13.
He awoke once again with a smile on his face, loving the feel of the warmth and weight of Sam curled into his side. He was amazed by the way a woman so small could make him feel so great. He felt like a lovestruck fool from one of those sappy chick flicks Robin had made him sit through years ago and, thinking back to some of the things he'd confessed to Sam last night, he had acted like one too. For some reason though, he didn't seem to care. Confessing how he wanted her and knowing she returned those feelings had opened some kind of flood gates.
He couldn't stop telling her everything that was in his heart, even if those things were far too soon to talk about. He'd told her he wanted her for his wife and mother of his children and he did, but he hadn't even asked her out on a first date yet. He looked down at the sleeping beauty by his side and smiled again as he gently brushed her hair from her face.
Some might say what he'd told Sam was premature, especially considering he was still engaged to another woman, but it hadn't seemed to scare her away. And for that, he was extremely thankful. Then again he'd been slowly falling in love with her since the day they met two years ago, so it was only natural to feel that way and want those things with her. Maybe Sam wasn't scared because it had been the same for her. He breathed a contented sigh and caressed the bare arm she'd wrapped around his waist as she slept. She was so beautiful.
"Are you watching me sleep again?" Sam mumbled into his side with teasing accusation.
His breathing hitched as she spoke, her husky voice still thick with sleep. Busted, he said to himself. He tilted his head to see her face better. She hadn't even opened her eyes yet. He couldn't help grin and chuckle silently at being caught. She'd caught him watching her in the middle of the night too and it had instigated another passionate round of lovemaking.
She'd woken up with him staring down at her and had asked if he ever intended on getting any sleep. He'd told her he was afraid to sleep because being there with her felt like a dream. It was at that point she'd looked up at him with a devilish grin, wrapped her hand around him and said, "I don't know? This feels pretty real to me," as she stroked him beneath the sheets and their mouths connected in the wettest of kisses.
Sam barely heard him chuckling, but she felt the familiar rumbling of his chest against her cheek and had to smile and shake her head. His laughter was his admission of guilt. "I can't believe you."
She really couldn't comprehend why anyone would care to watch her sleep. His hand moved to caress her back and she felt him kiss the top of her head. She nuzzled her nose against the smooth skin of his well-defined pectoral.
"Did you get any sleep at all?" She wondered, placing a tender kiss where she'd just nuzzled.
"Enough."
She moved her arm under her chin on his chest to look up at him. "I hope so. It's going to be a busy day."
She pushed up to meet his lips as he leaned down to kiss her softly, then hopped up suddenly, stealing all the covers. "Up and at em! We need to be dressed before the kids wake up."
He frowned then gave her a crooked little smile, grabbing her arm to pull her back down on him. She did her best to object through a fit of giggles as he tickled her.
"No. No!" She laughed. "Jason stop!" She begged, catching her breath when he finally relented.
"We've got time." He told her in a low sexy voice and she knew what that darkened look in his eyes meant.
"Nope." She smiled up at him, his face only inches from hers. "No time. We have to get showers, get dressed, make breakfast and I have to get the boat going if we're gonna get there on time." She insisted.
He held her in his arms and kissed her neck. Tickling touches slowed and softened to seductive caresses as her pulse began to race.
"We can save some time by showering together." He suggested as he nibbled on her ear and teased it with his tongue.
Sam bit her lip and sighed, enjoying the moment, but managed to somehow hold firm. She'd planned a day she really hoped the kids would love, but she knew if she let Jason talk her into that shower they would never make it out of her bedroom.
"Hm." She considered in a playful lilt. "Tempting, but no."
She patted him consolingly on his cheek a couple times before lifting her head up to give him a quick peck on the lips then maneuvering out of his hold.
Jason groaned at the loss of contact as his arms went limp, allowing her to pull away. He didn't like it, but he knew she was right to refuse. The kids were looking forward to Sam's surprise and if he'd had his way he and Sam would have never left her bedroom and that wasn't the kind of surprise either of them wanted to give Michael or Krissy.
Sam collected his jeans, socks and boots as Jason stood from her bed. She rose up on her tip toes giving him a lingering kiss as she pressed the pile against his chest and he took hold of them.
Jason stood there in his black boxer briefs about to open her door when Sam called out. "Oh Jason?"
He turned to her slightly with his hand still on the door.
"You forgot your shirt." She grinned as she stripped it from her tight naked body and tossed it at him revealing her luscious breasts and everything else he'd had his mouth and hands all over only hours ago.
"You're gonna pay for that." He growled as a throbbing desire jolted to his groin.
"Looking forward to it." Sam chuckled and sauntered her naked self right into her bathroom and closed the door.
Jason took a few calming breaths, listened carefully for any signs of life outside the door, then peaked to see the coast was clear and made way to his room.
xxxxx
After separate showers, a cold one for Jason, they dressed and met up again in the galley. The sun was still sleeping as Jason poured a fresh cup of coffee for them both and Sam walked in wearing faded jeans and a snug fitting long sleeved green top with a scooped neck. It had taken her a little longer to get ready because she'd dried her hair. She almost put it up, but then she thought of how Jason hadn't been able to stop running his hands through it since last night and decided to leave it down. She loved the way it felt when he did that. It made her feel loved.
