Jason laughed as he watched Sam fall from the bed. He knew she'd been trying not wake him as she climbed from the bed. In her efforts, she had somehow miscalculated the bed.
"Are you laughing at me, Jason Morgan?" Sam asked she popped up on to her knees.
"Yes!" More laughs.
Sam stood to her feet and glared at Jason. Before he knew it, Sam had pounced on him, her head landing on his chest.
"I like this," Jason admitted.
"Me too," Sam snuggled deeper into him.
"Are you ready to head back?" Jason asked as he ran his fingers through her hair. He wanted to savor this moment for as long as he possibly could.
"Only if I'm with you" Sam answered placing a kiss on his chest.
Her words warmed him inside.
"Mr. Q maybe you want to calm down. Sam and Jason are on their way back. They'll be here before you know it." Maxie smiled at the doctor. She understood his excitement, Jason had been hurt so many times. Jason seemed to genuinely make him happy and she brought a dynamic to their group that had always been missing.
"You all are only calm because you have already met the woman. You all have already seen the effect she has had on Jason!" Alan accused.
"She's lovely Alan, " Lila responded, "The way she makes Jason's face light up is just so beautiful to witness. It's genuine."
"Oh, I can believe it mother. Since I have arrived, father nor Alice have shut up about her for more than five minutes. Father keeps spouting about great-grandchildren he plans to spoil to the point of ridiculousness." Alan replied.
"That young woman will make a more than fine addition to this family. She looks at my grandson the same way that Lila looks at me. She's the one and I will not apologize for believing so!" Edward defended himself.
Jason held Sam's hand tightly in his own as they began to approach his home. He was hesitant to go in.
The Quartermaine's were still there, and if he knew anything about Carly, Maxie, and Olivia he knew they were still there also. Never one's to miss a chance to interfere in his life, he knew Sonny, Spinelli, and Johnny were probably standing right beside them.
He didn't want Sam to feel overwhelmed when he opened the door. This was normal for him, but for her it might be a bit much.
"Jason, I'm fine. Your family is an amazing bunch of people, whom I am sure you have missed. If I know anything about them, I know that they have missed you as well." Sam reassured him with a warm smile. The idea of a big family waiting for her was appealing.
"Yeah, but my friends are in there too," Jason countered.
"Everyone in that house is your family. I accepted you, why wouldn't I accept them and all of their quirks?" Sam asked.
Stunned, Jason replied, "You really mean that." It was a statement not a question.
"Yes, I do." Sam confirmed. She squeezed his hand a little tighter as they continued to walk.
When they arrived at Jason's door, there was a small package waiting at the doorstep. It was unmarked except for SAM written across the top.
Immediately, Jason knew three things. The first was that the package had been hand delivered. There was no postage, which meant there was no way a postal service had delivered it. The second thing was that the package was from Jerry, it was a message. The last thing the package confirmed was that there was traitor in Jason's camp. No one got on his property without his permission, his security knew that. In order for someone to get this close to his family, to Sam, someone else had to let them.
Before Jason could stop her, Sam stepped forward and picked up the package. She too knew it was from Jerry.
Tearing it open, Sam gasped. The package was empty, but the message was clear. Jerry could get to her whenever he damn well pleased,
Jason watched, paralyzed, as Sam's face went from an expression of fear to one of peace. She looked up to see the confused look on his face.
Dropping the package carelessly to the ground, Sam moved back toward Jason. She grabbed his hand in both of hers.
"For the first time in a long time, I'm not terrified of Jerry. You've done that." Sam kissed Jason softly. As she moved away, Jason pulled her back to him. His kiss said everything he'd yet to say.
"Jase, how about you let the girl breathe?" Carly snickered as the front door opened fully to reveal the Quartermaine's and all of Jason's friends.
Reluctantly, Jason pulled his lips away from Sam's and glared at the smiling group of nosy people. Before he could grunt out a response, Alice cut in.
"Alright, everybody, lunch is ready,"
Jason nodded his thanks to Alice for taking the unwanted attention of of him and Sam who seemed to find the whole situation absolutely hilarious.
"Can I have a moment with you?" Alan sked as he approached Sam.
