Hope For The Holidays

by imgoodbackup

Slightly different spin on how Sam ended up in Port Charles, found her family, met Jason, and managed to never give up Hope For The Holidays.

18. Chapter 18

18. part 1 of 3...

Not a damn thing.

His gut twisted and rolled telling him Sam needed him tonight and there was not a damn thing he could do about it. He glanced at the readout on his GPS.

"Dammit!" He was pushing thirty above the speed limit and still two hours outside Port Charles. Damn Sonny and his gahdam paranoia, Jason cursed his friend and employer!

He breathed deep knowing, in all honesty, Sonny had made the smart business decision. Tonight was the most logical night to take action. Hell, over half the cops in the region were probably dawning their dress blues that very minute in preparation of swarming the iced trays of jumbo shrimp cocktail littering the grand ballroom of the Metro Court Hotel. It made taking care of all the names on his list that much easier. Less patrols meant slower response times, less risk. He didn't have to like his orders, but he did have to follow them. It was his fault, after all, that it was happening so he'd had to see it through personally.

It was his mistake giving Elizabeth the unsupervised access to his home that had allowed her to make the business vulnerable. Sonny had followed up with their plants within the department and county government to find out why the hell they hadn't had advanced warning of the plan to form a SWAT division. It wasn't so much that they could have done much to stop it, but SWAT in Port Charles was a big fucking deal and indicative of a larger problem that they hadn't been alerted ahead of time. After a little arm twisting, one of their contacts confirmed that Ric had gotten to him. Sure there could be any number of ways Ric could have been lucky enough to learn the identity of one of their informants, but all of them? No way in hell.

Not without someone's help from the inside and it was at that point, earlier that afternoon that it all started making sense. Jason learned, after leaving Sam's office, that Ric had infiltrated the cops on Sonny's payroll and blackmailed them with exposure unless they agreed to only pass along the info Ric wanted passed along. Ric was doing his damnedest to take down their organization and Jason now knew Elizabeth had helped. She must have obtained the list from a file on his desk.

Sonny had just given him the updated version to memorize and burn. He even remembered finding her hovering over it claiming to look for a pen to write a note for him on her way out. He'd fallen for it, hadn't even given her explanation a second thought, even though that damn list had been sitting an inch away from her hand just under the cover of that brown file.

He wondered briefly what had happened to the Elizabeth he had known, the one he'd considered a loyal friend. Was she always so selfish and conniving and, if so, how had he missed it? He decided it didn't matter. Whoever she had been, she was his enemy now and would be treated as such. He only prayed that baby wasn't his, because there was no way in hell he'd be co-parenting with that woman after what she did to Michael. If that baby was his, the only mother his child would ever know would be Sam!

Jason was angry at himself for being a sucker and furious with Elizabeth for playing him for a fool. Ric, he just wanted to sink a bullet into him dead center mass after he beat the shit out of him. It was guilt that had him working tonight instead of being there for Sam, guilt at having been blind and putting his and his best friend's freedom at risk. The clean up needed to be done right. He'd saved the ones he could and handled the ones he couldn't.

The family men had been easily swayed back into place with the reassurance Ric wouldn't be a problem for much longer. They were instructed to disregard Ric's orders and relay every piece of information from now on while tagging the pieces Ric designated. He assured them the organization would wait to act on any information provided until Ric and the evidence he held over them was neutralized. He'd also made it clear if he had to visit them again... Fortunately, his reassurance and warning seemed enough. Jason felt good about their renewed loyalty.

It hadn't been all talk tonight though. Two men decided to run. Jason had spent the last several hours tracking them down. He'd offered them the same deal as the family men, but they'd wanted more. They wanted money and help disappearing until it was all over just in case. Well, they got part of their wish. They were damned well disappeared now, but had no use for money where they were sent.

Jason sighed. It was his screw up and he'd had to clean up the mess and make sure nothing led back to them. He just wished business hadn't had to coincide on the same night Sam was stuck spending the evening on the arm of that slimy bastard without him there as backup.

At least Spinelli was with her he thought then scoffed and shook his head, thinking back to his first encounter with the odd little cyber geek earlier that week. It did little to allay his fears...

The suspicious black van that had been staked out in front of his building the last several days had spent the morning parked in front of Sam's office building and had just followed her to Kelly's. Jason knew this because he'd had the van tailed after his men failed to obtain a satisfactory ID on the driver. They weren't able to give a clear description other than average white male with dark hair. Stan had run the plates, but the vehicle was registered under an LLC and the company owner seemed to be clean, too clean and Stan had a feeling about it just like he'd had a feeling about Cooper Barrett. Stan was convinced the name was an alias and was still digging. The lone image they'd pulled off a traffic cam hadn't been clear enough to run through facial recognition software. The guy seemed to be good at remaining elusive. In fact, the only thing they'd managed to learn for certain was that he wasn't a fed.

Enter Jason Morgan...

He parked his Escalade on the opposite side of the street a slight ways back and pulled his thermal binoculars from the console. They allowed him to observe heat signatures of people and objects day or night and he used them now to determine only one live target concealed in the rear compartment of the van in question thanks to the tinted windows on the rear doors.

Jason swiftly made his way to the side door, his firearm at the ready. He checked his surroundings for possible witnesses upon approach. Finding none, he swung the door open with his weapon trained and was immediately accosted by a thick cloud of smoke as he fought to hold his breath.

"Hands!" He ordered the young male who instantly raised his fists in the air as one hand held some type of long tubular pipe with water in it and the other gripped a lighter.

"Welcome to the Jackal's hacker hotbox." The younger guy smiled in lazy surrender.

Jason frowned. He didn't know what he'd expected to find, but it hadn't been that and that had thrown him off. He recognized the kid immediately as the one who'd been practically living in Cooper's penthouse.

"Who are you?" His voice was gruff with impatience and distrust.

"The Jackal, at your service. How might I assist you?" The kid seemed unnaturally mellow. It didn't take a genius to guess why.

"Why are you following Sam McCall?" Jason barked.

"Jason, Jason! What are you doing?" Jason let his gaze slip for a half second to the slender beauty rushing to his side before refocusing on the target he still hadn't cleared.

"Stay back Sam!" Jason warned and tensed as Sam ignored his words and stepped in front of him. Her forearm placed a steady pressure against his to push the barrel off its mark.

"It's okay. I know him. He's meeting me here for lunch." Sam declared. "This is Spin, my tech guy."

"This is who you trust to have your back? Some toked up teenager? He could get you killed!" Jason wasn't sure if he was angrier at Sam or Spinelli for not taking the situation serious.

"It's fine Jason, really. Consider it Spinelli's version of... homeopathic Ritalin." Sam shrugged. "Without it, he loses his ability to focus. He chatters and moves about incessantly." Sam explained to Jason's doubting face.

He lowered his weapon, re-engaged the safety and returned it to his rear waist band. There was no immediate danger, but he still wasn't satisfied he wouldn't need to put a bullet in the little punk at some point in the future. His scowl remained firmly in place with his eyes piercing every bit of the young man's resolve to speak in his own defense. "This isn't a game Sam. I need to know you're safe!"

Anger rushed up from the pit of her belly. How dare he accuse her of not knowing what the hell she was doing? She was seconds from letting him have it when those icy blue eyes shifted from her young friend to her then transformed to an impossibly warm shade of blue. He was worried for her and, considering the lascivious nature in which her step-father regarded her, she couldn't really blame him. Of course, Jason still wasn't aware of Ric's crude behavior which was probably the reason he was still breathing.

"I trust Spinelli, Jason. He's the best at what he does and he's a loyal friend. He could never let me down." Her tone was slightly clipped with the anger reverberating within, but her eyes tempered it with understanding.

"Most gracious thanks Goddess." Spinelli blushed with a goofy grin as he cautiously lowered his arms.

Sam smiled at him warmly then turned back to Jason. He was as still as stone and his cold glare had returned to her friend once again. "If I may be so bold as to assure the Stone Cold one of the veracity of the Goddess' most astute assessment. My herbal remedy alleviates certain nervous maladies allowing me to meet taxing demands upon my talents that would otherwise prove most abstruse. It is essential in assuring my success which, in turn, helps ensure the Goddess of her safety and well-being."

Sam bit the inside of her cheek to withhold the smirk from forming at her friend's new nickname for Jason which caught Jason's attention. "What the hell is he talking about?"

Sam laughed lightly. "Spin tends to give everyone nicknames. He calls me Goddess..."

"of Hotness, the only name befitting such divine beauty." Spin chimed in.

Sam smiled and shook her head. "And it appears you've now earned the moniker Stone Cold."

Jason's brows nearly fused as one before huffing and shaking his head in clear frustration. How could Sam trust her life to that... kid? How could she expect him to trust that kid with her life?

Jason shook his head again, still unsettled by the notion several days later. The short answer was he didn't, couldn't and wouldn't trust him with her life. Not entirely, but it wasn't due to Damien Spinelli's lack of devotion toward Sam or surplus of talent when it came to his work. He'd proven both in the time Jason spent with him over the last couple days. No, Jason's distrust had less to do with anyone else and more to do with the fact that Sam was far too important to him to ever truly trust her safety and well-being to anyone other than himself. And that was why he now pushed 100 in a 65mph zone. He'd had a bad feeling that grew stronger by the minute, a feeling that told him Sam needed him tonight and, aside from Elizabeth, his instincts had always served him well.

xxxxx

The week had been brutal, but she told herself it was okay. Her life had prepared her for hard knocks such as those. She would come out a survivor as always, but it wasn't herself she worried over. It was her family. Her mother, sisters, Nikolas, Jason and even Emily would be effected by the lies once finally exposed.

Sam slipped into her sleek black gown as it pulled over the tiny black thong, up past her hips and covered her breasts. She lost herself in the events of the past week as she dressed.

Monday night found her packing her clothes, laptop, small box of mementos, the framed picture of her and Danny from the shelf above her bar, another framed photo of her mother and sisters taken the previous Thanksgiving that set on the desk in her bedroom, as well as three of her favorite photo albums.

She'd made one each year since finding Danny and pulled the most recent because, although she was still unable to look at it without crying, it was still her favorite year with him and just knowing she had those photos near gave her comfort. They had been at their happiest time together that holiday season just before his death. The album also contained photos of the last birthday her brother ever celebrated. That album reflected some of her most treasured memories with her big brother.

Sam had a photo album for each year with her sisters as well, but grabbed only the first. Even though there were no pictures to be had of Molly since she hadn't been born yet, that first year when she found her new family remained the most special within her heart. There was even a photograph of her and Jason standing together at Nik's New Year's Eve party the second time she'd ever spoken to him. She smiled to herself remembering how Emily had insisted they pose for the camera then and knowing now how Emily had seen then what she and Jason would take months to see. The last photo album she grabbed was the one she'd made with Krissy and Michael on their recent getaway with Jason, another moment in time she would forever hold dear. It was the time when she and Jason finally showed one another their true feelings for the other.

She'd packed her things doing her best to casually ignore the disapproving glare emanating from the blue eyes across the room. He'd agreed earlier to go along with her plan with certain conditions of his own and, though he hadn't spoken another word to deter her, his eyes said it all. Jason didn't want her anywhere near Ric, especially, it seemed, without the buffer or protection (she wasn't altogether sure which) Jason believed her mother offered.

She'd finished packing and done her best to reassure him. She'd tenderly brushed against the stubble of his cheek and held his gaze until his lips met hers. They'd made love silently and slowly with only the passionate cries of pleasure between them until the end when Jason had pulled her tighter to him, strong arms engulfing her, and made her promise to be careful and not hesitate to call when she needed help. She'd smiled and nuzzled the smooth warmth of his chest with her face then promised he would be the first person she would call if she ever needed help, and it was true. She trusted him above all others. She'd never felt as safe with anyone as she felt with him.

For every ounce of displeasure her actions gave Jason, they had given that much joy and more to her mother. Alexis had been thrilled when Sam sat at her bedside earlier that day and asked if the invitation was still open to come stay with her. Alexis hadn't been able to say yes fast enough and had pulled her into a most grateful hug. Sam had hugged Alexis back choosing to ignore any feelings toward her mother other than love. Her mother needed her support and, besides, she wasn't ready to face those uglier emotions and the effect unleashing them would cause.

