Hey you guys! So here is my newest post! I'm going to make this short so you can all get to the chapter…When writing this I kinda let the characters go and let my fingers just type whatever came to me. This chapter really got away from the rough outline that I had in place when I started, but I'm happy with where it went and I hope you all are too! These characters really seem to have a mind of their own sometimes! Anyways…Enjoy! I can't wait to hear what you all think!

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

"Do you want to tell me what I walked in on?" Maxie asks after kicking Jason out of Sam's hospital room, the hitman had been very reluctant to leave. Only after Sam had insisted Jason leave so she could talk to Maxie in private did he actually listen…Maxie didn't think she had ever seen such a petulant look on Jason's face before. She had taken a second to enjoy the moment before turning to stare at Sam, they had a lot to discuss.

"It was nothing." Sam says avoiding the young blonde's gaze. "Jason and I were just having a disagreement is all…that's nothing unusual for us."

"Mmhmm." Maxie says skeptically crossing her arms over her chest. "Well that's very interesting, because I've had more than my fair share of disagreements, quite a few of them with Jason in fact, and none of them set off sparks the way you two do." When Sam just chews on her bottom lip and continues to avoid meeting Maxie's gaze the blonde sighs. "So what's that all about?" She asks taking a step closer to the bed.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Sam says shaking her head. "There are no…Sparks!" The last word comes out high pitched, Sam clearly uncomfortable.

"Is that so?" Maxie asks slightly amused. "So then what exactly is going on between you and Jason?"

"There is no me and Jason! And there's no sparks. What there is…is annoyance and frustration and anger…and pain." Sam says looking back down at her hands. "Lots, and lots of pain." She adds almost in a whisper.

Maxie had to strain to hear the last little bit that Sam had said, but the hurt and confusion was written all over Sam's face. With a frown Maxie casts a quick glance over her shoulder she sees Jason standing just outside the door, making it obvious that there was more than nothing going on. Maybe Stephen had a point after all. "Sam you can talk to me you know." Maxie says looking back to stare at her, waiting until Sam lifts her head back up. "I know that I'm very opinionated and stubborn…and I don't really like Jason…but if you just need me to listen. I can do that."

"Maxie there's nothing to talk about…" Sam starts to say.

"Sam!" Maxie says stomping her foot in aggravation. "Would you please just talk to me!"

Startled by her outburst Sam just stares at Maxie for a moment before she starts to feel a burning in her eyes and a lump in her throat. Earlier with Jason she had been able to push the hurt at bay while they discussed Jerry and with Maxie Sam had wanted to just ignore everything that she was feeling, but Maxie wouldn't let her. And now here Sam was, once again being bombarded with thoughts of Elizabeth wearing a wedding band and Jason going home to the penthouse and sitting around a dinner table with the nurse and Cameron and Jake. The mental picture cut deep and Sam closed her eyes trying to shy away from it, but nothing worked. "Maxie…" Sam says, her voice thick with sadness as a tear rolls down her cheek.

"Oh my gosh!" Maxie says raising her hands to her face. "I didn't mean to upset you! I'm so sorry! Please please please tell me what's wrong! How can I fix this! I'm such a terrible person…here you are lying in a hospital bed and I'm making you cry! I deserve to have something terrible happen to me in return! I'm so sorry Sam! Please tell me what's wrong!"

"I don't know!" Sam says sighing heavily. "That's part of the problem I think." She says looking up to see Maxie crossing her arms again and frowning in confusion.

