A/N: Happy New Year everyone! Wishing you a blessed and fulfilling 2018!
"You really came!" Elizabeth gaped at the man she hadn't seen in person in years, hating on sight how lean and refreshed he looked, as though the years had simply gleaned off him and left him unscathed. "You shouldn't be here!"
"Hello, Elizabeth." She looked the same as always to him - beautiful and angelic. But there was something hard and sinister there too now. What had happened to her? "May I come in?"
She'd rather slam the door in his unreliable face and send him straight back to wherever-the-hell he flew in from…but her boys would never forgive her.
"Suit yourself. The boys will be happy to see you at least." Turning her back to walk away from the open door and his hard scrutiny, she pulled the sweater close around her and returned to the laundry she'd been folding.
Moving cautiously into the uninviting space, Lucky followed, glancing towards the stairs before he came to a stop before her. "Speaking of…where are they?"
"Where they're supposed to be the middle of a school day…which you'd know if you gave a damn how they lived." Huffily, she folded a pair of Aiden's shorts and stomped it on the pile growing on the sofa in front of her.
Refusing to allow himself to be pulled into a fight that would sway from his purpose, Lucky took a slow breath and nodded. "You're right…I haven't been here…but that changes now."
"Why exactly are you here?"
"Nikolas thought you could use my help, and I think he's right. How've you been, Elizabeth?"
"Just swell - cant you tell? Nikolas had no business calling you - you're not here to help me, you're here to control me…like you have any say in how I live my life!"
Lucky moved to take a seat opposite her, noting the bite in her voice that appeared at war and the haunting look of her eyes. The sweet girl he'd loved so long ago was long, long gone, and the woman he'd admired who he thought took her place, was nowhere in sight either.
"Maybe not - but I have a say in my sons' lives."
"Son - singular!" Elizabeth snarled and looked angrily at him. "Aiden is yours biologically, although lord knows not any other way."
"Look - I wasn't expecting you to welcome me with open arms…we've both been living our lives as we see fit…but don't act like my sons are not important to me, because you know they are. Cam and Jake are as much my sons as Aiden is, and that will never change. I'm here to make certain that they're going to be alright."
"Jakey's father is more than capable of ensuring he has everything he needs. We don't need you here, Lucky!"
Looking at her in astonishment, Lucky knew he had hardly any standing…he'd left them to travel the world in search of excitement and adventure, so he had no room to fight. But this was about so much more than just him, so much more than her.
"Jake is as much my son as he was the day Jason gave up all rights to be in his life. I understand things have been different since he came back, but Jason's not here, is he, Elizabeth? So maybe things aren't so different afterall!"
"How dare you?" The zing had found its mark in her chest, reminding her how lonely she was without her fiancé, how much she missed him every day. "At least Jason makes time to be here for Jakey, not traipsing the world in your ridiculous quest to hold onto your fleeting youth. He only gave him up before to protect him, and now Sam is doing everything in her power to keep him away from his family, but it won't work anymore than it did last time…he'll come home! Jason is his father - not you!"
"I didn't come here to argue with you - I just thought I'd show you the courtesy of letting you know what I'm doing, so you're not blindsided." He put his hands together and sat forward. "I've talked to Alexis, and she's filing a suit on my behalf, as we speak."
"What the hell are you talking about? Why are you talking to a lawyer?"
"I'm doing more than that. I entrusted my sons' care to you because I knew you loved them too much to put anything in front of their welfare - at least, that's what I used to think! From what I'm hearing though, that's become highly questionable, and it's time I let my sons know they can count on me."
"So you're just going to waltz in here, repeating idle gossip and chitchat, after you've left me to parent them alone all this time - and try to take them from me? How dare you?"
"It's way past idle, and you know it! I've been talking to Cam…have you even noticed that he's been unhappy and distant for a long time? Probably not - since he says you only pay attention to Jake. Cam and Aiden practically live at your grandmother's, while you use Jake to bait Jason…what are you doing, Elizabeth? When did our boys become a burden to you?"
"My children are a blessing!"
"Then act like it! You have three sons - three!" His voice raised in pitch as he did. "Three of the most adorable blessings in this world, yet they're being made to feel as though they're an afterthought in everything you're doing, trying to trap a man who isn't interested!"
The slap that sounded against his face when she leered, then whipped back in anger, was a bit of a surprise to him. He knew she had a temper and a flare for the dramatic, but her weapon was usually tears, not violence. She could cry up a storm and blubber through a teary fit better and quicker than anyone he'd ever known, but he hadn't expected this particular physical reaction.
"You've always been jealous of Jason, and now you're angry that he's around, being the father you should've been. Get out of our house, Lucky…Jason would not want you here. Nikolas should never have called you…and I don't want you here!"