She'd arrived Monday night just in time to read a story to Kristina and tuck her into bed. The nanny had already put Molly down for the night. Thankfully, Viola had stayed until Sam finished with Kristina. Maybe it was unwarranted, maybe not, but she now had a fear of being ambushed by Ric again. He'd offered her a nightcap as Viola saw her way out, but Sam declined and quickly made her excuses for retiring early before locking herself in her room.

The rest of the week was kind of a blur. She'd spent most of it sharing meals while reassuring and playing with the girls when she wasn't working. She cultivated a rapport with Viola in hopes of learning something that might prove her theory. Everyone always overlooked the help, but they had eyes and ears like everyone else. In fact, Viola revealed some interesting pieces of information Sam was certain were important. She just had to figure out how they fit into the puzzle.

Nik arranged for her to meet Lucky Tuesday morning to hear his version of the breakup and Sam had been shocked when Lucky told her what Elizabeth had done to him. Unfortunately while Lucky had long suspected Elizabeth of cheating on him before he ever slept with Maxie, he had just assumed the other man was Jason once Elizabeth told him Jason was the father of her baby.

Lucky said he, himself, couldn't possibly be the father, because of the timing and that was about the only part of the story Elizabeth fed Jason that was true. She'd even lied about finding Lucky and Maxie in bed together the night of the blackout. When Sam recounted the version of the story as told to her by Jason, Lucky had been dumbfounded. He didn't deny his affair with Maxie, but swore he wasn't with her that night and Sam believed him. He said he'd gone to the hospital to surprise Elizabeth by offering to take her to dinner, a final hail Mary to try and work on their marriage, but she'd already left work early. He'd ended up at the Haunted Star with his dad drinking his cares away and playing blackjack to keep his mind off the probability that his wife was off somewhere with her lover. If his version was true, and Sam was willing to bet as much, it meant Elizabeth's actions the night of the blackout had been calculated, premeditated, and Sam wanted desperately to know her endgame.

In search of those answers, or any really, Sam had followed up on a conversation with Maxie over coffee the next day and had found herself really liking the younger woman. And, even though Maxie Jones had provided nothing in the way of concrete evidence of Elizabeth's wrongdoings, her colorful dislike of the woman was an instant point of bonding between the two. As well as the blond's new-found interest in her good friend Coop.

Sam smiled at herself in the mirror as she applied a little make up. Coop had no idea what he was getting himself into tonight. She almost felt a little guilty going along with Maxie's plans, but the girl seemed genuinely interested in Cooper and had assured her things were over between her and Lucky. So, who was she to ruin the girl's fun?

By Wednesday, she'd planted listening devices around the lake house, on Ric's cell and home phone. She'd assisted Spin, so he could hack Ric's laptop to copy all data on his hard drive while simultaneously installing a back door to allow future undetected access. The rest was just a waiting game, waiting for Ric and Elizabeth to make contact or for some other proof to surface and confirm their suspicions.

Sam had handled her client carefully, stalling as best she could like Jason had requested. She'd called him after meeting Lucky in her office Tuesday morning and provided enough information to temporarily appease the old man. Sam confirmed Elizabeth was currently having an affair and hoped to identify the man soon. Edward had been understandably outraged and surprisingly concerned for his grandson. Sam knew he cared for Jason, but had never known how much until she'd heard the depth of emotion his voice carried as he worried how Jason would handle losing a child if it turned out to be another man's baby.

A coffee run after that phone call had turned out to be well-timed when Elizabeth walked cheerfully into Kelly's to place her to-go order only to have Carly storm up behind her. Sam had known Carly wouldn't be able to resist confronting the woman long. She didn't blame her after what she'd done to her son, but she was glad she'd managed to stop Carly from saying anything that might tip off they were on to her.

The rest of Tuesday had been pretty uneventful until lunch when she'd agreed to meet Spin at Kelly's only to find Jason holding a gun on him. Between Coop and Spinelli, introductions had been tense to say the least which was why she'd insisted Jason join them after that incident. Sam needed Jason to be okay with Spinelli in her life and she knew if he just had a chance to get to know him, then he'd see past his quirkiness to the good and gifted person underneath. Annoyance had flashed more than once across Jason's features as Spinelli prattled on, but he remained noncommittally silent. He was neither disrespectful nor engaging. It was a start and, she admitted to herself, a slightly warmer welcome than he'd given Cooper.

There were a lot of things that were hard about her week. It was hard to maintain the lie that Jason was still happily engaged to Elizabeth and keep a friendly distance in public from the man she loved, even though he'd used work as an excuse not to be alone with Elizabeth since his return. It was hard to find an answer her four year old little sister was willing to accept as to when her mother would come home to her. It was hard to tolerate being in the same room with her step-father the way he looked at her, even though she'd been lucky he'd been called out of town for most of the week on business. The hardest part of the week, however, had been how her mother had taken a turn for the worse.

The biopsy results had come back from the lab. Alexis had informed her and Ric the cancer had not spread beyond the tumor Patrick removed from her lung. Thank God. Relief flooded her, though the moment was short-lived when her mother went on to tell them she had developed pneumonia and due to her weakened condition needed to go into a medically induced coma for antibiotics and painkillers.

Dr. Scorpio and Dr. Drake explained the coma, along with a medically induced paralysis, would help her mother's body not to have to work as hard to breathe as a respirator would do the breathing for her. They were confident in their recommendation, but Alexis was quick to point out there were no guarantees she would ever wake up. She'd asked Ric to bring the girls to see her before she went under. It took everything in her not to cling to her mother in much the same way her little sisters had during that goodbye, but she'd felt Nik's reassuring hand on her shoulder and it helped her remain strong for Alexis, Molly and Kristina.

Yesterday had been the worst day. Sam and Nikolas were just finishing lunch together at the restaurant of the Metro Court when they were both called to GH. Her mother's lung had collapsed while in the coma. Ric was still in DC on business, pimping the mayor and governor's war on organized crime no doubt, and as the closest next of kin after Ric it fell to Sam to authorize the procedure required to save her life. The doctors needed to go in and insert a chest tube which normally wasn't a dangerous procedure, but with her mother's poor health the risk was considerable. While Sam was actually glad Ric had no say in her mother's life or death, she was also petrified to make that decision herself. Fortunately, Nik had stepped in and signed when she couldn't bare the weight of her mother's possible death on her hands. She remembered once again feeling extremely grateful to have her cousin by her side and also a little guilty wishing it were Jason instead.

So now, here she was, preparing to honor her mother's request by attending a ball with a man she detested. She slipped on the emerald and diamond ring from her father. She loved that ring more than she could ever adequately describe. The ring was a sweet sixteen gift and the most expensive thing Cody McCall had ever given anyone in his life. She couldn't say purchased because he hadn't actually paid for it. He'd won it after walking away from a 19 hour long winning streak in a private high stakes card game in Atlantic city.

To Sam that made it even more precious than if he'd gone to a store and bought it for her because he'd left while he was winning. She knew this because if he hadn't he'd have returned to her with empty pockets as usual. Sam was shocked to tears that morning when he woke her in their motel room. Her father had become addicted to gambling, but in that moment he'd put his love for his daughter first. Cody chose Sam over the drinking, the high of his addiction and all the beautiful women at his side hoping to cash in on his good fortune.

He'd rushed back to their room before his addiction could change his mind and placed it on her right ring finger then kissed Sam on her forehead and wished his sleeping beauty good morning and happy birthday. Cody had never been big on birthdays, or holidays unless it was part of the scam. In fact they usually worked, slept, or traveled through them which made that particular memory all the more special. That ring was tangible proof of her father's love even as he struggled with the demons that pulled him away from her.

Sam couldn't help wonder how her father fared after she left, but she always pushed those thoughts away. She was afraid of the answers, afraid he'd finally gotten himself in too deep and without her there to watch out for him had lost his life. She wasn't sure she could live with that kind of guilt, so she never allowed herself to dwell on the possibility. When she wore the ring, she rarely allowed herself to dwell on memories of her life with her father. She only allowed herself to feel the strength and love he'd shown her by giving her that gift.

She adorned her lobes with the emerald and diamond earrings her mother had given her to match. It always felt good, felt right, to wear them together. She needed them, especially tonight. She needed the strength and love of her mother and father combined because she had a bad feeling about tonight. Something like dread weighed in the pit of her stomach, but she pushed that feeling down. Tonight was the night and nothing would stop her from following through with her plan.

It was now Friday and Friday had been awfully good to her. They'd finally collected all the evidence they needed to kick Elizabeth and Ric out of their lives for good. After looking over all the damning evidence, Sam had wanted to blast them. She got a call first thing from Spin that morning. He'd traced Ric's online activity to a secret e-mail account that stored e-mails to an anonymous address he was eventually able to connect to Elizabeth after hacking the anonymous e-mail service providers system.

There were hundreds of love notes dating back longer than Sam could have ever guessed. The first was dated February, 19th, 2005 and the last had been sent only yesterday with a reply from Elizabeth received an hour later. Sam had called Jason and met him and Spinelli at her office at the crack of dawn. They spent the next several hours sorting through it all and had nearly managed to put together all of the who what when where and why when Spin logged a phone call taking place between Ric and Elizabeth. They'd finally made contact and that call alone was enough to bury them figuratively, and literally, from the look Jason gave upon hearing it.

While Jason apparently had murder in mind, Sam wanted public humiliation. She wanted Spin to hijack the sound system of the ballroom to play the adulterous conversation as they professed their love and desire for one another and justified all the lies and manipulations in the name of greed and ambition. She wanted to toss the explicit photos and love notes up toward the high chandelier ceilings to rain down on all the proper citizens of Port Charles. She wanted to roll the video of Ric and Elizabeth going at it on the doorstep of a cheap motel the night before Ric's press conference with the Mayor where he swore to uphold to the laws and moral standards of his community and accepted the position as District Attorney bought and paid for with the blood, sweat and tears of her mother. She wanted to ruin them and then she wanted to kick their asses. Unfortunately, a cooler head had prevailed and she wouldn't be doing either of those things, not tonight at least.

Spinelli had pointed out the public humiliation would not only be Ric and Elizabeth's to carry, but her mother's as well. Though Alexis was the victim in all of it and would have no reason to feel guilty or ashamed, Sam knew Spin was right. Making it public knowledge would affect her mother adversely nonetheless. Her mother was a very private person and she was in no condition to endure the kind of stress Ric's public stoning would incur. Her mother had a right to hear the news before reporters were in her face which meant they had to wait until Alexis woke from her coma.

The three had just begun to discuss how to handle the information when Jason got a call from Sonny. She wasn't sure what it was about. Jason rarely discussed business, but she knew it had to be big to pull him away from what was going on at that moment. He'd given her a kiss goodbye and made her promise not to confront Ric alone then told Spinelli in no uncertain terms how he wouldn't live to regret it if anything happened to Sam on his watch. He then left the two of them to formulate their plan of attack. Sam may not be able to call them out on high, but she'd be damned if she let the lies stand one more night and, technically, she wouldn't be confronting Ric alone. She'd have Spin in her ear. She knew her plan wouldn't fly with Jason, so she'd conveniently left that part out when she spoke to him earlier.

He'd called to check on her just before she stepped into the shower. He was upset that business kept him away. She smiled now at the recollection as she dabbed her favorite scent behind her ears, wrists and top of her bosom. Jason had barely spoken any words, yet she could hear everything in his silence. His love, care and concern for her and frustration over not being there with her was all ever-present in the hesitancy of his voice. She reassured him she would be on her best behavior during the ball. After all, she was attending in her mother's stead and, now that her temper had calmed, refused to carry herself with anything less than the grace and dignity her mother expected from her tonight.

Of course, after the ball was another story entirely and by the end of the night Ric would regret ever laying eyes on her let alone hurting her mother. She slipped the nearly invisible earpiece in her ear and tested her feedback. The familiar voice returned loud and clear and she had to admit it gave her a modicum of relief to know she wasn't completely alone with the despicable man. She was on comms with Spinelli as part of her deal with Jason to be monitored at all times. Jason had an automatic feed of the listening devices, but little did he know Sam insisted Spin put Jason on a slight time delay in case Ric said something vile Spin needed to edit. Fortunately, it looked as though it was an unnecessary precaution. After tonight, she would never have to be alone with him again.

