The gym had fast become his best friend and the place where he seemed to end up the most. As Jason whaled at the punching bag that had become his release, he cleared his mind of everything that was bogging him down. He didn't want to think about home, not the challenges that came with his new world, and certainly not who he'd cut off from his old. He whaled until he and the bag were all there was, the sounding echo of each fist rolling into a rhythm set by his twisting body, his mind taken for the ride.

After ninety minutes of high intensity, high impacted movements that left him spent and wet, he relented to ease up and go home. The gym was closing early, so he really had no choice…back to dodging bullets and putting out a joy he'd had to practically fake for weeks now.

Thanksgiving was the following day and they'd been invited to dinner at the Quartermaine mansion, which Jason remembered as soon as he walked through the door and the delicious aroma of homemade apple pie wafted from the kitchen. Elizabeth was home.

"Hey, there you are!" She emerged from the kitchen wiping her hands on a towel as she neared him in the middle of the room. "Good workout?"

"Yea, pretty good." He returned her quick kiss then pointed towards the stairs. "I'm going to wash this funk off." He made it to the first step and stopped when she called his name.

"Are you okay?"

"Yea - fine! I'll be right down."

Taking the stairs two at a time, he tried again to lay the thoughts aside. He was home with the woman he'd spend his life with…he needed to find some way to lay his troubling, resurfacing memories and ensuing doubts to rest, before they festered and threatened his newfound happiness.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Sam rang the bell at the Quartermaine's and waited with Danny for the door to be opened, startled after it did.

"Daddy!"

Jason swooped down and scooped Danny up in his arms and greeted him with a warm smile and huge hug.

"Hey, Buddy! Happy Thanksgiving!"

"Happy Thanksgiving, Daddy! Is Jake here too?"

"He sure is, he's right over there with Cam and Aiden." He placed Danny down inside the foyer and pointed to where the boys sat in the far corner of the living room, engrossed in a board game, watching as his younger son ran over to join them and was welcomed warmly.

"Jason."

The cool tone that she used to say his name is what lived between them now. He'd done serious damage to the budding friendship they'd developed, and it was noticeably replaced by cool indifference whenever she forced herself to interact with him. Why did that hurt so much?

"Hi Sam. Happy Thanksgiving."

"I didn't realize you were going to be here." She entered the foyer and laid the seasonal bouquet on the table near them so she could remove her coat, brushing him off when he moved to help her. "I suppose I should have."

But she didn't think he'd show up for dinner at the family he'd had no use for before he disappeared, to an occasion that was bound to be crowded, nonetheless. She'd usually have to twist his arm to get him there. But that was before. A lot of things were before. He was, by all accounts, a completely different person now…a contented family man living a quiet, sublime new existence. Of course he'd bring his new family to be with his mother for Thanksgiving.

"Happy Thanksgiving, Sam."

Sam looked to the sound of the proud matriarch to that new family, as she made her way over, turning from the coat rack to scout the woman who couldn't stand for Jason to have two words for her without her present. Clingy, insecure, territorial Elizabeth Webber - she'd certainly seen her before.

"The same to you." Sam picked up the bouquet then turned from the sight of Elizabeth clinging tightly to Jason's arm, instantly marking her territory for Sam's benefit. "Excuse me, I'm going to find Monica." She tried to turn away but was stopped.

"Where's Patrick? Your fiancé isn't spending Thanksgiving with you?" The sweet nectar dripping from her voice would've fooled anyone who didn't truly know her, into believing the question was an innocent one, a category befitting Jason, as the look on his face placed him squarely there.

"Patrick is parking the car." She moved to turn away again and was stopped, this time by Jason.

"Danny looks really happy. He's doing okay?"

Looking first at her son, then back at the two in front of her without so much as the hint of a smile for either of them, Sam told him bluntly, "You know, if you came around sometimes and acted like you were his father, now that you know that you are…you'd probably have no need to ask someone else that question."

Cutting her eyes at the instant hurt that washed the blue depths of his, Sam turned from them both and went in search of Monica, whom she found milling around the kitchen. She stayed there making small talk until they both exited with trays laden with appetizers, relieved to find Patrick had finally joined the ensemble. Maybe they could get this show on the road so she could fulfill her duty of bringing the grandchild to visit grandma on Thanksgiving, as quickly as possible, and get away from the stifling air that consumed the room.

"You know, Sam, that really wasn't called for. Jason is trying his best with a difficult situation - you don't need to beat him over the head with the fact that he's Danny's father. He knows his responsibilities - he's wonderful with my boys." One of the two people she was hoping to avoid for the rest of the evening had purposely sought her out near the buffet table lined with pizza.

Laying down the tray she was holding, Sam turned to the hideous pink sweater clad gloater.

"I can talk to the father of my child, about my child, whenever, and however I choose. When my four-year-old comes to me to ask sadly why his dad hasn't visited him in days, that becomes a problem for me, and I will express to Jason what I damn well please."

