Hey everyone! I'm sorry it's been awhile since my last post, but I finally got this chapter to where I'm happy with it. It's getting a little harder to write since I'm writing more characters now and still being new to the show I'm struggling to stay true to the characters and their voices. I hope that I got it right and am counting on you to correct me where I'm wrong. I just want to say a quick thanks to everyone who is still reading and to those reviewing….THANK YOU! You are the greatest!

Disclaimer: I don't own GH or the characters.

"You heard me Sam." Jason says taking a step closer to Sam. "If you do anything to harm Jake and Elizab…"

"You'll kill me?" Sam says incredulous. When had it come to this? Death threats and hateful glares? She remembered a time when she would hold this man in the middle of the night and be thankful because without him, she probably would be dead. The countless times he had saved her life. "Could you actually do it Jason?" Sam asks her voice barely above a whisper.

"If you go near…"

"No Jason! Leave Elizabeth and your son out of this! I want to know right now…could you do it? Could you kill me?" Sam asks looking at the man who still, despite everything he has said and done recently, meant the world to her.

Jason stares at Sam for a long, silent moment before sighing. "You know what I'm capable of Sam."

"That's not what I'm asking Jason." Sam says squeezing her empty hand that's not holding a glass into a fist. "I've seen you in action so I know you have the ability to kill. Hell, I've helped you on occasion." Seeing the flash in his eyes, she knows he's remembering what they've been through in the past. "What I'm asking you is…could you kill me?"

His throat was constricting, and the muscles in his arms kept clenching, next he would shift his feet. Sam knew all the signs. She knew this man, from his head to his toes, inside in out. She could read the signs. He was losing his infamous control on his anger.

"Could you…Jason?" Sam asks, almost tauntingly.

"Yes Sam! If you try anything like that again I could!" Jason yells before storming past her to leave.

Watching Jason walking out of her life Sam just yells after him. "Jason!" Clenching her hand into a fist she takes a step towards him, but stops. "Jason!"

"Jason!" Sam yelps and then gasps clutching a hand to her chest hoping to stop the pain and ease her breathing. She hadn't dreamt of that night in almost a year. She would like to think that's how that night had ended, instead of how it actually had. Instead of her pulling a gun on him and asking him to kill her. But it didn't end that way, she hadn't let Jason go, and she was still dealing with the consequences of that night.

"Sam! You're awake!" Maxie says jumping from the couch and running to Sam's bedside. "Oh my god, I've been so worried. We both have!" Maxie says reaching behind her to grab Spinelli's hand and giving it a squeeze. "But you're awake now!"

"Yes Fair Samantha we are so very VERY pleased to see you awake. Maximista and myself haven't been able to rest fitfully since arriving at the hospital."

"So how are you feeling?" Maxie asks attentively. "Can I get you anything? Maybe we should call a nurse? Or Robin?"

"I believe Dr. Robin left shortly after day break."

"Yea, please don't bother either Robin or Patrick. Both of them deserve some rest right now and I'm fine really. Just was dreaming…"

"Of Jason?" Maxie interrupts, her eyebrows rising in surprise before sharing a look with Spinelli who couldn't contain his smile.

"I know what is going through those heads of yours and stop it right now!" Sam snaps quickly. Hearing a shuffling noise Sam jerks her head and see's Jason sprawled out in a recliner near the head of her bed. "How long has he been there like that?" She asks quickly looking back at the other two in the room before her eyes are drawn back to a sleeping Jason.

"When we woke up this morning he was there in the chair, laying a lot like that actually." Maxie says frowning. "We could call security for you if you want?"

"Maximista I thought we had already discussed this?"

"We have Spinelli, but Sam might want to watch Jason dragged out of here." Maxie says smiling sweetly.

Rolling her eyes Sam sighs and is relieved that the pain she was expecting wasn't as bad as before. "No. I don't want to watch him get dragged out of here."

"Oh alright…the hitman can stay." Maxie says crossing her arms over her chest with a pout forming on her face; she really had been hoping Sam would want that.

"Fair Samantha I really do think we should get a doctor or someone."

Nodding her head in small movements Sam presses the call button and smiles when Epiphany walks into the room moments later. "Glad to see I'm in good hands."