"Goddess, GPS reports the Dastardly D.A. has arrived." Spin's voice filled her ear.

"Copy." Sam sighed. "Let's get this show on the road."

"Roger that. Best of luck. I'm sure you are nothing short of stunning and will make Goddess Mother most proud." Spinelli cheered.

Sam smiled softly. "Thanks, Spin." She then gathered her courage and steeled her stomach as she made her way to the living room where her good for nothing escort awaited.

xxxxx

"Jackal, this is Phoenix. Do you copy?" The dark haired man adjusted his tie allowing the mic concealed under his sleeve and ending at his cuff to rest near his mouth.

"Roger that Phoenix. Jackal copies loud and clear. Meadowlark, come back." Spinelli confirmed.

"Meadowlark? Really? We're gonna have to have a serious talk about name assignments in the very near future." Coop brushed his hand over his mouth as he spoke.

"On the contrary, I find the name rather suits you much in the way phoenix suits our co-conspirator who must consistently prove himself in a trial by fire. The lark is a ground bird with mostly brown plumage who utilizes its dull appearance as a camouflage to cover them, especially when on the nest and family is at risk." Spinelli reasoned while clicking away to pull up a nine split screen on one of his monitors as they rotated through hotel security cameras and surrounding streets.

"Did you just call me dull?" Coop challenged hearing a snicker in his ear along with Spinelli's gasp.

"Not at all, more... somber, er, stoic if you will." Spin backtracked.

Coop clenched his jaw only slightly more satisfied with that description as another snicker made its way over the feed.

"Alright boys, if we're done crying over code names how about we get this show on the road?" The older man prompted as he made his way from his suite to the bank of elevators down the hall.

"Roger that. I'm entering the lobby now. I'll see you up there once I have my date. Jackal, just make sure you don't get your signals crossed." Coop was ready for some radio silence. It was bad enough he'd have an audience listening in on his first date with the gorgeous fiery blond. He just prayed they'd have the decency not to give him a hard time when words failed him as they seemed to do every time in her presence.

"No chance Meadowlark. I've got safeguards in place to assure Goddess remains in blissful ignorance until we're ready." Spin assured them earning sighs from both field ops which, to Spin, were expelled with more regret than relief. Spinelli felt the same way. Goddess had endured one incredibly rough week and tonight her emotions would be set reeling once again. He wished for the hundredth time or more for a better way around it.

xxxxx

Maxie clutched two fists full of ice blue taffeta as she stepped from the backseat of her father's Cadillac with the assistance of one of the valets. Mac had asked Maxie to escort him to the ball months ago, but she'd declined. After he learned of her involvement with one of his married officers, he understood why. Maxie was prepared for yet another lecture to add to the many she'd received over the years, but instead there had only been one brief blow up followed by an awkward silence between the two for the next several weeks.

He'd been angry, at first. He'd even suspended Lucky which she knew he'd gotten a small amount of enjoyment from, even though he'd had little choice once Elizabeth's lies forced a full investigation by internal affairs. The lying wench had not only stated she feared for her safety due to Lucky's erratic behavior, which she suggested was caused by a probable addiction to the pain pills prescribed due to his back injury, she also had the nerve to implicate Maxie as the one who had been feeding his habit so he wouldn't end their affair. Lucky was suspended for a month, forced into an unjustified intervention by his family and nearly lost his job over it, but once his tox screens came back clean and IA found no real evidence to support Elizabeth's baseless accusations he'd been cleared to return to work.

Things had been tense between her and her dad during that month until Lucky decided to try and help. He had a talk with Mac that had resulted in a phone call from her dad that very evening asking her to join him for dinner. She'd called Lucky and asked what he told her father to cause the sudden turn around and Lucky had simply said... the truth. He'd told Mac that they'd become close friends who supported one another as they grieved for their loss. Lucky told Mac how his marriage had basically been over for a while before things progressed with Maxie, but he hadn't been able to face that truth at the time. He told him how he'd filed for divorce from Elizabeth and for joint custody of Cam. And, to Maxie's surprise, he'd told Mac he was falling in love with his daughter and hoped to have a future with her once his divorce was final. He truly cared for her and it wasn't just some fling.

Maxie hadn't expected that at all. She cared for Lucky, a great deal, and maybe if she was honest she even loved him, but losing Jesse had taken its toll and she just couldn't set herself up for more heartache. Never again would she allow herself to love someone who put themselves in the line of danger on a daily basis. And she knew how much being a detective meant to Lucky, so there was no way she would ever ask him to give that up for her. She wished things could have worked out the way he wanted. Lucky was one of the best men she'd ever known, but she just couldn't risk that pain again. She was thankful they'd been able to hold onto their friendship, even though they hadn't made it work as a couple.

"You okay?" Georgie whispered in her sister's ear. It was her big sisters' first date since losing Jesse and ending things with Lucky and Maxie had been uncharacteristically quiet the car ride over and now she was wearing a troubled brow with a faraway look in her eyes.

Maxie perked up at her little sister's voice and beamed a convincing smile at her. "Fine, fine. Ready to have a little fun tonight." She told her as her father extended his arm and Georgie wrapped hers around it.

"Maybe I should wait with you until your date arrives." Mac offered once again in hopes he wouldn't be shot down like the last ten times he'd suggested it.

Maxie's smile turned flat as she shook her head. "For the last time, I'll be perfectly fine. He should be here any minute and we'll see you upstairs soon." She insisted while adding not too soon though to herself. She wanted the chance to play with him a little before she showed her cards.

"You're sure?" Mac sighed as his eyes narrowed.

"I'm sure." Maxie sighed and narrowed her own eyes, mocking his frustration.

"Come on dad. You'll meet her date soon enough. She may have refused to give us his name, but you have to feel good. After all, the odds are in your favor he's on the right side of the law since he scored a ticket to the policeman's ball." Georgie teased.

Mac hadn't considered that. Half his mouth rose in a smile at the thought and his eyes brightened.

Maxie scoffed with a roll of her eyes and shake of her head. "Go." She ordered, pushing at her father's broad back as he escorted her sister toward the lobby doors. She watched as two doorman held the double doors for them as they entered. Maxie remained outside. She didn't want to give her relation away if Coop was already inside waiting.

She drew her wrap tighter around her shoulders to ward off the November chill allowing more guests to pass before she made her entrance. After what felt like long enough for her father and sister to have made it safely on the elevator, she stepped in front of the doors for the doorman to open them for her as she finally made her way inside.

She was right on time and she was beautiful. He'd stood at the far corner of the lobby near the front desk opposite the elevators with his eyes glued to the doors for the last seven minutes. He'd had no doubt she would look lovely tonight, but the sight of her as she walked to the center of the room took his breath from him. Cooper had to remind himself to breathe and when he did, it came out as a gasp seizing his lungs once again before he could expel, as if his lungs wanted to breathe in the sight of her and hold onto it forever.

He had to smile at her playfulness in dressing that way tonight. She was his modern-day Cinderella, from the pale blue strapless floor-length gown and matching full-length gloves to the sapphire choker adorning her delicate neckline and silver mirrored shoes with stiletto heels that actually appeared to be made of glass. He swallowed hard and prayed his gulp hadn't been picked up over the mic as he approached her.

God he was gorgeous, mind-numbingly gorgeous and she suddenly wondered what the hell she had gotten herself into. She hadn't been ready for the nervous flutter that enveloped her stomach causing her heart to beat a little faster. She'd spotted him from the moment he started moving her way. His gait was bold, but measured as he maneuvered around other patrons with a silent grace that hinted at what a wonderful dancer he would make. His designer black suit fit perfectly highlighting his broad shoulders and powerful torso. His eyes were what captured her though, a soft blue with a playful twinkle that melted into his crooked smile and she couldn't help return the same playful smile as he halted a mere foot and a half in front of her.

Cinderella had nothing on her tonight. "You're beautiful." He told her with a soft smile.

She blushed like a nervous school girl attending her first formal. She couldn't believe it. No one had made her blush since, since Jesse. She quickly pushed that thought away. It felt far too prophetic and tonight wasn't about anything serious. It was about having some fun. "Well, since you did invite me to a ball, I thought I'd live up to your expectations. How did I do?"

She curtsied with a mischievous smirk and he grinned. "The night has just begun and you've already exceeded every one."

He extended his arm for her. "Hm. I don't know if that's good." She told him as she accepted his arm. "Maybe your expectations weren't all that high which isn't saying much for me, or you. And since I've already met them it leaves me with little to aspire to. Where's the fun in that? I enjoy a good challenge."

He chuckled then winked at her as she turned onto the elevator and he stepped on behind her. "I assure you, I intend to keep you on your toes all night."

"I do believe Prince Charming is well on his way to wooing his princess." Spinelli cooed into his ear.

"Quiet." Coop commanded before realizing what he'd said aloud.

Maxie inspected him with a curious brow. "What was that?" She hadn't spoken a word.

Spin's laughter filled his ear. "Uh, I was saying I prefer the quiet. I don't really care for elevator music." He motioned his head to the speakers above and smiled sheepishly.

Maxie just gave him a puzzling look then shrugged as the doors opened and dinged upon their arrival.

xxxxx

He tensed as the sound of Sonny's ring tone filled the interior of his truck. They'd agreed earlier in the day to keep phone contact to a minimum to avoid suspicion should an investigation occur at a later date. Jason had already spoken to Sonny for what was supposed to be the last time tonight, so it had to be urgent and urgent on a night like tonight was never good.

He pushed talk and brought his cell to his ear. "Morgan!"

"We've got trouble." Sonny informed. "One of Alcazar's men gave our guys the slip this morning in Caracas. He was just spotted here in town a few minutes ago."

"Where?" Jason hoped it wouldn't delay him from getting to Sam.

"Metro Court. I've got one of our insiders at the hotel keeping tabs on him. So far, he's kept to himself. Set up residence at the main bar inside the grand ballroom, but our guy says he seems to be watching, waiting for someone." Sonny told him.

"You think this could be our guy?" Jason was getting a real bad feeling on top of the already bad feeling he had about Sam.

"He hasn't made contact yet, but if this isn't who he's working with it sure is one hell of a coincidence." And Jason and Sonny knew there was no such thing as coincidence in their business.

Jason let out a frustrated sigh. If Cooper Barrett was partnered up with Alcazar in some plan to come at them, Jason knew not even Sam's friendship would save him from Sonny's wrath.

He'd been in a silent war with Cooper all of last week, though neither of them acknowledged a thing. The few times they'd crossed paths in the building, or around town they had carried on as if nothing were going on which hadn't been exactly easy to do around someone as observant as Sam. But for entirely different reasons, Jason suspected, neither he nor Cooper wanted Sam to know they were at odds. So, for her sake, or maybe their own, they'd acted as if Cooper, or more likely Spinelli, and Jason's tech guy Stan weren't secretly battling each other in some virtual Spy vs. Spy, as if each side weren't working non-stop to retrieve and block information from being stolen from the other.

It started Monday when Stan realized someone had hacked the guard's smart phones, revealing they'd been keeping tabs on Cooper and his guests. Stan immediately beefed up security by installing a new higher bit encrypted firewall he'd been testing. So now all their phone's data was safe from a repeat offense. As a precaution, a sweep had also been done of Jason's penthouse. No bugs or cameras were found, but certain frequencies were detected indicating eavesdropping equipment in use nearby, so Stan had installed a modified signal jamming device as well as a high frequency white noise emitter to garble their chatter.

Once Jason learned Spinelli was a computer genius according to Sam, living with Cooper and probably helping him, Stan went to work hacking his system. He'd made his way in, but only long enough to get bits and pieces before Spinelli locked him out again. They'd learned Cooper was working on some plan with Spinelli and some unknown third person, but no other details about the plan other than it was set to go down in Port Charles. It wasn't even twenty-four hours later when Spinelli hacked Stan's system and the tables had been turned.

Stan had predicted the counter-strike, however, and had traced Spin's activity from the second the breach had been made until Stan had been able to shut him down. They'd been searching the Corinthos-Morgan network using a filter for anything to do with Alcazar which had sent red flags up for both Sonny and Jason. So now they knew Cooper was working on some plan with some unknown associate and had hacked their networks to learn what they knew about Alcazar. That was enough to label Cooper Barrett a threat of the highest priority and Stan had been searching for the identity of the unknown partner every since.

