Hey everyone! So here's the latest update for Gone For Good! I'm trying to do better about my updates, but sometimes it's a struggle when I'm lacking the inspiration. However JaSam both in white and on the island was so great that I had to write. Hopefully the writers will keep up the great work! As for the story, this chapter was interesting…I started it over a week ago, erased everything and restarted it a few days ago. And this is the final product. I gotta say I'm SO glad to get Sam out of that pesky hospital and now the fun can really begin!
I don't normally give a warning before a chapter, but for this one I think I better. This is an Elizabeth warning…prepare yourselves accordingly.
Disclaimer: I don't own General Hospital or the characters.
Elizabeth Spencer was running late for her shift at the hospital and from the annoyed look she received from Epiphany once she arrived at the nurses' station let her know it didn't go unnoticed either. "I'm sorry Epiphany, but Jake has been sick the last couple of days and now Cameron has seemed to have caught whatever bug it was. Lucky had to leave early this morning on a call so I had to wait for Grams before I could leave the house."
"Mmhmm." Epiphany mutters not even bothering to glance up from the computer screen. "We had a discharge already this morning. Would it be possible for you to finish filing the paperwork since Dr. Drake never seems able to do it himself?" She holds the folder out for Elizabeth to grab.
"Not a problem. Who's the patient?" She asks trying to remember which of Patrick's patients would be ready for discharge.
"Ms. McCall." Epiphany says before signing off from the computer and leaving the nurses' station, oblivious to the shocked look Elizabeth sends her.
"Seriously?" Elizabeth asks, but no one was there to answer her. Turning and setting the file down Elizabeth opens to see for herself and sure enough its Sam's file she's holding. What does this mean? Elizabeth wonders closing the folder and resting a hand on top of it. Had she left Port Charles yet? Was she planning on coming back? What did this mean for Jason? As the questions ran through her mind Elizabeth was startled by the hand that touched her shoulder. Jumping in place she turns to see her long time friend Robin smiling apologetically.
"Didn't mean to scare you, but you looked so deep in thought I just had to know what's going on."
Elizabeth's mind was still stuck on Sam's release from the hospital that it took her a second to catch up to what Robin had said. "What? Oh, no!" Elizabeth waves a hand and shakes her head to clear any other lingering thoughts. "Nothing really important, just the boys are both a little under the weather."
"And it's always a mother's duty to worry." Robin says nodding her head sympathetically.
"Right, you understand how that is."
"So besides the boys being sick, how are things? I feel like I haven't seen you in awhile, let alone have time for a conversation."
That's because she hasn't Elizabeth silently says and it was all because Robin and Patrick both had been so engrossed in Sam's case that their other patients had either been put on hold or been handed off. And since Elizabeth had been removed as Sam's nurse she hadn't seen them. But now with Sam gone things would hopefully get back to normal. And not just at the hospital, but the whole town. Ever since she and Jason had returned with Michael and Kristina all people could talk about was Sam.
If you were at the hospital the staff all was talking about the extra security in place and how Sam must be a special patient. If you ended up at Jake's Coleman would be talking about the countless times Sam would end up there at the end of the day, the man practically drooled as he talked about her. If you went to Kelly's Mike was telling stories to anyone who would listen about how Sam had changed everyone's lives when she came to Port Charles and she had been missed these past two years. Even the Metro Court staff was talking. Something that Elizabeth was surprised about since she had thought if anyone would be tired of hearing about Sam McCall it would be Carly. But apparently not, apparently even Carly was ecstatic to have Sam back. Elizabeth couldn't wait for all the talk to die down and for people to get on with their lives. Sam McCall was just a woman, a woman who had committed many wrongs during her time in Port Charles, what was the big deal?
"Elizabeth?" Robin says when Elizabeth just silently stares down at the folder she was holding so tight her knuckles were turning white. "Are you sure everything is alright?" Robin asks reaching out and touching the nurse's hand.
"Yea, sorry!" Elizabeth says quickly, realizing that she had once again gotten lost in her thoughts. "I'm just thinking about the boys." She says shrugging her shoulders.