"I'll leave…but I'm not going further than Spoon Island." He shoved his hands inside his pockets as he moved slowly behind the couch, then stopped. "I'm home now…and I will make sure my children are taken care of." He looked at her one last time, feeling sad for the girl inside the woman he'd once loved more than anybody…sadder still, for who he barely recognized in front of him now. "You'll be hearing from my attorney very soon."
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"Are you okay?"
"Yes…for the hundredth time that you've asked me!" She pushed against his chest so he'd lower her to the deck of the speedboat, but he still held on till he'd moved to the padded bench so he could lower her gently, then reached inside the covered box next to it for a blanket, that he quickly tucked all the way to her neck.
Sam was watching the fishing boat anchored next to them, thinking she should feel some type of remorse for the life she'd just taken…but quickly finding she was okay with the fact that she didn't.
"You'll never have to look over your shoulder for him again." Jason ran a hand over her blanketed arm and watched the faraway look in her beautiful brown eyes, knowing exactly what she was thinking. It was like a sixth sense, how connected he felt to her! "He should never have been allowed so close to you all this time, taunting and belittling what he did to you and Michael, getting the chance to get this near you…again. I should've done this before he came after you…don't you dare blame yourself for any of it."
She met anxious blue eyes and drew the blanket closer at her neck, sinking further on the bench. "Actually, I was wondering if we shouldn't blow the boat - to get rid of any signs we were ever aboard?"
He relaxed a little and nodded in agreement. "On it! I set a couple charges when I first boarded. I just need to get you out of blast range."
"Wait…what if it's not insured? The owner shouldn't lose everything just because he unknowingly rented to a serpent. Maybe we shouldn't…."
Jason smiled through the worry he was feeling for her. Even with poison coursing her veins and having just escaped being mauled and raped, her concern was for somebody else. "It's covered. Spinelli checked earlier when he helped me track it down."
Sam wasn't surprised. Of course he had a plan to cover their tracks…Jason Morgan never left anything to chance and nobody was ever more prepared. "Okay, good…then blow that sucker!"
After making sure she was tucked and warm beneath the blanket, Jason steered the speedboat towards shore, pausing only long enough to press the detonator in his pocket, before tossing it over the side. He looked back at Sam, watching her as she watched the orange glow against the night, exhaling in relief, still apprehensive about getting her medical attention, despite her protestations. Whether she liked it or not, she was headed straight to get checked out!
He wasn't the least bit surprised when she fought him all the way there, from the dock to the SUV, to the GH parking garage…but her weak objections fell on deaf ears…there was no way he would have a moment's peace before he was certain she was okay.
The moment they were in sight of the nurse's station, Sam spirit took a dive. "Of course!" She eyed the nurse distastefully, "Why are you always here, whenever anyone named Morgan is within a mile of the place? Seriously, don't you have a life of your own? Don't you want one?" She eased up only when she felt a soft pull when Jason rested a hand at her shoulder.
Elizabeth snorted in disgust as she looked at the pint-size who wanted everything she had. "You're welcome! Although, if I had known you were being kidnapped, I'd have kept my mouth shut and given Franco time to do us all a favor!"
"Thank you? Bitch, I ought to punch you in the throat for looking the other way when you saw what that rapist was doing to me." And if she wasn't separated from her by the damn desk, and feeling light headed and dizzy, she might still!
"Sam, Jason…what are you two doing here?"
Turning to the sound of his mother's surprise when she emerged from a cubicle to find them in the hall, Jason was washed with relief. Someone who cared about Sam!
"Sam was drugged, Monica. We don't know what it was and how much of it is in her system - can you please help her?"
"Oh, my goodness! Yes, yes, of course!" Monica hurried to take her former daughter-in-law's arm to guide her to a free cubicle, as Jason trailed anxiously behind them, listening to Monica asking Sam's symptoms.
"Jason, I need to talk to you!" When none of them bothered to look back, Elizabeth got louder and more insistent, "Jason!"
Monica threw an annoyed look behind them. "Jason, I need to examine Sam alone. Kindly see why Nurse Webber thinks she needs to rouse my entire hospital."
Trying anxiously to squelch the nervous energy wrought in him at the thought of something being wrong with her, Jason allowed his mother to take charge, knowing he could trust her to do whatever was needed to take care of the mother of his child. He was trying to ignore Elizabeth Webber, but she joined his side regardless.
"Jason, this is important - it's about our son!"
He faced her reluctantly, knowing she wasn't above using his son as a pawn, but that's what he had to look forward to - lucky him. Eyeing her silently, he waited for her to begin.
"Lucky's back in town." She paused for a reaction, something that would tell her that the idea of having her ex back in town, her most meaningful relationship, besides him, sparked something that would give her hope…a little jealousy perhaps, some distaste, hatred…anything. But she got nothing but indifference.