Everyone had already enjoyed a wonderful lunch. During which, Carly with the help of Maxie and Olivia had needled the couple relentlessly. Jason had merely grunted at their jokes. Sam had smiled and responded with a few of her own.
"Of course," Sam said turning to follow behind Alan. Before they left the room though, Sam made eye contact with Jason and nodded. She wanted to reassure him that she was fine. She knew he was still thinking about Jerry's "gift" He nodded back and smiled.
Sam followed Alan into Jason's library, before he finally spoke.
"I want to thank you." Alan spoke.
"For what?" Sam asked. She was genuinely confused.
"When Jason first decided about what he wanted to do with his life, I was terrified. I didn't want to lose my son to this lifestyle. A parent is supposed to be buried by their children, not the other way around. I just knew it wasn't going to be like that with Jason. My second concern arose with the trail of women living this life has exposed him to." Alan said.
"Mr. Quartermaine, I'm not sure not exactly sure what it is you're thanking me for." Sam shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She was nervous.
"Please call me Alan"
Smiling Sam replied, "Okay, Alan." She felt a little more comfortable when he smiled at her in return.
"Sam, I'm thanking you for proving me wrong. Jason has lived a long life by his business' standards. He's lived through several horrid relationships with women I would prefer to never ever meet again. Now though, with you, Jason is alive."
Sam was beginning to understand what Alan was thanking her for.
"In the hour or two that I have been around Jason since you've entered his life, my son has come alive. He's so intune with you. Jason is laughing, he's relaxed, and for the first time in a long time, Jason and Edward are not at each other's throats. You are responsible for all of this."
"You don't have to thank me" Sam supplied.
"I do," Alan interrupted. "My son is in love with you. He may not have said it just yet, but it's true. You give my son the love I'd always hoped he'd find."
"She does," Monica smiled as entered the room.
Alan smiled at his wife as he took her hand in his own.
"I didn't mean to interrupt but, I thought I should go looking for you, before Jason begins the hunt."
"What hunt?" Sam asked.
"Since you left the room, Jason's been waiting for you to remerge. His eyes have been going from one doorway to the next hoping you'd finally walk through one."
"I guess I'd better go find him before he finds me." Sam laughed before exiting the library, leaving Monica and Alan to smile as she went.
She really was good for their son.
The next day, Sam was in the kitchen eating leftovers, when Emily walked in, followed by Maxie and Olivia.
"What's going on?" Sam questioned as she finished her food.
"We are going out!" Maxie beamed.
"Where? Why?"
"Oh my God, you and Jason really are alike." Olivia commented.
Sam glared in response.
"Point proven," Olivia quipped back.
"We are going shopping!" Maxie couldn't contain it anymore.
Sam giggled at Maxie. She was a riot.
"Ok," Sam relented.
"Maybe not as like Jason, as we thought." Emily laughed.
"You're okay with this right?" Sam asked Jason.
They were in their bedroom. Sam knew Jason was little rattled from Jerry's message. She also knew Jason suspected there was a traitor among his camp so he was being extra precautious.
"I'm okay Sam. I'm surprised you're not scared or even considering running."
Sam moved to stand in front of Jason. She kissed him for all she was worth.
"You're stuck with me. I like your family and friends, and besides, you're like the best pillow I've ever had. There is no way I am giving that up."
Jason kissed Sam back. He cupped her head so that he had full control.
"I'm good for more than cuddling. You'll figure that out soon enough."
"Don't start something you are unprepared to finish Mr. Morgan"
"I wouldn't dream of it."
Sam soon realized why Jason wasn't more worried about her going out without him.
Olivia, Emily, and Maxie were already the truck when he approached her.
"Hi, Shawn."
"Ms. McCall, nice to see you again."
"You too Shawn. Oh, and thanks."
"For what?"
"For not listening to me when we first met." Sam smiled as she climbed into the truck.
"We've been shopping for hours, Maxie. I'm exhausted and hungry."
"Just a little while longer," Maxie begged as she looked at the time on her phone once more. Her voice reminded Sam of a child's.
"Why do you keep checking the time? What the hell is going on?" Sam questioned.
