2.
It was half past six and Sam still hadn't heard from the mystery caller since the first call came through nearly five hours ago. She told herself it didn't mean anything. There could be a number of reasons the caller hadn't made contact again yet and not all of them were bad. She had no idea how far they might have to travel to reach her and maybe it wasn't safe to call again until they did.
She'd wasted no time and done everything she could for now, she reminded herself. This time, at least. But if it was true that Jason was still alive... She couldn't let herself go down that road and think of how much time she'd wasted by not looking for him all along. She shook the unproductive thoughts from her head and went over the pieces of the puzzle again. That was how cases were solved; studying every known detail until the missing pieces finally filled in, and nothing would stop her from finding her missing piece this time.
According to her phone log, Sam took the call at 1:42 a.m. and she'd been on the phone with her partner, Spinelli, by 1:49 as she descended the hotel elevator for home. Spin had been at the penthouse with her, tracking the lead, since just after two that morning. So far they'd learned that the phone used to make the call was untraceable, probably a disposable that had already been destroyed. They wouldn't have a chance to trace it further until the informant called again.
Fortunately, Spinelli had installed a new program on their phones right after Jason went missing. It automatically recorded all incoming calls and uploaded them to a protected off-site server. The program could be overridden or initiated for outgoing calls too with a few keystrokes, but its primary function was to record calls to study for clues and use as evidence or leverage when needed. It was a tool her firm, McCall & Jackal P.I., had put to good use on several occasions in the last year, but Sam had never been more grateful for her partner's technical savvy than that particular morning.
Further analysis of the call revealed the caller's voice had been altered with a sophisticated voice modulating software Spin was familiar with. Unlike most software of its kind; it required special next-gen hardware to run, hardware used primarily by black ops. Sam wasn't quite sure how Spin knew that and wasn't sure she wanted to know, but he'd said it was also possible to acquire on the black market for the right price.
Sam figured that meant one of two things. Either some undercover governmental agency was behind the call or a wealthy criminal, maybe even one whose voice she would have recognized. But one thing was certain. They'd gone through too much trouble for it to be some kind of amateur prank. At worst, it was a lie generated to suit some unknown endgame that could mean more danger for her family and at best Jason was alive and on his way home to her that very minute. Please, please, please, Sam closed her eyes and prayed. Let it be true. Let him be alive and on his way home to us.
Damian Spinelli paused between rapid screen refreshes of various devices to take note of his friend and business partner. She was quiet and pacing. Sam did that often on the job and usually right before coming up with a breakthrough in their current case, but this was different. It was personal and the pressure to solve this mystery was paralleled only by the case just last year to prove Sam's son was still alive.
That had worked out well for Sam and Jason and he prayed for as favorable an outcome this time as well. He'd seen Sam endure one crisis after another since he'd met her. A few had even broken her, but she'd managed to come back stronger than ever. He'd never told her as much, but he admired her strength above all others, even his Fair Maximista and Stone Cold.
After the year she'd had with losing her husband and almost her son, though, Spin just wasn't sure how much more she could take. In fact when she'd woken him from a fitful sleep hours ago on the one year anniversary of Jason's presumed death, insisting he was still alive, Spinelli had briefly considered maybe the stress had finally pushed her over the edge. He feared it may still, if this new lead turned out to be more false hope.
Spin sighed. His life may be in a shambles right now, but at least he knew his child and the woman, women, he loved (it was complicated) were safe and well. Diane had also given him every reason to have faith his daughter would come home to him and Maxie soon. It was more than Sam had and, though he'd been reluctant to say or do anything that might encourage that false hope, Damian Spinelli had resolved himself to doing everything he could to get to the truth of the caller's claim. If his friend and mentor was still out there alive, Spinelli would leave no stone unturned until he'd brought him home where he belonged.
He wished he could offer his friend more words of comfort, but he'd said all he could think to say to her earlier. He knew words weren't what Sam needed anyway. She needed results and so the sound of furious clicks of the keyboard filled the penthouse once again as Spinelli focused on the task at hand with renewed fervor.
A knock at the door startled him from concentration and stopped Sam cold in her tracks. A look of hope passed between them before Sam rushed the door with Spinelli on the edge of his seat. It was way too early for visitors. Jason, could it be Jason at their door? She threw it open and found Silas Clay on the other side.
Silas watched the light in Sam's eyes fade upon finding him at her door and swallowed his disappointment. "Sorry. Expecting someone else?"
Sam sighed, her spirit dashed. She felt guilty for not feeling guilty about how little his feelings mattered to her right now. "Silas, I wasn't expecting you. I thought I explained last night..."
"Actually, you didn't, not really." Silas interrupted as he invited himself in.
It was rude to show up so early, especially without calling first, but he'd held out as long as he could. Silas hadn't slept since she left his suite and all he'd done in the hours since was wonder what had taken her away. If he called, she might have told him she was too busy to see him. He didn't want to risk it, so there he was unannounced and uninvited. He paused just inside the door when he realized they weren't alone.
Sam sighed again. She really didn't have time for an inquisition, but she guessed she owed him a minute after the way she'd bailed on him the night before. She closed the door and turned to the two men in her living room. She noted the way Spin angled his laptop away from Silas' intrusive view.
Intrusive, when had she gone to thinking of Silas as an intruder again? She hadn't felt that way about him in weeks. That had been her first impression of the man when her instincts had told her not to trust him. Jason had told her more than once that he trusted her instincts and she should too, but she'd thought they'd been wrong after the way Silas helped Danny and so it confused her now to find that initial distrust had kicked in again. Something inside told her not to trust him with her lead about Jason and, from the looks of it, Spinelli felt the same.
