"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."
"What?" Carly gasped and her eyes went wide. "Why….why would you say that? You can't be Jason, I would know if you were Jason…..why would you say that?" She stood up and took some steps back from him. He could see the look of astonishment on her face, but he also could tell that there was a part of her putting pieces together. A part of her that believed him"
"Just hear me out." He rushed to her and reached for her hand. "You said the first time we met that you were drawn to me, and you didn't know why. What if you were drawn to me because deep down you knew who I was. Deep down you knew that I was your best friend."
"This isn't funny Jake. Why would you say that?" She snatched her hand away and backed up to a nearby wall. Her eyes had never left his.
"I'm not laughing, Carly." He tentatively took more steps towards her. "In the time that you have known me, I have never been cruel. You know me as well as I know myself right now, and you know I wouldn't say this to you unless I really believed it."
"Why…..how…." she continued to study his face.
"It's a long story, but before Sam was shot we were talking to Hayden Barnes."
"Hayden Barnes, what would she have to do with any of this." Carly looked on skeptically.
"She claimed to have knowledge about who I was. Before she could tell Sam and me, the shots rang out. When her shock started to set in, she said that she believed the gunman was sent for her. To keep her from telling me that I was Jason Morgan."
"But that doesn't make any sense Jake. Who would Hayden know that would kill her to keep you from finding out your identity?" her voice was getting louder and he could tell that she was on the verge of believing him.
"Nikolas Cassadine." Jason said plainly. Carly's legs got weak and she unstably walked herself back to the seats.
"No, Jake. That doesn't make sense. He was married to Jason's sister and Sam is his cousin. I mean they weren't best friends but why would he be so evil to someone that was so dear to the person he loved and his own family?"
"He would do it if it meant protecting Elizabeth." Jason trailed off.
He saw the fire light in Carly's eyes, "That. Little. Bi….."
"I don't have any proof," Jason cut her off. "Nothing more that Hayden's word, but her story didn't change once she came out of shock and I really don't see what she would have to gain from lying about this."
"That little skank has been waiting to get her hands on you. She finally saw a chance when you came back with no memory and she just dug into a lie." Carly was no longer shaky. She had suddenly become very strong with her words.
"So you believe it? Do you think it's the truth?"
Her eyes softened as her gaze came back to meet his. "I want to believe it…..not the part about Nikolas or Elizabeth though I definitely think they are capable. I want to believe that my best friend found his way back to me and that somehow my subconscious knew. You can't just take Hayden's word for it. She might not seem to have a reason to lie, but that is pretty much all she has done since she got here."
"I know, I know. I have to get a DNA test. I know the hospital has Jason Morgan DNA samples and mine. I just need to figure out how to speed up the process. I don't want to wait a week for the results."
"I think I can help with that. Let me see if I can call in a favor." She got a sudden look of determination on her face as she pulled out her cell phone.
"Patrick!" Sam tried to gently ease herself into a sitting position. The wound in her midsection was still very sore. The doctors had spent the past 15 minutes examining her and asking a million questions. She was already sick of this place, and happy to see the man that could get her out of here.
"Hey, don't move. You're recovering from an intrusive surgery. Just relax." Patrick rushed to her side and grabbed her hand. "I'm so glad you are ok." He leaned down and placed a kiss at the crown of her head.
"I'm sorry you had to cut your trip short," She reached up and gently touched his face. "But I'm glad you are here. Is Emma okay?"
"Don't be silly, I will always rush to you when you need me." He leaned down and place a quick gentle kiss on her lips befor taking a seat on the stool next to her bed. "Emma is fine. She is with Mac." How are you feeling?
"I feel like I got shot." She laughed weakly. "But other than that, I'm fine. I'm already ready to go home and hug my sweet boy. That will fix me right up."
"Well, that won't happen anytime soon. Maybe we can as Monica to bring Danny by to see you, but you are not going anywhere until we know that you are healing properly. I can't believe Jake got you shot, I knew he would be trouble once he started associating with your father."
"Patrick, stop." She gave a slight squeeze to his hand. "This is not Jake's fault. He had no way of knowing that someone would shoot up the garage."