Now some guy from Alcazar's organization flies out of Venezuela and heads straight to Port Charles, New York to attend a Policeman's Ball where one Mr. Barrett is also in attendance? Things weren't adding up well for Cooper. "Who did Alcazar send? Do we know him?"

"Logan Hayes. Stan's sending a picture to your phone now. Looks like he's only been with Alcazar's organization about a year. What worries me is how quickly he's seemed to garner trust. Lorenzo named him his second after Hector was taken out a few months back." Sonny informed him.

"What's so important he'd send his enforcer to a Policeman's Ball?" Jason didn't like the sound of it at all, especially given the fact their informants inside the department had been compromised.

"Exactly, and it gets worse. Turns out Hayes and Barrett have history. They served together before Hayes was labeled MIA and presumed dead." Sonny nodded at Stan to scroll more information on the screen for him to relay to Jason as Jason cursed on the other end.

"So, they were both Delta?" Jason was now cursing himself for the missed opportunity of taking Cooper out like he'd considered that first day he'd seen him in Sonny's penthouse.

"Yeah, served in the same squad right up through the last deployment. Stan was only able to get parts of the file. Some kind of top level classification or something, but apparently the mission went bad and Cooper was thought to be the only one to survive. He was held and brought up on multiple charges including treason. Seems the Army believed Cooper had turned against his platoon and country to help an arms dealer acquire some high grade weapon they were detailed for safe transport." Sonny walked absently to the other side of his living room as he spoke and massaged his temple to subdue the tension headache setting in.

"Well, if that's the case what the hell is he doing walking free?" Jason wanted to know.

"According to the records, Cooper Barrett was cleared of all charges and awarded an immediate honorable discharge." Sonny explained.

"And how does this Logan Hayes showing up tonight fit into all this?" Jason asked out loud as he tried to fit the pieces together himself.

"Stan's working on it. Could be this Logan guy turns up not dead and helped clear Barrett of the charges. If so, he'd owe Logan one and maybe Alcazar's having him call it in now." Sonny didn't like it, any of it. He wanted his family safe and that included Sam and to do that he needed answers.

"I'm still an hour thirty outside city limits." Jason informed as his foot pressed down on the gas.

"Alright, listen, I think it might be good to have a little chat with this Logan guy." Sonny needed answers and now that that guy was in his domain he intended on getting them, one way or another.

"I'm headed there now. I'll call when I've got something." Jason agreed.

"Good. I need to know what business brings Alcazar back to our neck of the woods." Alcazar was up to something and Sonny was determined to make sure his plans failed, especially if they had anything to do with him.

Jason hung up and sent up a prayer that whatever Cooper Barrett was up to tonight he would at least have the decency to keep Sam out of it and away from harm.

18. part 2 of 3...

Sam stepped off the elevator and found herself pausing at the sight. She stood before a sea of blue. It wasn't that she hated cops really. It was just that she'd never once been in a situation that was ever made better because of one, at least not better for her, so she'd stuck to a simple philosophy regarding law enforcement. Avoid it, at all costs. It had worked well for her until she'd become a P.I., but it wouldn't be so easy now. Her mother was right. She'd need to make nice since she'd probably run up against them at some point with a case here or there. If she made nice now she just might convince them to share information when needed rather than charge her with obstruction when she refused to back down.

Her nausea kicked in at the thought of kissing anyone's ass, especially law enforcement ass. It wasn't that she wasn't used to sucking up, she'd had to play the part many times as a con, but it was different now. She was playing a part then, under some fake name. It wasn't real and certainly wasn't anyone she'd ever have an ongoing relationship with that might come to expect she maintain the bent and puckered position. She was being herself now and the real Sam McCall was nobody's ass kisser.

A shiver went up her spine as she felt Ric step up to her side, too close to her side, and place his hot heavy hand against her exposed lower back. It wasn't something most could detect until they'd felt it, but there was something wrong with the way he touched her. His hand, though not placed anywhere obscene to others, felt loose and languid as though waiting for the chance to roam. She felt like shrugging him off and away from her, and if he kept it up she would, but she was hesitant to make a scene the moment she stepped in the door. Her body tensed as he leaned in to whisper. "You might want to lose the frown. Makes it look like you aren't happy to be here."

"That would be an understatement." She gritted as she forced her lips upward at the corners.

"I see the mayor." Ric ignored her. "Shall we?" It wasn't a question. He'd already pressed his hand into her back, directing their steps toward Mayor Floyd and his groupies.

Sam swiped a glass of champagne off a tray as a waiter passed. She needed to keep a level head, but there was no way she'd get through the night stone cold sober.

xxxxx

"Goddess has arrived." Spinelli informed his partners.

"I've got visual. They're headed towards the mayor holding court on the far side of the ballroom." Coop reported casually as he waited for his and his date's drinks at one of three smaller bars setup on walls opposite the main bar.

Their partner's eyes froze on her and he couldn't breathe, couldn't blink for fear she would disappear before his very eyes. It had been years since he'd laid eyes on her in person and she'd become more beautiful than even his dreams recalled. Oh how he'd missed her, his Samantha. The good news was that if everything went according to plan he'd have her with him again, but first things first. There was much to be done before he could make his final move. "I've spotted her, but we've got company. Logan's at the bar. Keep her away until I can get rid of him."

Cooper's jaw clenched at hearing the man's name. Logan Hayes was a dead man walking, but he couldn't do a thing about it in front of hundreds of officers. Coop wasn't sure if Logan knew he was in town, or not, but he needed to keep his head down just in case. He couldn't afford to raise Alcazar's suspicion. He turned his attention back to Sam. If she spotted Logan, there would be no stopping her from advancing on him and trying to take him out, especially if she saw who he was talking to. And Cooper didn't want Logan turned in. He had plans for his own kind of justice.

"We need to find his vehicle and track him." Coop told his team.

"I'm searching the feed from surrounding streets, parking and the valet area at the main entrance now. I'll let you know when I've located the vehicle." Spin confirmed.

"I see Sam." Maxie smiled as Cooper returned to their table with their drinks in hand. "We should say hello." She suggested.

Coop smiled. He was glad the woman he was interested in seemed to like Sam. It would also help keep Sam distracted from what was going on at the bar if they kept her engaged in conversation. He assisted Maxie with pulling out her chair and offered a hand as she stood then held out his hand for her to lead the way. Maxie smiled. Aside from his good looks and interesting conversation, Cooper Barrett had been a perfect gentleman.

xxxxx

He stepped up to the younger man's side at the bar and spoke without visually acknowledging his presence. "What the hell are you doing?"

Logan smirked and made eye contact with the older man through the mirror behind the bar as he narrowed his eyes and took a sip of his drink. "Just making sure you stay on task."

"Everything is going perfect as planned, but your presence could mess all of that up. You need to leave before you're spotted, or worse, before I'm spotted with you." The man gave a friendly smile to the bartender as he approached and ordered a club soda with lime.

"Trust me, this is the last place I want to hang out. Lorenzo just thought you could use a little pep talk. Wouldn't want you to get distracted with your past." Logan swiveled in his seat toward the petite brunette at the mayor's side who now held everyone captivated by her charm.

"She's a means to an end." He told him without turning to her. "Once I'm done here, she'll be nothing more than that, my past." The dark-haired man lied convincingly.

Logan knocked back the rest of his whiskey and set the empty glass down on the bar. "Let's hope for your sake that's true. Distractions aren't good in our business, not if you want to stay breathing."

His jaw and fists tightened as he watched Logan Hayes make his way toward the exit. No way in hell was he going to let anyone tell him how to handle Samantha McCall. It had taken him too long to find himself in the same room with her again and he was determined for it not to be the last. He had plans for her, big plans.

xxxxx

No one would know from looking at her how claustrophobic she felt. Well, no one except for maybe two people in her life that had ever known her that well, but neither of them were there tonight. The first was called away on urgent business and the second she hadn't seen in years. She was dazzling the mayor and his flunkies with her sharp wit and refreshing candor as he had referred to it. As sick as it made her, it also felt good to know she was making a good impression for her mother, but she wanted to scratch Ric's eyes out for acting as though their relationship was as affable as she pretended. He was clearly taking advantage. If he were any closer, he'd be on top of her. He also feigned the need to touch her shoulder or arm to get her attention and used the excuse of the loud buzz of chatter and live string quintet to lean into her ear to be heard.

Speaking of heard, she heard her name called and felt Ric's hand on her arm again only to look around and realize she'd been lost in thought and everyone was waiting expectantly for her response. "My apologies." She gave a blushing smile to the mayor.

"Not at all, Ms. McCall. I was simply saying what a wonderful surprise it must have been for Alexis to find she had such a lovely daughter." He grinned.

"Thank you, mayor. It was a surprise to us both." Though not so wonderful, she added silently, at least not at first.

"I do hope all is well with your cousin. I was under the impression he and the lovely Miss Quartermaine were scheduled to attend." The mayor noted.

"Thank you for your concern." Though it felt more like he was upset at losing another solicitation than actual concern for Nik. "Nikolas sends his apologies. We've taken shifts so that my mother is never at the hospital without family and since my mother asked me to attend in her absence, Nik and Emily offered to take my shift tonight." Sam explained.

Although that was the real reason they weren't in attendance, Sam also knew for a fact Mayor Floyd had lost all chance at any future Cassadine donations the moment he insisted Nik's aunt step down as acting district attorney due to her health.

"How is Alexis?" Maxie asked from Sam's side opposite Ric. She'd heard from Georgie that Sam's mom had to have an emergency procedure the day before.

"The doctors say she's doing well all things considered. As long as there are no further complications, they expect to start weaning her from the medications tomorrow so she can wake up." Sam gave her a small smile.

"Excellent news. I expected nothing less from Alexis Davis. She's quite the fighter." The mayor pronounced.

"I must agree with you there, mayor. I can definitely attest to her prize-fighting skills." Ric commented with a sly smile as he rubbed his jaw as if struck, earning laughs from the small crowd.

Sam closed her eyes to avoid rolling them and bit her lower lip to prevent voicing the sarcastic remark begging to leave her tongue for turning her mother's illness into a joke.

"That's wonderful Sam." Maxie told her as she continued to watch the uncomfortable way Sam seemed to regard Ric.

"It is. I'll keep your family in my prayers." Coop assured his friend.

"Thank you, Maxie. Thanks Coop." She smiled warmly at them both. They made a cute couple and not just from looks alone. Their personalities seemed to compliment one another too.

She felt Ric's hand rub across her upper back and her smile was lost. "Excuse me mayor, Sam, would you care for a drink?"

"I'm good, thanks." Sam swallowed her bile and replied with a smile.

Ric nodded, seeming a bit put off, and headed for the bar.

"Actually, if you'll excuse me mayor, Coop, I need to run to the ladies to touch up." Maxie excused herself with an inviting glance to Sam who welcomed the chance at escape. "I'll join you, Maxie."

xxxxx

The dark-haired, dark-eyed man had seen the way the man next to him at the bar had been handling Samantha. He didn't care for it. There was something about it that felt too familiar considering his relationship with her.

"Lucky man." He prompted.

Ric's attention was drawn from placing his order for a double neat. "Excuse me?"

"I happened to notice your date. Beautiful girl." He noted as the subject of his compliment made her way across the room with an equally petite blond.

Ric smiled slightly, as if he knew a secret no one else knew. "My step-daughter is quite lovely, indeed."

"Oh, my apologies. I didn't realize." He lied. He knew exactly who that man was and how he was connected to Samantha.

"No harm, no foul." Ric chuckled as the bartender delivered his order.

"You seem familiar for some reason. Have we met?"

The man shook his head. "I'm new in town and I've spent most of my time in meetings and here in my hotel room aside from a few strolls in the park. Name is Cal Loyd."

Ric accepted the man's extended hand and shook. "Ric Lansing, District Attorney. Nice to meet you. Cal Loyd, Cal Loyd... Why does that name sound familiar?"

"Cal!" The mayor called out, making his way over to give the man a friendly handshake. "So glad you could make it tonight!"

"Wouldn't miss it, mayor." Cal assured him with a disarming smile.

"Please, please, I thought we'd established, it's Garrett, Garrett to you." Mayor Floyd reminded his newest benefactor.

"Right. Garrett, sorry." Cal acknowledged, fully aware of his previous insistence, yet choosing to feed into the man's love of being reminded of his own self-importance.