"Good for him. I'm sure Aiden will be thrilled to see him."
Okay, well at least that could be something. She rested a hand anxiously on his arm to relay tension, and allowed her eyes to grow big with fear.
"But that's just it - he's not just here about Aiden. Jason, he's trying to take Jake!"
"What are you talking about? What do you mean, take Jake?"
Finally! This, she could use!
"He's gotten a lawyer - your new girlfriend's mother, didn't she tell you? Sam's trying to help Lucky to take our son away from us!" She gripped his arm tighter and stepped close. "You can't let them do it…you can't let them take our baby!"
Jason was stunned. If what she was saying was true…but then he caught himself, considering the source!
"Okay, Alexis and I haven't always seen eye to eye, but she has no reason to do what you're suggesting. Neither does Lucky. Jake is my son, and nobody is taking him anywhere!"
"You agreed to let Lucky raise him, remember? As far as everyone is concerned, he's Jake's father."
Moving past her so he could get out of her clutches, Jason walked to the window on the far side of the room to stare down at the parking lot. Could she be telling the truth? Could Lucky Spencer be back trying to take his son? And if he was, would he be able to stop him when he was the one who handed him over in the first place?
Elizabeth smirked as she watched him in deep thought. For the first time in ages, his concentration was on their family again, where it belonged. Why hadn't she thought of this? If she'd known Lucky coming back would give her this much of an edge, she'd have sent for him herself, months ago! She was finally winning…Jason was going to fight for them!
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"What's wrong?" Sam knew something was off the minute he entered the cubicle after Monica left. "Did your mother tell you something?"
Jason's thoughts were pulling at him from every direction, rendering him unable to be still.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to worry you. No, Monica didn't tell me anything other than what she told us both."
"Then what is it? And don't say nothing - I know you better than that."
"I wasn't going to…I know you do." He knew he could talk to her about anything. "It's Jake."
"What about Jake - is he hurt?"
"No." Jason took a seat on the edge of her bed and rested an arm at his knee. "Lucky's back. He wants to take him."
"Oh."
"Oh?" He didn't like the odd feeling he got from the way she seemed to soften at the mention of the man's name. "What does that mean?"
"It doesn't mean anything…I'm just a little surprised…never thought we'd ever see him again."
"Well, he's here." More nervous energy sent him to his feet to start pacing again. "He doesn't get my son though! Nobody is taking Jake away from me again."
"That does't sound like Lucky."
There was that feeling again. What was it about her and Lucky that gave him pause and boiled his blood? "You sound awfully sure. Is there something I don't know?"
Sam would've smiled but she knew he wouldn't find it funny. The history between the two men was really nothing to laugh at, and although they were never best friends, there had been a mutual respect that kept them civil, even after the ugly times. She couldn't help the light teasing attempt to soothe him though. "Your memory is shitty, at best…there's a LOT you don't know!"
"Like the fact that she used to fuck my husband, for example!"
Sam and Jason turned to the voice of the nurse entering the cubicle, an iPad in hand as she came to a stop by the monitors and began to record Sam's vitals.
Jason couldn't decide which stunned him more - the filthy words she spoke, or the stillness that overcame Sam. But the nurse wasn't finished.
"Go ahead, Mrs. Morgan…tell my fiancé how much pleasure you took in screwing my husband right out from under me, when you got all bent out of shape with hatred over the conception of our beautiful son."
Sam shifted further into the pillows, a cold smirk working her lips beneath an icy stare. "Poor, poor, little Elizabeth. Really bruised you with that one, didn't I? There you were, with Jason, Lucky, Nikolas - all the men in your tight little niche, worshipping at your dainty, sainted feet - then here comes little ole me…got Lucky to see past that tarnished, chipped ass halo, see that women who didn't require hero worship in order to care about him, actually existed. He came running to my arms, away from you! Would you like me to tell you the things he did to me in my hot tub?"
"You're disgusting!" Elizabeth flashed to Jason. "You see? See how filthy she is? This is who you've chosen to tear our family apart for!"
Sam was feeling relentless and reckless, and she would jab away at the nurse without so much as a look at Jason to see his reaction to hearing the things she spat. "What's the matter Lizzy - still so afraid of me?"
"I was never afraid of a slut like you! You never deserved to wear Jason's name."
Sam didn't know if it was the drug still churning through her system or just the pleasure she was getting from the woman's misery, but something kept her goading.
"That's what's always killed you, bitch! No matter how many times you thought you had him cornered, it was never quite enough to get you that name…and you want it bad, don't you? Don't feel too bad, you came closer this time than ever before. Too bad you couldn't stop yourself from letting the crazy out before you sealed the deal." She brought her hand up to cover her mouth mockingly. "Oops…my bad…it's not nice to use that term to someone who actually 'flew over the cuckoos nest.' Sorry, Nurse Ratched!"
