Chapter 11
Jason grimaced when he felt something press down his arm and thigh. He opened his eyes to see Sam, sprawled across him with her head exactly where his shoulder wound was. Her arm was across his chest and when he looked further down he saw her leg was over his, her knee pressing against his thigh. He looked at her face and saw she was sleeping peacefully and he didn't have the heart to wake her, even though the pain was getting worse by the minute.
After some time he couldn't hold it anymore, and he turned her around on her back, having to roll with her when she held on to him. Suddenly she woke up by the pressure of his body on hers, and she gasped and held her breath. Her eyes opened wide, until she saw he was on top of her, and she sighed of relief. ''I'm sorry,'' she whispered, and he frowned. The reaction she had was weird, but her saying she was sorry was even weirder.
''You were sleeping on my wounds,'' he said with a smile, even though he felt the throbbing in his wounds start to intensify. She gasped again, and helped him get up.
''We forgot to take care if them last night,'' she said, and she quickly ran to the bedroom, only to come back with a grin on her face. ''Maybe you'd like to take a shower first – maybe even some breakfast,'' she said sheepishly, and he laughed softly.
''I can take a shower first, and then we can take care of the wounds,'' he told her, and she nodded and moved back to the bedroom to grab some towels. When he followed her and saw her standing there, holding on to the bed, he instantly became worried. ''Sam?'' he called out her name, and she shook her head and held up one of her hands to stop him. She took another deep breath and turned around. She was pale, and he frowned at her.
''Just a little nauseas,'' she said, and he sighed of relief. He knew it was part of the pregnancy, and she smiled at him again so she had to feel ok.
''Be careful ok, don't overdo it,'' he said, and she nodded again. ''Thanks, I will come and make breakfast for you when I'm done here,'' he said, and she wanted to say something when he kissed her and moved to the bathroom. He looked back once more to see her sit down on the bed, and he really was worried about her. He didn't say anything because knowing Sam; she would just push him away if he would hover. She didn't want to seem weak.
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Sam took a couple of deep breaths, but it didn't really work. The nausea stayed, and she didn't mind, but she didn't feel like being sick all day. She thought about telling Jason about her past today, because she felt like it was something he should know. She also wanted to know more about what happened with the warehouse and the shootings, and she would ask him to tell her after breakfast.
It didn't take Jason long, and she helped him with his wounds – rub the ointment in and covering them with gauze. ''It's done – do you want breakfast?'' she asked him, and he shook his head.
''No, I want to tell you about what happened at the warehouse – I promised last night and I'm not that hungry either,'' he replied, and she nodded. He put on his sweats, and then lay down on the bed. She was surprised when he pulled her against him, but settled in and sighed in contentment. ''Sonny was with me when you called – and he told me some old rival of ours was in town. Manny…'' he looked down when she gasped, and he saw she was even paler then before. ''Ruiz,'' he added, but he couldn't finish his sentence as she ran to the bathroom. He could hear her throw up, but he wasn't as quick as she was, and he came there when she was about to lean back against the wall.
''I'm sorry,'' she whispered chocked up, and he shook his head and sank down behind her, despite the ache in his leg. ''I'm sorry,'' she said again, and he sighed.
''You don't have to apologize – I take it you know Manny,'' he stated, and when she nodded he closed his eyes. By her reaction he could only guess what happened, and he felt the anger race through his body. ''Are you ok for me to continue?'' he asked, and she looked up at him.
''Yeah – let's get back to the bed so you can rest,'' she said, and he nodded. She was a strong woman, and when she got up and helped him up he smiled at her. ''I'm going to wash my mouth, I'll be right there,'' she added, and he nodded again and walked back to the room. Sam washed her mouth and took a deep breath – noticing she felt better after emptying her stomach. She walked back and sighed when she saw Jason lying on the bed with his eyes closed, and she slowly moved next to him.
''I won't ask you about it when I finish the story so you can think of a way to tell me,'' he said, and she nodded. She was glad he gave her the time to think about it, and she was also a little surprised he knew what she needed. ''He'd been a thorn in Sonny's side for a while now, and mine, but he got away a couple of years ago,'' he said, and she nodded. Knowing right away how many years.
''Three years,'' she whispered, and he nodded, surprised she knew.
