Chapter 25: Both Hands
-Near Gram's house-
"Spinelli, why are you calling me?" Jason was ticked that Spinelli broke radio silence.
Sure, at this point, it didn't make much difference. All hell had broken loose and caused Jason to break from his original plan, but Spinelli didn't know Elizabeth called him in distress. Damien Spinelli didn't know Jason already spoke with Lucky and 911, so his original cover story was now blown. In fact, Jason crossed the flooded street that very moment with an unconscious Elizabeth in his passenger seat. His SUV trudged from the rising waters as he pulled to a slow in front of the awaiting ambulance.
"Hold on." Jason put his phone down as Lucky raced to Jason's passenger side door.
"Elizabeth! Oh my God! Did she regain consciousness at all?" Lucky placed his hand on her cheek turning her face to him.
"No. She's been out since I found her on the floor. Lucky, there was a lot of blood. She, she's lost a lot of blood." Jason unbuckled her seat belt.
"Elizabeth, it's okay. I'm here. You and our baby are going to be okay. Just hang on." Lucky lifted her onto the gurney as the paramedics rolled it up next to him.
"I'm riding with her. I'll call you as soon as we know anything." Lucky began to close the door.
"I'll meet you there!" Jason shouted.
He couldn't just go home and wait by the phone when his son's life was in danger. Lucky stared at Jason and gave a quick nod before shutting the door and jumping in the ambulance with his wife.
"Stone Cold?" Spinelli called out from the phone on the dash.
"I'm here. What's so important?"
"Sincerest apologies, Stone Cold. Please know it is with only the most dire and most pressing of circumstances that I..." He'd tried to think of some other way to contact his mentor without breaking radio silence, but then realized it didn't really matter anymore. Ric had been at the penthouse and knew Jason wasn't there which he wouldn't have expected since he thought Jason was dead, but later when Alcazar was reported missing Ric would put two and two together so Jason would need a new alibi other than watching movies with them at the penthouse after Robin sent him home with a bump on his head.
"Get to the point, Spinelli." Jason loved the kid, but he was too worried right now to find the patience.
"Of course, I, I don't know how to tell you this. It's Fair Samantha. She... she received the most distressing news and before I could assure her of it's falsehood, she... she..." Try as he might, Spinelli didn't know how to form the words.
"She what, Spinelli?" Jason's heart nearly beat through his chest.
"I heard her cry out in pain and ran to the living room to find her passed out on the floor. Carly was at her side. Ric called 911." Spinelli spit out as efficiently as he could muster.
"Where is she? Is she okay? What the hell was Ric doing there?"
"I'm certain the ambulance must have arrived at the hospital with Fair Samantha and the Valkyrie by now. I logged into the hospital's network, but the Goddess has not been admitted to the system yet. Ric was here to tell Fair Samantha of... your tragic demise."
Jason's heart sank. He couldn't picture what happened. It was more like he could feel what happened. He felt Sam's heart break as Ric told her the man she loved was dead. His emotion gave way to a fiery hatred as he thought of Ric. If something happened to Sam or their babies, there would be no place or person to offer that bastard protection from what Jason would do to him.
"I'm on my way to her now. Call me the second you know anything." Jason ended the call as he prayed for the safety of his wife and children.
-General Hospital Emergency-
Sam was wheeled in on the stretcher with Carly at her side. Dr. Lee was there awaiting Elizabeth's arrival when she saw her other patient.
"Sam! What have we got?" Kelly rushed to her side and helped get her to the nearest cubicle.
The paramedics gave report as Kelly and two nurses tended to a still unconscious Sam.
"I want monitors on her and the babies, labs, and let's get ultrasound in here stat. I need to see what's going on with those babies." Dr. Lee ordered.
"Carly, what happened?" Kelly inquired.
"Ric. Ric happened. He came by the penthouse and told Sam that Jason was dead. He isn't, thank God, but Sam and I didn't know that at the time. She was hysterical and before I could calm her, Sam cried out in pain and collapsed. Is she... will she and the babies be okay?" Carly bit her cheek as tears welled.
"We're going to do everything we can." Dr. Lee continued to evaluate her patient as a young nurse rushed in to draw labs.
"Oh, Sam. Stella, I need you to page Dr. Drake right away." Dr. Lee instructed.
"Was Sam complaining of any headaches?" Dr. Lee inquired.
"She's had one on and off the last couple of weeks, but she said she's had headaches on and off for most of her pregnancy. Why?" Carly worried.
"It appears from the subconjunctival hemorrhage Sam may have had a CVA or cerebrovascular accident, commonly known as a stroke. I have her history. I've called Dr. Drake in to help evaluate. We're getting her vital signs, blood tests, and we'll perform and EKG. These tests will help us determine exactly what we're dealing with here." Dr. Lee finished.
A young nurse rushed in with the fetal monitor as a tech wheeled in the portable ultrasound.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but you'll need to wait outside." The nurse looked at Carly.
"The hell I will. This is my best friend's wife. Forget that Sam is one of my best friends. She's lying here hurt without her husband or her family. There's no way in hell I'm leaving her side, so you better just work around me." Carly spat.
The young nurse was at a loss as she looked to Dr. Lee.
"It's alright. Mrs. Corinthos can stay." Kelly settled the matter as she finished her initial physical examination.
The nurse hooked up the fetal monitor as another nurse finished drawing labs and exited. The tech setup and prepared Sam for the ultrasound. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as the most wonderful sound filled the cubicle.
"I hear both babies heartbeats. It's good news. Now let's take a look at them." Dr. Lee prompted the tech to begin the ultrasound.
"The babies don't appear to be in any distress at the moment, but things could change drastically if we don't get Sam stabilized." Dr. Lee intuited as Dr. Drake arrived.
"I agree with your evaluation, Dr. Lee. Stella, let's get her down for head CT right away. I want her next in line, no excuses. If anybody has a problem with it, tell them to take it up with me and let's go ahead and call the floor for an admit. Sam's bought herself a few days stay at least." Dr. Drake informed as he finished his exam.
