Sorry for the long wait. I wasn't feeling very inspired until this week. How awesome is our couple people? We totally need to call in and email them how happy we are with this weeks scenes. And onto the update...

Chapter 29

Jason hung up the phone and barely restrained himself from throwing it across the room. Instead, he cracked his neck and turned to face his friend and business partner who was now standing behind his desk flipping through the pile of paperwork on the desk. Sonny was dressed in a suit and his brow was furrowed as he looked up at Jason with questioning eyes.

"Sam okay?"

Jason sighed. "Sam is fine." He tucked his phone back into his pocket and made a face as he added, "she's just letting Lucky sleep off a bender at her place."

"Lucky's drinking again?" Sonny couldn't keep the shock out of his voice. Lucky was always so vocal and determined to stay sober. Though he had been addicted to painkillers, not alcohol, he never allowed himself to drink too much. A crutch was a crutch.

"He called Sam from her apartment and when she finally showed up and let him in, he passed out," Jason explained. "Sam's going to let him sleep it off and then find out what made him so willing to throw out his sobriety."

"I uh…thought they were at odds?"

"So did I," Jason said grimacing.

"Well it's nice of Sam to be there for him," Sonny pointed out.

"Yeah….nice," Jason said slowly, his annoyance with the whole situation was obvious.

"You still don't think Sam has feelings for him?" Sonny asked honestly confused. He'd watched Sam with Jason and it was apparent to him how much Sam cared about Jason. He could almost believe that the past three years had never happened if he didn't know better. The two of them were still so very in tune with one another.

"No…I know she doesn't," Jason finally said after a long moment of silence passed. "But she does still care for him. He helped her…was there for her; when I wasn't."

"Sam isn't going to leave you for Lucky," Sonny stated matter-of-factly. He could tell by the look in Jason's eyes that he wasn't quite as sure but Sonny had watched Jason and Sam fall in love the first time. Then he'd watched them fall apart and had even helped contribute to it, something he would always regret. But even during the time they were apart, they'd still had a connection to one another. If they were in the same place, their eyes would find each other and sparks would fly. Looking back, it was only a matter of time before they'd find their way back to one another. "Besides…isn't Lucky back together with Elizabeth? Luke mentioned that they were engaged."

"Yeah….engaged," Jason said nodding his head. He didn't want to mention Elizabeth's cheating on Lucky. Sonny was close with Luke and might find it hard to keep it from him.

Jason turned when somebody knocked on the door and saw the two guards he'd sent to watch over Michael standing there. "Why aren't you with Michael?"

"He wasn't in school boss," Dominic said obviously concerned for the boy. "We checked at Mr. Jax's house and he wasn't there either."

"Michael isn't at school," Sonny said whipping his cell phone out. He hit the speed dial for Carly and turned his back on Jason and his men as she answered. "Carly…where's Michael? No, he isn't at school, Jason sent some of our men over there and he wasn't there. No I don't know where he is that's why I'm calling you. Carly…Carly!" Sonny turned back around and looked worriedly at Jason. "She doesn't know where he is."

"Try his cell," Jason said before turning back to Dominic. "Did you talk to your old friends who are still working for Zacchara?"

"Yes and as far as they know…there have been no orders against Sam or Michael," Dominic said shrugging his shoulders. "Nothing's been mentioned to them at all…which is strange. Anthony may have hated Claudia but she was still his daughter. And Johnny went back and forth on hating her and loving her."

"Johnny has already sought out Sam," Jason explained. "He threatened her with Anthony but so far our men in Pentonville haven't heard anything from Anthony."

"You don't think they'd go after Michael," Dominic said doubtfully. "Sam is the one who actually killed Claudia…not Michael."

"I wouldn't put anything past Anthony," Jason said honestly. He turned around when Sonny slammed his fist on his desk.

"He's not answering," Sonny said growing more and more worried.

"Sonny Corinthos," Diane said striding into the office. She looked between Jason and Sonny growing more and more concerned when she saw the worried look on both their faces. She put her hands on her hips and arched one eyebrow. "What happened now?"

"We don't know where Michael is," Jason finally explained when Sonny just stood there growing more and more agitated.

"Shouldn't he be in school," Diane stated the obvious.

