At times Sam had wondered about the end of one's life. She wasn't sure if you simply stopped breathing or if you were able to meet the Grim Reaper before you were snuffed out. Standing in the middle of her rented room above Jake's bar, staring into the icy blue eyes of Jason Morgan, his face set in stone, the gun never wavering from where it was pointed directly at her heart, she wished she could have simply stopped breathing.

Jason slid his free hand into his leather jacket and pulled out a thick manila envelope, tossing it to the bed and watching the pictures and papers scatter about. He saw her eyes widen, her face start to pale, her body shake as she came to realize that he knew everything there was to know about Sam McCall.

"We'll get to that later," he said quietly, "First I want you to tell me what right you had to attack Elizabeth today?"

Fear, he could smell it on her. For Jason Morgan, the enforcer, it was his source of power.

"You don't know Elizabeth, you had no right to do what you did," he said as his finger caressed the trigger, "She's the mother of my child and for that reason alone she demands respect. For you to attack her, throw lies in her face, try to drive a wedge between us…"

"I did it because of you," Sam said as she tried to blink back the tears that appeared in her eyes. She had been here before, standing in front of a gun, but she never stood before a man like Jason, so determined to inflect the same amount of pain she had inflicted upon someone he cared about.

"I didn't ask you to…"

"I know, I know," Sam said holding her hands up in front of her, "And Jason I didn't mean to go after Elizabeth. I wanted to introduce myself, I wanted to say hello but she was so callous and all I saw was this woman standing in front of me causing you so much pain. You don't deserve…"

"I decide what's right for me," Jason said as he uncrossed his leg and slowly stood up from the chair, "I do not want you interfering in my life, Sam. What happens between me and Elizabeth is between me and Elizabeth, had I known that you were going to take our conversations, twist them into your own version…"

"She doesn't deserve this," Sam said as a tear slipped down her cheek, watching him step closer, watching that gun inch closer, "Your loyalty, your love, it's not fair that she gets it and I don't."

"I barely even know you," Jason said as he stepped towards her, "I never said anything about lo…"

She nodded as she started backing up, her hands grasping for anything that could support her, finding the desk behind her, "Jason, all I wanted was a chance and I…" she turned around quickly, yanking open the old wooden drawer and finding nothing in there but an empty space.

Her body started to quake when she heard six loud clangs against the floor, one right after the other and turned around to find Jason holding a metal clip and gun in his hand, the bullets to her weapon were scattered at her feet.

"You picked the wrong person to try and play games with," Jason said as he brought his gun up to the side of her head and pressed it against her temple, "I'm sure that if I dig around enough I will find that you somehow had a hand in Sonny's death. I don't want you to think that you died because of that Sam, I want you to know that you died because you tried to play me and no one walks away from that."

She sighed as she closed her eyes, taking in a heavy breath as she felt the cool metal against her skin. This was the end; she saw her life flashing before her eyes, so much like the pictures that were scattered across the bed.

"I'm here because I thought you would understand," she whispered, "You would understand what it was like to be stuck in this world, to try and get away and not be able to. You would understand the guards and the chaos and the unknown lurking around every corner." She opened her eyes and saw that he was listening to her, saw that his blue eyes were softening somewhat, "I wasn't trying to play you but I didn't think I should stop and introduce myself as the mob princess from Maine. Jason, it was an accident running into you at Kelly's and at Sonny's gravesite, I didn't know who you were but then I picked up the paper and I knew…I knew Jason."

She felt him waver slightly, wanted to continue on, wanted to break through that tough exterior that turned into a brick wall the day he found out that Elizabeth Webber was sleeping with his best friend.

"I knew that you were the only one who would get it," she breathed as she let her hand wrap around the arm that held the gun to her head, "I'm Sam McCall, I'm from New York where I attend NYU but I was born in Maine, a daughter out of wedlock to Dante Mc Call, head of the Port Boothbay Harbor Mafia."

She sighed with relief when she felt the gun move away from her head, felt Jason take a step back from her before his hand reached up, palm wrapping around her small throat and forcing her back against the wall.

"I still don't believe that you didn't come here for a reason," Jason said, "I still don't believe that you didn't mean to attack Elizabeth. I want some answers Sam and I want them now."

Sam nodded eagerly and gasped in gulps of breath when Jason released her from her hold. She watched him move back to the bed, discard her empty gun on top of the scattered papers and made himself comfortable in the chair.

"I'm not lying about the reason that I came here, Jason," she said as she rubbed her neck and stepped a little further into the room, "I needed a break from school and I couldn't go back to Maine. I had to get away from my family for a while. My father isn't after me, I'm sure you checked that out as well. He knows that I need to adjust, that I need to live outside of his world, he wants that for me. I wanted that for myself until I met you."

She sat down on the edge of her bed, her fingers pushing aside the gun, the pictures, the papers of her former life, "I felt like we had this connection, like you understood where I was coming from even if you didn't say it. You just asked about fashion and silly things and you let me listen to you and I felt like a real person for once, like someone liked me instead of Sam McCall, mafia princess. It felt real, it felt right."