It was silly. She was probably reacting out of her guilt and fear. The caller had warned her against telling anyone after all, and Spinelli was surely acting out of his profound sense of loyalty. Sam had no reason to distrust Silas, but, then again, she had no reason to confide in him about her work either. This case was personal, but she'd never taken her job more serious.
"Spin, you remember Danny's doctor, Silas Clay; Silas, my partner and friend, Damian Spinelli." Sam re-introduced.
"Doctor," Spin replied in a less than gracious greeting. He hadn't forgotten how rude Dr. Clay had been with him and everyone else that day at the lake house.
"How's it going Jekyll?" Silas said, not really caring for an answer. His mind was stuck on Sam and the way she'd just reverted his status back to Danny's doctor rather than friend or something more to her. She was distancing, but why?
"It's Jackal." Spin gritted out.
"Right, listen, Sam and I need to talk, alone. So if you could just..." He motioned his hand for Spinelli to wrap it up and move along.
What in the hell, Sam thought? "That won't be necessary Spin. This won't take long." She cut hard eyes on Silas. She didn't appreciate him issuing orders in her home. This was not General Hospital.
"No worries Fair Samantha. I need to check the other computer in Stone Cold's... in the office anyway. But I'll be listening out, in case you need me for anything." Spin narrowed his eyes on the doctor as he pushed his laptop closed and grabbed it and his phone from the table.
He stood from his spot on the sofa and Sam watched as Spin retreated to the downstairs den located off the right of the hall that also led to the kitchen on the left. Jason had converted it into an official home office years ago, but seldom used it other than that time he'd taken over the business from Sonny. He'd almost always worked at the desk in the living room when he was home. Sam had often wondered why when the office was so nice, but had no way of knowing it was because Jason preferred how the desk in the living room kept him closer to her while he worked.
"That was rude and I don't appreciate it." Sam glared at the man in front of her.
"Rude? Oh, you mean like what you did last night?" Silas rebuffed.
Incredulity registered over her features followed by acknowledgment. It was rude of her to bolt the way she had, but it had just been too much in that moment to deal with the possibility of her worlds with Jason and Silas colliding.
"I said I was sorry." She had, hadn't she? "And I explained why I had to go. I understand you being upset with how things ended, but that doesn't give you a right to take it out on Spinelli. I find it odd for you, of all people, to take issue with someone being called away on a work emergency anyway."
She didn't mention how she'd been nothing but understanding when it happened to him the other day because she didn't want to think about what had almost happened between them that day or a few hours ago. Sam knew he would get her point regardless of what she hadn't said.
"You're right. I'm sorry for dismissing Spinelli that way, but I'm worried about you." He sighed in frustration. "Look, I saw your face when you got that call, Sam, and that reaction seemed too personal to be about work. What's really going on?"
His voice softened, slightly pleading, as he moved closer. "Let me in. I want to help you." He hadn't missed how Sam had referred to things ending between them last night. He wasn't sure what she meant, but he didn't like the sound of it. Things were far from over between them.
Sam took a deep breath, solidifying her resolve. He may deserve the truth, but he wasn't going to get it today. She didn't like lying to him, but this could be Jason's life on the line. There wasn't any comfort zone she wouldn't push past to see her husband home safe and her family united.
"I don't know what to tell you. Sometimes my work gets a little personal. I would think you could understand that too." She gave him a knowing look and they both knew he had no argument on that front. "I apologize again for running out like that and worrying you, but, as you can see, I'm fine. Spinelli's fine and we have a lot of work to do." She stood to the side, making the view of her front door perfectly visible and accessible to him.
He'd have to be deaf, dumb and blind to miss the brush off she was giving him. She wasn't ready to confide in him about whatever was really going on yet and he feared she'd pull away even more if he pushed, but Silas wasn't giving up. He'd give her a little time then come back to try again. Maybe her wall was up because she felt guilty about showing her real feelings for him in front of others. He was sure he could get through to her once they were alone.
He wished they were alone now. He hadn't been able to stop wanting her since he'd met her and the need was nearly uncontrollable after coming so close to being inside her only hours ago. He stepped closer to her, smoothing his hands over her upper arms as he spoke. He ignored the way she stiffened in his arms. She was just nervous he told himself. The feelings they shared were new and intense, but the nerves would pass again soon and give way to their need for each other as they had last night and the time before that when she'd wanted to take him upstairs to her bed.
"I'm sorry for being so abrupt. My social graces leave a lot to be desired, I admit, but I make up for it in other ways. I assure you." He gave her his sexiest grin and when that didn't illicit the reaction he'd hoped, he grew serious again and continued. "I just want you to know that I'm here for you. Whatever you need, whenever you need it, I'm here."
Guilt hit hard at those words. Silas had been so supportive when she'd needed someone to lean on and he deserved better from her, but she didn't have anything better to give him at the moment. And, if Jason was alive, she wouldn't have anything better to give him ever. She nodded and offered him a soft smile in return, but if he'd known her better he would have known her heart wasn't in that smile and, what's more, that it never really had been, for him.
"I know." She told him.
He left her with a kiss on the cheek. She'd tensed when he came in for the kiss and felt bad that he must have felt it too, but that call had changed everything. She didn't know if anything would ever be the same again and she wouldn't pretend that it could.
"Is it safe to come out now?" Spinelli shouted from the other room and she couldn't help grin at his remark in spite of its rudeness as he appeared with laptop and phone in hand to set up shop on the coffee table again.
"Sorry Spin. He had no right to dismiss you like that and I told him so. He apologized, for what it's worth." Sam explained.
"Rest assured, Fair Samantha, you have no cause to apologize for Dr. Clay. His discourtesy is on him and, I must say, comes to no surprise." Sam might have bothered to defend the doctor further only a day ago, but now found she just didn't have it in her. Her thoughts were no longer preoccupied with Silas Clay. The only man on her mind was her husband and how she could bring him home if he was really out there.
