A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry for the super long ass delay. I had two very sick children who are just now getting over the worst flu ever. So I've been busy taking care of them, working, and being exhausted. I won't make you wait as long next time! Anyways, Jason and Sam were reunited in the last chapter, but let's see how it's effected them and how it will all play out with not just Jason and Sam, but everyone.

As always, your comments and reviews have been so positive and incredible, so thank you for all the support! Please keep reviewing.

Happy reading!

Jen

buttercup0303

Chapter 37

Jason looked down into Sam's beautiful brown eyes and swallowed nervously, before taking a deep breath and blurting out the truth.

"I'm Danny's father, Sam. I'm Jason Morgan." He held his breath and waited for Sam's reaction.

"I know." Sam replied simply, beaming up at him.

Nonplussed, Jason just stared at her.

"Wait...what?" He asked dumbly, not quite sure what had just happened. He went over their conversation, trying to figure out how Sam could possibly know the truth.

"I remembered standing there, with you by my side. We were arguing with a blonde woman, begging her to give us back our son."

Sam stared at him in surprise.

"You remembered saving Danny from Heather Webber?" She said in a shaking voice.

Jason was caught up short as he realized what she'd said. He'd been so nervous he hadn't caught it but... She'd known exactly what memory he'd been having. And she hadn't asked him how he could possibly have one of Jason's memories, Jason thought wonderingly.

Looking at Sam again, Jason shook his head to clear it. He opened his mouth to ask her how she'd found out but all that came out was, "Wait, what?"

Sam giggled and grinned up at him.

"I know exactly who you are. You're my husband and Danny's father and you came back to me. Just like I knew you would."

Jason couldn't help but grin back at her, even though he was just as confused as ever.

"How?"

"This." Sam pulled the letter from her pocket, along with the flash drive she's snatched out of the laptop on her way out the door.

Jason looked at the letter in confusion, but took it and started to read it. She knew when he got to Patrick's role in all of this when his face transformed into one of fury.

"That sonuvabitch knew I was alive and didn't say anything to you?" Jason raised incredulous eyes to her and Sam winced. She almost felt sorry for Patrick when Jason saw him. Almost.

"I know. And when Anna finds him and brings him home, I'll bail you out after you kick his ass." She replied simply. It did what she'd wanted, as Jason shot her an approving look and chuckled before he looked back down at the letter.

He crumpled the letter in his fist when he finished reading it, furious as he now had more questions than ever. He raised his eyes to the flash drive in Sam's hand.

"What is that?"

Sam paled a bit as she stared down at the flash drive, closing her eyes against the visions of Jason's accident that flitted through her mind.

Jason stared at Sam in concern as she grew pale.

"Sam, what is it?" His reached out and cupped her cheek.

Sam's eyes fluttered open to meet his.

"It's the footage from the woods that Samuel sent."

Jason's brow furrowed as he tried to remember what she was talking about. His eyes widened and flew down to the flash drive.

"The footage of my accident?"

Sam nodded, closing her fist around it.

"Yes. But I don't want to watch it again right now. Right now, at this moment, all I want to do is stand here in my husband's arms."

Jason grinned down at her, though his gaze followed her hand as she shoved the drive into her pocket.

"I can do that." He teased, pulling her into his arms again and wrapping his arms around her.

"I know you don't remember our life together. But it was a good one and we were happy. And I'm going to help you remember just how happy we were." Sam promised, her face pressed against his chest.

Jason's arms tightened around her.

"I want that more than anything. But you should know that the memories I told you about before, as Jace? I can see them all clearly now. And I can remember how I felt and what was happening at the time. I may not remember everything, Sam, but I remembered that you were the most important person in my life. I remembered how much I loved you."

Sam lifted her head and stared up at him, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I love you too. As Jace, as Jason, it doesn't matter. I love who you are yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I just love you."

Jason smiled and leaned down, his forehead resting against hers.

"Sam, I couldn't possibly deserve you but that's too bad because I'm never letting you go again." Jason vowed, lowering his head and capturing her lips with his. The kids was tender and sweet, and Jason tried to put all the love, gratitude, and adoration he felt for Sam in his kiss.

Finally, they broke apart, and Sam stared up at Jason, her heart in her eyes.