"They're just a little under the weather right? Nothing serious?" Robin asks now feeling concerned that it must be more if Elizabeth seemed so preoccupied.
"No! Nothing serious I'm sure, but I just can't help but worry sometimes you know?" Elizabeth says looking back down at the folder in her hand. She had to find out what was happening with Sam. But how?
Robin notices Elizabeth's fixation with the file she was holding and leans into see what it was. "Oh you have Sam's folder." She says after catching a glimpse of the name. "Let me guess…Patrick didn't finish filing it did he?" She asks shaking her head. "I should've known when he told me this morning he had it all under control that he would leave it for the nurses. Epiphany is going to yell at him again."
Elizabeth smiled wide, Robin had just given her the opportunity she was looking for. "Oh, so you were there when Sam was discharged?" As if she even had to ask. Everyone knew that Robin had been involved in Sam's treatment along with Patrick.
"Yea, Patrick and I just released her this morning. She's recovering quite well."
"So she's left already." Elizabeth says forcing disappointment into her voice and face. "I didn't really get a chance to talk with her while she was here, that's too bad. I know Lucky had been hoping to stop in and visit with her too."
"Well you guys still can." Robin says with a smile. "Sam is still in Port Charles."
"Oh!" Elizabeth says her eyes going wide and here she was hoping that Sam had gotten on the first flight back to wherever she came from. "For how long?"
"Well I'm not sure really." Robin says oblivious to the fact Elizabeth was hanging on to her every word. "Patrick and I both only agreed to release her if she stayed in Port Charles during her recovery."
Elizabeth had to practically bite her tongue to hold in her protest. Why would they do something like that? Didn't they realize the longer Sam stayed in Port Charles the harder it would be for people to forget her once she was gone. "So she's going to be here for a while, that's nice. I'm sure Alexis is going to enjoy having all her daughters under the same roof." Elizabeth says digging for more information.
"Oh Sam's not staying with Alexis." Robin shakes her head. "I'm sure you noticed the heavy security that had been in place while she was here."
"Yes of course, something about her being attacked." Elizabeth resists the urge to roll her eyes. "Surely that threat has passed?" If there ever was really a threat in the first place.
"Not yet. So until it does Sam's going to be staying at Harborview Towers."
"Sam's going to be living with Jason!" The words came out sounding a lot more like outrage than simple curiosity and Elizabeth silently cursed herself. She could see the confusion written all over Robins face now and knew she was probably wondering why Elizabeth had reacted that way. She was after all happily married to Lucky. Why should it bother her who Jason had living with him, it wasn't any concern of hers. Except it did bother Elizabeth and she was concerned. Jason had been acting strange ever since Sam had returned from the hole she had been hiding under. Elizabeth just wanted things to go back to the way they had been. With Sam around that wasn't possible. With Sam living with Jason things could only get worse.
"No." Robin says looking around uncomfortable now with the fact she had been so free with information on Sam. Anyone could've heard Elizabeth's last comment and who knows who had been listening. Jason's only request of both her and Patrick had been discretion with Sam's case. Robin hadn't even considered that when she started talking with Elizabeth, but now she realized discussing Sam in the middle of the hospital where anyone could overhear wasn't very discrete. "Sam is not living with Jason." Robin says loudly for anyone around to hear and then lowers her voice. "She's living across the hall from Jason in Sonny's old penthouse."
Well isn't that just convenient for her Elizabeth silently seethes. She just moves right in on Jason, typical Sam…doesn't even consider that he might not want another woman in his life. That maybe he wasn't over losing Elizabeth. "I'm sure that Jason is relieved to still have the penthouse to himself and well Spinelli of course."
"The opposite actually, Jason had tried convincing Sam she would be safer if she moved in with him. Sam refused." Robin had no clue the effect her words had on Elizabeth.
He what! Elizabeth wants to shout, but holds it in. And Sam refused? What sort of game was she playing? Was she trying to be coy? Because the idea was just ridiculous, Sam McCall didn't have a coy bone in her body. Hopefully Jason doesn't fall for it. "So instead she's going to be across the hall, inconveniencing Jason with her every beck and call?"