"I see you've met our newly appointed district attorney, Mr. Lansing." The mayor looked between the two.

"Yes, we were just making the others acquaintance." Ric assured him, now remembering where he'd heard the name. "So, this must be the new businessman you mentioned last week."

"Yes." The mayor affirmed. "Cal here is new to town and working to make a few friends. How's that coming along so far, Cal?"

"Great, thanks to you. I've actually had a few inquiries for my new firm as well." Cal informed.

"That's great. A fellow attorney?" Ric asked, but somehow doubted the man ever studied law.

Cal and the mayor laughed together like old friends. "Afraid not. Security firm. Mostly corporate, though I have been known to outfit private homes if the money is right and as personal favors for close friends, of course." Cal smiled and nodded in the mayor's direction.

"Yes, actually Cal here just installed a top of the line security system in my home as well as other security measures. And did I hear Jasper Jacks mention he's in talks with you for upgrading security here at the hotel?"

"As a matter of fact, we met just yesterday to go over plans and the contract." Cal confirmed.

"Congratulations, so it looks as though you may be in town for a while. Any chance you'll make it permanent?" The mayor inquired and Cal tried not to smirk at the dollar signs popping up in the man's eyes. It was amazing how much adoration and loyalty a fifty thousand dollar donation could buy you these days.

"It'll take at least another month to implement the new changes around the hotel. I'll have to play the rest by ear. See how things pan out." Cal skirted.

"Well, if we have anything to say about it we'll have you feeling right at home here in no time." The mayor looked expectantly at Ric who nodded and smiled.

"That's right Mr. Loyd, welcome to Port Charles." Ric agreed.

"Please, call me Cal." He'd just as soon break the man's knee caps rather than socialize with him after seeing how he treated Samantha, but he needed to play along for now.

xxxxx

"Sam, is everything alright with you and Ric?" Maxie asked the beautiful brunette as she smoothed her own hair in the mirror.

Sam gave a questioning look and Maxie studied her carefully through the looking glass. "I know most see me as some ditzy blond and that's fine. There are very few people whose opinions I care about anyway, but I'm actually quite observant and a keen judge of character for the most part. Ric seems a little too close for your comfort. If you want, I could have a little talk with him. I'm pretty good at spelling things out for people, or I could have Mac talk with him. I'm sure he would be happy to put him in his place. I know he's the police commissioner and Ric's the district attorney, but I don't think my dad likes him very much. I think pompous ass is what he refers to him as around the house, or maybe that was the mayor..." Her brows scrunched in thought followed by a shrug. "Oh well, heck, for that matter Coop, Nikolas or Jason would probably be all too happy to..."

"No, Maxie. It's fine. I'm fine. I'm just here to represent my mother's support for a few hours and then I'll be done with Ric." Sam assured the young girl.

Maxie eyed her skeptically for a minute, but Sam held her confident smile in place causing Maxie to shrug reluctantly. "Okay, fine, but if you need to escape again promise you'll come find me."

Sam grinned. She'd never really had girlfriends before, but Maxie was beginning to feel like someone she might consider for the title. "Deal."

They returned to inspecting themselves in the mirror. "So, how's it going with Coop?"

"So far so good. He's been the perfect gentleman. I almost feel bad for the torture coming his way once my dad finds out he's my date... almost." Maxie giggled and Sam did as well.

"Well, don't let him be too hard on him. Coop's a good guy."

"Oh, I won't. I'm just going to enjoy watching Mac battle himself. He's been raving all week long about Coop this and Coop that and how wonderful Cooper Barrett is with his men. It's going to be fun calling him out when he tries to find something wrong with him for the simple fact that he's dating his daughter. I swear, no one is ever good enough for his girls." Maxie shook her head with a smirk and stepped back from the sink taking in her overall appearance.

"You're lucky to have a dad who wants the best for you and refuses to let you settle for less." Sam admitted and Maxie thought she detected a bit of sadness in her words.

"Mac is the best." She nodded then continued with a devilish grin. "But his girls need to give as good as they get every once in a while."

Sam laughed and shook her head as they walked out of the ladies room and back toward their dates.

xxxxx

Ric had had enough. Who was she to treat him as if he were something stuck on the bottom of her shoe; dismissing him, disappearing on him left and right, embarrassing him and leaving him to answer to others why his date had suddenly abandoned him yet again? He gulped down the last of his third double shot of whiskey within the hour, searching the crowd for his lovely Samantha. It was time they shared a more intimate embrace.

Aside from the surprise guest popping up at the beginning, the rest of the plan was going according to schedule. Cal had managed to slip away undetected once Jasper Jacks' attendance had been visually confirmed, his wife Courtney at his side. He'd made his way clear to Jax' office near the top floor with Spinelli's help and the rest was a walk in the park. He made quick work of picking the lock on the door and cracking the safe Jax thought well-hidden in a curio behind his desk.

Inside the safe, he retrieved a small black binder and quickly thumbed through it until he found the information needed. Cal pulled his high-res mini camera from his pant pocket and began capturing data after firing up Jax' computer to assist Spin with the physical portion of a hack to the hotel's network. Spinelli then searched and obtained a copy of the customized digital key algorithm that generated future passwords and key cards for all secured locations within the building. They would need all of that for the upcoming job.

He put everything back in its place and alerted Spin over comms he was on the move again. Phase two was next and the part he both dreaded and longed for at once. In a few short moments he would make his presence known to Samantha. After that, there was only one more task and he could make his excuses and leave. He didn't really feel too comfortable surrounded by all those cops, made it hard to breathe, though he might force himself to bear it just to get another look at Samantha. He didn't like the way Ric had looked at her and he intended to keep an eye on him.

Sam stood off to the side in one of the darkest corners of the room she could find. She'd spent the last hour plastering her million dollar fake smile on her face and showcasing all her well-honed charms on the mayor, Governor and his wife and police commissioner which, oddly enough, she hadn't had to fake liking. Maybe it was Maxie's previous revelation of her father's true feelings for Ric and the mayor that had helped. She'd been dragged and nudged from one group to the next as Ric physically coerced her to whomever was on his and the mayor's A list including posing for the photographers. She'd taken as many breaks from Ric as she could manage in an attempt to keep her cool, but wasn't sure how much longer she could maintain.

She swore if he laid his hands on her one more time she would lose it right there in the middle of a room full of police officers and deck him. She'd warned him several times already to back off, but he'd ignored her. So, she'd finally made an escape to a dark corner to enjoy a few minutes retreat. She knew Maxie or Coop would have gladly come to her rescue, but as she watched them gliding along the dance floor with smiles on their faces she didn't have the heart to impose on them. Fortunately, dinner would be served soon and in another hour and some change she could call it a night.

"Samantha, I think it's time you acted like you're actually enjoying yourself tonight. Let's dance." Ric told her in a forceful tone as his hand wrapped around her lower back to direct her toward the dance floor.

Sam stiffened. She'd been so caught up in watching Cooper and Maxie's fairytale moment on the dance floor she hadn't sensed him until he was touching her again.

"I don't think so Ric." She told him just as forcefully as she turned to look him in the eyes and get away from his embrace.

"Stop acting like a child!" Ric smiled at onlookers as he then gripped Sam's upper arm tightly to prevent her from running off again. "All Alexis asked of you is a couple of hours dancing, socializing and making nice to show her support of this cause and of my career and here you are running off to pout in a corner every other second like some spoiled brat who didn't get their way. Your mother would be ashamed to see how easily you let her down."

Sam clamped her jaw shut tight fighting everything in her not to call him out on his embarrassing behavior with his tramp. Instead she jerked her arm away from Ric and hissed between gritted teeth with fire in her eyes. "Keep your hands off of me, Ric!"

"Sam? Sam McCall, is that you?" A Latino male around her age approached them with a warm smile on his face.

Recognition washed over Ric's face as he clenched his jaw and removed his arm from Sam. "Detective Rodriguez, you know Samantha?"

Sam cringed every time her full name came off his lips. She breathed in relief as he removed his hand from her and took in the handsome man before her. He called her name as if he knew her, but she was sure she'd remember meeting a man as attractive as he. Ric called him Rodriguez. She wracked her brain as to whom he might be.

His smile widened as if he read her reaction and he held out his hand to her. "Cruz Rodriguez, nice to finally meet you. I apologize, but your mother's told me so many wonderful things about you I feel as if we've already met and might I say your pictures don't do you justice."

Cruz took her hand in his and Sam smiled genuinely for one of the few times so far that night. She was thankful he'd saved her from the disgusting man standing next to her. "Thank you. It's nice to meet you as well. My mom thinks very highly of you."

"The feeling is mutual. I admire your mother's devotion to her work as well as to her family." Cruz glared at Ric on the last part taking a quiet pleasure in reminding the man of his wife and family.

Clearly from the way Ric had handled Sam before he stepped in, it was something the man had been in danger of forgetting altogether. Cruz had been observing Ric and Sam since they'd arrived. She was more beautiful than he'd even imagined and he wasn't too proud to admit he'd spent the better part of the last hour working up his courage to introduce himself. As he watched from the sidelines, he'd noticed the way Ric hovered over Sam like some possessive boyfriend and it just didn't sit right with him.

He'd been waiting for an opportune time to make his presence known and was just about to come over to her when Ric approached her again in the corner. When Cruz saw Ric grab her arm, anger and concern replaced any nervousness he had as he closed the distance between them. He was a detective, but he didn't think it would take a trained eye to see just how upset the beautiful woman was to be standing next to the new D.A. "I was wondering, Sam, if I might have the honor of a dance with you?"

Sam could have kiss that handsome stranger! She accepted his offered hand with enthusiasm. "I'd love to." She replied as he led her away from her stepfather and onto the center of the ballroom floor.

Soon to be ex-stepfather, if she had anything to say about it.

18. part 3 of 3...

Maxie was having a hard time finding his faults. She was sure he must have them, but they seemed in rather short supply at the moment. Sure he'd been tongue-tied at times throughout the night, but that only endeared him to her more that he could possibly be so affected by her as to forget himself. She knew one thing for sure, she enjoyed being in his arms more than anyone on a first date had the right to do and she'd been absolutely right in her assumption that he would make a fine dancer.

He'd led her around the dance floor effortlessly and, as her blue eyes met his, they'd slipped into their own little bubble. Maxie couldn't even be sure if they were dancing to the beat of the music anymore or a beat of their very own. She had to check herself. Things were moving way too fast. Tonight was just supposed to be fun, nothing more. She forced a blink and when their eye contact broke, Coop must have felt the bubble pop too. They realized the song had ended as a few couples dispersed the floor for refreshment.

"Would you like something to drink?" Coop said and hoped she wouldn't think he was trying to get her drunk with all the times he'd offered.

It was just that the excuse of waiting for their drinks allowed him a moment to check in with his team without suspicion.

"Actually, yes please. Whatever it was you surprised me with last time was great." She smiled as he led her back to their table.

She noticed her father and sister still dancing and smiled at them. It was a sweet father/daughter moment. She knew her time was running out before her father sought her out for a dance as well. She'd have to tell Coop soon. She decided to let him know what he was in for as soon as he returned with their drinks.

"Be right back." Coop promised and Maxie's attention was drawn back to him momentarily as she nodded.

Mac and Georgie weren't the only ones eliciting a smile from the young blond. She spotted Sam dancing with Lucky's partner, Cruz. She liked Cruz. It was difficult to accept anyone as Lucky's new partner that wasn't Jesse, but he was a good guy. She and Lucky agreed Jesse would have liked him. Cruz hadn't known Lucky very long when the whole scandal came out about Lucky's affair and being accused by Elizabeth of abusing pain pills, but Cruz had been one of the few who hadn't jumped to conclusions.

He'd told Lucky he believed him and he'd supported Lucky by telling Mac and internal affairs how Lucky had never handled himself on the job in any way less than a hundred percent professional. Maxie's smile grew seeing Sam with Cruz because she knew every minute her new friend spent with Cruz was one less minute she was subjected to the likes of Ric Lansing.

She didn't know Ric well, but what she'd seen tonight hadn't impressed her at all and if her father's rants had been anything to judge him by then the man was an unethical ass-hat driven by his own selfishness for political advancement.

