A/N: Alrighty folks, I don't have much to say this time. As always thank you, thank you, thank you, for all the love and support you've given me and this story! Every view, follow, fave and review means SO much!
The places in this chapter are real, but not exactly as I've described them ;p
Jason forced his eyes open and scanned his surroundings. They were fuzzy but familiar by now. He groaned and panted as he peeled his back from against the beam, careful not to put his weight on it. With great effort he lifted his head to examine the roof. It was barely holding. A few more inches and the whole place could come crashing down on top of him. He blinked as the room began to spiral overhead. His breaths came out in shallow puffs as he fell back into position.
"Sam," his voice cracked as he spoke her name.
"I'm here."
He looked up and she was towering over him. Her long, dark hair flowed behind her, and her jeans and grey tank top hugged her figure perfectly.
"No," he whispered brokenly. "You're a memory. That's how you looked when you found me in Mexico."
The hallucination bent down, balancing expertly on her slender heels.
"You remember that?" Her voice held a tone of surprise and amusement that unsettled him.
His eyes burned and swelled, but there were no tears to form.
"Yeah, I do..."
She smiled down at him with sparkling eyes.
"You thought you were hallucinating," she said with a tilt of her head. "But then I touched you, like this."
The imaginary hand reached out and stroked his cheek, and even though he knew it wasn't real, he leaned into her touch.
"That's when you realized you weren't alone. And I made you promise you weren't gonna die."
"I'm sorry Sam," he choked out, staring into those deep chocolate eyes that weren't really there.
"Promise me, Jason!"
The mirage pulled her hand back, and the warm tingling on his cheek ceased to be. She was fading from view.
"Sam," he called out weakly as she vanished into nothing. "Sam!"
Sam jarred awake suddenly and leaned her head back against the seat. Her hand flew over her heart, which was racing.
Drew twisted, reaching for her free hand.
"Hey, you okay?"
She studied him curiously a moment, almost as if she were confused by his presence or concern. Her gaze drifted to their joined hands. It was a gesture of love and comfort, and yet, as he searched her dark pools for answers, she couldn't help but notice that she wasn't feeling either of those things.
The brunette took her hand back, running it through her hair.
Yeah, I'm fine," she fibbed. "I just forgot where I was for a second."
His concern only grew with her reply.
"Come on, you have to know what I'm talking about. That feeling you get when you fall asleep somewhere foreign and then you wake up expecting to be in your own bed, but you're not, and for just a split second your brain hasn't caught up yet and it's trying to make sense of what it's seeing."
'And feeling,' she added mentally.
He nodded and mumbled some agreement, but she felt more as though he were humoring her than understanding.
Which was exactly why she decided to keep her next thought to herself. The thought that maybe Drew had been right when he said she could still feel Jason's pain. Perhaps the reason she had expected to wake up in more miserable circumstances was because she had somehow tapped into his emotions while she was dreaming.
'You probably just had a nightmare,' she reasoned, dismissing the idea as quickly as it formed.
This time he placed a reassuring hand on her knee; another hollow gesture that didn't feel right.
"We're still a few hours out," he said, throwing a quick glance to his friend who also wore an expression of concern. "Why don't you try to rest? I'll wake you when we're close to landing."
Her smile was wobbly at best as she accepted his offer and curled up in her seat. She couldn't remember the dream itself, but it's effect had shaken her enough to fear sleep. She had to try though. Jason was counting on her, and she would be no help to him on the verge of exhaustion.
The blonde watched her lay down and close her eyes. He bent down and kissed her on the head before making his way over to Curtis.
"Everything alright," his partner whispered just loud enough for Sam to overhear.
She didn't have to open her eyes to know Drew's were on her.
"Depends on your definition," he replied, sadly.
That was the last thing she heard before sleep claimed her once more. The next time she heard his voice he was nudging her awake and the jet was preparing to land.
As she stepped off the plane and onto the Munda tarmac, she felt a strange energy pulse through her. Suddenly, the terror that had gripped her upon waking was gone. She no longer feared moving forward because she could feel him inside her, guiding each step with purpose. His gentle whispers of encouragement echoed in her mind, giving her the courage she needed.