Dr. Lee was paged overhead.
"I've got to go, that must be Elizabeth. Keep an eye on those babies, Patrick! Stella, I want the monitors on her when she goes down for CT and you page me the second anything seems off." Dr. Lee ordered on her way out.
"Elizabeth?" Carly questioned, but Dr. Lee was gone.
Elizabeth was already in a cubicle when Dr. Lee arrived. The fetal monitor was already hooked up. Robin and Epiphany were grateful to see Kelly.
"She's showing signs of abruptio placenta." Robin sighed.
"Let's get her up to L&D. We need to deliver now and stop the bleeding before we lose them both." Dr. Lee's eyes saddened as she noticed Lucky in the corner for the first time.
Jason rushed the nurse's station when he saw Dr. Lee escorting Elizabeth up to L&D.
"Jason, I'm so glad you're here. Sam is in cubicle 2 with Carly and Dr. Drake. The babies were stable when I left. Our team will monitor them closely, but I'm going in with Elizabeth now." Kelly felt so awful for her favorite patient in cubicle 2 and her friend and co-worker at her side.
Jason froze for a moment as he stared down at a pale and lifeless Elizabeth. She lost so much blood.
"Jason, did I just hear Kelly right? Is Sam here too?" Lucky broke his trance.
"Yeah. Spinelli said she collapsed in pain. Will you, will you let me know how Elizabeth and the baby are as soon as you can?" Jason swallowed hard.
"Yeah, sure. I hope Sam and your babies are alright. Please give Sam my best." Lucky could sense something strange about Jason's behavior, but he chalked it up to worry over Sam.
He turned and followed the team as they led Elizabeth toward the elevator and Jason turned to make his way to Sam.
-General Hospital Maternity-
Two Days Later...
Sam sat alone in the darkened hospital room unable to follow doctor's orders. Sleep would not find her. She couldn't believe she was here again, mourning the loss of another baby she would never get the chance to hold. The worst part was Jason wasn't with her.
Sam's mind was still a little hazy on the parts that led up to now. The last clear memory before collapsing in pain was crying out as Alexis screamed and Jason caught her before she hit the floor. No, wait. Carly had told her it wasn't Jason. It was Ric that caught her. She woke up two days later to find Jason right by her side. He'd been the one to tell her they'd lost another baby. The difference this time was the biological father was Jason and this time she didn't wake to the feeling of complete emptiness.
Sam still held one baby safely inside her. Both of Sam's hands found her belly, something that had grown into a habit over the last four months, using both hands, one on each baby. Now there was only one. She held on tightly to the one child she had left and vowed to never let go. Sam closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing.
She rubbed and sent loving vibes to her little baby inside. "Mommy and daddy are so thankful you're still here with us baby girl. We love you so much. Mommy tried so hard to hold on to your brother, but I just wasn't strong enough. It might sound crazy, but I think your brother knew somehow. I think your big brother knew mommy needed help and because of his sacrifice I can now hold on to you with both hands."
This was the boy she'd dreamed of the night he was conceived, a son with Jason's eyes and Jason's heart. She knew their son had his father's heart, because he'd let go when it looked as though holding on would cost his mother and sister their lives. Her baby boy protected them with his life just like his father. Tears fell and a grieving sigh escaped.
"Sam?" Elizabeth questioned uncertain if it was alright to enter.
Sam opened her eyes to see Elizabeth at her door. "You can come in. I'm awake."
"I'm sorry to disturb you, but I heard you were conscious and this is the first I was allowed to leave my hospital bed. I wanted to tell you how sorry I was to hear what happened." Elizabeth explained.
"Thank you." Sam didn't really know what else to say to the woman after everything that had been said and done over the last four months.
She didn't have the energy or heart to throw blame and contempt at her, even though Carly would say she deserved it. Maybe she did, but Sam didn't have it in her now. She needed to conserve her energy for her little girl who was still at risk for premature delivery.
"Are you feeling okay? Is there anything you need that I can get you?" Elizabeth filled the guilty silence with the first thing that popped into mind.
Sam nearly snapped back at Elizabeth. Yes, you could take back all of the awful choices and ultimatums you made these past months that put me here in this bed without my son! You could open your eyes and see what an evil snake Ric is and stop threatening to keep your child away from his father, from Jason! Sam almost spat all of this out at Elizabeth, but she stopped herself.
Jason. Sam wanted Jason and Elizabeth was the only one that might persuade Ric to do the right thing. Ric used his position as district attorney to have the PCPD arrest him on more bogus charges. Sam awoke to find Jason at her bedside and heard about their loss only minutes before the police took him away in handcuffs. Diane worked diligently to prove extenuating circumstances, but so far Jason hadn't been released.
"There is one thing I need that you could get." Sam began.
"Anything, just name it!" Elizabeth was happy to have some menial task to do for Sam that might alleviate some of the incredible guilt she felt now looking at her.
"Jason, I need Jason. He hasn't been released yet. You could help me. You could convince Ric to drop the charges." Sam continued.
"Sam, I don't know... It isn't my place to interfere. It's really a matter for the authorities to work out at this point." Elizabeth dodged.
"It's obvious his arrest was orchestrated by Ric as a means to keep Jason away from you and your baby. If you don't want Jason around, then have Ric post a guard at your door. Don't make him sit all alone in jail worrying about us when he didn't do anything wrong." Sam appealed to Elizabeth's sense of morality, if she had any left. Sam wondered.
"Jason breaks the law. Ric is sworn to uphold it and unfortunately that puts them on opposite sides. It isn't fair to blame Ric." Elizabeth countered.