It wasn't his ambition Maxie took issue with though; it was his sleaze factor. Maxie could appreciate ambition. Hell, her drive to succeed in the fashion world was the only thing that kept her from quitting most days. Kate Howard was brilliant, but she was also an icy bitch even by Maxie's bitch scale. Speaking of, her own inner bitch softened when she noticed poor Courtney standing in a corner alone as Kate monopolized the other woman's husband, Jasper Jacks. She wondered idly how much life that marriage had left. Not much, it seemed, if Kate had anything to say about it.

Coop performed a cursory sweep of the exits and entrances of the ballroom to check for any other sets of eyes Alcazar may have left behind, but found it clear. No sign of Logan either. "Clear." He reported over comms.

"Copy. Cameras show you're clear as well." Spin confirmed.

"Roger." Cal told them as he made his way into the ballroom. "I'm in."

"Let's just hope you know what you're doing by showing yourself to Sam now." Coop grumbled.

While he was tired of keeping it secret from Sam, he didn't want her anywhere near their plan and once Cal's presence was known he knew Sam would be full of questions and she wouldn't stop until she got satisfactory answers.

"I see her." Cal ignored Coop's anxiousness. He knew how to handle Samantha.

He spotted her in another man's arms on the dance floor, a cop no less, and sighed in part frustration, part disgust. He debated cutting in, but figured it better to have a third party re-introduction in case she decided to make a run for it as soon as she saw him. "I'll approach as soon as she's done dancing."

Coop directed his eyes toward the floor until he too found her. He was a little surprised to see her dancing with Detective Rodriguez. He'd figured it would be her stepfather. He hoped Cruz didn't get his hopes up. Granted, it was easy to do with a woman as amazing as Sam, but he'd learned long ago her heart already belonged to Jason Morgan. He scooped up their drinks as the bartender placed them down and headed back over to his date.

"Good Luck with that." He told the man because he sure was gonna need it.

"Here you go." He half smiled as he placed Maxie's drink before her and took a seat next to her with his own.

"Thank you." She smiled and nodded toward the dance floor. "Sam looks like she's actually enjoying herself for once this evening."

"Yea, Cruz is a good guy. I'm glad she got a break from her step-dad. She doesn't talk about him much, but I get the feeling there's no love lost between them." Coop had tried to ask Sam about Ric several times over the course of last week only to have her craftily change the topic of conversation.

He'd noticed what she was doing, but hadn't wanted to push. There were still things he wasn't comfortable talking about to anyone either like the death of his fiancee.

"I only just really met Sam. I mean I remember seeing her around town, but we never really talked until now. I like her. She seems like a pretty good judge of character too, so it wouldn't surprise me that she wouldn't care for an arrogant ass like Ric." Maxie reasoned.

Coop chuckled. "Tell me how you really feel."

Maxie turned her furious brows on him then fought a smile when she saw that playful twinkle in his eye again and shrugged. "I call it like I see it."

"I think that may be one of my favorite things about you so far." He leaned in to whisper conspiratorially and goosebumps formed on her shoulder where his warm breath caressed her bare skin.

Maxie did her best to ignore the fluttering. "You say that as if it should be a secret."

Coop smiled at her. "I'm not sure if I should be admitting I've already made a list of favorite things about you... yet. I wouldn't want to scare you off after only one date."

Maxie chuckled then bit her lip as she noticed who was now making their way over to her. "Coop, after what I'm about to tell you, I'm not so sure I'll be the one running off first."

Coop's brows frowned. What did she mean? Was she already spoken for? He sighed. Of course a girl like her would already be taken. Normally, the news wouldn't have even phased him. He hadn't allowed himself to really care for another woman, aside from his sister and now Sam since... since losing Julie. His frown deepened in thought. Did that mean he could possibly already care for Maxie? Certainly not. They'd just met. "Alright, you've got my attention. What is it you need to tell me?"

Maxie chewed her lower lip a moment before speaking. "My family is here tonight."

Family? Oh god, was she married? It couldn't be. He couldn't see her hands now due to the long gloves she wore, but he was sure he'd checked for a wedding ring that day he asked her out in the hospital elevator.

"Oh." Was all he could muster in response.

"Yeah, um, actually you know them. In fact, I believe you knew them before you knew me." She could see her sister's smile growing the closer she and their dad got to their table and turned back to Coop.

He was still silent so she continued. "Look, I'm sorry for what's about to happen. You're a lot nicer guy than I pegged you for in that elevator. I'd just wanted to have a little fun, but now I'm not so sure this is going to be fun for either one of us. Mac Scorpio is my father and Georgie Jones is my sister and they're headed this way. Mac tends to be more than a little overprotective of his girls, so, again, I apologize for this."

Coop didn't have time to process the news before they were joined by his, well, sort of his boss, but the "Oh shit!" echoing in his ears just about summed up what he was feeling at that moment. The two distinct sets of laughter, however, not so much. Why the hell he'd thought it a good idea to ask Maxie out on a night when he was on comms was beyond him now. He couldn't wait to throttle his team when their night was over.

"Maxie, there you are sweetheart. I've been looking for you." Mac smiled at her warmly before looking over at Cooper a little confused, but not altogether displeased, yet.

"Cooper, glad you could make it." Coop stood to shake hands with Mac and gulped down his shock.

At least Maxie wasn't married, he thought. Unless she had more surprises in store for him which considering all he knew about her, he couldn't rule that out. He chuckled to himself, here he thought he'd be the one keeping her on her toes all night. He glanced over at Maxie and her sly smile. She was a handful, two hands full and, God help him, he wanted to hold on to her with both hands and see just where the ride may take him.

"Commissioner, good to see you." Coop returned a solid handshake.

He liked Mac. He'd had a good feeling about him since the first phone interview and after meeting with him personally that first night in town that good feeling had only grown. Mac Scorpio cared about his men, his family and his community and had devoted his life to them all. Cooper could respect that as he'd done the same for his family as well as his brothers during his service.

"Dad, I'd like you to meet my date. I would introduce you, but it appears you've already met." Maxie smirked as Georgie's eyes widened at her father's side.

Mac's genuine smile from a moment ago was now frozen in place as he still gripped Coop's hand, a little harder now Coop noticed, and clenched his jaw. "Date? I wasn't aware you were dating my daughter Barrett."

Coop felt a little flustered, but regrouped quickly. "Neither was I until about a minute and a half ago." He explained and felt Mac's grip relax.

Mac released his handshake and huffed a slight chuckle with a shake of his head. "Now why does that not surprise me?"

Mac looked over at his firecracker daughter. "Care to share how you ended up dating another one of my men Mariah Maximilliana?"

Maxie crossed one gloved arm over another and rolled her eyes, he knew she hated when he called her by her whole name. "Simple. He asked me out. I said yes."

It was Mac's turn to roll his eyes. He wanted not to like the guy, but it was too late. Mac had already grown to respect the young man, but that was business and this was personal. He was good at his job, but that didn't mean he was good enough for his daughter. He decided he and Mr. Barrett needed to get to know one another a whole lot better. He would have taken him to the firing range if he thought it would have intimidated him at all, but the truth was Cooper Barrett was an expert marksman and a better shot than him.

Georgie detected the signs of the conversation between her father and sister going downhill fast. She'd witnessed enough of them to know, so she went to work doing what she did best, mediation and diversion. "Coop, it's nice to see you some place other than Kelly's for a change."

Coop turned to Georgie with a smile. "Thanks Georgie, you too. You look lovely tonight. Kelly's green apron just doesn't do you justice."

"Thank you." Georgie blushed. It wasn't that Georgie thought she was a total loss in the looks department, but she wasn't accustomed to compliments from gorgeous men.

Maxie threw Georgie a thankful smile. She knew her sister well enough to know she'd just averted yet another world war with her father. Georgie had always hated confrontation and went out of her way to avoid it while Maxie seemed to thrive on it. Sometimes Maxie wondered how they were even sisters. The two were so completely opposite in every way and yet, Maxie couldn't love her sister more. She was, without a doubt, her touchstone and on more than one occasion her saving grace.

"Dad, I believe you mentioned wanting a dance with Maxie before dinner." Georgie prompted.

Mac grunted with a nod and sighed. All things considered, Maxie could have chosen worse for herself than Cooper Barrett. He'd let it go for the moment. Besides, he'd have lots of opportunity to grill the man at work every day the next several weeks. He nodded at Coop and couldn't help how his frown turned to a slight smile looking at his oldest. Maxie was a beautiful young lady and he felt like the proudest papa ever with both his beautiful girls at his side. "Care to dance, sweetheart?"

He'd surprised her. Mac hadn't given Coop the third degree, laid down the law or issued any threats. Maybe he was finally seeing she was an adult and capable of making her own choices without constant parenting.

"I'd love to." She told her father, the only parent she and Georgie had ever really known since Felicia and Frisco left her and her little sister behind for a life of adventure that had no room for the two children they'd brought into the world.

Maxie did her best not to be too bitter about it. If they had stayed, she would never have lucked out with the most loving father in the world.

Coop and Georgie smiled after them as they made their way to the dance floor before his manners suddenly occurred to him. "Would you care to dance, or could I get you a drink?"

A server passed by at that very moment and Georgie plucked a champagne flute from the tray. "This will do nicely and then maybe we could have that dance?"

Coop nodded. "Perfect." He pulled her chair out for her to be seated next to him so they could talk and watch the dance floor at the same time.

"Cal!" The tall, tanned, blue-eyed Aussie greeted his new associate. "Kate, I'd like you to meet a new associate of mine, Cal Loyd. I've just signed for him to handle security upgrades here at the hotel. Cal, Kate Howard, fashion mogul and editor in chief of Crimson Magazine."

"Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Howard." Cal grinned most charmingly.

"Likewise, Mr. Loyd." Kate smiled as her arm remained entangled with Jax since he'd escorted her from the dance floor. "I'm assuming these upgrades are in preparation for the event next month?"

Jax nodded. "That's right. Cal here comes highly recommended as the best in the field and I'll settle for nothing less considering half the nation's deficit worth of jewels will be on display here in this very ballroom next month at the holiday fundraiser. Courtney's worked very hard to see that every little detail has been covered for the foundation as well as the hospital and I want to make certain everything goes off without a flaw."

Cal smiled most assuredly. "If I have anything to say about it, the event will be as flawless as the diamond its centered around."

"Good man." Jax flashed his pearly whites in agreement and Kate smiled as well.

"Speaking of Courtney, how is she this evening? I'm afraid I haven't had the opportunity to thank her yet for making my stay here feel so at home." Cal knew bringing up the man's wife while another lady was on his arm was probably a bad idea, but he'd grown an immediate liking for the young woman.

Courtney had been kind to him and was one of the few people he'd ever met that showed kindness without expecting something in return. Aside from the calculated reminder that Jax had a wife that should be on his arm, he really did wish to thank her for all the little details she'd taken care of for him during his stay. He was sure not every guest received such special attention, even for a five star establishment.

"Oh knowing Courtney, I'm sure she's off somewhere playing the perfect hostess." Kate dismissed.

"That's right, you and your wife share ownership in this fine hotel and restaurant is that right?" Cal said though he already knew it to be true.

"That's right. While I handle the day to day operations, Courtney tends to the events and VIP guests when she isn't busy running her children's foundation." Jax stated proudly, and he was proud of his wife and all of her accomplishments.

He was proud of the way she'd made a better life for herself away from all the violence her brother's influence brought into her world. Jax only wished she would stop shutting him out. She wasn't the only one that had lost a child. It was his baby too and all he wanted to do was grieve their loss together, but she refused to talk with him about it. Fortunately, he'd had Kate's friendship to lean on. Normally, he would have turned to his best friend, but he needed to give to Alexis now and not take.

"Sounds like you and Courtney make the perfect team at work and at home." Cal noted.

Jax smiled. "Nothing is ever perfect, but I would have to say life with my wife is the closest I've ever come to it."

Kate tried to hide her irritation at that remark by redirecting things her way. "So, Mr. Loyd..."

"Cal, please." Cal insisted.

"Cal..." Kate smiled. "Are you only in town for the job or are you thinking of making Port Charles your new home?"

"You know, for the life of me I couldn't see what held so much appeal to others about this town, but with beauty such as yourself calling it home I'm certainly more tempted than ever to stay." Cal charmed and Kate ate it up as her hand now dropped from Jax' arm and smoothed down her crimson red gown.