"There's no one more perfect for me, Jason. When I found you, I felt so connected to you that I convinced myself you were Jason. And when it seemed like we had proof that you weren't, I was devastated but I still couldn't stay away from you. I just couldn't fight this pull to you. And now I know why. There wasn't a choice for me, Jason. I had to answer my soul's call." She replied, staring up at him with a soft smile, tears brimming in her eyes.

Jason's eyes shone with emotion as he reached out and tucked a strand behind her ear in a gesture so familiar that Sam's heart skipped a beat. He may not have all of his memories, but he was still Jason at his core. Of course Sam had fallen for him so hard.

Suddenly overcome with happiness, Jason gripped Sam around the waist and hugged her to him, sweeping her off her feet and spinning her around. Sam burst out laughing in surprise and threw her arms around his neck. Her hair flew out behind her, and her eyes lit up with with joy. She'd never looked more beautiful to Jason.

"I see Mr. Smith told you the good news. I'm sure knowing he's a match for your little boy is a huge relief." Epiphany grinned at the happy couple indulgently.

Sam stiffened in Jason's arms and stared at him. He stopped spinning her and set her down carefully, watching her. Sam turned away from him slowly and took a step towards Epiphany.

"What did you just say?"

Epiphany looked between them in alarm, quickly realizing Sam didn't know about Mr. Smith's test results. She straightened her shoulders.

"I'm sorry, Samantha. When I saw you two, it looked like you were celebrating. I just assumed…" She paused in concern as Sam started trembling.

"Samantha, take a deep breathe now, honey. This is a good thing. Mr. Smith is a perfect match for young Danny. Your little boy is gonna make it, I know he is."

The words echoed in Sam's head and she nodded absently and spun towards Jason.

"Jason? You're a match? You can save our son?" She asked in a shaky voice as she was flooded with emotions. The fear and terror she'd lived with these past weeks combined with the unbelievable joy and relief of the miracle of not only Jason's return but his being a match for Danny seemed to overwhelm her, leaving her dizzy.

"Jason?" Epiphany muttered in confusion in the background, but neither Sam or Jason acknowledged her. Jason was staring at Sam, nodding softly.

"Yes, I'm a match, Sam. I told you, I wouldn't let anything happen to our son." He smiled at her, happy to give her such incredible news.

Sam burst into tears, her entire body wracked with sobs as relief, shock, and too many emotions to name. Suddenly weak, her knees gave out and she sank towards the floor.

"Sam!" Jason called out in alarm as he moved quickly and caught her, swinging her up into his arms. Sam curled into him, her fists clutching his shirt as she sobbed against him.

Jason held Sam tightly, understanding that there had been too many surprises, too much to process. She needed to let out the built up emotions. He could hear Sam whispering something through her tears and he leaned down to make it out.

"Thank you, God. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you." She was whispering fervently, her body wracked with sobs. Jason carried her over to the nearby waiting area and sat down, holding Sam in his lap as she cried. He rested his chin on top of her head and closed his eyes against the tears that burning his eyes. Because he knew exactly how Sam felt and in his mind, he was repeating his own litany.

"Thank you God, thank you God, thank you God, thank you God."

…..

Ten feet away, a burly orderly watched the tender moment between the man and woman in the waiting room with narrowed eyes. Walking away, he pulled a cell phone out of his hand, his fingers moving quickly as he sent a text.

On a small island in the middle of the Aegean Sea, a few miles off of Corfu, a large villa rose up, dominating the island. Inside, a slender hand reached out to pick up the vibrating cell phone on the ornate end table.

Glancing at the text, a string of furious curses filled the air as that same hand slapped at a small button on the table beside her.

"Bring the girl here now!" She snapped angrily, before taking a deep breath. A slow, diabolical smile spread across her weathered, but lovely face as a thought occurred to her. This couldn't go unpunished. No one defied Helena Cassadine and lived to tell about it.

...

"Alexis, wait!" Nikolas ran after his aunt and grabbed her arm gently, stopping her from charging through the hospital.

Alexis turned on his, eyes snapping angrily.

"What are you doing?" She asked incredulously.

Nikolas held his hands up in surrender.

"I just think we need to think about how we approach this. We can't just charge up to Sam and tell her Jace is really Jason. She's been through hell in the last couple of weeks, I doubt she'd be able to process it. Hell, I don't even think she noticed that Thanksgiving came and went. We need to approach this carefully." Nikolas cautioned, worried about Sam.

Alexis shook her head and she looked at Nikolas with a mixture of annoyance and gratitude.

