AN: I won't normally update so fast (I'll try to update once a week), but I wanted to get this out. Thanks to everyone who has shown interest in the story. I hope this chapter makes you want to keep coming back! Please review!

2

Jake sat quietly by Sam's side, unsure of what to do with himself. She had survived two surgeries, one last night and another this morning to repair some of the damage from the bullet wound. Her mother and sisters had come last night and stayed with her as well, but he refused to leave. This morning when they left to head home for a while he assured them that he would stay with her until their return, and that is what he planned to do. He visited with Hayden for a bit while Sam's family had been with her, and the woman's story now was the same as the day before. She said that he was in fact Jason Morgan. Nikolas Cassidine had proof, and Elizabeth had known since the nurse's ball. There was still part of him that wanted to believe that none of it was true, but with each passing moment the puzzle pieces seemed to fall into place. His dreams, Nikolas' unfounded kindness in paying for his medical bills, and Spencer's possession of Jason's wedding ring were all clues. Then there was Elizabeth, and her sudden insistence that he move on and forge a new life. She had somehow convinced him not be hung up on trying to discover a past that he might never remember. The thought of her deception made his blood run cold.

The past few months had been nothing but betrayal and lies. This included the betrayal of his own mind that didn't allow him to remember his wife and son. He didn't feel the way that a husband and father should about Sam and Danny, but somewhere deep down they had already become very important to him. He decided during the night that he would guard this new information carefully, until he knew that Sam would be alright. Sam was with Patrick now and while part of him was jealous that Patrick was living the life that should be his, he couldn't blame the man. Patrick was able to take care of Sam and Danny in a way that they deserved, and in truth Jake was grateful that they had him. Patrick was out of town with Emma visiting his father, but promised to be on the next plane when he heard the news. He'd immediately blamed Jake once the situation was explained and Jake couldn't argue. As fate would have it, even without his memories he had found his way back to the dangers of Jason Morgan's life and brought them to his family. This revelation brought a special kind of guilt. Maybe Sam and Danny were actually better off without him. What could he offer them anyway? He was no longer the man that Sam remembered. What could he bring them except danger? There was so much to consider. A light knock to the door brought him out of his thoughts. He expected to see Alexis and Molly as he turned to greet them.

"She's still out. She waited for you all to come back and now she can wake up." He said with a slight smile.

"Jake, I'm so glad you are ok. I just heard what happened. Why didn't you call?" it was the last voice that he wanted to hear or face he wanted to see.

His body turned to stone as he stared into the eyes of his betrayer. "I wanted to stay with Sam. You shouldn't be here…you should go." He turned his back to her and grabbed Sam's hand from the hospital bed.

"You've been here all night? Where is Patrick? Her family? You need to go home and get some rest." She walked over and put a hand on his shoulder.

Jake was trying to keep calm. He didn't want to get into this with her right now. Not until he had a chance to talk with Sam, but if she didn't leave soon he was going to lose it.

"Elizabeth, you need to leave….now. We will talk later, but not now. Not while Sam is still in a coma."

"Jake? What's going on with you? Sam has plenty of people that will look out for her. You don't have to be here. Go home and get some rest. I'm on shift now, I will let you know if anything changes."

"Will you? Or would you keep that from me too. What are you really worried about Elizabeth? Are you really concerned about me? Sam? Or are you worried that I will somehow figure out who I really am?" He turned to face her again and Elizabeth took a step back like he was hot fire.

"Jake, what are you talking about?" she asked nervously. "I think you need some rest. Why would I be scared of you remembering you are and why would Sam be a part of that?" she asked innocently.

"I won't do this in here, not now." He calmed himself slightly. "I'm trying to keep it together but you need to leave…..now." He turned back to faced Sam and waited to hear Elizabeth's footsteps as she left the room.

"Talk to me Jake, don't shut me out. You know how much I care for you."

He couldn't believe that she was still playing the innocent act. He wanted to yell and be angry but he wouldn't do it near Sam. He forcefully pushed his chair away from Sam's bed and stormed past Elizabeth to the hall way. She timidly followed him. He could sense the nervousness in her body. How could he ever trust someone who could so easily lie to and manipulate him? He pulled the hospital door closed behind her. Elizabeth stood across from him with the same look of innocence that had blinded him for months.

"If that is really true, if you really care for me at all then just stop lying, Elizabeth. I know that I'm Jason Morgan. How long have you been keeping the truth from me?" There was tension in his voice, though he kept it low.

He saw her body go weak for a moment before she took a deep breath and spoke. "You have to understand…I only wanted to do what was best for everyone. Sam had moved on, she was finally healing and..."

"Don't you dare bring Sam into this. How could you!" His resolve began to give way as he raised his voice." She drew back, clearly startled by his sudden change and tears began to fall down her face.

This can't be happening... he thought as he looked across at the woman who had betrayed him. She had finally admitted to keeping the secret, but he felt no relief… only more anger. Despite how he felt at the moment, he didn't want to hurt her. He was still trying to understand why. "I have to go to my wife. She could be fighting for her life and she would never know that I was here with her. She could never see me hold our son." This was far from over, he would deal with her but right now the very sight of Elizabeth made him sick. His priority was Sam. He had to get back to her. He had to make sure she would be ok.

"Please don't go! Jake wait!" she reached for his arm as he quickly moved past her towards the door to Sam's room. He forcefully yanked his arm away as he faced her.

"But that's not my name, is it? I may not have Jason's memories, but it doesn't change the fact that it's who I am."

She looked down as the tears continued to stream down her face. "Jason, please… I can't lose you again." She said quietly.

"You never had me, you had a man who has no past….no family waiting for him. I am not that man. I don't know what the future holds. I may not ever remember Sam or myself enough to be the Jason that she loved and lost, but I know for damn sure that my future does not include you." He spoke with quiet controlled anger before continuing out the hospital door. Once inside Sam's room, he leaned against the wall beside the door and pulled the blinds. His head was swimming. He didn't know what to do. Part of him wanted Sam to wake up so he could tell her the truth, but he still had no real memories of their lives together. He only had the dreams and daydreams that suddenly made more sense. They weren't dreams at all, they were memories fighting their way to the surface. This all meant nothing if Sam didn't wake up. She had survived the surgeries, but was still unconscious. It was just a waiting game now, and he wasn't going to leave her side. He closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths.

"Jake?" he heard a soft weak voice. He slowly opened his eyes and stared directly in her warm brown ones. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Jason's heart beat faster. This was going to be harder than he imagined.