She smiled as she accepted the cup he offered. He remembered how she liked her coffee. "Thanks." She told him before taking a sip.
It was good. She was convinced he made the best coffee she'd ever had which shouldn't be surprising since he was part owner of a widely successful coffee import business, even if it was only a front. The man was good at everything she'd ever seen him do. Granted, communication was not his strong point, but he'd done pretty great last night. She smiled to herself remembering the sweet things he'd said to her and felt like she was floating on a cloud she was so happy.
She thought about how he'd handled the news about Elizabeth's affair and frowned when another thought occurred. She wondered if his initial reaction was how he still felt, or if that had just been the shock?
"Jason, are we, are we still okay?" She wasn't sure how else to ask him. She wasn't sure he wanted to talk about Elizabeth.
Jason frowned, perplexed. It took him a minute to see she was afraid he might have changed his mind about Elizabeth, though how she could think he wanted anything to do with that woman now he had no idea.
He sat his coffee on the counter and hers too then pulled her to him as he wrapped his arms around her and looked down at her as he spoke.
"Better than okay. You're the only one for me Sam. I knew it before, but knowing what I know now only reinforced I made the right choice. You are the right choice, the perfect choice, for me." He told her and then kissed her in a way that left Sam with no doubt of how he felt.
"You're the perfect choice for me too." She murmured softly against his lips then leaned her head against his chest.
"I know we need to talk about Elizabeth and the case, but I just want to focus on us right now. I want us to enjoy our time together with the kids." He told her and she nodded.
"We can talk after we drop them off." She suggested.
"Sounds good." He agreed.
She pulled away reluctantly and grabbed her coffee cup. "I better get topside and get us in gear."
"Need some help?" He offered, picking up his own hot cup.
"Sure, I'd love the company too." She smiled and held out her hand.
A faint smile found him as he took her hand and interlaced his fingers with hers. They walked hand in hand over to the stairs and he followed her up. Sam sat in the captain's chair and Jason sat to her left watching as she checked her course and heading. He untied the lines and they cruised out of the marina enjoying the coffee and each others company as the sun greeted them good morning.
xxxxx
An hour into their destination, Sam told him they would arrive in another half hour. Jason decided to go below to start breakfast and get the kids up and ready. Michael woke up excited and full of energy. Jason was surprised, but relieved to see his nightmare forgotten, at least for the moment. Kristina wasn't quite so bright eyed and bushy tailed.
She sat quietly on her bed with a little frown face so Jason let her be. Sam had laid out Krissy's outfit at the end of her bed earlier when she'd checked on the kids after her shower. Jason told Krissy if she needed any help to just come find him in the kitchen. She nodded sleepily, but still didn't speak. He had to chuckle at how much she reminded him of Sam. Sam was not a morning person and although she had the ability to wake early when necessary, he'd learned last spring it was safer not to engage her in conversation before her first cup of coffee.
Michael took a shower instead of a bath. He'd slept in later than he wanted and was in a hurry to finish his chores. He wanted to sit with Sam again in the wheelhouse to learn more about being a captain. Sam offered to give him a pass on the chores, but Michael wouldn't hear of it. He was determined to be the best bosun Sam had ever seen.
Jason caught movement to his right while flipping the flapjacks and looked to find a half dressed three year old. Sam had just stepped down below to check on Krissy when she saw her enter the kitchen. She decided to peek her head around and see how Jason would handle the situation. Krissy stood before him in her clean little pink and purple Disney Princess underpants and an orange long sleeved top with an unbuttoned peter pan collar and ruffled cuffs.
She stood by wordlessly holding up the remaining pieces of her outfit to him. Jason looked down at her scratching the back of his neck with a raised brow. He had no experience dressing little girls and was feeling more than a little out of his element. His mouth twisted to the side in contemplation then he sighed.
"Can't be much different from dressing Michael or Morgan, can it?" He said to the little girl whose only answer was a simple shrug.
He placed her hair over her shoulder for her to hold and the first thing he noticed was the buttons were too little for a man's hands. Sam smiled as she watched his brows furrow in concentration on the tiny buttons.
"There." He told her as he smoothed her long chestnut hair back down in place. Sam grinned and tried not to laugh. He sounded very proud of his accomplishment.
Jason then helped pull her little blue denim dress with the jewel neckline and wavy coral and orange ric rac trim over her head and through her arms with relative ease. He pulled her hair from under it and Sam's smile softened at the extreme care he took not to pull Krissy's hair too hard.
The orange and coral thick striped winter tights gave him pause. Krissy handed them to him and he just stared at them then at her. Sam bit her lip to keep from laughing at the hesitation on his face.
She watched him struggle for several minutes before finally getting them mostly pulled up into place and had to duck back around the corner to contain the laughter dying to erupt over the amount of effort it took him. Krissy seemed to understand he was a rookie and helped him as best she could.
