Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay, time has just gotten away from me with school and everything! But I finally was able to sit down and focus on this story! I just want to say a quick thanks to you who review, you are the greatest and keep me motivated! So kudos to you all! Thanks and I hope you enjoy this latest update!
Disclaimer: I don't own General Hospital or the characters.
Jason's men, who had been hiding away in the kitchen, came rushing out after the loud commotion Carly made. But once they had received the all clear from both Robbie and Sam they slinked away before Maxie got on their cases again for interrupting. At the same time both Sam and Maxie rise from there massage tables and wrap themselves in robes. Looking at each other a silent conversation passes between the two women. Sam raises a questioning brow wondering if Maxie had invited Carly and Maxie responds with a frantic headshake and mouthing the word no over and over again. Nodding her head Sam then turns to see Carly chatting happily with her sisters, they appeared to be discussing nail polishes and their favorite colors.
With a deep breath Sam straightens her spine, mentally preparing for whatever Carly wants to throw at her. She had been back in Port Charles for awhile now and hadn't seen Carly until now. Sam didn't know where she and the other woman stood, and not wanting to throw Jason in the middle of them again Sam thought it would be better to not ask him. "Hello Carly." Sam says in a neutral tone and a small wave.
"Hey Sam!" Carly says with a wide smile, reading the hesitation and confusion in Sam's eyes. She could understand the feeling and if she were Sam she would probably act the same way. Sam probably didn't know that Carly was 100% supportive of her being back and in Jason's life. Considering the last time they had spoken Carly had been cruel and vindictive to her, but all that had changed. Carly was here to prove it.
Sam and Maxie shared another look, both wondering what Carly was doing there. Sam, not wanting a fight, especially with the Kristina and Molly there tried to think of a good way to ask. But Maxie being Maxie just went for the straightforward approach causing Sam to silently groan. "Carly what are you doing here?" Maxie asks crossing her arms over her chest. Ready to chew out the older blonde if she was here to hassle Sam like old times.
"Maxie!" Both Kristina and Molly gasp surprised at her tone, not understanding why she would talk that way to Carly.
Not wanting her sisters to hear whatever harsh words that would probably be spoken Sam steps into the middle of the room drawing everyone's attention. "Girls could you please go across the hall with Robbie and see if you can find us some snacks there? I know we're all out here, but maybe Jason has something."
"Why?" Molly asks with a confused look at the three older women.
"Yea Sam." Kristina says with a stubborn tilt to her chin. "Why can't we stay?" Her hands resting on her hips, striking a pose she probably learned from watching Alexis.
"Because I asked you two to do me a favor."
"You just want us out of the way so you three can argue without us overhearing." Kristina disagress.
"Why are you going to argue?" Molly chimes in.
Closing her eyes and silently cursing the Davis girl stubborn streak Sam shakes her head and stares Kristina in the eye, silently pleading for her to listen. It doesn't work. "Kristina, would you please just do what I said?" Sam sighs. "I promise you won't miss out on anything."
"Then why can't we stay?" Kristina insists. "Can't we just ask one of my dad's men to go get us food?"
Getting more annoyed with her sister and aware of all eyes on her Sam sort of wished Alexis was here right now, if for nothing else, Kristina would have to listen to her then. "Kristina." Sam says with a quiet seriousness to her voice.
"My dad pays them good money. That should warrant a food run if we ask them to." She says ignoring both Sam's tone and look.
"Kristina, sweetie, your dad doesn't pay his men to go shopping for you. You know that right?" Carly says trying to back up Sam. For her efforts she received a glare from the teenager, a speculative look from Maxie, and a surprised glance from Sam.
"Well to be honest I don't know what my father pays them for." Kristina says her tone insolent.
Molly clearly uncomfortable with the tension between her sisters tugs on Kristina's arm. "Kristina, come on. Let's just go do what Sam asked."
Kristina just shakes her arm from her grasp. "Really Carly, my father's men appear to just sit around doing nothing. Why shouldn't they make a run for us if we ask them to? It's not like they're needed here. They're just in the way if Maxie's complaints are anything to go by."