"Mmhmm." Epiphany says shaking her head grabbing Sam's chart. "You don't call. You don't write. After two years you think it's ok to come back in dire straits? Lucky I don't ignore your chart and administer only half the dosage of pain meds prescribed by Dr. Scorpio. It's what you deserve for worrying us all like that. Wouldn't a simple hello have worked instead of a near fatal bullet wound?"

"Some things will never change." Sam says her smile growing.

"You can say that again."Epiphany says handing Sam a cup with two pills inside. "You would think you would learn some common sense after being away two years." Marking her chart Epiphany gives Sam an exasperated look. "Don't you know you're supposed to dodge bullets?"

"Sorry." Sam says dryly. "I don't know what I was thinking. Next time I'll try harder."

"There better not be a next time." Epiphany says before turning and leaving the room.

"I really missed her." Sam says cheerfully. "And I missed you two." With a quick look at Jason Sam notices he hasn't moved. Giving her attention to Spinelli and Maxie she holds out a hand, which Maxie grabs onto and squeezes. "So what is new with you two? I think the last time I talked to you Maxie was almost three weeks ago…"

"It was three weeks and two days, but really who's keeping track." Maxie says nodding her head and smiling. "So there's a lot to catch you up on."

------

The first thing Jason noticed was the cramp in his neck from sleeping in such an awkward position. The second thing he noticed was the voices. Opening his eyes to find Maxie sitting at the foot of Sam's bed with a binder in her lap and Spinelli sitting right next to her, trailing his eyes along the bed Jason finds Sam sitting in a more upright position with a magazine in her lap. "Oh Maxie the dress is absolutely gorgeous! You're going to look beautiful, just beautiful."

"I know." Maxie says smiling and shrugging her shoulders.

"I have told my dear Maximista that she would look undeniably beautiful in blue jeans, but her heart desires something much grander and who am I to argue?" Spinelli says with a loving look at the blonde at his side.

"Oh you two." Sam says holding the magazine to her chest and smiling. "When you told me you were together I was hoping for the best and now you're getting married! When Spinelli told me he was planning to propose I was speechless…"

"I was speechless when he proposed!" Maxie says laughing and squeezing a blushing Spinelli's hand.

"Yes, well the Fair Samantha was quite helpful helping to ease the Jackal's fears…much appreciated I assure you. And now you can come to the wedding! I wasn't sure if we were going to be able to lure you from Miami, even for such a joyous of occasions…"

"You knew Sam was in Miami!" It had taken Jason moment to piece together everything that they had been saying, but he finally was beginning to understand. "Spinelli!"

"Ah…Stonecold you have risen from your slumber." Spinelli says anxious to distract. "Maximista and I were just sharing the details of our upcoming nuptials with the Fair Saman…"

"Spinelli!" Jason shouts causing everyone in the room to go silent, all eyes were on Jason. Maxie was glaring, Spinelli looked almost ashamed, and Sam was anxious. "How long have you known where Sam was?"

"The Jackal is deeply regretful to say he has been in contact with Fair Samantha almost from the moment that she left Port Charles."

"You've known the whole time?" Jason asks in disbelief.

"Well of course. How else could Sam have started up her PI business without the help of Spinelli?" Maxie says figuring it should be obvious. "He even helped her get past that security check, didn't you Spinelli?"

"You're a PI?" Jason asks, but he wasn't really surprised by the news. "And you helped her!"

"Did you expect me to turn Fair Samantha away in her time of need?"

"No, but you could've talked to me Spinelli!" Jason says standing and clenching his hands into fists. "I thought something had happened to her when all your searches turned up empty! I thought she might've been dead Spinelli!"

"I…I…I didn't…I'm sor…"

"I don't want to hear I'm sorry! What you did Spinelli…how can I trust you?"

"Stonecold…" Spinelli says his lip quivering.

"Jason that's enough! It wasn't Spinelli's idea to lie to you it was Sam's. She asked us to! All of us!" Maxie says standing from the bed and walking around to face off with Jason.

"All of us, who?" Jason asks looking between Spinelli and Maxie. They all seemed to have forgotten about Sam who was shocked to see Jason reacting that way that she had temporarily lost the ability to speak.

"Spinelli, myself, Alexis, Kristina, Molly, and I think…yep that's everyone."

