"Sam! Are you here?"

Jason listened intently, his breath stuck in his throat as he waited for a sound to tell him she was okay. His trigger finger itching to pull back again, he gritted his jaw and ground through fiercely clenched teeth, "Where is she?"

"Sam's not here! What makes you think she'd be anywhere near me?"

The sweat creasing his brow ran as freely as the blood from his shoulder, and Franco's mind raced to form an out. He hadn't anticipated this sudden popup, not here - not out on the water when no one knew where he went, or what he was up to. How the man had found him aboard an expedition boat he only rented that morning and had given no indication of the course he'd sail, was curious.

Jason didn't know what shape Sam would be in, and the uncertainty was killing him. He couldn't kill the man before he knew what he'd done with her…just in case…but nothing was stopping him from wrenching the answers from him, piece by piece, by itty bitty piece!

"There are worse things I can do than kill you! I'm not going to keep asking…where is she!"

The minute Franco started shaking his head and opened his mouth to repeat the previous lie, the sound of another shot rang out, this time wrenching a blood curdling scream from his belly, when the bullet tore through his left ear, ripping it clean off, sending warm blood to clog the drum when he grabbed it in agony. Taking a wild lunge forward, he slipped on something gooey and slick, losing his bearings to tumble unceremoniously to the deck of the boat, as his predator circled him slowly.

Jason didn't care how loudly he screamed - there was no one there to hear him. What he cared about was finding Sam. Reaching inside his pocket for a zip tie, he quickly cinched the hand not clinging to the man's missing ear, tightly, purposely cutting off circulation, before he secured it to the boat's railing and ran down the small steps to search below.

"Sam!" He listened after calling for her, racing frantically from one small quarter to the next, his heart thumping with each empty one. "Answer if you can hear me, Sam!"

At first there was no sound, then the faint grunt reached him from the back, and his feet quickened in response. With his gun still at the ready, Jason kicked the door open and burst in swinging, on guard…listening as his eyes accustomed to the darkened interior. The sound again alerted him to her, just as his eyes made out her form on the small bed, struggling to sit up. With his heart beating out of his chest at the sight of her, Jason tore to the bed and tucked his gun inside his belt, kneeling to hold and scoop her up into his arms. Relief, anger, disgust, overwhelming love and protectiveness, soared within him, and he instantly wanted to kill Franco again and again and again, the sight of her open shirt boiling his already heated blood to unreachable levels, launching excruciating memories of her pain from his last vile assault. That sickening, degenerate, son-of-a-bitch had tried again!

"Sam!" The broken sound of his voice reminded Jason that he needed to get her out of there. "I've got you…I've got you!" Folding her into his arms, he stood to his feet, cradling her lovingly to his chest, bouncing her softly, reassuringly, as he whispered against her head tuckered into him, "I've got you!"

Making his way back to the deck, Jason carefully laid Sam out on the padded bench and stroked her cheek softly. "Take a breath, Sam…deep breath…that's it…I've got you!" The fresh salt air was doing the trick, and Jason started to breath again when she whispered his name.

"Jason!"

"Yes, it's me…I'm right here. You're okay now!"

But she wasn't okay. She looked pale and groggy as she struggled to open lids that appeared too heavy. He needed to get her to a hospital.

"Jason - Jason, I swear, I don't know how she got there! She must've snuck aboard when I was't looking - she's a stowaway - that's it, that's it - she stowed away and I had no idea!"

"What did you give her?" Storming angrily to the man sitting crosslegged in a pool of red on the deck, muttering through obvious blood loss, Jason knelt to grab him by the front of the shirt and yank his head up. "What did you shoot her up with?"

The slow, insane laugh that ensued, angered him to where he started to reach for the gun at his back so he could finish the evil bastard, but then he had a different idea. Maybe he'd bleed to death right there in his own stench, but unless he did, he'd stay right there until he was ready to dispose of him. He needed to take care of Sam. He had to get her to a hospital.

Moving swiftly back to her side, Jason checked her pulse to find it beating erratically, and she still struggled to get her bearings.

"It's okay, Sam - I'm taking you to a hospital."