Finally, he helped her into the little cream knit sweater with matching orange and coral trim and Sam peeked back around just as he said, "All done."
When Krissy then handed him her brush and hair tie, Sam just couldn't hold it in any longer. Jason's horrified face was priceless.
He heard Sam's laughter and narrowed his eyes at her as she rounded the corner into the kitchen. He tried not to smile, but could feel the corners of his mouth betray him.
She walked in accepting the brush and hair tie from Krissy. "Here sweetie, let me."
Her smile emanated from her eyes like she was lit up from the inside. She was so happy and Jason couldn't help giving her a little smirk-smile. Sam's smile was one of his favorite things and he loved seeing it, even at his expense.
Sam braided the sides of Kristina's long locks down the center of her back allowing the rest to remain free.
"I'm going back up. Michael's using my phone to call Carly and then I plan to call Alexis for Kristina." Sam told him.
He nodded as he plated the first two pancakes. "I'll come up for Krissy when it's time to ring the dinner bell."
Kristina smiled. "Thanks Jason."
"You're welcome." He told her as she bounded toward the stairs to put on her life vest before going up.
He gave Sam a longing look and she smiled at him then bit her lip as she watched him turn and bend over to check the oven.
No ass had a right to be that fine, she told herself then turned to help Krissy fasten her vest.
About ten minutes later, Michael and Krissy entered the kitchen just as Jason was about to go get them. The fact Sam sent them down was his first clue something was wrong, but it was the concerned looks on both their little faces that had him worried. "What's the matter?"
"Sam asked us to see if you needed any help. I, I think she needed a minute." Michael said uncertain.
Jason frowned. "Is something wrong?"
"We talked to mommy. Sam's sad." Krissy sighed.
Jason remembered the last few conversations he'd overheard when Sam spoke with Alexis. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he'd seen her upset by those calls as well.
Jason smiled to reassure the kids. "Michael, I've set the dishes out on the counter. Would you mind helping Krissy set the table? I'm going to let Sam know breakfast is ready."
"Sure uncle Jase." Michael nodded and began handing Krissy the place-mats as Jason headed up.
"Sam?" Jason wasn't at all comforted to find her the way he did.
She stood at the controls facing forward so he could only see a portion of her profile, but her head was down and her hands were covering her eyes. He thought he saw her shoulders shake and when he noticed her lip tremble he knew she was quietly crying.
"Sam." He approached her slowly and when she felt his hand on her back she turned into him and buried her face in his chest and held him tight while she cried.
He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. He was so worried for her. He remembered Krissy's comment the day before about Alexis being sick.
"It's Alexis. It, it's bad." He said in more of a statement than question and Sam just nodded her head up and down and he felt a silent sob shake her upper frame.
He didn't press further. He just stood there holding her. He ran his hand over her back just wanting to comfort her any way he could. Sam was grateful Jason hadn't bombarded her with questions. She wasn't sure she could have handled that at the moment. There was nothing new, nothing worse had happened. It was just hearing the frailty in her mother's voice again, the vulnerability she tried to hide from her daughters, that had affected Sam so much. Maybe it just hadn't really hit her until now that her mother was going into a surgery tomorrow she may never wake up from. She wasn't sure, she only knew she'd felt overwhelmed so she sent the kids down to allow herself just one moment, a moment to let it out.
She didn't want anyone to see her cry. It made her feel vulnerable and she felt bad for letting him find her that way. He had enough to handle with Michael's nightmare and Elizabeth's baby. She didn't want to lay her family troubles on him too, but when she felt his hand on her back she couldn't stop herself from turning into his embrace. She felt so safe and loved in his arms, like nothing could hurt her there, and she just wanted the hurt to go away. She wanted Jason to help her make the hurt go away, even though she knew he couldn't, not really. The only thing that would make the pain disappear was if her mother made it out of the fight alive and well.
Sam took a deep breath. Like it, or not, Jason had found her that way and she didn't want to keep him guessing. She could see the worry in his eyes yesterday when Krissy mentioned their mother being sick. "She has lung cancer. The doctors say she, she might not make it."
"Sam, I'm so sorry." He held her even tighter if that was possible and rested his cheek and lips to her temple.
Sam took another shaky breath and pulled back a little to wipe her eyes with her fingers. "She just told us last Thursday. Nik and I were with her during her last chemo session Friday. Chemotherapy shrunk the tumor and her doctors say that decreases the risks of the procedure, but the odds aren't great."
Jason shook his head. "Doesn't matter."
Sam was confused. "What, what do you mean it doesn't matter?"
"It doesn't matter how high those odds are against Alexis, she's going to pull through this just fine. She and I don't get along, but if there's one thing I know about Alexis Davis it's that she doesn't know how to lose. She has too much to fight for to end up somebody's statistic. I should know. Last year it was me and I had way too much to fight for to just give up." His voice was confident and sincere and Sam wanted very much to believe what he told her, but...
"But you didn't even remember your family or friends. How did you even know what you'd be giving up?" She really didn't understand.