"Kristina a lot of what I say is just out of frustration." Maxie disagrees. "I don't actually mean what I say."
Sam could see her sister wasn't buying it. She truly believed the guards Sonny and Jason had in place were unnecessary and there simply for her amusement. It was moment's like this Sam wished Alexis was honest with Kristina about the realities of the situation that Sam was in danger. And do to her proximity to her sisters, they were in danger. "Kristina you don't know what you're talking about."
"Then why don't you tell me!"
"Because Alexis doesn't want you to know." Sam says and with a quick glance at Carly she sees the sympathetic look, which surprised her. "If you want some answers you are going to have to talk with her, but for right now. Please, go across the hall." Sam holds her sisters gaze, and after a minute passes with no movement Sam shakes her head. "Fine. You can stay here." Tightening the robes sash at her waist Sam looks at Carly. "Would you like to join me across the hall while I look for something to eat?"
Admiring the way Sam dealt with Kristina Carly nods her head. "Sounds like a good idea." Following after Sam Carly sends Kristina a disappointed look, disbelieving the attitude on the young girl.
"I'll wait for you here." Maxie says and waits for the door to close behind them before turning to stare at Kristina. "I understand the teenage attitude, really I do. But the last person who deserves to be treated that way is Sam."
"And why's that?" Kristina asks already feeling bad for her behavior, but unwilling to let it show.
"You hit the jackpot with Sam as a sister and if you don't understand that, then you're not as smart as everyone thinks you are."
"The jackpot is a sister who disappears from our lives for two years? Wow, lucky us." She grumbles falling back into the couch.
"Kristina Sam didn't disappear, she sent us letters and gifts all the time." Molly says sitting down next to her on the couch. "Not to mention the plane tickets she sent for us to visit her that mom returned."
"Yea, but she never would visit us. She missed my first day of high school even though I begged her to be there. And my model UN presentation where I took first, Sam wasn't there for that either."
"No, but she sent you that beautiful flower display after she found out you won."
"It's not the same Molly." Kristina exclaims.
"You're right." Maxie agrees sitting down on her other side and grabbing one of her hands. "It's not the same as being there in person, but it's the best Sam could do."
"You're wrong. She could've been there for me."
Sighing Maxie shakes her head and wonders how you explain the complicated relationship that was Sam and Jason to these two young girls. "Sam couldn't be there Kristina."
"But why?"
"She…she just couldn't." Maxie shrugs her shoulders.
"That's not good enough." Kristina argues.
"Well it's the only answer I can give you."
"Why don't you just admit it Maxie!" Kristina shouts jumping up from her spot on the couch in anger. "Sam was too busy in her new life she made for herself to breakaway for a few days to show support to her sister."
"Kristina you know that's not true. Sam loves us."
"If she loves us why wasn't she there when Michael was in his coma and we were all upset and worried for him? Why couldn't she find time to help me prepare for my first date? Or when Kiefer broke up with me!"
"She is a successful PI." Molly tries to defend. "But she's here now."
"Only because Jason dragged her back here after she almost died rescuing Michael and I. If I hadn't ran away she never would've returned. We might not have ever seen her again!"
"That's not true Kristina." Maxie says trying to calm the other girl down, shocked at the outburst. What she had thought was normal teen angst, appeared to be something more.
"It is!"
"It is not!" Molly shouts, her eyes welling with tears. "Sam loves us!"
"If she loved us she would've come around more. And why haven't we seen her since she's been back? Huh Molly? Why is the only reason we get to see Sam today is because Maxie invited us over without Sam's knowledge? Why didn't Sam invite us?"
Molly grew silent at that and a thoughtful expression crossed her face, but she quickly dismissed Kristina's words. "Mom said Sam's been recovering Kristina."
"Mom was lying! Like she always does when she's trying to protect us from the truth." Kristina shakes her head. "The truth is Sam didn't want us cramping her style while she plays house with Jason."