"Well Maxie is going to be staying with Sam to help with any day to day chores and to be Sam's helper during her recovery. Jason is to be around for security purposes I suppose. Although from what I saw Jason isn't very happy with the arraignment. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Jason ends up staying across the hall with Sam even though Maxie is going to be there."
Elizabeth couldn't help but ask. "What do you mean by that? What possible reason would Jason have to stay over if Maxie is there?" Why would he put himself through that? Spending time with Sam AND Maxie just sounded so horrid to Elizabeth.
"Well I don't think Jason will really need a reason." Robin says with a small smile. "My own personal opinion is that Jason has missed Sam these past two years. Why else would he have been so miserable? It can't just be a coincidence that he started acting so morose around the same time Sam left."
It wasn't because of Sam. Elizabeth wants to say, but doesn't. She wanted to tell Robin about how Jason had been that way because Elizabeth had chosen Lucky instead of him. She also wanted to remind Robin she was Elizabeth's friend, not Sam's. But none of that would make sense to Robin since she didn't know the whole story behind why Sam had left town. She didn't realize that Jason couldn't possibly have missed Sam after everything she had done. "I'm sure you're mistaken." Is all Elizabeth felt safe with saying she feared anymore words might give away her true feelings about everything Robin had to say.
"I don't know about that." Robin says starting to wonder why Elizabeth seemed to have such an interest with Jason and Sam. "Jason has been really attentive to Sam this whole time she was in the hospital. He hardly left her side from what I hear. Epiphany has been complaining that the nurses she assigned had found it hard to work around such an intimidating presence. Why else would that be?"
"Jason takes security very serious." Elizabeth says simply when what she really wanted to do was scream in frustration. Why must Robin keep trying to make Jason's actions mean more than they possibly could? Who was she trying to convince? Jason couldn't possibly care for Sam. He couldn't!
"Perhaps you're right." Robin says shrugging her shoulders, unaware of her friends' tumultuous thoughts. "But I can't help but hope they will…" Her words fading off as someone walks up behind Elizabeth.
Hope what! Elizabeth silently screams when Robin doesn't finish. What could Robin possibly hope for Jason and Sam? Hope they get back together? There's just no way. Robin couldn't possibly have meant that. Could she? "Robin…" Elizabeth starts to say, but a voice from behind her cuts her words off.
"Dr. Scorpio. Nurse Spencer." Epiphany says eyeing the two women. "Perhaps you two could take this little chat some place where people aren't trying to work."
"Sorry Epiphany." Robin says like a child having just been scolded by an authority figure. "Elizabeth and I were just discussing…"
"You two were just gossiping about Ms. McCall and Mr. Morgan." Epiphany says over Robin. "Just like everyone else in this hospital seems to be doing. Just like everyone in town is. Why you all can't go about your lives and leave those two alone…let them sort out their problems in peace…I'll never understand." Grabbing a stack of patient charts and sorting Epiphany shakes her head. "It's no wonder Ms. McCall left town and hadn't returned in two years. She wanted to find some privacy."
"Sam left town because no one wanted her here." Elizabeth had only meant to think the words, not to actually say them. She immediately realized her slip and her eyes widen in horror when both Epiphany and Robin turn to stare at her in shock.
"Elizabeth." Robin says feeling her jaw go slack.
"I meant to say Sam left town because…" Elizabeth struggles to recover from her slip. "She left because…" Sighing she tosses Sam's file back down on the desk in front of her. "What does it matter why Sam left? She's back now and that's all that matters, right?"
"Uh…right." Robin says glancing at Epiphany to see that she too was confused about Elizabeth's comment. "But then why did you say it?" Robin can't help but ask, Elizabeth had just sounded so bitter and hostile. Really not what Robin had expected from her friend.
"I…I don't know." Elizabeth closes her eyes and raises a hand to rub her forehead. "I'm just not really feeling like myself right now." Peaking through one eye she sees that both women are now staring at her with concern. "I think I'm going to go call Grams. Or if it's possible Epiphany could I take my break early and go over there? I'm just worried about the boys."
