giant hand as he explored Jason's fingers keenly, could actually be their flesh and blood baby boy made from their pure, unselfish love for each other. Danny was not only the child that Jason had bonded with and claimed as his own son in every way, but he was biologically theirs? Both their DNA, familial traits, genetic gene pool sharing, son? The uncertainty that hadn't outweighed the underlying thrill they'd felt when they first learned that he had been conceived, learned that a part of both of them was growing inside her, the awe and pride that swelled at the sight of his first image on ultrasound…they had been right in feeling that way.
Sam tore the fixated gaze to look back at Steve as she railed from the chair. "No, I will not believe this until I get another test done. Your mother has been playing with our lives for months and months, I will not play another one of her sick manipulations." She crossed her arms and moved to Steve, "I'm going to need you to swab Danny and Jason right now, and conduct a completely new test so we know for sure what the hell is going on!"
Jason pulled himself from the reverie when he heard the frantic uncertainty straining his wife. "It's okay, Sam. Danny is my son - I don't need DNA to tell me that." His eyes met hers and he added softly, "It doesn't matter what that test or any other test says, this little guy right here is ours."
"I know he is Jason, but we have the right to know what this is. I will not keep wondering whether or not Heather is still playing mind games with us - I want to know once and for all and I want an independent test run right now!"
Steve pulled surgical gloves, plastic tubes, and two swabs from his pockets. "I thought you might say that. I'll be happy to conduct the test myself, right now. I'll even send the swabs to an independent lab for a separate test, if that's what you want." He looked between Sam and Jason again, "I want you to know the truth so you can put this behind you. It's the least I can do after what my mother did."
"Jason?" Sam looked over to her men on the bed, eyes pleading her need for definitive answers that would free them from the lunatic nightmare they'd been dumped into against their will. The crazy bitch helped a psycho to rip their marriage to shreds, because Sam had left a letter she'd promised to deliver to Steve. A stupid letter to an estranged son who didn't even want to hear from her after she sold him as a child, was her sole motivation for what she did, tauntingly watching their marriage implode from the strain of their doubts and guilt over somebody's deeds to rip them apart.
Giving her his silent okay, Jason effortlessly relented to fulfilling his wife's wishes. It was becoming increasingly important to him that they know the truth, not that it would change anything about the indelible way in which he loved his son, but he would welcome the peace of mind knowing would bring to Sam. He knew that despite the fact that she had moved on and dealt with what happened to her on their honeymoon, that it still ate her up at times. Knowing that their son shared nothing in common with the jealous son-of-a-bitch who tried to wreck their love and damage her peace of mind and sense of self, would give her some peace.
Steve quickly swabbed both Jason and Danny and labeled the plastic tubes, which he stuck into the pocket of his lab coat. Turning to Sam, he offered to swab her too, for a complete package testing. "Just in case you want full reassurances, Sam. I'll be happy to."
Nodding her consent, Sam gave up her DNA also and thanked Steve for coming to them. "I'm very grateful, Steve…for finding that letter and for doing this. Jason and I really appreciate it."
"You don't have to thank me, Sam. Believe me, I'm sick to my stomach thinking about what my mother did. I'm happy to do this." He took everything with him and retreated from the room, promising them results in a matter of days. He was headed to the lab to oversee the test they'd complete onsite and he would be sending the other to the independent lab personally.
Sam watched him leave, realizing that she was trembling. She turned to the bed to see Jason with one arm outstretched calling her in, the other still holding their boy. She moved to them and sank gently to the bed, taking care not to jostle him as they sat there, all three wrapped up together, her head resting lightly on his shoulder as he rubbed her back soothingly. Not a word was said between them but they both knew what the other's thoughts comprised of…that each was praying for the miracle to find them, to make it all one sick, unbelievable manipulation that they would soon awake from, but knowing that either way, their family was complete and together and no earthly power would ever be strong enough to tear them apart. They would be an impenetrable unit and no matter the circumstance, they would fight to the death to keep it together and safe.
Jason couldn't help the warring feelings that tore through his heart. He knew that he loved his son regardless, but not withstanding, he thought back to how he'd shut down on Sam when he doubted that he could love her baby that shared DNA with his most hated enemy, and he was racked by guilt and shame once again at the new realization that at one point he may have turned his back on his own, most desired seed. Memories of the many months that he'd kept himself at a distance and watched her go through pregnancy with other people giving her the support and comfort that he would have, had he known - that he should have, regardless. She was his wife and the most loyal and devoted partner he'd had his whole life…she deserved so much better from him. That guilt ate deeply now - he had let her go through bearing their son alone…turning to a stranger in his absence. He'd failed her once again, all over again.