Since they had let the house, Maxie had been checking her phone almost chronically. They'd been to several places, almost like Maxie was trying to extend Sam's time away from Jason. It wasn't that she was clingy, but she was in need of food and if she was eating that food with Jason, so be it. It didn't help that she was still thinking about Jerry's message. She hadn't told Jason, but she was worried for a family. If she wasn't there to be a buffer, nothing was to stop Jerry from hurting her mom, dad, or brother.
"Don't pay Maxie any attention. She's probably checking her phone because there is some ridiculous app that Spin created for her that tells her when and where the next sale is going to be." Olivia tried to distract Sam.
"That app is not finished yet!" Maie defended herself.
Emily laughed at the expression that crossed Olivia's face at Maxie's words.
"Something more is going on here. If you don't want to tell me, that's fine, but do not try and placate or distract me. All of you are acting different. Jason is too calm, and Maxie is too ansy."
"Sam it's nothing, really." Emily tried.
"Emily you're sweet, but not the most convincing liar. I am not buying this act."
"Act?" Olivia asked.
"I don't doubt that you guys hanging out with me is genuine, really I don't. However, in the time I've been around you, I've picked up on a few things. For example, there is no way Carly would miss a trip like this, and Maxie does not strike me as the kind of person who cares about time when she is shopping. Also, Olivia, you and Emily have been texting, my guess is each other because as soon as one stops texting, the other one starts. If you all are going tto hide something, be more covert about it next time."
"You're good." Emily spoke.
"Really good." Olivia commented.
"You're Jason good." Maxie finished.
"Thank you, now I'm going to go over to the guard over there, who thinks he is blending in and request that we all go home." Sam walked off.
"I'm not sure I can handle Jason as a woman." Olivia said once Sam walked away.
Sam walked through the doors of Jason's home intent on finding him. She wanted to show him what she gotten for herself and for him. She also wanted to question him about what the hell was going on. She paid no attention to Maxie, Olivia, and Emily who were not getting out of the truck.
"Jason!" Sam called loudly, "Jason Morgan! You mister have some explanations to deliver!"
As she walked intently into the living room, she paid no attention to all of the people who were standing there. She paid no attention until one of them spoke.
"Sammy?" That voice belonged to Danny. It was Danny's voice, her brother Danny.
Sam dropped all of the bags in her hands as she looked up at her big brother. The big brother she hadn't seen years. He was standing in front of her and she was paralyzed. What if this was dream like all the other times?
It wasn't until Danny wrapped her tightly in his arms, that Sam understood it wasn't a dream. Her big brother was really here. He was holding her in his arms.
With this realization, Sam was finally able to move again. She wrapped her arms around Danny and squeezed as tight as she could. God she's missed him. It wasn't until her own sobs reached her ears that she realized that she was crying.
"I'm here, little sis." Danny's words brought back memories that she's buried because she had reached a point where she felt she didn't deserve them.
"Danny?" It was all that Sam could manage to say. He was here and she was a mess.
"Everything's going to be okay." Danny's voice was soothing, "Jason going to make sure of it, and I'm going to help in anyway I can."
It was then, that San remembered that she was in Jason's home. That meant Jason was responsible for giving her a reunion she had only ever dreamed about.
"Jason?" Sam lifted her head from Danny's chest and used her eyes to search him out.
He smiled at her. He knew from the tears that she was more than thankful, she didn't need to say it. That didn't stop Sam though.
"Thank you." She mouthed the words, because she wasn't trusting her voice at the moment.
"Jason brought us here, to help us all right a wrong, Sammy." Danny said..
"Us?" Sam asked, she looked back at Danny.
"Sam." The voice was so much like her brother's, but so different at the same time.
Sam turned out of Danny's arms to look behind her. She elt her knees give at the sight that awaited.
Her parents were standing there, looking at her the teary eyes, so similar to her own. Her mother was grasping her father's hand tightly. Through her own tears, Sam could see that the years had been kind to her parents.
"Dad." It was all Sam could say without choking on her tears. As a collective, her parents moved toward her. The bent down to Sam's level and pulled her into them. It comforted Sam that they still smelled the same. They smelled like home.
"We missed you so much, my beautiful girl," Sam felt her father's lips kiss the top of her head. At his words, her mom sobbed a little more.