Sam tried to persuade Elizabeth without putting her on the defensive. "Ric is 'overprotective' of you to say the least. It stands to reason he may have over-reacted by arresting Jason for violating your restraining order. For God's sake, Elizabeth, you called him for help! If he hadn't dropped his plans with me, you would be in this bed right now without your son instead of me!" Sam hoped this would convince the woman.
"I, I'll talk to Ric, but I can't promise it'll do any good. We're being released in the morning and Ric will be here to take me and my son home. I'll talk to him first thing." Elizabeth relented.
Sam had a good point. Ric may have over-reacted. Elizabeth couldn't be sure, because she'd been unconscious the last two days and could only go by what Ric told her. Ric claimed Jason hung around the nursery and Elizabeth's room which was a clear violation of the restraining order, even Lucky begrudgingly confirmed it.
Elizabeth couldn't help be alarmed at the thought of Jason around her baby boy painting him as a target for countless thugs. It was that fear that kept her from stopping Ric from arresting Jason earlier that day. Still, if it wasn't for Jason their baby wouldn't be alive right now.
"What the hell are you doing here?" A voice from behind Elizabeth demanded.
Elizabeth and Sam both looked to see Carly in Sam's doorway.
"It's okay, Carly. Elizabeth was just here to give her condolences." Sam explained trying to soften Carly before she attacked.
Carly walked to Sam's bedside opposite Elizabeth.
"Really? Because it sounded to me like she was in here rubbing your face in the fact that she's going home with Jason's son when you're here alone grieving for yours." Carly hatefully directed at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth knew unless she wanted her ass handed to her, it was time to leave.
"I'm sorry. I'm feeling a little tired. I think I better be getting back to my room. I just wanted you to know how truly sorry I am for your loss." Elizabeth smiled sadly at Sam.
"Oh, we are all fully aware of how sorry you are." Carly loathed, but Sam quickly interjected. "Thank you. Just, please, talk to Ric."
Elizabeth nodded then turned and walked out toward her room. Carly was fuming and Sam could see it. She grabbed her hand and squeezed.
Carly looked down at her and smiled. "You know, I think I may have dropped something out in the hall. I'll be right back."
Carly was out the door before Sam could protest. She caught up to Elizabeth now a couple of rooms away.
Elizabeth stopped as Carly started. "You know, Elizabeth, I really tried to give you the benefit of the doubt. Ric played you... again. You didn't learn the first time Ric is incapable of caring for anyone other than himself. Now I see it's more than that. In this life you're either a fighter or a coward. You are a coward. I know this because when it comes time to fight you let others fight your battles for you and what's worse; what's worse is that when they do stand up for you, when they do fight to protect you, you don't even have their back!"
"Carly, this is none of your business and I'd appreciate it if you refrain from making a scene where I work." Elizabeth was red-faced out of half anger and half embarrassment when an orderly stared at the two women as he passed.
But Carly wouldn't be dismissed. "Trust me when I make a scene you'll feel it all the way down your yellow spine right to your bony little ass. Jason has done nothing except try to do right by you and that baby. You've seen in the past how much Ric despises Jason and Sonny and yet you allow yourself to fall for his act again. You knew you were pregnant with Jason's child when you allowed Ric to worm his way back into your life and into Jason's child's life. What kind of mother lets her baby be raised by a man that hates his father?"
"You tell me, Mrs. Alcazar? We're all guilty of doing things in our past that we aren't proud of and wouldn't do again. Ric isn't that person anymore. He's learned from his mistakes. He cares about me and Cameron and he cares about my son, regardless of whom the father is and regardless of the incredibly difficult and dangerous situation it puts him in. Jason chooses to surround his life in violence and I won't allow my children to be exposed to that danger. No good mother would." Elizabeth finished with a smug smile firmly in place completely satisfied she made an irrefutable point.
Carly glared with fire in her eyes. "First of all, you're right, Elizabeth. I did marry a man that despised my children's father which is why I know what the hell I'm talking about. At least I had the excuse of being shot in the head and then in the middle of a nervous breakdown after my children were kidnapped. What the hell is your excuse? Oh yeah, that's right, you're a naive brainless little twit! You have the nerve to try and make Jason second guess his life, his heart and mind? You try to make him feel like he's too much of a danger to be around his own child? Take a look in the mirror, Elizabeth. You are the one keeping Jason, Jason, a man with one of the purest hearts I've ever known away from his own child and subjecting that innocent baby to a man with nothing more than hate and revenge in the empty space where a heart should be. I hoped you'd wake up to the truth, but now I see there's really only one solution. Jason needs full custody and I'm going to do everything in my power to see that happens. If you doubt my ability to keep that promise, then just ask Ric how well his custody pursuit went once I made it my business. One more thing, if I see you anywhere near Sam causing her any more stress it'll be more than words I throw at you. Stay away from Sam. She's already lost enough thanks to you."
Carly walked off back to Sam having no more patience to devote to such a pathetic waste of time and Elizabeth was left with Carly's words stirring in her brain. Jason did have the purest heart. No matter how much she feared the danger he posed to her children, she couldn't deny it. He'd lost so much. He didn't deserve to be sitting inside a jail cell when he'd lost one son and wasn't permitted to be in his other son's life. She would persuade Ric to have him released tonight if possible. She would also prepare for a custody battle just to be safe. She didn't put it past Carly's ability to use her illegal connections to help Jason win custody of their son.
-PCPD Lockup-
Jason laid on the thin mattress with his hands behind his head staring up at the ceiling of his dismal holding cell. He'd exhausted himself pacing the cell for hours when he arrived, doing more push-ups and sit-ups than he could count before his anger was replaced by another equally powerful emotion, heartbreak. He couldn't get the last image out of his mind as he was dragged away from Sam's bedside. They'd just lost another baby. Sam was devastated. She clung to Jason's arm and then hand as her weak grasp lost the tug of war with the officers pulling him into cuffs.