"You all knew and no one thought to mention it to me?"

"I asked them not to Jason." Sam finally speaks. "If you're going to yell at anyone, blame anyone…it should be me. Not Spinelli and Maxie." Waiting for Jason to explode at her, Sam is surprised when he doesn't, he just stares at her. "Actually why don't you two go. Get something to eat. Give me and Jason a chance to talk."

"I don't think that's such a good idea." Maxie says shaking her head furiously, looking at Jason. "I might come back too late and Jason will have disposed of the body already."

"Maxie." Sam says in her best no nonsense voice. "Go. Eat. Relax." When Maxie doesn't budge Sam sighs. "Spinelli some help please?"

"I actually agree with Maximista." Spinelli says in a quiet voice, avoiding Jason's angry gaze. "Stonecold seems in a most upsetting mood and you're supposed to remain calm."

"You guys I love you both and I promise you nothing is going to happen to me while you're gone." Watching as they both hesitate she smiles. "Thank you for caring, but it will be ok." Finally convincing them to leave, Sam waits until the door closes behind them before shifting to stare straight at Jason. "So are you going to make a liar of me?"

All the anger and resentment he had been feeling with Spinelli and Maxie vanished with one look at the defiant look on Sam's face. "Sam…" He says sighing. "I would never hurt you." When Sam just laughs and has a skeptical look in her eyes. Jason takes a step closer and reaches out for her hand. "Not intentionally."When Sam pulls her hand away and just stares down at Jason's out stretched one Jason tries to keep his bitterness at bay. She had every right to want to avoid his touch. "We have a lot that we need to discuss." He says in a hushed voice.

"That's only a mild understatement I'm sure." Sam says rolling her eyes. "So, go on…hit me with your best shot. But not literally please, I don't think I could take it right now."

"What's with you?" Jason asks before he has a chance to think. The second the words were out of his mouth he wanted to take them back, make them never happen. Before Sam has a chance to speak he holds up his hand to stop her. "You know what, forget that question. What I want to know first is why you wanted me to think you were dead."

"I didn't want you to think that I was dead Jason. That would have just been cruel. How could you think I would do something like that?"

"Well what am I supposed to think Sam? You kept in contact with Spinelli and told him that he wasn't allowed to tell me anything about what you were up to." Too frustrated to stand still any longer Jason starts pacing. "Since you left Port Charles I continuously asked Spinelli to search for you, to simply find if you were ok and every time he told me he couldn't find a single trace of you. Spinelli! He is a genius on the computer! He can find anyone and anything if you ask him to…except for you!" Turning back to see her looking down at her clasped hands he frowns. "What was I supposed to think when he wasn't able to find you? Of course I thought something terrible had happened to you!"

"I'm sorry." Sam says quietly. "That wasn't my intention. I…I guess I wasn't thinking at the time. Spinelli never said you were looking for me. And I didn't…" Looking up to see the confusion and hurt on Jason's face Sam is even more bewildered. "I didn't think you'd care."

"Of course I cared Sam! After everything we've been through how could you think that I wouldn't care if you were ok?"

"After everything we've been through? Are you talking about you threatening to kill me or my pointing a gun at you?"

"Sam." Jason says sighing. "I don't want to talk about this right now…that's not the issue."

"That's not the issue!" Sam says hysterically. "That's not the issue." Blinded by anger and pain and confusion Sam grabs the first thing in reach and chucks it at Jason's head. The cup and all the ice chips inside scatter, some hitting Jason in the chest and the rest hitting the door and the person walking through it.

"Not exactly the welcome I was expecting, but thanks for the cold shower dollface." Stephen says with a surprised look on his face. He couldn't believe the tension in the air, the sexual energy radiating between the two. Smiling at Jason while walking towards Sam's bedside, Stephen carefully leans down and kisses Sam on her forehead. "So I let you out of my sight for 48 hours and you end up in the hospital…what am I going to do with you?" He asks as he sits on the edge of her bed.

"Stephen what are you doing here?" Sam asks trying to ignore Jason standing at the foot of her bed.

"Well I got a very upsetting phone call late last night from your mother telling me that you were in the hospital."

"But what about the business? Don't you need to be in Miami?" Sam asks squeezing his hand.

