"Jason!" Sam's arms were tight around him, and Jason was glad to feel them. He squeezed her tightly, lifting her from the floor. He breathed her in, felt her against him. "Jason, I'm so glad you're back."

Slowly and somewhat reluctantly, Jason lowered her to the floor. He touched her face lightly, cupping her cheeks in both hands. "Are you alright?" His eyes flickered behind her to Nikolas, only for a second, but long enough to let Cassadine know that he didn't trust him. It was taken and given back in kind. Nikolas didn't trust him, either. At least they were in agreement over something.

"I'm fine." Sam grabbed his wrists and sighed. "I'm fine, but Michael—Jason, he's reliving it." He furrowed his brow in confusion and she said, "In his nightmares. He sleeps for a little while, and then he goes through the whole thing all over again. He won't say anything awake, but when he's asleep, he's telling us exactly what happened to him. To all of them."

Sam winced, and it was only then that Jason realized he was gripping her face tighter, possibly too tight. He jerked his hands back, then looked down at them. He'd used his hands for nothing but killing for years. Now, what could he do with them? He couldn't hold Michael, couldn't touch him without him screaming. What could he do?

This was his own fault. Jason knew that. Not because he taught Michael to take revenge on people who hurt him. Not even because he'd given him and his mother to Sonny. The trip to Wyndemere gave Jason enough time to think, and all of that thought told him one thing. He was at fault here, and he knew exactly why.

For years, Jason had ignored Sonny's mood swings, his volatile nature, and his anger. Sonny always came out of it, and Jason made himself believe that he'd never physically hurt anyone. He should have seen that it was only a matter of time. He should have seen that the emotional abuse that he heaped on would eventually turn into something much more frightening.

"This is not your fault." Jason blinked. Sam's finger was beneath his chin, and she pushed his head up. "Hey, it's not your fault."

"I didn't say—"

"You're thinking it, though. You're a mystery to me, a lot, but sometimes, I can read you like an open book. And now is one of those times. You're blaming yourself and it's not your fault."

Sam was so sure, but Jason wasn't. Looking around the room, he knew that neither were Alexis and Nikolas. They're condemnation didn't mean much to him, but his own was overpowering. He could have done something, but he didn't. He could have kept Carly and Michael safe, but he didn't. He was at fault here, and no amount of hand-holding and support from Sam could change that.

But, he could do something now. He could make sure that Michael didn't end up in the Quartermaine hands. Over the years, he'd become a little softer towards his family, but he wasn't blind to what they would do. They would take him, and they would turn him against his mother. They'd turn him against Jason, and neither he nor Carly would ever see him again. And then, Edward would start using him like he used everyone else—

He shook his head. If Robin were there, she'd try to tell him to think more of AJ than that. She'd always been one of his supporters, and maybe if AJ were stronger, Jason could have the faith in him that Robin always had. AJ might try. He might feel bad enough for Carly and what she'd been through to not take Michael from her. He might even try to keep Edward from doing to Michael what he'd done to him for years, using him as a weapon against all the other male Quartermaines. But, in the end, Jason just didn't believe that AJ was that strong. Edward would pressure him, he would cave, and Michael would be lost to everyone else that loved him.

No, he had to keep him safe. He had to do this for him, to make up for everything else that he didn't do. It was one more thing on an elongating list of priorities, but it was number one on the list. Jason still had to talk to the other families, make the transition into head of the territory, but all of that could wait. Michael was number one, and at number one and a half was Carly.

"First things first." Jason looked over to Alexis and sighed. "We can't let the Quartermaines get Michael. We're fine with the police for now. They're probably checking airports. Probably figure I'm getting him out of the country. The Quartermaines, though, they're going to come after him hard."

"For now," Alexis told him, "that's not a problem." She sighed and shook her head. "How many times do I try to forget my time as your lawyer? Granted with Kristina, I can't completely but…" She shook her head. "Sonny and Carly had documents put together years ago that name you as the guardian should anything happen to him. AJ and Edward will probably fight it, but right now, it's as ironclad as you're going to get. They can't take him from you."