Sam resisted the urge to ask if he'd found anything new yet. She knew Spin would tell her the second something showed up, but it was hard not to ask anyway. She ran her fingers through her hair, gripping it in frustration and anxiety and sighed. Spin was busy doing his part. She needed to stay focused on hers.
She walked back over to the dining table where she'd spent many hours of her morning already and sat with her back to the terrace doors as she began going over her old case file once again. It was actually a case box. She'd filled the first file folder long ago and had managed to take up an entire file storage box with every bit of information she'd collected since the night Jason disappeared.
She'd kept the box at home rather than locked away at the office. It was too personal and she'd needed it close so she could work on it day and night whenever she wasn't busy caring for Danny. After Jason's disappearance, working on his case or holding Danny in her arms had been the only thing to offer her any real comfort. But she'd put the case to rest after being faced with, at the time, what felt like overwhelming evidence of her husband's death and it had been months since she'd looked at it. She prayed fresh eyes and new hope would help her see something she'd missed before.
xxxxx
It had only been an hour when another knock sounded at the door. It was 8 a.m. which was still too early for visitors in Sam's book. It had to be Jason! She jumped from the table nearly knocking over her chair in the process as she ran to the door and pulled it open. Spin watched, again, unable to do anything other than hope beyond hope for his dearest friends' reunion.
"Jason!" She called out in anticipation, but it wasn't him.
"No, Derek," He grinned while eying her curiously, but his smile faltered when he saw her distress. "Hey, you okay?" He was at her side in an instant and couldn't resist placing a hand on her shoulder in comfort.
Derek Wells or, rather, Julian Jerome had never experienced such an intense desire to protect someone before as he had with Sam and Danny. It was new and overwhelming and... disconcerting. It felt like the feelings he had for them were powerful enough to change him if he let them and he wasn't sure he wanted to change.
He'd grown comfortable with the man he was; the man he had to be. He'd had no choice in that if he wanted to survive the world he lived in and to change... that could risk his life or those he loved. It could also put everything he'd spent the last two decades building in jeopardy as well and things had just become too dangerous to make his self or those he loved that vulnerable now.
He had to stay strong. Even if Alexis and his daughter and grandson could never understand his true motives or forgive him for his lies, he had to stay strong for them now as much as anyone else.
Sam kept her tremulous smile in place and blinked back moisture as she nodded. "I'm sorry, of course. Derek, come in." She welcomed him.
He could see she wasn't alright, but continued without further question in order to give her a minute to regroup. "I'm sorry for just dropping by like this, but your mom mentioned you and Danny usually spend Saturday mornings in followed by an afternoon stroll in the park and I thought, if you were up to it, I'd surprise you both and take you out for breakfast before hitting the park today."
She hadn't shared a Saturday with her son like that since before Danny got sick. It would be nice to get back to their routine and Derek was great with Danny, and her. He'd make for welcomed company. She smiled at his thoughtfulness, even if it was a bit early. Alexis must have also mentioned they were usually up and dressed by now too because Danny was an early riser. Just like his daddy, Sam mused and sent a silent prayer up that her son wouldn't suffer the same fate as her, that Danny would be able to know the love of his father.
"Danny and I would love that." Sam told him sincerely as she closed the door and turned to follow Derek into the room. "Unfortunately, he isn't here and I'm kind of tied up with a case at the moment."
"Professional Investigator, right? Nothing dangerous, I hope." Julian frowned at the thought of her risking her life for the job. Maybe she was more like him than either father or daughter realized.
"That's right." She answered the first part of his question while evading the rest. She didn't want to lie to Derek any more than she had Silas if she could help it. Confidentiality was a fact of life she'd grown accustomed to in her line of work, but she'd changed since her conning days. Lying now pulled at her conscience in ways it never had before being a mother and finding real love with Jason, especially when it came to friends and family. She still felt horrible for the lies she'd told Jason last year, even though her intentions were good.
"This is my business partner and Danny's godfather, Damian Spinelli." She introduced as Derek made notice of the other man in the room. "Spin, this is Mr. Derek Wells, Danny's donor and newest friend of the family." She gave Derek a warm smile he couldn't help return.
Julian wished she could know who he really was to her. The more he learned of her, the prouder he was to call her his own and the urge to make his role in her life known grew stronger every visit. He wanted everyone, especially Sam, to know how lucky he felt to have her and Danny for family.
"I can't recall if you two have met before." Sam said taking note of the lingering look Derek gave her. It wasn't the first time he'd looked at her that way and she wasn't quite sure what to make of it. It didn't make her uncomfortable like the lingering looks some men gave her. It actually felt kind of nice, like he was just genuinely happy to be in her presence. Before she could explore the thought further, her focus was drawn to her partner.
Spinelli stood from the sofa and pocketed his phone as he adjusted the strap of his laptop bag over his shoulder. He was prepared to leave, but hadn't mentioned it to her. She wondered if there was a break in the case. Spin saw her eyes searching his, full of hope, and discreetly shook his head, hating the disappointment that fell over her when he did. The gesture didn't go unnoticed by Julian, but he decided it may be best to observe the situation more before addressing it so he answered her implied question instead.
"We may have bumped into each other a few times. It is a pretty small town." Julian gave Spin an amiable smile. He knew all about Carly hiring Sam's partner to investigate his relationship with Ava Jerome. He knew all about a lot of things, but he held no ill will toward Spinelli. Julian wouldn't fault the young man for taking care of business and looking out for Sam and Danny along the way.
"Indeed it is. Good to make your acquaintance, Mr. Wells, but I'm afraid I was just on my way out." Spin nodded in greeting to Sam's guest then in farewell to her. He found himself slightly uncomfortable now for investigating the man that saved his godson's life, but a job was a job and he couldn't be too careful when it came to the people in Sam and Danny's circle.