"Stop it, Jason!" Her head had not moved from its perch but Sam didn't need to see his face to know that the almost imperceptible movement of his shoulder at her cheek was him beating himself up and taking on blame. She lifted loving eyes to meet troubled ones and shook her head slowly. "You had every right to hate that bastard and what he did to us. I understand how you struggled with everything and why, and even though I got really angry at you that you didn't even try for us, that was then! We've moved past that, so do not…" she moved one hand to grab his cheek firmly, "…do not let it in between us again. Not now, not ever again!"
His face softened at the insistence and the love in her voice and her emoting, pleading eyes, and as his idolization for her surely doubled instantly, Jason inhaled sharply against the tears threatening to spill, closing his own eyes as he moved his forehead to rest urgently with hers, pulling closer his sweet son who had nestled his head against him when sleep claimed his tuckered out, tiny form. This was his family and he had been blessed beyond belief. This woman was his very own gift from God and what she brought to his life could never be measured and would never be repaid if he lived for ten centuries. "I love you, Sam! You have no idea how much I love you!"
They spent the afternoon together - Sam fighting with Jason to stay in bed, Jason insisting that he would heal quicker if he got up and moved around, and Danny toddling around the room filling both their hearts and healing emotional wounds.
Later, Sam left to tuck Danny in for the night at her mom's then stopped by the diner to pick Jason up some dessert. He liked to pretend like he didn't have a sweet tooth but Sam knew different, and she knew he'd enjoy the special Hawaiian treat she'd ordered for him.
All the way back to the hospital she had the weirdest feeling like she was being watched, and several times she checked her rearview and looked over her shoulder, but was unable to pinpoint anyone suspicious. Even as she walked through the halls of the hospital she had the most uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. Turning the corner to Jason's room, she was just in time to see someone dressed in scrubs exit and hasten in the opposite direction, head averted as he or she scurried away. Something about the individual did not sit well with Sam, but whoever it was disappeared before she could call out.
She ran into Jason's room, a sudden panic unexplainably sending a shiver down her spine, until she saw him peacefully asleep. She watched the even rise and fall of his chest, then looked to the monitors and she was assured that he was okay.
Walking to the foot of his bed, she removed his chart and puzzled that the last record was from earlier right before she left, and just like that the uneasy feeling returned with force. Authorized personnel would have noted his vitals and charted his progress after a scheduled check. Something was very wrong with this picture.
Hurring back to the nurse's station, Sam enquired as to the whereabouts of Dr. Maruchi and learned that he had gone home for the night. She also learned from the nurse that her suspicions were accurate, no personnel had been inside Jason's room since right after she left earlier, adding that she herself had seen him asleep. Sam told the woman what she saw and insisted that the Resident on duty check her husband right away to make sure he was just asleep and his medication had not been tampered with.
Jason awoke when they entered the room, looking at the team of doctors and nurses, then his wife curiously, who quickly explained to him what she saw. He knew she was worried that whoever tried before would try again to take his life.
Sam waited until the medical staff completed their examination, assured the couple that all looked well and left, before she sat down next to Jason and started to fill him in on everything he'd missed. She didn't leave anything out, told him everything that happened the night he disappeared and what she knew about his shooting, how they all fell apart without him, everyone she ran into in her search to find him, finishing with her encounters with Helena and his rescue from the clinic. Jason was shocked when he heard what she'd been through for him. Every time he thought he knew the extraordinary extent of Sam Morgan's love, or how strong and remarkable she was, she proved to him that she was so much more.
"Sam." His soft voice conveyed the sincerest love he'd ever felt, from the depth of his heart.
Sam shook her head as she headed him off. "Don't you dare say I shouldn't have - there's no place I wouldn't go to bring you home." Her voice drifted just as low and she shook the thoughts of how close they came to losing him from her mind.
Jason lifted her hand to his lips for a slow lingering kiss of her fingers, his blurry eyes telling her everything he didn't say. If he allowed himself to express everything he was feeling in that moment he'd never let her out of his arms or his sight ever again. He cleared his throat and voiced the burning questions in the background instead.
"Helena had me since I went missing? How? Why?"
"She had her goons fish you out of the water when the tide swept you out from the harbor - we think they just happened to be passing through and found you floating out there, but with her you never know. Why, is anybody's guess."
Jason couldn't fathom what the old crone could want with him. They'd had no notable run-ins in the past that he could remember and he wasn't aware of anything he had that she would want. The fact that she was interested in him worried him now because it put his family in her sights. That would never do.
Sam knew that they faced a much bigger threat than just a mob associate, and though they would deal with the cowardly shooter together once her husband got back on his feet, she knew that a more immediate threat needed to be neutralized before her family would ever be completely safe again.
Somebody was sneaking around Jason for a reason. She needed to find Helena Cassadine and put a stop to that right quick.