"This situation is new to him and it's very hard on everybody - he's doing the best he can."

"That's easy for you to say, living under the same roof, where he's readily available to you and your family. My son would like to spend time with his dad - he's not unreasonable wanting that and you will not scold me."

"No, he's not." Jason sidled up to Elizabeth and touched her arm gently when she would've responded, trying to make sure the situation escalated no further, after seeing the look on Sam. "I'm sorry, Sam - I should've been around more. I just didn't want to confuse Danny and I wasn't sure how much time you'd let me spend with him without it seeming intrusive. Of course I want to see my son more."

"Then stop talking about it and do something about the way you're making him feel left out. I told you from day one that you can see Danny anytime you want - stop making lame ass excuses and just do better."

Sam brushed past them both and sat next to Patrick on the couch, who wrapped an arm around her, instantly cocooning her in safety.

"Everything okay?" She followed his lazy gaze to where she'd left Jason and Elizabeth and nodded.

"Yeah, everything's fine." She looked up into the eyes of the man who clearly loved her, wallowing in the depth of what she saw there, even as her broken heart hurt at the lack of that love in the blue eyes she'd drowned in so many times before. This man truly loved her, wanted a home and a life with her, wanted to father her precious little boy and surround them with happiness and security…so why wasn't it enough anymore? Why wasn't it everything like it had been with 'him?' Why had this stopped filling her up?

She laid her head to his chest and allowed her eyes to settle on her son playing with his big brother near the fire, and even as her heart swelled with the love it burst with for her child, she worried that she might not be doing the right thing for him afterall. Just a few months before, she'd stopped questioning and had resigned herself to moving ahead to align their futures with Patrick's and Emma's, and it had been a good decision. It had been solid and adult…so why did she now question it every minute of every day? Why was she still consumed with thoughts of a man who didn't want her, who'd made a clear choice that wasn't her? Why was she less and less sure of the steps she was taking, the closer and closer she got to the day she'd pledge herself to another forever?

Sam snuggled closer to Patrick, feeling his arms tighten around her, trying desperately to retrieve that sense of security and fortitude she'd felt there for months before the big reveal, failing miserably as the future she'd envisioned got blurrier and blurrier before her. She was constantly awash with uncertainty lately, a state that was most unwelcome with her son's future at stake. She wouldn't chase a man who clearly didn't want her, who wasn't the least bit interested in what they had built and held sacred between them for so long…she'd never again leave her heart unattended and open to Jason Morgan's callous, indifferent treatment.

Jason couldn't stop watching her, not when he caught himself doing it, not even when Elizabeth caught him at it too. He couldn't help it, she enticed him in a new way that left him nervous and anticipatory for more. Her sweet smile at something Drake whispered in her ear churned his blood and angered his spirit, leaving him hating the sight of the good-looking doctor's too close proximity to her. When had his harmless fascination with the tiny, spritely PI bloomed into this rearing, achy thirst?

He hated seeing her with Patrick Drake more and more - hated knowing that the man shrouded her in comfort and solace, when each interaction with him left her with anger and doubt, and although he knew his emotions were out of place, given their very real circumstances, Jason couldn't stop them from running through him. Moving over to the well stocked bar, he grabbed the bottle of tequila and took a deep, deep breath. He needed a really stiff drink.

Elizabeth watched him at the bar from her corner by the curios, the conversation with Monica fading into the background, drowned out by the screaming voices she couldn't quiet anymore. She raised her chin and struggled to restrain the rising anxiety that was spreading rakishly all through her. He was slipping away again. A blind man couldn't miss the growing fascination he was showing in the woman, and she, knowing the signs to look for after their last go around, had died a little bit inside ever since they first started showing. She knew them well…the way his head rose at the mere sound of her name or voice, his keen interest in any and everything that concerned her, his soft defense of anything said in his presence that appeared the least bit offensive to her. She knew well, the far away, soft, adoring look that transformed his usually stern, marbled features, whenever his mind was awash with thoughts of her. Lately, he'd worn that look more than often.

Nothing she did, nothing she offered, kept his mind off her anymore…not the elaborate home cooked meals she poured her heart into, not the thoughtful little gifts she picked up almost daily, not even the constant, sweaty, mind blowing romps she was always instigating, that he'd turned down more often than not in recent days. She'd thought for sure this time…with her having the home advantage and all the cards stacked neatly in her favor, with him holding no memories of the woman, that being engaged to her, finally…she'd be home free. She'd been convinced she would be able to use all her wiles and every trick in her arsenal to keep him satisfied and with her this time. He was home. This is where he'd always wanted to be, this was the life he was meant to share with her and their son, with all her boys. He was the father that she was owed for them…caring, devoted, responsible, present. He was hers - he chose her, chose to stay…so why couldn't he just stay and be happy with all they had? He wanted this!