Thank God Carly showed up in the middle of that scene when she did because he was two seconds from knocking the officers out and barricading himself in her room. He could not face leaving Sam completely alone in that moment. He thought of Sam in that bed now with only their baby girl alive inside her and ached to put his arms around her, to hold his wife and grieve the loss of their son together. He was oblivious to the tears as they built up in his eyes. His mind replayed the pivotal moments leading up to the current situation over and over in his head.
Flashback [Jason's POV] Jason had taken Alcazar out and was on his way home when Elizabeth called. She was in labor and needed help. He'd called Lucky, but the ambulance was unable to make it across that damn flooded street. He retrieved Elizabeth and brought her to Lucky with the awaiting ambulance on the other side of the water. There was so much blood on the floor where he found her and he couldn't wake her up. Lucky rode with Elizabeth in the ambulance and Jason was set to follow them when Spinelli broke radio silence to tell him Sam was unconscious and on her way to GH with Carly. He wanted to kill Ric and he should have when he had the chance, but getting to Sam was his first priority. He wouldn't leave her side. Ric would have to wait. By the time he arrived at the hospital, Dr. Lee already evaluated Sam and determined both babies were stable at that time. Elizabeth and her baby were in critical condition. Dr. Lee left Sam in the care of Dr. Drake and rushed Elizabeth to L&D for an emergency c-section. Elizabeth had the same condition as Sam when they lost Lila. Dr. Lee had to deliver He rushed to her side and stayed there. She'd been admitted upstairs after her head CT and multiple other tests revealed a thrown blood clot caused a transient ischemic attack and not the full-blown stroke they initially feared. Carly bum-rushed him with a hug that nearly strangled the life out of him the second she laid eyes on him. She wiped her tears and recounted what happened as Jason sat beside his wife and held her hand. She was still unconscious and that worried Patrick. It was Jason's first sign that things were really bad for her. Patrick Drake was too arrogant and too good so seeing him worried scared the shit out of Jason. Dr. Drake had Sam on iv meds to help, but they weren't without risks to the pregnancy. Unfortunately, if they didn't give her the drugs Sam might throw another clot that could cause a major stroke or kill her and the babies instantly. The clot might go to her brain and cause an aneurysm. It might go to her heart causing cardiac arrest. It might go to her lungs causing a pulmonary embolism. All of those outcomes could result in her immediate death. The one bit of good news Jason held on to was that so far the babies were holding on and so was Sam. He was also relieved to hear the TIA was often referred to as a mini-stroke, but the difference was it had no permanent damage. She might only experience temporary speech and/or vision impairment or loss of use of the left or right side of her body or she might wake up and not experience any of those symptoms. He and Carly sat with her the entire first night. Jason tried to send Carly home with Sonny and Max when they stopped by, but she refused. He could tell she wanted to be there for Sam, but there was something more to it. Carly had been traumatized just as harshly as Sam at hearing he was dead and he could tell she wasn't comfortable allowing him out of her sight just yet. Jason stepped in the hall for a brief moment with Sonny as Max stood alert for eavesdroppers. He'd confirmed Alcazar would no longer be an issue. Sonny was relieved to hear it, but he had some bad news of his own regarding Ric. Ric showed up shortly after Sam was brought in and went straight to Sonny. Damage control. Ric gave his brother some cock and bull story about saving Sonny from Sam blaming him as the messenger. Sonny didn't want to hear it after learning it put Sam in the ER. He lost it on Ric and at some point during that blow-up, he told Ric that Jason wasn't
-Jason took deep breaths through the rising anger and sunk back into his thoughts.
Almost 24 hours had passed since Sam was last awake. Lucky stopped by as Carly slept in the chair in the corner. Elizabeth's baby boy survived. He was perfectly healthy. Jason was relieved at least one child was safe. Elizabeth was still in critical condition. She'd lost so much blood and was extremely weak. Doctors weren't sure Elizabeth would live. Lucky thanked Jason for his help saving Elizabeth and his son. He felt guilty lying, but Lucky was so invested in that baby and Elizabeth and they both needed him and Lucky seemed to really need them too. Jason didn't have the heart to tell the truth at that time, even though the lie ate away at his conscience like acid. Lucky said he'd keep Sam and her babies in his prayers and asked if Jason would keep him updated on Sam's condition. Lucky recalled how kind and understanding Sam had been to him after all the horrible things he'd done. Sam was one of the first people to give Lucky a clean slate once he came out of rehab and back to Port Charles. Jason half smiled. Of course that is how Sam would treat him. Sam had one of the least judgmental and most compassionate hearts he'd ever known. She had to if she could love a man like me, Jason thought as Lucky spoke. Jason asked Lucky to also keep him updated about Elizabeth and her baby. Lucky agreed and left. Hours passed and Jason had fallen asleep with Sam's hand in his and his other hand on their babies when he and Carly awoke to monitors beeping and buzzing. Dr. Drake and Dr. Lee rushed in with nurses. Jason was edged out of the way, stunned and heart pounding as he stood helpless. Carly was at his side and he remembered her hand squeezing his shoulder. She was slipping away and there was nothing the doctors could do to help her. She'd thrown another clot and it weakened her heart. Jason's mom and Robin were now on the case as well. There was no surgery to do and that was possibly the most frustrating part, no miracle surgery. They just had to wait and pray Sam responded to the medication. Unfortunately, the toll this took on Sam's body and also the strong medications began to show signs of distress to the babies. Jason held Sam's hand and spoke lovingly to her as Sam's heartbeats slowed and Dr. Most of all he was angry with himself. It was his stupid plan that backfired and sent Sam's blood pressure so high that she threw a blood clot. If he'd just killed Alcazar as soon as they'd learned of the hit, then none of this would have happened. Instead, Ric talked Sonny into going along with his plan and Jason failed to convince Sonny otherwise.
-Where the hell was Diane and why wasn't he out of there by now? Jason sat up and laid a vice grip on the cot with both hands, but fell right back in his memories. They wouldn't let him rest. They were on a loop in his head playing over and over again.