"Sam, detective." Jax greeted the couple as they neared them at the bar. "I hope you're enjoying yourselves this evening."

"You put on a wonderful show, Mr. Jacks." Cruz replied.

"Thank you, but I'm afraid all the credit belongs to my lovely wife, Courtney. We're both very appreciative for your service to our community and Courtney was determined to ensure you all had a splendid time tonight." Jax confessed.

"Thank you. I'll be sure to thank her as well when I see her." Cruz assured him and Jax nodded before turning his attention to Sam.

"Sam, how's Alexis? Any improvement?" She'd called him yesterday to let him know about the lung collapsing and that the doctors were successful inserting the chest tube.

Sam heard his words, but was unable to speak. Her mouth, her legs, her entire body had frozen in place the moment she laid eyes on the man standing between her mother's best friend and Maxie's boss. She simply shook her head, but still found no words.

He was there. What the hell was he doing there? How had he found her? Her heart began to race and she fought her initial reflex to confront him. She remained silent. After all, hadn't he been the one to teach her the first to speak was the first to lose? She wouldn't lose anything else to that man. She'd already lost enough.

Cruz wasn't the only one to notice Sam's intense stare at the stranger in their company, Jax noticed as well. "Sam, please excuse my poor manners. This is a new business associate of mine, Cal Loyd. I believe you and Kate have already met."

Again, no words. Sam simply nodded with a forced smile toward Kate before immediately turning her gaze back onto the man long left in her past.

Jax wasn't sure what to make of Sam's reaction. "Cal, this is my best friend's daughter, Sam McCall."

"Samantha, lovely to see you." Again, he added silently, troubled by the way she flinched when he'd called her by her name.

"Sam." She ground out then recovered as a wall went up and she was protected within a perfectly crafted persona of a confident and perfectly charming socialite. "Please, call me Sam."

Cal nodded. "As you wish."

Her new persona in place, she now found it easier to work that liar for information. "So what business is it exactly that brings you to our little part of the world?"

"I run a security firm. Jax and a few other residents have retained my services." Cal explained carefully.

"Really? And how was it you and Jasper Jacks connected?" Cal smiled slyly at her question.

He knew exactly what she was driving at without spelling it out. It was the exact conclusion he knew she'd come to which was why he knew he had to start working on her now if there was any chance of pulling it off later, aside from the fact that he'd convinced Alcazar she was a necessary part in his latest acquisition.

Jax answered her question before he could. "The mayor knew I was looking to do some security upgrades around the hotel and Cal came highly recommended."

Sam's brow rose. He was good, maybe even better than she remembered. He'd managed to make the mark think he'd sought him out. Part of her felt proud and another part ashamed, angry even, for him coming there and interrupting the small amount of normalcy she'd managed to find for the first time in her life. "I'm sure you came highly recommended to the mayor as well."

Cal grinned. She knew him too well. Samantha was telling him she was on to him.

Conversation was tense between the group until Cruz asked Sam if she cared to join him for a drink and they excused themselves. "Of course. It was very nice talking with you... Sam."

He wondered why she didn't care to be called Samantha anymore. "I hope we'll get the chance to talk again soon."

"Count on it." Sam told him in an amiable tone very few would ever detect as false.

"I look forward to it. I'll be in town for the foreseeable future. With it being such a small town, I'm sure we're bound to run into one another."

"Surprising we haven't already." She told him with a look in her eye that told him it didn't surprise her at all. She knew he'd planned it that way.

With that, she and Cruz headed off for their drinks.

"Well, that went better than I thought it would." Coop mumbled.

"I'm sorry. What was that?" Georgie said.

"Oh, I was just saying our dance, our dance went better than I thought. It's been a while since I've worn my dancing shoes." He covered.

He'd been talking, of course, about the confrontation he'd overheard between Sam and his partner, but what he'd told Georgie was true. The last time he'd danced with anyone was with his fiancee at their engagement party.

"Well, I don't think you have a thing to worry about." Georgie assured him. "You're a wonderful dancer."

"Thanks. So are you." He smiled. She really was the picture of one of Botticellis' angels while her sister... He couldn't decide if she was an angel or a little devil. Both, he'd bet, depending on whatever the situation called for.

"I told you." He heard the voice break over comms. "I know how to handle Samantha. She reacted exactly as I'd anticipated. Now that we've got that out of the way for the time being, it's time to focus on phase three. I'll need you to watch her. As soon as she sees me leave, she's going to try and confront me alone. Give her five minutes then come in with the distraction."

"Got it." He told him.

"Got what?" Georgie said confused.

"Oh, I, I guess I've still got it." He told her referring to his dancing abilities.

Georgie smiled and nodded as they made their way back to the table where her father and Maxie were already seated. The band had stopped playing and Courtney's voice filled the room announcing dinner would be served soon and politely requesting everyone be seated.

Sam took her seat at Ric's side, unfortunately, and cringed internally at the other guests seated. The tables were set for ten and hers included herself, Ric, the mayor and his shark wife Andrea, Jasper Jacks (whom she'd never completely gotten past their first meeting when he'd insulted and threatened to bankrupt her if she refused to help the mother and sister she never knew she had) and his wife Courtney (at least there was one genuinely kind person seated at her table) along with Kate and three others she'd never met.

She looked around casually, so as not to give her intentions away. Maxie, Coop and her family were seated at the table next to hers. She gave them a smile when their eyes met and Maxie threw her a slight wave. She kept her eyes moving through the crowd, searching until she spotted him. She intended to keep an eye on him and find out what the hell he was up to the second she caught him alone. He was a complication she just did not need in her life right now, especially tonight. Sam just wanted the night to end, so she could confront Ric and be one step closer to moving on with her life and helping her family do the same.

The first course consisted of Gorgonzola polenta with lemon-basil and sun-dried tomato butter sauce and a dry sherry. The second course was equally mouthwatering with a wild mushroom soup and rosemary merlot cream crostini. Sam passed on the second glass of wine. She needed to pace herself. She had a long night in store for her. The next courses came and went, northwest wild greens salad with green apples, goat cheese and raspberry vinaigrette served with a lovely Chardonnay and then a nice lemon sorbet with fresh mint to cleanse the palette.

Sam was thankful all the different courses left way for interruptions in conversation which she found harder and harder to maintain as the evening wore on. Nothing bored her more than politics and that seemed all anyone at her table wished to discuss. She never thought she'd be thankful for Kate sitting at her table, but at least she added some life to it. She'd engaged everyone in conversation about fashion and held herself quite well with everyone as if she'd been born to such luxury, but Sam got the impression she hadn't been born to it at all.

There were little tells someone like Sam picked up on indicating she was putting on as big, if not bigger, show as Sam herself was tonight. She'd bet her last dollar Kate Howard had come from as meager beginnings as she had, but she'd done a hell of a job covering. The con in Sam respected the woman for that. Good for her, but at the same time she couldn't help wanting to knock her down a peg for the way she used her polish to innocently belittle Courtney's contribution to the conversation. Sam took pity on the gentle woman and rallied in her defense with a few well-placed and equally 'innocent' jabs to shut the fashion editor up.

She'd kept one eye on Ric's wandering hand now perched atop the back of her chair and occasionally 'accidentally' brushing against her back and the other eye on the man seated two tables over from her. It was after the fifth course of chicken amore almond crusted with blueberries, peaches and Grand Marinier with yet another wine selection that she had finally had enough of Ric leaning into her side and whispering that she finally lost it and stomped on his foot. She took great satisfaction at his stifled choking pain as her stiletto ground into his black leather Jeffery-West wingtips.

She hid her grin behind her wine glass as the seated guests all took note of Ric's coughing it off as if something had gone down the wrong pipe. Kate seemed more aware than Sam had given credit when she'd offered Sam a raised brow followed by an almost admirable smirk. Sam lengthened her drink to hide the renewed smile upon her face and Kate's smirk turned to a chuckle which she effortlessly deflected as the attention drew back to her from Ric.

It was just as the Salmon de Provence, horseradish crust, orange beurre blanc was served with an offering of Rex Hill Pinot Noir that Cal made his move and Sam hadn't missed it. So much for dessert. She'd been looking forward to the macadamia cups with passion fruit cream and fresh berries, but was probably better off not being tempted with the Kiona Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc. She was feeling a bit heady as she stood from the table quickly after excusing herself to the ladies before any other lady could join her. She smiled as she walked away with Ric grinding his teeth, unable to object in front of the people whose opinions he actually cared about.

He led her to the outdoor terrace knowing it would be empty while everyone was still seated at dinner. The confrontation called for as much privacy as he could find. He was tempted, even, to turn off his mic to the two men listening in, but he couldn't risk it. Their plan had been executed smoothly so far, but he knew from experience everything could change in an instant and he would need to be prepared. Comms stayed on, he decided with a nod then smiled to himself.

As sure as he was standing there, Sam fell for the bait. He heard the double terrace doors he'd just used open and close behind him as he stared out at the city's skyline. It was nothing as grand as he'd seen all around the world since he'd last laid eyes on his Samantha, but he had to admit the town had a charm of its own. He conceded a large part of that charm had to do with the fact the woman behind him now called it home.

"So, Cal Loyd, is it?" Sam challenged. "Any relation to Sam Loyd?"

He couldn't help it. He laughed outright. Sam Loyd was widely acknowledged as one of America's great puzzle-writers and popularizers, often mentioned as the greatest. He was one of the best chess players of his day, however he was also known for lies and self-promotion. He was criticized as being a hustler, a genius, but also a huckster and fast-talking snake oil salesman.

She was too good. Maybe, no definitely, better than he remembered. He'd watched her work the room all night as well as handle that man she was forced to call a stepfather. She'd maneuvered her way through everything with more skill and ease than he'd ever witnessed from her and even though he could see the few tells that gave away her unease, he was certain few others had, if any.

"And if I were to say yes?" He challenged right back as he turned and met her guarded brown eyes.

She narrowed her gaze, holding nothing back. "Then I'd know you were a liar."

He chuckled and his own brown eyes sparkled with pride. "I have a feeling you'd be able to catch me in my lies regardless, Samantha."

He watched as she did it again, cringed and physically stiffened as he said her full name. He didn't understand it.

"I told you, it's Sam." She said with a cold finality.

"You used to love it when I called you by your full name, even requested it." He reminded her.

She remembered. She had loved it, but that was before.

"Things change." Was her cryptic reply.

His brows furrowed. As well as he knew her, he could read the sadness and pain in her voice and in her eyes, but he didn't know what had caused it and he wanted, needed to know. Was it him? It wouldn't surprise him the way things had ended, but he was different now.

He nodded thoughtfully. "People change."

Sam scoffed. "Is that the story you're selling these days? You've reformed? Might be easier to sell if I hadn't just watched you work the deepest pocket in the room not an hour ago."

"I have changed Sama, Sam. I'm not the same man you knew before, the one that hurt you. I've turned my life around. Started a new business, one that puts all my old skills to use without breaking the law." He professed and faltered at her disbelief. "Bending maybe." He acquiesced. "But not breaking."

"So you're saying it's all just total coincidence you ended up in the same town as me and doing business with one of the wealthiest men in town?" Sam shook her head. Did he really think she'd become soft?

"No. I would never insult your intelligence by denying it. I came here because you were here. I found you, after all these years, and I wanted, needed to see you. I needed to make things right." He approached her slowly, knowing she'd bolt if he moved too fast.

"Forget it." Sam shrugged. "I have. It's in the past and that's where I want to keep it, and you."

"You need to leave." She told him. "I'm making a good life for myself here and I won't let you mess that up for me."

"I don't want to mess it up." He insisted. "I was hoping maybe... Maybe I could be a part of it?" He struggled to keep his voice more curious to hide the vulnerability the admission engendered.

A million emotions ran through her as she studied the man in front of her that she'd loved and worshiped, but who'd also hurt her more times than she could count. He seemed sincere, but he was good. He'd fooled better cons than her in his day. "I'm not sure that's possible anymore."

He smiled softly at her. "But you're not sure it's impossible either, are you? So, I'll take that as a maybe. Maybe is good. I can work with maybe."