"He didn't show up there," Dominic said before Jason and Sonny could say anything.

"Why are you here?" Sonny finally asked confused.

"Ms. Walsh has requested a meeting with you…down at the PCPD," Diane explained. "I told her we would be there in," she paused looking at her watch, "fifteen minutes."

"Cancel it," Sonny said rolling his eyes. "I need to find Michael."

"We will not be canceling," Diane stated firmly. "Ms. Walsh seems to be under the impression that you are behind Claudia's death and the more we cooperate, the more likely it is she will drop this investigation."

"Sonny go," Jason said before he could say anything else. "I will find Michael. We can't afford to let Ms. Walsh become any more suspicious."

"But Michael-"

"I'm sure he's fine," Jason said pulling out his cell phone. He was going to keep calling his nephew's phone until he picked up. Then he was going to chew his ass out for not being where he's supposed to be.

Michael walked out of the building where McCall and Jackal was and put his hands in his pockets. The office had been locked and nobody had answered his knock. Sam was probably out on a case and he didn't want to bother her with a phone call. He turned; ready to head to his dad's office when he literally bumped into somebody.

"Sorry," he mumbled looking up, freezing when he saw Johnny Zacchara standing there. "What are you doing here?"

"I could be asking you the same question," Johnny pointed out. "Shouldn't you be in school?"

"You shouldn't be here," Michael said glaring at him. "Jason wouldn't like it."

"Do you think I actually care what Jason likes Michael?" Johnny asked smirking. He looked up at the building before turning back to Michael. "Besides….maybe I have a case for McCall and Jackal."

"She's not there," Michael said quickly.

"Oh…that's okay," Johnny said easily. "She's gotta come back sometime right?"

"Stay away from Sam," Michael ordered clenching his hands into fists.

"Or what?" Johnny asked crossing his arms over his chest. He arched and eyebrow when Michael's cell phone started ringing but Michael didn't even pull it out of his pocket. "Shouldn't you answer that?"

"Leave Sam alone or you won't like the consequences," Michael said ignoring his phone. This was more important.

"Wow," Johnny said surprised. "Trying to sound tough there Mikey?"

"You know what Jason will do if you don't leave her alone."

"I know that Sam killed my sister…because of Sonny. That's what I know," Johnny said going from relaxed to pissed off in seconds. "I know that my sister would still be alive if it wasn't for Sonny."

"No she didn't," Michael said shaking his head. "Sam shot Claudia because Claudia was going to shoot her and me. She was defending us. Claudia went crazy Johnny."

"Because of Sonny," Johnny said taking a step towards him. He didn't know what he was going to do but Michael's phone started ringing again and he froze before stepping back. He didn't want go after Michael. He was just a kid who had the misfortune of being Sonny's son. This wasn't his fault. He wouldn't take it out on the kid. "You should stay out of this Michael. This has nothing to do with you."

Michael watched Johnny stride away and wanted to yell at him that this entire thing had started with him. If he hadn't been shot that night, none of this would have happened. Sam wouldn't have had to kill Claudia and wouldn't have the Zaccharra's after her. Johnny was wrong; it had everything to do with him.

"Drink this," Sam said holding out a fresh cup of coffee as Lucky finally opened his eyes and grabbed his head with both his hands. She waited until he looked at her before motioning at the cup again.

"Damn," Lucky mumbled as his head continued to throb. It had been years since he'd felt like this.

"Drink this," Sam repeated sitting down beside him. She held the cup up to his mouth until he sipped it. She finally let go when he took the cup from her and scooted away, leaving almost two feet of space between them. She reached over to the coffee table and opened the aspirin bottle in front of her, holding out a couple pills for him also. "These will help too."

"Thanks," Lucky finally muttered after he'd drank almost all the coffee and taken the pills. He leaned over and set the cup on a coaster before putting his head in his hands again. "I'd almost forgotten what this felt like."

"You are an idiot," Sam said softly shaking her head. "Why would you start drinking like this Lucky? You were sober…for years."

"You were right," Lucky said his voice trembling. From anger or pain Sam didn't know.

"About what?" Sam asked when it became obvious he wasn't going to say anything else.