Epiphany scrutinizes Elizabeth and with a quick, almost invisible motion, nods her head. "Just hurry back." She say gruffly.
"Thank you Epiphany." Elizabeth says turning and fleeing as fast as possibly from the nurses' station, feeling their eyes following her. She knew they had to be wondering what that was about and she would have to watch herself from now on. She didn't want people to start gossiping about her. Not when Lucky and her were finally happy with the boys, not when she had her family. Exiting the hospital and heading straight to her car Elizabeth tries to form a plan, but she doesn't necessarily know what to do. All she really wanted was for things to go back to how they were while Sam had been gone. She had her family with Lucky, but always knew that she could find Jason at his penthouse… living his solitary life because it's who he was. But with Sam back in the picture that didn't seem likely anymore. That woman had a way with Jason and he never seemed to notice he was being reeled in. Elizabeth couldn't just sit by and watch it happen again. She needed to keep Jason from Sam, it was for his own good. She needed to get Sam to go home sooner rather than later. But how?
------
There was a clock somewhere in the background ticking, Sam knew the only reason she could hear it was because her and Jason were sitting in complete silence staring at each other. Both were waiting, for what she wasn't even sure of herself. The first move was going to be the hardest for them. Who took it now depended on who was braver. Sam never liked to be called a coward, but in this instance she couldn't really help herself. Sometime between waiting to be released from the hospital and arriving at Harborview Towers she had come to the conclusion that she was going to take this time in Port Charles and find some much needed closure. That way once she left again she wouldn't be so hesitant about staying in contact with the people she had to leave behind. She could possibly even have regular visits to her mother and sisters and not worry about running into Jason. The problem was where did they start?
"Do you need anything?" Jason asks, finding the need to break the silence. That never had been a problem with Sam before… she had talked enough for the both of them. Now he found it difficult to be the one trying to fill the quiet.
"No, but thank you for offering." Sam says politely, too polite. She knew that she didn't sound like herself and wondered what her problem was. This was her and Jason. The two of them had a pretty messed up history, but if anything that should make this easier. She could be at her worst and it wouldn't shock him. He had already seen it all…the good, the bad, and the completely destructive.
"Are you tired?"
"No." Sam says shaking her head. She had been when she first arrived, but now sitting here with Jason there was a different type of energy in the room that she felt. There was a charge to the air that made her feel very much awake and almost restless.
"Do you want to exercise? I know you turned down Robin's offer of a physical therapy, but I'm sure between the two of us we can come up with an appropriate workout for you. Something that wouldn't overexert your injuries, but helps keep up your strength." Sam had always been a fit person, staying in shape by simple day to day activity, but since the last time he had seen her Sam had put on some muscle. She was toned and obviously worked to stay that way. She looked good. Jason would hate to see it all go away because she was injured.
"Sonny added a gym to this place?" Sam asks surprised, not realizing the direction his thoughts had taken.
"No, but I still have mine across the hall if that interests you." He didn't know how Sam would interpret the offer. It would me being in his penthouse, which she had protested before. He was relieved to see she actually appeared interested.
"Oh…well maybe later." Sam says with actual interest, but unsure how much energy she would actually have at the moment. They both fall into silence again and Sam takes the opportunity to stand up and walk around the penthouse. She not only wanted to get familiar with her surroundings, but she also needed a little space to breathe…to think. "It all looks the same…" Sam's voice fades out as she disappears down the hall. Coming back into view she finds that Jason hadn't moved. "How is that possible that everything is the same?"
"What do you mean?" Jason asks turning in the chair to follow Sam with his eyes as she walks around the living room.
"I don't know." Sam says coming to stand behind the couch. "I guess I just figured with everything that has happened, with how much that's changed, that this place would reflect that some way. But it's almost as if no time has passed at all." Returning to her seat Sam looks over at the door and a small smile forms on her lips. "Part of me keeps expecting Sonny to come waltzing through that door like he used to. Do you remember?" She asks with a brief glance at Jason. "He would find the two of us sitting in these exact same spots waiting for him to return...being all obedient for him."