"I think you're more important." He says squeezing right back.

"Oh I'm so glad you're here."

Feeling like an intruder in their reunion Jason clenches his teeth and turns on his heel. With a backwards glance at the two sitting on the bed he rushes through the door, letting it bang shut behind him. Of course there was someone else. It had been two years.

They both had been silent when Jason stormed out of the hospital room and Stephen waited and watched until Jason had disappeared from view before turning back to look at an irritated looking Sam. "So that is the right hand man of the mod…sorta surprising."

"Why is that surprising?" Sam asks.

"Because… he's pretty dreamy." Stephen says with a teasing sigh.

"Dreamy?" Sam says in skeptically.

"Yes dreamy. In a dark and broody sort of way…extremely hot and speaking of hot. What did I walk in on? Because I could've given you two some privacy if you needed a minute."

"Oh you don't even know what you were talking about!" Sam says trying to laugh off the issue. "He is just so frustrating."

"Hmm…sexually." Stephen says trying to hold back his smile. "I can totally read the signs on your face."

"Shut up Stephen!" Sam says in mock outrage. "We were arguing. It's what Jason and I do best."

"Sam I've seen you in plenty of arguments with other men and the tension I felt in this room never was like that." When Sam just rolls her eyes and looks away he laughs. "And you denying and evading isn't going to change my opinion."

"I don't know what you're talking about. Jason and I can hardly stand each other."

It was now Stephen's turn to roll his eyes. "Ok…whatever. I can see right now it would be pointless to discuss this, so I'll just wait until you're being less stubborn." In response Sam huffs. "Since that topic is closed would you mind telling me how you ended up in the one place you swore never to return to."

------

After having left the hospital Jason realized he should probably head over to Sonny's and fill him in on what happened in Vera Cruz. When he arrived at the Corintho's home he saw Carly's car in the driveway along with Alexis's car. "Perfect. Just perfect." Jason sighs getting out of the car and walking to the door. Reaching for the handle it opens before he gets there and Alexis is standing on the other side. "Hello Alexis." Jason says callously.

"Jason." Alexis says equally cold. "You wouldn't happen to know how Sam is doing?" She can't help but ask.

"You would know if you bothered to visit her."

"I had to make sure Kristina was ok and then get her and Molly home. It has been a very trying time on all of us and they didn't need to spend any time in that hospital than what was necessary."

"And you didn't have time to spare for the daughter who rescued Kristina did you, Alexis?" Jason asks glaring at the woman how was always so callous with Sam. "Oh, but I keep forgetting, you only have time for Sam when she can do something for you and she's of no use lying in a hospital bed."

"That is out of line Jason. I care about Sam, but she's an adult and she doesn't need her mother hovering. I plan to check on her, but I just haven't made it to her yet." Alexis says, knowing that was a weak excuse at best.

Rolling his eyes, Jason steps around Alexis, but stops when she puts a hand on his arm. "Let me go Alexis." Jason says jerking away from her touch. "Stop bothering me and take this time to visit your daughter."

"What concern is it of yours anyways? You made it very clear how little Sam matters to you two years ago. So what's with the theatrics now? Feeling guilty for something Jason?" Alexis asks digging for answers.

"This conversation is over Alexis." Without giving her a chance to argue more, Jason steps through the door way and closes it loudly in her face. "I'm probably going to regret that later." He mumbles to himself and making a mental note to call Diane to let her know Alexis might be on the war path later. Walking into the Corintho's living room he finds Sonny sitting at his desk massaging his temples.

"You just missed Alexis." Sonny says looking up to see Jason.

"I wish." Jason scoffs walking to the mini bar to grab a water.

"She's had a long couple of days." Sonny says trying to defend Alexis, but knowing that with Jason it was pointless. He didn't like Alexis, and with very good reason. She had done everything in her power to get on Jason's bad side and she hasn't tried to make amends either.

"We all have." Jason snaps without thinking and then lets out a long sigh. "Sorry."

"What has you so testy today?" Sonny asks coming around the desk to join Jason at the bar. "Don't tell me Alexis is the cause either."

Looking off into the distance Jason shakes his head. "It's Sam."