Their baby girl's heart was about to stop and Sam's looked as though it would be next. Their baby boy's heart still beat strong. Jason eye's clouded over as he thought of how proud Sam would be of their baby boy holding on so strong. He recalled the night they made love and conceived these two miracles. Sam wanted a boy with Jason's eyes and heart. Jason couldn't hold in the guttural sobs as he watched the heartbeats of the two most beloved girls in his life slowly slip away. Then something unexpected happened, something the doctors could not explain. Baby A's strong heartbeat crashed suddenly. It stopped without warning and in the very next minute Sam and their baby girl's heartbeats slowly stabilized. Dr. Lee looked at Jason and confirmed what he already knew, Sam and Jason's baby boy was gone.
-Jason blinked away the tears and wiped his eyes as the next bit of memories forced their way through his mind.
Dr. Lee and Sam's team of doctors evaluated the situation and Dr. Lee explained a horrible truth no expecting parent should ever know. Normally when one fetus dies in utero of a multiple birth, it is not removed until the safe delivery of the remaining fetus(es). The reason is that it often puts the remaining healthy fetus at a very high risk of death as well. In fact, Dr. Lee and the rest of Sam's team of doctors, all agreed that to put Sam through an emergency delivery of the stillborn fetus would further endanger Sam's life as well as their baby girl. Jason could barely comprehend how he would tell Sam not only had their baby boy died, but that she still carried him. Carly went for coffee and Jason held Sam's hand and rubbed his thumb over it as he encouraged her to open her eyes for him. He hated the thought of what she faced when she woke up, but he needed her awake. He needed to look into her eyes and know she would pull through. As long as they had each other, they would find a way to get through this, again, somehow. End of Flashback
He wanted to die in that moment if it would mean Sam would wake up with both of her babies still safe and alive inside her. Jason never felt so drained in all his life. He was worried sick and just prayed for Sam to wake and regain her strength. It had been two days since she lost consciousness. The only explanation the doctors gave for her unconscious state was that it was her body's way of forcing her to rest so she could heal. Jason never left her side, except for a couple bathroom breaks.
-PCPD Central-
"I'm in no mood for games, gentleman, and I use that term loosely." Diane cut her eyes at Ric.
"You have absolutely no grounds to hold my client, Commissioner, and you know it. Do you think a judge, or better yet, the community of all Port Charles, will take kindly to the fact that their time and tax dollars are being wasted trying a man who saved the life of a wife and unborn child of one of PCPD's finest, no less. How my client was literally pulled from the arms of his grieving wife at her hospital bedside and handcuffed after just losing their son courtesy of District Attorney Lansing? Why, this may actually be the best thing that has happened to my client's reputation in years by the time we're finished giving our story out to every reporter in town. In fact, I better talk to Kate now to get my wardrobe lined up for all those televised appearances." Diane was really tiring of the complete ineptitude that was the PCPD and just plain vindictive evil that was the current district attorney's office.
"Okay. Okay, Diane, I get it and if this were up to me I would have left Jason at the hospital with his wife. Unfortunately, Jason technically broke the restraining order when he visited Elizabeth and her baby in the hospital and the district attorney here pressed the charges and we have no choice, but to enforce the law." Mac really felt for Jason and Sam this time and he hated the damn district attorney more and more each day.
"Thanks for your vote of support there, Commissioner. Yes, Jason Morgan broke the law. He was given a break when he broke the restraining order when he saved Elizabeth, but he was fair warned not to attempt to see her again. He refused to follow that warning and brought this on himself." Ric knew his case was invalid, but he needed to keep Elizabeth away from Jason. He needed to buy time to think, to plan.
Ric finally put two and two together earlier that day. Ric had been puzzled the past two days by something Sam yelled at him. She said he lied about her babies. It finally hit him there could only be one possible answer. Sam knew of his part in the falsified pregnancy test results. If Sam knew, then Jason knew, or would very soon. If they knew about Sam, did they also know about him switching Elizabeth's results? Victor had disappeared, but had he gone off to Costa Rica as planned, or had Jason intercepted him? Ric's underground information lines had been cut off since Alcazar's disappearance two days previous so he was in the dark and on his own now that Alcazar's silent partners were all lying low. They had no intentions of crossing Corinthos and Morgan without Alcazar's support.
Sonny and Jason pretended to trust Ric and his plan to go against Alcazar, but they lied to him. Sonny and Jason didn't trust him at all. Did Jason and Sam tell Sonny about his involvement in Sam's pregnancy test scam? He couldn't be sure who knew what, but Ric was certain of one thing. He was a safer man with Jason Morgan in lockup, especially since it was without question Jason would blame him for Sam's miscarriage.
Ric wanted to bring him in on charges of Alcazar's murder, but he had no proof of anything without implicating himself in the process. Besides, Jason still had that digital recording of Ric and Lorenzo's meeting that outlined the hit against them. The only thing he could think of was to enforce Elizabeth's restraining order violation which was why he'd gone straight to Elizabeth that morning. It wasn't very difficult to persuade her once he painted the picture of her sweet baby boy in the cross-hair of the next Manny Ruiz.
"Actually, Mr. District Attorney, you are an actual attorney aren't you? I only ask, because any real attorney would know that restraining order was null and void the moment Elizabeth invited Jason into her company. In fact, she would need to re-file the order if she wants it reinstated." Diane knew she had them and savored another victory to her tally.
"Hah. She's right!" Mac couldn't help be visibly tickled by this incredibly vivacious woman attorney.
"Don't act so pleased over the notion of allowing a known murderer loose on our streets, Commissioner." Ric seethed.
He knew Diane was right and Jason would now be released.
"Well, Mr. Lansing, mob enforcer, or not, I only enforce the law. I don't try to bend it and break it to my will. Detective Rodriguez, please see to Morgan's release." Mac ordered.
"How about his immediate and speedy release, Commissioner?" Diane smiled and raised an eyebrow to Mac.
