Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my imagination, Kat, TJ, Bryan Howard, and Chad, for entertainment purposes only.

A/N: Thanks for your patience, alerts, and staying or joining this ride. Special thanks to BabyD-MontanaGirl for your support. Enjoy and review.

Three days earlier, 0417 EST Port Charles, NY

He noticed something was off as if she wanted to reveal something to him but couldn't quite talk about it yet. Jason thought it was about a case Sam was working on as a P.I. She was great about separating work from their home life. McCall & Jackal P.I. had taken on cold cases from the PCPD. As the firm successfully found leads, subtle evidence, and closed cases it wasn't long before their case load tripled. Spinelli called Jason early to notify him that accidentally came across some discrepancies in the fire wall system. Not an actual hacker rather an inside job sending superficial non productive info to Langley...the CIA.

After Spinelli brought this to light early that morning, Jason had also received a black envelope from an Agent Rayner containing these messages sent from Sam. Jason couldn't believe this. The Agent was a man he despised for making multiple attempts to bring Corinthos-Morgan down on Rico violations when they denied his unsavory taste for chemical warfare to come through their territories. He and Sonny knew others did not uphold the same code. Though unable to prove it they believed it was Rayner who kept funding Luis Alcazar and Jerry Jax with infinite cash flow and artillery. After all these year, why was Rayner tripping now?

Jason recalls he had turned the tables on Rayner's threats to send Spinelli to prison if he didn't cooperate to bring down Sonny; Jason had applied pressure by threatening to reveal his past life as Roger Smythe. Rayner may like to toy with his life but Roger's soft spot was his daughter Greenlee. Later, after meeting Greenlee, she revealed to him Roger was not her biological father but she still cared for him. Jason promised he would not bring her any harm but Rayner wasn't off limits if he antagonized him.

A few hours later, it was confirmed that Sam was the one leaking information to CIA operatives. Was he in bed with an ex-con or a CIA agent? Was he just a mark to her from the beginning? He loved her so much and he knew that wasn't a con she had told him about her not so colorful past why not this? He would replay every moment in his head trying to decipher what is the truth or lies?

As strong as Sam was he did see her vulnerable side and thought maybe she was in over her head. He didn't want to think otherwise- the alternative is she would be his enemy and he would have to kill her. This was eating him inside out. He ordered Spinelli "keep this to yourself! Do not breathe a word to Sonny about any of this. I will take it from here." Jason knew Spinelli also loves Sam and this complicated mess had to have an explanation. His wife would have to answer his questions and reveal the truth to him. He would a least expect her to tell him why she carried out this charade of pretending to love him unconditionally. Jason couldn't see past the betrayal but his heart also felt divided because no matter how she came into his life one thing would never change-his love for his wife- it was the only truth he always relied on. He couldn't believe it was all a lie.

XXX

She hid in plain sight as an adept con from the black suits in pursuit as she liked to call Langley's agents. Sam had lived a fairly decent life while working as a CIA informant; she knew saving to support Danny and a rainy day was the best decision she had ever made. Sam headed back to the last place she ever felt like home. It was risky but she managed to hide Danny in Kat's attic at the now closed soup kitchen while she tried to come up with a better plan. Initially, Sam objectives were to protect Danny, of course, then investigate the rogue cover up further. Yet, nothing seems to go as planned. Danny found documents with his mother's name and their families birth certificates. Why would Kat have these? Sam wondered.

Kat was Evelyn Bass's mother, she examined the birth certificate. She thought of Kat as a friend, a truth keeper, but she had lied to her worst than her parents. For a moment she wondered why Kat hadn't told them that she was their grandmother. As Sam glance through more papers she found an adoption certificate revealing she was the lie. Sam resented these discoveries she was angry, hurt, and overwhelmed. She knew what to do she would run away from everything. Who am I? her disquieting thoughts muddled her resolve to care about the cover up any longer when she comes across her own life was literally a web of lies.

Sam didn't ever want Danny to think of as a liar so she told him the truth the best way she knew how. Danny had lost his mom and grandmother Kat to death and now it appeared Sam was running away like their father. Yet, Danny wasn't angry with his sister he knew she tried to keep him happy. He understood when Sam explained she was adopted and that though she didn't share the same parents she would always be his sister. Then Danny revealed he knew they did not share the same parents because he chose her to be his sister. Somehow, that made sense to Sam because she always felt connected to Danny and nothing would ever change that.

Less than two days later, Sam brought a one way train ticket heading to no where in particular. She also had Danny stowed away. On an impulse, she decided to have her big brother start living a new life in Virginia. He also loved when she told him that they would play a game with new names. Sam always changed her name so Danny thought now he was part of her world too. He would make her proud even though other people would only know him as JT. Sam explained to him she would have to make JT his nickname but still needed him to have a real name.