"I remember." Jason murmurs quietly.
Sighing Sam continues to look at the door. "I was waiting for him to find time for me in his busy schedule and you…well you were just waiting to be free of my presence and constant nagging. God I was so terrible to you then." Sam slowly brings her gaze back to Jason's who still hadn't taken his eyes off of her.
"You weren't so bad." Jason says shrugging his shoulders and smiling to himself. To be honest it wasn't long after Sam had entered his life that he had started to admire her, even started to respect her. She had a chip on her shoulder twice her size and tried hard to prove she didn't need anyone, to prove her strength. Jason had soon gone from wanting to be rid of Sam to wanting to be there for her when she needed help, which turned out to be pretty often.
"Jason I was a bitch." Sam says with a chuckle and shaking her head.
"You had your reasons."
Sam couldn't believe Jason was actually defending her…to herself. It seemed surreal. Needing to break the connection before she got pulled in again Sam looks down at her hands and sees she's still wearing the hospital bracelet. Toying with it she takes another passing glance of the room. "That all just seemed like it was so long ago before. But now… sitting here… it feels like it was just yesterday." With a hesitant glance at Jason she wishes he would look away, or blink…something that diverts his gaze for a second. Something to stop her from feeling that he could see what she was thinking, what she was feeling. "If only it were true."
"You want to go back to when you were still with Sonny?" Jason asks shocked and confused. And if it were possible a little hurt at the thought.
Sam didn't know how it was possible that she could still read Jason so well after all these years, but she could see the confusion battling with the hurt he was feeling and it drove her to explain herself, to ease his pain. Something she didn't think she would ever be concerned with again. "No, not necessarily back to being with Sonny, I never would do that again. But back when things were simple." As the words left her mouth Sam realized what she had just said and bursts into laughter.
Jason had been glad to hear Sam deny wanting to be with Sonny again, but then she had started laughing for no apparent reason and he was confused again. "Are you alright?" He asks leaning forward.
Laughing Sam struggled to gain enough control to get the words out. "I'm fine." Sam assures Jason but she was still laughing. It took her another minute to find her composure. "I just realized that I described our lives back then as simple…" Saying the words makes Sam start to chuckle again. "Can you believe that I can consider that simple?" Sam asks shaking her head and sighing.
"Doesn't really seem possible considering…" Jason shrugs his shoulders not finding it as humorous as Sam their messed up history, but he did give a small smile at the sound of her laughter. He had missed it.
"Considering all the drama we were dealing with then it's hard to believe that things could've ever gotten worse after all of that, but somehow it did…" The humor from before was gone, Sam sobered right up with the realization that without meaning to she had brought up the very topic she had tried to avoid. Biting down on her bottom lip and casting her eyes back down at her medical bracelet Sam could feel Jason's eyes practically burning a hole into her face. He was trying without words or any actual movement on his part to bring her gaze back to his.
"Sam…" Jason says tilting his head to the side and waiting to see how she would respond. She had been the one to open the door for discussion, but he wasn't going to push her out of fear of what might happen if he did.
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath Sam raises her head and stares into Jason's blue eyes and not for the first time gets lost in the blue depths. Spinelli may call him Stonecold and people could talk all they want about how Jason was unfeeling and ruthless, but Sam knew better. And if you wanted the proof his eyes would always give him away. Sam could see there the same pain, confusion, and fear that she was feeling. She gained strength from that. "This isn't going to be easy Jason." Sam says at a whisper. "I can't just…just forget everything from before. Act like things here are normal, when they obviously aren't." She says shaking her head in a jerky motion.
"I'm not asking you to Sam." Jason says with relief, she was talking.
"But you are." Sam says folding her hands together and squeezing tight. "Not with your words, but with your actions. With the way you look at me…just by being there Jason you make me want to forget." Her words started to come out breathless and it was because she felt a heavy weight in her chest. "It's me too. I want…GOD how I want to just be able to act like all is normal. It would make everything so much easier. To be able to be in the same room with you and not be hit with all these emotions…all these feelings…I wish I could do that, but I can't."