"Rodriguez, make it snappy! He needs to get back to his wife in the hospital right away." Mac smiled back at Diane and winked.
"Yes sir, right away." The young detective complied.
Ric walked back to his office disgusted. He needed to formulate his next plan, fast. He knew he was a dead man. Jason would come for him. Sonny would not be able to stop him, in fact he may even give his blessing considering his feelings for Sam. It was only a matter of time now.
-General Hospital Maternity-
"Carly, it's so late. You don't have to stay with me. I'll be fine. Go home. You look exhausted." Sam's love grew a little larger for Carly the past few days.
"Thanks, you look like a million bucks, yourself." Carly quipped with a gentle smile.
"You know what I mean. Really, I'll probably fall asleep in a bit anyway." Sam lied. She wasn't sure she would ever be able to sleep again until she was in her husband's arms.
"You are so full of it, Sam. I wish you would sleep. You and my niece could really use it, but I know better. I know by the way you keep staring at that door every time you hear footsteps that you won't be able to sleep until he's here with you again." Carly smiled a sadder smile this time as tears threatened to form.
"I... I... Do you think he's alright?" Sam started to deny it, but Carly knew her too well now.
Carly never left Sam's side, except earlier when she'd gone to get Jason coffee and then once again to check with the nurse about something. Sam smiled remembering how she had returned from the nurse's station to find Elizabeth in her room. If looks could have killed, Elizabeth would have been dead and buried. Carly took off down the hall saying she dropped something, but came back empty-handed a few minutes later. Sam asked if she found what she dropped and Carly told her it was just a piece of trash that needed tossing. Sam couldn't help smile and shake her head. She knew Carly was talking about Elizabeth.
Carly was there for her earlier when Jason was taken away. She wasn't able to breathe as hard as she cried for Jason and their loss, but Carly just let her lean on her shoulder until she was all cried out. She reminded her of the good things she needed to focus on like the fact that she woke up without any side effects of the mini-stroke and the fact that she still had a precious little girl she needed to put first. She'd distracted Sam all day long with humor and gossip and updates about Alexis. Sam was still in shock that Carly and her mother had been communicating voluntarily since her accident.
She was so thankful to Carly for convincing her mother to stay and finish her treatment rather than hop Sonny's jet like she wanted the second she heard Sam cry over the phone. Sam would really love to have her mother with her now, but it wasn't worth the risk. If Alexis left her treatment before completion, then it might fail and Alexis might die. Carly was also the one to call Diane when Jason had been arrested earlier.
Sam thought of all the ways Carly Corinthos had been there for her and all her family the last several months. The two women weren't the type to get all sentimental, especially with other women, but Sam needed her to know how grateful she felt. She intended to find a way to let Carly know how much she appreciated her help and support.
"Diane said she would call as soon as she knew anythi..." Carly's phone rang cutting her off.
"Carly Corinthos... Diane? What's the news? Really? Thank God! Diane, I owe you big. One hell of a dinner on the house, specially prepared by our chef, our finest bottle of wine, the works for you and your guest of choice! Max? Ha! Absolutely! You just make the reservation. Tell the hostess I said you may have whatever date and time you choose. Thanks again lady... bye!" Carly squealed and jumped up.
"Jason was released and left PCPD ten minutes ago. Diane said he should be here any minute." Carly hugged Sam excitedly as they swayed happily.
"Oh!" Sam reached down to her stomach.
"What? Is it the baby? Are you okay?" Carly pulled back worried she'd gotten Sam too worked up.
"No. I'm fine. It's just... she kicked. I haven't felt her move since I woke up. Dr. Lee said that was normal though due to the fact that my body is still coming off of the effects of the medications. It's just strange." A tear ran down Sam's face.
"What's strange?" Carly sat in the chair next to her.
"Oh, there it is again. And again! Carly feel this." Sam grabbed both of her hands.
Sam placed both hands with Carly's on each side of her belly. Carly's mouth fell open, but she was speechless.
"How can this be happening? Is this really happening?" Sam asked her friend.
"It is Sam. I don't know how, but it is! I'm going to have Dr. Lee paged and grab a nurse." Carly declared as she raced out of the room.
Jason was slightly winded as he turned down the back corridor toward Sam's room, but his pace never slowed. He needed to hold Sam in his arms. He hoped she would be resting, but he knew better. She wouldn't be able to sleep without being in his arms. He knew it, because it was the same for him. He swallowed hard at the thought of turning into her room in another second and seeing that tortured look in her eyes he saw when he was forced to leave earlier.
"Sam, what is it?" Jason was alarmed to find her sitting up in bed clutching her stomach.
"Jason! Jason, I felt him move! I felt our son move!" Sam was smiling big through her tears as they streamed down her face.
"Sam..." Jason's heart broke all over again at the sight of his wife's denial.
"Sam, I'm so sorry. It's not possible. He's gone, Sam. You, remember, I know. We lost him. It must be our daughter you're feeling. God, baby, I'm so so sorry." Jason sat on the side of Sam's bed and pulled her to him as he cried.
"No. Jason. I'm telling you, it's both of them. I can feel both of them kicking me right now, feel!" Sam pulled Jason's left hand down against her belly.
"This is our daughter, Jason." Sam reached for his other hand.
"This is our son!" Sam peered into his deep blue eyes and waited for him to acknowledge what Carly felt, but the little booger stopped kicking just as Jason's hand reached him.
"I'm sorry, Sam. I feel our daughter, but I don't feel our son moving." Jason wasn't sure he could be as strong as Sam would need him to be this time.
His eyes were red with hurt and the tears continued to fall. How could he make Sam believe what he saw on the graphs earlier? Jason watched that little line beat strong and then stop. It was the line that represented their son's life. His life line stopped and Jason witnessed it first hand, but Sam didn't. She knew he was still inside her. Would she be tortured like this until she delivered their daughter? Were these phantom feelings like when people lost limbs and still claimed they could feel their arms and legs?