With newfound confidence, she grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder. Drew and Curtis did the same and followed her to the entrance of the airport. Inside, a man approached them; tall, dark skinned with dark hair, and a wary but welcoming grin.
"Greetings," he said, taking the woman's hand first. "I am Eddie, I run thei natural disaster relief here in Munda," he explained, moving onto the two men.
"Nice to meet you, Eddie. I'm Drew Cain. This is Sam and Curtis," he pointed to each as he introduced them.
The man nodded, eyeing Sonny's jet through the window.
"Are you here as volunteers?" The hope in his eyes faded as the three shared an awkward glance.
"We're actually here looking for someone," Sam explained, somewhat apologetically. "He was visiting this area," she pulled the envelope from her pocket to reveal the returning address, "when the storm hit."
Eddie examined it carefully, his expression shifting from disappointment to sympathy.
"It's a good two hours boat ride to Tetepare," he said, handing back the envelope. "You'll have to make arrangements with the boatman. But you best hurry," he added. "They won't be making many more trips today."
The two men mumbled their thanks and began off in the direction he pointed. The brunette paused, looking back over her shoulder.
"Thank you," she said, smiling with gratitude.
He waved back with a nod.
"I wish you luck in your search," he replied. Her smile grew wider and then she turned, racing for the door.
When she got there Drew stood waiting for her outside while Curtis made arrangements with the boatman to be taken across immediately.
From a distance, Tetepare appeared to be a paradise of white sandy beaches and lush rainforest. It was only as they neared the shore the illusion was broken. Jungle canopies had been ravaged by the storm. Homes along the coastline were either damaged or destroyed. The people of the village were clearly in survival mode. All of which made the island a perfect hideaway for someone with ill intent.
The sun had already dipped toward the horizon by the time they docked. A second disaster relief assistant was there waiting for them with food, water, and a supply of medicines to prevent bacterial disease. Her name was Mary and she was quick and efficient in welcoming her guests and leading them to a community schoolhouse which had been transformed into a makeshift hostel until a more permanent solution could be found. She then left them alone to settle in.
Sam wasted no time getting started. She grabbed her gun, slid her knife into place, and pulled out three small packages, tossing two toward the men.
"Prepaid SIM cards," she explained, prying open the back panel on her cell. "They'll allow us to use our phones even though we're way out of service."
Drew nodded stoically sliding the device in place.
Curtis grinned, eager to lighten the mood. "Can you imagine the roaming charges out here?"
But the brunette dismissed his attempt at humor, asserting control of the mission.
"I also have Spinelli narrowing down Jason's last known whereabouts on the island using the texts he sent me. It won't be able to give an exact location, but it can help limit the search."
The private investigator raised a brow skeptically toward his best friend's wife.
"Handy little guy, huh?"
Sam just smirked, shoving her phone in her back pocket.
"In the meantime, you two hit up the village. See if anyone knew Jason or spent time with him. I'm gonna check out where he was staying and see what I can find there."
Drew reached for her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. She smiled and let go, slipping past him.
"It's like I can't reach her," he said, watching her disappear through the exit.
Curtis let out a sigh and looked over at his friend. Part of being an investigator was having a keen eye, and watching Drew and Sam together, it was clear something was off.
"I don't think anyone can right now." He slapped his friend on the shoulder and guided him down the path they'd just watched his wife walk seconds before.
While Curtis was giving Drew a pep talk, Sam was making her way down the coastline. She'd spent every minute since she'd gotten that letter trying to separate herself from her emotions, but nothing could have prepared her for the wave of dread that washed over her as she looked down at the remains of the eco-lodge where he had stayed. It was right on the water and miles the forest. There had been nothing to shield it from the tempest.
The image of Jason inside, as the hut had been shredded flashed through her mind and she had to close her eyes and turn away.
When she did so, she found that she was no longer alone. In front of her stood a woman. Like the other villagers, she had dark skin and dark hair. She stood a few inches above Sam, her blue dress billowing in the light breeze.
She smiled kindly and extended her hand, offering a dark, weathered, object to the brunette.
Sam's brown eyes softened and her lips curled upward.
"Jason's jacket," she murmured, taking it in her hands and pulling it close.
The woman nodded, with a small chuckle.
"I'm afraid he had no use for it down here."