"No!"

The sound was low but it was adamant, giving Jason the first real relief since he'd boarded, the first signs that she was somewhat aware.

"I have to - I don't know what he gave you." He stroked the hair back from her face and studied the pupils he could now see. "I can't let anything happen to you, okay?" The choked up sound of this own voice rattled him, and he needed to make sure she'd be okay.

"No." She repeated the word in what he knew she hoped was a forceful way, but it only sounded as weak as she appeared. "Fine."

"You're not fine…you can barely open your eyes and your speech is slurred Sam. I can't be sure that what he gave you isn't lethal."

Sam tried to shake her head, but it barely moved, so she tried speaking again, even though it was oh so hard.

"Wearing…off." She could feel her mind clearing, the ability to form words again, welcomed greatly. "Fine."

Jason knew that she wasn't fine, but he had to admit that she was slowly looking slightly better than before. She was moving more and she knew he was there…but he still didn't like the idea of not getting her aid right away. Taking her hand to rest against his lips, he kissed it softly and swallowed against the huge lump in his throat.

"You're the mother of my son…Danny and I need you, Sam. I can't let anything happen to you, do you understand me? I need to make sure you're okay, so I have to take you…"

He felt the soft squeeze to the hand that held hers, and knew she was trying to talk through touch too. She was so stubborn. He knew why she wasn't ready to go yet, and part of him understood it because he'd feel the exact same way…but she was asking him to take chances with her health…to risk the possibility of her not making it home to them when it turned out the sick freak had given her something lethal that was eating its way through her as they spoke. She was asking too much of him.

She was struggling to sit up, so he gently helped her into a half sitting position on the bench, his eyes locked to hers that were now pleading with him, and when she cleared her throat, he could hear the strength raking back into the voice that spoke again.

"He's…mine!"

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He closed the laptop softly and leant back in the chair, his hand coming to rest at his chin as his mind raced with recently learned information. His brother's message had gotten his immediate attention, prompting an instant return call where he was met with surprise after surprise, learning that the woman who he'd once thought was the greatest mother in the world, the best wife a man could want, and the gentlest soul born on this earth, had gotten even worse than he'd known in the time her actions had practically driven him out of town.

Lucky Spencer knew he'd never win any awards for parent of the year…he proved that when he listened to that incessant call in his soul to hit the road to find that wild, adventurous drifter that lived within him, leaving the boys he loved dearly, to try to find himself. He used to think he could never leave his children…that being their dad was everything he was cut out to be…but then he'd also thought that about being Elizabeth's husband too…and that was a huge farce. He Skyped with his boys frequently, and ensured they knew he loved them always, but he hadn't been able to take himself back to Port Charles, not even for them. Mostly because he thought they were in good hands with Elizabeth and Jake Doe, later learned to be Jason Morgan. When his brother had told of the reveal, and that Jason had chosen to stay and marry Elizabeth and raise the boys together, he'd been a little bit surprised, given he knew of the man's feelings for his wife…but he also wasn't…because he also knew of Jason Morgan's integrity and sense of commitment, and he knew of his searing regrets about not raising Jake before.

But what Nikolas had just imparted today was a definite game changer. It sounded to him like Elizabeth was near another breakdown unless something was done. At first he thought about talking to her grandmother, about pleading with Audrey to get the nurse to see what she was doing before it was too late, but then he realized what it was that he really needed to do. Those boys needed their father. They needed for him to step in and make their world right again, and since he hadn't even bothered to go home for so much as Christmas, in years, he knew this trip would be interesting…but it was more than necessary.

Lucky rose from the chair and grabbed a duffle from the closet in the cozy one-room flat. He had only four hours to throw some things together and catch the flight he'd just booked to Port Charles.

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

Elizabeth paced her living room in a huffy trance, angry at everything and everyone involved in ruining her day and her life once again…Kelly, for reading the stupid tests wrong - the incapable lab techs for getting it wrong to begin with - Nikolas, for butting his princely nose in her business, where it didn't belong - Franco Baldwin, for painting a target on the woman's back that put her in a position where Jason felt he needed to rescue her again - Sam bitch Morgan, for existing - Jason, for acknowledging her existence - Grams, for trying to tell her how to raise her boys, like doing everything in her power to get their father home wasn't the thing they needed most. Everybody and their mother had an opinion on her life and how she should live it, but the only opinion that mattered to her, was that of the man who was the only father she wanted for her boys.