"I think I knew…" Lucky said shaking his head slowly. "Deep down anyways…that you were right." He ran his hands through his hair before turning to look at her. "But I wanted to believe that we had gotten it right…finally. That we were going to be a family again…for Cameron and Jake. That she loved me."

"Elizabeth does love you," Sam said looking down at her hands.

"No she doesn't," Lucky said lowering his hands to his thighs, both clenched tightly into fists. "There is no way she could love me and be sleeping with my brother. I walked in on them."

"Lucky," Sam said closing her eyes. She'd known that it was about Elizabeth and Nicholas. Without him saying anything she'd known but a small part of her had hoped that she was wrong. That he hadn't found out because this was going to destroy him…if it hadn't already.

"Did you know she was cheating on me with Nicholas?" Lucky asked his voice almost to calm. "You never told me who she was cheating on me with…so…did you know it was Nicholas?"

"Yes," Sam said so softly she knew he had to strain to hear her. "I walked in on them…at the hospital."

"Were you ever going to tell me it was Nicholas?"

"Would you have believed me?" Sam countered. She rubbed her hands on her thighs before jumping up off the couch. "You didn't even believe me when I told you Elizabeth had cheated…if I told you it was with your brother…"

Lucky closed his eyes. "I accused you of…I can't believe…I'm so sorry Sam."

Sam closed her eyes and shook her head. "I knew you weren't going to believe me. It's why I almost didn't tell you." She turned to face him arms crossed over her chest. "But I thought about…if it was reversed…if I was in a relationship with somebody and they had cheated and you knew…I'd want you to tell me."

"But you would have believed me," Lucky pointed out. He rubbed his aching head as he stood up. "I said so many things Sam…"

"It's okay Lucky," Sam said even though they both knew she didn't really mean it. Lucky had hurt her with his comments. She'd never tried to hurt him; she'd only wanted to tell him the truth.

"It's not," Lucky said. "But I think I know why I was so angry with you…why I reacted so strongly." Sam didn't bother to ask him why, she knew he would tell her in time. She waited, letting the minutes pass by as Lucky gathered his thoughts. "I…hated that you were the one who had to tell me." When Sam just continued to stare at him he sighed. "I hated that you were right…you'd warned me all along. To move slowly…to take my time with Elizabeth…and I didn't listen."

"You love her Lucky," Sam said softly.

"Right now…I think I hate her," Lucky said sounding surprised even as he said it.

"Lucky…you're angry," Sam said taking a step towards him.

"I am," Lucky agreed. "But I'm also…done. I'm done with her. I'm done with this…ridiculous thing we do. We get together and then one of us does something to destroy it only to return to it yet again for just one more chance. I'm sick of it."

"Lucky-"

"No Sam…I just…I came here to apologize for everything I said to you," Lucky said before making his way towards the door. He paused as he opened it and turned to face her one last time. "I really am sorry. I should have listened to you."

Sam stood there, by her patio doors and hoped that Lucky didn't go do something he would end up regretting. Right now he had his righteous anger but that wouldn't last and he could end up regretting anything he did until he calmed down. She walked over towards her desk and grabbed her cell phone. She stared at it, debating on if she should call Jason. She'd promised him but standing there holding her phone, she didn't want to call him. She grabbed her jacket and keys and flew out of her apartment barely acknowledging Max and Milo as they fell into step beside her. She wanted to see him.

Jason stood behind Sonny's desk, staring at Michael who was slouched down in his seat, a scowl on his face. Jason had been out looking for him, calling his phone, until almost thirty minutes ago when Michael had finally answered and told him he was at Sonny's office. He'd told him about his confrontation with Johnny and Jason had ordered him to stay put. He'd then proceeded to break too many laws trying to get there as fast as he could. He was lucky the police hadn't pulled him over. They usually looked for any excuse to get him into an interrogation room. A speeding ticket was a good way of allowing them to search his car. Not that he kept anything incriminating in his SUV. But the PCPD was dumb enough to think he did.

"What were you thinking?" Jason finally asked his stare turning into a glare. "You are supposed to be in school." Michael just continued to sit there, scowl firmly in place. "Do you know how worried we've been? Johnny could have grabbed you and we wouldn't have known Michael."

"He's not after me," Michael pointed out. "He is angry at Sam…and dad."

"You are lucky he didn't change his mind with the open opportunity you handed him," Jason replied evenly. "You should have been in school."

