Chapter 51

After finding out where Ava was, Alexis began to push the curtain until she heard Nina's voice.

"What are we going to do now? The portrait's likely burnt to a crisp!"

"Maybe. Maybe not," Ava said.

"What do you mean?" Nina asked.

"Well, what—or who—started the fire anyhow? There are a lot of people who want that portrait. Nikolas, Valentin, Jax, Laura. And Dr. Finn just told me my niece was in the gallery during the fire too. I didn't even see her come in."

"Are you indicating that your niece caused the fire?"

Alexis clenched her hands into fists.

"Not at all," Ava said. "But she could have been after the portrait. She is a Cassadine after all, even though Alexis and her daughters don't associate with them very much. Could it be that Sam thinks the Codicil leaves everything to Alexis instead?"

Alexis rolled her eyes. As if Mikkos would leave anything to his illegitimate daughter.

"Perhaps, but what does it matter if the portrait is gone?" Nina asked.

"Because, if Sam was there, what if she took the codicil from the portrait before the fire started? If not her, then maybe whoever started the fire took it."

"Interesting," Nina said. "Well, whoever does have it, we need to get it. And you, my dear, can start by warming up to your darling niece."

"Like that'll work. She has a very poor opinion of me. Besides, I thought what we wanted was for Valentin to lose everything. What difference does it make if Alexis or Nikolas gets it?"

"Leverage, Ava. We need to use this against Valentin. I don't want anyone else but me to get revenge on him after he hired Sasha to pretend to be my daughter. So, start buttering up your niece and I'll talk to Curtis about investigating that fire."

When Alexis returned to Sam, Julian was sitting at the edge of her bed.

"Curtis and I found a clue inside Marchesi's warehouse." He pulled out a wallet-sized photo from his leather jacket and handed it to her.

Her mouth dropped slightly. "Mine and Drew's wedding photo…"

He nodded. "He's definitely out there and we're going to find him."

"We better. I want to give Scout her daddy back."

Alexis stepped inside the curtain. "How are you feeling?"

"Better since I calmed down." Sam shifted in her bed. "I want to go home."

"You will when the doctors give the okay."

Julian tilted his head towards Alexis. "Mothers. They always want to play everything by the book."

Alexis scoffed. "She was in a fire today!"

Julian rolled his eyes. "Back to her excuses for her crazy ideas."

Sam laughed. "Dad has a point."

"At least she didn't bring you flowers with a crazy long name like last time," Julian said.

"Oh, for crying out loud," Alexis said. "She's suffering from smoke inhalation and is staying put until the doctor says otherwise."

"You know," Julian said. "Your mother loves stringing together big words to make her crazy ideas sound reasonable."

Sam chuckled. "Ain't that the truth."

"Sure, gang up on your poor mom." Alexis pouted.

Julian grinned and reached for her hand. "Don't worry, Lex. We love you and your crazy ideas."

"How kind," Alexis said.

"How's Ava?" Julian asked.

"I didn't actually speak to her. She was with Nina, but she seems to be doing well. About as good as Sam. You should go see her."

"Oh no, don't leave me alone with Mom and her crazy ideas," Sam said.

"I won't be gone too long." He kissed her cheek, then bounced his hip off Alexis', and left.

Alexis took Julian's seat at the edge of the bed.

"So, what's your crazy idea this time?" Sam asked.

Alexis rolled her eyes. "I want to talk to you about what you were doing at the gallery."

"I thought I told you. I was trying to get you the codicil."

"And did you get it?"

Sam smiled widely. "It's in my coat pocket."

Alexis sighed. "You have to know that Ava is going to try to get close to you with the hopes of getting it from you. I think you should give it to me."

"I'm not afraid of Ava," Sam said. "But the whole reason I got it was to give to you."

"Okay, because a lot of people are after it and I don't want them to go after you." Alexis grabbed Sam's coat from the chair and reached inside pulling out an envelope. "I'm going to burn it when I get home."

"Are you sure you want to do that?"

"Of course, I do. The greed and power of the Cassadines need to end."

"But if everything is left to someone other than Valentin, then the power would be taken from him."

"Nikolas and Spencer are better off without," Alexis said firmly, and she tucked the envelope inside her coat.

GHGHGH

When Alexis and Julian arrived at the hospital the next morning, Julian went to see Ava, and Alexis went to Sam's temporary room. When she opened the door, Jason was standing next to Sam's bed.

"I'm glad you're doing better," Jason said.

"Jason, we need to talk," Sam said firmly. "I've been doing a lot of reflecting lately, and I'm done. I'm not going to accept your scraps anymore. My kids deserve better and… I deserve better too." She took a deep breath. "Danny and Scout are traumatized because of choices that you and I have made. I always thought danger can be anywhere, not just in the mob life, like when Jake was hit by a car. But now I realize, as a mother, you shouldn't purposely carry your child into a burning building just because you don't know what could go wrong in a non-burning building. And I've been carrying my children into the burning building and now they're paying for it. One of us needs to be a good parent. One of us needs to put Danny first. But you… we all know who comes first in your life. And the only people I should come second to is Danny and Jake. But even your sons are nowhere near the top of your priorities list. They are traumatized… traumatized and you're too busy holding Carly's hand and babysitting! What happened to the Jason I found shot in the snow?"

Jason sighed and muttered, "You smell like snow."

Sam shook her head. "I am done. I'm done chasing after you. I'm done waiting for you. I'm done losing sight of who I am for you. I am done being second to Sonny and Carly. I am Danny and Scout's mother and that comes first! If Danny chooses when he's older to see you than fine, but right now he has healing to do and if you're just going to throw scraps at him too to tease him then just don't. Go. Go to Sonny and Carly. Do what you do best and leave, because we're over for good now."

Jason turned and he had a few tears in his eyes. He walked past Alexis and left.

Alexis moved to Sam's side and squeezed her hand. "Are you okay?"

Sam squeezed her eyes shut and nodded. "My memories say I should be more upset, but I only feel relieved."