"What about her?" Sonny asks startled. He hadn't heard any more news since Patrick had talked to them all last night, but he had told the nurses to call him if there was any change. "Has something happened?"

"No." Jason says starting to pace. "She's fine…I guess you could say. About as good as to be expected after what she's been through."

"Then…" Sonny asks confused.

"We got in an argument."

"Jason." Sonny says resigned. "I know that things between the two of you are rocky at best, but do you really think it's wise to pick a fight with her now?"

"I didn't pick a fight with her…at least. Not on purpose. It just sort of happened."

"What happened?"

"I was trying to stay calm and keep her calm too, but that didn't work. The next thing I know she's chucking ice chips at my head and then some Miami surfer punk is walking in and kissing her. After he showed up I left to give them their privacy."

"She threw ice chips at you?" Sonny asks trying to hold in his laugh. "Well Sam always had a temper. At least that hasn't changed in the two years she's been gone."

"No it hasn't." Jason says, a small smile forming on his lips at the many memories he had of Sam and her temper; he always kind of thought of her as a kitten acting like it was a lion.

"Well besides the ice chips how is Sam doing?" Sonny asks. "I intend to visit her later, but thought I would give her some time. Sure I'm not the first person she's going to want to see in her room."

"She's better than she was. She is already moving around better in bed than last night and her breathing isn't as labored. Robin and Patrick say if she gives it time she won't have any lasting effects from the bullet that hit her lung."

"That's good. Real good." Sonny says staring off into space. Both men sit in silence for a minute before Sonny turns to look at Jason. "So tell me what happened in Vera Cruz. How did Sam end up down there in the first place? And why did she get shot?"

"Didn't Alexis tell you anything?"

"We just talked about what we're going to do about Kristina. She was in a hurry."

Sighing Jason rubs a hand over his eyes before looking at Sonny. "Well its Alexis's fault Sam was in Vera Cruz, she sent her down there to find Michael and Kristina."

"Why Sam?"

"Because she's a PI now and Alexis doesn't have enough sense to think about all the consequences before sending Sam into a possibly dangerous situation."

"In her defense…she didn't know it was going to be dangerous."

"It doesn't matter."Jason says. He knows as a rebuttal it sucks, but he didn't care.

"Ok…anyways." Sonny says seeing no point in continuing to argue. "It ended up being dangerous and Sam got shot. How?"

"This is where the details get fuzzy since Sam can't remember anything after the phone call from Alexis and waking up in General Hospital."

"Well that's just perfect!"

"I know…it doesn't help, but if we give her time her memory should come back."

"How long?"

"We don't know." Jason says settling with just shrugging his shoulders when what he really wanted to do was punch a hole in the wall.

"So what do you know?"

"I got to the bus station in Vera Cruz and before I could park I saw Jerry Jax and something just felt off about seeing him there. So I decided to follow him. Which turned out to be a good thing, since who knows what he would've done with Sam and the kids if I hadn't?" The images that run through Jason's mind at that thought make him shudder and he takes a moment before continuing. "I followed him to an old building…"

"Jerry!" Sonny finally interrupts. "Why was he there? What was he doing with Sam and the kids?"

"I'm not sure. He had Sam tied to a chair upstairs and was talking to her when I got there. When I kicked the door in he had his gun out and the next thing I know he is using Sam as shield while shooting at me. He escaped only by pushing Sam into the middle of the crossfire and running from the building. I would've caught him except while in pursuit I heard Michael and Kristina in the basement and went to get them. I would've tried to follow his trail, but Sam…" Jason's voice trails off, Sonny knew the rest.

"I understand. You did the right thing." Walking to his desk and turning to lean against it Sonny runs a hand over his face. "Whatever Jerry was telling Sam…he's not going to want to leave her alive to share with anyone."

"That's what I was thinking." Jason says nodding his head. "That's why I have every intention of watching out for Sam until this problem with Jerry is dealt." And Jason was going to handle Jerry his own way, he didn't care what Jax had to say about that, this was personal now.

"That might be for the best. Even if Sam is a PI now and Alexis has confidence in her…"

"Sam is in no position to be defending herself against Jerry Jax." Jason snaps.

"I agree." Sonny says surprised at Jason's outburst. "That's why, for the time being, I want you to watch out for her. Stick by her side."