"It's absolutely his fault! He shouldn't have let..." He was interrupted by Sam's hand placed over his mouth. She winced a bit as the movement sent pain through her torso."
"Stop. I'm not angry with Jake, you shouldn't be either. This is not his fault and he literally protected me with his own life. Let's talk about something different." He looked at her intensely, as though he wanted to say more but ultimately kept quiet. He respected her wishes and began to tell her about his trip and how much he and Emma had missed her.
After about an hour, there was a knock at the door and a nurse peaked in.
"Dr. Drake, Mrs. Morgan." The young woman greeted. "I'm so sorry to interrupt."
"It's okay. Come in." Sam spoke warmly
"Yes, Nurse Shelton?" Patrick spoke in a dry tone.
Sam gently stroked his hand, willing him to relax as the young nurse began. "Dr. Morris heard that you here at the hospital and asked me to find you to if you would help out with a quick consult. He heard that you were in the hospital and needs your help on tough case."
"I can't. I really have to stay with my..." Irritation quickly showing on his face.
Sam spoke up interrupting. "Of course, he will. He will be right out."
Patrick quickly turned his hand to look at her. "Sam, I don't want to leave you right now."
"Patrick, didn't you tell me earlier that I can't go anywhere? I'm fine, probably just going to sleep for a bit anyway. Go be a doctor. Come back to me when you save a life." She smiled warmly.
He stared at her for a moment as he stood. "Are you sure?" He looked down with concern showing clearly on his face.
"Absolutely. I told you, I'm a little sleepy anyway."
"Don't try to do anything but lay in this bed and rest. I will be back as soon as I'm done."
"I'll be here in this exact spot waiting on you." She smiled.
"I love you." He leaned down and gently kissed her lips.
"You better." She smiled and waved toward the doctor. "Now go be a brilliant neurosurgeon."
She stared at Patrick as he followed the nurse out the door and closed it behind him. She was glad that he hadn't waited her for to return his "I Love You". Not because she didn't love him, but for some reason she couldn't say it today. The shooting had brought other long buried feelings to the surface, and she found herself longing for the comfort from a love loss. She had only really loved one other man in her life, and the feelings that she had for Patrick were not quite the same. She cared for him deeply. She would do anything for him and Emma, and honestly could them building a family together with both their children. Maybe adding to it one day... if she could. Yes, she did love him. But a piece of her heart would never be available to any other man. Even one as wonderful as Patrick. Somewhere is her heart, she would always be Jason Morgan's wife.
Looking around the hospital room, she longed for Jason and missed him in a way that she hadn't for months. A flash memory from the shooting came to her suddenly. Most of the events from the past 24 hours were a complete blur to her, but she remembered looking up and seeing Jason holding her close. But that couldn't have happened. She shook the image from her head and tried to think of what really happened. It wasn't Jason, it was Jake she said softly out loud.
As if he knew her thoughts, her hospital door opened and Jake rushed in.
"I'm glad you are awake. How are you feeling." He quickly made his way over to the bed and grabbed her hand. The feeling gave her pause. It felt different than any moment with Jake had before. The two had become dear friends, and was very fond of him. But at the moment, she couldn't shake her memory from the shooting.
"I... I'm fine." She stuttered as he moved closer, then became distracted by movement in the distance. She looked up to see Carly in the doorway with tears streaming down her face. "Carly what are you... What's wrong?" She paused as her heart began to race and she stared at her husband's strong best friend who looked as if the very ground beneath her was shaking.
"Sam." Jake spoke gently, drawing her attention back to him." I know I shouldn't do this now, you are still recovering. But it can't wait. I just got some news, and we need to talk."
He sat next to her with a serious face. The concern in his clear blue eyes was all too familiar. The seconds slowed and everything around her seemed to go in slow motion. Images of Jason and Jake moved through her mind blurring and merging. Suddenly the man before her transformed, and it was as if she could look past the exterior directly to the soul inside. The thought emerged in her mind. It was completely impossible and irrational but she knew it was true and needed to say it out loud.
Tears welled in her eyes as she blurted out, "Jason?" Carly began to sob audibly and the tears began to run down's Sam's face. "It can't be you... can it? Jason, is it you?"
