Chapter 23

Sam sat studying his sleeping face and she marveled at its serene calm compared to the raging state she'd found him in the night before. Even during bouts of extreme anger, Jason had always been able to mask his feelings from people when he wanted to, it was a skill he taught himself that had served him well in his chosen profession, but she had always been able to know his true feelings. She had always been able to tell when he was hurting, or confused, or sad - even behind his most rigid mask, she could always tell how he was really doing.

That's why when she found him tearing the nurse's house to shreds she knew she had to calm him quickly. He really wanted to hurt her. Sam found that startling, because as much as it devastated her when he had threatened her own life to protect the woman and her children, she had never felt any physical threat from him. Hearing him say the words had cut her deeply and still hurt her heart - she wouldn't have thought that he could ever say something like that to her, but she'd never felt like he would actually be able to do it. He'd broken a glass at her place in frustration of her glib handling of the serious situation but that had been the extent of his destructive behavior in her presence. She had barely blinked at that, but when she'd walked through the door the night before and seen Elizabeth cowered in a corner and Jason raging like a bull in a china shop, she literally feared for what he'd do to the nurse. There would never come a day when she wouldn't hate the very sight of the woman but she could never let Jason go to prison for killing someone as worthless as Elizabeth Webber.

He stirred on the couch and she shifted slightly in the opposite chair as she realized her eyes were locked on the lines of his handsome face, his short sandy blonde hair slightly ruffled from sleep. Her gaze moved to the chiseled outline of his vast chest and she smiled to herself, "I know you're not sleeping anymore." The rhythm had changed from the even rise and fall of earlier.

She saw his tiny returned smile even as his eyes remained closed. "Must be losing my touch." He opened his eyes slowly and blinked as they came into focus, resting on her crosslegged in the chair where she watched him from across the coffee table. "Good morning, beautiful!"

She was breathtaking to Jason. He'd never noticed yoga pants until Sam started rocking them at home with tees, and to this day it was one of his favorite things to see her wear. The little pink sleeveless top she wore this morning reminded him of the star necklace that he'd placed on her so many years before and he couldn't stop his eyes from leaving her gorgeous face to travel to her neck where it once had never left, on down to the peaked paradise behind the pink cloth. She was wearing nothing beneath the top and as her tantalizing nipples laughed at him in their perfection he realized that blood was rushing from his brain to pool elsewhere, forcing him to change direction of his eyes and prompting a quick move into a sitting position and a change of subject. Quick!

"Is Danny up yet?" Their son was a safe topic that would change the course of his thoughts and calm his rushing blood.

Sam smiled to herself again as she pulled a knee up to her chest, setting her foot flat on the chair. He was always cute when he blushed and she knew exactly what that meant. "Not yet. Krissy kept him up late again watching some inappropriate movie with her. Did you see how guilty she looked when she left here last night? I had to sleep in his bed half the night just to calm him down."

Jason looked over to her as he sombered, "Speaking of calm - thank you for what you did last night, and thank you for letting me stay. I don't think I could've spent the night alone." She had always known what he needed.

"Of course," she answered softly. She would always know what he needed. "Do you want to talk about it?"

He was still looking at her, trying to figure out what she was thinking. "Not really." He got quiet for a second then found that he wanted to explain to her. "I couldn't handle the thought that you were done for good this time and I just got really angry when I thought about why."

"And…who?" Her voice remained soft as she prodded him to let it out, not wanting to run the risk of it happening again because he kept the rage bottled up inside him. She wouldn't lose him to Elizabeth Webber - wouldn't let her son lose one more moment with him because of the woman and from what she saw the night before, he was angry enough to go back and snap her neck.

"I'm sorry, Sam. I don't know how many times I can say I'm sorry before it becomes tiresome to hear, but I'm sorry that I allowed her anywhere near our lives. I'm so sorry for everything that I turned a blind eye to that allowed her to hurt you so much."

She nodded and looked to her raised knee where she toyed with the imaginary lint on her pants. "She did hurt me, and she hurt Danny." Her voice dropped low again as she added, "But she hurt you too, didn't she?"