"Please say it isn't on my account. I'd hate to interrupt, especially if you have important business." Julian hadn't intended to intrude though, admittedly, the possibility of having his daughter's undivided attention was hard to resist. It was one of the main reasons he'd visited, to spend some time getting to know Sam and his grandson better.
The other reason had to do with that danger he'd been trying to shield them from. Not only had his sources reported Heather Webber was on the loose again, but Cesar Faison had escaped just hours ago from the maximum security prison he'd been detained in. Julian's head of security had woken him early that morning to brief him of the situation before hopping a jet to Greece. He'd tasked Marcus and a team of men to follow a lead on Faison's whereabouts, but he hadn't heard back yet. In the meantime, Julian intended to find a way to put more men on Sam and Danny.
He'd assigned four of his best to shadow them months ago as a favor and show of good faith to his guest. But, with Heather and Faison free again, the threat level had increased which meant Sam and Danny needed a heavier guard detail until the threats could be eliminated. In order to accomplish that, however, he'd have to make their presence known to Sam. Jason told him Sam was too good not to spot a tail unless they were his best and even then she might still and he'd been right. She'd almost made two of his men on two separate occasions; once at that church and once on Pier 52 the day of Danny's transplant.
"Not at all, I just need to make a trip in to the office to check a few things." Spin answered, pulling Julian from his thoughts.
"No worries, I won't be long and I'll be in touch the second I hear anything." He assured his friend and Sam nodded as she watched him let himself out.
Julian felt the anxiety flowing off of Sam as he stood a few feet from her in her living room. He wanted to comfort her, but found himself at a complete loss of just how to do that without the entire house of cards he'd built crumbling down. He looked around, as if an instruction guide on how to parent 33 years too late might lie around the room someplace. This was his daughter's home, had been her home with Jason and according to Jason she'd told him it was the first place that had ever felt like a real home to her.
A part of him wanted to deny it, deny his daughter's association to anything that might bring her harm which was why he hadn't revealed himself to her and there was no denying her association to Jason Morgan had and would continue to put her and his grandson in harm's way. It was a fact of the life Jason had chosen long ago. But, after speaking with Jason at length and hearing firsthand from Alexis and Sam, there was also no denying Jason's love and commitment to his daughter. Or her commitment to him, he noted, as he watched Sam twist the wedding ring she still wore on her finger and observed the abundance of photos of her husband around the room.
"Listen, maybe I should get going." He'd wanted nothing more than to spend some time alone with her, but guilt began gnawing at him again as he stood in his daughter's home wanting a relationship with her while denying his grandson one with his father. It was probably best to approach her about the guards when she wasn't so tense anyway.
"No!" Sam said with more emotion than she'd meant to reveal. She wasn't ready to be alone. She wasn't ready to face the thoughts that would plague her without someone to distract her. "I mean, I may not have time for breakfast and the park, but... how about coffee?"
He couldn't say no to her hopeful request, even though he probably should. "Coffee sounds great."
"Great," She smiled and he was glad he'd said yes if it made her smile. "How do you take it?"
"Strong and black; two sugars," He told her and she grinned wider.
"Me too," She replied as she headed toward what he assumed was the kitchen and his heart pumped a little faster at finding a little more in common with his baby girl.
His eyes were drawn to the maps and papers sprawled across the dining room table as he looked about. Sam had obviously been hard at work. He walked closer to admire it. It didn't take him long to realize the case she was in the middle of was for her husband, the man he'd kept in hiding for a year now. He was surprised to see it and it saddened him more than he ever thought possible.
By all accounts his daughter had accepted Jason's death, but what he saw on the table before him proved otherwise. It was the one year anniversary, he reminded himself. Maybe this was just her way of coping with the loss. Maybe it was nothing more than reminiscing, but she'd called him Jason when she answered the door. She'd said her husband's name as if she'd expected, not hoped, but expected Jason to be there on the other side. Had she received a lead? Did he have another leak in his organization?
"Here you go." Sam said entering the dining area with two mugs in hand.
"Careful, it's hot." She warned as he accepted one of the mugs.
"Thanks." Julian attempted to smile, but his thoughts distracted him.
He had to know. He couldn't let it go and he really hoped she would trust him with the truth even though he had no right to it since he hadn't afforded her the same. "Jason is the case you're working on."
The coffee cup hovered at an awkward distance from her lips for a second too long, but she recovered quickly with a tentative sip as if she hadn't just been caught red-handed. He'd said it as a statement, not a question and he was standing right in front of the table with her case spread out clear as day. There was no way he hadn't seen exactly what she was working on. He continued before she could respond with the lie on her tongue.
"You've got a new lead; proof, maybe, that he's alive. That's why you called me Jason when you answered the door. You were expecting him." Julian guessed and held her gaze as her eyes finally met his.
Sam had never had a problem lying if it meant protecting someone she loved, so why was it so hard to look in this man's eyes and lie to him now? Jason's life could be on the line. The safest thing to do may be to lie, but Derek had connections and, as a media mogul, a pulse on pretty much everything that happened in their town and major cities around the world. He also had a jet that might come in handy if forced to resort to her latest idea. She could always use Sonny's or Nikolas' jet, but then she would have to lie or explain and she really didn't want to do either with them until she had more proof and a jet was so much quicker than flying commercial. Every minute wasted lessened the odds of Jason's safe return.
Her mother had told her how she'd admitted to Derek that Sonny was involved in organized crime and that Jason had been his enforcer. Alexis told him weeks ago and he'd never mentioned a word about it as far as she knew. He'd kept her mother's secret and he'd done everything he could to help them since he met them. Maybe it was safe to trust Derek with one more secret and to help her with this too. "Can you keep a secret?"
"As if my life depended on it," He told her in all seriousness.
"What if my life depended on it, or, the one I hope to have anyway?" Sam countered without blinking.
