Chapter 16- What Matters the Most

Sam stuck some papers into a file folder and slipped it in her desk drawer at work. Spinelli was behind his laptop like usual, and Curtis was out on a stake-out.

The door opened and Julian walked in smiling.

"Dad? What are you doing here?" Sam asked.

"Well, I just got the okay from Patrick to come back to work." He grinned and sat on the edge of Sam's desk. "But he said only office work for now… I told him I'm fine going on stake-outs, but…"

"But, you should listen to him," Sam said. "Mom's allowing you come back?"

"Well, she thought it was too soon. But it's been over a month now since the shooting," Julian said. "So, what have I missed?"

"We've connected with the WSB," Spinelli said. "In searching for the Princely One."

"But Nikolas is nowhere to be found," Sam said. "Anna and Robert searched Cassadine Island like Helena… well Mom as Helena suggested. But it was completely desolate. And neither Valentin nor Nina have been found either."

"And they have not contacted young Charlotte either," Spinelli added.

"Yeah, we just spoke to Lulu yesterday," Sam said. "It's strange."

"Same with the Marchesis?" Julian asked.

"Other than when Morgan took Danny and Scout, yeah," Sam said. "The way Danny described the man ordering the one kid to rip off Scout's dress sounded like Francesco. My only guess is the other kids in the room were the Marchesi grandkids or other abducted kids."

"We did a search of the warehouse and all of his hideouts," Spinelli said. "They're all vacant."

"I see…" Julian scratched his chin. "How about Willow Tait's case?"

"Evidence points to Ms. Reeves as the birth mother," Spinelli said.

Sam shook her head. "I don't know though. Something seems off about it."

"How do you mean?" Julian asked.

"She was given to Douglas and Lorraine Miller through a New Age spiritual group that Harmony was attending at the time. It seems that Nina's mother gave her to the leader of the group and was then passed on to Harmony and her husband… but it just seems like something is missing. And Willow has decided against a DNA test."

"I've changed my mind," Willow's voice announced her presence. "Is it too late to do the test?"

Sam looked around Julian and saw Willow standing at the door. "Not at all."

"But is there a way to do it without Nina or Obrecht knowing?" Willow asked.

Sam locked eyes with her. "I'll talk to Lucas. If I can get a hold of Obrecht's DNA somehow, then maybe Lucas can run a test."

GHGHGH

Sam walked over to where the campers gathered around their camp counselors. Sonny and Carly were waiting to pick up Avery.

Carly glared at Sam. "I see how Scout just flurries about like she owns the camp!"

Sam glanced over at Scout in the distance in her purple Lila's kids' shirt standing with Noah, Avery, and couple other kids their age as they listened to Trina and Cameron speak to them. "She's just standing there!"

"Only moments before you got here, she was skipping along in front of the group when they arrived back from the forest!"

Sam rolled her eyes. "She's probably just excited."

"Or cocky," Carly said.

"Carly, stop," Sonny said.

"No, I won't," Carly said, stepping closer to Sam, practically breathing on her. "I've had enough of Sam and that smug little twit of hers!"

"Get out of my face!" Sam shouted and shoved her to the ground. "Don't you dare talk about my daughter that way!"

She made to jump on Carly, but Sonny held her back.

"Let go of me, Sonny!" Sam struggled against his grip.

"You don't want to do that here…" Sonny said calmly.

Sam glanced over. Scout, Noah, Avery, Cameron, Trina, and the other kids were watching her, mouths agape, just as Spencer and Josslyn walked over with Danny and Georgie and their fellow campers.

"I'll be telling your social worker about this," Carly said standing to her feet. "And I have witnesses. Avery, come with Mama!" She held her hand out and Avery ran over to her. "I don't want you traumatizing my daughter!"

Sam took in a deep breath. "You mean Ava's daughter?"

Carly grinned. "Didn't you hear? Ava's visitation rights have been revoked. That'll teach her not to have close relations with a serial killer! Not to mention her hallucinations aren't good for my daughter to be around."

Sam furrowed her eyebrows. "They weren't hallucinations! Nikolas is alive!"

"Sonny, Avery. Let's go," Carly said. "We have an interview with a new nanny since Max quit on us!"

Sam groaned as they left. She turned back to the kids as Jake and Emma walked over with Leo, Rocco, Charlotte, Aiden, and their fellow campers.

Scout ran over and hugged her. Danny sauntered over to her, face rigid. She swallowed hard. How could she let her kids see her do something like that? But then, Danny smiled brighter than she had seen him do in a long time.

"That was awesome, Mom!" Danny said. "You really showed her for talking about Scout that way."

Sam smiled and wrapped her arms around him.