Jason looked at the way she was twisting pouted lips to the side and her earnest digging at lint. "Yes, she did hurt me but it's what she did to your lives that makes me so angry. I've never not been truthful with her, Sam. She's always known how I feel about my family, so for her to do the things that she did - to purposely hurt you and Danny that way - it's not something I can forgive." He ran a frustrated hand through his short hair. "She didn't care what my death did to you, to Monica, to Carly and Michael - she didn't care about anybody but herself and that's not the person I thought that I knew, so yes - that hurt. Knowing that I was losing you forever and it was her fault? Yes, that hurt like hell and I wanted her dead!"

"But she's Jake's mother." Sam pointed out the obvious and Jason nodded in agreement, knowing she was right.

"I can't devastate my son by physically harming his mother…but she is as good as dead to me." He looked at her pleadingly, "Just please tell me that she didn't succeed in driving you away from me? Tell me I still have a chance to win you back?"

"Last night I didn't think there was anywhere left for us to go. I seriously thought…this is it! But then, the way you stormed out and the way you choked up right before…I realized you would go directly to find her and I knew I had to come find you. I didn't know what I'd be walking in on but what I did was not it." She remembered hearing the loud crash as she walked up to the door and fearing that she'd been too late to stop the bloodshed. The thought of a world without Elizabeth Webber in it didn't fill her with regret of any kind, but she knew once he calmed down that the guilt of hurting his child's mother would eat Jason up. She knew he'd never be able to face his son with that guilt, so she prayed she was in time to stop it. She would stop it for Jason and for Jake - she realized then that she would still do anything for Jason.

"I'm sorry if I scared you."

"If I was scared it was of you going to jail. I don't care that you went off on her, she deserves it. She essentially controlled all our lives for seven months - putting us in her little assigned boxes and pulling our strings like puppets, to get what she wanted. She kept you from our son, acted like Danny didn't exist while selfishly encouraging a bond with you and Jake…who she also robbed because she couldn't tell you he was your son. I don't give a damn about the woman - she can rot in hell for all I care…but I was scared out of my mind for you."

Her words gave him hope. "You said we would work it out…did you mean that?"

Sam looked down at her knee as she didn't answer but asked instead, "Did you mean what you said to her?"

"I meant everything I said to her!" He waited for her to look at him so he wouldn't miss her eyes and she wouldn't miss his words, "You're worth a million Elizabeth Webbers, and I have known that for a very long time. Your strength and loyalty alone put you lightyears ahead of her! Add in everything else about you that blows my mind and there is absolutely no competition - your huge heart, your compassion, your drive and determination, your complete selflessness, and the powerful way that you love…you blow her out of the water without even trying!" He looked her up and down hungrily and added, "And on top of all that you're the most beautiful woman in the world, Sam!" He knew that last part probably sounded like a line to her but it was how he felt.

"Daddy!" Jason turned around to see his son stepping off the landing to head towards him, sleep obviously still in his eyes as he rubbed and yawned.

"Hey buddy!" Danny walked right into his father's outstretched arms and yawned again as he was hoisted to Jason's lap. "What's the matter little man, you're still sleepy?"

Sam watched her son as he laid back in Jason's arms and nodded his little blond head against his chest, and her heart filled with pride and pure joy. She'd always wanted that - to give Jason a son and watch their precious moments together. He was still the most beautiful sight with a baby in his arms and she couldn't stop the smile that pushed at the corners of her mouth as her heart filled watching him with theirs. "Good morning sleepyhead! Look how tired you are from late night with Aunt Krissy?"

Jason planted a kiss on his son's head as he rocked him quietly in his arms. His beautiful boy had been right there for so long without him knowing he was his son and he hated to think of all the time that he and Danny had been robbed of. It made him detest Elizabeth even more. She knew that when he "died" he'd had no idea that Danny was his and he'd already missed out on his first months and Sam's pregnancy. She knew that he had reunited with Sam and planned on raising Danny with her and she knew first hand how regretful he'd felt about giving up Jake. That she could still not tell him about Danny - that she was willing to let his son spend his whole life not knowing his father's love, was reprehensible, and if he lived to be a thousand that's exactly how long he would never forgive her for it. People who were that selfish, that self centered and manipulative would run over anyone to get what they wanted and she was willing to run over his innocent little boy. He had no use for the woman and although he loved and would never regret Jake, he sorely regretted the drunken night that created a lifetime bond with his deceitful mother. He looked over at his wife and he sorely regretted all the time that he had spent away from her arms.