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"I mean I don't know!" Sam says again shaking her head. "It's been two years! Why should it matter to me what he's up to now! Or that he's married to that…that…that manipulative leech of woman! It shouldn't hurt that he has a family now and has moved on with his life!" Sam says not even looking at the younger woman anymore, completely missing the lost and confused look on her face. "It's been two years for god sake! I've moved on too! I mean not with a man or anything, god knows that I have avoided that for obvious reasons, but still! I have a wonderful business and a great friend who is also my business partner and roommate. And I have my family: Alexis and the girls, and you and Spinelli too. Granted I don't get to see you all very often, but you're all still very important to me. So I don't know why that it matters that he's obviously moved on too! I should be happy for him! I should congratulate him!" Sam says nodding her head quickly before frowning. "But I can't! Why can't I? Why is it when I saw her in here I felt like it was two years ago and I was still that lost and broken woman who had so much to apologize and make up for. Why when I saw that damn ring did my heart feel like it was breaking all over again? Why did it affect me so much? Why when he walked back into this room did I do everything in my power to push him away? Why did I try to hurt and antagonize him when he's obviously just trying to protect me? Why Maxie?" Sam asks finally settling her gaze back on the blonde. "Why does it hurt so damn much!"

Maxie's heart went out to Sam and the obvious pain that she was feeling, but she couldn't overcome the confusion she felt over a lot of what Sam had to say. "Who has obviously moved on and started a family?" Maxie asks shaking her head, hoping to clear her muddled thoughts.

"Who?" Sam says with a confused look on her face. "Who do you think Maxie? Jason of course!"

For a solid minute Maxie is shocked silent with no clue what to say, something that didn't normally happen to her. Finally, after much concentration Maxie comes out of her stupor. "Sam I don't know what you think happened while you were gone, but Jason didn't get married and start a family." Shaking her head Maxie's hands fall to her sides and a look of understanding crosses her face. "You saw Elizabeth didn't you?" When Sam just bites down on her bottom lip and nod slightly Maxie sighs. "Sam… Elizabeth remarried Lucky almost a year ago, they're practically the picture perfect family all they're missing is the dog." Maxie says walking to stand at Sam's bedside, watching as a look of shock covers Sam's face. "And Jason…" Maxie says stopping to look over her shoulder to see the hitman standing and staring into the room still. "I don't think Jason has moved on yet." Confused at the shameful look that enters Sam's face Maxie reaches out a hand to Sam, but it gets waved away as Sam brings her hands up to cover her face.

Shaking her head Sam groans. "What have I done?" She says into her hands, before lowering them to share a miserable look with Maxie. "I was so terrible to Jason earlier and he did nothing to deserve it!"

"I'm sure it not that bad Sam." Maxie says sympathetically.

"No it was Maxie. Before Elizabeth showed up Jason and I were actually getting along and then after she left I just…I just lost my cool. And when Jason came back I lashed out at him."

"You lashed out at him for thinking he was with Elizabeth?" Maxie says a new gleam entering her eyes.

Sam could hear the speculation in Maxie voice and hated that it had every right to be there. "That's not it a…"

"No no no no no." Maxie says raising her hand and silencing Sam. "No more denying. You just said that you and Jason were getting along before Elizabeth showed up and then you jumped to all the wrong conclusions about Jason and her. And then when Jason comes back you start attacking him for what you thought happened between him and Elizabeth." When Sam doesn't say anything Maxie chuckles. "If I didn't know any better I would say you were jealous…" Maxie watches Sam closely and notices when she tenses up, a clear tell to Sam's feelings. "But that's just not possible right? Because you've moved on, right Sam?"

Looking up at Maxie from under her lashes Sam groaned and threw her hands in the air. "I was!" When Maxie's jaw drops in shock again Sam sits up in bed. "No! I am! I have moved on…I have. Honestly Maxie…I have." Resting back Sam takes a breath.

"Sam…" Maxie says doubtfully.

"It's just being back here and in this hospital. It brings back lots of memories, that's all."

"That's all?"

"Yea…I just overreacted." Sam says nodding her head quickly. "When Jason comes back I'll just apologize and explain that it all was a complete misunderstanding. An overreaction brought on by a tense situation."

"Riiiight." Maxie says pursing her lips and nodding her head to placate Sam. Maxie wasn't fooled.

------

"Jason I think we should talk." Elizabeth says taking a step back when Jason turns to face her.

"About what?" Jason asks quickly looking while glancing over his shoulder to see what was happening in the hospital room, Maxie was still at Sam's bedside and Sam was now talking and waving her hands around. Turning back he saw that Elizabeth had been following his gaze.

