A/N - Sorry it's been so long since an update, I've had a lot going on. Everyone has been so kind and supportive of the story and so far NO ONE seems to hate Jo! :) We get to see more of her and Drew in this chapter, I hope you all enjoy!
The sun shone brightly through the windows in the Quartermaine sitting room. A tray of assorted baked goods and a pot of coffee was set out on the table for everyone's breakfast enjoyment. Monica sat alone on the sofa, reading the newspaper and sipping her coffee.
"Good Morning!" Drew bellowed as he strutted into the room with a huge smile on his face. He made his way over to Monica and sat down beside her. He leaned over and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek and patted her knee.
"How are you this morning, Mom?"
"Well, I'm glad to see you in good mood for a change." Monica smiled, not lifting her eyes from the paper.
Drew shot Monica a funny look and then got up to pour a cup of coffee.
"Ha, ha, you are so funny." Drew mocked Monica's observation. "I get it, I've been a little bit of a downer lately but today is a new day." Drew clapped his hands together as he made his declaration.
"Does this new attitude have anything to do with the young woman who is staying in my house?" Monica raised an eyebrow and quickly glanced up at him.
Drew walked back over to sit on the couch with Monica and leaned his shoulder up against hers.
"You know, Mom, I've got to tell you, it feels really good to finally recognize someone. Someone from MY past. It doesn't hurt that she's a pretty great friend too." Drew smiles as he thinks about Jo. "Thank you, so much for allowing her to stay here."
"I second that." Jo's voice came booming from behind Monica and Drew. They both turn around to see Jo standing in the doorway. Drew quickly stands up and moves over to greet his friend.
"Jo! Hey, how'd you sleep?" Drew holds his arms out signaling for Jo to step inside the room further.
"Hey, Drew. I had a great night's sleep, thanks." Jo touches Drew's arm as she walks past him and over to Monica who was standing in front of the sofa. "Mrs. Quartermaine, thank you so much for opening your home to me." Jo remarks as she holds out her hand to initiate a handshake.
"Any friend of Drew's is welcome here anytime and please, call me Monica." Monica replies as she swats Jo's hand away and pulls her in for a warm hug. "How long will you be in town for?" She releases the hug and sits down on the sofa. She pats her hand down on the cushion next to her inviting Jo to sit next to her.
"I'm not really sure. I hope for a while. I'd like to catch up with Drew again, it's been a really long time." Jo turns to look over at Drew and flashes a sweet smile.
Drew's eyes light up when he hears Jo's plans. He was hoping she would stay around for a while, he really needed his friend right now. Someone he could really confide in. He and Jo had been through so much together, they had a lot of history and it felt good to be able to relate to someone he remembered and someone who knew and understood his past.
"Well, you can stay here as long as you like. Especially, if you keep being the reason for this good mood my son is in." Monica looked over at Drew and began to chuckle when she saw how mortified he was with her remark. "I need to get to the hospital now, but I hope I will see you later." Monica got up and began to walk out of the room.
Drew stands up and grabs Monica for a quick hug before she leaves.
"Thank you, Mom, for your 'help.'" Drew sarcastically exclaims as Monica leaves the room.
Drew sits down next to Jo and puts his hand on her knee.
"I really am glad that you are here. You have no idea how weird it's been since I had this procedure. Everything seems familiar but I only remember a few bits and pieces. I am so happy to have someone here that I fully recognize." Drew leans over and pushes his shoulder into Jo's playfully.
"So, Mom?" Jo cocks her head back motioning to Monica who had just left. "That's a new development." Jo giggles as she reaches up and pulls on Drew's collar.
"Oh yeah, that." Drew smiles sweetly and bows his head slightly embarrassed. "Monica has been great through all of this. She has stood by me even when we all found out I wasn't Jason Morgan. Monica actually adopted me." Drew beamed, proud of his long sought-after family. "Yeah, it's great, I really love having a real family. I even made it official." Drew raised his hands up and bent his fingers into air quotes. "Before I went and had the memory reversal procedure, I changed my name."
"What?" Jo exclaims in shock.
"Yeah, you are looking at Andrew Quartermaine, now." He quips, wiggling his shoulders back and forth playfully.
Jo laughs and rolls her eyes at Drew's silliness.
"Well, aren't you high society now?" She replies in a mocking tone. "No, but seriously, I'm really happy for you. I always thought you deserved nothing but the best." Jo gives Drew a tender look and touches his face.
"So, what happened with this whole memory mapping thing? What the hell is it? You know, I never believed when they said you deserted. I tried to figure out what happened to you, but I – I couldn't. I was threatened with my own disciplinary actions if I didn't drop it. I never wanted to. I tried to look into it on my own but there were no leads. I'm so sorr…." Jo had been rambling on so fast that Drew could not get a word in. Finally, he couldn't take it any longer and he cut her off. He didn't want to hear her blame herself.
"Stop! This is not your fault, AT ALL." Drew was emphatic in his response. He needed to be sure his friend knew there was nothing she could have done.