"I promise to keep your secrets safe. I'll never let anyone use them against you." There weren't a lot of promises he could make his daughter and keep, but he could and would keep that one.
Sam studied him for a minute and whatever she was looking for in him she must have found. She invited him to sit with her on the sofa and started from the beginning as they finished their coffee. By the time she was done with her story, Julian Jerome was ready to murder someone and a doctor by the name of Silas Clay had jumped to the top of that list. He'd had no idea Sam and Danny's doctor had become so close. They were far too close for any father's liking, but especially considering what he knew.
Thankfully Sam had spared him too many details, but his mind had to work overtime not to fill in the gaps when she'd said she was in that man's hotel room in the pre-dawn hours of the morning at the time of the call. Just the thought of his sister's ex putting the moves on his daughter made him want to live up to his reputation as the volatile and ruthless mob boss he'd become in his youth.
There were only a couple dozen people, roughly, who knew of his guest's presence on his estate and even less who knew his identity, but he didn't have to guess to know this had his little sister written all over it. She'd always allowed emotion to rule her and, clearly, her jealousy had run amok. Ava wanted to assure Sam's association with Silas Clay came to an abrupt end and what better way to do it than to return the husband she was still in love with. He'd deal with his sister later. Right now, as hard as it was to believe, Ava's attempt to deliver Jason to Sam ahead of schedule wasn't even his biggest concern.
Before he could even attempt to fix that mess, he needed to convince his reckless daughter that the last thing she needed to do was travel to Switzerland for a face to face with Cesar Faison. Faison's escape wasn't public knowledge yet, so Julian couldn't use that argument without lying or explaining things he wasn't prepared to explain. He'd already tried arguing Danny needed her, but she'd said he needed his father too and that dealing with the slime that tried to kill her husband was worth the risk if it gave her a lead that might help bring Jason home. Here he was doing everything he could to keep her out of the fire and she was bound and determined to jump into the frying pan.
Julian had even used her fear to try to persuade her into accepting a private detail of guards for Danny and herself, but she'd declined. He'd hated doing that, but the threat was real. It just wasn't coming from the person she suspected. He'd clenched his jaw and tried to hide his anger when she'd declined his help in favor of Sonny Corinthos'. Sonny's carelessness was part of the reason her family was in danger in the first place.
"Sonny's handling it." She'd said.
Apparently, Sonny had called early that morning and told her there may be a new threat in town and he wanted to take extra safety precautions with Jason's family after what happened to Connie. Sam had agreed to let him put men on her and Danny due to the mysterious phone call, but hadn't told Sonny about it. Sam explained she hadn't wanted to get Sonny's hopes up, but she'd also admitted she wasn't sure how Sonny would handle the news right now.
Alexis had told her about Sonny going off his bi-polar meds and she didn't want to endanger Jason or Sonny by telling Sonny something that might push him over the edge again. Sam said she'd thought about enlisting Shawn's help, but he worked for Sonny now and she didn't want to put him in the middle by asking him to keep quiet or risk him confiding in Sonny against her wishes.
Julian sighed. He could see there was only one way to keep his stubborn daughter safe from further heartbreak and harm. He had to bring Jason home, today, because if he wasn't home by that evening Sam was determined to go after Faison for answers.
"Of course you can use my jet. Just promise you won't take off without letting me know first. I want to go with you if need be." He had to appease her to buy a little time. He couldn't let Ava deliver Jason. This was on him and he needed to be the one to do right by Sam.
"Thank you, Derek! You don't have to go with me though. I don't want to inconvenience you any more than..."
"You're not an inconvenience. You're my... you're someone I care about and I want to do everything I can to help make this right." Julian insisted.
He took a deep breath to calm down. She brought out feelings he hadn't allowed himself to feel in years. Certain emotions were liabilities in his line of work. He'd almost confessed she was his daughter. Sam had no idea just how much he could actually do to make it right and he had no idea how he was going to tell her, but he would do it. He'd do anything if it meant keeping her and Danny even marginally safer. In fact, he already had.
"Thank you. You being here and supporting me means a lot." Sam told him and meant it.
She couldn't explain it, but something about his presence gave her a feeling she hadn't felt in a while. Safe, she felt safe with Derek and she hadn't felt nearly as safe with anyone since losing Jason though her mother came in at a close second. It didn't make sense to her how she could feel this way about someone she hardly knew, but either had the way she'd always felt safe around Jason even when they could barely tolerate one another.
Derek had even offered her and Danny use of his private security. She would have taken him up on it if she hadn't already made arrangements with Sonny. She may have her concerns regarding Sonny's mental health status at the moment, but she trusted Sonny's men because Jason had trusted those men. He'd handpicked and trained most of them himself. They knew her and Danny and they were loyal to Jason and would want to see Jason's family well protected.
Plus, Sonny was in the business and so was the possible threat against them most likely. She hadn't shared that part with Sonny yet, but Sonny would know if any moves were being made on that front whereas Derek couldn't possibly have the same level of immediate access to that information.
"So, no racing off to meet international criminal masterminds without me then, promise?" Julian smirked and she smiled back.
"Promise," She swore.
"Good. Now that that's settled, I've got a little work to do." Julian rose from the sofa and Sam rose with him.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Of course, you're probably busy with the paper and..."
"The paper, no, I've got far more important work to do." He paused and looked her in the eye. "I've got to bring Jason home to you." He said and fought like hell not to pull her into a hug when his words caused her to tear up.
"When you say it, I actually believe it's going to happen." Sam blinked back her tears. She didn't want to cry in front of him. She didn't want to cry at all. She needed to be strong.
"I know it's hard, but just sit tight for a little while longer. I'm sure you'll be hearing from the caller again very soon. I'm going to go hit up a few contacts. I'll call when I know anything. You do the same okay?"
