Chapter 20

Port Charles, New York – September 10, 2012

Sam woke up sick to her stomach again – it had been worse than before and she rushed to the bathroom. Jason followed her and held her hair back and rubbed her back for her. He didn't say anything – he was just there. Jason had been amazing to her the last two weeks. She had been having morning sickness before, but lately it seemed to have worsened. He would help her – hold her hair back and comfort her – when she bolted to the bathroom. She loved him for it, and he always said it didn't matter. She had decided to do something back; she just had to figure out what.

They hadn't heard of Deb anymore, which was disturbing. The last thing they had heard was that she left her apartment in Gent with her boyfriend. After that she seemed to have disappeared.

''Is it over?'' Jason asked when she stopped throwing up, and she nodded. She sat back against his chest and took a deep shaky breath. ''Relax – come on, I'll take you back to bed and get you something to settle your stomach,'' he told her, and she shook her head and smiled weakly.

''I need to brush my teeth, Jason,'' she said softly, and he nodded and helped her stand up. When she had brushed her teeth she decided she didn't want to go back to bed, and she looked at Jason. ''I'm going down with you – I need to do some things before we have to go to the hospital and I can't stay in bed all morning,'' she said, and he nodded with a smile.

''Sure – I'll make something for you to eat,'' he told her, and she nodded, when he added, ''you take a shower – I can drive you over everywhere you need to be when I go to Sonny.''

''You are going to meet up with Sonny?'' she asked while turning on the shower. Jason nodded and sighed.

''He wants to talk about what is going to happen next – Deb not showing up while we know she was on her way back two weeks ago,'' he said, and he shrugged, ''I think she is up to something, and we have to be prepared for her,'' he said, and she nodded.

''I think you are amazing,'' she suddenly said and she wrapped her arms around him. ''You never let show what you feel, but lately you've been more open, and I can say I love it,'' she added, and he smiled.

''You know what that is about – you remember we had that talk before – you yelling at me for not telling you how I felt about some things?'' he asked, and she smiled and nodded.

''Yeah, I remember – I was angry at you because we were talking about having a baby, and you just shrugged and told me to do what I wanted,'' she said, and he nodded and opened his mouth to speak when she stopped him, ''I didn't know you were working on something that had all of your attention – but you did hear what I said right?''

''No wait Sam – you're going to fast,'' he said, and he shook his head. ''I mean that time when you and I were sitting on the couch before this all happened – I didn't want to tell you what I felt because I thought that made me weak – I can say I love you, but it's different because that's the strongest feeling I have – but I was afraid at that moment and I didn't want to tell you,'' he whispered, and she nodded with a smile. ''Now I finally see that it doesn't change – because you see it anyway – I remember you seeing I was scared and you yelled at me for not telling you how I felt,'' he added, and she laughed softly.

''I remember – I love you,'' she added, and he smiled and kissed her.

''I love you too – now go take that shower and I'll make something to eat,'' he said, and he walked out of the bathroom and down the stairs. Sam stepped in the shower and washed off.

#####

Jason sat opposite of Sonny in his office and sighed. Sonny didn't say anything while he was working on a plan, and Jason didn't understand why Sonny had called him over in the first place. Yes, they had to figure out how to deal with Deb and he boyfriend, but they couldn't do anything if Sonny was still busy for something else.

''Ok, I found this trail she left – she was heading toward France and I think from there she would go on to Port Charles – she had her boyfriend with her,'' Sonny said, and Jason sighed and nodded. He already knew that.

''I know – we have to make some plane to be prepared when she arrives,'' he snapped, and he sighed again. He didn't want to snap at Sonny, but he didn't want to apologize either. ''You know that old safe house just outside town – what if we take her there when she arrives,'' Jason suggested, and Sonny nodded.

''We can do that – I have guards all over town looking out for her but she hasn't arrived here yet,'' Sonny said, and Jason nodded again.

''So we bring her there and we will figure it out then,'' Jason said, and Sonny nodded.

''Something else – how is Sam doing?'' Sonny asked suddenly, and Jason smiled. Just thinking about her made him feel warm inside.

''She's doing good – a lot of morning sickness, but we can deal with it – we have an appointment with Dr. Lee today,'' he added, and Sonny smiled.