"I love you, Sam! And I love this little guy so much…thank you for giving me Danny!" He looked down at his son who had fallen back asleep and Jason kissed his head again, his lips smacking softly as he smelled his little boy smell and reveled in the feel of him in his arms while he watched his innocent little face relaxed in sleep. This was what he had missed out on - this was what the evil bitch tried to keep him from!

Sam said nothing as she rested her head back on the chair and watched him take Danny back upstairs to put him back to bed. She knew where his thoughts had gone and she knew she'd need to keep him busy to stop him from rationalizing going back to terrorize Elizabeth some more. She didn't need a trip to the police station and having to explain his absence to Danny once again, so she formulated a plan of action to keep him calm.

As soon as he came back down she hit him with, "Let's do something today, something as a family!" She knew he'd be all over that and a day with Danny was exactly what he'd need to get him back to Jason. "Let's get Jake too and head into the city for the day!"

Jason looked at her beautiful face and thought again why he loved her so, so much. She had every right to treat his son like the spawn of Satan, given the woman's crimes against hers, but his Sam never would. She would always welcome his son - despite the circumstances of his birth, and she would love him and care for him just because he was his. It was times like these when he chastised himself the most for lying to her in the first place. He knew her! He should've known that Sam would've welcomed Jake from the start and that he should've never allowed himself to be led into lying to her to begin with. Their lives would be so different now - would be so much more!

He sat back down on the sofa and smiled at her, "Okay - let's do it! Sounds like fun!"

She got up laughing as she headed to the kitchen, "Wow…Jason Morgan wanting to have fun - will wonders never cease!"

He smiled as he threw his head back over the couch to look at her upside down as she entered the kitchen. "Wait a minute - where you going?" He feared the answer he knew was coming.

Sam stopped and turned to look back at him. "Danny won't sleep for long - I'm going to make breakfast!"

He sprang from the couch and rushed towards her, "Oh, no…don't worry about that - I got it!"

She opened her mouth and looked at him with mocked indignation, "Hey now - I can make breakfast! I can cook a few dishes now, I'll have you know!"

He came to a stop directly in front of her. Man she was beautiful! He openly admired her tousled lochs cascading to her shoulders as her chest heaved in indignation to his implications against her cooking. She was going to kill him with that beautiful chest! "Since when?" He doubled over playfully when she punched him lightly in the gut as he grabbed her hand - her soft, pliant, delicate yet deadly hand.

"I haven't exactly been keeping my son alive on takeout alone, and Danny loves my cooking!"

"My poor son! It's okay, I'm here now - he won't have to pretend to like burned toast and blackened chicken anymore."

She moved to punch him again but he held her hand fast against his chest as he laughed lightly down at her, loving the soft contours of her face as her bright smile lit up her eyes. He continued, "I'll call Audrey and tell her I'm going to pick up Jake and then I'll make us a light breakfast while you go get ready."

"Fine!" She huffed and slapped him with her other hand as she moved around him towards the stairs, "But one of these days I will make you eat your words!"

Jason watched her climb the stairs and he couldn't stop smiling as he thought about how much he'd missed this with her. He loved being around her - always had. She was so light and easy going that she never failed to put him at ease - except for when he pissed her off and boy - watch out then! He shook his head and entered the familiar kitchen, loving every minute spent with his family.

Less than two hours later they were on the road to New York City. They'd had breakfast and Jason made a quick stop by the hotel so he could shower and change, then he'd picked up Jake from his grandmother and gone back to get Sam and Danny. The drive alone was worth it for Jason as he kept glancing at his two boys in the back of the SUV, talking up a storm and laughing together, sharing action figures between them. He thought of a time when he was so alone, Carly, Sonny and their boys his only family, but then he'd had to leave them and go home to a cold, empty penthouse that was just a place to lay his head. He thought about how he'd gotten used to the loneliness, thinking that was all he deserved in life. Then the little spitfire entered his interrogation room and that life had never been the same again. He glanced from the happy boys in the back over to the bombshell brunette relaxing next to him and his heart filled to capacity. She had changed everything for him. He had to get his life with her back - he just had to!