They stepped back from each other, and Sam felt Danny come t stand beside her.
"I'm so sorry!" Sam cried, "If I had known or listened…"
"None of that matters anymore. You're here." Alexis said, as she wiped tears from her face, "I missed you so much."
"Mom, I…"
"You don't have to explain yourself. You've been stubborn your entire life Sam, we should have known better than to push the way we did." Julian said as he took in his little girl. He wiped a tear trailing down her cheek,
"Yeah, but I never should have said the things that I did." Sam admitted.
"It's like mom said, sis. None of that matters. What matters i that Jason brought us all together."
At Danny's words, Sam turned and made eye contact with Jason. She moved toward him and pulled him into a hug.
"Thank you so much." Sam's voice was whisper of gratitude, but Jason heard her loud and clear.
"You're welcome, he whispered back."
As Sam stepped back, he wiped more tears from her face. He was glad to have done this for her. Sam was an amazing woman and very strong despite everything that she had been through. When she'd told him about her family, Jason knew exactly how she felt. It was the same way he'd felt when he'd pulled away from the Quartermaine's. The difference was that he'd been able to make things right with his family when he was ready. Sam had been forced t stay away. Jason couldn't be another person to hurt her that way.
Sam grabbed Jason's hand before she spoke. "I want to formally introduce you if that's alright."
"Okay." Jason smiled at Sam once more. It didn't go unnoticed by him that since Sam had come around he'd been smiling like a loon.
"Mom, Dad, Danny, this is Jason Morgan. This is my boyfriend. Jason, this is mother, Alexis, my father Julian, and my big brother Danny." Sam was still wiping happy tears from her face.
Jason had been expecting a handshake not the tight hug of gratitude Alexis laid on him. Julian and Danny simply gave him firm handshakes and pats on the back.
'Like father, like son.' Sam surmised.
"You gave us back our daughter," Julian started, "thank you. I don't know how you did it, but thank you."
"Sir, I…" Jason began.
"We know what you do for a living, and honestly we don't care. You've brought us back our babygirl. From the way she bursted into this room in search of you and they way you smile every time she looks at you, we know that you are good for. That's what matters." Julian interrupted.
"I'll never be able to thank you enough for giving us back what we thought was lost to us forever." Alexis said.
"You don't have to thank me for saving Sam." Jason said. He didn't do well with emotion.
"Yes, we do. Our little girl was trapped with that monster. You saved her where we failed." Julien spoke. He tried to keep his voice even.
"You never failed, dad." Sam tried to reassure her father.
"Yeah we did, Sammy," Danny took her hand in his. "We tried the police, we tried appealing to Jerry's humanity, we even tried coming there once, but he threatened to shoot us. He said you were adamant that you didn't want to see us. We stayed away because we thought it was what you wanted."
Sam remembered the day the police showed up at her home. She'd wanted to scream from the rooftops that yes she was being abused, but Jerry had enlightened her before he let the police in that her parents would die.
The police officer had looked at her like he knew what she wanted to say but unless she talked there was nothing he could do. They both knew that. It hadn't stopped in from slipping Sam a card with a number on it that she could call anytime she wanted to get out.
"You did everything you could for me. You did more than I did for myself. " Sam admitted.
"Did he hurt you Sam? Physically I mean?" Her father asked her.
Sam felt Jason move to stand close to her. She knew it was his way of giving support.
"Jerry hurt me, but he didn't break me." Sam vowed. "Jerry may have hurt me physically, but I've come to realize that has nothing do with me and everything to do with the kind of coward that he is. He will never have that power again."
Alexis pulled her daughter in for another tight hug. She'd always known Sam was strong, she just never known how strong she was.
"Why don't we all sit down?"Jason suggested.. Everyone took a seat. Sam's parents and Danny sat on the couch, Sam sat in nearby chair, as did Jason.
For a few hours, Sam spoke with her family and so did Jason. There was laughter, a few tears, and some admissions that Sam wasn't sure she would ever live to tell. She was glad that her parents seemed to accept Jason, but she had wanted to make sure.
"Sam we never judged Jerry because of his lifestyle. is lifestyle was not the problem. They way he looked at you and treated you was." Julian said.