Her grin grew as she fingered the leather. "Yeah, but he never goes anywhere without it."
"You're Sam," she responded matter-of-factly. "I recognize you from your picture."
"Yeah," Sam draped the jacket over her arm. "Yeah, I am. I'm actually here looking for him. You wouldn't happen to know where he is, would you?"
She got a far off look in her eyes that made Sam's insides twist.
"I'm sorry, I don't." Her eyes filled with unshed tears. "The night of the storm we were all gathering at the schoolhouse for shelter. But we couldn't go because my daughter was missing. She'd grown quite fond of your husband and he of her. When we realized she wasn't with us, he took off looking for her."
She paused taking a shaky breath.
"He never came back, and we still haven't found my Vella."
The brunette placed her free hand on the woman's shoulder. She didn't know her from Eve, but she knew Jason. He wouldn't have entrusted her name or photograph to someone who had not earned his favor. Knowing that he cared for this family filled her with a strange familiarity toward them. As did their mutual experience of loss.
She knew all too well the pain of losing a child, and silently prayed that somehow this girl Jason had gone after would be found alive and in good health. But she didn't dare to speak such enthusiastic words for fear of inspiring false hope that would only hurt her mother more.
"Thank you so much for this," she gestured to the leather on her arm. "And for talking with me."
Just as she opened her mouth to continue she felt a vibration in the back pocket of her jeans.
"I'm sorry, I really need to take this," she said, reaching for the device.
The woman nodded again and excused herself, leaving Sam alone to discuss the search.
"Spinelli," she exhaled his name like a sigh of relief. "Please tell me you got something from those messages I can use," she begged.
"I take it out venture is not off to a good start," he surmised glumly. "I do have some new information that might prove helpful, though I do feel I would have been more beneficial to StoneCold's search and and rescue were I able to accompany Fair Samantha-"
"Spinelli!" She snapped impatiently.
Both she and Jason loved Spin and valued his loyalty, but his lament over what had already taken place was costing precious daylight.
"You know I love you to pieces, but I need you there, working your magic from a distance. Now please, tell me what you found," she urged gently.
Over the line she could hear furious typing.
"Yes, of course. Unfortunately, the phone is now off or dead so I was unable to get a current location. I was, however, able to construct a geographical map of sorts, using his previous activity."
Sam took a deep breath, permitting herself to enjoy this small victory.
"I'm emailing you that information as we speak," the jackal replied.
Her phone beeped as confirmation.
"I will warn you, it's still a rather large area to comb through."
She nodded, then remembered he couldn't see her do so.
"It's still more than we had before. I'm going to find him Spinelli."
It was the second time she had made that promise to someone she loved. Third, if she included her silent vow to Jason.
"I have no doubts," he said, though he did have questions as to what condition his friend might be in when she did. A man could survive weeks without food, but only days without water. And cyclones were not gentle phenomenons. Something terrible must have happened to prevent his mentor from moving on, and he feared StoneCold's time might already have run out.
They said their goodbyes and she pulled up the email, running back toward the center of the town.
Drew and Curtis were busy questioning the villagers, as instructed, when she came stalking up the beach with Jason's jacket in hand. She motioned them both toward the schoolhouse where they could discuss their findings. Once they were certain they were alone, Sam pulled out a map of the island, marking Jason's movements as they gave her a run down of their own discoveries.
"Apparently, your man Morgan was known as an avid bird watcher down here, said he spent a lot of time in the jungle."
The brunette tilted her head and examined the map.
"That would make sense. Most of this area is in the middle of the forest."
Drew leaned over, studying the coordinates.
"I knew Jason would want privacy, so I asked around. There's nowhere to stay here on your own. All the lodges have a guide or caretaker of some kind. The one he stayed at was run by a family; man, woman, and a little girl about Jake's age.
'Vella, most likely.'
"All the meals are communal, so he had to spend some time with them."
She tousled her hair to the side, sectioning off the isolated search area.
"They lost their daughter in the storm. I doubt they're thinking about Jason or anything else."
The three shared a meaningful glance of sorrow and pity.
"Anyway, Jason spent most of his time in the wilderness and that's what most of this is," she gestured to the marks on the map. "I think that's where we should start."
Curtis reached for the pen in her hand. "Okay, so if we divide this into sections and split up we can cover more ground."
