Chapter 40- An Almost Win

"I'll go pull up the car," Julian said as they walked towards the elevators.

"I'll go with you," Alexis offered.

"Okay, I need to talk to Jax before we go," Sam said. "I'll meet you downstairs."

Julian and Alexis hopped on the elevator and Sam walked over to the nurse's station.

"Hey, Epiphany? Did you see where Jax went?"

"He and Josslyn were headed to Jason's room," Epiphany said.

"Okay, thank you," Sam said.

Sam headed down the hallway and slowly opened the door to Jason's room.

"You made these?" Jason mumbled as he chewed in his hospital bed.

Aiden nodded.

"Yep," Elizabeth said and squeezed Aiden's shoulder. "He made them all by himself."

"Well, they are delicious," Jason said.

"Jake," Elizabeth said. "Why don't you give Jason your painting?"

"Oh, yeah," Jake said and handed Jason the canvas.

"Wow… this is impressive," Jason said.

Jake grinned. "I'm trying to convince Mom to get me my own motorcycle once I'm legal to drive one."

Elizabeth sighed. "We'll revisit this discussion when you turn 16."

Cameron faked yawned. "Can I go now? Joss and I have to meet our friends at the beach."

Elizabeth cleared her throat. "Cam? A word in the hall please?"

Sam turned and returned to the hallway where Jax and Josslyn were arguing.

"You are not going to the beach," Jax said. "Not after last night."

"Come on, Dad. Spencer, Emma, and Trina are waiting for us. Besides, Mom already said I could go."

"Well, I'm overriding her. You can stay here with me and Willow or go home with Elizabeth and Cameron until I'm finished here."

"I agree," Elizabeth said. "There's no way I'm allowing you to go to the beach without an adult."

Cameron groaned. "I'm not a little kid anymore. I'm fine."

"We don't know who's mind-mapped since last night," Elizabeth said.

"Well, I'd be careful around Trina and Spencer," Sam cut in. "They never left that I know of. I spoke to Curtis and Nikolas about it earlier."

"Josslyn, you can come with home with us if you'd like, until your dad is done here," Elizabeth said.

"This isn't even Dad's week with me," Josslyn said. "He just brought me to see Willow. Mom already gave me permission."

"Joss, I think we need to consider you staying with me full time," Jax said. "Your mom and Sonny have been mind-mapped too."

"That's not true," Josslyn said.

Cameron let out a deep breath. "We can still have fun at my place. Maybe we can binge-watch reruns of Riverdale. We can text the others and tell them."

"Yeah, maybe you should invite Emma to your place too," Sam suggested. "So she's not alone with Spencer and Trina."

GHGHGH

Danny's family took up most of the bleachers at the rec centre. Sam, Drew, Scout, Julian, Alexis, Lucas, Leo, Kristina, Molly, TJ, and Monica all came to cheer him on. Sam and Drew stood in the front row giving Danny the thumbs up.

Danny smiled a little as he took his position next to his opponents and pulled his goggles over his eyes. The whistle sounded and swimmers dove into the pool.

Everyone cheered as Danny extended his arms above his head and pulled his hands towards his body in semi-circle motion. He was well over a metre ahead of everyone else as he flipped himself over at the end of the pool and swam the final length of the race.

"Come on, Danny!" Sam cheered. "You can do it!"

"Woot-woot Danny!" Drew shouted.

But when Danny came up for breath midway, he came to a sudden halt, all colour draining from his face as he treaded water and stared straight ahead, all of his opponents passing him.

Whispers filled the air and Sam's heart sank when she saw Michael and Nelle standing at the end of the pool, Wiley crying and trying to wriggle out of Nelle's arms.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Wiley reached his arms out towards the bleachers. "Me want Daddy!"
Drew helped Danny climb out of the pool and he wrapped an arm around him, and Sam scooped up Scout in her arms.

Nelle and Michael walked over to them, Wiley kicking and screaming, dried snot and fresh snot all over his face.

"Stop it!" Nelle shouted at him, then passed him to Monica. "Did you really have to be gone all day?

Monica pulled out a Kleenex and wiped what she could on Wiley's face. "I told you. Jason was in the hospital and I wanted to watch Danny's swim meet."

Nelle rolled her eyes and looked down at Danny. "Wow, Danny. You almost won the race."

While Nelle was looking at Danny, Monica handed Wiley to Lucas who held him tightly and kissed the top of his head. Michael stared off in space as though not aware of his surroundings.

"Yeah, he almost won until you showed up," Sam said.

"I couldn't miss my favourite brother's swim thing." She knelt over and pinched his cheek.

Danny jerked back.

"Oh! He is so adorable." Nelle displayed a cheeky grin. "He must take after his big sister."

Sam cleared her throat. "You're not his big sister."

Nelle laughed. "Oh Mom, you are hilarious! And Jonah's not my son either."

"It's true. I have the real records. You're not my daughter, Willow is."

Danny and Scout looked at her with wide eyes and Michael turned to her.

Nelle's face paled. "You're lying."

"It's true. Alessandro and Nina are your biological parents. No wonder you fit right in with V-Town."

Nelle stared at her.

Sam scrunched her face. "You really didn't know, did you? They probably know the truth, but they've been lying to you this whole time."

"You are a liar. You just don't want me to take your kids."

Sam held Scout tighter.

"Well, I'm still going to take your kids." Nelle gritted her teeth and pointed a finger at Sam. "V-Town is going to take over everything and I will be exalted. All of you will bow to me."

"You need to stop hurting people." Sam started to scream whisper. "Willow could have died because of all of you."

Michael jerked. "Willow almost died?"

"Michael!" Nelle shouted. "We need to leave… now!" She turned and glared at Monica. "You let Lucas hold Jonah!?" She seized Wiley from Lucas' arms and he began to wail. "Maybe I should find a better babysitter." She started walking but stopped and looked at Michael. "I said we're leaving."

Michael sauntered over to him and they left.

Sam sighed and looked at Danny and Scout. "I was going to tell you tomorrow—"

Danny ran off to the change rooms.

"I'll go after him," Drew said and followed him.

Sam squeezed her eyes shut.

"Willow's your daughter like me, Mommy?" Scout asked.

Sam nodded. "That means she's your big sister. Is that okay with you?"

Scout smiled and nodded.