Danny's learning and social disabilities caused strangers to surmise he had less than average intelligence. Yet, he was sharp as an elephant with a photographic memory. He was fascinated with letters, words, numbers, and unlocking codes. Sam wanted to send him to school where he would be safe. Sam found a safe place in Edenton, Virginia. She chose this location because it was close to the Eastern Coast in just case she needed to get to Danny fast. She enrolled him into a specialized school for autistic young adults under an assumed name Joel Tyler Vincenzo. She left him with the words I will always keep you protected, even when you don't see me; I am close… in your heart.

XXX

Sam parted with TJ for the unforeseen future with regret in her heart knowing that she was running away from everything including herself. During her runaway stunts as a child she would escape Cody's let downs but she still enjoyed being herself. Now things were different the CIA wanted her reigned in, her life wasn't what it seemed, and she didn't have anyone but herself to count on. She headed northbound as Sandra McIntyre. Sandra had a clean slate no conning just possibilities. Yet, pass the façade her inner self still had dreams too. She found a cozy apartment within a melting pot boundary of urban meets suburbia. Her entrance overlooked the city and her bedroom facing northeast affords a view of the residential subdivision landscape. Sandy was a home body, but pleasant conversationalist. She attended evening classes at a local college in Illinois to prep for taking her GED. Sandra's became the accomplisher after gaining her GED. Next she started taking undergraduates Business, Math, and Science classes via a correspondence. Ironically she met and cautiously befriended Robert McIntyre, no relation, during her second semester. Robert was a middle aged Irishman, owner of a chain of pubs in Chicago and Ohio. He showed treated Sandra with respect knowing that she was underage when she confidently walked up to his bar asking for a shot glass. That day Sandra allowed her inner self to indulge for a moment. One night Sam took a walk, only three blocks away, found herself standing in front of the bar. Robert came out to talk her into leaving so his establishment won't come under scrutiny for allowing an underage woman to patronize the place. Sandra looked sad, lonely, and depressed the man had noticed. So, he stood there for awhile quietly allowing her to open up on her own. "I'm just missing my brother; I don't know why I'm telling you this….its like I don't know who I am sometimes and just can't shake this dark cloud off," Sandra tried to explain without revealing too much. Robert the bartender heard so many crazy stories in his pub to last him a lifetime. In this moment he thought Sandra could be his daughter and felt his heart swell for her. He didn't pity her. His accepting grey eyes met her sad brown eyes as if saying he understood her. Without much word he motioned to walk her home and wished her well with her classes before departing. Sandy revealed that was her problem she paid her brother's annual tuition and figured her budget would last longer but it wouldn't if she continued school…she felt like a quitter…again. Robert knew Sandy wouldn't accept a handout. He told her that he would talk to a friend at the bank on her behalf to help her get a flexible job.

XXX

Sandy was grateful for the opportunity but she was still cautious. Two week later, Sandra accepted the position to work after she was sure there were no strings attached. She had made it clear that she wanted to remain on temporary status even if they gave her full-time hours. Robert had explained to the manager that Sandy was like a niece to him and she needed to concentrate on her schooling foremost. Sandra enjoyed working as a natural customer service rep especially with the elderly clients who regularly deposited their checks, rolled up coins, and filled out their slips incorrectly. To the other tellers the clients were an annoyance but to Sandy these strangers all had a telling story written on their faces. She met a widow, Mary Mae Ward, who ran an orphanage. Ms. Ward, was in her early fifties, she wasn't as elderly like other clients during the mid week leisurely morning. Mary Mae even offered Sandy another job to help her with the books for the non-profit. Sandy wanted to say no; but didn't know how. She decided Kat was helping her to pay it forward and remember the good times.

Sandy had kept her life safe and relatively normal for ten months and wanted to thank someone. She had been working at the bank for the last four months and two months at the orphanage she found herself consumed in homework on her time off. Thankfully Mary Mae also gave her a potluck dinner twice a week enough to feed an army. She walked to the nearby pub to see Robert. There was a sign on the establishment stating CLOSED. Sam thought it must have closed early for some reason or other. The next day at work the bank manager, Bryan Howard, had asked her to come into his office as she entered she found two police officers standing.

Sandy was worried that she had done something wrong or they found out who she really was. Ah great I'm definitely going to jail now. Sam McCall the con artist worked at the bank and must have stolen something. Chad was always kissing her ass but she didn't trust him. He once asked her out and she simply declined saying she doesn't date co-workers. She tried to remember the last time he tossed out one of his cheesy lines. I couldn't remember when…yeah he got her fired because… her thoughts got the best of her and heartbeat was bounding rapidly as she sat down in Mr. Howard's office. Sandra kept eye contact with Mr. Howard though his stature was intimidating he looked distressed.