"I uh…I just first wanted to say that I'm glad you made it back with Michael and Kristina safe. I know Nikolas mentioned while he was over for dinner last night that Alexis was getting frantic with worry about what trouble Kristina might be in. I'm relieved to hear the children are ok."

"Is that all?" Jason asks, resisting the urge to look over his shoulder again. Elizabeth's eyes now, instead of darting between Jason's face and his hand that had been reaching for the gun, were now busy casting quick glances over his shoulder into the room behind him. This didn't go unnoticed by Jason and it made him wonder why else she was there.

"No…I…umm well I…" Elizabeth struggles with what to say. Things between her and Jason were fine at best, but still awkward. They spent little actual time around each other, but still considered each other friends, just more distant. With Sam back Elizabeth didn't know why, but the woman's presence just seemed to throw Port Charles world out of whack. Everyone was speaking in hushed tones about Samantha McCall being back and wondering how long she would stay or if she would stay once released from the hospital. Elizabeth would be lying if she didn't say she was curious herself about Sam's plans.

"If it isn't important Elizabeth could it possibly wait until later?" Jason finally says, interrupting whatever inner turmoil she was facing. "I'm not going to go into details, but there is a threat out there against Sam so I'm needed here and I don't really have time to chat. And I don't know if it's the best idea for Sam to see you. I know it's been two years, but I'm sure there are still hurt feelings and probably some unresolved issues…on both your parts." He adds, remembering that when Sam had first left town Elizabeth had been out for blood. Demanding that Jason track Sam down so she could be punished for what she'd done. When Jason had refused Elizabeth had stormed out of his penthouse and out of his life for nearly four months, taking Jake with her. It was only after Jake had gotten sick did she concede and apologize for her overreaction at the time. They slowly worked back to having some semblance of a friendship.

"Jason I have more than moved on from what happened. You know that. With the help of Lucky and the counselor that he and saw after Jake got better… I have nothing but neutral feelings towards Sam." Elizabeth says finally settling her gaze only on Jason. "Granted I don't think I could ever be friends with her, but I only hope that she makes a full recovery and is happy in wherever life has led her."

She sounded sincere, but Jason still had his doubts. "I hope you mean that."

"I do Jason."

"But Sam may not feel the same way." Jason was willing to bet his life on it that Sam didn't, but he wouldn't say that to Elizabeth. "So it might just be better if she didn't see you."

Biting down on her bottom lip Elizabeth breaks eye contact with Jason one last time. "Well that's the thing Jason. Sam already kind of saw me just a little bit earlier." Looking back she watches as his eyes widen and his jaw visibly tenses.

"What! When?" Jason asks before taking an unconscious step in the nurse's direction, unintentionally appearing menacingly. "Why did you go to see?"

Elizabeth had very little firsthand experience with this Jason and it always made her nervous to see him this way, especially when she was on the receiving end of that cold stare. "I'm a nurse in this hospital Jason!" Her voice sounding higher than normal, she wanted to turn and run, but knew that he would either follow her or call her back to finish this conversation. "I was assigned Sam's nurse for this shift and had to go get her next round of vitals. It was nothing sinister, I had no hidden agenda. Epiphany makes the assignments."

Jason could see the fear battling with honesty in her eyes and he exhaled a tired breath and runs a hand through his hair. "You're right, I'm sorry." He says shaking his head. "I jumped to conclusions…It's just with this threat out there I feel like I have to be on guard…I think it's making me a little paranoid."

More than a little Elizabeth silently says crossing her arms over her chest. "Yea well…I just thought you should know that I've already spoken to Sam."

"And…"

"And what Jason?" Elizabeth asks dropping her hands at her sides and sighing. "You were right, she was very unhappy to see me."

"You didn't upset her, did you?"

Lifting a hand to her forehead she glares at him for a moment before speaking. "Not on purpose…but yes she was upset when I left. Told me it might be for the best if I no longer was her nurse for as long as she was in the hospital."