"I remembered you and you stood by me. You were my reason, Sam. As our friendship grew, I realized I wanted a future with you. Our future was worth fighting for. You are worth fighting for and I was afraid to leave you. I know you had your family, but it wasn't the same. You shared with me how you still felt like you didn't fit in with them. You still felt isolated, except for with me and I just couldn't leave you alone like that. Your friendship and love... it saved me and your love will save Alexis too. She'll fight for you and Kristina and Molly and she'll win." He held her cheek in his hand and looked at her with true sincerity clear in his eyes as he wiped her tears with his thumb.
Sam was too emotional to speak. She'd had no idea she was the reason Jason decided to have the surgery that saved his life. The admission shocked her, but it also filled her with so much more love for him than she'd ever known. Jason was right. Alexis was nothing if not a survivor. She didn't know how to lose. Sam told herself to hold onto his words, to believe in them and have faith. The tears continued to fall, but slowed as she repeated his words over and over in her head. They were comforting because of the truth in his words. He believed in them with all his heart and she would too. She would believe in them and her mother would be fine. "Thank you."
He looked at her. Now he was confused. "For what?"
"For knowing just what to say, knowing what I needed." Sam tried to smile, but more tears fell too.
"I just told you the truth, Sam. I really believe it." He told her.
"I know." She nodded. "And that's why it gives me hope. You give me hope."
He looked into her sad brown eyes and pressed a tender kiss to her lips. Sam pulled back with a sigh as she laid her head back against his chest. Jason ran his fingers through her hair as he held her and she felt loved, so very loved.
They stayed that way for a long moment and once Sam felt more sure of herself, she turned to cut the engines and drop anchor so they could join the kids below and have breakfast before it got cold.
It wasn't easy, but by the last bite of fresh blueberry pancakes Sam was well on her way to locking her fears away in a little box so she could concentrate on the kids. Her mom was counting on her to keep Krissy's mind off of the sad stuff and she wouldn't let her down.
Sam had planned a fun, but also educational second day of events. They first went to Marblehead Lighthouse located at a state park in Marblehead, Ohio. The lighthouse was normally closed to guided tours that time of year, but Sam happened to know the keeper who was also married to the curator of the maritime museum located on site so she arranged for a private tour for the four of them. Michael seemed fascinated by learning things such as how it was the oldest continually operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes, having been in use since 1822, whereas Krissy just seemed more impressed that the lighthouse reminded her of Rapunzel's tower. Again, she made Jason carry her up the steps. It seemed Krissy had a slight fear of heights, but it also seemed to disappear in Jason's arms. Sam smiled at that thought because her fears seemed to disappear in his arms too.
They took more pictures and the keeper had an incredible gift for storytelling. They were starting to wonder if they'd ever get out of there the way Michael kept pleading the old man for just one more tale of shipwreck or near misses. The next stop was the museum where they experienced the history of the Great Lakes through interactive and hands-on exhibits, ship models, maritime art and an authentic 1910 steamship pilot house. They explored steam engines, shipwrecks, original timbers from the ship Niagara and models of Great Lakes vessels. The kids seemed to enjoy the interactive exhibits most and Sam was relieved, but not surprised, to see Jason just as involved with the kids there as he had been with them at the water park. By the time they hit the nautical gift shop, it was time for lunch.
Sam had Michael and Kristina pick out a photo album from the gift shop. She picked one out too. Michael chose one in navy blue with a photograph of the Marblehead Lighthouse on the cover. Krissy chose one that was covered in a white fabric with an old black and white photo of ladies at tea aboard a steamship on the cover. Sam chose one in black leather with the word Ohio imprinted below a cutout to insert her own photograph on the cover. She had the perfect picture of the four of them all picked out in her head.
The Lighthouse keeper was an old friend of Sam's from her days of piloting cargo in between marine salvage jobs. She'd made the trip from the gulf of Texas up to Canada plenty of times and had met him years back when she'd docked just to tour the beautiful lighthouse. Old man Levi was a charmer and his wife was a sweetheart. They'd kind of adopted each other and Sam would stop in to visit them whenever she passed. Levi had picked them up from the dock in his truck and then let them have use of it for the rest of the day. He'd insisted she just leave it parked near the dock with the keys locked inside when they left and he'd have his wife take him to pick it up later. He was a sweet old man.
They found several restaurants on the waterfront and finally decided on one that offered the fresh catches of the day as well as steaks and burgers. Sam dropped the film off at a one hour developing center nearby and then the four enjoyed a nice lunch together at an indoor table overlooking the water.
"So, Jason, I hear someone is having a birthday in a few days." Sam bit her cheek to hide the smile as she saw Kristina's interest perk up across the table.
Jason immediately caught on. "Really? I wonder if they'll be having a party?"
Michael chuckled when he saw his little sister nodding excitedly at his uncles comment. He had his work cut out for him teaching her, he thought, because she was clueless they were teasing her.
"Hm." Sam continued. "I don't know if there will be a party, or not. I mean, I guess I could plan one if I knew what kind of party to plan?"