"I can't either." Jason says quietly.
Sam had heard Jason and she was silent for a moment before releasing a deep breath. "I wanted to be over it all, I told myself repeatedly that I was over it, and had even started to believe that I actually was." With a snort Sam closes her eyes and rubs her hands over her face. "And all it took was to come back here, to be face to face with you, to realize how unbelievably wrong I was. I'm not over it…you, the betrayal, the pain…I'm not over any of it Jason. I don't know how I could've fooled myself into actually thinking I was, but I did." Sam at that moment wished she had a drink in her hand, something strong and mind numbing to take the edge off. Because she had just opened herself up to Jason and left herself vulnerable. She hadn't meant to, but like always with Jason it just came natural to open up. Pushing herself up off the couch Sam paces away from Jason, but quickly comes back to stand in front of him. "So now here I am…with you." Sam, in a moment of weakness, reaches out and runs a hand through Jason's hair. Watching as his eyes close and a calm expression crosses his face Sam feels it too…the rightness that comes with touching him, being near him. Pulling her hand back and crossing both her arms over her chest she blinks a few times to relieve the sting of unshed tears.
"So what does that mean?" Jason asks with a feeling of unease. Something only Sam had the power to do to him.
With a humorless laugh Sam shakes her head and takes a step back and then another. "I don't know Jason. I never expected to find myself in this predicament. I never expected to be face to face with you again."
"How were you going to manage that Sam? Your family lives in Port Charles, Maxie and Spinelli live in Port Charles, and I live in Port Charles. We were going to have to see each other at some point." Jason says standing up also, he didn't like the disadvantage he was at by her standing and him sitting.
"Not if I never came back." Sam avoids Jason's gaze and takes another step back after he stands.
"If you never…?" With a rush of anger Jason cuts off his words and clenches his fists at his sides. "So you really did plan on running away forever." He finally says after getting control of his anger.
Sam opens her mouth, but no words come out right away and she closes it and tries again. "I didn't really see any other option Jason." She finally says turning away from him.
"There were plenty of options." Jason steps forward and grabs hold of her arm, turning her to face him. "You had other options Sam."
"Like what Jason?" Sam asks pulling her arm from his grasp. "Staying and causing more pain for myself and you and everyone that had to suffer through my company? Sitting on the sidelines and watch you live the life we were supposed to share? Because I didn't like that option! In fact it wasn't really one at the time and it never was going to be. I did what I had to do Jason and you will just have to accept that. To be honest I don't know why you even care. It wasn't like you missed me. You had your hands full at the time if memory serves me right. You probably didn't even notice." She says waving a hand and taking a small step back, but it didn't work, Jason just followed her.
Stepping into her space Jason just stares at Sam for a moment and watches her eyes widen first with annoyance before a spark of awareness takes over. "I noticed Sam. Every day I noticed and I missed you." Jason hadn't planned it and he knew Sam wasn't expecting it since he was moving before he even knew it. But one second he was standing with space between them and the next he is reaching out and pulling Sam up against him as his lips come crashing down on hers. In that instant Jason knew that he couldn't let Sam leave Port Charles. He would have to do anything in his power to stop that from happening again. The next thought to enter his mind that Sam was kissing him back and he didn't second guess the action, but instead pulled her closer.
Sam hadn't seen the kiss coming and her first instinct was to pull away, but once she actually felt Jason's lips on hers she felt herself submitting…even becoming an active participant in the kiss. She had missed this…him…the way he made her feel. He was the only man to make Sam feel so much. And it was just a kiss! Holding back a low moan Sam finally pulls herself away from Jason and raises a shaky hand to her lips while she just stares at him. This time she can see Jason leaning in and the hand she had pressed to her lips she quickly holds out against his chest to stop him from moving forward. "That can't happen again." She says in a low voice, but he's close enough she knows he heard her.
