A/N – Thanks for the comments! Have a Happy 4th! Stay safe!

Chapter 12

A man enters Patient 6's room and they start to fight. He pushes Patient 6 against the door, but then the patient gets the upper hand and knocks him out with one punch.

"Who the hell are you?" Ava asked as she leaves the bathroom where she was hiding.

Jason tries to see if there is an ID on the doctor who is still unconscious, but there is none.

"What are you going to do? There is too much security. You can't just waltz out the front door."

"I'm not going out the front door."

"What is your name?"

He stares at her.

"Well good luck; whoever you are."

"Thank you."

As she moves by him, he grabs her arm. "I owe you."

"Good luck."

She leaves and Patient 6 takes off his mask and prepares to leave.

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Sam opens her eyes and smiles when she spots Jason feeding the baby.

He looks up. "Hey."

"Hey."

"She was hungry."

"I'll bet."

"You want to finish?"

She nods, so he gets up and hands her the baby and then the bottle. After moving the nipple against Alana's lips, she starts to suck.

"She's so perfect." When tears fill her eyes, he knows where her mind went and he kisses her on the head.

"Lila will watch over her."

"I know. I just—I wish her big sister was still with us."

"Me too."

She sighed. "We got another chance and I just want to be a good mom."

"You will be. Danny is great."

"He is. I can't believe how old he is getting—time flies."

"I know. I missed out on so much."

"He loves you and you do a lot with him."

Jason nodded.

"It's hard to believe that Alana is crawling already."

"She's an overachiever."

She smiled. "Jason, I would love to renew our vows to show our commitment."

"Maybe that's a good idea." They have been doing very well and her love for him has been fierce.

"I'll make some plans. We can take our time."

His heart is so filled with love for his family. "Okay."

Sam tries to keep her composure but she is elated that their relationship is growing.

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Elizabeth blinks a few times as she stares at Jake. Cam is sitting near the window and he is stunned too.

"What—what do you mean you're going to go work for Maximus? Didn't you send the applications I left for you? You said you did."

"I lied."

"Why?" Her voice rose to a higher pitch making the boys cringe.

"I just didn't think you'd understand."

"You're right, I don't. I've humored you where Jason was concerned and didn't correct your hero worship, but if you think your father would want that life for you, then you are wrong."

"It's not up to him. I understand my father's flaws, but I'm not him. This is what I want."

A tear ran down Liz's face.

"Please don't cry."

Cam rose to his feet. "Jake, are you sure about this?" All kinds of red flags are flashing before his eyes as he realizes that there is a good chance that Jake could get hurt or worse.

"It's all I have thought about since we moved here."

"So, your plan was to shadow Francis and Johnny and learn as much as you can?"

"Yes."

"Just how far has this training gone?"

"Beyond what you know, I know how to shoot a gun and I'm good at it."

Liz buried her face in her hands, trying to hold back a sob and the boys sat on either side of her trying to comfort her. This can't be happening. Once she had a good cry, she gazed at Jake with red eyes. "Is there anything I can do to talk you out of this?"

He averted his gaze. "No. I'm going to be an enforcer eventually—I will a be a guard to start."

Cam got up and grabbed his keys.

"Cam!"

"I'll be back."

The door slammed behind him.

"I need to protect you," Jake said evenly.

"I am protected. That is what Johnny, Francis, and a whole slew of guards do."

"But I need to be the one. You don't understand."

"Then make me."

He stands and starts to pace. "I just—for the longest time I couldn't protect myself and Helena was brutal. I come home and then people bullied you and forced you away. I wanted to hurt them."

"Jake…"

"I just have so much anger inside and Johnny and Francis have helped me by teaching me how to think and protect myself. I never want anyone to hurt me or my family again. Focusing on being an enforcer has helped me get through school and overcome my fears. I used to dream every night that she came back and hurt you and took me. She had hurt you before."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Her heart aches for him. This is the most he's ever opened up and she wishes he had done so before.

"I didn't want you to worry."

"I'm your mother. That is my job. You bury too much inside."

He stopped to stare. "And you don't?"

She growled. "This is not about me. It's about you throwing your life away to be a criminal."

"But you loved my dad and he was one."