Drew grimaced, not liking this suggestion at all.
"I think Sam should stay behind and keep an eye on the village."
"Not a chance," she snarled.
"Stop and think this through," he growled, raising his hands in a defensive stance. "There's no food, no water. They're handing out meds at the docks. If somebody has Jason, they aren't getting by without those things."
"Of course!" She mentally smacked herself for missing it. "They'd have to come into the village for supplies."
The blonde nodded while Curtis watched from the sidelines. He knew better than to get between a man and his woman in the middle of a sparring match. It was safer to keep his opinion to himself and side with the victor.
"Okay, you're right," she said with a wave of her hand. "It makes sense for someone to stay behind and play lookout, but it's not gonna be me."
Drew clenched his jaw.
"You're the one that makes the most sense, Sam. Men brag to women, other women confide in them, and you're the only one who would recognize an enemy of Jason's if they walked up to the provision line," he countered defensively, making a move for the door.
Sam latched onto his arm, stopping him in his tracks.
"All the more reason I should go and you should stay. If I can recognize them, that means they can recognize me too. You know everything I do, and unless they've been to Port Charles in the last five years, they won't see you as a threat. They won't even know who you are."
He turned toward the brunette and gripped her shoulders.
"I know that you want to help Jason, but baby you haven't investigated since before Scout was born. Curtis and I are his best chance, and every minute we stand here arguing, is another minute we're not out there looking for him."
She glanced sideways to avoid his gaze, her eyes on the door. Her head shook from one side to the other in denial.
"Fine. Go." The command came out in broken whispers. "But don't expect me to thank you for this."
He stepped forward and planted a kiss to her temple before loading his own gun into his waistband and exiting the building.
Curtis followed behind him, almost wishing he'd spoken up. Drew was his friend and he understood the man's reasons, but as he looked up into Sam's face as he passed by, he couldn't help but feel that what had just happened was wrong.
He bounced down the steps of the schoolhouse, rushing to catch up with the former SEAL.
"You sure this is how you wanna handle this," he asked, giving the schmuck one last chance to turn around and make things right with his lady.
But the blonde kept walking, his heart trying to pull him back every step of the way.
"We'll split up, like you said, cover more ground. We should meet back up and head in before it gets dark. There's no telling who or what is waiting in there."
Curtis stared at him in disbelief as they lingered just outside the forest.
He was either very brave or very foolish to leave a woman of that caliber stewing in her own anger. Either way, he'd have Drew's back.
"Alright," he said checking his own weapon one last time, "let's do this."
Sam held her position as both men walked out the door. She listened to Drew's wide, stalking stride, followed by Curtis's hurried steps behind him, until both were too far to be heard. Her hands flew over her body, giving herself a quick pat down. She felt for her knife beneath her pants, her phone in her back pocket, and the gun at her waistline.
She then reached up, wrapping her fingers around the compass Jason had given her the night before he went to Pentonville.
'You promised to find your way back to me,' she thumbed the surface and released her grip. 'Now I'm gonna use it to find you.'
The brunette poked her head out gingerly, searching for Drew and Curtis. Both of which had disappeared from view.
'So now we're lying to the man we claim to love?'
Sam thrust herself against the wall with a sigh.
'Aren't you the one who was pushing me to get Drew on board with this search by any means necessary,' she countered, slipping through the exit and making her way around the building toward an opening she'd passed earlier.
'I didn't say anything that wasn't true. Can you say the same?'
Her dark eyes rolled as she entered the forbidden rainforest.
She'd known when she agreed to stay behind that she had no intention of obeying his wishes, but what else could she have done? No amount of debate was going to change his mind and they were wasting precious time by doing so.
Whatever came of her lie, she would deal with. After Jason was found.
She pried open the compass and began her trek into the unknown, silently praying out to the silent void.
'Please just hold on.'
Over the next few hours Drew replayed their argument in his head. He wished there had been more time or that he'd used kinder words, but in his heart he knew it wouldn't matter. Sam had been hell bent on getting to Jason and nothing was going to stop her. Not even her own best interest.
It was actually one of the things he loved about her; her fierce loyalty to those she loved. Granted, it had taken him a long time to appreciate that quality in the beginning. He'd been so blinded by his gratitude to Elizabeth, so certain of her goodness, that he'd missed what was right in front of him.