Maxie had enough and stood up to stand toe to toe with Kristina. "You're right when you say you're mother is trying to protect you from the truth, but it's not that Sam doesn't love you and wants you out of her hair. It's because she's in danger right now and she doesn't want you or Molly to get hurt because she was thoughtless. And if you think it's been easy on Sam to not see you while she's been here you're wrong, but she doesn't want anything to happen to you! That's why your father and Jason have more men on guard for Sam than the queen of England, because this is serious."
Kristina was silent, thinking through everything Maxie had said and she wanted to believe her, but years of insecurities wouldn't let her. "How naïve do you think I am?" She finally asks. "I know Sam got hurt in Mexico, but that was only because Jason put her in danger. Mom even admitted to that. But Jerry was after Jason and used Sam to bait him but only because we were down in Mexico. Mom said the danger has passed now."
"You're going to believe your mother?" Maxie asks cursing Alexis Davis. "The same woman who you just said was a liar."
The irony wasn't lost on Kristina, but she didn't care. "Whatever! You're just another person in the long string of people who lie to us kids for your own advantage."
"What advantage do I get from this?" Maxie scoffs.
"I don't know and I really don't care." Kristina says looking down to see that Molly was crying silently. Regretting that more than anything else she looks away ashamed. "I'm just sick of the lies and the manipulations. My dad and mom just seem to use me as a pawn in there fighting. Dad doesn't even have time for me ever. And then there's Sam, who I used to think I could count on, but was obviously wrong. If she couldn't be bothered with me why did she track me down in Mexico? And why does she try and pretend to care now?" Feeling her eyes burn from unshed tears Kristina looks away. "Why bother when we all know she's not going to stay!"
"You don't know that Kristina." Molly shouts jumping up. "But with the way you have treated her who would blame her for leaving again!" Wiping at her tears Molly's shoulders shudder. "Sam loves us! She does!"
"Shh." Maxie says trying to comfort Molly. "It's ok. Kristina is just upset. It comes with being a teenager." Grasping the young girls hand Maxie squeezes it lightly. "Why don't we fix you make up?"
"I don't care about my make up." Molly yanks her hand back.
"Molly, I'm sorry." Kristina says not realizing her outburst would upset her that much.
"And I don't care if you're sorry! You wreck everything Kristina! First by stealing the car and running Claudia off the road! Then you had to run away upsetting everyone and risking Sam's life! And now you've upset Sam and she might leave sooner. And it will all be your fault!" Shaking from the combination of her tears and her anger Molly just wants to get away from her sister. Too upset to stay there any longer she turns and runs from the penthouse. Running into the hall she notices right away the guards must have followed Sam across the hall and rushing to the elevator she pushes the button and when it opens right away she hurries in and presses the lobby button. As the door closes she can hear her name being called, but she doesn't care. She just wanted some space.
Silently digging through the cupboards Sam let's Kristina's words and attitude play out in her thoughts. She didn't know where it came from, but knew it stemmed from something more. If only she knew what, then maybe she could help Kristina. Turning back around Sam sees Carly staring silently at her and decides that they should probably get this over with. She had asked Robbie to wait in the living room, so he was out of their way, but close enough if they came to blows and with their history that was quite possible. "What do you want Carly?" Sam asks, now out of the presence of others she could speak freely. "You know what, I'm too tired to do this with you right now so how bout I just cover everything and then you can be on your merry way. How does that sound to you?"
Resisting the urge to smile Carly silently nods her head, wanting to hear what Sam had to say. Knowing her frustration with Kristina would make whatever she had to say even more interesting.
"You want me gone, right? And not just from the penthouse, but Port Charles too and most importantly you want me far away from Jason. You probably want to bring up how the best thing I ever did was leave this town and should never have come back, even though because of that I've obviously burned bridges with my family. You probably want to threaten me to remember my place and that I will never belong. Not with Jason and not in Port Charles. You probably will finish the whole thing with a nice little shove to get the point across, but since I'm not feeling up to it how bout we just skip that. Is that ok? Ok." When Carly still says nothing Sam sighs. "Fine you get one free shot, but then so do I. And I must warn you…I've been lifting weights." Sam says as she cracks her knuckles and rolls her shoulders.