"I think she might be right." Jason says turning his back on the nurse to face the door again. Staring in at Sam Jason's felt like a switch had been flipped and he turns back to Elizabeth. "Did you go into see Sam about a half hour ago?"

Confused at why the time mattered Elizabeth nods her head. "Yea my shift just started and Sam was the first I visited on my rounds aft…"

Jason tuned out whatever else she had to say and starts to pace the hallway again. It all made perfect sense now. Why Sam was so upset when he came back after walking Sonny out. There she was trapped in that bed, in pain, and in walks Elizabeth. Sam already had been feeling defensive with Jason and Sonny and it was a huge concession on her part to have to depend on anyone. To have Elizabeth be her nurse, be the person Sam calls on for any help she might need. It had to be a hard blow. Not to mention that Elizabeth is a symbol of a lot of pain to Sam. Jason knew that it had been two years, but he was just starting to realize how poorly he had dealt with his feelings towards Sam. And it was quite possible that Sam hadn't dealt with hers that well either. Judging from the assault he faced earlier she hadn't. And instead of just taking it Jason had to argue back. Groaning Jason runs both his hands over his face and turns back to see Elizabeth staring at him confused. "I've been an idiot!"

"Jason I'm sure you…" Elizabeth starts to say shaking her head.

"Sam was clearly upset and I just never listen, I never give her what she wants. I always screw up when it comes to her. Always!" Turning back to stare into her room Jason rests an arm on the door and his head on his arm and sighs.

"Jason I think you're being too hard on yourself."

"I'm not." Jason says so quietly that he's sure she didn't even hear him. With a long drawn out breath he pushes off the wall and turns back to stare at Elizabeth. "If that's all I think it would be better if you left now." He saw the hurt and confusion enter her eyes and he repressed another groan. He was being a complete ass to everyone is seemed like. "It's just if Sam happens to catch wind of you here on her floor I'm sure it would only make matters worse." Elizabeth opens her mouth to argue, but he silences her with a raised hand. "And Maxie is in there with Sam right now and she could come out here any second and see you…the last thing any of us need is you two to be at each other's throats right now."

With a huff Elizabeth crosses her arms. "Fine, you might have a point with that one." Turning Elizabeth gets to the elevator before turning back towards Jason. "Before I go, I just want to say I'm sorry for any problems I caused Jason. That really wasn't my intention."

Jason just looked at Elizabeth for a second and before he could stop the words they were out of his mouth. "Are you just apologizing for what happened here today in the hospital, but also for what happened two years ago Elizabeth?" He saw the surprise cross her face before it turns to indignation.

"I thought at least you, Lucky, and myself had gotten past that Jason. I mean with everything else that has happened…"

Even though he hadn't meant to say it, Jason was surprised to find he wasn't sorry that he had. "You never once have apologized for your part in everything Elizabeth. In fact, you almost act as if you're the only innocent party in all of it…"

Shocked at the detached tone of his voice Elizabeth wishes the elevator would hurry. "I was Jason! I just caught my husband, who was abusing drugs, cheating on me. I was heartbroken."

"That doesn't excuse what we did Elizabeth." Jason says shaking his head. "And it definitely doesn't explain your behavior later…"

"Why are you doing this Jason?" Elizabeth asks sounding hurt, her brows wrinkled with worry. "Why are you bringing up the past when we've all worked so hard to move on?"

"I don't know." Jason says shrugging his shoulders and casting a quick glance over his shoulder at Sam's door.

"It's because she came back."

"You're probably right."

"Please Jason…don't let Sam's presence bring up all that pain again not when we all are better off with it left in the past." Elizabeth pleads.