"Nikolas, thank you for worrying about my daughter. But you're not giving Sam enough credit. Your cousin is the strongest woman I know. She can and will handle this. Besides, she's been without her husband long enough. She deserves him back."

Hayden stood off to the side, staring at her phone with a pale face. Nikolas was looking at Alexis, thinking about what she said.

"If this is what you want to do, you know I support you. Maybe it would be better if we let Hayden ex-." Nikolas glanced at Hayden as he explained and froze at the expression on her face. He stopped talking mid-sentence and strode over to her. He placed his hands on either side of her face and made her look up at him.

"Hayden, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Tears were sliding down her face as she handed him her phone silently, her hands shaking violently.

Nikolas took the phone and his eyes widened in horror.

On the screen, was a picture of a titian-haired beauty with a defiant look on her face that couldn't quite mask her fear. Beside her stood one of Helena's favorite thugs, one of his big, meaty fists holding her by the head, and the other holding a gun that he was pointing at the woman's head. Below the picture was a text:

I warned you. First your sister, then you're next.

Nikolas' eyes raised up to her, his gaze holding sympathy and anger on her behalf. He pulled Hayden into his arms and though she went stiff at first, she loosened up and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"This is all my fault. Why couldn't I just keep my mouth shut? She's going to kill my sister. What am I going to do now?" She whispered brokenly, crying softly.

Nikolas shook his head.

"We don't know that your sister is dead. And I can protect you. I'll keep you safe." He promised, looking over Hayden's head towards his aunt only to freeze. Alexis was gone.

….

Alexis hurried down the hall, the phone held to her ear.

"Molly, get Krissy and come back to the hospital now. Sam needs us."

Hanging up, she sped around the corner and came up short. In the waiting room across from Danny's hospital room, Sam sat curled up in Jace's lap, crying. Hesitating, Alexis stood there, unsure. Taking a deep breath, Alexis strode forward only to stop short as Epiphany stepped into her path.

"Excuse me." Alexis said absent-mindedly as she tried to sidestep Epiphany to no avail. Epiphany merely shifted a few steps over back into her path.

Impatiently, Alexis tossed her hair and looked down at the domineering nurse.

"Can I help you with something, Nurse Johnson? I'm a hurry-."

"Yes. You can give Samantha and her man some privacy. They're dealing with big news and she needs to process it."

Alexis shook her head in confusion, her eyes shooting back to Sam in alarm.

"Oh God. What news? Is it Danny? Is he worse? Oh my God." She started in alarm but Epiphany held a hand to stop her.

"No, it's about Mr. Smith. He was tested as a match for Danny, and the results just hit her hard."

Alexis eyes shot to Epiphany.

"Jace got his results back already? He's not a match? But he's Danny's father, how could he not be a match?" Alexis muttered, more to herself than to the nurse now staring at her in shock.

"You said it too!"

Alexis shook her head again, as if to clear it.

"What?"

"You called that young man Danny's father. But he and Sam just met. How is that possible?"

"Wait. Who else called him Danny's father?" Alexis asked slowly, her eyes sliding back to Sam and Jason.

"Sam did. She said he was going to save their son's life. And she called him Jason by mistake."

Alexis gasped.

"She knows Jace is Jason? But how?" Alexis asked in surprise, staring at Sam and Jason.

"He's what now?" Epiphany blurted out in shock. Shaking her head, Alexis ignored her and spotting Lucas, she changed direction and headed towards him.

She didn't notice Monica standing behind her, staring after her in shock.

"Nurse Johnson, what did she just say?" She asked in a trembling voice.

…

Carly and Sonny strode into the hospital together, hands linked. Sonny lifted their linked hands up and kissed the back of hers.

"Are you sure Sam would want me to be here?" He asked. Carly smiled over at him.

"The hell with that. I need you here. But I'm sure Sam won't mind. We're family and Danny is Jason's little boy and he would want both of us to be there for him." Carly insisted stubbornly.

Sonny nodded, knowing better than to argue with his ex and hopefully future wife.

"You're right. Besides, Sam has made a point to make sure we have an active role in Danny's life. She knows how much we love him."

Carly nodded, her eyes filling with tears.

"I love that little boy, Sonny. He reminds me of his father so much. I can't bear the thought of losing him, like we lost Jason. That's why I need you here, Sonny. I'm terrified Sam is going to tell us something horrible."

Sonny dropped an arm around Carly's slender shoulders and pulled her up against him in comfort.