He took another cautious step only two feet from her. "I've missed you, Sam. Not a day went by since you left that I didn't miss you and wonder how my beautiful baby girl turned out. It makes me so proud to see just how well you've done for yourself. A salvage captain and now private investigator? You always were an amazing kid and you've become an even more amazing young woman."

"Cody..." Holding back her emotions and brushing away the stray tears that fell unbidden, Sam paused and bit her lip as she quickly looked around for witnesses realizing she'd made a rookie mistake and blown his cover.

Cody McCall aka Cal Loyd smiled at his long lost daughter all grown up. "Someday, I hope to have you call me dad again. No more aliases. No more Cody just... dad. I intend to stick around if you'll let me. I intend to stick around and earn it this time." A silence fell between them and they both fought the urge to hug.

Sam couldn't bring herself to open up to him, to believe in him again and Cody knew he deserved her distrust. He'd harmed his daughter in more ways than he could count and he hadn't earned the right to just waltz back in her life and expect her to love him the way she had before she'd known any better.

"I'll see you, Sam. I'll be here at the hotel, if you want to see me." He told her before walking past his grown daughter and through the terrace doors he'd entered moments ago.

Sam was a mess of emotion. She didn't know what she wanted, but she couldn't deny the emptiness and coldness that enveloped her once her father walked away from her and left her alone on that terrace. She didn't know what she expected, or even what she'd say to him, but she wanted more. She needed to know more. Where had he been all these years? What happened to him after she ran away? When had he supposedly changed his ways and why?

"She's on the move." Cody informed his partner over comms. Without even looking back, he knew his daughter would follow him again. She'd been too shocked and overwhelmed to ask all the questions he knew she had and a part of her wouldn't be able to trust him not to disappear on her.

"I'm on it." Coop confirmed as he spotted Cody headed for the elevators with Sam hot on his trail.

He had to slow her down and distract her somehow. He wasn't sure how though. He originally intended to hold her up with conversation, but he'd seen that look of determination on her face once before when she'd gone after the man that framed him for treason and had tried to kill his sister, Sarah. There had been no stopping her then and he doubted there would be any stopping her now, but he had to do whatever it took to distract her.

Cody had one last task tonight if they had any hope of their plan working and it had to play out this way. Timing was everything and it couldn't be handled any sooner in the evening, or any later due to the rotation of security and it had to happen tonight. It was their last chance before the hotel vault codes changed and once the codes rolled over to the new month, the activity made an instantaneous and indelible imprint on the digital log the likes of which even one Damian Spinelli couldn't alter without being discovered. The action would be visible for anyone to trace until the new rollover date rolled around in another thirty days which would be too late. It was too much of a risk considering all the outside security checks that would occur as the jewel studded event drew nearer.

Cody made it onto the waiting elevator and hit the button for the next floor up. He'd double back down using the stairwell once he was sure he'd lost her. The doors began to close just as Sam increased her speed. It looked as though Coop wasn't going to make it in time to stop her, but just as the doors closed he saw that Coop had grabbed her by the arm and called out for her. He breathed a sigh of relief. He had to time the next part perfectly. There was only a three minute window during the changing of the guards.

Coop grabbed Sam by the arm and swung her around without a single idea of how to explain himself. He saw the man approaching the elevator behind him and years of training kicked in. He reacted on reflex.

"Cover me." He told her seconds before his lips crashed down on hers in a punishing kiss as he pulled her close in a lover's embrace.

Sam barely had time to register who it was that had grabbed her before she heard him say cover me and was pulled into his kiss. Confusion filled her as his mouth worked hers controlling the kiss. Her arms had automatically found their way around his neck and somehow her own survival instincts had kicked in overruling her initial desire to push him away and ask him what the hell he thought he was doing. Instead, she worked with him. She didn't know what the hell was going on, but she knew Coop and he would never take advantage of her if there wasn't a true need.

"Why do you need cover?" She whispered in his ear as he feigned kisses against her neck.

"We've got company, one of Alcazar's." He told her and hated the lie as soon as it left his tongue.

He felt her stiffen briefly in his arms before she then put even more of herself into the kiss. She knew it had to look believable if they were in danger of being discovered by one of Alcazar's men. She knew he'd once called Port Charles home, but hadn't given the danger much thought since he'd been forced into hiding after being exposed.

If Alcazar found her or Coop, they were as good as dead and everyone they loved would be in even more danger. She guessed the only reason Lorenzo hadn't come for them sooner was that he'd been a little too busy saving his own skin. She cursed herself for not going to greater lengths to hide her whereabouts. She'd used her real name when she went after him for fuck's sake and hadn't bothered taking on a new one. She pulled Cooper's mouth back to hers and slipped her tongue inside as she rubbed against him and Coop pulled her closer as she moaned which was exactly what Jason Morgan stepped off the elevator to find.

Jason watched Sam grind against her friend, working her mouth on Cooper Barrett's mouth every bit as intensely as he worked hers and then she moaned. It was the soft little moan that was his moan, the one only he was ever supposed to elicit from those delectable lips. He wasn't hurt. He was too pissed to be hurt. Rage coursed through him, his blood boiling, as his body was assaulted with the overwhelming urge to punch the hell out of something, anything, and just as he decided Cooper was the perfect target for his fury, a voice broke through and he turned his murderous gaze on him instead.

"My, my, if I didn't know any better Jason, I'd say you were jealous of the way that man's mouth and hands are touching dear Samantha. I wonder what the mother of your child would have to say about that? Maybe I should give her a call. No, no." He shook his head. "News of this nature should be delivered in person. Don't you thiii..."

He never got to finish that sentence. Jason pounced in one leap and swung his fist with almost all his weight as it landed square against Ric's jaw leveling the man on the ground. Any harder and he would have broken it. Thankfully, there were no witnesses. Another elevator had taken the guy Coop claimed to be one of Alcazar's men down before the punch and the four of them were the only ones now present in the little alcove off of the ballroom that housed the elevators and stair door.

Sam and Cooper broke from their kiss and pulled apart sensing the motion off to their right and hearing Ric's cry as he fell to the floor.

"Son of a bitch!" Ric yelled as he stood from the floor. "That's it! I'm bringing you up on charges for assaulting an officer of the court, disturbing the peace and anything else I can come up with between here and the station!"

Jason didn't say a word as he stared the man who'd plotted against him for months down. He heard Sam gasp and his attention was drawn back to her. "Oh my God, Jason!"

"Oh my God." She repeated at a loss for any other words. It was obvious from the look of him that he'd seen her kissing Cooper. His chest was heaving with labored breaths. His entire body was rigid as a board and his fists were clutched at his sides, held so tight they were shaking and the look he was giving her... She'd never seen him look at her with so much rage, such coldness. His eyes left hers and he focused on the man now stepping up to her side in a defensive posture.

Sam wasn't sure if he had his gun on him, but knew the chances were good. He looked ready to shoot someone. He looked ready to shoot Coop. "Jason, please. It's not what you thiii..."

She never got to finish that sentence. His icy glare cut her off mid-stride. She swallowed the pain his glare gave her, his pain. She knew his anger only covered his pain. She took a cautious step toward him pleading with her eyes for him to let her explain. She felt Cooper's hand rest on her shoulder. He didn't know Jason and was probably afraid of what he might do, but Sam knew Jason would never hurt her. She wasn't afraid of him.

Jason's gaze left hers and she watched his blue eyes settle on Coop's hand as it rested on the bare skin of her shoulder. His eyes met hers once more and for a split second she saw the hurt and betrayal before it was replaced with anger once again. She couldn't hold in the silent sob in the very next moment when he shook his head with what she thought might be disgust and backed away from her. He turned and, in the next second, he was gone. He escaped down the stairwell as fast as his feet could carry him.

Sam lost it as Ric nursed his fat lip. She was shaking and sobbing into her hands to stifle the cries. She had to make it right. She'd promised Jason all Coop had ever been was a friend and that's all he ever would be and that was true, but how was he supposed to believe that after what he'd just seen? How was he supposed to trust she wasn't betraying him the same way Elizabeth had?

"Sam, I'm sorry." Coop apologized as he pulled her to him. God, he'd never meant for that to happen.

Ric was livid. Jason was making a run for it and would no doubt have disappeared before anyone stopped him. Plus, there were no eye witnesses to prove Jason had assaulted him. Leave it to Jason Morgan to crash a policeman's ball with over a hundred law enforcement officers in attendance and not one of them witness a damn thing when he starts throwing punches. Ric stewed in his own anger and shook his head noticing something as he did, bringing a wicked smile to his face. There may not have been any witnesses, he knew Sam wouldn't go against Jason and doubted her friend Cooper would go against Sam, but there were cameras.

He'd see Jason brought up on charges yet, but first he needed to get his date under control and tend to his busted lip. There was still an awards ceremony to sit through and the mayor expected him to be there which was why he'd left to chase after Sam. He'd watched her go out to the terrace and figured she wanted some air, but when she made a bee line for the exit he'd excused himself to stop her. There was no way in hell he'd allow her to walk out on him and embarrass him further in front of his peers.

Sam pushed herself away from Coop. She loved him for caring, but she couldn't let him comfort her, not now, not after what they'd just done to Jason. She took an unsteady breath and wiped her tears away.

"If you're done manhandling the date of the police commissioner's daughter now Samantha, the mayor expects our presence for the awards ceremony about to commence!" Ric chastised.

Sam cut her eyes at the man who'd dug the knife in deeper as Jason stood in shock at finding her all over another man. Her voice was deadly calm and laced with a hatred she hadn't felt for anyone since that year after she first ran away from Cody. "If you call me Samantha one more time, I'm going to give you a black eye to match that fat lip. And keep your perverted hands to yourself. You make my skin crawl!"

Sam stormed back into the ballroom and headed to the ladies room to check her make up before returning to her seat. She wanted more than anything to go after Jason, but she knew he needed a little time to cool down. If she approached him right now, he would only shut down further. She probably should have told Coop it was alright, or she was alright. She could tell how bad he felt about it, but truthfully she wasn't sure it was alright or that she was. Plus, she needed to sit through the awards. The mayor would certainly notice as well as Jax if she disappeared beforehand and she didn't want it getting back to her mother who would then ask a million questions. She also needed to stick to the plan and go home with Ric because after all the hell he'd put her through tonight there was no way in hell she wasn't returning the favor in kind and ten times over.

Coop watched as Sam walked away from him and stood there pissed with himself wanting nothing more than to comfort his friend who was obviously in so much pain, but knowing he couldn't possibly be that person for her now. He ran his hands over his face and back through his hair in frustration. He sighed deep trying to cool his body down.

It was only natural for his body to have responded to her touch that way, wasn't it? He knew in his head it was all for show, but his body hadn't seemed to get the message as Sam's tongue had glided with his as her soft body moved against him. In fact, his body had found a mind of its own and all kinds of feelings had surged through him and flashed through his head as she had kissed him.

He'd always wondered what it would be like to kiss her. There was a time when they first met he'd found himself wildly attracted to her and wanting for the first time since losing his fiancee to know what it was like to be with another woman. The feelings had passed though, the more he'd gotten to know her. Not because he'd found anything less attractive about her the more he got to know her, on the contrary, he'd only found more to love. It was just that he'd realized he didn't stand a chance. She didn't know it yet, but she was madly in love with a man she called her best friend, Jason. No matter how tempted he was and how much he wished he'd met Sam McCall first, there was no way he'd ever make the same mistake twice.

He'd ignored good sense once and gone after what he wanted regardless of consequence and ultimately it had cost all three of them everything, but none of them more than the woman he'd loved. He would never risk hurting Sam that way. He cared too much about her and if friends was all they could be, then that would have to be enough. That's what he'd told himself anyway, now it was just a matter of reminding himself after having had a taste of what he'd always known would be pure heaven. Sam McCall's touch, her kiss, was everything he'd ever imagined it to be and he had no idea what in the hell to do about that newly confirmed knowledge. Fuck, could his life get anymore difficult?

He would later learn the answer was yes. Yes, it could.

A/N: I picture Jon Tenney as Sam's dad in this story. Here's a photo link. Just replace the DOT before "photobucket" "com" and "jpg" with the actual symbol: i827DOTphotobucketDOTcom/albums/zz198/imgoodbackup/fic%20visuals/jontenney_codymccall_01DOTjpg

Page 51 of 51 Created: 2011-06-02 Updated: 2014-11-09 Words: 22077 Characters: 119950