''I know her – she's great,'' he said, and Jason shrugged. ''You haven't met her, but she is amazing – she makes mistakes because you remember when she told Carly she couldn't have anymore kids – and look what we have with James,'' he added, and Jason nodded. He remembered when Carly got that news, and he remembered how devastated she was.

''I remember – I just need to see it for myself before I believe anything,'' he said and he smiled. ''Sam seems to be really happy about this – she told me what happened with that guy and why she was reluctant to tell me,'' he said, and Sonny nodded.

''Yeah, he really did a number on her – she didn't know what to do about it because she really thought it was you,'' Sonny said, ''she stayed here that night and when she came here she was really broken – I wanted to kill you,'' he added, and Jason nodded.

''I would've killed myself before ever saying something like that – I would never ask her to cover it up, and not to confront me with it every day. We've been together for a long time and I can understand why she thought I would say that because we talked about it just before I left – but ever since I know she's pregnant I cant get enough time with her,'' he said, and then he added, ''not like I didn't want that before – but seeing her like this makes me happier than ever.''

''I know – I can remember when Carly told me when she was pregnant with James – I was on a cloud all through the pregnancy,'' Sonny said, and Jason nodded.

''Well – I need to get some things done before I have to be at the hospital so I'll call you when I hear Deb's in town, and you call me when you hear anything,'' Jason said, and he got up and walked out of the office without saying anything else

##########

Sam had agreed to meet up with Carly at Kelly's, and Carly had just called that she was on her way – the boys had some trouble with something and she had to help. Sam looked around and smiled at Mike when he passed by, and she realized how relaxed everything was. After Jason had come home and to her, she had been happy again. She was happy – with Jason and their baby – and she couldn't wish for anything more. Well, she thought, she wanted Deb to get what she deserved. The door of the diner opened and she turned around and saw Carly walk her way. She got up and Carly hugged her before they sat down again.

Mike came over and smiled, ''can I get you girls something?'' he asked, and Carly nodded.

''I need coffee – Sam will take tea – and we need some food – doesn't matter what,'' she said, and Sam laughed softly.

''Why – Sam, are you pregnant?'' Mike asked, his eyes wide and a big smile on his face. When Sam nodded he gently pulled her up and hugged her tight. ''That's amazing – congrats to you and Jason sweetheart,'' he said, and she smiled and nodded.

''Thank you Mike,'' she said softly, and Mike nodded. He walked to the back to get them something to eat and Sam looked at Carly. ''I woke up this morning with Jason and I realized how lucky I am,'' Sam said suddenly, and Carly smiled.

She nodded, ''you are – you're having a baby with him and he is back where he belongs,'' she replied, and Sam nodded. ''I know what happens when you think someone you love is gone – and I don't mean he left – but you are really strong – you have been all this time,'' Carly whispered, and Sam smiled.

''I don't feel strong – I feel like a mess – one time I'm…''

''That's the hormones,'' Carly said smiling, and Sam nodded. ''You know Jason loves you, and I know you love Jason – and with everything going on – I have to say I admire you for your strength, because I think I would've broken down a long time ago,'' she admitted, and Sam smiled and grabbed her hand.

''You're strong too – and between us – I feel like I'm going to go crazy soon,'' she said and when Carly frowned, she added, ''with Deb and that boyfriend of hers on the way I'm always waiting and looking over my shoulder because I know they're going to do something – stir things up,'' she said, and Carly nodded and sighed.

''The good thing about this is – Jason and Sonny are on it, and we are all together in this,'' she replied, and Sam nodded. Mike came and gave them their order, and Sam smiled when she saw the chocolate chip cookies and muffins. ''Thank you Mike, this is amazing,'' Carly said after taking a bite of the cookies.

''It's on the house – something to celebrate with – even though you're not family I feel like you are and Jason feels the same – so I'm going to spoil this kid rotten'' Mike replied looking at Sam. Sam smiled and took a bite of the muffin.

''O – Mike this is amazing – and I don't think I'll mind if you spoil him or her,'' she said with a wink, ''thank you,'' she added, and Mike nodded and walked away again.