"Faison had that whole operation carefully planned out. There was nothing you could have done. It was just some weird twist of fate that pulled me into this situation."
"So, what did happen? I know that you were abducted for the memory mapping."
"Long story short, this international criminal, Faison wanted to be able to control a hired killer. That's where my 'twin,' comes into play. He's a – a," Drew sighs and walks over toward the double doors. He looks out into the bright day. Even though he and Jo always told each other everything, he was finding it hard to reveal the details of his brother's employment.
"He's a hitman, I already know, Drew. I did some of my own research." Jo walked over and put her hand on Drew's shoulder to comfort him. "Drew, c'mon, you and I go way back. You don't need to worry about anything you have to say to me. I'm never going to judge you."
"JJ, I know that, it's just, I don't know, it's all still kind of overwhelming for me, so how could anyone else understand?" Drew rubbed his hand over his face and let out a little groan. "Anyway, due to the memory mapping procedure, it made me believe I was my brother Jason Morgan. I don't remember all of the details, but from what I was told, I guess, when I first came to this town, I didn't remember anything and as you can see, my face got re-arranged, so nobody even thought to suspect that I was Jason because he was presumed dead. Anyway, at some point, from what I read, 'Jason Morgan,' me, was declared alive. Obviously, Sam and I got together, we got married, with me thinking I was Jason and we had Scout."
"Wait, so Sam was with you because she thought you were Jason?" Jo exclaims in disbelief.
"No, I don't know, not exactly. It's kind of complicated and since I don't remember a lot of it, it's hard to explain. Drew shifted back and forth on his feet and folded his arms across his chest. "I don't know what it is exactly, but I feel this tremendous pull toward Sam. A very strong connection. I don't remember the details of how we got together but based on the feeling I get, I know it was something very real." Drew had an intense look in his eyes and a serious tone in his voice. "Anyway, long story short, Sam and I had a life together until 2017 when, 'the real,' Jason Morgan came crashing through a skylight." Drew thrust his arm up toward the sky and walked back over to the couch and slumped down into the cushion. "Pretty much the rest you know."
"Wow! Um, just, wow! That is one twisted story." Jo shakes her head, and walks over to sit next to Drew.
"Yeah, well, that's been my life for the last two years, 'one twisted story." Drew squishes his face and slaps his hands down on his knees.
"Drew, can I ask, why did you and Sam breakup? I mean just because Jason came back? If you guys were happy and in love with this deep connection, why did him coming back matter?" Jo grabbed Drew's hand and gently stroked it.
Drew let out a little chuckle, "JJ, you know I'll tell you anything." Drew slyly smiles and gives her a wink. "Well, again, I only know bits and pieces, but basically, Sam lied. We had gotten re-married, with me as myself and the whole time Sam was still in love with Jason and oh yeah, she kissed him once while we were together." Drew looked over at Jo and saw her eyes widen. "See, I told you it was complicated." He groaned and rubbed his hand over his face. Jo moved in closer and hugged his arm.
"I'm so sorry Drew, that had to hurt. Especially because, I know how much you've always wanted a family."
"Yeah, well that's where the latest disaster of my life comes in. This lie Kim told me before I didn't have MY memories back."
"Wait, what, Kim, Kim Nero? My friend?" Jo was taken aback.
"Yeah, you didn't know she was in Port Charles?" Drew scans the coffee table looking for something and then walks over to the desk.
"No, no I didn't." Jo pushes her hair out of her face and sweeps a piece behind her ear. She walks over and joins Drew at the desk.
"I thought the two of you were super close?" Drew retorts while he is shuffling through the papers and envelopes on the desk.
"Well, let's just say we've lost touch." Jo mutters.
Drew replies with a quiet grunt as he continues to peruse the desk. He continues his search by opening the drawers and rifling through the contents.
Jo begins to slowly pace back and forth while she contemplates the news that Kim also lives in Port Charles. After a few minutes, Jo notices Drew has been searching the room intently.
"What are you looking for?" She asks sharply.
"Huh," Drew looks up from his task, realizing he was a bit distracted and hadn't been paying attention. "I'm sorry, I can't find my watch. I thought it was in my room, but when I went to put it on this morning, I couldn't find it. I thought maybe I left it down here."
"Do you want me to help you look?"
"No, no it's fine. I'm sure it will turn up. Maybe I left it at the office." Drew dismisses his concern.
"That's right, you have an 'office." Jo squeals out, teasing Drew and skipping over next to him.
"Yeah and I should be going in soon. I need to check in with the nanny and make sure Scout is all set. Sam was going to pick her up, but she got delayed by a case. As soon as I do that I'll need to go. Wanna come with me?" Drew looks over at Jo with a huge smile.
"Hmm….yes, maybe I will. I need to hear more about Kim and what she's been up to since she's been in town."
Jo grabs Drew's arm and links, it with hers. She pats him on his hand as they turn to leave the room. "Please, do tell me what my dear friend has been up to."