It was then that Carly was unable to contain her amusement and she laughed lightly, shaking her head once. "I've missed you so much!" She says before hurrying forward and pulling a shocked stiff Sam into a hug. Stepping back and holding Sam at arm's length Carly could see she was clearly confused. "You know how boring and depressing it has been around her without you?"
"What…Carly are you ok?" Sam asks, stepping out of Carly's grip.
"I'm great!" Carly laughs again.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!"
More confused than ever Sam moves to the table and lowers herself into a chair. She had really expected to fight with Carly or at the very least a grudging truce to be civil. "Are you being serious?" Sam can't help but ask.
Realizing she would have to explain Carly joins Sam at Jason's kitchen table. "I know you're going to have a hard time understanding this, especially giving our history, but I swear to you this isn't a trick, or a joke, or anything but complete honesty."
Staring at Carly Sam, who was good at reading people, could see she meant it. Hesitant to trust it Sam leans forward in her chair. "Why the change?"
With a dramatic sigh Carly waves a hand to exude nonchalance. "To make a long story short…when you left there was a huge void that nothing anyone did could fill. And I won't pretend that I missed you right away, because I didn't. Let's face it when you left we couldn't stand each other. But once I learned the truth I felt all kinds of foolish for not noticing Jason's betrayal. And I also regretted how I treated you, when you already were dealing with so much." Reaching across the table Carly squeezed Sam's hand. "If I had known then…I don't know….but things would be different. I definitely wouldn't let you have snuck out in the middle of the night."
Smiling at that Sam shakes her head. "You wouldn't have been able to stop me Carly."
"Oh I beg to differ." Carly responds. "The two of us would've teamed up and shown little nurse-muffit her proper place."
"I left for a lot of reasons. Not just Elizabeth and Jake."
"I know." Carly says with an understanding look and Sam truly felt she did. "But back to my story…After the truth was out for awhile Jason was on everyone's list. Sonny and that insipid woman were the only ones that would talk to him. Although he wanted nothing to do with her obviously, it took him long enough…"
"Carly!" Sam says loudly, interrupting the blonde. "I thought this was the shorter verison?"
"Oh…right." Smiling still she shrugs her shoulders. "Anyways. I forgave him, finally, but with reservations and told him that he had to find you. That was when I found out he had been trying to all along with no luck. I won't go into how that affected him….but let's just say you two have a lot to talk about. And now that you're back you can!"
"And you're ok with that?" Sam asks, almost disbelieving.
"More than ok with it." Carly assures her. "I mean yes it's hard to accept that there is a woman out there that means more to Jason than I do and I still will show up uninvited, because that's just who I am. But you are it for him Sam. If it wasn't clear before when he kept telling me and telling me and telling me, it was made obvious after your leaving tore him apart. How can I begrudge you when you are what makes him happy?"
Shocked Sam holds out her arm. "Wow. Pinch me to make sure I'm not dreaming."
"Oh would you quit it!" Carly chuckles. "You're acting like it's impossible for me to be so reasonable."
"Well. No offense, but…" Sam laughs. "It kind of is.
"Oh stop it." Rolling her eyes, Carly rubs a hand over her stomach. "This little girl is getting hungry."
Smiling Sam rises and finishes her look for food and comes up empty. "Well I'm sorry to say that it appears we have nothing to eat since none of us have thought to go grocery shopping."
"Well it's understandable you've both had a lot on your mind." Pushing herself up from the table she groans at the slight pressure on her bladder. "So how about we go back across the hall and order in from Kelly's?"
"That sounds like a good idea." Sam agrees leading the way out of the kitchen and towards the door. Opening it she is surprised to find Kristina and Maxie standing by the elevator, both looked upset. "What's wrong?" She asks confused.