''He's the best,'' Carly said with a smile, and Sam nodded. She saw Mike as a father figure, ever since she walked in this town he had been nothing but kind to her and she loved him for it. Carly and Sam started talking about little things in life, about her pregnancy and the boys, as they enjoyed Mike's treat.

#####

Jason made his way to the floor he had told Sam he would meet her, and smiled when he saw her sitting in the waiting area. He made his way over to her and when she looked up she smiled at him and patted next to her. He sat down and kissed her gently, and smiled when she pulled back.

''We still have to wait a little while longer,'' she told him, and he nodded and sat back. He pulled her against him and sighed in contentment.

''I talked to Sonny and he and I came up with something simple – I'll tell you about it when we are on our way home,'' he said, and she nodded and closed her eyes. She listened to the noises around her and she relaxed.

''You know she isn't from around here but she did live here a long while – not in Port Charles but somewhere around here – before she moved. It's kind of sad she lost that baby – she was around 6 months I believe – I'm not her nurse,'' she heard someone say. Jason frowned when he heard that – it sounded like Deb.

''Yeah, it's really sad – but don't you think she did something – did you see the bruises?'' someone else asked, and Jason sighed. ''She was covered with them,'' the nurse added.

''I know, but I just told you I didn't see her – I heard about it, and I think she did this to herself, but what can we do – I mean we can't prove it,'' the nurse said, and he heard Sam gasp. He knew what she was thinking.

''Hey,'' a voice hollered, and Jason smiled when he saw Epiphany walk to the two nurses. ''Stop talking about patients when there are patients in the waiting area – just stop talking period,'' she snapped, and the two nurses widened their eyes and nodded before walking away. Epiphany turned around and faced Jason and Sam. ''Dr. Lee is ready for you now,'' she said, her voice much softer than before. Jason and Sam followed her to the office and she opened the door. Dr. Lee called them in and waited until they sat down in front of her.

''I don't have much time and I'm sorry for that – so I'm just going to tell you – both – remember to eat well and do all the things on the list I gave you,'' she said, and Jason nodded and frowned.

''I don't understand what – you have the list, Sam?'' he asked, and when she nodded he sighed in relief. ''I want to know something about that morning sickness – it's getting really bad right now, Dr. Lee, and I want to know if there is something we can do,'' he said, and Dr. Lee nodded.

''There is not much you can do about it – just let it come and the only thing I can recommend is crackers or toast,'' she replied, and Jason nodded. He would remember it for the next time she was sick again. ''I want to do an ultrasound to see how everything is going along, and I'm sorry but after that I have to go – I'm having some appointments on the other side of town,'' she said apologetic, and Sam nodded with a smile.

''It's ok,'' she replied, and Dr. Lee nodded and got up.

''If you would come up to the table like last time,'' she said, and Sam got up and unbuttoned her jeans. She laid down on the table and lifted her shirt. Jason stood behind her and held her hand, and smiled when she winced a little when the gel hit her stomach.

''Sorry – it's cold,'' Dr. Lee said, and Jason rolled his eyes. When she grabbed the wand and placed it on Sam's stomach the heartbeat filled the room, and he closed his eyes and smiled. It was amazing to hear their baby's heartbeat, and he would always remember this time. ''Everything looks fine – the baby is on good weight and grows on schedule,'' Dr. Lee mumbled, and Sam smiled. Jason stared at the screen, but he didn't see much. ''You see this,'' Dr. Lee said pointing at a little spot on the screen, and he saw the baby. It wasn't much yet, but it was there. He laughed softly and widened his eyes, he was amazed. He looked down at Sam and saw her smile, and he couldn't be happier than in this moment.

#####

''Ok, so it 's going to be simple,'' Sam said after Jason finished telling her about the plan. They had gotten home and Jason had explained what they were going to do, and now Sam was sitting with her eyes closed on the couch.

''Yep, very simple and you don't have to do anything or worry about anything,'' he replied, and she nodded with a smile, her eyes still closed. Jason sat down in front of her and lifted her legs on the couch. ''You go take a nap and I'll be working right here,'' he whispered, and she nodded. She sighed on relief and soon he could hear her breathing even out and saw she was sleeping. He walked over to the desk and started working. He needed to get back on track after missing almost a year of work.