Jason nodded in mock contemplation. "I love motorcycles. Maybe you should have a motorcycle party."
Kristina scrunched her little face.
"That might be good." Sam agreed.
"I don't think that would be good." Krissy whispered shyly.
Sam smiled at her sister who was looking adorably bashful. "What was that Krissy?"
"It's my birthday next Sunday." She admitted a little louder.
Sam feigned surprise. "So you're the birthday girl?"
Kristina nodded with a little more excitement seeing Sam's reaction.
"Well thank goodness you're here. Now we can find out just what kind of party to have." Sam told her then gave Michael a wink as he chuckled again.
Krissy wiggled onto her knees in the booth. "I know just what kind!"
"What kind?" Michael chirped in.
"Pirate Princess!" She told him as her eyes went wide.
"Huh." He said. "That's not half bad. I like the pirate part."
Jason chuckled at his nephew.
"It's gonna be fun. I'm gonna have a real pirate princess at my party too." Krissy assured her brother.
Michael was skeptical. "A real pirate princess? Where are you gonna find one of those?"
Krissy looked straight at Sam... and pointed.
Michael's brows rose in question, almost as if impressed. Jason covered his mouth to hide the grin and Sam just laughed and shook her head. "Kristina, I may have been a pirate once upon a time, but I'm no princess."
"If cousin Nikolas can be a prince that makes you a princess. Me and Molly too." Krissy informed her sister.
Sam wasn't sure how the whole family lineage and royal titles worked, but she was fairly certain she wasn't a princess. "I don't think that's how it works Krissy."
Jason saw Kristina's smile falter and he didn't like it. "Well, Sam, technically you are a blood relative to the Cassadines and that does make you Russian royalty."
He smiled back at Kristina when she turned in her seat next to him and beamed up at him like he'd just given her a double scoop of ice cream.
Sam was stumped. She'd never really thought about it before. "Alright then, I guess we have a pirate princess party to plan then don't we?"
Krissy nodded and they began discussing the details.
"So who should we invite to this pirate princess party?" Sam inquired as she cut into her first bite of fresh lemon buttered bass fillet.
Kristina rattled off her list as if she'd memorized it. "Mommy, Sam, Molly and daddy Ric, Michael, Morgan, daddy and MyCarly." Sam smiled at the nickname she'd given Carly, because there was no way Alexis would allow her to call her mommy Carly and Sam had to shake her head at her mother and her double standards. "Grandpa Mike, Nikolas, Emily, Viola and Teresa, Madison and Allie from school and Kayla and Kyle from gymnastics.
Sam was typing it all furiously into her phone. "Kayla and Kyle are the twins, right?"
Krissy nodded.
"Well, at least there will be one boy there besides me and Morgan." Michael sighed.
Sam grinned and looked to Krissy. "Maybe we should ask Viola if she would like to bring her nephew?"
Krissy nodded. "I like Bastian."
"Cool, now it's even." Michael nodded.
The remainder of lunch was filled with decisions about the cake and decorations and location for the party. Michael had also asked Krissy what she wanted for her birthday. By the time they finished lunch, the pictures were ready. It was a little after 1pm by the time they made it back on board and Krissy looked ready for a nap. Sam laid Krissy down and covered her up with a kiss on the cheek. Jason and Michael helped untie the lines and then they were off and headed for home.
Sam was down below, planning one last surprise for the kids while Michael watched a movie in Jason's room. Jason was in the wheelhouse keeping an eye out. He decided to check in on things back home, so he pulled out his phone.
"This is Stan. You know what to do. Catch you later." The voice mail beeped and Jason shook his head at Stan's best smooth talking Billie Dee Williams impersonation and began leaving his message.
"Call me." But then another beep sounded. It was an incoming call.
Jason switched over. "Morgan."
"What's up?" Jason pulled his phone away and looked at it. How the hell had he been so quick?
"Hey man. Any news on the latest?" Jason eyed the stairs to make sure he was alone.
Stan knew he meant the latest possible threat. "His first day with PCPD is tomorrow. I'm working on a list of recruits. So far we've got detective Lucky Spencer and a new guy, detective Cruz Rodriguez. He transferred a few months ago from NYPD." Stan informed him.
"Run a thorough check on the new guy." Jason told him. He was fairly certain Lucky had no prior connection.
"You think he and Barrett share history?" Stan had wondered the same which was why he was already running the background check.
"I don't know. As far as cops go, Cruz is pretty decent. He doesn't smell like fed to me, but something just doesn't sit right." Jason paced the small room.
"What do you mean?" Stan had the same feeling about Cooper Barrett, but wondered what Jason thought. He'd worked with Jason and Sonny for a couple years now and Jason's instincts were more reliable than the weatherman.
Jason eyed the stairs again. He knew Sam wouldn't like him investigating her friend, but he just didn't trust the guy. "Why would a man with his background and skill have Port Charles on his radar unless it had something to do with the business?" Or Sam he added silently.
"Consider it done." Stan agreed as he typed away at his computer.