Jason doesn't say anything for a moment; he just takes his time staring at the woman who had played such an intricate part in destroying his and Sam's relationship. He couldn't place all the blame on Elizabeth's shoulders. He and Sam had both played their parts. But Elizabeth had been the catalyst that started it all in motion. Looking at her now he could see how huge of a mistake it all had truly been. Jason still hadn't said anything when the elevator opens behind the nurse and he still wasn't sure what he should say. Part of him wanted to grab her and drag her into Sam's room so the three of them could get it all out in the open and maybe the memories wouldn't be so painful. And the other part of him wanted to tell the nurse to leave and never come around again, that they all would be better off. "You better get back to work." Is what Jason says instead and watches as Elizabeth nods her head and gives a small wave before the elevator doors close completely. Jason was once again alone in the hospital hallway, now with even more to think about.

------

"Maxie I know you don't believe me when I say that this thing between Jason and I…" Sam stops talking when the door opens and in walks Jason.

"How about a little consideration here Jason." Maxie says turning to glare at him. "Sam and I were having a serious conversation. And you just barging in here like you have some right to be here is totally insane. So how bout you go back through that door and try knocking next time and maybe…just maybe… Sam might be willing to let you…"

"Enough Maxie!" Sam says, not taking her eyes off Jason who hadn't moved from standing only a few feet in front of the door. Looking at the man she once knew so well Sam could see the telltale signs of fatigue on his face, but besides that there was also a shadow of pain and even concern and she felt bad that her hurtful actions were probably to blame. Staring into Jason's face Sam could feel his eyes on her and she wondered what he was thinking.

Standing off to the side Maxie feels like an intruder on a private moment with the way Sam and Jason were staring at each other. Clearing her throat she isn't surprised that neither one even blink an eye, let alone look at her. Resisting the urge to break up their little staring contest Maxie grips her purse strap tighter and slowly, and not very quietly, makes her way towards the door. When she gets there she grabs the handle and opens the door, but still pauses before leaving. Waiting to see if Sam was going to request her to stay…but she doesn't. Neither has seemed to acknowledge that Maxie was still in the room. Huffing and slightly offended that she was so easily ignored Maxie lets the door bang shut loudly behind her. Reaching into her purse as she walks down the hallway Maxie presses speed dial 3 and waits for him to pick up.

"Spinelli, are you still with Stephen? Good. Where are you two? Oh…I don't want to talk at the penthouse in case Jason interrupts us by coming home. You guys meet me at Kelly's. Why? Because I think Stephen might be right and we have a lot to discuss. Ok, look…I know you're excited, but could you please stop squealing in my ear? Thank you! Alright I see you in a little bit. Bye."

With a quick look over her shoulder Maxie rolls her eyes and gets onto the elevator. Those two were so blind to what was staring them in the face…they weren't even going to know what hit them. Maxie Jones was now involved and she never good at subtle.

------

Jason just tuned out Maxie's latest rant, knowing whatever it was he didn't want to hear. He just kept his attention on Sam, there she was lying in another hospital bed looking so small. She had bruise on her one cheek and a cut on her forehead, not to mention the ugly purplish mark on her neck from the guy Jerry had hired. Her hair was unwashed and unkempt. Half still pulled back in a ponytail, but a lot had fallen out. She looked tired and a little haggard, but she was still beautiful. Finally his gaze was drawn to hers and staring back at him her brown depths held so much pain and anger and regret… he felt this was the first time since Sam came back into his life that he felt she had truly let all her walls down.

The slamming of the door finally broke through Sam and Jason's concentration and both blink and quickly averted their gaze. "Sam I just wanted to say I'm sorry…" "Jason I want to apologize for…" They both say at the same time.

"You go first." Jason says quickly.

Jason giving Sam the floor made her more self conscious of what she had to say. How could she apologize for overreacting to seeing Elizabeth without making it sound like she had been jealous of the possible woman in Jason's life? Maxie had immediately saw Sam's reaction for what it was and Jason would too. "I uh…I just wanted to apologize for earlier…I don't know what got over me." Sam decides to just leave Elizabeth's visit out of her apology, Jason didn't need to know about that. "I mean I know you're just trying to protect me and I…I…I attack you for no reason and…"

"But there was a reason." Jason says stopping Sam from continuing her ramble. "Wasn't there?"

