AN: Wow, it's been a long time. I won't even try to make any excuses. I will just apologize and say that I have a renewed creative energy around this story and hope to make some chapter additions. Are you guys still interested? Obviously, things on the the show were in a very different place when I last wrote for this story, so my story now exists in a world completely separate from GH as we know it now. I hope to make some connections to the current story line as I move forward. Thanks to everyone who has stuck with me through this long hiatus. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Also, what are some elements that you wished tptb had included in our nuJASAM reunion? I have a lot of space to make this story exactly what we wanted as fans and would love to include moments for you guys. Leave a review if there is something that you really want to see happen.

"Jake?" he heard a soft weak voice. He slowly opened his eyes and stared directly into hers. "Are you okay? What happened?"

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

"Hey, glad you decided to join us again." He said with a faint smile.

The forced look seemed to only worry Sam more. He pulled himself off the wall and went to her bedside again. He was at a loss for how to proceed. They were husband and wife, though Sam didn't know that and it was not what they had been for the past year. He decided in that moment to be the friend that she had come to know. The truth about his identity was still hearsay, though Elizabeth had all but confessed to knowing and Hayden spoke with certainty about what she knew. He believed it, but he needed to understand it and confirm the truth for himself before he could bring Sam or anyone else into the chaos.

"Let me call the doctor," he said as he reached for the call button.

"What happened?" she asked with a raspy voice. He proceeded to pour her a cup of water as his brain worked to determine what he would share.

"We were at the garage," he began and handed her the water as she struggled to sit up right. "Someone shot at us and you were hit. You were brought to the hospital and came through your second surgery this morning. Patrick will be here any minute, and your mom and sisters just left a few hours ago to get some rest. You had us all worried." He gently placed a hand on her back to help her up. A moment of tenderness passed between them as their eyes met, and Jason quickly backed away.

"Are you ok, did anyone else get hurt? Where is Danny?" He could see the alarm in her face as a million questions surfaced. He took the cup from her and placed her hand in his.

"I'm fine, and so is Hayden. She was there with us, no one else was. Danny is fine. Your mom called Monica yesterday and she said that he can stay with the Quatermaines as long as he needs to." He felt a slight pull to his heart at the thought of his son and Mother.

Sam gave a look of relief and released the tension in her body. "Who did this? Did someone try to have you killed or were they going after my father?" He could see her P.I. brain start turning. "Was there a message?"

"Don't worry about that right now. You need to focus on recovery." He didn't want to start throwing out theories which would have to include Hayden's belief that the gunman was in fact sent to ensure that she didn't tell him what she knew.

At that moment a doctor and nurse walked in.

"We'll need a moment with Mrs. Morgan." The doctor began. "You can return when we are done."

"I'll be back in a bit Sam. I won't go far." He gave her hand a light squeeze and headed towards the door.

"Jake…" Sam called out. He turned when he reached the door

"Thank you. I know you haven't left the hospital….Those are the same clothes you had on yesterday. You are a great friend."

He didn't respond, just nodded and headed out the door. Part of him wanted to tell her that he wasn't just a friend, he was her husband and the least he could do was sit with her. He reminded himself that it wasn't time for that yet. Sam needed to get better and he needed to get proof. Hayden seemed sure in her information, but she had a track record of dishonesty. He would need a DNA test to prove his identity before he would burden Sam or anyone else with this truth. Jason ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath. He was still unsure of his full feelings about Sam as his wife, but he loved her as a friend and he definitely wanted to pursue a relationship with his son.

"How is she?" Patrick raced up to Jason outside the hospital door. "I got here as soon as I could, but I had to take Emma to her uncle Mac's. Is she awake?'

"Take a breath." Jason said calmly as Patrick approached. "She just woke up from the second surgery. A doctor and nurse are in there now. She will be happy to see you."

"What the hell happened? How did she get shot?"

"We're still trying to get all the details…We think there was one shooter outside the garage, not sure if I was the target." Jason tried to hold back the emotion in his voice.

"So this was your fault?" Patrick's stare turned hard.

Jason paused to get a hold of the anger that was bubbling up inside him. Part of him was grateful to Patrick for how he had taken care of Sam and Danny over the past year, but he was still upset by the accusation that was just beneath the surface in Patrick's tone.

"Like I said, we don't know the details yet…" he was cut off by Patrick and his raised voice.

"But I'd be willing to bet that Sam wasn't the target, she was just a casualty of your circumstances."

Jason froze with a stone cold glare fixed on Patrick. Though there was potentially some truth in Patrick's words, Jason had no patience for the man in this moment.

"You should go see her when the doctor comes out. Tell Sam that I will be back in a bit to check on her." Jason quickly turned his back on the man and began to walk away.

"Don't bother, I'm here now. She'll be fine without you." Patrick called out after him.

No way in hell, Jason thought as he continued to walk towards the elevator. He didn't know what would happen between him and Sam when the truth was revealed, but something inside told him that he would never willingly be absent from her life again. Once he had proof that he is in fact Jason Morgan he could go about reclaiming his life, and that might mean pursuing a renewed relationship with his son and wife. A rush of complicated emotions flooded him as he waited for the elevator. His first stop would be the lab to get a DNA test to prove the truth that he already knew in his heart, even without the memories to go along with it.

"Jake!" He recognized the voice without even seeing her. He turned to see Carly Corinthos walking towards the elevator and him. "Are you ok? Were you here for a checkup?" She gave her new friend a hug.

Jason let out a breath that he didn't even realize he was holding. "No, I uh…" He looked up into Carly's eyes and felt a calm come over him. Since their initial meeting a few months back, Carly had told her friend "Jake" all about her best friend Jason. As he looked into the woman's eyes now, he felt new warmth."

"Is everything alright? You didn't have any setbacks did you." He could hear the panic rising in her voice.

"No, I've actually been here all night with Sam. She was shot at the garage, had to have surgery."

"Oh my goodness." Carly gasped. "I have to go see her. Is she going to be ok? Danny already lost his father he can't lose his mother too." She started to turn towards the hall, but Jason grabbed her arm.

"She just woke up, the Doctors were checking her out when I left and Patrick had just arrived." He looked up to see tears forming in the woman's eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize that you and Sam were so close."

"I mean…" she sniffed. "We weren't, but she was my best friend's wife and gave him his beautiful son. We haven't always gotten along but I think we have gotten closer since Jason died. We both loved him so much. She just….. needs to be alright. Jason would want her safe so she can take care of Danny."

Jason gently led Carly to some seats along the wall. It was suddenly clear to him what he had to do. There were so many people that still grieved Jason's death, and he needed to be able to tell them with complete confidence that he was alive. Holding this inside was already eating him alive, he needed to find out soon. In just the short time that he could remember knowing Carly, he had the feeling that she was very loyal and more than trust worthy. If he could count on anyone to help him figure out the truth it was her.

"Have a seat Carly. I need to tell you something….and I think I need your help."

"Anything, Jake." She said as she wiped her tears and looked on with concern. "Tell me what's going on." She turned her body to face him and looked into his eyes.

"I think I'm Jason Morgan."