Shame filled his chest as he remembered the night she came to him to warn him what his fiancé had done. It wasn't nearly as bad as getting her shot or threatening to kill her, but it was one of the few transgressions he couldn't pass onto his brother. This one he had to own for himself. He had doubted her intentions and screamed in her face. And she had taken it with the same grace and disappointment she had his words that day.
Now there he was again, belittling her and making her doubt herself. Only this time it was to spare her the pain she seemed determined to inflict upon herself. Eventually, they would find Jason's body, and when they did, he didn't want that to be her last memory of her first love.
The blonde heard a noise and his head jerked that direction. Only then did he notice the bright colors streaking the sky.
'Time to head back,' he thought, forgetting the reason he'd looked over in the first place.
He took a few steps and heard another crack, like fronds snapping under the weight of something.
Instinctively, he reached for his gun.
"Hello," he shouted, taking a defensive stance.
The symphony of the jungle was his only response.
Two more steps and another snap. He was definitely being stalked. The question was by man or beast.
He surveyed the landscape for any sign of danger, but all he could see were trees and plants, some wildlife, but nothing large enough to cause that sound.
'The animals aren't fleeing' he noted mentally.
A predator would probably have them on edge.
Three more steps and another snap.
Drew whirled around, gun in hand.
"Show yourself you son of a bitch!"
A maniacal chuckle filled the air, followed by a tsk and the click of a gun being cocked behind his head.
"Now, now, Andrew. Is that any way to greet an old friend," someone hissed in his ear.
The brunette peered down at her compass and then over to the setting sun. If she wanted to be back before nightfall she'd have to turn back soon. But something inside kept spurring her deeper into the heart of the forest. Probably her own stubbornness, she thought. After all, there was nothing she despised more than being told what she could and could not do.
Of course, Drew hadn't been wrong when he'd pointed out her last investigation was into Morgan's death and the subsequent appearance of her father's sister. It had been nearly a year, of not longer, since she'd focused on unraveling that mystery. But she had come up with the lead that led Jason there in the first place. So obviously her instincts weren't completely extinct.
'If Jason were here, he would tell you to trust yourself,' the voice whispered, giving her the reminder she needed.
Sam removed the gun from her waistline and held it out in front of her.
'Yeah, well he wasn't there to see me bickering with my imagination,' she rebutted. 'Drew was.'
How could he not worry about her after everything she'd put him through?
She tried to swallow the thickness in her throat.
'What would it do to him to know she was out there alone?'
She should go back, she decided. She should turn around right there and head for the village. But she didn't. Instead she kept walking forward, squinting her eyes at the outline in the distance.
Sam shook her head and giggled at the sunken hut.
'Now this is more Jason's style,' she mused. It was simple, quiet and guaranteed plenty of privacy. There were definitely no guides or caretakers out there.
Her eyebrows scrunched in curiosity as she tiptoed carefully toward the failing structure. From what she could gather it was a death trap any wise person would abandon. Which made it the perfect place to hold someone against their will.
Inside, Jason's strength was fading. He'd spent what felt like hours fighting to keep his head up and his eyes open, but to no avail. Eventually, the weight had become too much and he was slowly letting go. Closing his eyes scared him now. But he couldn't stop himself. Just as he was about to give up, he felt a sudden urge of determination.
'Look up,' something inside him demanded.
He summoned his will and slowly lifted his head once more. Again, she was standing in front of him, this time from across the room.
She wore a dark black v-neck and jeans. The sunset caught her hair and gave her an ethereal glow. It wasn't real, he knew that, but at the moment he didn't care. Seeing her, made it all hurt less.
Her cocoa orbs widened and a small gasp erupted from her lips.
"Jason," she breathed his name in disbelief, and ran to the center of the room. She fell to her knees, taking his face in her hands.
She felt so real.
Her thoughts scattered as a warm wave filled her being from head to toe. The fear, the doubt, the knot in her stomach; everything fled and she basked in an overwhelming flood of indescribable elation.
He grinned that crooked grin that made her heart skip a beat and before she could stop to think about what she was doing, brought his lips to hers in a soft and tender kiss.