"Okay," Sam agreed.
She seemed so vulnerable, but so resilient. The combination tore at his heart and made him proud and ashamed at the same time. He was so proud of the woman she was and so ashamed at his part in causing her any pain.
She walked him to the door and pulled him into a hug before he could leave.
"Thank you," She whispered and he closed his eyes and hugged her back. "I'm going to make this right, kiddo. No matter how long it takes, I'm going to find some way to make this right." He promised her.
He was barely old enough to be her father, but it didn't feel condescending when he called her kiddo. It felt... right somehow. It was one more thing she just couldn't explain yet endeared him to her all the same.
"Rain check on the breakfast and stroll in the park?" Sam offered.
A faint smile crossed his lips. "Nothing would make me happier." He replied and then he was out the door.
xxxxx
It was 8:45 a.m. and Jason was tired of arguing. It had been five and a half hours since they'd escaped Zacchara's old haunts and he was now seconds from shooting all his "rescuers" in the knee and doing it his way. He'd promised he wouldn't kill Juan. He'd said nothing about knee caps and Ava had been begging for a bullet from him since he met her; maybe not death, but certainly a bullet. He couldn't even begin to tell anyone how his godson had ended up in the mix, but a bullet could only improve Morgan's disposition at this point. Actually, Jason did know. His namesake had been all too happy to fill him in, but Jason just didn't want to think about his godson shacking up with one of Sonny's rivals. He shook his head as the trio continued arguing around him. He goes away for a year and all hell breaks loose.
For once, though, Jason Morgan wasn't concerned about other people's problems. He was concerned with his own. Sam and Danny were not just his top priority, they were his only priority. Morgan was a grown man or so he kept saying. If he insisted on being a part of the plan, so be it. Jason would do what he could to minimize his exposure and worry about the fallout later. Right now, all he wanted was to be home.
Home, he should have been there five hours ago. The Zacchara compound was no more than thirty minutes from his penthouse, but they'd had to make a detour first. That was his first mistake, listening to Ava. She'd insisted they had to stop at her apartment on the way to General Hospital. Jason went along with it, thinking it was a ruse to get Juan someplace where they could incapacitate him and keep him detained until Jason made it home. It seemed a little risky to do it at her place, but Jason figured the last thing she wanted was to get caught so she must have it under control. Juan had fallen for it and even believed Ava when she said she had Jason's disguise inside which would keep him from being recognized at the hospital.
Once inside Ava's apartment, she distracted Juan's attention allowing Jason to get the jump on him. He'd quickly disarmed the younger man and held Juan's gun on him as Ava placed him in handcuffs.
Jason didn't want to know why Ava had a pair of standard issue handcuffs in her bedroom.
Ava had implemented her plan well and Jason had been slightly impressed and then he was reminded why he preferred to work alone. His godson walked in on Ava cuffing Juan to a chair and Jason holding a gun on him. Chaos ensued from there and hadn't stopped since.
Morgan wanted in on whatever they were doing. Jason and Ava didn't want him involved, but he was Sonny and Carly's son so Jason knew arguing with him was a waste of time. Morgan would do what he wanted. Ava hadn't learned that yet, so she'd kept at it. In the middle of all that, Juan's phone rang. They'd all got quiet and had Juan answer.
It was Marcus Taggert, the Jerome organization's head of security. Juan had instructed the guards to forward his call when it came in since he wouldn't be there. They'd put the call on speaker to be sure Juan didn't pass any signals, but Taggert seemed satisfied with what he heard. He then informed Juan that he was on his way to Greece with a team to track Faison. The bastard had escaped Steinmaur Maximum Security and was free to go after anyone in his way and that included Sam and Danny due to their inherited shares in his family's business.
That bit of news had Ava questioning her decision to help Jason return. She'd argued they had the perfect opportunity now to go after Faison and the element of surprise as long as he believed Jason was still dead and she was right, but Jason was too close to being home to turn back. If Faison discovered the truth, so be it. Julian would just have to find another way to take him out before he alerted his partners. And if Julian couldn't get it done, Jason would by any means necessary.
Jason had finally convinced Ava to stick to her plan and let Morgan play a part despite Juan's warnings. Now the only question was how. It wasn't as easy as just strolling up to his penthouse and knocking on the door. Sam and Danny had some of Julian's best guards watching them. Jason knew this because he'd been the one to handpick them. Those guards were good. They might actually be able to snatch him up before his presence could ever be known and he'd be back at square one. He had to distract the guards and maybe it was best to make his return in a public place with lots of witnesses. He'd wanted it to be a private moment, but the more people who knew he was alive the safer he would be from Julian if not the other looming threats.
He'd sat there debating the pros and cons of a public versus private reunion as Ava and Morgan argued over a workable plan to distract the guards with Juan's two cents thrown in for good measure. Ultimately, he decided the benefit of a private reunion outweighed the risk Julian posed to him. Jason might be able to keep his resurrection a secret long enough to handle Faison if he made his return known only to Sam and a handful of others and that may give him the chance to end that threat to the people he loved once and for all. And if he was lucky, deter the other threat again as well.
"Private," He told them and they shut up at his comment. Ava and Morgan were in such a heated exchange, they'd forgotten anyone else was in the room and Juan had given up getting a word in edgewise.
"Why?" Ava wanted to know.
"Like you said, less exposure means a better shot at Faison and less risk to Sam and Danny." Jason replied.
Ava grinned, pleased with herself. Jason had listened to her and knew she was right. She loved it when men were forced to recognize she was right. Most in her line of work were always so quick to write her off because she was a woman and a hot blonde at that. "When and where?"
"My penthouse and the sooner the better, we need to move now if we want to keep this contained and stay a step ahead." Jason held her gaze until she nodded and looked to his godson and waited for his agreement too.