She watched him laugh bitterly, look away from her, "I know its crazy, I know we barely know each other but I can tell that you've been on edge since your friend died, I can tell that Elizabeth is not helping and I can tell that you have so much weight on your shoulders your about to collapse Jason. I know what its like to have to carry around the world of organized crime, to have to dictate and direct and find out and protect and do all these crazy things. I watched my father come home to an empty house for so many years. You don't deserve that; Elizabeth shouldn't be pushing that on you."

"You need to stop assuming you know what's going on with me and Elizabeth," Jason said between clench teeth as his hand fingered the gun again.

Sam sighed, "I shouldn't be saying this, not when a gun is fixed on me but Jason the whole town knows what's going on between you and Elizabeth. I didn't want to listen to the gossip but how could you not, especially when you're working at a bar. They know that she's hurt you and some people think…they think that you're her lapdog Jason, that she's got you tied around her pretty little finger and you're at her beck and call. I wanted to tell Elizabeth that I heard she was a wonderful mother, I wanted to tell her she was a wonderful friend but she just snapped at me and I just lost it." She took a chance, slid off the bed and took a step, then another before she was in front of him, crouching down, "I'm tired of hearing this town come to Elizabeth's defense, saying she messed up, that its your fault she's is where she is," her hands ran up his thighs and she saw his lip twitch, "When is someone going to defend you Jason?" She leaned up to him; leaned closer, "Let it be me."

The gun clattered against the wooden floor as Jason's hands delved in her hair and he pulled her towards him into a heated kiss.

"Wow," JJ said as he looked around the huge yard that his mother led him into, "Who lives here?"

"Well," Elizabeth smiled down at him, "If you like it, I was hoping that we would."

"We're not going to live in the penthouse anymore?" he asked with a small pout.

"Let's sit down, over here," Elizabeth said motioning to the steps that led to the kitchen door. She brushed them off and sat down, pulling JJ into her lap and kiss his curls, "I know that you liked living in the penthouse, I did too, but I think that you're old enough now where you need a bigger room, tons of space to play, maybe even a tree house that Daddy can build for you."

"Cool!" JJ squealed, "Can I help him?"

"You sure can," Elizabeth smiled, "And no one else lives around her for miles and miles so you can drive your bike around forever and ever."

"Will you come with me?" JJ grinned, "And Uncle Johnny and Uncle Francis and Uncle Max can chase after me like they do in the garage?"

Elizabeth laughed, "We'll buy them new shoes the first day you go riding."

JJ shook his little fists and squealed again, "Is Daddy coming too?"

She frowned. This was the part she hated, "No, Daddy won't be moving in with us, honey."

"Why?" JJ asked as he played with his mother's hair.

"Well, because Daddy will want to get his own place."

"Why?"

"He's not use to living with other people," she replied softly.

"He's living with us now," JJ said.

"True," Elizabeth hedged, "But that was only for a little while."

"Why?'

She cleared her throat, "You know, JJ, you'll learn as you get older that some children's parents don't always live together."

"You lived with Uncle Sonny."

Elizabeth sighed and closed her eyes, reminding herself that children were the most precious gift on earth and that even though they tried your patience sometimes, they were wonderful creatures. She loved her son with everything that she had; right now she just wished she didn't raise him to be so inquisitive.

"I did, Uncle Sonny and I lived together for a very long time," she said, "We cared about each other."

"You don't care about Daddy?" JJ asked with a frowned.

"No, I do!" Elizabeth said, "I love your father."

"You love Daddy?"

"JJ…"

"Then why can't we live with him?"

Elizabeth bit her lip, gnawing on it actually as she tried to scour her brain for a reason as to why she and Jason couldn't live together. She knew the reason, they would kill each other before the week was out but she certainly couldn't tell that to their child.

"Hello?'

Elizabeth raised her eyes to the heavens and thanked the good lord for the realtor that was standing at the back door with a smile on her face. Now she would have another good hour or two before she had to come up with an answer for JJ.

"I'm here to help show you around," she smiled softly, "My name's Sandy."

"Hi Sandy," Elizabeth smiled as she stood up with JJ in her arms, "This is my son JJ."

"Hello JJ," Sandy smiled as she held open the door for them.

"Hi!" JJ smiled and waved.

"We can take a tour and you can ask whatever questions come to mind," Sandy smile as she led Elizabeth into the bedroom, "I also heard there might be a renter interested in the penthouse that you are moving out of?"

"Yes, there is," Elizabeth said as she shifted JJ to her other hip, "But I want to hold off on that. There's another person I need to speak to before I sign anything over regarding the penthouse."

"That's understandable," Sandy smiled, "Just watch your step and please follow me."

This felt wonderful, it felt normal and that was something Jason Morgan hadn't felt in a very long time. That was why he didn't want to stop over an hour ago when Sam stood up in front of him and tugged him towards the bed. He didn't want to push all those pictures and papers aside that Max searched long and hard for. He didn't want to lay his body on top of hers, kissing her, touching her, causing her to make all those mewing sounds she was making.

He didn't want to do any of it but he was doing it and enjoying the pleasure he was receiving in return. Her hands were all over him caressing him, feeling him, causing goose bumps to rise all over his body. His shirt was long ago discarded to the floor, as was hers, and he was enjoying the feel of her black lace bra under his hands.