"Why?" Michael asked before he could stop himself.

"Why? Michael…why doesn't matter," Jason said shaking his head. "You need to go to school."

"I hate it there," Michael muttered staring at the floor.

"I don't care," Jason said putting his hands on the desk so he could lean forward. "You have to go to school. That isn't an option."

"Jason!" Sam said loudly getting his attention. She had heard him clear out on the street. She looked at Michael who had turned around in his seat to look at her. "What is going on in here?"

"Michael skipped school…again," Jason stated glaring at his nephew.

"Okay," Sam said confused. "He shouldn't have done that but Jason…why are you yelling at him?"

"Because he has been walking around Port Charles without his guards and nobody knew where he was and he wasn't answering his cell phone," Jason explained his voice much quieter.

Sam took a deep breath and nodded. Okay, that made more sense. Jason had been worried about him and when Jason worried, he sometimes reacted abrasively. She walked farther into the office and sat down in the chair next to Michael. "Michael…why aren't you in school?"

"I had planned on going," Michael said glancing at Jason out of the corner of his eye before looking back at Sam. "But I ran into Kristina at Kelly's and she told me how everybody was worried about Anthony coming after you…so I wanted to find you and make sure you were okay."

"You could have called," Sam pointed out. She reached over and grabbed his hand. "Thank you for being worried but I'm okay." She looked behind her where Max and Milo were standing along with Dominic and Chad. "As you can see I have my own security detail now. And look at that…so do you."

"As if I wasn't enough of a freak at school," Michael mumbled before turning back around.

"Is school really that bad?" Sam asked concerned.

"It's…school," Michael said downplaying how bad it was. He hated going but he also knew that his mom and Jax were never going to let him drop out or transfer to, god forbid, a public school. He stood up and looked at his uncle. "I'm sorry I worried you."

"Not only me," Jason stated. "Your father and mother were just as worried."

Michael closed his eyes. Now he was in for it when he got home. Having divorced parents just meant he got double the punishments. Add a controlling uncle and a rich stepfather who hated both your father and uncle…his life was a soap opera.

"I think it's time for you to go to school," Jason said looking over his head at Dominic and Chad. "Please take him to school and make sure he stays there for the rest of the day."

"You got it," Dominic said before following Michael out of the restaurant.

"Did you have to yell at him Jason?" Sam asked once Max and Milo closed the door and they were alone. She turned back to face him and saw him sitting down in the chair, his head in his hands. "Are you okay?"

"Johnny had him alone Sam," he said quietly.

"When?" Sam asked alarmed. She scooted forward in her chair and reached across the desk to take one of his hands.

Jason lifted his head up and took Sam's hand in his. "When he left your office…Johnny was about to walk in."

"Johnny was looking for me," Sam stated.

"And found Michael instead…alone," Jason repeated.

"That could have been bad," Sam said shaking her head. She stood up, still holding his hand and walked around the desk. "But nothing happened Jason. Johnny obviously isn't going after Michael. I'll kill him myself if he even tries."

"Ooh…tough girl," Jason mumbled smirking when Sam hit his shoulder. She jumped up onto the desk, sitting right beside him.

"Maybe we should go on the offensive with Johnny," Sam suggested thoughtfully. "He's walking around town…possibly making plans. Maybe we should attack first."

"You're sexy when you talk strategy," Jason said leaning back in his chair.

"Jason," Sam said kicking him gently. "I'm serious. We need to do something. Johnny could be planning something."

"How did things go with Lucky?" Jason asked changing the subject.

Sam sighed and clasped her hands tightly in her lap. She'd been hoping to distract him with talk of Johnny for at least a little while. She still didn't know what to say about Lucky. She was still worried about him.

"Lucky…is so angry," she finally said. "He found out about Elizabeth and Nicholas."

"Is he okay?" Jason asked genuinely concerned.

"No," Sam said shaking her head. "He is…I don't even know what he is. I've never seen him like that. He walked in on them…he saw his fiancé sleeping with his brother. I don't know how you can be okay with that." She got down from the desk and climbed into Jason's lap, laying her head against his chest. She relaxed when Jason put one of his hands on her leg and ran the other one over her hair. She needed this. She needed Jason.