"Sam may not be too thrilled with that idea." Jason mutters.

"I know things between the two of you before she left wasn't the best, but I'm sure Sam would understand, and possibly even appreciate, your concern."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that Sonny."

Feeling there was a lot Jason wasn't saying, Sonny waits to see if Jason was going to elaborate, but he doesn't. "What happened when Sam left Port Charles? Did she leave because of you Jason?" Sonny asks and a chilling feeling rises up his spine when Jason doesn't answer. "Maxie and Alexis had a lot to say after you left…was there any truth to it Jason?"

"Depends I guess on what they said." Jason finally says knowing Sonny wasn't going to let this go. But how do you share your biggest regret?

"They said you're the reason Sam left town. They don't know how you did it or what you said, but you're the reason she hasn't been back in two years. Is that true?" Jason just continues to stare off into space. "What did you do to Sam two years ago Jason?"

Darting a quick look to see the serious expression on Sonny's face Jason sighs, he was going to have to come clean with his dark secret. "I threatened her life."

Unsure if he heard correctly, Sonny steps closer to Jason. "Did you say you threatened her?"

"Yes."

"Jason." Sonny says staggered. "I remember I told you that you needed to talk to Sam and handle that whole situation…" waving his hands in the air looking for words to say, Sonny just sighs instead. "But did you really think threatening her was the best way?"

"At the time Sonny I wasn't really thinking." Jason says sharply. "I was just reacting to the situation."

"But Jason…you know better than to make an idle threat towards someone's life…" When Jason just looks away again Sonny falls silent for a moment. "It was an idle threat, right? You weren't seriously telling Sam you were going to kill her?"

"At the time…" Jason says before standing to look out the patio doors. "At the time, I meant it."

"Jason…!" Sonny erupts.

"But it wasn't even an hour after having finally left her apartment that I realized how stupid I had been, but it was too late to do anything about it." Jason says, ignoring Sonny's outburst.

"Why was it too late?" Sonny asks aggravated.

"Because she had already left Port Charles, or at least on her way out; she left a note with the doorman to give to me and then she left town. I was never able to track her down; she didn't want me too apparently."

"Well can you honestly blame her, Jason?" Carly asks coming down the last couple of steps until she's in the living room. "It's a wonder Sam didn't completely self destruct after what you did to her!"

"What…Carly where did you come from?" Sonny asks perplexed.

"I was upstairs with Michael and I was on my way out when I heard Jason spill his dark secret and I couldn't help but stop to put my two cents in since you two can't seem to do anything right when it comes to Sam…or any woman for that matter."

"Carly what are you talking about?" Jason says on a sigh rubbing his temples.

"I'm talking about the fact that you both seemed baffled by the fact that Sam bolted after Jason threatened to kill her…which by the way Jason, is not something you should go around doing with your history. Especially when it's Sam who's seen you make good on a threat like that."

"Sam couldn't think Jason meant it though." Sonny says shaking his head. He still couldn't believe Jason would've actually done that.

"Jason just admitted that he did mean it." Carly points out an accusing finger at Jason and raising her eyebrows. "So why would Sam not have believed him? Sam knew Jason better than anyone and she knew exactly which buttons to push to lead him to that edge he had been on. Just like Jason knew Sam so well that he should've realized that everything she had been doing was her way of saying she was in pain, that she had felt betrayed." When both men just look at her confused Carly sighs. "I may not have been Sam's biggest fan, but even I can say that you betrayed her and it was killing her. How you could do something like that to Sam, I'll never understand…"

"We're not discussing this." Jason says turning away from both of them.

"You don't have to say anything. I'll do the talking, you just have to listen."

Rolling his eyes Jason turns to stare at Carly. "Do I have a choice in this?"

"No, you don't." Sonny says going to sit behind his desk. He knew Carly; she wouldn't let this rest till she said her peace and if he had to listen, then so did Jason.

"Sam spent three years of her life completely devoted to you Jason, you can't tell me you didn't notice? You were equally devoted to her; the only difference was you had Sonny, me, and the business that kept you preoccupied some of the time. Sam didn't have that…she had you and she was happy with that." Sensing Jason getting ready to interrupt Carly starts talking louder. "You two had this bond that I was starting to think was unbreakable."