Jason was looking at them both but he wasn't exactly in that room, his mind racing through emotions and images of hot tubs and candles and parks and black and white ball gowns. Sam was angry, so angry and hurtful, and she was hurting everyone, including herself. The woman he'd known to put his needs and feelings before her own had disappeared, taken off for places unknown, leaving in her wake, someone vindictive and mean! She was lashing out at everyone and everything. She would use Lucky to hurt him, because he hurt her deeply. She would use him to torture Elizabeth for lying, for convincing him to lie to her, for using them all. He'd been such an unseeing bastard that he'd even proposed marriage to Elizabeth…after Sam had taken him back.
"I did those things to you?"
His soft whisper served to anger Elizabeth more, pouring fuel to the fire that burned her. "Don't apologize to her! She did horrible things to our son, hated his existence because she was petty and jealous. She screwed Lucky to get back at me - that's it, knowing fully well we were still married! She's beneath you, Jason!"
"A position I quite enjoy! You remember how hot it is, don't you Lizzy…it's the reason you can't pick your dignity up off the ground and act like an adult, no matter how many times he leaves." Sam laughed dryly, "Listen to you, sounding off like your marriage was of any import to you, when we all know it didn't mean a damn thing when you were climbing those stairs to trip and fall all over Jason's dick. You sure weren't married to Lucky that night…but the minute his pain from your self-serving betrayal sent him to me, he was your husband again. You're nothing but a predictable, pretentious, deceitful bitch who deserved every last knife I stuck into your selfish, contemptible heart. Keep pushing me - keep ending up in my face, and one of these days…"
"Jason, are you hearing this - she just threatened my life!" She didn't understand why he wasn't saying anything - just standing there with his eyes glued to the woman like she owned the world. "Do something! She can't be allowed to talk to me like that!"
"Get out!" Sam was tired of talking to her, tired of seeing her when the game lost its zeal. "I don't want you anywhere near me."
"You're a patient - you don't give me orders!"
"No?" Crooking a finger, Sam used it to call the woman over. "Come closer…come on…I dare you!"
"Elizabeth, can you excuse us?"
She looked at Jason in shock. "Stop taking her side, Jason! Why does she always get to…"
"I need to talk to Sam alone." When she wouldn't leave he was frank, "She's right you know…you really shouldn't have anything to do with her care and you should know better. You hate Sam, you shouldn't be here. There are plenty of other nurses on staff."
She slammed the iPad on the tray at the foot of the bed in anger, placing one hand akimbo. "I know how to be professional, Jason…I would never let my personal feelings interfere with the care I give a patient."
"Go tell that to the last Mrs. Lucky Spencer!" Irritated, Sam pulled the IV from her arm and started to sit up. "Get the hell away from me, Nurse Kevorkian - I wouldn't let you touch me if you were the last nurse on this planet!"
"Sam, what are you doing?" Jason tried to stop her movements but hesitated when she flashed him off and threw her feet over the side of the bed.
"I need to see my kid! I've had enough of this delusional bitch's grudge match - I'm outta here!" The room had gotten stuffy, feeling like the life was being sucked out of it. It was a common result from sharing close space with the hated woman.
"Not until a doctor says so." Jason tried again, and this time she allowed him to help steady her as she stood and reached for the jacket on the chair by the bed.
"You heard Monica before, Jason - the drug is working it's way out and it didn't do anything but make me sleepy and lethargic - I'm fine. She wanted me to sleep it off here but I can do that just as well at home." Glaring at the nurse as she pulled her jacket on, Sam continued, "At least there, I won't be one step away from stabbing your pet bitch in her bug eye."
She cursed beneath her breath when her legs wobbled and gave way with the second step towards the door, and just as she braced, ready to feel hard marble rise up to meet her, strong arms circled her instead, hugging her solidly to his side.
"God, you're so stubborn!"
"No more than you! You don't like this place either, so why would you want to force me to?"
She had an arguable point. There wasn't a day he'd spent in the dreaded place that he hadn't plotted his escape.
"Fine. I'll take you home, but only if Monica says it's okay, so let's go find her."
"Jason, what about Jake? We have to stop Lucky from taking our son."
"I'll deal with that, but there's nothing I can do about it tonight, is there?"
"Yes, there is! You can refuse to let her lead you around by the nose for one more minute - you know who she really is!"
But what Jason refused to do was let the vixen at his side down one more time. Looking at the stubborn face, gritting against the dizziness she was obviously fighting, he told her sternly, "We're going to find Monica and get her okay to take you home…and the minute you start feeling like yourself again, you and I are going to talk."
With a groan, Sam lowered her eyelids and gripped his jacket tightly, knowing the night was about to be a lot longer than she'd anticipated, but not the least bit sorry about the conversation that had landed her here. Tric deserved it!