Sam didn't know how Jason knew, but he did. "Yes, there was." She says looking down at her hands. She didn't know if she wanted to discuss Elizabeth with Jason or not. Even though it turned out he wasn't with her like she originally thought, that didn't mean that he would understand why Sam was so upset. Jason always seemed to have this complex when it came to the nurse that made him completely oblivious to everything else going on around him. Part of Sam feared Jason might even get mad at her for how she treated Elizabeth earlier. Sam didn't know how she would react if that actually happened.

Jason could see that Sam was struggling internally and it killed him to think that she couldn't trust him with her thoughts and feelings, when there once was a time that he would've been the first one she came to. He knew the Elizabeth was a touchy subject between them, but he really didn't like how small and defeated Sam looked. Jason waited to see if Sam was going to continue, but she still said nothing. "I know that Elizabeth was assigned as your nurse and that she came in here earlier." Jason finally says, tired of tiptoeing around the topic when they both knew that at some point they would have to discuss it.

"And how do you know that?"

"She found me after she finished her rounds to tell me."

Rolling her eyes Sam sighs. "Of course she did. And let me guess, she cried all over your shoulder telling you all the terrible things that big bad Sam said?" Sam couldn't help herself. Just the thought of Elizabeth running to Jason was just so tiring, because it's exactly what Elizabeth had done before. "The woman really should've become an actress since she had such a flair for the dramatic, but that wouldn't have worked because I hear acting actually requires talent and skill…and all Elizabeth is able to do besides whine is cry on command. I'm sure there's not much demand for that out there." Jason looked like he was about to say something Sam just raises her voice. "Elizabeth's whole poor me act is so tired. She really should try something new or the people in this town might get bored with…"

"Sam!" Jason practically shouts to be heard over her rant. When she snaps her mouth closed so fast Jason fears she might've bitten the tip of her tongue off. In the next instant Jason's insides go cold with the chilling look Sam gives him and he realizes he might've made a grave error. Sam must've mistaken his silencing her as him defending Elizabeth.

"Unbelievable! This is just un-freaking believable!" Sam says shaking her head, but it wasn't long before it felt like her whole body was trembling from anger. "You're still defending her!"

"No!" Jason says forcefully taking a step forward. "I'm trying to stop you from belittling yourself. Sam you are so much better than that."

"How would you know?" Sam asks dubiously. "You know nothing about me and what I'm like now. It's been two years Jason."

"And whose fault is that Sam?" Jason asks crossing his arms over his chest. This wasn't the conversation he planned on having, but it was one he definitely wanted to have before Sam left again. "You're the one who up and left two years ago and made damn sure that I wouldn't be able to find you!"

Sam's stomach clenched at the anger and pain in his words. "I don't want to talk about that."

"Fine with me! But then don't throw it in my face that I know nothing about you anymore, because I wasn't the one who ran. That is all on you Sam, not me!"

Sam knew Jason had a point, but she wasn't about to admit it to him. "So Elizabeth sought you out…why?"

"Honestly…I don't really know." Jason says shaking his head, a confused look on his face. "She said it was just to let me know that she had been here and that you got very upset. None of it really made any sense."

"Well when did Elizabeth's actions ever really make sense?" Sam mutters without thinking. Quickly glancing up she sees the look Jason sends her before he rolls his eyes. "I can't help myself sometimes." Sam says shrugging her shoulders.

"I understand."

"You do?" Sam asks, in surprise, feeling a tightness building in her chest. For so long she had wanted Jason's understanding, but she never had gotten it. And finally she had left and Sam thought that she no longer needed it. But to have it now felt so good and Sam felt her eyes begin to burn.

"Yea, I do." Jason says coming to stand at Sam's bedside. "I get that you don't like her and you have every reason not to." Jason saw the tears shining in Sam's eyes and her hands clenching in her lap and he wishes he could reach out and grab one of them and squeeze it reassuringly, but thought he would most likely end up getting hit or yelled at if he tried. "Elizabeth caused you lots of pain and I'm sure her presence is a big reminder of that. Even though it's been two years…that doesn't just go away."