"Sandra I'm sorry that I have to tell you this," Bryan began with the police officers at his side. "It's not what you think I'm not a…" Sandy cut off.

"Shhh…this is not about work. Please listen your un...cle died yesterday in a car accident." Sandy brows raised in confusion…my uncle…huh? "Robert, Robert McIntyre listed you as an emergency contact person. I'm sorry to tell you he died yesterday in a tragic accident," one officer explained then the trio extended their condolences. Bryan told the officers they could go as he gave a wax paper cup filled with water to Sandy who remained quiet.

XXX

Ironically, it was a drunken teenage driver that had taken both Robert's life and his own leaving Sandra McIntyre friendless again and no one to blame. Bryan had more to discuss with Sandy. "Robert really liked you." Sandy looked up through tears whispering, "I didn't even get a chance to thank him."

"Well, there's more and I hope he was right about you San...dra… I've known him for over 13 years and he never mentioned a niece until he asked me to make you the beneficiary to all his accounts and deeds. He said you reminded him of himself when his parents immigrated from Ireland with him as an awkward cooper haired teenager. His father walked out a year later and his mother died in his early twenties. Why are you telling me all of this? Sandy asked still trying to process never seeing the man that had been so kind to her as a father should be to his daughter. She pictured his receding hair line wavy brown with glints of rust and a meticulously trimmed beard with sparkling grey eyes.

"I'm telling you this because Robert was a substitute teacher at my high school; he tutored me and even encouraged me to go to college. I was going to rely on my athletic abilities and loved playing football. Still he convinced me to have a fall back plan and to believe in myself. During a game I busted my knee just before during draft season. My career had ended before it even started but I graduated with my degree pointing to his wall of fame." Sam had lifted her head listening to Bryan attentively and guessed the family portrait was his prize possession. There was also one picture of Robert, a woman, a child and Bryan's family matching the ones on his desk.

"I also am telling you this because I have it on good authority that he has no living immediate relatives and the ones that were alive were estranged from him," he continued knowing there was more to this young woman than meets the eye. "What happened to them?" Sandy pointed to the picture. "They died in a house fire a long time ago but he never stopped blaming himself for not being home to save them," Bryan stated sadly. "I also know these were all an inheritance from his grandfather and they are yours now," as Bryan handed the documents to Sandra. She realized they were the deeds to the chain of pubs along with his accounts. "I can't take these," she said in surprise as she pushed the papers back at her manager ready to exit.

"Sandra he chose you," Bryan said simply "and I want you to take three days off. You are entitled to bereavement;" he smiled though not reaching his eyes. "I don't know what to do. I'm sorry he was your friend too," as she rushed out.

Sandy recalled thanking Robert for her job at the bank but she wanted to thank him for everything-feeling confident, having the finances to cover her modest life, care for JT, and meeting Mary Mae who also became a great friend. She didn't get to tell him all those things happened because of his act of kindness. And now he made sure she wouldn't have a dark cloud over her. Bryan eluded to San…dra as if he knew something. She knew she would have to leave soon but she had to settle some things beforehand. She gave her uncle a proper burial. She decided to that she would divide the sizable inheritance after selling the property. Sandy found that Robert cash flow was only fifty-four thousand dollars with an appraisal of $575,000 and sales revenue was undeclared though she surmises it was well below what it should have been because Robert allowed many patrons to keep unlimited tabs. He wasn't rich; he had done well, though it seemed that he kept the business afloat barely making profits after taxes, licenses, permits, and inventory. Nine weeks later, she sold only the main pub making 544,900 after taxes to a savvy buyer who knew he had hit a gold mine.

Sandra left instructions in an envelope for Mary Mae and Bryan after her last day at work. Bryan told her how proud he was to know her and confirmed that Robert had made the perfect choice. Sandy's heart swelled with regret, hope, and joy. She would miss being Sandy but she knows that there was good in her. She transferred the remaining pubs to Bryan and asked that he clear up his tabs before looking at profits. Mary Mae found an envelope enclosed with all the documents for transfer of ownership of the two-story home and a check for over three hundred sixty thousand dollars had to remain anonymous. Sandy only requested that she extend the orphanage to the new property and name it Robert's Place. She had also given Chad an envelope discreetly and made him promise to open it at home. It was an expensive I'm sorry for thinking the worst though he didn't know her thoughts. He felt like the scum of the earth when he found five hundred dollar because though he didn't bad mouthed her at work he secretly resented her smoothness to cleverly problem solve and thought she was stuck up for saying she didn't date co-workers. There was a brief note- Sorry maybe in another life we could be friends. Bye Sandy.

Stay tune this ride has more to come. Don't forget to review.