"That's good." It was one less thing on his back. He would still have them after him, berating him and pressuring him, but he could handle that. They couldn't get Michael, and that's what counted. "Nikolas, how safe is this place?"

"As safe as you're going to get in Port Charles." Nikolas shrugged. "No one makes it across the launch without me knowing about it firsthand when I'm here. No one really visits except for Alexis, Lucky, Liz, and Emily. All people who will keep their mouths shut. They can get away with bringing anything you need because they come here all the time."

"Another point in our favor."

"I know I'm probably not the one you want to hear this from, but he needs treatment, Jason." Nikolas sighed. "Sam and I saw him up there, reliving it, and he needs to talk to somebody."

"You're right," Jason told him, "you're not anyone to tell me that."

"Ask Sam. She'll tell you the same thing. You don't like me. You don't like Alexis. You don't like our family, and honestly, there's no love lost on our side, either. But, I think we can all agree that Michael didn't deserve this, and we want what's best for him."

Jason grunted. "Uh huh."

"He's going to need serious therapy. He watched his father try to kill his mother. He killed his father. We can keep his body safe, but his mind is something out of our jurisdiction."

Jason hated therapists. He had too many memories of all the ones that tried to change him back into the great person he was told Jason Quartermaine to be. He didn't want people pressuring Michael. He didn't want them telling him things, convincing him of anything. He didn't trust them.

But, he knew deep down that Nikolas was right. Michael needed more help than Jason could give him. He could almost taste the palpable truth in Nikolas's statement. Michael needed mental help if he were going to survive this and live his life. But first… before that, he needed to see that his mother was alive. And so did Jason.

"That can wait. Right now, there are other more pressing matters."

"The business," Alexis said simply. "The calls are going to be coming in…"

"The hell with the business, alright? That can wait. I have to get back to the hospital and check on Carly. I have to be there when she wakes up to let her know that Michael's alright, and I have to stop her from saying anything to Alcazar that might put Michael in danger. When she first wakes up, she won't know what she's doing. She'll be out of it." Jason shook his head. "Business later. Michael and Carly are first priorities."

Fingers dug into his wrists and for the first time, Jason realized that Sam was holding him. He looked down at her and was grateful that she was there. Someone he could trust wholly to do what needed to be done. Sure, she might tell him later that Nikolas was right about the treatment, but she wasn't going to argue with him about it in front of others. She would just take care of Michael. And she would take care of him.

"Go see Carly," Sam told him. "I'll stay here with Michael. Maybe I can get him to talk."

"Sam…"

"I don't know, Jason. Maybe I'm stranger enough for him to feel comfortable with. Or maybe I'm close enough to you without being you that he'll talk to me. I don't know. But I do know that you're about to go crazy with worry over Carly, and you should go to her."

"Ya know, if I tell her you sent me to her bedside, she might just think she's died. Or she's insane."

"Then don't tell her." She gave him a weak smile, but it was just enough to make him feel better for a moment. To see a world of hope in the upward curve of her lips. "If anything happens, I'll call you."

Jason bent down and kissed her softly. "Have I told you how glad I am that you're with me, right now?"

"No, but you can do that later." Sam patted his cheek softly and her smile grew in strength and voltage. "Do what you have to do, alright? Just be careful, and don't fight with Alcazar or AJ. The cops are itching to find a reason to put you in jail."

"I'll do what I can." He kissed her one more time, then started towards the door. At the heavy, wooden doors, he stopped and turned. "Take care of him, Sam. He may not be mine by biology but he's always…" He shook his head. "Just take care of him, okay?"

Sam nodded, and that was enough for Jason to turn and leave. He probably should have stopped upstairs to see Michael first, but he couldn't do it. Not when he had to see Carly just after. He couldn't have them both so heavily on his mind, their pitiful images clouded his brain. He had to stay clear-headed, and that was not the way to do it. Not when his mind was already so clouded with guilt. Not when he was just barely able to keep it together.