"Sam…" Jason says almost as a groan, but nods his head once.
Much time had passed and both still haven't made a move to separate or create distance between them. If anything they had moved even closer, Sam's forehead almost resting on Jason's chest. She was counting all the ways that was a complete mistake, while Jason was trying to find a way that he would be able to do it again. The sound of the door opening broke both of them out of their thoughts, but neither was fast enough to move apart before Stephen and Spinelli were through the doorway, both arms full of what looked like Maxie's belongings. The four of them all stood frozen staring at each other, Stephen was the first to break the silence. "I told you we should've called first." He whispers out of the side of his mouth to Spinelli.
With a wide smile Spinelli's gaze keeps bouncing between Sam and Jason and what they had interrupted. "Deepest apologies Stonecold and Fair Samantha for the interruption, the Bronzed One and myself were just dropping off Maximista's belongings we'll just get out of your hair." Turning on his heel Spinelli freezes and turns back. "But first, assuming Maximista is not here would either of the Jackal's friends be able to point us in the right direction of where we might find my beloved?"
Sam and Jason were still staring at each other when she answers Spinelli. "Maxie apparently had some emergency at Crimson. She should be back soon."
"Well we'll just leave you two alone, come on Spinelli lets go get us some food." Stephen says blindly reaching for Spinelli's arm and heading towards the door.
Finally dragging her gaze from Jason, Sam steps around him. "You two wait right there!"
"Sam…" Jason says reaching for her, but she steps away from his grasp. "We need to talk about…"
"There's nothing to talk about Jason." Sam says with a quick glance over her shoulder before turning to look back at her two friends. "But I'm hungry too. Why don't you two stay and we can order in." Sam gives them a look that screams leave and you die.
Spinelli and Stephen not wanting to anger Sam both step away from the door. "What do you feel like?" Stephen asks for anyone to answer, already knowing what Sam was probably going to say.
"How about Chinese?" Sam asks her stomach growling. "I used to order from this place just a few blocks down, they had the best egg rolls. What was that place called?" She asks trying to recall the name.
"The Golden Dragon." Jason murmurs stepping up behind her.
"That's right." Sam says feeling Jason behind her even though he wasn't touching her. "They have really great Chinese food there." With goosebumps rising up her arms Sam crosses them over her stomach and casts a brief glance over her shoulder at Jason.
Jason knew that with those two there and Maxie returning he wasn't going to get Sam alone again for the rest of the night. With a sigh and scratching the back of his neck he leans down to whisper in her ear. "This isn't over Sam." Brushing past her he can feel her gaze following him as he leaves the penthouse.
After closing the door Jason stares at it for a second and wonders if he should've stayed, but knows if Sam had wanted him to she would've asked him to. Right? Turning as he hears the elevator door opening Jason cringes at the thought of another confrontation with Maxie. Walking around the corner he is shocked to see Elizabeth stepping off the elevator. "What are you doing here?" He asks causing Elizabeth to jump before turning around to stare at him.
"Jason!" She says a hand clutching at her chest. "You startled me." She says with a shy smile.
"What are you doing here Elizabeth?" Jason asks again walking past her towards his door, pulling out his keys as he went.
Elizabeth was following behind Jason, but paused to look over her shoulder at the other penthouse door. She knew that Sam was staying there because of what Robin had said earlier and she was sure that that's where Jason had just come from. "Were you just with Sam?" She asks instead of answering his question.
Jason stopped outside his door and turns to stare at Elizabeth. He was trying to figure out the reasoning behind her question, but he couldn't come up with a logical one. "Why do you want to know?" He finally asks.
Elizabeth should've known it would be harder to get answers from Jason than it was Robin. He was always so guarded and cautious about everything…especially when it came to Sam. Even after he found out all the terrible things she had done before leaving town, like watching Jake get kidnapped and hiring those men to scare her and the boys in the park. Jason still protected Sam, going as far as to warn Elizabeth if she didn't drop her hunt for the other woman Jason would make her. Just like that he had threatened Elizabeth for Sam, she had gotten him back though by ignoring his calls and avoiding him as much as possible for the next four months. Realizing Jason was still waiting for answer she tries to remember the question. "I was just wondering…Robin mentioned Sam was moving in across the hall. I'm assuming you were over there just getting her all settled in. Right?"