"I love you, Sam. I love you so much." Jason couldn't hold in the deep sob as he pulled Sam into a hug and pressed his mouth against her neck where it met her shoulder.
"I love you too, Jason." Sam hugged him back.
She felt his warm tears against her neck as they began to soak her gown. She knew he thought she was in denial like the time she woke up in the hospital after losing Lila and told him she felt her kick. Sam knew Jason's heart was breaking for her right now and she loved him so much for how deep his love for her ran. She also knew that she wasn't in denial. She was just as confident their son was alive and kicking inside her now as she'd been in her knowledge that she was pregnant the very night they'd conceived these two miracles.
"Sam, Carly says you're feeling movement?" Dr. Lee had been practically ripped from another patient's bedside as Carly caught a glimpse of her down the hall.
A tech wheeled in the portable ultrasound machine. Jason sat in the chair beside Sam never letting go of her hand. He knew the moment she saw their son so still, it was going to rip her heart out all over again. He braced himself for it as well. They hadn't actually performed an ultrasound afterward. Sam was still out of it and Jason had wanted to wait until she was awake. He knew it would kill her, but she would insist on seeing it for herself and Jason didn't think he could sit through it twice.
She'd just regained consciousness earlier this morning and then Jason was carted off to jail shortly afterward. Sam hadn't wanted to have the ultrasound without Jason either. She needed him to hold her and give her the strength she would need to see their lifeless baby boy inside her.
Carly stood near the door, afraid to move, to do anything or say anything that might jinx what she hoped and prayed she felt was true. It just had to be true. She'd felt two separate kicks and they were just too far apart to be the same little baby.
"Carly," Sam held her open hand out for her.
Carly made her way around the machine and grabbed Sam's hand. Sam squeezed both hands as the cold gel was placed over her belly. Once again she called on two of the strongest people she knew to pass their strength and love on to her little babies.
Dr. Lee excused the tech. Kelly knew this moment would be very emotional for her patients. She knew Jason, especially, was a very private person. She felt it best to try and do what she could to help make it even the slightest bit easier.
"Okay, we're starting with baby B, your baby girl." Kelly placed the probe over Sam's lower left side.
Dr. Lee took her time. She pointed out the happy strong little heartbeats as the heart pulsed on the screen. Their baby girl seemed completely unharmed. Dr. Lee gave their baby girl a glowing report for her physical.
"Okay, now we're going to take a look at baby A, your baby boy. Are you ready?" Kelly gave a pause to confirm with Sam and Jason.
"Yes, please." Sam couldn't hold back a smile.
Jason just nodded solemnly and Carly held her breath. Dr. Lee smiled sadly and nodded before moving the probe to the upper right side of Sam's belly.
Kelly was dumbfounded. She blinked twice. She couldn't believe what she was seeing! There was movement from baby A, their baby boy. Not just movement, there was a heartbeat! Dr. Lee was in shock, but put her game face on. She needed a second opinion before she broke this news to the parents. She could not give them this kind of news unless she was certain.
Monica walked in at that moment. She'd just finished her double-shift and wanted to stop by to check on Sam one more time before going home. She felt so bad for Sam and her son for losing another child. Jason may not have been baby Lila's biological father, but Monica knew first hand how little biology mattered when it came to the love of a child. She couldn't love Emily or Jason more if they were her own blood. She knew Jason felt the same way about baby Lila. She was very surprised to see Sam's light on with so much activity in the room at this time of night and prayed nothing else had gone wrong.
"Dr. Quartermaine, would you mind verifying something for me?" Dr. Lee was more than happy to have a cardiologist as her second opinion.
"Certainly." Monica made her way over to the screen.
Dr. Lee positioned the probe over baby B. Dr. Quartermaine confirmed that everything looked perfectly normal and the heartbeat was strong. Dr. Lee then put the probe over baby A again. Monica looked at Dr. Lee in amazement as she put her hand to her mouth. She nodded her head yes, seeing immediately what Dr. Lee needed confirmed.
The heart monitors were turned up and now two fetal heartbeats could be heard both loud and strong and almost in sync with one another, but growing more out of sync with every beat, as they should be since Dr. Lee had monitored these babies very closely and knew what was typical for the age and movement of each baby and that baby B always had a much faster heart rate.
"Sam, Jason, I don't know how to tell you this, but I can see and hear and Dr. Quartermaine confirmed that we both see and hear two fetal heartbeats. Both baby B and baby A are alive and well." Dr. Lee had never experienced this in her career and couldn't help getting teary-eyed and swallowing the lump in her throat as she smiled.
"Thank you. Thank you so much. I knew it!" Sam let go of Carly's hand and wiped her tears of happiness.
"Yes, this is a miracle. Both of your miracle babies right here little mama." Carly nudged her belly gently with the palm of her hand.
Sam beamed up at Carly and leaned over to accept her hug.
"I'm so happy for you both." Carly smiled brightly.
"Are you sure? Are you really sure? You told me we lost him. I thought we lost him. I told Sam our son died, but now you tell me he's not! How could this happen? What the hell happened?" Jason started off his questions in disbelief and fear until it ended in anger.
"I'm so very sorry. I can assure you this has never happened to me before. You watched along with us as the two separate fetal heartbeats fell into only one. Ordinarily, we perform an ultrasound to verify what was observed on the fetal monitor. As you know, the ultrasound was put off. Still, the chances of ultrasound disproving the findings of an absence of a heartbeat on the fetal monitor is rare in high risk situations like this. We had every reason to believe your son didn't survive." Dr. Lee felt so horrible for putting this couple through this torturous ordeal.