His lips were at her neck, nibbling, tugging, licking and he knew there would be a slight bruise there tomorrow. His mind briefly wondered if Sam was the first woman he had ever really given a hickie too. Jason Morgan wasn't the type of man to stop and concentrate solely on one area, he wanted to make sure he hit every spot and so that's why he was confused.

He was ready, his pants were protesting at the delay, but for some reason he couldn't get himself to undo the button, he couldn't allow her to pull down the zipper. He just kept thinking that the last woman he jumped into bed with without any type of relationship was Carly and look how well that turned out. No, he couldn't do this and he was almost grateful when his phone rang. He didn't even think twice about yanking it out of his pocket and answering it.

"Hello?" he panted.

"They must have you moving crates," he heard Elizabeth's teasing laughter on the other end, "I know your busy so I won't keep you long. I have a house, well, it's a cottage."

"Oh, that's nice," Jason said as he lay flat on his back, his hand rubbing his eyes. He could feel Sam's fingers, dancing across his abs and he shifted, sitting up and placing his feet on the floor.

"It came with some furniture and I had JJ's bed set up," Elizabeth said, "We're going to be staying here tonight. I got the okay from the boys. You're welcome to stop by and check it out, make sure it's safe for JJ."

"I will, I'll find some time."

"Whenever," Elizabeth said, "I'm sorry, I was hoping to get your voice mail, even though I know you rarely check your messages," she smiled, "It's about JJ."

"What's wrong with JJ?" Jason asked standing up from the bed immediately. He could feel Sam withdraw from behind him, now knowing that Elizabeth was the one on the phone.

"Nothing," Elizabeth said, "I tried to explain why we're not living together and he just keeps asking me question after question and I've told him the best that I could. I just think he needs more affirmation from you. Not today, not tonight, whenever you get a chance. I didn't want to promise him breakfast…"

"I'm taking him to breakfast," Jason said, "That's our thing. That's not going to change since we're no longer living together."

"Okay," Elizabeth said softly, "I will let him know that he is to be up and waiting for you. I'll make sure the Harley's all charged up."

Jason sighed as he ran his hands through his spiked hair. He hated what the penthouse was doing to him and Elizabeth but he was going to miss being able to wake his son up every morning and tuck him in at night with stories of all the great lands they would one day visit.

He didn't realize that he zoned out until he heard Elizabeth on the other end, calling his name.

"I'm here."

"Are you okay?" she asked, "Is anything wrong?"

Everything Elizabeth, especially us, he wanted to say.

"I'm fine and I'll try and stop by tonight," he said, "Tell JJ that I love him."

"He knows," Elizabeth smiled, "But I'll tell him anyway."

"Bye," he said practically on a sigh and pressed the cancel button on his phone. He flipped it shut and stuffed it in his pocket before he was able to turn around and look at Sam, "I'm sorry about that."

"That's always going to be there," Sam said as she pulled her knees up to her chest, "A woman can't get mad at you for the devotion you have for your son. It's one of the reasons that I like you so much."

He shook his head, "I wasn't really talking about JJ."

She nodded, "You have to take those calls, Jason. It's okay and you have nothing to apologize for, not after the way I hid things from you. I can't believe your still here."

"Neither can I," he said with a laugh as he bent down to pick up his shirt. And he couldn't. This wasn't him. He didn't stay around and listen to people explain things away. He didn't give people second chances; he didn't want to look for the good in someone. He took things at face value and he went on with his life.

Maybe that's why he was still here, maybe he as tired of living his life that way. Maybe walking out on Elizabeth did him more good than it did harm. The destruction of that relationship showed him that you had to let people live their own lives, they were going to do it anyway whether you liked it or not, you had to let them be free. You also had to give people second chances, people made mistakes, they were only human.

Watching Sam smile at him while she tugged on her own shirt and ran her fingers through her silky brown hair, watching her wink at him while she promised him a wonderful time on Friday night just let him know that he was changing, he was turning over a new leaf. He wanted to be able to forgive.

Carly made mistakes, Sam made mistakes, Sonny made mistakes, Elizabeth made mistakes, he made mistakes, people simply did, it was a part of humanity. It would be easy to let it go, to move on, just like he had with Sam. He let her talk, he let her explain.

Maybe it was time Elizabeth gave her explanation.

Jason certainly wanted to hear it, the full story of her and Sonny and how his son was kept away from him for three whole years. He heard the bits and pieces, what Carly told him, Elizabeth's side of those skits, he knew what he thought but maybe it was time for him to hear it all, from the beginning to the end. Maybe it was time to find out how Elizabeth fell in love with Sonny, how she came to hate him so much that she decided to keep him away from his son. Maybe it was time to find out what Sonny had told her about him leaving.

When Sam kissed his cheek and told him that she had to take a shower for tonight's training behind the bar he was nodding, half listening to her, half listening to the battle inside of his head.

Maybe he was ready to hear everything that Elizabeth had to tell him, he was just afraid that he would forgive her for everything and he knew that he wasn't ready for that.