"Right…" Jason nods his head and silently curses Robin and makes a mental note to talk to her later about the meaning of discretion. "So what are you doing here Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth didn't have an answer for him. On the drive over from the hospital she was unable to come up with a viable reason for stopping by that Jason wouldn't see right through. Looking over his shoulder and concentrating hard she starts to feel her eyes well up with tears. Taking a deep breath Elizabeth looks back at Jason as soon as a tear starts it decent down her cheek. "Oh Jason it's about Jake." She says stepping rushing forward before he can stop her and twining her arms around his neck. "He's sick and I'm afraid it's going to be like before…" with her head now pressed against his shoulder her words were muffled and she held on as tight as possible, knowing Jason would be hesitant to use actual physical force to remove her.
Jason wanted to groan and tried hard to remove himself from Elizabeth's grasp, but she was stronger than she looked and he didn't want to hurt her. "Elizabeth…" Jason's words freeze in his throat as he looks up across the hall in time to see a flash of brown hair and then the sound of a door closing. "Sam!" He calls out, but already knowing it was probably too late.
------
Sam watched Jason go and had to fight the instinct to call him back. If he wanted to stay he would've or at least been more hesitant to leave. Right? Turning back to stare at Stephen and Spinelli she can see their obvious disapproval. "What?" She asks sitting down on the couch. "Are one of you going to call the restaurant? Or should I?"
"You could've invited him to stay Sam." Stephen says coming to sit down next to her. "The man has to eat too."
"If Jason had wanted to stay he would've, he knows he doesn't need an invite." Sam says shrugging her shoulders, trying to not let it show how much Stephen's words affected her.
"Are you sure about that?" Stephen asks skeptically.
"The Bronzed One has a point. Stonecold is trying very hard to respect the Goddess' wishes and give her the space he assumes she desires. It will be up to you to let him know differently."
Sam wanted to tell both of them to mind their own business, but she knew they meant well. And she knew they had a point. With one hand Sam brushes her bangs behind her ear and brings it down to rest on her lips, without even trying the memory of that kiss comes to mind and she closes her eyes and can see it in her mind. With a sigh she stands up off the couch and heads towards the door. "Call Maxie and find out what she's doing, because I'm almost positive there's no Crimson emergency. Tell her to get back here and we can have a dysfunctional little meal together…with any luck there'll be little to no bloodshed."
Sam was out the door before either man could say another word. Hearing a female voice she turns the corner in time to see Elizabeth wrapping her arms tight around Jason and burying her head into his neck. She stood frozen for only a second in that spot before the realization of what she was seeing came to her. In the next second she was turning quickly on her heel and rushing towards the door, throwing it open and closing it quickly behind her. She thought she heard Jason call her name, but Sam didn't want to stick around to find out. She had seen enough. "Looks like Jason is a little busy at the moment." Sam says, her throat closing up. "Any word from Maxie?" She is able to squeeze out still not looking up from the floor, knowing if she did they would see the tears in her eyes.
"Sam?" Stephen asks standing up and stepping towards her. "Are you alright?"
Raising her gaze Sam stares at Stephen until she starts seeing two blurring outlines of him, through her tears she watches as he comes closer. She opens her mouth to speak again, but before she makes a noise her stomach retches in protest and she hunches over in the middle of the living room. Before she can blink there's a wastebasket set in place and she feels a warm hand at her back. Sinking to the floor Sam just closes her eyes and shakes her head.
"Spinelli tell Maxie to hurry." Stephen calls over his shoulder before crouching down next to Sam.
Ok so I'm sure I'm probably one of the most hated people right now, but I promise there is a method to my madness. If you all just hang in there you'll see that I'm not just a cruel person and I truly am a HUGE JaSam fan…I swear! So hang in there! Can't wait to hear what you all have to say!