"Any visitors?" Jason said.
"Just one. Description puts him as a white male late teens/early twenties. Brown eyes and shaggy brown hair. Always carries a laptop with him." Stan was able to fill him in based on information the guards obtained the last two days while stationed at Jason's door.
The guards logged all arrivals, departures and visitor descriptions in their smart phones then e-mailed that log to Stan on the hour so he could maintain the master log to track patterns and research visitors.
"You ID him yet?" Jason stood with his hand on his waist.
"Working on it." Stan had one of the guards covertly snap a photo of the computer kid the last time he left the penthouse.
"Good. If he's carrying a computer around everywhere, he may be the one who helped Barrett cover his tracks. Let me know as soon as you have anything." Jason told him.
The last thing he heard was Stan say he was on it as he snapped his phone shut and sighed deep.
He didn't like it. He just didn't like a man like Barrett practically camped out in his front yard and now he had people glued to their laptops coming and going. Of course, it could all be innocent. Cooper could be on the up and up, but Jason's gut was telling him different. Jason couldn't honestly say if jealousy were playing a part, or not. He just felt the need to keep an eye on him until he knew one way or another the guy was no threat to Sam, or the business.
Sam had just finished gathering and placing all the items she would need for the little surprise she planned when her phone rang.
Sam saw a familiar name pop up. "Hey Spin. What's up? Any new info on our guy?"
"Gracious greetings. Nada. The plates at the hotel were a dead end. Her phone records show a highly unusual number of calls and texts to one particular number, but it's a prepaid phone and virtually untraceable. I'm working on a way around it now." Spin informed her.
Sam looked to see that she was alone. "I want you to correlate the dates and times of calls against Ric Lansing's schedule. I know he keeps it synced on his phone. Obtain all of his phone logs too." She really didn't want to get into that conversation with Spin, but she needed to start investigating Ric as her primary lead. Sam refused to investigate Nik as a suspect until she talked with him first. If she felt like Nik wasn't being truthful, well, she'd cross that bridge if she came to it.
"Pardon Goddess, but do my ears deceive or did you just name your step-father as a possible suspect?" Spinelli was shocked.
Sam sighed. "Ric has a suite on the 14th floor. I need you to go back over that guest list and find out why his name didn't show and what room he's in. Maybe it's registered under the city's name or maybe an assistant's name. Check the list against all employees at the district attorney's office. Maybe this assistant has some dirt we can dig up."
"As you wish Goddess. My sincerest apologies if your hunch is proven correct." Sam rarely mentioned Ric, but when she did Spinelli always got the feeling Sam never cared for him. Spin trusted Sam though, she wouldn't allow emotion to blind her to the truth when it came to the job.
"Thanks. Is there anything else I should know?" Sam wasn't sure if she wanted Ric to be guilty, or not? She didn't want her mother hurt, but she didn't like having a pervert in the family either.
"I think that just about covers it." Spin looked over at his friend as he spoke.
"Okay, well just give me a call as soon as you know anything." Sam sighed.
"Most certainly. Pray tell, when might we next be blessed with the Goddess' presence?" Spin held his breath for the answer.
"We're on our way back now. We should reach port this evening. I won't be in tomorrow, but I'll call." Sam wasn't in the mood to explain she wouldn't be at work because she'd be in the hospital waiting for word on her mother's surgery.
"No worries. Safe travels. Talk to you tomorrow." Spin told her cheerfully, a little too cheerfully, Sam thought, but she was too caught up with other thoughts to hold that one for long.
xxxxx
Spin hit end on his phone and swiveled his chair around to the man standing over his shoulder. "I don't like keeping this from her."
"I know. Me either, but the less she knows the better." Coop sighed.
"It's one thing to lie by omission, but what you're asking of me now is to produce fraudulent information on a case no less! Maybe we should just give her his name and let her confront him once and for all." Spin suggested hopefully.
"It isn't like we're keeping this information from her forever. We just need to buy a little more time first. When she finds out about him, it's gonna hurt like hell and I'm not in any real hurry to see her hurt." Coop shook his head. He hated the lies and secrecy as well, especially to Sam. He trusted her more than anyone. He just wished Sam had taken up his suggestion to stay away a few more days so they could have had more time to get what they needed. Once she was back it was only a matter of time before she found out what he was really up to in town. She was just too damn good at her job.
xxxxx
Danny's Lullaby was halfway home when Krissy woke from her nap. She found Jason sitting by his lonesome on the sofa. Sam had gone to lower the anchor then planned to wake Krissy so they could start the surprise. Jason had frowned at that, because Sam refused to tell what this surprise actually entailed.
Krissy walked into the living room with the Princess Peach doll she'd won from the arcade under her arm. She rubbed her eyes and looked at him in a sleepy daze.
Half his mouth found a smile. "Did you have a good nap?"
She nodded then proceeded to climb up on the sofa right next to him and cuddle. She leaned against him and his heart kind of melted when she did that. He put his arm around her and she nestled even closer. She didn't say anything. She just sat quietly with him. It was nice. He leaned his head on the back of the sofa and closed his eyes, enjoying the peaceful moment.