''Yeah, three years – and now he had returned and Sonny needed me to take care of him. So he had some information about Manny wanting to blow up one of our warehouses, and I went there – trying to take him down,'' he said, and she nodded against his chest. She tried to feel safe, but knowing Manny was close by was frightening, and he knew it because he pulled her even closer. ''He had a couple of goons and one of them shot me in my leg, and Manny and I were standing opposite of each other. Something must've caught my attention because I missed when I shot at him, but he shot me in the shoulder and got away,'' Jason added, ''and then just as Max and I got out of there, the warehouse exploded – I didn't get any of it because I was passed out,'' he said, finishing the story, and she took a deep shaky breath.
''I'm glad you're ok,'' she whispered, and he nodded and pressed a kiss on top of her head. She knew she had to tell him now, because she couldn't hold it back anymore. ''I ran into Manny three years ago,'' she started, and he sighed.
''You don't have to tell me now, Sam,'' he whispered, and she shook her head. She knew she couldn't keep this from him.
''I know I don't have to, but I want to because you have the right to know. What happened this morning wasn't just something like that,'' she said, and he frowned but didn't say anything. ''I thought he was scary, and I tried to stay away from him but he always showed up where I was – if it was a bar or in a store – he was always there. He called me 'Sweetness', and I found it disturbing,'' she said, and he nodded and tightened his grip on her. She suddenly didn't want him too close, afraid eh might push her away, and she sat up. He looked at her in surprise and confusion, and she thought she even saw a little hurt in his eyes, but she looked down.
''You met him and he stalked you,'' he stated, and she nodded.
''I didn't know what to do but I didn't tell anyone. I was on my own, because I had just moved out of here and got myself a place, so when I was home alone I would lock every door and window and I was afraid to fall asleep,'' she told him, ''and I normally wasn't that kind of girl – I could take care of myself because I've always had to do just that, but with Manny – he scared me to death, Jason,'' she whispered, and he nodded.
''What did he do?'' he asked, and she took a deep breath, knowing he would be either angry or disgusted.
''Well, at first he sent me things – dead flowers and he would be in my apartment – he would leave stuff there and it freaked me out but he didn't try anything yet,'' she said, and she looked down, ''and then he approached me in the bars I went to, always touching me – and I told him to fuck off but he didn't listen, it only seemed to turn him on,'' she added, and she looked at him to see the anger on his face. She knew she had to finish it quickly because she couldn't take his anger. ''He came in one night and…'' she looked down again, feeling tears starting to fall down, ''he raped me,'' she whispered brokenly, and she heard Jason gasp. She moved back before looking up, and she could see something she couldn't define in his eyes.
''He raped you – how? I mean damn,'' he said rubbing a hand over his face before letting it brush though his hair.
''I was alone, I was already scared, and he was there when I came home, I didn't stand a chance Jason – please don't be angry with me,'' she whispered, and he looked up at her with wide eyes.
''What? No, Sam I'm not angry with you! Come here baby,'' he said, and when she looked at him unsure of what to do, he moved himself toward her and pulled her in his arms. ''I'm not angry with you – I just want to kill the bastard! Damn I didn't – I never thought he'd do something like that but I guess…'' he stopped talking when she stiffened, and he looked down. ''What happened after he raped you?'' he asked, and she shook her head. She knew she had to tell him, but she needed some time.
''Can we – can we do that later today – I'm drained,'' she whispered, and he nodded. He sank down and lay on his side, and when she did the same he pulled her against him closely, not wanting to let go of her.
''Just sleep for a while, baby. I'm here and you're safe,'' he whispered in her ear, and surprisingly she felt safe again. Him holding her was comforting, and also knowing he wasn't angry with her of disgusted helped. She closed her eyes and took a breath.
''I love you Jason,'' she said, and before he had the chance to reply, she was out like a light.
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Jason looked down at Sam and smiled. She was still sleeping peacefully, but he had woken up some time ago. He didn't know what to do, what to say to make her feel better. He knew Manny was sick, but he didn't think he would be this sick as to rape a woman. Jason was glad he got to know Sam, and he never wanted to let her go again. He'd never guessed something like that ever happened to her, until today. When he had woken up and rolled her off of him. Her reaction was something strange, but now it all made sense.