"You tried hard enough you should know." Jason grumbles not liking where this was headed.

Ignoring his comment Carly continues as if Jason hadn't spoken. "It was because you both trusted each other. After everything you two struggled through instead of breaking you up it made you closer, stronger together. She made you happy, something I hadn't seen for awhile, something Courtney and myself could never do. You made her feel safe and cherished…and I don't know Sam well, but I'm thinking she very rarely felt that way ever before."

"Is there a point here to any of this Carly?" Jason asks trying to sound more annoyed and less upset. He didn't need her reminding him how good him and Sam had been, he could remember all on his own.

"My point is Jason, and I've told you this before, but apparently it didn't stick." Carly says walking so she's standing face to face with one of her longest and closest friends. "Sam doesn't trust easily, and she doesn't think a lot of herself. She never thought she deserved you and the attention you gave her. That became very obvious after you started pulling away from her. She acted as if she had been expecting it to happen. And to make it worse she felt like a fool for starting to think maybe she did deserve you and maybe she could be happy."

"I didn't…"

"No! I'm talking now." Carly says over Jason. "She was angry, more with herself than you probably, that she had trusted you so much. So she reacted, very poorly yes, but when does a scorned woman ever react well? I'm not justifying what Sam did, but I'm saying that you have to take some of the blame Jason."

"Jason?" Sonny says confused, but neither pay him any attention, they just continue to stare at each other.

"Everything she did was to remind you that she existed, that she was still there. She lashed out for you to notice her and so she still could have a place in your life. Even if she had to be the enemy, at least you were thinking about her. You pushed her to that place and for that you are partly to blame."

"I know." Jason says sighing.

"And if that wasn't enough. If you hadn't already demoralized that girl enough you had to threaten her life?" Carly says almost in awe.

"Carly I wasn't…"

"I'm surprised she didn't pull on gun on you right then and there." Seeing the flash in Jason's eyes Carly feels some mild satisfaction. "She did."

"Sam pulled a gun on you!"

Ignoring Sonny Jason nods to Carly and Carly just shakes her head and stays silent for a moment. "Sam is one strong woman, I'm hoping she'll forgive me for everything that happened in the past and we can start fresh." Turning to grab her purse from the couch, Carly looks at both Jason and Sonny. "She didn't deserve how we treated her before and I hope to make amends for that, Sonny I suggest you try and do the same. As for you Jason, I don't know if you will ever be able to make up what you have done. If Sam does forgive you…" Carly stops and shakes her head at the thought. "Then she's a bigger and stronger woman than I am." Walking silently out of the room she waves, the only noise she makes on her exit is the quiet thud of the front door closing behind her.

Sonny and Jason stand in silence after Carly left, neither sure of what to say. "Maybe I should have Bernie watch out for Sam." Sonny finally says.

"No!" Jason barks quickly. "I won't let anyone do this but me."

"But Jason…"

"I'm serious Sonny. You can put Bernie at the hospital, but I'm going to be there too."

"And if Sam doesn't want you around?"

"I'm not really going to give her a choice." And when Sonny looks like he's going to argue Jason shakes his head. "I'm going to try not to upset her, but I don't trust anyone else with this Sonny… I have a lot to make up for and this is the first step."

"You have a long ways to go." Sonny says solemnly.

"And as Carly pointed out there's a good chance it will all be for nothing. Sam still might not forgive me…possibly never will." With nothing left to say Jason starts for the door.

"What are you hoping to get from all of this with Sam?" Sonny calls after Jason. "Do you just want her to forgive you and part on good terms…or is this about something more?"

"Sonny…" Jason says with a humorless laugh. "Right now I'm just going to try and avoid ice chips being thrown at my head." It was the safe answer and one that would only last for so long.

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So I hope it was everything you hoped for and more! Quick thanks again to everyone again for reading and reviewing. Now I've been asked some questions and I'm going to take the time now to answer them… I was asked if I posted anywhere else and as of now the answer is no, I don't. But I'm thinking about maybe posting at D & T…what are your opinions on that? And for everyone who wanted Stephen to come to Port Charles…as you can see he has finally reappeared and I promise he is going to be sticking around for awhile and make things more fun now that he's there!