Morgan nodded. He was in. He was angry at Jason, but not as angry as he was with his parents and his brother. He'd missed his uncle. He was glad Jason was alive and wanted to help him any way he could. He also wanted to show everyone that he could be just as deserving of his family's devotion as his brother, Michael, and keeping his uncle's secret and helping him return to his family was a good start.
"We'll need to draw Sam away." Ava mused.
"So the guards will follow." Juan gathered.
"You told her you'd be in touch. Call her and tell her to meet you some place." Jason offered.
"Kelly's," Morgan suggested. "I could deliver a message to her there. She'd trust what I have to say and the guards wouldn't be suspicious of me approaching Sam."
Jason and Ava considered it and agreed. It was an easy assignment with less risk than others Morgan might come up with. Jason was in the middle of prepping him to make sure he handled himself with care when Ava's phone rang.
"It's him." Ava announced somewhat alarmed. She didn't have to say his name for Jason to know she meant Julian.
"Him who?" Morgan wanted to know.
"A man you'd be smart never to cross." Juan said ignoring the cold stare Jason gave him.
"It's not important." Jason answered his godson in a tone that told him to drop it.
Morgan huffed and shook his head. They were treating him like he was a kid that couldn't handle the truth even when they recognized he was adult enough to help. It was frustrating.
The phone rang again. "Answer it. You already dodged his call earlier. It's probably about Faison. He may come looking for you if you don't answer." Jason told her.
"Good Morning," Ava greeted cheerfully.
"I know what you're up to, Ava, and I can't let you do it." Julian replied on the other end.
Ava swallowed hard. They'd wasted precious time and now Julian was on to her. "Listen, I can..."
"No, you listen! I'll deal with the fact that you went behind my back later. Right now, I need to know where you've taken Juan and our guest. I spoke with the guards. I know they think they're with me." Julian ordered.
"I'm sorry. I can't tell you that." Ava replied.
Julian felt his temper boil. His sister could push his buttons like few others. "You win, Ava, okay? I've just spent the last forty five minutes watching my daughter suffer with the possibility that your call may just be false hope; that her husband may never actually come home to her and her son. I can't let her go through that loss again and you've made it impossible to continue with my current plan unless I do just that so I really don't have any other choice. It's time for Jason Morgan to go home to his family and I need to be the one to make that happen. It needs to be me, Ava. If I hope to have any chance at all left with my daughter, it needs to be me, not you!"
Ava was silent for a long moment as she considered her brothers' words. She wanted to trust him, but Julian could be an exceptional liar when properly motivated and his desire to see his original plan through was definitely more than enough proper motivation.
"I'll discuss it with him and get back to you." She hung up the phone without waiting for a reply. Julian would be pissed with her for a good long time after this, but he'd get over it. He always did.
"What was that about?" Morgan wondered.
Ava directed her answer to Jason. "He wants to be the one to hand you over. He says he owes it to Sam to be the one to do it."
"Do you trust him?" Jason had spent quite a bit of time with the man over the last year, enough to draw his own conclusions about him. But he was curious to hear Ava's answer.
"I want to. I think he's probably telling the truth, but..." Ava stopped short. It felt wrong discussing her brother with a practical stranger. She'd always had to keep her brother a secret.
"But there's a chance he's working you." Jason finished for her.
Ava's mouth twitched, wanting to agree with him but not wanting to admit it aloud.
"It's too big a risk. He had his chance." Jason concluded.
xxxxx
Sam was convinced her heart would beat out of her chest before she ever made it back to the penthouse. She'd received the call from the informant not fifteen minutes after Derek left, telling her to meet at a local diner she frequented in fifteen minutes for answers. Spin had called her as soon as the call ended. He'd been tracking it, but the call was too short to get more than a partial trace. He was able to determine it originated within their area code and that was enough for Sam. Someone with news about Jason was in the immediate area and wanted to meet. It could be a trap, but Kelly's was a busy place and Jason was worth the risk. Still, she'd taken her gun, her knife and a hidden tracking device for Spin to keep tabs on her just in case.
She was confused and distracted when Morgan had approached her table. They'd lost touch over the years after he'd been sent to military school and then went off to college, but it was good to see him. She could hardly believe how much he'd grown since she'd seen him last. She felt bad when she'd tried to give him the brush off. She didn't want to be one more person who never made time for him, but she was about to meet with a potentially very dangerous individual and she didn't want Morgan mixed up in it.
Imagine her surprise when Morgan turned out to be the one she was there to meet. She still didn't know how it all transpired, but somehow Jason had made contact with Morgan and acquired his help. Jason was alive! Morgan had confirmed it not more than ten minutes ago, but she still couldn't believe it. She wouldn't be able to truly believe it until she saw him and felt him for herself.
The elevator doors opened and she was at the door to their penthouse in a flash.
"Jason!?" Sam called out as she let the door slam closed behind her.
"Jason!" She shouted again as she threw her keys on the desk and searched the empty room in vain. Upstairs, the last place she'd seen him was upstairs in their bedroom. That must be where he was waiting for her.
Sam was up the steps before the thought finished in her head, but he wasn't there either. She searched every room, every closet as crazy as it was. Where was he? Morgan told her Jason would be at the penthouse waiting for her by the time she got home! He should be here! Jason should be here!
She rushed back down the stairs as she called out for him again. She hadn't checked all the rooms down there. He wasn't there, not in the kitchen or his office or any other room in their home. Sam was beside herself. She didn't know what to do or who to turn to. She just wanted Jason. She just wanted the man she loved home with her. Doubt and despair began to well up inside her.
What if Morgan was wrong? What if someone had tricked him like Faison had tricked Anna by pretending to be Duke? Oh God, she couldn't handle that. She couldn't go through losing hope of ever holding him again, of him ever holding her again. She needed him. She needed him so much. She needed to feel his arms around her. He was her home and she hadn't been able to feel at home, at peace like that, since she'd lost him.