''Hey,'' Sam said, and he almost jumped out of the bed in surprise. He hadn't even noticed she had woken up, and when he looked down he could see a spark of amusement in her eyes. So it was all worth it. ''How long have you been awake?'' she asked him, stretching out a little.
''Not that long,'' he lied, and she smiled and nodded, but he could see she didn't believe him. ''Did you sleep ok? Are you feeling any better?'' he asked, and she nodded.
''Yes and yes. I think I need some food and then I'll tell you the rest of the story,'' she told him, and he sighed and nodded. He got up and slowly made his way to the kitchen, not surprised when he noticed her following him. ''I am starving,'' she said, and he laughed.
''No surprise there, babe. You can eat like the best of them,'' he joked, and she scoffed.
''I'm pregnant you know,'' she replied, and he nodded. He still loved the way she said it, and he looked at her with a smile while making something to eat. When he finished the food he put it on a plate for her and gave it to her, and then he moved back to place something on a plate for himself. He saw her looking at the plate and suddenly she didn't look hungry anymore.
''It's not what you like? I mean I can make something else?'' he asked, and she shook her head.
''No, I like it, this is good, I'm just not that hungry anymore. Thinking about all what happened…'' her voice faded and she seemed lost in thought. She ate, but she didn't seem to taste it and he felt like he did something wrong. ''Jason it was fine,'' she said, and he smiled at her, surprised she knew what he was thinking.
''Then it is what you have to tell me, right?'' he asked, and she nodded and looked down at her now empty plate. ''You want to tell it now or later? I mean if you don't want to tell it I'll just-'' he started, but she interrupted him.
''No, I want to tell you,'' she said, ''this is something that also – I didn't tell you this before because I didn't think it would matter. But you know the scar on my stomach,'' she said, and he nodded. He had the feeling it had something to do with Manny, and he was right. ''Manny did it,'' she said, and he nodded.
''What happened?'' he asked, not sure if he really wanted to know. She stood and walked over to the living room, and he followed her. He sat down next to her, and wasn't surprised she didn't want to be touched. He knew it was going to be hard for her.
''When he'd raped me he left, and I didn't see him for a couple of weeks. Then I found out I was pregnant,'' she whispered, and he gasped. ''Manny didn't know when he came back and I tried to hide it – I would wear big shirts and all. But then the end of my pregnancy came and he found out,'' she said, and Jason nodded.
''Did he know it was his?'' he asked, and she shrugged.
''I think he always knew I was pregnant, maybe even before me because he had been talking about a plan. I don't remember what the plan was but I do remember he said the plan worked when he kidnapped me,'' she said, and he closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm down. What he wanted to do now was go after Manny again and kill the bastard, bring him back and kill him again slowly.
''He kidnapped you,'' he said through gritted teeth.
''I was 8 and a half months pregnant, he said it was time to get the baby out,'' she said, and she gasped for breath when tears started flowing down her face. ''He strapped me to one of those examination tables they have in the hospital, and he prepped me – he didn't have anything like medication or something, he just planned on cutting right through me,'' she sobbed, and he closed his eyes again. God, he couldn't imagine how scared she must have been, and he didn't know what to say. ''But when he started cutting I started having contractions – and they were bad,'' she added, and he nodded.
''What happened when he noticed?'' Jason asked, and Sam closed her eyes. He knew this had to be hard, and he wanted to hold her, but she didn't let him.
''He didn't care, he kept cutting, but the problem was with the pain – I blacked out. And when I woke up I was in the hospital, and they told me my baby was dead,'' she said, and the sobs became hysterical, to a point where Jason didn't care if she didn't want to be touched. He held her close and soothed her, saying soft words in her ear. He didn't know how long it took, but after a while Sam looked at him again. ''That's why the doctors said I couldn't have kids. He didn't cut the right way and – it all doesn't matter because according to the doctor in Port Charles she says there is nothing that could stop me from having kids,'' she added, and he nodded.
''Sam, I love you, and I know you're strong. I need you to take some time to rest – God, I don't know what to say,'' he stumbled over his words, and she looked at him.
''Just be here Jason. You're all I need right now,'' she whispered, and he was. He just sat there with her in his arms, trying to pour over some of his strength. He hoped she was going to be ok, after everything she went through – and now Manny was back. He would protect her with his life, that he promised.