She looked to where the woman sat in the arms of her close friend - another good man who'd blindly fallen prey to her snake charm, another fallen by the wayside, for the likes of her. If she had her way, Sam Morgan would be tarred, feathered, and chased out of Port Charles on the first boat back to the hell she escaped from.

"Elizabeth, dear - what's the matter? Why do you suddenly seem so sad?"

She turned back to Monica, who's concern only made her feel worse. Jason is the one who should be sitting with her, comforting and allaying her concerns. Hell, she shouldn't have any concerns to begin with - not when it came to Sam Morgan - not anymore.

"I'm fine Monica. I'm just a little bit tired - long day."

"Oh, I'm sorry, you probably worked this morning too. I understand if you want to call it a night - thank you so much for bringing Jake over. You don't mind if he spends the night with his grandma, do you?"

She scoured the room and found Jake with Danny and Aiden, drowning another slice of apple pie in whipped cream. Smiling through the pain, she forced a nod. "Of course - I'm sure he'll love that." Then the lightbulb brightened and she quickly excused herself to get her cellphone from her pocketbook. A quick call to Grams got the desired results - she'd drop Cam and Aiden at her house on the way home, leaving her night free to get Jason's mind back on her again. She needed to step her game up - she had to stop the slipping, by any means - before she found herself playing violin to the sad, sad Jason and Sam dance once again.

She found him still at the bar, nursing a tall glass of something silver. Slipping an arm around his waist, she pulled out her most radiant smile.

"What are you doing all the way over here by yourself?" She took his glass and sipped, coughing when the burn hit her throat vengefully. "I don't know how you drink that stuff." Why he was drinking was the more telling worry, something he did very infrequently, usually.

"Warms the blood." Jason eased the glass from her hand and took a healthy swig.

"Well, I have a much better way to warm you up tonight." She circled his waist completely and brightened her smile. "Grams is taking the boys and I have something special planned for my big one."

The smile he returned felt forced…it was forced. He really wasn't in the mood for another round of incensed love making, but what choice did he have? She had every right to expect the man she was spending her life with to want her…and he did want her, but lately it seemed like she wanted him all the time, which was proving exhausting. Truthfully, he'd normally have no complaints, except that his mind had been too troubled, too absent, to enjoy her the way she deserved. It left him feeling guilty and disloyal. This could be his chance to make it up to her.

"Sounds perfect." He knew he'd said the right thing when the light appeared in her hopeful eyes. He'd really not been there for her the way he should be, and he needed to change that…for her…he needed to be better for her.

In a flash she tipped up and planted her lips to his, drinking from him with fervor, catching him off guard. He didn't move, kissed her back when all he wanted was to get back to the drink in his hand. What he'd missed was Elizabeth had caught sight of Sam looking their way.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Sam tucked Danny into bed and laid down ontop of his comforter, stroking his hair before she kissed the tip of his sleeping nose. He hadn't awaken since he fell asleep on the drive home, and as she laid staring at the tiny replica of the man she currently couldn't stand being around, she rued for Danny's state of peace and contentment. To be carefree and happy like that again. She knew part of what had made him so happy tonight was his father asking her permission to pick him up for breakfast the next morning. Her little boy was always over the moon at the prospect of spending time with him, something Sam recalled feeling herself in times past. The man had an enigmatic presence that had people seeking him out, later hating to have to leave.

"Hey - you coming to bed?"

She looked to the door at Patrick's whisper that came just as her eyelids were about to close. Sam realized with a start that she'd forgotten he'd said he'd wait up in bed for her - she was getting ready to fall asleep with her babyboy.

Kissing Danny once more, she eased herself from his bed and joined Patrick where he'd backed out into the hallway.

"Sorry…he's the most irresistible little magnet."

"That's okay…but it's my turn."

He took both her hands and walked backwards, pulling her eagerly towards their bedroom, smiling widely as his eyes coaxed her to join him.

She really wasn't in the mood. She looked at his rakishly handsome face with the white, dimpled smile and she couldn't ration her lack of enthusiasm for a sexy romp with this gorgeous man. Allowing him to pull her towards the room, Sam tried desperately to rid her mind of its heavy weight and put herself in the moment with her handsome fiancé.

Holding fast to his left hand when they got to the middle of the room, she pulled it up to her lips and dropped a quick kiss on the back.

"Give me a few minutes - I could really use a bath."

His smile grew wider and he turned towards the bathroom behind her. "Make it a hot shower and I'm there."

Swinging back around, Sam pushed lightly against his chest, her mind quickly comparing it to a much harder one she knew so well. "Not tonight, lover. Just a few minutes, then I'm all yours."

She hurriedly dashed inside the bathroom and locked the door behind her, definitely not in the mood for that either - hot and welcome as she'd usually found showers with him to be. What the hell was happening to her? Turning down hot sex with a man who knew his way around women, who, granted was no Jason Morgan, but she'd had no complaints since they started sleeping together, so why all of a sudden didn't she want him in that way anymore? Her reflection in the mirror looked hassled and confused.

"Get it together Sam!"