"I did, but his job didn't define him. It seems like your plans are defining you."

"Maybe they are to an extent, but I did what I had to survive. I'm not normal in here," he said pointing to his head. "I struggle all the time with what she did."

Liz starts to cry again. She had made him go see therapists, but Jake would never open up. "It kills me to know that you have been suffering in silence."

"You can't fix it." Nobody can.

"You could have tried to open up to the therapist. God, Jake, what did she do to you?" It was a subject that her son would never discuss.

"I—I have to go."

He rushed toward the door.

"Jake!" A sob left her lips as she dropped to her knees. How could things go so wrong?

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Cam strode into Maximus's study.

"Cameron?" By the murderous look on the kid's face, he probably just got the news about his brother.

"Why? Couldn't you have turned him away?"

"No. He is headstrong."

"But he's so young. There are so many ways he can get hurt. Our family has been through enough."

"That is what I'm trying to prevent. Would you rather that I reject him and then he joins a rival who is less stable?"

Cam's eyes slam shut. "This will devastate my mom."

"I'm not trying to hurt her, Cam. I'm trying to watch over Jake." While Jake had put him in a bad position, he has a lot of potential, so it is also about his business. If Max takes over, Jake will be his enforcer eventually.

Cam shifted his weight and then rubbed his hand over his face. "I want in."

"What?" This is not how he thought this conversation was going to go.

"I'll go crazy if I'm not near him. He's been through so much. Helena damaged him and there is no way in hell I'm going to let this business do it too."

"Cam, no offense, but you are not suited for the violence."

"I'm not asking to be a gun for hire. I'm good at numbers, so I could help in accounting."

Maximus sighed heavily. Elizabeth is probably already going to have his head for this. "Cam…"

Jake pushed open the door. "No, Cam. This is my future, not yours."

"And you don't get a say. I'm doing what I have to do."

"And I'm not? You are upset. I get it, but you knew this was coming."

Cam looked at the floor. "I thought you'd grow out of it."

"Well, I haven't."

"Jason Morgan is no hero, Jake. I know he was your father, but he walked away from us instead of fighting."

"Mom did the same to him."

"I know it's not that simple, but he murdered people for a living. Is that really what you want?"

Jake shrugged. "He only killed when necessary. Maximus is more level-headed than Sonny."

"You treat him like a God and I just don't get it. He was just a very flawed man who didn't seem very happy at all."

Jake moved forward. "He was a man who overcame the worst odds and carved a life out for himself. He found something he was good at even though everyone around him looked down on him and couldn't accept him for who he was after the accident."

"Is that how you feel; like we don't accept you?"

Jake put his hands on his hips. This is not a conversation he wants to have in front of Maximus, but it is past due. "Yes. All of you wanted me to be that kid I was before I left, but Helena took that kid and ripped out his soul and I'm what is left. Under the circumstances, can't you see how I would gravitate towards my father? He would understand, but you don't."

Pain is etched on Cam's face as Liz listens from the doorway. "Maybe I don't understand, but you don't think all of this has changed me too? I lost you, Jake. You were my buddy and when you were run down, it crushed me that I didn't protect you. That's what a big brother does. I had to watch mom fall apart and then spiral out of control. It was awful. It took a long time before she could even function the way she did before, so in a way, I lost my mom and the only father I knew in a short period of time as well as you. It changed me too."

Liz smacks her hand over her mouth to hide her sob. She never realized how much pressure and pain Cam had to endure.

"I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault. All I'm saying is you have other options."

"I know that, but this is the one I want."

"It will be hard for you to leave later on down the road if you change your mind."

Jake nodded. "I know. It's my choice."

"Then, this is my choice too. I want in. I'll help with the books—"

Liz barged into the room out of breath. "No! I will not stand for this. You can't…" Her eyes blinked a couple of times and then she started to collapse, so Jake darted toward her and caught her and then lifted her and moved her to the couch.

Maximus had leaped to his feet and knelt beside her.

"Elizabeth!" he said shaking her.

Jake's chest is heaving.

Cam grabbed his arm. "She'll need some water."

Jake blindly nodded and went to the kitchen to get some. He feels bad for hurting her, but this is his destiny.