"It's Molly." Kristina says in a small voice, avoiding Sam's gaze.
"What about her?" Sam asks now with a feeling of panic.
"She's gone." Kristina whispers.
"She's what?" Sam practically barks taking large quick steps towards Kristina and staring down the younger girl.
"Sam…"Maxie says to draw her friend's attention. "Molly got upset and she just ran out of the penthouse. We followed her into the hall, but it was too late."
"What do you mean too late?" Sam asks, picturing the worst. Jerry getting her, but no, that wasn't right. He wouldn't have just taken Molly, not with Sam so close.
"Where is she?" Carly asks when neither Maxie or Kristina answered.
"She got on the elevator." Kristina says quietly.
At the same time Carly and Sam turn to see the elevator was traveling down to the lobby. "I'm going to take the stairs." Sam calls out over her shoulder. "Have the guards downstairs know to look out for her!"
Rushing down the stairs Sam almost trips multiple times and only her grip on the railing kept her from taking a tumble. Feeling winded she was grateful to have reached the lobby and frantically looking around she sees James walking towards her. "Did you find her?" Sam asks before he reaches her.
With an apologetic look James shakes his head. "I'm sorry."
"She has to be nearby." Sam insists and before James could stop her she is running outside. Standing on the sidewalk right outside the building Sam's panic quickly dissolves into relief when she sees Molly making her way to the cross walk. "Molly!" Sam calls hurrying after her. She catches up to her in the side walk and grabbing on to the young girl and holding her close Sam releases a breathless sigh. "What were you thinking running off like that?" She asks holding her sister at arm's length to stare down at her. "What would mom say?"
Molly still upset has a hard time explaining. "I just got so upset with Krissy…and Maxie was trying so hard…and you…and Krissy just kept." With fresh tears Molly presses her head back into Sam's side and hides her face.
"Oh Molly." Sam says, running a hand down the back of her head. Not understanding exactly what had happened, but knew whatever it was it stemmed from Kristina's attitude earlier. "You can't let your sister get to you like that. And you never should run out like that. Ok?"
"I'm sorry." Molly mumbles into Sam's side.
"I'm sorry too." Sam murmurs kissing the top of the young girls head.
The sound of an engine revving breaks into Sam's thoughts and looking up and around, searching for the cause of the noise her heart stops at the sight of the black car coming right towards them. The next instant Sam is pushing Molly out of the way. The sounds of James, Maxie, Kristina, and Carly calling her name can be heard as the car nears.
Jason and Sonny had just finished discussing what had been found on Jerry when Sonny's cell phone rang. Well he was on his phone Jason checked his own in case he missed a call from Sam or one of his men. Seeing that she hadn't called Jason decides to call her, just to check in. When her phone just rings and rings, Jason waits for the voicemail to pick up and leaves a message. "Hey Sam, it's just me. Just checking in…I miss you. Well…call if you need anything. And I guess I'll see you tonight. Bye." Hanging up disappointed he couldn't reach her Jason considered calling the landline, but Sonny calling his name stops him. Turning back around he notices right away something was wrong, just from the look on the other man's face.
"What is it?"
Looking at his phone, Sonny squeezes it tightly in his hand. "That was Carly."
Jason feels a moment of relief when Sonny doesn't mention Jerry or Sam and then it's replaced with concern for Carly. "Is everything ok? With her and the baby?"
Nodding his head Sonny finally raises his gaze to Jason's. "Yea she and the baby are fine."
"Then…what?" Jason asks dread tingling up his spine again.
"Jason we need to leave for the hospital."
"Why Sonny!" Jason snaps, not moving from his spot.
"It's Sam Jason. The ambulance is already on its way there. Carly told me we should meet her there."
Ok so I must say that when I started writing I didn't expect the chapter to go this way. In fact I was quite shocked with the outcome myself and seriously considered deleting and starting again, but feared if I did that I would take even longer to update. So I'm really looking forward to your guys' response because I don't know what to think!