"He looked at you like a possession no one could take from him. He had to be involved in everything you did. It was like you could never be your own person. When Jason looks at you I see a man who wants to love and cherish my daughter they same way your father loves and cherishes me. The man looks like he ready to take a bullet for you, not to you. The smile you had on your face when you came into the room is proof enough that you and Jason share a genuine love." Alexis finished.
"To get right down to it," Danny laughed, "we like him, we really really like him."
Sam stuck her tongue out at her big brother, she'd missed these moments so much.
It was at dinner that night that Sam finally understood why Carly had been absent all day. She'd helped Jason plan everything.
Sam had hugged Carly and thanked her for everything. When she'd laid eyes on a tearful Emily and a proud Maxie and Olivia, she hugged them as well.
"Thank you for everything." she'd said.
When everything had been settled, and sleeping arrangements made, Sam and Jason were finally able to retire to their own bed.
"I can't thank you enough." Sam said as she rested her head on Jason's chest.
"Your happy that's what matters." Jason kissed her forehead.
"Yeah, but a reunion isn't the only reason you brought them here, is it?"
"They could become targets. When I kidnapped you, in Jerry's sick mind, they became targets. I've had men watching them, but I think there is a traitor amongst my people and until I figure out who it is, we are going to have a full house."
Jason looked down to see that Sam was smiling.
"You said we, like what's yours is mine." Sam answered his confused look.
"It's true."
"I have never had that before."
"Now you always will."
"You keep this up, Mr. Morgan, and I may get used to it."
"Good. Then, you won't want to leave when this is all over."
Sam leaned up so she could look Jason in the eye.
"I'm not going anywhere, not without you."
"Sam!"
"Sam!"
"Sam!"
It was third yell that finally pulled Sam from her dream. She looked around to see that she was alone in bed. It didn't take long to realize that Jason had left her at the mercy of Carly, Olivia, and Maxie.
"Why?" Sam's voice was desperate.
"We go through the trouble of a family reunion for you, and you're sleep away the day in this room?" Carly asked.
Sam looked at the clock hanging on the wall. "It's barely 8 o'clock.!"
"That means you should have been up hours ago." Oliva quipped.
Grumbling words of damnation, Sam rose from the bed and marched into the bathroom. Before she could slam the door, the three musketeer pushed their way in.
"I do not need assistance to shower or brush my teeth!" Sam growled.
"No but we need to talk to you." Maxie closed the door behind them.
"The bathroom at 8 a.m. is the most suitable place you come up with?"
"Yes!"
"Fine talk, but I am brushing my teeth and my hair!"
"We know Jason told you about his past. That means you know all about Brenda, Elizabeth, and that bitch who's breaths are limited once I find her." Olivia spoke up.
Sam rinsed her mouth once more, before she looked at the women.
"How do you know?"
"Easy, Jason doesn't look like you're going to run away from him anymore. He looks...at peace." Maxie voice was matter of fact.
"Jason told me everything, and believe me if I ever see Courtney may God help her." Olivia appreciated the anger in Sam's voice. It was the same anger she harboured.
"Courtney will have her day, but right now we need to discuss Brenda."
"I've not had coffee yet and you're making me feel murderous."
"Imagine feeling like that about that bitch for years." Maxie said.
"Why do we need to discus Brenda?"
"While you and Jason were off doing God knows what, she showed up here. Thankfully Alice called me and not Maxie, whom I'm sure would have killed her."
"You're damn right!"
"Anyway, when Alice called, I met Olivia here at the house. When we got here Brenda was waiting."
"The siamese cat wanted to talk to you. She said she knew your secret and that she'd scream it from the rooftop if you didn't back off."
"Sam if you have a secret, that's fine, but be careful. Brenda is a vindictive bitch and she'll do anything for what she wants."
"Thanks, I'm not going to pretend that I do not have my secrets. Jason is aware of them and if Brenda wants to spill secrets she'd better be ready for the hell that's going to rain down."
"Are we talking hell-raising at 8 a.m. again ladies?" Johnny eased the door open.
"Again?" Sam questioned, "you've had conversations like this before?"