She pressed her hands over her face and willed herself not to cry, not to lose it, but the tears fell anyway. Jason, her mind and heart called out. Jason, she cried.
A knock at the door startled her and she wiped her face. Her heart beat faster with the hope she'd had the first two times someone had knocked at her door that morning, but she was hesitant to answer now. She couldn't take it if Jason wasn't the one standing on the other side of that door when she opened it this time.
There was another sharp rap on the door. Jason never knocked on their door so she couldn't compare it to anything from memory, but it seemed like how he would knock. God, she was losing it. She was analyzing knocks on the door instead of answering it.
Sam summoned her courage and walked to the door. She was Sam Morgan and she could handle it. She could handle anything. She had to. She was a mother now and she didn't have the luxury of falling apart. She reached out, placing a shaky hand on the knob as she took a deep breath and pulled the door open.
Every dream and prayer she'd ever had in the last year was answered as she laid eyes on him. It was Jason. Jason!
"Sam," His voice broke with emotion. He'd waited for this moment for so long.
She never heard the sob she released. It was drowned out by the pounding of her heart as she threw herself into his arms. "Jason," she cried as she felt herself lifted into his embrace.
He was nearly knocked over by the force of her, but he steadied himself and tightened his hold. He never wanted to let her go again. He buried his face in the angle of her neck and when he inhaled her scent and felt the weight of her in his arms he knew he was home. She was his home and always would be.
He walked them over the threshold as she clung to him and pushed the door closed with his leg as he made his way further inside. She pulled back slightly to get a better look at him and he allowed her to slide down his body onto her feet, but kept her pulled close.
"Oh God, is this real?" Sam searched his face as her hands unlocked from around his neck, smoothing over his shoulders and up to his cheeks.
They stood there several moments in silence as they took in every feature of one another's faces. She was more beautiful than he remembered and his heart swelled with love for her as he held her and helped to dry her eyes.
She wasn't aware of the tears streaming down her face until she felt his warm thumbs wiping them away. He was real and he was alive and well and in her arms. "I've missed you so much."
He leaned in at her words, slow and almost hesitant as he held her gaze until she pulled him the rest of the way to her and they kissed. It was hungry and urgent and filled with every bit of passion they'd ever had for one another. Her tears continued to fall as his lips moved over hers and salt had never tasted so sweet. They pulled apart to catch their breath and Jason rested his forehead against hers as they continued to hold one another close.
"I've missed you too." He told her and hugged her tight again.
Sam rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes to the most beautiful sound she'd ever heard aside from her baby boy's laughter. Jason's heartbeat thudded against her ear and his scent filled her and finally, in his arms, she was home again.
They moved to the sofa and he pulled her into his lap. Jason hadn't been able to let her go since she ran into his arms and Sam couldn't get close enough. She laid her legs across his lap with one arm against his shoulder as her fingers trailed through the short hair at the back of his neck. Jason kept one arm around her to keep her side flush against him while his other hand rested on her thigh, caressing it.
They sat there that way in total silence for several minutes before Sam asked the question she'd been asking herself since the night he'd disappeared. "Jason, where were you? What happened?"
Jason pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Cesar Faison shot me in the back and dumped me in the harbor. Men from a rival organization found me before I drowned and pulled me out. I was held by them in order to aide in their plan for a takeover."
Sam closed her eyes and sighed. It was so good to hear his voice again. She never thought she would.
"I'm surprised they didn't just kill you." Her face rested against him and her lips rested against the warmth of his neck as he spoke.
"They never intended to kill me. He said he respected me too much. He just wanted me out of the way until he'd made his move and then he intended to let me go. I think, I think he hoped I might come to respect him too and want to join up with his organization." Jason explained.
"You were shot." She murmured against him. "But you seem okay now. Are you okay?" Her head rose to meet his eyes for the answer.
"I'm fine." Jason assured her. He hadn't been and he still wasn't a hundred percent, but he wouldn't worry her with that now. "There was this doctor..."
"Sam, you're not going to believe this, but I left my shirt here... again." The smile fell from his lips as all the color drained from his face. Silas had let himself in, assuming she was alone now.
He'd seen Spinelli speaking with one of the employees in the Metro Court on the way back to his suite after breakfast and figured he'd find Sam alone since she was too busy for company. Claiming he'd left his shirt behind again was just the only lame excuse he could think of to show up again so soon. He figured he'd just say he thought maybe Rafe had borrowed one of his since they both knew he hadn't really left another shirt there any other time. The last thing he'd ever expected was to walk in on her in the arms of her not-so-dead husband.
"You!" Jason growled and Sam felt every muscle in his body tense as he gripped her tighter.
Sam looked from Jason to Silas and back again. "It's not who you think, Jason. I know he looks a lot like John, but..."
Jason stood and placed Sam at his side and just a little behind him in a stance she recognized well. It was protective which meant Jason felt the other man's presence was a threat to her, but why? She'd made it very clear to him that John posed no threat to their future together before he disappeared and he'd believed her.
"I know exactly who he is." Jason told her. "Don't I, Dr. Clay?"
Sam looked from Jason to Silas in question, "Silas?"
Silas' eyes darted from Jason to Sam. "I can explain."
"I think somebody better. How do you two know each other, Silas? I didn't even meet you until months after Jason disappeared!" Sam had no idea what the hell was going on, but she was about to find out.
She looked to Jason for further explanation, but he just stood there glaring at the man.
She looked back at Silas. "Well?"
Silas Clay swallowed his guilt. Judgment day had arrived. "I'm his doctor."
Page 30 of 30 Created: 2013-11-02 Updated: 2015-01-21 Words: 10747 Characters: 57408