He returned and handed the bottle to Maximus just as his mom started to stir.

Her eyes blinked open making Maximus smile.

"There you are."

"What? Jake! Cam!"

"We're here mom."

She struggled to sit up, so Maximus helped her and made her drink some water.

"Are you okay?" Cam asked.

Liz nodded as tears pricked her eyes. "Why, Cam?"

"I need to watch over him and be close. If we lose him again, it will kill this family for good. We will not survive this time." He regrets not sticking by his brother. It haunts him.

His words were like a gunshot, making Jake stumble backward. He hadn't considered how much they had suffered. His decision was not made to hurt them, but he had been so wrapped up in his pain he never fully understood theirs.

Liz's gaze jerked to him and then back to Cam. "I guess your mind is made up?"

They nodded, so she focused on Maximus. "If anything happens to my boys, I will personally put a bullet in your head. You can count on that."

Cam can't believe his mother just threatened the biggest crime boss in Italy.

Liz rose to her feet. "I'm going to go bake. Do what you want. Clearly, my opinion doesn't matter," she said before leaving.

"I hate mom guilt," Cam muttered.

"Me too."

Maximus returned to his seat. "My accountant is retiring in three years, so your timing is perfect."

"Has he ever been hurt?"

"No. He has never been targeted."

Cam feels a little better. "I'll give my two weeks' notice."

"Fine. You'll shadow Giovanni and learn as much as you can. Don't you want to know the salary?"

Cam nodded.

Maximus jotted it down on a piece of paper and watched as Cam's eyes grew big.

The young man is stunned. This is triple what he is making now.

"Shake on it?"

Maximus smirked. "Yes."

They shook hands and then the boys went into the hallway and Jake grabbed Cam and hugged him.

"Thank you for doing this and for loving me."

"Always… You're my little bro. I can't let anyone hurt you again."

Tears welled in Jake's eyes. Cam's actions had made him feel loved and supported. They broke apart.

"Let's get out of here," Jake said.

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Elizabeth put some brownies into the oven. She had baked and cried for the last hour. When the door opened and closed, she threw down her dish towel to see who it is since her closed sign is displayed.

Johnny moved forward. "Maximus called me. He thought you might need a friend."

Her eyes darkened. "Are you my friend?"

"Liz…"

"You knew how deep this had gone and you said nothing."

"It wasn't my place."

Her hands found her hips. "You're right. It wasn't your place to teach a minor how to shoot a fucking gun! I am his mother, dammit!"

Johnny gulped. "He—we were trying to be the ones he turned to so he wouldn't get hurt."

"You should have told me."

"If I had, Jake would have never trusted me again. It was a fine line, but I did what Jason wanted me to do—protect him."

"Fuck Jason! He's not here! He left us for good and he's dead because of the violence that will probably take my son eventually. He doesn't get a say! I'm here! I'm the one trying to hold this family together and protect them."

She plopped onto a seat and started to cry.

"I'm sorry." He moved outside, not realizing that his action just pissed her off more.

She stormed up to him. "You don't get to walk away. I hate you right now!"

The words stung him, and he tried to defend himself, but she shoved him, and his phone flew out of his hand into the street.

"Fuck!"

A truck ran over it and Liz smirked. "It serves you right."

"You're just wrong." Replacing his phone will suck.

"Not as wrong as you." She sighed heavily. "I don't hate you and Francis, I'm just very disappointed in you. You need to understand that you just possibly hurt this family a lot through your decisions. I already lost Jake once. I don't think I'll survive if it happens again."

With that, she left a very emotional Johnny standing there wishing he had done things differently, but not sorry that he helped Jake because the boy would have gone out on his own and the situation would be far worse.

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Three months later, Sam rolls over in bed and Jason follows. A smile eases onto her face. They had renewed their vows and had a small ceremony earlier in the day surrounded by close friends. It had taken so long for him to come around that she had almost given up hope. Finally, he's back at her side and they can face anything together. They had bought a media company and will run it together. He didn't want to go back to being an enforcer and she is fine with that because the kids will be safer. It had been a long time since she was a ride or die chick and her family is more important. A sigh leaves her lips as she allows herself to go back to sleep dreaming about the man, she loves more than anything.