Sam made her way back down to find them that way. Jason rested with his head back and Krissy was tucked comfortably in his side. It was so easy to picture him as a father at times like that and she couldn't help imagining their future together and then chastised herself for getting ahead of things. They hadn't even been on a first date yet and there she was picturing the family they would share, not to mention the other issues waiting for them back home.
Ugh, back home Sam sighed. Elizabeth was back home. The thought of that woman and what she'd done to Michael and maybe Jason made her mad enough to do bodily harm. Michael, she still needed to have that talk with him. Krissy looked content and Jason looked like he could use the rest. Sam put her finger to her mouth for Krissy who nodded and then she headed to Jason's room to talk with Michael.
Michael turned his head to the door when it opened and smiled. "Hey, Sam. Is it time for the surprise?"
She smiled hesitantly. "Not just yet, Michael. I wanted to talk with you first."
"Oh, okay." Michael sat up on the bed and turned off the movie with the remote.
Sam sat on the bed and tried to figure out how to convince the boy to do something she knew he was terrified of doing then it came to her. "I have an update for you on the case."
Michael's eyes lit up. "You do? Was Elizabeth lying? Did you find proof?"
Sam nodded. She had to be very careful. She didn't want to lie to him, but she wasn't about to tell him what she actually found. "I did. I found proof and I gave it to Jason. He knows now that Elizabeth is a liar."
"What did she lie about? Was the man her boyfriend? Was he an enemy of dad and uncle Jason's? Was she trying to hurt uncle Jason?" Michael fired off question after question and then his face went pale.
"Does uncle Jason know it was me? Is... is he mad at me?"
"No." Sam shook her head and held his chin in her hand to hold his gaze. "I didn't tell him Michael. I promised you."
Michael sighed in relief. "Thanks Sam. What about... the rest of it?"
Sam nodded then sighed. "I know you hired me to find this information and technically you have a right to know what it is I found, but I'm going to ask you to trust me not to tell you everything. Can you do that Michael? Can you trust me to handle the information and just be okay with knowing that Jason knows the truth now and he knows who it is he can really trust?"
Michael thought about it for a bit then nodded. "I trust you Sam."
Sam smiled. "Thank you Michael. I trust you too."
Michael was surprised. "You trust me? Even though you know what I did to Elizabeth and that I lied about it?"
"I do because I know your heart was in the right place and I believe you regret lying. I think you want to tell Jason the truth, but you're scared. Am I right?" Sam hoped he said yes.
Michael was scared to say it out loud, so he just nodded.
"That's really good, Michael. It shows you've learned from your mistake. Jason may be disappointed that you lied, but I promise he'll forgive you. He loves you. It takes a lot of courage to tell the truth, but like I told Coop you are one of the bravest people I've ever known."
Something akin total adoration shined in Michael's eyes when Sam said that. Sam thought he was brave. She hadn't let him down. She found proof Elizabeth was a liar and showed it to uncle Jason. Michael wouldn't let Sam down either. He had to show her he could be as brave as she thought he was. "I, I'll tell him. I'll tell him what I did to Elizabeth and what she said. I'll tell him all of it Sam, how I hired you too."
Sam's eyes stung with pride. She opened her arms and dipped her head hoping for a hug. He smiled and wrapped his arms around her middle as she hugged him back. "Thank you Michael. I knew you could do it and I promise I'll be right by your side the whole time if you want."
Michael pulled out of the hug and worried his lip. "When do I have to tell him?"
"How about later tonight once we get you home?" Sam wanted Jason and his parents to know what was going on before he slept again so they were prepared if he had another nightmare.
Michael seemed relieved to be able to put it off a little longer. "Okay, can we see what the surprise is now?"
Sam grinned as they hopped off the bed. "You bet!"
xxxxx
The surprise caught the boys off guard. Michael didn't want to hurt Sam's feelings, but tea parties were not his idea of good surprises. Jason's either, but they suffered silently for the sake of Kristina and Sam. Plus, they were on a boat in the middle of nowhere so hopefully what happened on Danny's Lullaby stayed on Danny's Lullaby. Jason and Krissy made the tea while Sam and Michael made petite sandwiches of PB&J and ham and cheese. Krissy helped Sam display the cookies on pretty little trays with doilies then Sam showed Jason where the supplies were to set the table while they went to dress. The boys drew the line at dressing up. Sam and Krissy, however, had a ball in Sam's closet.
Jason laid the fine white linen tablecloth over the table. He centered the vase of fresh flowers Sam had purchased from the drug store when picking up the pictures. Michael brought the trays of little sandwiches and cookies out and Jason sat the tea pot, sugar, creamer, honey and lemon wedges out while Michael placed the porcelain tea cups and saucers at each setting.
That was it. They were finished and it was followed by a really cute moment Sam unfortunately missed. Michael and Jason stood side by side examining their handiwork then, without looking at each other, both cocked their head to the left and shrugged. Without missing a beat, they turned to each other and gave their special high five low five dap pound slide it out behind the ear handshake and went their separate ways.