After dropping by Mercy and getting a second test done that day, she'd been thrown further into a world of disappointment, when their lab confirmed what GH had earlier that same day…she wasn't pregnant! But how could that be? She was nauseous even now! No…they were wrong too!

Growling angrily with bottled up frustration, she grabbed the nearest vase and heaved it at the wall, screaming out loud with the shattering sound that bounced back at the angry pieces landing everywhere. Why was nothing going the way it was supposed to?

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

Sam sat up from the bench slowly, feeling the boat's slow rocking as her feet planted firmly to the deck. Still taking deep breaths of the fresh, night sea air, she glared across to the man still secured to the railing, his mumbling almost indecipherable now. At her side, she could feel the soft rage that boiled in the man who'd come for her, and while she knew he was more than willing to do what needed to be done, she had to be the one to do it.

She stood to her feet and walked to him, her eyes riveted on the missing ear and the pool of clotted blood he swam in, and she felt the satisfaction creeping in. Looking all around them at the calm sea, Sam was glad to see no lights of any vessel anywhere near. Good. They were completely alone.

Franco looked up when she approached, the image of a graceful cheetah, hungry and flanked by her rabid mate, forming in his mind as he watched their approach. He'd accepted for hours now, that he'd never see shore again - not this time. He'd been sloppy to get caught, and he knew even before tonight, that if he ever got caught hurting Samantha Morgan again, he'd never live to see the following day. This was that day.

Forcing a grin he definitely didn't feel, he met her cold eyes as she came to a stop in front of him. "Sam, seductive Sam…we could've had a real party you and I, you know that?"

Anger bubbling within her, Sam burned at the image of herself spread out on his bunk, drugged and delirious out of her mind once again at the hands of the sick fuck, and she knew how she wanted him to suffer. Ripping open the shirt Jason had gently rebuttoned on her, Sam leered down at the snarl.

"Is this what you want? Take a good look…this is what you wanted all along, right?"

"Sam!" Jason didn't like her exposing her body to the creep who'd already seen way, way too much of her, more than once. He reached a hand out to stop her, but she reached one back to signal him to let her handle it. Reluctantly, Jason backed down to let her do just that. Afterall, retribution was the least she'd earned from the animal.

Kneeling in front of Franco, Sam continued to look at the eyes that seemed strapped to her bosom. "That's right, get your fill, you inadequate pervert!" When he broke the gaze and met her eyes, she told him coldly, "I'll never believe that you didn't rape me. Thank God, I was already pregnant with Jason's baby…but I believe with everything in me that you doctored that stupid tape to fit your sick agenda." She paused for a heavy moment, then nodded slowly, "Yeah…you raped me in Hawaii alright."

"Is that what you're telling yourself to justify what you're doing to me? This is wrong, Sam…you know it's wrong to keep me locked up and bleeding like this." When her face transformed with a cold, mirthless smile, his heart thumped, sounding louder when she reached towards her left boot and brandished a knife. She'd been armed? If he hadn't sedated her he might've caught a knife in the throat tonight! Swallowing hard at the realization, Franco watched as she raised the deadly weapon towards his face.

"You're absolutely right!"

The next second, she'd used it to snip the zip tie open, his arm falling free to land limply to his leg. Reaching with the other to soothe the red circle now raw, Franco eyed her warily, waiting.

Easing to her feet, Sam flowed with the renewed surge of power and angry energy, urging the man to stand up. As he rose unsteadily on feet that had grown numb, Sam turned to find Jason closely on guard, ready to react the instant he sensed her in any danger. Their eyes met and when hers shifted to the apparatus near the stern, his followed, then back to her, a silent understanding passing between them that only they heard. Moving to grab Franco by the shirt collar, Jason shoved him roughly towards the cage with the metal bars.