"Yes we have, and there will be more talks and more action to follow!" Carly countered.
Johnny looked to Olivia, in hopes of having a voice of reason.
"No apologies," she shrugged.
"Yeah, I'm not surprised." Johnny looked at the four women. "Do I even want to know?"
"Nope." Maxie smirked. "If you want plausible deniability you will walk away right now?"
"Okay." Johnny closed the door behind him.
The women laughed as he left.
Jason ran his hands across his face in frustration. His home was full of people. Between Sam's family and his own, not to mention his friends, Jason desperately wanted a moment of peace.
He'd talked with Sam's family for awhile. It was the first time Jason had actually met the parents of someone he was dating. Jason had long since given up thinking about what it would be like but every time he had thought about it, he'd thought it would be disastrous. He just knew the family wouldn't like him or his business and he understood and even respected it.
Sam's parents had been different though. Her father had shaken his hand and thanked him from bringing back his little girl. Her mother had hugged almost tighter than his own. She'd cried and told him she would be eternally grateful. Her brother had also shaken his hand, but he'd known immediately it was about more than bringing back Sam. He'd known she was in danger.
"I know who you are." Danny's voice was stern.
"We all do." Sam's father looked him in the eye. "We also know what you do could not be nearly as horrific as what Jerry has done."
"We've kept up with they say about him in the news. I've met the man, I don't doubt what they say about him. Everywhere he goes he brings pain and misery. The things he's been accused of. I knew when I looked in his eyes that he would be bad for my daughter." Alexis, who'd stopped crying stood firm in her words.
"We've also seen what they say about men like you and your friends who brought us here. They say peace follows where you lead. You and your friends don't bring violence and death with you. The news says you have a code that you stick with." Danny supplied.
"I don't usually discuss business, but yes we do. I don't operate outside of that code unless given good reason."
"Mr. Morgan, I'm going to be frank. I don't think Jerry just let Sam go, not after all the ways we tried to get her back." Julian spoke.
"That's something that you will have to talk about with Sam."
After the conversation, Jason had gone in search of Sam. Instead of finding her, he'd found his sister. She'd told him about the change she was seeing in him. The reset of his family had relayed the same sentiment.
Jason grunted his way through the conversation, before escaping. He escaped only to run into Alice in the kitchen humming. If anyone knew where Sam was, she did.
"Where is she, Alice?"
"Mr. Morgan, Sam is on trip. She asked me to give this to you, when I saw you." Alice handed Jason a folded note with his name on it.
Jason opened the note and read:
Jason,
If you're reading this, it means that great minds really do think alike. We've shared so much with each other. Without knowing it, you've given me a home and a safe haven. I appreciate everything you've done for me. Kidnapping me saved me. You've given me back my family, and I'll never not be thankful for that. You've given me my freedom, and shown me that there are good people in the world. Your family and your friends have accepted me.
I want to show my appreciation, so meet me where it all began.
-Sam
I PROMISED YOU GUYS ANOTHER CHAPTER BY THE END OF NEXT MONTH OR THE BEGINNING OF THIS ONE.
I'M TRYING TO GET BETTER AT UPDATING, SO THIS IS A START.
THE NEXT CHAPTER OF A STORY (I HAVEN'T CHOSEN YET) WILL BE POSTED EITHER AT THE END OF THIS MONTH OR THE BEGINNING OF NEXT MONTH.
I ENDED THIS CHAPTER ON A GOOD NOTE BUT THE NEXT FEW CHAPTERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE SO HAPPY.
YOU GUYS FEEL FREE TO LET ME KNOW WHICH OTHER STORIES YOU WANT TO SEE FINISHED. I HAVE NEW STORY IDEAS BUT I'M NOT GOING TO WRITE THEM UNTIL I START FINISHING SOME OF THESE OTHER STORIES.
NEXT TIME:
THAT SPECIAL MOMENT I PROMISED...IT'S COMING!
JERRY MAKES A MOVE.
SAM TAKES ANOTHER STEP TOWARD INDEPENDENCE.
BRENDA'S BACK!
JASON LOOKS INTO THE TRAITOR.
Go! Go! Go!
Review! Review! Review!
JaSamUntilForeverEnds:)