Michael headed back to his room to play video games until Sam and Krissy were ready. Jason made his way above deck. He was beginning to get a little anxious the closer he got to home. He knew once he was there he would have to deal with Elizabeth and he was trying really hard not to think about it. He stood there for a while, hands in his pockets, just focusing on the beauty of the water and the shore far off in the distance. He tried to imagine what people were doing in the little towns along that far off shore, but he couldn't.
He just wasn't good at imagining things anymore. It was a side effect from the injuries sustained in the car accident years ago. He'd never really cared that, of all the things he lost, he lost his ability to really imagine, until now. He could think of things like Sam walking down the aisle to him or pregnant with his child, but he couldn't picture them in his head with any lasting clarity and for some reason that saddened him a great deal. He loved the thought of Sam as his wife and mother of their child, but he wasn't sure how long it would be until it was a reality. Fantasizing about it was the next best thing, only he couldn't, not really. Not like regular people and, for the first time since the accident, he wished he could.
Sam came up to let him know they were ready and found him deep in thought. He wasn't facing her, but she could see a good portion of his face and he appeared kind of... sad.
"Everything alright?" Her soft voice lifted him from his thoughts.
She slipped her arms around his side looking up at him and he lifted his arm to place around her.
"Better now." He rubbed her back lovingly and held her gaze before pressing a sweet kiss to her lips.
They nuzzled lips and noses and sighed happily before Sam told him they were ready to start the tea party and he groaned. She just chuckled and told him to come on as she pulled him by the hand behind her down the stairs.
So, it started off bad. Tea parties with your little sister and her princess and mermaid were stories that could get a kid beat up on the playground, but he had to admit Sam made up for it by the end. The cookies and sandwiches were good, though he'd never admit to it and the project they'd done was kind of cool.
Once tea was finished, they cleared the table and Sam laid out the photo albums they'd purchased and all the photographs from their trip with the exception of the few Jason had taken of Sam and Krissy with her dolls at the tea party. No photographic evidence of the guys was allowed. They also used colorful markers and blank 4x6 index cards to help create a scrapbook of sorts of their trip.
Sam had Michael and Krissy write down a memory from their time together on the trip on each page along with all the pictures they chose. There were pictures covering the entire trip from first leaving port, sharing that first sunset, cooking together, the entire day at the water park, disgusting sundaes and board games and several from the events of their morning at the lighthouse and museum with Levi and his wife.
Michael had asked Sam at one point what about one for Jason, but Sam had just looked over at Jason and smiled. She'd told him, "We'll share," and then Michael noticed a look between the two of them that reminded him of how his mom and dad looked at each other sometimes. Michael looked over to Krissy and she'd seemed to notice something too, because his little sister was grinning up at him ear to ear. Michael smiled back hoping that look meant the same for his uncle Jason and Sam as it did for his parents.
After they'd finished the albums and put everything away, Sam told them of the very last surprise. It was a treasure hunt trivia game. Sam had hidden prizes around the boat and if they got the answers correct about their duties, water safety and boating terminology then they'd win prizes of candy, games and other toys. Michael ended up with a new video game he'd been wanting for forever and disappeared to his room shortly after thanking Sam and declaring her the coolest. Krissy had ended up with a collection of mini Disney Princess dolls and was playing with them on her bed while watching Michael try and rescue the princess.
Sam and Jason were back in the wheelhouse sitting together in mutual solitude as the boat made way toward home. At first the quiet was comfortable and welcomed, but at some point Sam's insecurities began to rise again. She began to get nervous about how things were going to turn out once they got home. She kept sneaking peeks at Jason who seemed lost in thought once again and she sighed. It wasn't loud, but it was enough to make Jason notice.
Sam was chewing her lip. She did that when she was nervous. She was probably worrying about how things would turn out once they got back home. He just wished he could make her believe she had nothing to be nervous about. There was nothing he'd let come between them again. He stood from his seat and stepped behind her. She turned her head and gave him a small smile. He put his hands on her shoulders and began to massage all the worry away. He worked her neck and upper back and she lowered her head and sighed at how good it felt.
"That feels wonderful." She moaned.
He smiled and leaned his head down to whisper in her ear. "You have nothing to worry about."
Sam reached her hands to grasp his as they rested on her shoulders. She wrapped his arms around her waist over the back of her chair as he pressed one kiss to her neck and then another and another. Her hand found the back of his neck and she turned to meet his lips. She sucked his bottom lip slowly into her mouth allowing her tongue to slip inside and glide along his in long sensuous strokes.
Just before it went too far, they pulled back slightly with foreheads together as they caught their breath. He guided her by the hand to stand and she stepped into his arms. They stood there for a good long while as the motor hummed along the water and their love for one another washed over them. Neither were sure of what awaited them back home, but standing there in the others arms they knew they could get through it together.
Page 22 of 22 Created: 2011-03-23 Updated: 2014-11-09 Words: 8953 Characters: 47421