"No…it doesn't."

"Just like all that anger you felt towards me doesn't go away…?" It was more of a rhetorical question and Jason was surprised that Sam responded.

"I truly doesn't." Sam says shaking her head, feeling the tears slowly trickle down her cheeks. "She was standing there…talking and acting like nothing had happened…that she had nothing to apologize for. And I just wanted to yell at her, but I didn't. I asked her to just leave and to never come back. Figuring that was the least she could do for me. After everything she had put me through." Closing her eyes and wiping at the tears Sam takes a shaky breath and opens her eyes to look into Jason's concerned gaze. "And then you walked in and all I could think about was how mad I was. At you, at her, at the fact that I'm back in Port Charles… stuck in this hospital where Elizabeth was able to flit in and out of here. And so are you. So when you walked into this room I lashed out because if I didn't… if I held in all that anger… I don't like to think what would've happened. The last time I let my anger build like that it ended up having disastrous results for many people when I finally reached my limit." Sam saw the cloud of confusion over Jason's face before understanding took its place, Sam could tell from the shadow that entered his eyes was him remembering her hiring the two goons to scare Elizabeth. Afraid to see anger replace the concern that used to be on Jason's face Sam looks away, towards the window. Wishing that she could be out there enjoying the sunshine instead of feeling like a prisoner in this hospital, stuck having the memories of the past being thrown at her left and right.

Sam is unsure of how much time passes, but Jason still hadn't made a sound and she was still too chicken to turn and face him. Clearing her throat she swipes at the single tear rolling down her cheek and silently curses herself. She thought she was through caring about Jason's opinion, but apparently she was wrong. "You can go now. I know right now you're probably battling with the thought of leaving me here unprotected, but don't. I'm sure Sonny's men are more than qualified to keep me safe until I'm released from the hospital and then I can be on my way back to Miami and you won't have to even think about me ever again." Sam says, but still Jason says nothing. "I won't hold it against you, so don't let that stop you." Closing her eyes Sam feels hot tears trickle down her cheeks. "Just leave Jason. You know it's what you want to do. No one could blame you for deciding it was too hard to stand at the bedside of the woman who not once, but twice, put the life of your son in danger. To have to protect her would be too much for anyone." The silence was becoming unbearable and even though Sam's eyes were closed she could still feel his presence in the room. "Jason just g…" Sam starts to say but the words freeze in her throat when a warm hand grabs onto one of hers. Opening her eyes she is staring straight into Jason's blue depths, his eyes a deep cerulean blue full of pain and sadness. Her eyes briefly look down at their joined hands, hers looking so tiny being held in his, before looking back up into his face. "Jason…?"

"Sam." Jason says forcefully, squeezing her hand a little tighter, but still being sure not to hurt her. "I'm not going anywhere."

Jason's voice was filled with so much conviction that Sam couldn't help but believe him. And feeling so much relief she closes her eyes and sighs. "Good."

Jason was so drained. He was sleep deprived, hungry, stressed, and his emotions felt very raw from the rollercoaster he and Sam were on with each other. They both had just scratched the surface of their problems, but he really didn't feel like pushing any further right now. He really wasn't up for it and Sam didn't seem to be either. Releasing a sigh he leans forward and rests his forehead on his and Sam's joined hands, squeezing his eyes closed. He didn't know where they stood, but she wasn't pulling away from him at the moment and for that he was grateful.

Time for Sam and Jason seemed to freeze as both just sat in content silence, but it was broken by the sound of knocking on the door before it was opened. Snatching her hand back from Jason's Sam's eyes snap open in time to see flicker a hurt flash in his before both of their attention is drawn to the doorway.

"Knock knock!" Robin says coming into the room her smile freezing on her face when her eyes land on Jason and Sam and she gets a feel of the tension in the room.

I just want to quick say Thank You to all who are reading this, you guys are great. And for the reviewers…you are all Amazing!