"Thanks for renting a shark watching boat, genius!" Shoving the reluctant man hard until he tumbled inside and Sam clanked the door shut, Jason lowered the gun and stepped aside to give Sam room.

"Something about you in a cage just seems fitting to me!" Her mind was crystal clear as she watched the man who'd been the source of so many nightmares, all those nights when she'd woken in a sweat, feeling filthy and besmirched by his unwanted touch, thinking her son had been sewn from his unwanted seed, dreading the motherhood she'd yearned more than anything, when she thought he would be a part of her child forever. "Have you ever wondered how the ocean looked at night? Below the surface, where the big fish feed? I mean, imagine being the prey, the one on the plate for dinner this time…how long do you suppose a man can last against nature's aquatic hunters?"

"This is ridiculous, Sam…"

"Sharks, for instance, see better at night, did you know that? Their body temperatures are warmer too, and nightfall is when their vision is the most acute! Now, you could argue that there are no sharks in these waters, yes? But then again, we've all seen the news where they've been swimming interestingly closer to shore in recent years…randomly attacking unaware swimmers." She looked to Jason inquiringly, "Matter of fact - wasn't there something on the news last night about a school of sharks spotted out this way earlier in the day?"

"Sam, we can talk about this! I'll leave - I'll leave town and you'll never see me again."

She was trailing a finger along the rail of the boat, not even looking at him…her voice relaying a calm that shook him to the core.

"They've been known to get stuck in small bays during low tide, I bet you didn't know that! But hey, sharks gotta eat too!

"What are you doing?" He rattled the door of the cage but it remained shut against his pushing. "Open this thing and let me out!" When she made no move, he looked frantically to the man standing guard. "Jason, Jason - come on - you're bigger than this! We handle things face to face - not like this!" Panicking eyes followed Sam's retreating back, where she headed to the controls. "Sam, stop this! You don't want to do this. I didn't touch you, I swear! I just wanted Jason to hurt like he hurt me! He rejected me when all I wanted was a lousy minute - he deserved to lose everything!" The damn thing was being hoisted in the air and swung over the side of the boat, swinging from its tethered chain that rattled as it moved. "Sam, come on! Shoot me again…Jason tell her…you'll gladly shoot me again!" The splatting sound made by the metal box hitting the waves, scared him as much as the cold water that washed over the bottom. It had paused! She'd stopped the descent! "You don't have to do this, Sam! I wasn't going to hurt you - it was just a warning to Jason cause he was coming after me again. I just wanted to tell him that if he left me alone, I'd leave you all alone - that's all! I wouldn't touch you, I swear!"

Jason pointed to the cage and nodded at the man, "I'd put that scuba gear on, if I were you. Maybe you'll be lucky and it has enough air to last til somebody comes along to bring you back up."

His eyes falling to the floor of the cage, Franco saw the gear he hadn't noticed before, and when the box started sinking again, he gave up begging for something he knew he wouldn't get. She meant to drown him, and he was going down into that cold, dark water whether he liked it or not. Using his good arm, he hurried to fix the oxygen over his nose and stick the tube in place.

"I almost forgot…" Sam walked steadily to the railing and took the gun from Jason's hand, pointing at the frantic man. "Sharks like their meat fresh - best give them a trail so they can find it soon." The shot sounded and Franco gritted his teeth against the pain, almost going numb by now, as fresh blood seeped from the nicked artery when her perfect aim found his right leg. He opened his mouth to call her again, the sound getting stuck in his throat as frightened eyes followed her back to the controls, where she lowered him the rest of the way into waters that heaped past his shoulders to cover him, as the cage slowly fell to the depths below.

It was cold, cold and so, so dark, and the last coherent sound he heard before his mind threatened to lose its grip on reality, was the click that released the door lock. He grabbed hold of the bar and started to push it open…maybe he could still swim with a bullet in one leg and one good arm…people had been known to survive with less, when the need was great. Then something huge moved close to him and he snapped the gate back closed, just as his eyes met a turning dual glow that sank his heart to the soles of his feet, announcing to Franco Baldwin that he'd officially been made into fish bait.