GHGHGH

"So, you were surprised that Danny was glad that you pushed Carly?" Kevin asked during a session.

"Yeah," Sam said. "I thought it would have scared him and Scout. And I thought it would have disappointed him… but he was glad that I stood up for Scout."

He nodded. "And do you think he would have responded the same way if you pushed her for a different reason?"

She shook her head. "I don't think so."

"Well, from what Drew told you a while back about Danny thinking he doesn't matter to you, I think you just showed him that your children do matter. I mean, I still think he needs more, and I'm not saying to look for ways just to push Carly again, but I think that's a start."

"I hope so. His birthday is next week. Drew wants to take him to the carnival just the two of them, then we're having a bowling party for him. I hope it makes him feel loved."

Kevin nodded. "I'm sure it will help."

"And he started swim lessons again this week," Sam added. "I'm hoping to help him practice since I broke my promise last year. I promised him I'd help him with his back stroke."

"I'm sure that would mean a lot to him," Kevin said.

She nodded and lowered her gaze.

"Everything okay?" Kevin asked.

"I just… I keep thinking about my first daughter. The one I lost."

"I mean, it's only natural you would think of her. But has something specific triggered it?"

"A lot actually. Jason has been bonding with Cameron and Jake… part of me is angry that he didn't try harder with Danny and Scout. And I thought it would make me want him more… but it's just reminding me how he was during my first pregnancy. And then there's Sasha… I had a conversation with her a while ago. She's pregnant with Sonny's child, just like I was, and he sent her to live with Jason. She's in the exact same position I was in. It's all just taking me back to that time in my life."

When Sam's session was finished, Danny and Scout were still in theirs. Alexis, however, was finished hers and waiting on a bench. They had been making it a weekly thing that they'd go for ice cream after their sessions.

"How did it go?" Alexis asked.

Sam nodded. "Good. Got a lot out again."

Alexis smiled. "Me too."

"How's Leo doing?"

"It's still difficult for him," Alexis said. "He still cries every night, but he's doing normal things. It's just going to take some time."

"Mom? While you as Helena was funny… did I tell you how glad I am that you're back? I know it was only a few days… but I missed you. It was too long."

Alexis smiled and wrapped her arms around her. "Well, thank you for bringing me back. I know it was Julian and you kids that brought me back. Andre did his part, but you give me so much to live for."

Sam relaxed in her mother's embrace for several seconds until she saw Liesl Obrecht walk up to the nurse's station. She sat up. "Uh, Mom? Can you help me with something?"

"Uh… sure," Alexis said. "What is it?"

"I'm going to talk to Obrecht… while I'm talking can you try to swipe a strand of hair from her?"

"Why?"

Sam scratched her chin, still eying Obrecht. "It's for work."

They headed over to the nurse's station.

"It is quite important I get that information for my medical column," Obrecht told Nurse Amy.

"But that information is confidential," Amy said.

Obrecht groaned.

"Uh, Liesl?" Sam smiled. "Can I talk to you for a sec?"

Obrecht raised an eyebrow. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Sam crossed her arms. "Have you heard from your niece at all?"

Alexis scrunched her face looking at Sam. Sam tried to gesture with her eyes for Alexis to get a move on it.

"If I did, why would I tell you?"

Alexis swallowed hard and lifted her left hand.

"Well, we're concerned for her safety," Sam said. "We don't know exactly what Valentin is up to, but it isn't good. Nina could be in danger if we don't find her."

Obrecht stared at her. "I have not heard from her. She has been missing since Apri—Ouch!"

Alexis plucked a strand of hair from her head and stuck her hands in her pocket, shifting a little away from Obrecht. "Haven't heard from your niece in almost two months?" Alexis shook her head. "You must be so worried."

Obrecht rubbed her head. "Yes."

"Well, if you do hear anything from her, please let us know," Sam said grabbing Alexis' arm and pulling her back over to the bench. "Mom! You couldn't just grab some hair from her blouse? She had loose hairs on her shoulders!"

Alexis shrugged and quickly handed her the stray hair. "Well, I got it."

Sam smiled and tucked it away. "Thanks."

"Sam?" Lainey walked out from her office.

"Hey…" Sam said. "How did Danny do today?"

"He's really coming along. He's afraid trust you and Drew though."

Sam frowned. "I figured that."

"He said he wants to spend time with Drew again. He misses how things used to be, but he's afraid both of you will drop out of his life again… and he doesn't want to get his hopes up since you keep changing your mind on who his father really is."

Sam sighed.

"Just keep showing him that he matters to you, that he and Scout are your priorities. And I think you'll see breakthrough sooner than you think."