A/N: So I actually had a completely different chapter written but after watching Nickolas' behavior on Friday I trash it and the next chapter I had almost finished. Argh….I can't stand it when the muse hits sometimes. Anyhow I hope you all like where I am going with this. Please let me know what you think.

RED – Jason And Samantha

Inspirational Song: Fight Inside - RED

It was as if the whole universe had agreed to work against him at every given feasible moment. It had started the night of the Gala when Sam had walked in to see him and Elizabeth standing close as if they'd had gone to the event there together. Then he'd literal run into her cousin Nickolas while trying to take a breather on the terrace and ended up checked in at the lovely P.C.P.D until late Christmas Eve afternoon. After that his brilliant plan to drop of the presents at Elizabeth's for the boys first so that he could spend the rest of Christmas with Danny and Sam had completely gone to crap; when Jake had convinced him to accompany Elizabeth and his bothers to go see Santa in the park. Honestly, with the way things had been going the past couple of months he shouldn't have been surprised that Sam with a wriggling Danny in her lap was the first person he locked eyes with as soon as they'd entered the park.

She had been extremely polite with a plastic-like fake smile plastered on her face when she'd walked up to him after their son had made a dash for him and jumped with no hesitation into his waiting arms. The only thing that was able to draw his attention away from the hurt showing in her dim eyes was the little star hanging around her neck. The flicker of him placing that piece of jewelry around her delicate neck and the emotions that filled him because of the kiss that followed hit him hard and fast leaving him speechless, as Danny squirmed from his arms to give his big brother Jake a hug, and his eyes zeroed in again on the star Sam was now fingering nervously. Before he realized what was happening Jake was tugging at his hand saying to hurry because they were next in line and Sam had excused herself and Danny saying they had plans with her parents walking quickly away leaving him in a daze as he watched his wife and sons' figures disappear from his sight.

Thurs went the pattern for the better part of the last couple of weeks after he'd been astonished when he noticed Sam at The Floating Rib on New Years Eve night. The pool games they'd played was the most fun he's had since he learned his true name, it was nice how easy things were between them. He had been so close for a second, if he had just lowered his head a little he would have gotten to taste her again…but he didn't. Nope, instead he found himself struggling to sleep on the small couch at Elizabeth's, just as he was again tonight. He hadn't even gotten a chance to speak with her about the memory of baby Lila or the necklace. Every moment it seemed as if he was finally connecting with Sam on more than a friendly level, he would get a call saying his oldest son was in need of him.

Tonight though, tonight had been the kicker. Sam had come across a set of keys while he was helping her and Danny carry their things up from the storage room. The keys had been to a cottage he had built for them she'd said. Enthusiasm lite her face after her sister Krissy walked through the door only seconds later. Jason would never forget the way her mystique smile looked as she grabbed his jacket and tossed it to him before grabbing her own.

"Krissy you wouldn't mind watching Danny for a bit would you? I have to show Jason something." She was practically beaming with excitement as snatched the keys to her SUV off the desk.

"Show him what?" Krissy giggled as she threw her coat over the back of the chair in the living room.

"His new place of residents of course." Sam said laughingly as she had taken a hold of Jason risk and practically dragged him out of the door.

They hadn't made it out of the city before his phone had gone off beckoning his attention and presents. With a sigh Jason sat up and ran a hand through his hair, he could just not relax; it was almost as if his whole body was screaming at him that something was wrong. Just then he eyes shot to his phone on the table in front of him as it began to vibrate. Glancing quickly as the picture showing he noticed it was 4:48am before he answered just as the phone started to vibrate again.

"Morgan." Jason answered not knowing the number that had flashed across the screen.

"Ah, Jason I was worried for a moment that I wouldn't be able to reach you at such an early hour. Still I figured it was only proper for me to give you one last chance to change your position about signing over your shares of ELQ."

Jason scrubbed his face with his free hand and pushed to his feet feeling his blood inside beginning to boil. "I've already given you my answer Nickolas. You and I both know that I am going to be acquitted of all charges in court later today; you have nothing to threaten me with anymore. It's over. You've lost."

"Well you can't say I didn't try. However, it's come time for you to truly understand what the name Cassadine means. Remember you have no one to blame but yourself for what happens next." Nickolas ended the call as soon as he'd finished speaking. Just as quickly he pressed a few links on his phone and placed it back to his ear.

"Smith."

"What's their positions?" Nickolas questioned as he tapped the end of his pen on his desktop next to his computer.

"Morgan is at Ms. Webber's checking the perimeter now Rogers will make sure to keep his attention; his wife is at her penthouse currently asleep."

"And Danny?" Sure what he was putting into motion was certain to cause Danny and the rest of their family pain but he did not want him to get physically hurt. If they ever found out his part in this…. Nickolas stopped and brought his focus back to the matter at hand. This had to be done, it was the only way.

"He went with Kristina so that he could stay the night with your Aunt."

"Good. Sam is going to put up a fight I would hate for Danny to get caught in the cross fire." Jason had been the one to pull Emily into this war; it was only fair that Nickolas retaliate in kind.

"Are we good to go then, sir?"

Nickolas looked to his left and his eyes settled on the family photo taken the day before Spencer had gotten burned at his party. Alexis had left arm around Molli who was standing next to Kristina, her other hand was on Sam's shoulder. Sam had arms around Spencer and Danny as they were making silly faces, she was openly laughing at the boys as she rested her head against Nickolas shoulder who had been sitting next to her also chuckling at the youngsters antics. The only part of this plan that gave him pause was that Sam was family. She had been there for him and Spencer whenever they'd needed her, and regardless of what others believed he did in fact love his cousin.

"Mr. Cassadine do we have a go?"

"Yes, make it as quick as possible. The messier the better we don't want anyone to question what the motive was here. Just make sure that nothing can be connected to me, you got it?"

"Affirmative."

"Forgive me cousin you may not understand this but I am doing this because I love you. Jason doesn't deserve you…he never did." Nickolas said to the brunette in the picture that had come to mean more to him than he'd ever realized. She had been just at loyal to him as she had been husband and that loyalty was once again the reason she was going to have to pay the price in Jason's place.