"Then I'm here. Whenever you need me, Carly."

Carly smiled at him and leaned in for a brief kiss. Hands linked once more, the headed for Danny's room.

….

Michael bumped into Molly and Kristina at the elevator on the pediatric wing. Kristina beamed and threw herself into her big brother's arms. Michael grinned down at her and held her tight.

"How's my baby sister and my favorite cousin?" He asked teasingly. Kristina rolled her eyes, slapping his arm.

"Excuse me, but I'm in college. The only baby sister you have is Avery."

Michael shook his head with a chuckle.

"Nope. You'll always be my baby sister to me. Anyways, I'm here to see Danny and Sam. I'm assuming you two are also?" Michael glanced at Molly, who didn't respond. It wasn't like her, so he studied her face. She seemed upset.

"Molly, is everything okay?"

She glanced at him and shook her head, her eyes welling with tears.

"It's Sam. Mom called and said she needed us. What if Danny's worse? What if…" She stopped, taking a deep breath as Michael moved forward and put an arm around her in comfort.

"Then let's go see what happened. Whatever it is, we'll get both Sam and Danny through it." His voice was calm, but inside he was in turmoil. The thought of his nephew not beating cancer this time? It terrified him.

Together, the three of them headed towards Danny's room.

To their surprise, they weren't the only ones there. Carly, Sonny, Alexis, Nikolas, Lucas, Monica, and a beautiful brunette Michael didn't recognize were gathered in Danny's room.

"Mom, what happened? Where's Sam? Is it Danny? And what is everyone doing here." Molly asked, rushing forward.

"Danny's okay, Molly. There hasn't been any change." Alexis hesitated.

She looked around the room before gesturing to Hayden.

"I'm not sure what made everyone gather together like this but I'm glad you all have. This woman right here knows who Jace Smith really is. And his identity will affect every single person in this room. But more importantly, it will affect Sam and Danny. And the news will hit Sam hard. She'll need all of us to help her." Alexis explained. Everyone started speaking at once, but Alexis held up her hands until everyone quieted down.

"Hayden? Will you please tell everyone what you told my nephew?"

Hayden hesitated before stepping forward.

"I came to town to scam Jace Smith into believing I was his wife. I did that because Helena Cassadine forced me too. She was worried about Jace and Sam spending so much time together, worried he would remember who he was and ruin all her plans."

Carly shook her head in confusion.

"How could Jace and Sam spending time together make him remember who he was? And how could that possibly affect Helena? And what does that have to do with us? Jace is our friend, but we didn't know him before now."

Monica was staring at Alexis and Hayden, tears in her eyes. She knew what she'd heard earlier, but she needed to hear the words said out loud, so she waited.

"Yes, you did. You all did." Hayden looked at Nikolas, who nodded encouragingly.

"Because Jace is Jason Morgan."

….

"I'm okay now, I promise." Sam said shakily, wiping her tears away. Jason nodded and stood with her, letting her stand on her own. She rubbed her hands over her face before shoving her hair back.

"I'm sorry. I think it was all just a little too much for me." She explained. Jason shook his head and kissed her forehead.

"You don't have to explain. You've been hit with a lot shocks today."

"So have you. We both found out the same information on the same day, but you're so calm. How are you so calm?"

Jason chuckled. "Are you kidding me? I'm a mess, I'm just good at hiding it."

Sam rolled her eyes with a laugh.

"Well, that much is the same, at least." She teased. She reached out and grabbed Jason's hand.

"Let's go see our little boy and then find out when we can have the transplant done."

Jason squeezed her hand softly and followed her. They were silent as they walked, but Jason noticed that Sam kept using her free hand to touch him in some way or other. It was almost as if she had to remind herself he was there, that he was real.

Suddenly, Sam spoke.

"God. How are we going to tell everyone about you? No one will believe us."

The thought filled Jason with trepidation. He wasn't sure he could handle all of the expectations and disappointment from friends and family who would want him to be the man they knew and loved for so long.

"Let's not tell them." Jason suggested, only half joking. But Sam was still laughing when she pushed open the door to Danny's room. Her gasp sent Jason rushing forward. He automatically moved Sam behind him as he positioned himself in front of her. But to his great shock, the room was full of people; some he knew well, others that he knew only briefly.

And they were all staring at him, expressions of shock and disbelief on their faces. And there was another expression that didn't make sense, but was apparent in every single person's face.

He could have sworn it was hope.