"Something you just said, Dr. Lee, I think I know what happened. I read a case study once where a set of twins heartbeats actually synced up. This was before ultrasound was standard practice in obstetrics. Everyone was surprised when both babies were born alive and healthy as they thought one had surely passed. I think somehow for some reason, maybe the medication, maybe by divine intervention, your babies heartbeats synced up. I say divine intervention Jason, because it wasn't until those babies heartbeats synced that Sam and your baby girl's heartbeats stabilized. I was in the room with you Jason and I saw and heard the same thing. This is a terrible thing for you both to have endured, but such a rare thing I don't think Dr. Lee could be faulted." Monica offered this calm explanation to her son and hoped it helped in some small way, because she knew what it cost his soul to have to sit by his wife's bedside and tell Sam she'd lost another child.
"Of course not, Dr. Lee, Monica, we understand. We're just so grateful both of our babies are still alive and here with us." Sam rubbed her left hand on Jason's shoulder and grabbed his right hand with hers.
"Yeah, I'm relieved my wife, daughter, and son are all alive and healthy." Jason gave a small smile as he tried to make himself adjust to this shocking turn of events.
"We're going to continue to keep the fetal monitors and your monitors on you and I'll do another ultrasound before you're released as well." Dr. Lee spoke.
"When can I go home?"
"I'll have to confer with the rest of your doctors. If everything is good, then maybe only a couple more days." Dr. Lee wagered.
"A couple more days?" Sam just wanted to be home with her husband and both babies.
"Sam, please, don't fight the doctors. I almost lost you and I know now I wouldn't survive if it actually happened." Jason held her hand and tried to blink back the salt water.
Sam placed her hand on his cheek and rubbed her thumb over it.
"I'll follow doctor's orders to the letter, if it means a safe delivery for these two." She smoothed her other hand over her pregnant belly and kept one on the love of her life.
"Good. Good. Well, I'll leave you to get your rest. I'll be by to check on you in the morning." Dr. Lee smiled at the couple that couldn't take their eyes off each other. Their story truly was one for the ages, epic.
"Sam, Jason, I'm so very happy for you. I can't wait to meet both of my grand babies, but I better be on my way home now before Alan calls out a search party." Monica joked.
"Thank you, mom." Jason stood and gave his mother a hug.
He never called her mom, but in this moment it just felt right. Monica couldn't hold back her tears.
"I love you, Jason. I love you with all of my heart." She hugged her son even tighter.
"I love you too." Jason confessed.
Monica smiled with tears in her eyes, tears of happiness. She felt her son coming back to her very slowly, but surely. She and Dr. Lee made their exit together.
"I think I better go too." Carly gave Sam another hug before walking around to Jason.
"I'm so thankful you and Sam got your miracle. Nobody deserves happiness more than you two." Carly gave Jason a big hug.
"Are you going to be alright getting home?" Jason worried.
"I'll be fine. Sonny insisted I take his limo. The driver is just downstairs waiting. I told him I'd be here all day, but you know how stubborn Sonny can be. Anyway, he thinks if I have his limo, then I'll be more tempted to go back to his place to get my car." Carly rolled her eyes.
"Well, the boys are staying there. It makes sense that you would want to spend time there with them." Jason tried to offer a reasonable argument for Sonny. He wasn't sure why. He'd gone to great lengths to try and stay out of their way this time around, but Sonny was his friend too and he wasn't there to defend himself. He guessed it was simply out of male solidarity that he felt the need to speak up.
"Pf-ft. Jason, please, this is the song and dance Sonny and I are famous for taking to a whole new level. Whatever. When I figure out what I want, then I may or may not let him know." Carly said with a wicked grin.
"Just follow your heart and be true to what you want and you can't go wrong." Jason offered the best piece of advice he'd ever taken himself to his dearest friend.
"Will do." She said with a smile and kissed him on the cheek.
"Take care of my niece and nephew, little mama." Carly smiled wide at Sam before turning to leave.
"I will. Oh and your niece and nephew said they would really love lunch from Kelly's tomorrow!" Sam half shouted as Carly was nearly out the door.
"Pepper salad and chocolate milk, right?" Carly winked.
"Can't wait." Sam smiled.
Carly hit the lights and pulled the door closed on her way out. Jason smirk-smiled and shook his head knowing a big fat bacon cheeseburger and malted milkshake was in Sam's near future.
Sam moved over in her bed and threw her covers down padding the empty space beside her. Jason stood, removed his boots and climbed in next to his wife. She turned into him and rested her head on his chest as he held her close. Jason stroked her hair with his right hand as Sam clasped his left hand in hers. They intertwined both hands together as they rested over their now sleeping little miracles. Both of their babies were holding on strong and Sam now knew she would hold onto them even stronger, because she now had Jason's strong hands to help hold on too.
She was finally able to drift off to sleep in his arms. Jason loved falling asleep with Sam in his arms. He listened to her breaths and felt her heart beat settle and her chest rise and fall and drifted off with a smile on his face as he held his family close with both hands.
A/N: Well if you made it this far, hopefully you didn't wish me dead and give up on the story. I will say I struggled with the direction of this chapter more than any other. Since the beginning when I set Sam up with twins I figured she would only have one and that would probably be the girl. The reasoning went back to the basic concept of the story, JaSam enduring all of these hardships, but love continuing to win out. Ultimately, I decided to keep both babies safe for two reasons.
First, I read a completed JaSam fic "Troubled Souls" by ShaniDav at ff. net aka Relle0180 at TH that reminded me how frustrating it can be when writers choose to do things we hate with beloved characters and how wonderful it is when that writer surprises us and actually gives us what we want; love, happiness, romance with a little angst and forbidden fruit thrown in for good measure. So thanks ShaniDav/Relle!
Second, I could tell by comments you wanted the little JaSammer babies to be healthy and safe so I was thrilled to think of a way to incorporate my initial idea and yet still be able to give you what you wanted. So thank you readers for challenging me to make the story even better. I hope you are still enjoying it and I promise the twins are safe from here on out.
Page 24 of 24 Created: 2010-01-13 Updated: 2012-05-10 Words: 10292