DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters.

A/N: Just to let everyone out there know, I am a big fan of Sam. I just love the idea that if Brenda came back, there wouldn't be a friendly relationship between her and Sam. They've both dated the same guys and both lost them. I think Sam is a lot like Brenda, they share some of the same characteristics. I don't write Sam as a mean person because I don't like her. I write her like this because I think this is how she would be around Brenda.

Seven

Brenda needed out of the house. As much as Ned argued with her and offered to come along, she just wanted to be alone. It was suffocating even without anyone in it. Monica insisted on going to work. Edward never left his office. Ned and Dylan decided to go catch a movie and dinner, which left her all alone in the big house.

She spent a half hour in the gym on the bike reading a magazine before she got bored, with nowhere to go. She called Robin but only got her answering machine. She was probably sleeping off her long shift at the hospital. Now Brenda would have to find some entertainment herself.

She was new in town to quite a few people; why not find a new place to settle. Jake's wasn't far off the beaten path. She pulled her car into one of the empty parking spots, stuffed her hands in her pockets and sauntered over to the door. Her entrance into the bar drew some attention but it disappeared quickly when she appeared extremely disinterested in her surroundings. She found a seat at the far end of the bar and sat down without complaint. Who knows what had been spilled there.

"What can I get for you?" Coleman asked.

"Vodka," she said looking up at him.

"Rough day?" he asked.

"Rough life."

"I haven't seen you in here before," he said.

"It's because she doesn't belong here," Sam said walking up with a beer.

"Why don't you mind your own business," Brenda suggested as she drank the shot Coleman put in front of her and motioned for another one.

"I'm just letting you know up front. Such a nice girl in a place like this."

"You don't know me," Brenda said looking at her. "Don't presume to know what kind of girl I am."

"I've heard enough about you to know that you would never usually step foot into a dive like this. Did you have to dust off the real shoes for this trip?"

"They're $2,000 Prada boots and if they get ruined I could call my assistant and she would send me over another pair tomorrow." Brenda drank her second shot.

"That's a lot of money you're throwing around. Are you sure you're not better suited for the Metro Court?"

"I wouldn't step foot in Carly's hotel if I was dying." Brenda stared at her. "Is there something you actually want because I'm not looking for company?"

"Sam why don't you go back to your table," Coleman suggested.

"I didn't realize we had assigned seating," she said.

"Just leave her alone."

"Do you know who she is?" Sam asked Coleman, leaning on the bar.

"I think you're drunk." Brenda drank another shot, trying to ignore them.

"This is the woman who played Sonny, Jax, and Jason. She's probably the reason none of them can have a healthy relationship."

"Maybe you should stop before you embarrass yourself," Brenda suggested motioning to Coleman to pour her another shot.

"Nothing could be more embarrassing than being left at the altar in front of all your friends and family," Sam said with a smug smile.

"You're making it very difficult for me to be nice to you."

"I never asked you to be nice to me."

Brenda felt like she was having yet another fight with Carly. The same arguments over and over again. She had absolutely no problem arguing with her, but Sam was a different story. Jason had been in love with Sam for years. Brenda didn't want to throw cheap shots at her. In fact, Brenda didn't even want to talk to her.

"Come on, Sam, leave her alone," Coleman said walking around the bar and stepping in front of Sam.

Brenda ran her fingers through her hair and looked over at Sam. Her patience was running thin. The alcohol was coursing through her body but she wasn't feeling all warm and fuzzy like she thought she would. She wasn't in the mood for a fight but if she had to, she'd protect herself at all costs.

"You think you're so special. You can waltz into Port Charles like you own the place and everyone just accepts you. The Quartermaine's welcome you with open arms no matter what you've done while Jason is out in the cold."

"Jason's not out in the cold," Brenda told her.

"Really? You didn't hear? Monica blames him for Emily which means she has basically disowned him. He may not have really wanted to be a part of that family, but they wanted him. And now he doesn't even have a choice."

"You don't know Jason very well and you don't know the Quartermaine's. Maybe you should stick to what you do know." Brenda looked at Coleman. "Can I get a beer?" she asked.

"I know Jason a lot better than you do," Sam said stepping closer to Brenda as Coleman walked around the bar to get Brenda her drink.

"I don't want to fight with you about Jason. I have nothing to prove," Brenda told her as she smiled at Coleman and took her beer.

"Do you feel a little threatened that you're not the focus in his life this time around? That Sonny and Jax are both taken?"

Brenda laughed as she looked at Sam.

"What are you doing?" Jason asked stalking over to them. Sam instantly backed away from Jason as Brenda kept smiling.

"My knight in shining armor," she said sarcastically.

"Shut up," he told Brenda with a glare before looking at Sam. "What are you doing?" Jason asked her.

"We're just having conversation. We have a lot in common."

"No we don't," Brenda said before taking another drink of her beer.

"I told you to shut up," Jason said without looking at her. Brenda rolled her eyes. "Leave Brenda alone Sam. She has nothing to do with this."

"Saving another damsel in distress? I'm sure Elizabeth will be pleased to know," Sam said. "You two enjoy yourselves." She grabbed her jacket off her chair, handed Coleman some bills and walked out of the bar.

"Thanks. I wasn't sure how much longer I could handle her whining."

"I did it for her own good, not for you."

"Thanks," Brenda replied taking another drink.

"We need to talk," he said.

"Pull up a stool. Can my friend here have a beer?" she asked Coleman.

"I don't want anything."

"Give him a beer," Brenda insisted. "If you don't drink it, I will." After a minute he finally sat down next to her and pulled the photo out of his pocket, sliding it over to her.

"Did you leave this in Sonny's room?" he asked.

"People need to remember the good times," was all she told him.

"You shouldn't be around Sonny."

"I don't think you're really in a position to be telling me what to do," she said looking over at him.

"There is some dangerous stuff going on. A man named Zacchara is targeting Sonny and everyone that he cares about. It's no secret he still has feelings for you. He probably always will. But you need to stay away from him otherwise you could become a target."

"You don't have to worry about me," she said with a smile.

"I have no choice."

"You do have a choice now, Jason. You have enough things to worry about. You have a family now. You have Sonny's family. Whether you like it or not, you have Sam. That's plenty to worry about. I am one person. I can take care of myself now."

"So I've heard." Her eyebrows rose. "Robin made a point to let me know that you are strong enough to take care of yourself."

"I've always been strong enough I just chose the easy route."

"You've never taken the easy route."

"Maybe not where you're concerned." She smiled at him. "I think there's a lot you still need to learn about me if you ever tried." She finished her beer and pulled out a small stack of bills from her pocket, handing Coleman well more than she owed. "Keep the change." She slid off the bar stool. "I'll see you later," Brenda said.

"You're not driving home," Coleman said. She didn't listen to him but kept walking. "She's had more than plenty in a very short amount of time," he told Jason.

He rolled his eyes before following her out of the bar.