Sam was happy. She thought what a good idea it was to spend the day together. Jason needed it as much as his boys did, and as she looked from one to the other and reveled in the boys' ease with each other, she knew that she needed to give them the chance to make things right again. She remembered when it was just her and her brother Danny, how after he passed away Jason was the only family she had left. She remembered how badly she'd wanted a child, Jason's child - and now she had him! Along the way she'd also found a mother and two little sisters whom she adored, and now with her little blonde miracle who was nothing short of a gift from God, she knew her family was incomplete without his father. She glanced over to the man who'd stolen her heart all those years ago and she knew she needed to give him the chance to make things right. Their family would benefit from it and he had been trying so very hard to find his way back to them. She finally believed after the night before, that he was done with the wicked nurse, believed his eyes had finally been opened to her true character and for him there was no excusing her actions. Sam had never doubted that he loved her but she had doubted how much more he might have loved someone else, but she had those doubts no more, and while she had never discouraged his relationship with their son she had held him at arms length away from her own heart. She wouldn't fight him anymore. She'd give her heart free license to ease him back in, because that's where he belonged and she knew that. She also knew that he'd never really left, but she had blocked him into a box and left it locked.

Coney Island was a blast for the boys and as the proud, happy parents watched them frolic and play all day, they wished they could keep them elated and innocent, shielded from the world's wrath and its disappointments forever. They glowed watching them inhale Nathan's hotdogs, and the bumper car rides where they formed teams and competed against each other were thrilling for kids and adults alike. With Jake in her lap, Sam aimed their car straight for Jason where he had Danny in his, both boys laughing maniacally when their cars closely missed each other only to get bumped by another. They allowed the boys to steer after that, pretending to scream for their lives every time they hit or got hit by someone else. The parents' hearts filled with the gleeful laughter of their children as they went from ride to ride delighting in an afternoon spent being little boys. They saved the Wonder Wheel for last, knowing that Danny and Jake would get a kick out of zooming through the air on a rollercoaster that lighted up with neon lights, and when dusk fell and they watched them throw their hands up as they roared towards the ground, both Jason and Sam knew that they had made the right call for their little family. Jason also made up his mind about something else that he ran by Sam as they headed back home, both boys zonked out in the back of the SUV.

His voice was quiet as he told her, "I need to get him away from her. I cannot allow her to corrupt or neglect him anymore - he's a wonderful kid! I have to get him out of there."

Sam turned her head as it laid against the headrest and she couldn't agree more, "You should call Diane when you get home. The sooner the better - for him, and for you!"

Jason didn't realize he had been holding his breath waiting for her answer. If she didn't want to raise Elizabeth's son he didn't know what he'd do. He wanted his family back and he wanted desperately for Sam to want Jake to be a part of it too, and then he cursed himself again for even doubting her. He knew how big her heart was - of course she would welcome his son too! Reaching for her hand where it laid on the console between them he brought it to his lips and kissed it adoringly, lingering for a second before he said, "Thank you, Sam!" He glanced at his sleeping sons and added, "And thank you for today - this was a wonderful idea!"

The drama started the minute they got back to town, Elizabeth being at her grandmother's house supposedly to pick up the other two boys when the SUV pulled up. She made quite a show of telling her grams that Jason was not allowed near her son without her permission ever again, how he was violent and unpredictable and she feared for her son's safety. She was livid he'd been allowed to take Jake. She even had the nerve to try to pull Sam into her animation.

"You were there last night - you saw what he did to my house!'

Sam rolled her eyes at the woman, "What the hell are you taking about? My husband and I had a counseling session last night then we went home together. You need to check your medication, and if you're not on some you should seriously think about getting a prescription because you're batshit crazy! You probably tore up your own damn house trying to frame Jason but you better think again!" Sam grabbed Jason's hand and pulled him towards the SUV. "C'mon babe - let's get our baby home."

Jason held her in place for a minute while he used his free hand to whip his phone out and dialed a number. "Diane, I need you to file for custody of my son first thing tomorrow morning. I will not have him in this tragic situation with this crazy woman any longer." He listened as she consented, then said goodnight, staring bugged eyed Elizabeth in the face the whole time. Turning around he pulled his wife with him and opened her door, completely ignoring the banshee screams coming from behind him.

"You cannot do this! I will never let you take my baby, do you hear me? Over my dead body will you take my son from me, Jason! You're a murderer - you'll never get my baby from me!"

He slammed his door shut, drowning out the nonsense before he turned to check on his sleeping son in the backseat, took his wife's hand again, gave her a smile then put the SUV in gear, leaving the seething garbage in his rearview.